Current Events > How do people live like this? (Poverty and credit cards)

(+) Yeah! (+)

I was buying groceries and the person in front of me had two packages of meat. He asked that they be rung up separately. He paid for the first with one credit card and it seemed fine. He then put that card away.

For the second item, he asked for $7 on one card and the remaining $3 on another. First, the $7 was declined so he asked for $6 instead and it went through. So card maxed.

The remaining (what was now $4) was declined on the other card too. So also maxed out. He then used $4 cash.

I was annoyed at first but then can't imagine having so many cards that are all maxed out.

I then checked out with my platinum card and never even checked the price because I got what I needed to get. Not saying this to brag but to remember how bad it can be and how lucky I am.

Is this common for people to use credit cards like this?

As a former cashier of 10 years its not super common. I remember a handful of times.

It's the end of the month, it's hard out here for folks

Yeah. My wife and I lived like that for about two years. Stuff just piled up, mostly medical bills because this country is an embarrassment.

I remember needing to drop old soda cans off at those donation spots that spit out quarters and the one I knew about was out of order, so I spent three hours driving all over town trying to find one because I needed quarters for laundry.

That was nine years agonow we make six figures and live in a nice house with nice cars and dont even worry about credit card bills cause they get paid in full each month.

Those struggling years suuuuucked

littlebro07 posted...

Yeah. My wife and I lived like that for about two years. Stuff just piled up, mostly medical bills because this country is an embarrassment.

I remember needing to drop old soda cans off at those donation spots that spit out quarters and the one I knew about was out of order, so I spent three hours driving all over town trying to find one because I needed quarters for laundry.

That was nine years agonow we make six figures and live in a nice house with nice cars and dont even worry about credit card bills cause they get paid in full each month.

Those struggling years suuuuucked

Happy to hear you escaped that

bsp77 posted...

I then checked out with my platinum card and never even checked the price because I got what I needed to get. Not saying this to brag but to remember how bad it can be and how lucky I am.

This is something I try to remind myself of but it's often very hard to forget. I have three credit cards and have a checking account, money in the bank, a steady job and a steady paycheck. I've reached a point in my life where i barely look at or pay attention to the price I'm paying for things anymore because I am doing well.

Not everyone has this luxury. It's easy to think about and complain about the things we don't have or the things we want, but sometimes I have to really try to remind myself that I am really very lucky and not everyone else is.

Depends. I dont expect it to be common but it happens. I had a couple of years where my account was always overdrawn. Juggling bills and food. Always trying to buy stuff that can last longer, like making stew, soup or congee. So there is more than one meal every time I had to cook, in order to shop less and not spend so much.

When I was younger my parents struggled, like applying for credit cards were difficult. None of our clothes or toys were ever new, always hand me downs. It wasnt a bad life though as I never starved.

My mom had it hard when she was a kid though, she didnt always have food to eat every day. I count myself lucky.

AlCalavicci posted...

This is something I try to remind myself of but it's often very hard to forget. I have three credit cards and have a checking account, money in the bank, a steady job and a steady paycheck. I've reached a point in my life where i barely look at or pay attention to the price I'm paying for things anymore because I am doing well.

Not everyone has this luxury. It's easy to think about and complain about the things we don't have or the things we want, but sometimes I have to really try to remind myself that I am really very lucky and not everyone else is.

Exactly!

I know that people live paycheck to paycheck and barely scrape by, but the multiple cards maxed out (and all the debt and interest that comes with that) is scary.

I've seen that a few times.

It's one of many reasons why I think we need to have multiple years of basic economic schooling, at least in high school. Millions of people have no idea how to live within their means, and the credit card industry has preyed upon that weakness.

I had about 30k of debt 15 years back and lived like that a few months. Awful. Also my own fault so dont want sympathy but it is awful being in debt. Everything ends up costing you more.

TC, you don't have to mock other people for being less fortunate than you are, this is fucking unbelievable.

Some people have to do that in order to get by, and it's in extremely poor taste to make a topic bragging about how you don't live that way and mocking those who do!

I've never seen that in a store, but I'd feel bad for them. I know what it's like to live with a ton of debt and it sucks. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Savoots posted...

TC, you don't have to mock other people for being less fortunate than you are, this is fucking unbelievable.

Some people have to do that in order to get by, and it's in extremely poor taste to make a topic bragging about how you don't live that way and mocking those who do!

What is your fucking problem? Read what I actually said.

SHRlKE posted...

I had about 30k of debt 15 years back and lived like that a few months. Awful. Also my own fault so dont want sympathy but it is awful being in debt. Everything ends up costing you more.

Hey, how are you doing today? Was there an update?

Master_Bass posted...

I've never seen that in a store, but I'd feel bad for them. I know what it's like to live with a ton of debt and it sucks. I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

Yes, that was what I was feeling

bsp77 posted...

What is your fucking problem? Read what I actually said.

I did read what you said, and it was you mocking the guy for having to use multiple cards to pay for his groceries.

Stop mocking people for not having as much as you do, it's a motherfucking bullshit ass thing to do.

Savoots posted...

I did read what you said, and it was you mocking the guy for having to use multiple cards to pay for his groceries.

Stop mocking people for not having as much as you do, it's a motherfucking bullshit ass thing to do.

Wow.. the day I kind of agree with a Savoots post

Honestly, why do you care? People struggle in this country constantly because of terrible health care and wages, and you make a topic because you were inconvenienced because someone frugal and destitute was trying to make ends meet, and you try to disguise it as Im just trying to understand!!

Almost like a large portion of the American public lives pay check to pay check and it can get a bit difficult at the end of the month

Man, some of you guys are acting dumb. I clearly am trying to talk about the issue of poverty and how credit card debt fits in.

I said I was briefly annoyed but then realized how bad it was and how lucky I was.

Others got it.

ThisIsAKnoife posted...

Wow.. the day I kind of agree with a Savoots post

Honestly, why do you care? People struggle in this country constantly because of terrible health care and wages, and you make a topic because you were inconvenienced because someone frugal and destitute was trying to make ends meet, and you try to disguise it as Im just trying to understand!!

It's fucking disgusting, and the TC doesn't even give a shit either.

Oh, TC I'm so sorry you were mildly inconvenienced on your way back to the ivory tower.

This arrogance is unbelievable.

lol why are yall being so damn dramatic

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/9/3/9/AAJHVqAAECxj.jpg

I don't fuck with credit cards but I've had to pay for stuff using multiple things before. I'm po

You guys got it wrong, tc is just expressing how grateful he is not be in that impoverished position and just trying to understand how that happens, nothing foul

David1988 posted...

You guys got it wrong, tc is just expressing how grateful he is not be in that impoverished position and just trying to understand how that happens, nothing foul

Yes, thank you. I have no idea where I "mocked" anyone. Reading comprehension for the not win apparently

bsp77 posted...

Yes, thank you. I have no idea where I "mocked" anyone. Reading comprehension for the not win apparently

In the motherfucking OP you were mocking the guy trying to buy groceries.

It's disgusting behavior to mock people less fortunate than you and I can't believe this topic is still up.

It's just Savoots, TC. Tag him and move on. He never contributes anything to a topic.

Savoots posted...

In the motherfucking OP you were mocking the guy trying to buy groceries.

It's disgusting behavior to mock people less fortunate than you and I can't believe this topic is still up.

Quote where I mocked. I described. It was also a realization of how bad it can be regarding using multiple credit cards just to get by.

You seem really triggered. If you are in a similar situation, then I do feel bad for that. But I would never mock anyone.

lilORANG posted...

It's just Savoots, TC. Tag him and move on. He never contributes anything to a topic.

Yeah, I don't know him. I do now.

bsp77 posted...

I was buying groceries and the person in front of me had two packages of meat. He asked that they be rung up separately. He paid for the first with one credit card and it seemed fine. He then put that card away.

For the second item, he asked for $7 on one card and the remaining $3 on another. First, the $7 was declined so he asked for $6 instead and it went through. So card maxed.

The remaining (what was now $4) was declined on the other card too. So also maxed out. He then used $4 cash.

I was annoyed at first but then can't imagine having so many cards that are all maxed out.

I then checked out with my platinum card and never even checked the price because I got what I needed to get. Not saying this to brag but to remember how bad it can be and how lucky I am.

Is this common for people to use credit cards like this?

Are you sure they werent EBT cards? Ive seen people using multiple (maybe multiple adults in a household).

Cuticrusader09 posted...

Are you sure they werent EBT cards? Ive seen people using multiple (maybe multiple adults in a household).

I have no idea. I had to google what that even meant. Clearly, I have some ignorance about this. But that is not mocking. This is realizing how entitled and lucky I am. I don't like people suffering.

bsp77 posted...

Yeah, I don't know him. I do now.

Yeah, I'm someone who stands up for the little guy when someone makes a topic to mock them.

So yeah, now you know.

Savoots posted...

Yeah, I'm someone who stands up for the little guy when someone makes a topic to mock them.

So yeah, now you know.

Trust me, that is not how I have you tagged.

The fact that you can read what I wrote and not get the point, means you have serious social issues. Try to be better.

bsp77 posted...

I have no idea. I had to google what that even meant. Clearly, I have some ignorance about this. But that is not mocking. This is realizing how entitled and lucky I am. I don't like people suffering.

It is the end of the month so it makes sense that people who have EBT benefits wouldve run out of their allotment. Many places have moved to cards so there is less stigma when people checkout using them.

Cuticrusader09 posted...

It is the end of the month so it makes sense that people who have EBT benefits wouldve run out of their allotment. Many places have moved to cards so there is less stigma when people checkout using them.

Good to know

bsp77 posted...

Hey, how are you doing today? Was there an update?

Yes, that was what I was feeling

Yo. Yeah glad I came home. Shes staying at her parents for a few more days which gives me some time alone. Going to grab her in the new year.

Op said at the end he knows how fortunate he is.