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Live Within My Means? Why Bother?

June 25, 2009|By Janet Gilbert

Thanks to this commercial, I think I'm going to charge a luxury built-in pool, charge a waterfall and charge a fountain. I'm going to charge a gazebo and a bathhouse. Oh, and I think I'm going to charge one of those stainless steel grills that will stretch like a shiny railroad car alongside the new wrought-iron back fence I'm going to charge.

Yes, I'm going to charge, charge, charge all of these things and more, and never consider paying the credit card balance off. In fact, I'm going to wait until those evil creditors start calling me, and I'm going to turn to this company that advertised on the radio to rescue me from my spending spree.

You see, the announcer flat-out told me that credit card companies don't want me to know that they can settle any debt for a fraction of the original amount I owe. Most important, they assure me that it's not my fault if I've gotten deep into debt and am getting hounded by nasty creditors. I'm not alone. There are thousands of Americans just like me.

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I'm going to join all those people who couldn't pay for stuff they bought. And don't bother me with your talk about responsibility and ethics. Just bring me a frosty Margarita by my new pool.

Put it on my tab.

Janet Gilbert, a freelance writer, lives in Woodstock. Visit her at www.janetgilbert.net.

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