Dragon

Senior Member
Apr 24, 2003
27,407
I understand what a sale is.

But if you don't have any emergency money saved away, and going into debt to finance your other purchases through use of a credit card, then you really can't afford these things.

But who cares about financial responsibility.
I own a credit card and use it to buy things that I can't afford with my debit card, or simply to finance myself (I don;t know if that's a term in english) and pay it in parts.

Afterall, that's what credit is about isn't it.

Doesn't mean I'm financially irresponsible and won't pay for it later
 

Quetzalcoatl

It ain't hard to tell
Aug 22, 2007
66,773
I own a credit card and use it to buy things that I can't afford with my debit card, or simply to finance myself (I don;t know if that's a term in english) and pay it in parts.

Afterall, that's what credit is about isn't it.

Doesn't mean I'm financially irresponsible and won't pay for it later
I use my credit card just to earn bonus points but pay it back immediately. I hate loans, but unfortunately I may have to take one next year.
 

swag

L'autista
Administrator
Sep 23, 2003
84,776
Guys you have to understand that girls love new shoes, its more important for some to look good than to have food.
It's not about the shoes!

I understand what a sale is.

But if you don't have any emergency money saved away, and going into debt to finance your other purchases through use of a credit card, then you really can't afford these things.

But who cares about financial responsibility.
We're probably getting into semantics here. "Can't afford" isn't the same thing as "I've budgeted for". So hearing someone they cannot afford a TV without the discount suggests that they're probably hocking their kids' education to buy an ATV too.

Welcome to Florida.
 

swag

L'autista
Administrator
Sep 23, 2003
84,776
:agree:

That's why you gotta pay before your due date each month
It's easy to get screwed over. I know a guy who paid them off all the time and then let his credit run up a bit for a while. Then with the financial meltdown, his 8% payments shot up to 20% and kicked in as soon as he was a couple days late with a check. Now he's as good as an indentured slave.
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
116,145
I own a credit card and use it to buy things that I can't afford with my debit card, or simply to finance myself (I don;t know if that's a term in english) and pay it in parts.

Afterall, that's what credit is about isn't it.

Doesn't mean I'm financially irresponsible and won't pay for it later
Credit cards are meant to siphon off more cash from unsuspecting consumers in a buying binge, so you're right about that.
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
116,145
We're probably getting into semantics here. "Can't afford" isn't the same thing as "I've budgeted for". So hearing someone they cannot afford a TV without the discount suggests that they're probably hocking their kids' education to buy an ATV too.

Welcome to Florida.
Could be.

I'm losing sympathy for such people.
 

Dragon

Senior Member
Apr 24, 2003
27,407
Credit cards are meant to siphon off more cash from unsuspecting consumers in a buying binge, so you're right about that.
That's one way to look at it.

The way I look at it is that it's made to buy things you need (books, college tuition, a gift for a special someone) and you don't have the liquidity to pay for it right away. Unfortunately having that money you don't have available comes with a price (interests)
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
116,145
That's one way to look at it.

The way I look at it is that it's made to buy things you need (books, college tuition, a gift for a special someone) and you don't have the liquidity to pay for it right away. Unfortunately having that money you don't have available comes with a price (interests)
The difference here is that you need those books and an education.

You don't need $300 shoes.
 

Dragon

Senior Member
Apr 24, 2003
27,407
The difference here is that you need those books and an education.

You don't need $300 shoes.
The shoes were an example.

Like I said before, it could be anything.

My poor coworker probably doesn't need the plasma TV. That doesn't mean he isn't allowed to save for it. In the end it comes to what your priorities are.
 

Fred

Senior Member
Oct 2, 2003
41,113
Andy, what are the chances of a Computer Science graduate from the UAE(he has American citizenship) finding a job in IT at some company there in the US?
 

Bjerknes

"Top Economist"
Mar 16, 2004
116,145
The shoes were an example.

Like I said before, it could be anything.

My poor coworker probably doesn't need the plasma TV. That doesn't mean he isn't allowed to save for it. In the end it comes to what your priorities are.
I never said he couldn't. If someone's priorities are not saving a decent portion of income, then have at it. Just don't be beggin' for food stamps after buying a flat screen.

Andy, what are the chances of a Computer Science graduate from the UAE(he has American citizenship) finding a job in IT at some company there in the US?
I have no idea. But I have heard that some places are offering $500 per month salaries and people are taking them. So that can't be good.
 

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