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Gimme Some Credit!
How I taught my wife the virtues of impulse buying
By Dave Meurer
 1 of 4
I don't understand why "disagreement over finances" consistently rates as one of the key problems married couples face—especially when the Visa people have thoughtfully arranged a system whereby we can keep spending even when we don't have any money. What's to disagree over? It's basically like having unlimited cash. I don't know why my wife can't grasp this self-evident fact.
Credit cards are tremendously convenient. I have a gob of them in my wallet (and even more in my dresser drawer), and the U. S. Postal Service brings me a new batch of offers almost daily. In many cases, the credit card companies offer to give me free stuff if I agree to use their cards.
"Fifty dollars?" she gasped. "What in the world are you thinking?" "Not to worry, my sweet," I replied. "I have a credit card."
"Hey look!" I called to Dale one day as I brought in the mail. "We got a credit card application from an airline. We can earn free tickets to anywhere if we just charge some stuff! I think I'll sign us up!"
"Read the fine print," Dale replied. "You'll have to spend $100,000 at a noncompetitive interest rate to get a so-called 'free' flight."
Dale has serious skepticism issues.
While Dale and I have different approaches to spending, I don't allow this to be the source of conflict in our home.
On the contrary, the conflict usually happens outside our home.
One time while on vacation, we happened upon a "specialty item" store that had a small stock of solar-paneled, fan-cooled pith helmets at an incredibly reasonable price. I tried one on. It was awesome. I mean, a regular British-style pith helmet would have been great, but this model had a small fan built right into the top. Just step into the sunlight, and the solar panel converted the energy into a cooling breeze. It was an exceptional find.
"I'm going to get one," I told Dale.
She looked at the price tag. "Fifty dollars?" she gasped. "What in the world are you thinking?"
"Not to worry, my sweet," I replied. "I have a credit card."
"Which makes it free?" she asked, arms folded.
"Basically," I said. "They don't charge interest for 30 days, so it's like getting a free loan. Besides, if things get a little tight, I can stretch out the payments."
"You're right!" she exclaimed. "You could add this charge to the tacky Sumo wrestler doll you bought across the street a few minutes ago. Just pay the minimum on all your credit cards and stretch out the payments forever!"
"That's the spirit!" I replied as I headed toward the register. "With any luck, I'll be dead before they're paid off."
"Dave, credit card companies love people like you."
I blushed at the compliment. "I suppose that's why they keep sending me all those nice offers."
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