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Consumers Spend Carelessly When Using Credit Instead of Cash Cash helps consumers save more

By  CRAIG MELVIN

Updated 11:31 AM EST, Tue, Nov 18, 2008

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The average American loses hundreds of dollars each year by using credit cards and losing track, according Visa USA, so one D.C.-area couple put that theory to the test.

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A couple puts some money-saving tips to the test to see if spending cash is really better than using credit cards.

Couple Puts Money-Saving Tips to Test

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Antonio and Dinah Tijerino had too many credit cards, which made it difficult for them to track their spending and saving, they said. When their family began to grow, they started using cash more money.

To prove that it works, the Tijerinos decided to use nothing but credit one week and nothing but cash the next. During the credit week, the couple spent more than they expected. They were more careful the next week.

The results did not surprise Kiplinger's Personal Finance's Janey Bodnar, who said people tend to spend up to their credit limit when they use credit cards.

Comments (1)

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  • LoCo Tuesday, Nov 18 at 12:30 PM FLAG COMMENT I agree with this story. When you don't have the cash on hand, you don't spend it. You don't see the money leaving your hands when using a credit card. Credit cards are very convienient that way. For example, when McDonalds started taking credit/debit cards it became very convienient to buy that super-sized value meal plus the $1 cheeseburger racking up your bill to over $10. Whereas if you had 5 bucks in your pocket, 5 bucks ... MORE >

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