Protect Yourself and Family From Credit Cards

Stop being a debt slave and get out of debt no matter what it takes. Stop buying into the idea that you need a credit card. When I was in college I was constantly bombarded by on-campus advertisements for pre-approved lines of credit and credit cards. I never was interested in them because I always bought things with cash and was being supported financially by my parents. It wasn't until after college that I fell into the trap. They'll get you sooner or later, it's only a matter of time. Well, this on-campus onslaught is by design. You see, the credit card companies can prey upon your children while they are away at some distant college in an unfamiliar land where they are no longer in your sight and you can't supervise what they do. The college campus is now a breeding ground for these filth peddling debt vultures waiting to prey upon your children and offer them "no-fee", "no-hassle", "spend as much as you want because, hey, your parents can afford to pay your tuition so they'll be able to pay off your debt if you get in trouble" plastic slices of wage servitude. That's right, all of those dollars you spend on tuition, room and board, and books, always in some way or another make it back to the credit card companies as a fee for thanking them for showing up to promote a life full of wage slavery once they get into the "real world" and start making that hefty $30,000 salary that only a good $100K college education can provide. Instead, start paying with cash or go without, PERIOD!!! When you make a purchase and whip out the cash to pay for it you'll think alot more before doing so than you would with whipping out that piece of plastic. Bear in mind that when you pay for something on credit you are letting the banks and credit card companies win over you. You cheat yourself out of a financial future of self-reliance and dignity, and replace it with one of servitude to your job, time away from your family, and medical problems, not to mention that that $10.00 lunch now costs you $30.00 when figuring in interest charges and late fees. I know what I'm talking about because when I got out of grad school and started making more money I charged things left and right, thinking that I'm still young and can handle it. I kept telling myself that I could pay the debt down, but then in just 5 years time I had accumulated $26,000 in credit card debt. Most of what I'm telling you here works and I'm living proof. It's taken me two years but I've cut it down in half. Believe me, no matter what situation you're in, you can change it for the better. What did I do to get my debt down? I moved out of my $1500/month rented condo into a studio basement apartment where I only pay $825/month, utilities included. I stopped buying crap that I once thought I needed and started to shop more at thrift stores and online auction houses. I started paying with cash and cut up all my credit cards except for one, which I use for incidentals and emergency needs. It took a while, but I eventually convinced myself that I wanted to be in control and not forsake my financial future in order to make some fat cat corporate slug rich.