A credit card, my friends, is arguably mankind’s most fascinating invention. Not because it sends rockets to the moon or cures diseases, but because it’s a beautiful, insidious instrument of captivity. And the kicker? We willingly offer ourselves to it, often with a bizarre sense of pride. It’s pure magic, this plastic rectangle.
Think about it. The allure is irresistible, especially when your income decides to play hide-and-seek with your expenses. Banks, the clever foxes they are, don’t target the fat cats rolling in cash or the utterly broke. No, they zero in on the perpetually “just-a-little-short” crowd. The ones trying to scale a wall, but lacking that crucial inch or two. They sell you a dream: this handy tool will just tide you over that little shortfall. And boom! You’re hooked.
The first time you swipe that card and walk out with something you couldn’t afford with cash… it’s a revelation. A piece of plastic, a byproduct of some chemical reaction, allows you to waltz into any store and pick up anything your heart desires. It’s ridiculously unbelievable. You can pay when you literally don’t have the money!
But here’s where the magic turns into a mirage. You start believing you have the money, which, let’s be honest, you never had in the first place. That small cushion you needed for that occasional shortfall month? Fine. But if your income is consistently falling short, my friend, that’s a deeper problem. The credit card isn’t a solution; it’s a painkiller. It suppresses the symptoms. Ignore the symptoms long enough, and you’ll be addicted to the medicine for life.
Now, I know some of you are already gearing up to argue about the benefits. Points, cashback, airport lounge access – yes, yes, I get it. I use one too, sparingly. And sure, those perks exist. But let’s be brutally honest. Even if you’re the “good student” who pays their bill in full every month, imagine life without it.
Those who don’t have a credit card? I’m willing to bet they spend significantly less. Why? Because the mere existence of that plastic option magically inflates your spending. The pain of watching actual cash leave your hand, or the instant debit from your UPI app, is real. Because afterall,
Money is like your girlfriend — exciting when it enters but emotionally bankrupting when it leaves without closure.
A credit card, on the other hand, offers a painless transaction. Just an SMS notification, a fleeting buzz. And because you’re a “good user” who pays on time, you suddenly feel entitled. Entitled to that unnecessarily expensive gadget, that extra pair of shoes. You deserve it, don’t you? Even if you can technically pay the bill when it’s due, was it necessary?
So, who should stay away from credit cards?
- Those who need it: Because it’s a band-aid on a gaping wound.
- Those who don’t need it: Because it’s a tempting whisper leading to unnecessary desires.
They say seven out of ten iPhones are bought on EMI via credit cards. Think about that. Seven out of ten people don’t have the money upfront, yet they’re buying a premium phone. Imagine a world without credit cards. The economy would likely stutter, wouldn’t it? People would be forced to live within their means. What a disaster, right? Or perhaps… a quiet revolution.
Perhaps it’s time we stopped chasing that plastic illusion and embraced the simple, sometimes painful, truth of what we actually have.
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