Have you seen the Credit Card grocery store commercials?

[ThomWV]

Remember the credit card commercials that touted overpriced sporting event tickets and a string of expensive treats ending in the perfect and priceless day? Last night and the night before I recall seeing commercials high lighting the costs of grocery store items - fruits and vegetables - in advertising for credit cards. Clearly the reminder was that if you need food and you card still works, well, there is always the card.

If you have to put carrots, beans, and bread on a credit card you need to get rid of the credit card as fast as you can.

[Taverner]

1. That is, unless you are a compulsive airline point seeker

I don't use cash

I have some, in case I need it

But I always use my credit card for all purchases

It makes doing the books easier, and I ALWAYS pay off my credit card in full every month

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

8. That's my strategy, too.

I've never missed a month.

[Aristus]

12. Mrs. Aristus and I do that.

We've already scored two free flights down to L.A. and back in the year or so that we've been doing it. It's a pretty good deal.

[Retrograde]

16. same here

Using a credit card can be very convenient, especially when travelling so I don't have to carry large amounts of cash or find an ATM that doesn't charge. But you can't treat it like free money, and you have to make sure you pay it off on time every month. A credit card is no excuse for buying stuff you can't afford and really don't need.

I still use cash for amounts under about $40, though.

[Taverner]

17. I always do my groceries with it

Those are usually big expenditures with 2 kids

[peace13]

2. If you pay off the credit card at the end of the month the cost of using it is zero..

and you can earn a % back. Don't judge those who use a card at the grocery store register!

[Xenotime]

15. Exactly. Credit is still a very sophisticated way of managing money.

[radfringe]

3. how about this one?

It's a combined credit card industry commercial - says they know times are tough, call them if you are having problems with payments. they will work with you...

yeah...right - my partner did that over the weekend, complained because capital one hiked the rates. No help there. She payed off the balance and canceled capital one.

and yes, capital one was one of the cards featured in the "concerned" commercial

if they were really concerned they would be lowering the rates as a way of sharing the sacrifices.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. My father uses his Discover card for groceries and whenever he can

He pays the full balance every month, and gets 1% cash back.

[HereSince1628]

5. Just watch, the fees on check/debit cards will be going up.

In capitalism the game is to recognize a pile of someone else's money and move it into your pile.

Capitalism in the US has pilfered possible future piles of money and crashed. Now the evil doers must take their cut wherever they can find it.

Who's hand is in your wallet?

[RebelOne]

13. So far, Bank of America does not charge me any fee on my debit/check card.

[HereSince1628]

14. Be very careful about going below your predetermined account limit

The penalties for this have become severe for many check/debit cards. For example in some banks it can cause not only a general penalty but also a charge on every debit payment you made in a month.

[bobbert]

6. We try to use our AMEX card as much as possible

The points add up as long as you are responsible enough to pay it every month. (and not buy anything you can't afford)

[LynneSin]

9. EXACTLY

that's how they should be used

[LynneSin]

7. and what - starve

:shrug:

[Still Sensible]

The problem is that while

some people can manage this simply as a convenience, the target of the advertising is no doubt people falling on hard times that have no cash option if they're going to feed their family. At some point their credit limits will run out and they'll be in incredibly worse shape.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

10. Unfortunately, if you *have* to put staples on your card, you probably don't have a choice.

Is it predatory and unethical to push those with no resources to spend beyond their means? Absolutely. But sometimes people just don't think they have a choice, especially if they don't qualify for government assistance.

[Chimichurri]

11. People have been subsidizing lower wages with credit cards

for quite some time. More so now that many home equity lines have been cut.