I couldn’t have said it any better Wait4Me. I have a hard time trying to make some young families I know to believe that having less now usually means you’ll be able to afford more later with out being in debt up to your eye balls and what you’ve paid for no one can take away. I don’t think they’re being taught to be realistically Optimistic . A lot seem to have the attitude of” the sun is going to always shine and there’s not going to be a rainy season” so they get in over their heads and then look for someone to bail them out. Sort of like the current Mortgage crisis.

Most young couples get into debt right after marriage because, they want al the things thier parents have, house, cars, nice furniture, and such.  They don’t realize mom and dad didn’t buy all that stuff right when they were married, they aquored it over several long and hard working years. People also do things without thinking of the long term costs either, like having kids, don’t get me wrong I have 3 myself, but if the young ones would realize how expensive they are to raise, they would plan on it a little better and not be strapped for cash, because the car payment, house payment, credit card bills, and the baby needs diapers all at the first of the month and the paycheck only covers 2 of the 4. What we need is some serious parental planning classes in 8th or ninth grade, no not the sex ed stuff but realist education on the cost and care of children, a good look at the income of recent school graduates and the cost of a family on that low pay. And don’t buy a house you cant afford

OH, I like that. “Live below your means not above it if you truly want to enjoy your life.” I have to say I won’t even use a credit card for vacations or TVs. When I needed a fridge, I bought what I could afford. It’s not the best and it’s not the worst. But it’s mine!

Most young people now seem to have forgotten the wise old adage” LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS NOT ABOVE IT IF YOU TRUELY WANT TO ENJOY YOUR LIFE”. Keep a credit card or two for true emergencies and the rest pay off and cut up. The commercial with the song that says” I WANT IT ALL AND I WANT IT NOW “ pretty well sums up the way the credit card folks want you to think and act .

NOPE! This is an image driven society. Too many people are more concerned about their image rather than character and the big picture. People unwilling to do without the items their used to, beer, smokes, starbucks coffee, drugs, going out to eat. It won’t get any better because people are selfish!

credit card companies offering easy credit in times like this get what they ask for.  Interest rate is high, gasoline is high food cost too much and people are just trying to survive.  I am in my 40’s and have a good income.  But, I have children and don’t forget where I came from.  My children are about 20.  They get that offer for a credit card and it gives them some relief.  They call me for money once a week.  I send it only if they have to pay rent or electricity.  These people using credit cards nowadays aren’t splurging they are robbing peter to pay paul.

credit is very dangerous.if you use more than you can pay off each month,with the exception of the occaisonal big purchase ie tv, fridge ,vacaton etc you run the risk of getting caught in the vacuum where you are only paying off interest and nothing towards principal and your credit will spiral out of control. i had this happen lost my house and everything else too.my credit was in the 500’s foreclosure was on my credit report 8 yrs. my fico is now 680’s and i own a house again but it was a tough and powerful lesson to learn.
DONT BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW

People can’t afford the basics without using credit?