第587期:Cash or Credit

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Todd: So, Anita, we're talking about money. When you go shopping, do you prefer to pay by cash or credit card?

Anita: You know, there are times when I prefer paying by credit card because it makes me feel better because at the end of the day, I don't feel like I spent that money.

Todd: Right, right.

Anita: Because if I pay by cash, that money is gone out of your wallet, and you really feel it missing, so there are times when I prefer credit cards. There are times when I prefer cash, but if you look at it in the long run, I prefer cash because you know exactly what your financial situation is. You don't have to worry about getting a credit card bill at the end of the month, and not being able to pay it, so I would say I prefer cash.

Todd: You know, I used to think exactly like you do, but I changed because I found that when I was using cash, I couldn't keep track of how I was spending my money. I really had no record. I couldn't keep the receipts. I would lose the receipts, so a friend of mine said you should do everything on credit card or debit card and then it's on the computer. You can check, and then you could buy software and you can keep track of your finances and I did it and it works. It's really good, like I'm more careful with my money because I know exactly what I am spending on and I can check it.

Anita: That's true. That's true, and I do something similar except I don't have computer software for it but I have a little cash book where I write my expenses.

Todd: You mean writing, actual work.

Anita: I.. yes actual work: pen and paper, but for me that works better because if I use my credit card unlike you, I lose track of my spending. I forget when I use the credit card, when I didn't use it and it's much easier for me to buy things with a credit card. If you have cash in your wallet and the cash is not enough to buy whatever you want, you know that you cannot afford it, but with a credit card, that is not there so sometimes you tend to overspend and buy things you don't actually need.

Todd: True, that is a good point. I guess the key thing is to be careful.