| According to a commercial that I have seen, | | | | really is for a large statistic of young |
| at least once every time I turn the TV on, it | | | | American families. It's easier for people to |
| looks like a good, normal life to use credit | | | | read something like this and think, "Oh, it's |
| lines. In just sixty seconds, this commercial | | | | not that bad for us... we only carry a little |
| portrays the life of a couple. They meet, | | | | debt." What is a little debt? The national |
| they get married, they have babies, they are | | | | average of credit card debt is around |
| middle aged, and finally they are senior | | | | $9,000.00. If this is the average, that just |
| citizens and grandparents. All along, it | | | | means that many people whom are the ones who |
| shows flashes of the different credit cards, | | | | say... "It's not that bad for me" are |
| that go along with the themes of the various | | | | somewhere near or above this average for |
| stages of this couple's life. They have a | | | | credit card debt. |
| great, healthy life, using credit cards ... | | | | |
| in sixty seconds. At the end of the | | | | I was almost $14,000.00 in credit card debt |
| commercial, the voice over says... "We offer | | | | alone, when I finally opened my eyes. I had |
| over NINE HUNDRED credit lines for your | | | | many other needed expenses of life also. I |
| needs" or something like that. | | | | could not make ends meet. I had lots of great |
| | | | clothes and some great toys. Mainly I had a |
| Nine hundred credit lines available from one | | | | crutch, that whenever an emergency happened, |
| bank. WOW! What does this commercial paint? | | | | I pulled out one of eight credit cards. Or if |
| What does it do to our acceptance as a whole | | | | there was a special event, I pulled out a |
| society for using credit lines to pay for our | | | | credit card. Any excuse was reasonable. |
| lives? It makes it look normal and healthy. | | | | Paying my bills was like a juggling act. |
| These people are successful, relying on | | | | |
| credit through the various stages of their | | | | There are millions of Americans living this |
| life. | | | | way. They have been misguided by commercials |
| | | | like I've mentioned for many decades now. It |
| There should be a commercial that shows them | | | | can change for you, starting with taking |
| opening the bills. It would show their stress | | | | "charge" of your personal financial life. The |
| with more bills on items, they charged, after | | | | key is in your hand! The plain, easy and |
| one of them loses their job. The added | | | | right in front of your face truth, is nobody |
| medical bills when the children are sick and | | | | or nothing will make it easier to pay off |
| need countless doctor's office visits. Health | | | | those debts. There is no magic cure. |
| care insurance just doesn't cover it all, | | | | |
| anymore. The two SUVS in the driveway, the | | | | Now for the good news, with acceptance of the |
| fuel and maintenance... the payments. They | | | | problem, you will be able to find a way to be |
| live in a house, in Suburbia, USA that has a | | | | happy, free and wiser way before the debt is |
| hefty mortgage and upkeep. They pay out the | | | | completely gone. You can live life without |
| wazoo for daily childcare, so they can earn | | | | using credit lines at all and stop adding to |
| two incomes, to pay for all this stuff. They | | | | the debt. It can be done! |
| fight a lot, mainly about bills, things they | | | | |
| think they "need" and how they never get | | | | With so much hope to help millions of people, |
| ahead. Other family members are constantly | | | | I wrote Use Cash To Buy It, to share my own |
| trying to give them financial advice. On | | | | experiences with paying off a large credit |
| Sundays, they show up at church, looking as | | | | card debt. I survived and got more gifts from |
| if everything is fine and dandy. It's normal, | | | | life then I ever imagined I would. I have |
| because they've been in debt, ever since they | | | | freedom, happiness, and wisdom. I have grown |
| got out of college, started their careers and | | | | as a person. I don't use credit lines anymore |
| got married. They are one or two paychecks | | | | at all, buying only what I know I can afford |
| away from financial destruction. | | | | with cash up front. It's definitely a better |
| | | | way to live. |
| Well, this is reality. This is the way it | | | | |