Browse by Tags

• Teens and credit cards: What would Santa do?

  Posted Nov 30 2007, 02:14 PM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Debt, Credit, Family, Giving

  Kay Bell at Don't Mess with Taxes -- in a post called "Are credit cards appropriate 'toys' for kids?" -- examines two trends that should give us cause to worry. She notes that a recent Charles Schwab survey found that almost a third of teens, if they had the option, prefer to pay with a credit card rather than cash. (Thank goodness only 10 percent have a credit card in their own name.) She also points to a disturbing trend in toys: For instance, the new Monopoly allows players to pay with plastic. And did you know that Dora the Explorer and Barbie carry credit cards? ("Not surprisingly; look at the clothes (Barbie) buys!" Bell comments.)   Read More...

  Discuss (no comments) 1,047 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this

• A gift that doesn't have a price tag

  Posted Nov 09 2007, 11:36 AM by Karen Datko
  Filed under: Debt, Spending, Credit, Giving
  Does holiday shopping cause you stress because you're spending money you don't have ? Do yourself a favor and let friends and family know that you're cutting back. That's the message of Blunt Money 's thoughtful post about adopting a new approach to holiday shopping . "It can be hard to give someone a $10 gift when you used to give them a $50 gift. You may feel worse when you receive expensive gifts," he writes. But think of it this way: How would your loved ones feel if they knew you purchased their gifts with credit you can't afford? Allow them to give you the gift of empathy. Let them know you'll be spending less , and maybe they'll return the favor.
  Discuss (no comments) 158 Views Digg this | Email this | Link to this