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Cash, Check, or Charge???

August 6th, 2011 at 04:08 pm

Remember when retailers would ask you, cash, check, or charge?

For awhile around here, checks were considered lethal. A lot of places wouldn't consider taking them because they had been burnt with folks writing bad ones. I guess with technology, many are more comfortable because the money can be taken out almost immediately. Which is a good thing for retailers.

My husband has always paid cash for things. It was an issue when we married 21 years ago because he didn't have a credit rating. It made getting a home loan a challenge and we paid a larger interest rate since he had no credit rating although I had a good one. He didn't have a checking account and hated writing checks. He's not thrilled with it now, but since he's retired and does a lot of the shopping, he does write a few more. He did not have a credit card and when we married, I added him to one of mine. He rarely used it, but he's getting a little more comfortable now.

But, that's not to say he or we are spending like fools. If we charge something, it's for the convenience of using the card and then we pay it off when the bill comes.

Since the US' credit rating has been downgraded, lots of business folks are on news programs talking about what it means. One gal said "Cash is king." I know that mantra has been said by many in the past couple of years.

In my own simple thinking, until people realize that they can't buy things if they don't have the cash on hand, our economy is going to struggle. The whole housing fiasco where banks gave loans to folks who really couldn't afford home and no interest and no down payments...why would they think they are responsible for paying if it was so easy?

I know the economic woes extend to more things that this...jobs being a big issue. But, until many folks live within their means and have the cash to cover the checks and charges, we will continue to have problems and we all pay for it in the long run.

4 Responses to “Cash, Check, or Charge???”

  1. Ima saver Says:
    1312646256

    Very well said! When I was growing up, my parents never bought anything unless they could pay cash for it. My mother never used a credit card in her life. I am like you. I use one for the rewards (free money) and I pay it in full every month.

  2. Joan.of.the.Arch Says:
    1312646532

    Now I think I hear, "Cash, credit, or debit?" Or, more likely because they see a card in my hand, simply, "Credit or debit?"

    DH and I changed to using rewards CC for as much as possible only 5 years ago. Since then we have also become big debit card users. The transition was easier for me than for DH.

  3. Whitestripe Says:
    1312682806

    We always use a cc for everything so we get rewards points. Wedont pay an annual fee fr it either as it's part of a package with our home loan. I very rarely use cash and normal retailers do not take cheques in Australia, unless you're a business.

  4. marvholly Says:
    1312707312

    I NEVER charge anything I could not write a check for or debit card.

    I reuglarly use a couple of reward credit cards BUT I take the receipt and the cash out of my wallet when I get home and put it in an envelope so I DO always have the money to pay the bill when it comes.

    Since there have been SOOO many issues w/stolen debit card info at SOOO many places I only use mine at the bank to get cash. The last time I used it anywhere else was Aldi 4 years ago ( no problems).

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