Keeping up with the Jones :: essays research papers

The expression, Keeping up with the Joneses a very uncouth quote that, Juliet Schor, used in her work, The New Politics of Consumption, could not check out a society more(prenominal) than. The average household debt excluding mortgage is estimated fifteen gigabyte dollars, eight thousand of that debt comes from consultation phone separate. (Paul Bannister, bankrate.com) Credit lineups argon adequate a huge problem in our society that it is affecting more than just consumerism. Its affecting the way we live.Everywhere public break through you go it is hard not to run in to the idea of the credit beak. You will see credit circuit board logos on the previous of every business. Every department store you go in has its own version of a credit card from Target to Macys. The buffet cars Club Card that originally was nevertheless for businessmen to take in lunch at 27 different restaurants. Now it is accepted most everywhere. And for everything else theres Mastercard(or Vis a, Discover Card orAmerican Express.Currently there ar 1.2 billion active credit cards used in the unite States. A typical purchase on a credit card cost more than 112% then a purchase paid for by cash. Americans are not only purchasing items on their credit cards as they go on shopping sprees. They are now give their rent, tuition, utilities, car payments, and anything else they can think of. 9 in 10 credit cards users say that their credit card debt is nothing they worry about, still 47% of these people refused to tell a friend exactly how more they owe. (Paul Bannister, bankrate.com). Initially when people receive a credit card they land that it is for emergency purposes only. However, that does not seem to be the case. For some, keeping up with the Joneses is an emergency. Heaven forbid, a sale at the GAP. Fewer people are saving money. Instead they rely on the plastic. However, the average credit card holder pays $1200 just in credit card interest. You would think that th ose somebody would figure this out and start putting that $1200 into saving for emergency purposes only. It seems odd that so many people say that they their credit card debt is nothing they worry about. When people have been filing bankruptcy more and more. In 1991, the rate of 25 years and under that filed for as go up to 50%. Maybe this has to do with so many Universities and Colleges allowing banks and credit card companies to hound financial uneducated students on campuses with promises of a free trading card or hopes of winning a plasma TV for their foyer room.