For impulse buyers, yes. But sometimes people who have little choice when the car suddenly breaks down, or a plumbing problem crops up, or suddenly you have no heat, well, you don't always have $2K cash on hand. As for me, well, I always pay as much as I can (well, well over minimum due) to keep such debt as low as possible.
Sometimes if a big expense crops up, I carry a balance, but it bugs the heck out of me.
"But sometimes people who have little choice when the car suddenly breaks down.."
Yeah, but that should really be pretty rare. I think one big reason a lot of people don't have some pin money set aside is that they are already paying out every penny they make on existing debt to begin with.
"But sometimes people who have little choice when the car suddenly breaks down, or a plumbing problem crops up, or suddenly you have no heat, well, you don't always have $2K cash on hand. "
You are being a spoil sport. Look, this is all about posting how intellectually, economically, and morally superior we all are! Any hardships, or problems can be pointed to as a lack of planning, or ignorance.