Going Down the Path of Consumer Debt – Again

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Friday, November 14, 2008 at 8:52 am

At creditslips.org, Bob Lawless raises the most reasonable question I’ve seen so far about Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s decision to shift the focus of the government bailout plan to consumers. In an attempt to get credit flowing again, Paulson wants to try to increase the availability of student loans, auto loans and credit cards.

Here’s the question from Lawless, an expert on credit and bankruptcy at the University of Illinois College of Law school: Why?

After two decades in which consumers piled debt on their credit cards without blinking, used their properties like ATMs, failed to save anything for a rainy day and spent in ways that have led to the huge mess in which we now find ourselves – why should we go down that path again?

From Lawless:

For those of us who grew up in the 1970s, the explosion of consumer debt is one of the greatest social shifts for our generation. Our parents borrowed but only episodically. Homeowners planned for a day when they would pay off the home mortgage and perhaps have a celebration where the mortgage document was burned. We were among the first college students who were able to get credit cards, but credit limits were low. As an undergraduate, I remember getting a Visa card so that I would have it for an emergency and being terrified about possibly being responsible for the $500 debt I could incur on it.

We now live in a society where a segment of America is permanently indebted. Although estimates vary, the best available data suggest a little under half of Americans carry a balance on their credit card. Homeowners have borrowed out of their home equity and no longer plan to retire mortgage debt. As a nation, we now over $13 trillion on our credit cards, automobile loans, and home mortgages. Even after adjusting for inflation and the growth in population, that is more than three times the amount owed in 1980.

Lawless isn’t advocating for a return to the 1970s – there are a lot of advantages to the expansion of credit. But instead of trying to spend our way out of an economic slowdown – again – it might be time for consumers to get used to a different lifestyle. Spending less, saving more. True, that means a lower standard of living in may ways. But the alternative is to temporarily address a problem that will only be kicked on to the next generation.

It’s also worth noting that two days after Paulson’s announcement, Citigroup said it planned to raise interest rates on its credit cards.

Categories & Tags: Economy/Finance| | |

Comments

19 Comments

JohnMcDonald
Comment posted November 14, 2008 @ 8:38 am

Credit has to slow, interest rates have to go up. I don't want to pretend that this is going to be painless, but we've reached a sort of peak credit point where the benefits of new debt can't possibly compare to what those benefits were when the total debt load was lower (say, the 70s).

Debt spiked prior to the Great Depression in a similar pattern to the early 2000s, and ultimately that's what caused the discomfort of the era. People had to stop borrowing and start living within their means with an eye on paying down principle owed.

If we take a deep breath and a sober look at the bills, we can start to build a foundation for a stronger tomorrow. If we ignore reality and borrow every penny we possibly can? Well, at some point (probably soon) we'll reach a limit where no one wants to lend to us anymore. Its the same endgame – there's not much borrowing left we can do before paying something back. The sooner the macro trend moves toward repayment, the sooner we'll see a real recovery…


Credit Repair
Comment posted December 3, 2008 @ 12:27 am

Debt slavery would means that you cannot take away on your debt many of us this is the reason why, and sometimes they got to be in poisoned for this reason. They cannot afford to ay their debt.
Keeping up with the Joneses has caused me more problems than I had ever imagined which had left me in a desperate need of a credit repair. As an American, Much like myself, many people have become prisoners in their understanding of the American Dream – fancy cars, big houses, and anything expensive. Instead of happiness, guilt and misery surrounds and lingers in their hearts and minds, eventually evolving into a huge burden emotionally and financially. I, too, had fallen prisoner to the popular idea of this so-called American Dream. Through my personal experience, I know material goods will not sustain the long-term happiness I desire. We all need to take the time to sit down to evaluate what really makes us happy. Spending time with the kids, getting outdoors, and spend quality time with your spouse are some of the simplest things in life that makes us happiest. The best part of it all is it doesn’t cost a dime. I have to admit, I do enjoy being admired for the fancy things I do have. What’s sad is that behind all of the nice things I have lies a chilling monster: my credit card debt. Keeping up with the Joneses has brought me nothing but trouble. It’s time I take responsibility for my actions and start living the true American Dream. Keeping in us the debt consolidation that we never been seen to be more and more had cried out with this problem that keep us so feeling depressed they I had ever, I am still on the road to credit repair, but I know I’ll get there soon. With the budgeting and smart spending techniques I’m becoming accustomed to, I know it’s just a matter of time. Click here to learn more about Credit Repair.


Charlize B.
Comment posted January 4, 2009 @ 11:07 pm

The United States was founded on the principles of individual freedom, equality and due process
in a democratic society, but in the area of the justice system, these principles have often been challenged..
Nowhere are the principles of human rights and democratic society more at risk today than in the U.S.
juvenile justice system. The United States strongly advocates for the extension of human rights
enforcement throughout the world, but when it relates directly to U.S., there is resistance to theenforcement of those rights by United Nations agencies. So apparently a bunch of states are saving extra cash by cutting juvenile justice programs. In states like South Carolina, programs that focus on counseling, rehabilitation and teaching life skills have helped cut in half the number of juvenile offenders who end up back in the system. But even after all this progress, some states are cutting 20 percent or more of their spending on juvenile justice programs. Obviously, if the number of child criminals who re-offend goes back up, the number of adults who get thrown in the slammer will go up right along with it. I think it’s discouraging that the government is taking more and more money away from prevention and rehabilitation. It’s just going to get spent on punishment later. This article talks about which programs are getting axed in the government’s quest to save extra cash.


Jonathan Browne
Comment posted January 17, 2009 @ 8:53 am

It's absolutely far too dangerous for America to continue putting everything on credit.


jim
Comment posted January 19, 2009 @ 3:38 pm

people will have to have credit for the economy to get better. With no credit the economy goes down the drain. But most people have bad credit so we have to careful.

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Deepak
Comment posted January 28, 2009 @ 5:46 am

(MarketWatch) – U.S. consumers reduced their debt load by a record amount in August, the Federal Reserve reported Tuesday. Total seasonally adjusted consumer debt dropped by $7.9 billion, or a 3.7% annual rate, in August to $2.58 trillion. This was the first decline since January 1998. Consumer credit rose 2.4% in July. Non-revolving credit – such as auto loans, personal loans and student loans – dropped sharply by $7.3 billion, or 5.4%, to $1.61 trillion, after rising 0.9% in July. Credit-card debt dropped by $612 million, or 0.8%, in August to $969 billion.


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Comment posted February 13, 2009 @ 3:59 am

Incurring debt as a consumer just is not sustainable in the long run.

As Rich Dad has said, there's also the difference between good debt and bad debt.

Perhaps the folks who did get some help will manage their finances differently.

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Comment posted February 14, 2009 @ 10:31 pm

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Comment posted February 17, 2009 @ 8:50 am

I think we should always be frugal.


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Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 1:07 pm

I can welcome myself to this path.


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Comment posted February 23, 2009 @ 1:38 pm

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Comment posted February 27, 2009 @ 2:30 am

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Comment posted March 9, 2009 @ 1:43 pm

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Debt_free
Comment posted March 16, 2009 @ 10:02 am

interesting survey, thank's


Web Designer
Comment posted April 1, 2009 @ 7:10 pm

Yeah today everyone relies on credit and doesn't think twice about the consequences.


1dbeau
Comment posted May 25, 2009 @ 7:17 pm

Yeah I agree to Jonathan Browne it is really dangerous for America to continue putting everything on credit. Because our economy will fall, most credit users don't pay much that's why we are experiencing financial crisis nowadays. I don't think auto loans will work because GM aren't in a good situation.


123vw
Comment posted June 12, 2009 @ 1:18 am

Citigroup shouldn't raise interest rates on credit cards because people nowadays are experiencing financial problem.
“As a nation, we now over $13 trillion on our credit cards, automobile loans, and home mortgages.” — And regarding auto loans I think it will not work nowadays because who has the money to have one with this kind of crisis?


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Comment posted June 12, 2009 @ 8:18 am

Citigroup shouldn't raise interest rates on credit cards because people nowadays are experiencing financial problem.
“As a nation, we now over $13 trillion on our credit cards, automobile loans, and home mortgages.” — And regarding auto loans I think it will not work nowadays because who has the money to have one with this kind of crisis?


cicurug
Comment posted July 10, 2009 @ 6:31 am

thank so interesting


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