Credit lessons from the soap operasLeave the brainwashing to Stefano from 'Days of our Lives'By Dawn Papandrea
Whether you'd classify your credit habits as young and restless or bold and beautiful, remember that you only have one life to live, and how you use (or abuse) your credit will shape your financial future. Before more time passes like sand through the hourglass, you'd better learn these credit lessons, courtesy of your favorite daytime drama cliches ...
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Days of Our Lives: NBC Photo/Chris Haston
No one can show off their brainwashing skills better than "Days of Our Lives' " Stefano.
Brainwashing
You know that you have way too many cards already, yet when a sales clerk dangles a 15 percent off discount for applying for store credit, your better judgment goes to mush. It's almost as if -- dah, dah, dah! -- you've been brainwashed by the town's evil villain!
Lesson: Saving a few bucks at the time of purchase can cost you much more in the long run.
"Store cards usually carry a high interest rate, so if you don't plan on paying your bill in full and on time, then just say no," says author and personal finance expert Catey Hill. "Do not get brainwashed with alluring savings or freebie offers unless you can pay that whole bill off quickly."
On the other hand, store cards that offer discounts or other incentives can be worth it for you if you do pay your bill in full and on time, and there are no or low annual fees, she says.
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See related: 13 greatest credit card songs meld pop, plastic, Money and credit lessons learned from TV, Top 10 Hollywood credit card movies, 8 novels show how credit cards appear in fiction
Published: June 22, 2010
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