LogFAQs > #964098239

His advice should be considered advice for debt addicts in the same way something like Alcoholics Anonymous or Gamblers Anonymous are for other addicts. A normal person can drink some wine or beer sometimes and it won't have any detrimental effects on their life. A former alcoholic has reason to exercise extreme caution. Similarly, someone who somehow keeps ending up under mountains of credit card debt should probably cut up credit cards until they figure out if there's a root cause spending problem. People can and do go on shopping binges the same way other addicts go on binges.

With that being said it is a little different I suppose because you can make the argument that those other addictions are vices that everyone can cut out without any problems. Debt however can be an extremely valuable tool when used correctly and in modern America it's kind of the only way you can do a lot of things. No normal person can actually buy a car or a house or go to college without taking on debt. And responsible use of credit cards leads to better credit scores which leads to better rates on those car and house loans and things. Not to mention credit card benefits and stuff. So all those Ramsey Proselytes who altogether believe that debt is the devil are spreading irresponsible nonsense but the advice is true for some subset of people who do need to be debt-averse.