The Chinese are credited with coming up with numerous inventions including gunpowder, umbrellas, chopsticks, paper and paper money. Lamentably, (from Chinese point of view) the honors of coming up with plastic money went with early American capitalists.
The first bank credit card was invented by John Biggins in 1946; since then, credit cards have, for a variety of reasons, evolved into one of the most versatile payment methods in todays’ commercial world.
Once issued with one, the need to carry around unsafe, dirty and bulky cash is significantly diminished. I say diminished because some small scale merchants (who perhaps are scared of technology) will still insist on being paid in cash. Further, credit cards enable you to build up a credit history, but only if you always pay on time.
In some countries such as UK, if you buy goods using a credit card and the goods turn out to be faulty, they are usually insured for a period of time, say two months, and you can be indemnified even for total loss. Credit cards are safe, and even if gun-totting miscreants help themselves to your wallet, you can make hit back by simply calling the credit card company and canceling the stolen card. Another thing going for credit cards is that you can keep track of your transactions, and it’s thus easy to keep track of your expenditure.
Do you think the phrase ‘credit card works for you’ applies to you, or is it the other way around? The answer would be dependant on the way people treat the credit cards, or ‘old plastic’ as they are sometimes called.
Credit cards offers often are presented in a deceptively good light. Many consumers end up in dire financial circumstances when they use these cards. Advertisments which almost make the use of a certain card seem like charity are often ruses used to cheat consumers out of their money.
This is not a campaign of hate, which is aimed at the credit cards.
Surely they have their benefits – in America if you want to rent a car, you got to have a (major) credit card.
However, think about this situation:
Often you generate an offer in the mail that sounds nice, maybe a new style TV or fridge. But the cost is $2000. But wait, you have a credit card that has a $5000 limit, and without thinking purchase the item. Usually, this is how your repayment schedule will work out. Most credit cards charge a minimum of the total balance, usually being two percent, of the total per month. If the interest rate is 18 percent and you only choose to repay that minimum amount of $40, then $30 of that will go towards your interest and a mere 10 percent towards the actual principle. Furthermore, it will take you 30 years to repay it and you will end up paying over $5000 in interest.
The illustration, although it makes credit card use sound a bit scary, simply shows that you should use your credit card wisely. And look at the fine print when filling out credit card apps.
Nevertheless, credit cards are here forever, no matter what the doomsayers are telling you.
Find articles covering every topic related to credit cards at Credit-CardGuides.com, a virtual credit card clearinghouse chockful of helpful information on choosing the credit card offers that best meet your needs, as well as links to low APR credit card apps and the most popularunsecured credit card applications .
- Daniel Wright
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