Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Americans Are Using Plastic To Make Ends Meet As Prices Continue To Rise
Zubu Brothers ^ | 5-12-2022 | Via SchiffGold.com

Posted on 05/12/2022 11:58:26 AM PDT by blam

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last

1 posted on 05/12/2022 11:58:26 AM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: blam

Plastic is delicious. With some melted butter on the side - yummy!


2 posted on 05/12/2022 11:59:33 AM PDT by Fury
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

We are doing just the reverse. We are curtailing the use of our credit card, paying cash most of the time now. Stocking up on non perishable goods, building up our firewood supply.


3 posted on 05/12/2022 12:00:58 PM PDT by The Louiswu (We couldn't 'afford' $4 billion for Trump's wall at the southern border?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

Same here. Paying off debts and stockpiling meat in the freezer.


4 posted on 05/12/2022 12:04:04 PM PDT by Texas resident ( Let's Go Brandon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: blam
Average annual percentage rates (APR) currently stand at just over 16%. Analysts say they may well rise above 18% by the end of the year, breaking the record high of 17.87% set in April 2019.

The cash back cards are great as long as the balance is paid in full every month, prior to the payment due date. Otherwise, smart folks pay with cash or debit card.

5 posted on 05/12/2022 12:13:21 PM PDT by NautiNurse (Who will portray Alec Baldwin in the SNL skit? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

I am the opposite of you.
I use plastic exclusively, rarely pay or carry cash.
I have a stash of cash at home, just in case, but I have used credit cards for most of my adult life.
The cards get paid off every month, meaning that I incurr no interest charges, plus I get a discount on everything I buy, in the form of cash back or rewards.
Why would you use your own cash or debit card, when if properly done, you can use someone else’s, and get paid to do it?


6 posted on 05/12/2022 12:13:42 PM PDT by joe fonebone (And the people said NO! The End)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

Paying down here too. I do order stuff from AMZ, have their Prime Chase card, which gives me a discount. Never more than $100 on that card, pay it off every month. AMZ has a lot of food. King Oscar sardines from Norway are xlnt protein source. Use Visa for everything else, have a very low balance there, pay far more than I owe every month. Could pay it all, but keep it under $500. They keep offering me better terms.

Bought cans and cans of organic beans, a really good protein source, and some canned veggies too (though kinda yuk, far prefer fresh). Fred Meyer/Kroger has excellent organic soup and broth in cartons and nice coconut milk in cartons too. Have lots of those, buying more tomorrow.

I live in a second floor apartment, woman downstairs keeps me warm. My electric bill last month was $40. And I love hot weather, don’t turn on AC til it’s 96. Boy, am I a cheap date.:)

Veto!
(The girl)


7 posted on 05/12/2022 12:22:19 PM PDT by Veto! (Political correctness offends me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: blam

Credit cards paid off every month, my ex-wife did teach me that, it was a good lesson. Have not had a balance going forward in 20 years.


8 posted on 05/12/2022 12:30:21 PM PDT by Jolla
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

Cancel your subscriptions, drop your cell phones, eat at home for a while. You’ll get by. Probably reduce monthly costs by anywhere from $200-500/month doing the first 2. Add the 3rd and you can bump it up to $700. Most Americans have no idea what being poor is.


9 posted on 05/12/2022 12:33:44 PM PDT by vpintheak (Live free, or die!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: NautiNurse
"The cash back cards are great as long as the balance is paid in full every month, prior to the payment due date."

That me, my routine.

10 posted on 05/12/2022 12:46:02 PM PDT by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: blam

Credit card loan forgiveness would make a heck of a Democrat vote getter. I’ll send Nanzi and Chuckie an email.


11 posted on 05/12/2022 12:48:58 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blam

Even before the Covid1984 panic checked in, more and more stores either stopped accepting checks first and then even cash.

My wife has been basically a cash only person since she was graduated from Nursing school, decades ago. (She is 82 now).

Walmart and some of her shopping for non groceries went to credit cards or cash and no checks. She didn’t want to carry a couple of hundred in cash for groceries or whatever. So she was moving to credit cards. She liked the shopping on line for Walmart, Costco and other big stores.

The Covid1984 panic closed 2 of the 3 bank branches, that we used in a quick manner. So suddenly, there were long lines of unhappy cash only people inside our bank or outside at the ATM for the Cash people like her.

One trip took over 20 minutes to get her monthly cash due to all the people in one line. I said not for me any more. So, she went to her bank Visa card, and its payment is automatically deducted and paid for by the bank via our checking acct..

She is recovering from hip replacement surgery and has a $10 co~payment for each visit. So she gives the clinic checkin person a $20 bill and gets back 2 fives. Some of the clerks will let her trade several $20’s into 5’s. She likes $5’s for tips.

95%+ of my purchases are via a credit card.

We have never been late on paying any bill and our credit rating is in the mid 800’s.


12 posted on 05/12/2022 12:55:47 PM PDT by Grampa Dave (JUST LEAVE US ALONE!...Be whatever, you think you are!!!! On YOUR Time and Dime, NOT OURS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: The Louiswu

I retired in Dec 2018, cut EVERY card in half paid off every ounce of debt including mortgage I buy NOTHING anymore unless I can pay cash!! I was doing great until Biden, I had to take a part time job, I honestly can’t believe how damned expensive EVERYTHING has become it is ridiculous I don’t know how people with kids, mortgage, or rent are surviving today!!!


13 posted on 05/12/2022 1:03:15 PM PDT by Trump Girl Kit Cat (Yosemite Sam raising hel)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Trump Girl Kit Cat

During Trump’s presidency, we started prepping for hard times. Went full on Dave Ramsey. Pay cash or don’t buy.

My kids are grown and gone and everything is paid for. House and cars. I am still driving a beater, but it still runs and gets me to South Texas and back.


14 posted on 05/12/2022 1:07:44 PM PDT by Texas resident ( Let's Go Brandon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Fury

Plastic must be delicious! something has been gnawing away at the water meter cover made of plastic.


15 posted on 05/12/2022 1:11:47 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar (FREE AT LAST! Third time this year sprung from Facebook Jail! Any bets on how long out?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: blam

The credit card companies call folks like us deadbeats. Ha!


16 posted on 05/12/2022 1:13:32 PM PDT by NautiNurse (Who will portray Alec Baldwin in the SNL skit? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: blam

Let’s go Brandon and his Dem Party.


17 posted on 05/12/2022 1:13:45 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

Walmart has a rewards credit card with 5% cash back for Walmart online purchases, 2% cash back for purchases inside Walmart, at restaurants and on travel, and 1% cash back on everything else.


18 posted on 05/12/2022 1:23:55 PM PDT by NautiNurse (Who will portray Alec Baldwin in the SNL skit? )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: joe fonebone

You, like me, are able to spend with your brain rather than your emotions. I also have one checking acct. set up strictly to pay my CC bills on time, automatically every month to make sure I never miss a payment...no usurious interest and 1.5% or 5% discount on EVERYTHING I purchase.


19 posted on 05/12/2022 1:39:05 PM PDT by Roccus (First we beat the Nazis........Then we defeated the Soviets....... Now, we are them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Grampa Dave

No No No!!!!
A debit card is the worst financial tool out there...
If someone gets ahold of your number and pin, they can drain your account, and the bank is under no legal or moral responsibility to investigate or return your money.
They might do you a favor and half heartedly investigate, but you are SOL.

Just say no


20 posted on 05/12/2022 1:39:13 PM PDT by joe fonebone (And the people said NO! The End)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-39 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Bloggers & Personal
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson