What would the nation be like if credit cards never existed? (bankrupt, debt)

[kentuckydad95]

No, really...what would it be like? Would everyone live within their means? Would there be a lot less bankruptcies? What would it be like?

[hsw]

Unrealistic hypotheticals...humans will be humans...most lack self-control and ability to gain useful job skills for a modern economy...and choose risky lifestyles

As a start, if consumers were not leveraged, would have far smaller housing, autos, home furnishings, retailing, tourism, entertainment, banking/credit cards, junk food/soft drinks, obesity-oriented healthcare, etc industries....major employers of many low-skill, illegals and legals

So, if lacking those low-skill, "wasteful" jobs, would these folks end up on welfare or working for govt as $100K+/yr bus/train drivers of mass transit to nowhere or what? Suspect taxpayer subsidizes excessive leverage or consumption in one way or another as long as govts run Ponzi schemes of leverage; anyone is allowed to reproduce no matter financial status; and if easy to enter US illegally, find a crooked employer to provide a job (and then start protesting about "rights")

Another problem of being a relatively frugal society (like Germany/Japan) is need big profligate customers for one's exports...counterparty risks of life

[Padgett2]

We managed to get through WWII without credit cards. We lived from paycheck to paycheck, but we managed. We didn't know that every child should have his or her own bedroom, plus all the electronic do-dads, cell phones, etc. A two bedroom house might have two sets of bunkbeds for the children.

Credit was considered a "bad" thing. Maybe one day, we will again say, "if you don't have the money for it, don't buy it." It would take at least one generation of not having credit cards to charge the attitude that if we want it, we should get it....NOW..not later when we have saved up the money for it.

[cdelena]

Credit cards are one aspect of the efficient electronic commerce environment that has aided the improvement of living standards. Responsible use does nothing but aid the consumer. The lack of credit cards would have reduced economic activity and hurt society.

BTW, I have used credit for most purchases for over thirty years and have never had a problem, paid no penalties, little interest, and know it has been nothing but good for my family.

[kentuckydad95]

Originally Posted by cdelena

Credit cards are one aspect of the efficient electronic commerce environment that has aided the improvement of living standards. Responsible use does nothing but aid the consumer. The lack of credit cards would have reduced economic activity and hurt society.

BTW, I have used credit for most purchases for over thirty years and have never had a problem, paid no penalties, little interest, and know it has been nothing but good for my family.

You are in the VAST minority. The majority get a card, run it up and pay the minimum payment monthly.

Even better are the people who go to furniture stores, get $5K worth of furniture and have $150 in their checking account. But hey...the sign said no interest for 3 years. Now how many people actually end up paying no interest on that?

[HappyTexan]

Just look back at the days of cash or lay-a-way.
Most only borrowed money for a car/home.
Then..families did exist on one salary. If it was too expensive they just didn't buy it.
No taking on excessive debt buying with no thought to affordability.

We've done this to ourselves..with easy debt, the cost of items don't seem to matter much anymore. The simple economics of supply and demand.

[Grandpa Pipes]

Originally Posted by kentuckydad95

No, really...what would it be like? Would everyone live within their means? Would there be a lot less bankruptcies? What would it be like?

Credit is necessary to "create" money ad infinitum. If all goods & services had to paid for "cash on the barrel head" the worlds economies would be much smaller.

[treasurekidd]

As a start, if consumers were not leveraged, would have far smaller housing, autos, home furnishings, retailing, tourism, entertainment, banking/credit cards, junk food/soft drinks, obesity-oriented healthcare, etc

In other words, we would have what we could afford, and a lot less of the excess crap that has come to dominate out lives. Would it work? It would have too, given no other choice. It worked just fine for our grandparents, didn't it?

[slackjaw]

Yes it worked for our grandparents, but they also had less cool stuff. You could take that logic back as far as you wanted, saying things worked for the previous generation.

Bah do we need these new steam tractor plows? Our grandparents did just fine turning the soil with two horses and an iron blade.

[car54]

There was a lot of informal credit before credit cards. My dad owned a string of gas stations and other businesses...and if a customer he trusted needed a fill-up or a tire, but was a bit short of cash, he let them run a tab. We just handwrote it in a ledger and when payday rolled around, folks would come in and settle up (no interest).