Guest post by Audrey
Credit cards can hurt more than just your own personal finances.
Though my husband and I have been careful with our use of credit cards and have not amassed debt, we have begun to realize that our financial decisions impact many more people than just ourselves, and that realization has helped us curb our credit-card spending more than any other budgeting lesson.
Our Story
My family bought a rustic campground in New Hampshire in 2003. We spent countless hours updating and improving the entire facility, including its highway-front, country-style general store.
We met so many wonderful people in that store, chatting with them about their homes (some as far away as Europe or Asia), their spiritual journeys, their dreams and goals and desires. But it became increasingly difficult to smile and chat with customers who paid for their $1.50 cup of coffee with their credit card.
You see, for each and every purchase, my family had to pay a surcharge to use the credit card system. That charge could be as high as $1 per purchase, on top of the 4% fee based on the purchase price.
When we added in the cost of the coffee itself, the cup, the sugar and the creamer, our store was actually losing money for those cups of coffee. And candy bars were worse.
Eventually, my father decided that we would change tactics. When someone made an extremely small purchase and offered a credit card for payment, we simply offered to give the customer that item for free. Our family lost money either way, and we hoped it would open these customers’ eyes to the true costs of using credit.
What We Learned
Maybe those customers learned a lesson; maybe they didn’t. All I know is that I definitely did. My husband and I, though still using our credit card on occasion, try to keep these things in mind:
- Small businesses take a hard hit when we swipe a credit card.
- Small purchases (candy, coffee, soda) cannot compensate for the credit card companies’ fees.
- Credit hurts more than us, and it pleases the Lord when we strive to be aware of others’ needs.
Audrey is the proud wife of a handsome Marine and stay-at-home-mother of a beautiful 16-month-old girl (and she’s expecting again in November!). She teaches piano lessons occasionally and is recording her journey into the world of book publishing at www.trugars.com.
Photo credits: BigBeaks, Iain Tait & Llore Photography
J.D.: Parents tend not to like parenting advice from parents either. You really can’t win. It’s a war zone re: parenting choices out there, and all that tells me is that overall families with kids are not feeling well-accommodated in the current economic structure.
Glad the family factor finally got mentioned though. Similarly our first cutting area would have to be kids’ extracurriculars, second would be quality of nutrition, third would be heat, then we’d sell the house or take on a tenant rather than lending our basement apartment to a friend.
Parenthood has three-quartered our income and nearly quadrupled our expenses. We didn’t have a car, for example, before the kids started begging for us to please get out of the city sometimes. And how do you say no to that if you can afford it? “No, kid. Go play in the parking lot. Trees aren’t all they’re chalked up to be.” Our only financial fat is kids’ activities. With two kids and no consumer debt, we have very little to cut re: grownup expenses. (Um, we get takeout once a week so I can stop cooking for a minute?)
Etc. etc..
That said I’m constantly looking for ways to bring a little in here and there while I’m mostly at home. This will get easier when they’re both in full day school. Day care + summer camps would cost more than my salary as an arts professional, so I opted to stay mainly at home for seven years. Opted being a strong word. It was a financial no-brainer, and I personally felt I had no choice. On the other hand other parents I know feel compelled to work full time because in their particular situation that makes the most sense. Truly every situation is different, and no doubt everyone is doing what they can to provide as much as they can for their kids.
Financial factors aside, some people freely admit to not being able to handle the stresses of at-home parenting. Self-knowledge is key to this gig. Better the kids are in daycare than cared for by a no doubt loving but resentful and unhappy parent. Loving the act of parenting and loving your children are two very different things.
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Guest post by Audrey
Credit cards can hurt more than just your own personal finances.
Though my husband and I have been careful with our use of credit cards and have not amassed debt, we have begun to realize that our financial decisions impact many more people than just ourselves, and that realization has helped us curb our credit-card spending more than any other budgeting lesson.
Our Story
My family bought a rustic campground in New Hampshire in 2003. We spent countless hours updating and improving the entire facility, including its highway-front, country-style general store.
We met so many wonderful people in that store, chatting with them about their homes (some as far away as Europe or Asia), their spiritual journeys, their dreams and goals and desires. But it became increasingly difficult to smile and chat with customers who paid for their $1.50 cup of coffee with their credit card.
You see, for each and every purchase, my family had to pay a surcharge to use the credit card system. That charge could be as high as $1 per purchase, on top of the 4% fee based on the purchase price.
When we added in the cost of the coffee itself, the cup, the sugar and the creamer, our store was actually losing money for those cups of coffee. And candy bars were worse.
Eventually, my father decided that we would change tactics. When someone made an extremely small purchase and offered a credit card for payment, we simply offered to give the customer that item for free. Our family lost money either way, and we hoped it would open these customers’ eyes to the true costs of using credit.
What We Learned
Maybe those customers learned a lesson; maybe they didn’t. All I know is that I definitely did. My husband and I, though still using our credit card on occasion, try to keep these things in mind:
- Small businesses take a hard hit when we swipe a credit card.
- Small purchases (candy, coffee, soda) cannot compensate for the credit card companies’ fees.
- Credit hurts more than us, and it pleases the Lord when we strive to be aware of others’ needs.
Audrey is the proud wife of a handsome Marine and stay-at-home-mother of a beautiful 16-month-old girl (and she’s expecting again in November!). She teaches piano lessons occasionally and is recording her journey into the world of book publishing at www.trugars.com.
Photo credits: BigBeaks, Iain Tait & Llore Photography
J.D.: Parents tend not to like parenting advice from parents either. You really can’t win. It’s a war zone re: parenting choices out there, and all that tells me is that overall families with kids are not feeling well-accommodated in the current economic structure.
Glad the family factor finally got mentioned though. Similarly our first cutting area would have to be kids’ extracurriculars, second would be quality of nutrition, third would be heat, then we’d sell the house or take on a tenant rather than lending our basement apartment to a friend.
Parenthood has three-quartered our income and nearly quadrupled our expenses. We didn’t have a car, for example, before the kids started begging for us to please get out of the city sometimes. And how do you say no to that if you can afford it? “No, kid. Go play in the parking lot. Trees aren’t all they’re chalked up to be.” Our only financial fat is kids’ activities. With two kids and no consumer debt, we have very little to cut re: grownup expenses. (Um, we get takeout once a week so I can stop cooking for a minute?)
Etc. etc..
That said I’m constantly looking for ways to bring a little in here and there while I’m mostly at home. This will get easier when they’re both in full day school. Day care + summer camps would cost more than my salary as an arts professional, so I opted to stay mainly at home for seven years. Opted being a strong word. It was a financial no-brainer, and I personally felt I had no choice. On the other hand other parents I know feel compelled to work full time because in their particular situation that makes the most sense. Truly every situation is different, and no doubt everyone is doing what they can to provide as much as they can for their kids.
Financial factors aside, some people freely admit to not being able to handle the stresses of at-home parenting. Self-knowledge is key to this gig. Better the kids are in daycare than cared for by a no doubt loving but resentful and unhappy parent. Loving the act of parenting and loving your children are two very different things.
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