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Cash or Card?

Date: Dec 11 2009

Grammar: Past Perfect Progressive

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Intro

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It’s a tempting thought: “I’ll just charge it.” You can pay for almost anything with a credit card these days, and it’s easy to feel like plastic money isn’t real money.

Until you get your monthly bill, that is. A lot of Americans today are stuck with more credit card debt than they can handle. But cards are so convenient, why bother carrying a bunch of bulky cash?

Plus, if you pay attention, you can actually earn money by spending money through credit card rewards systems. As Mason says, you just have to know how to play the game. Find out if he and Marni prefer to pay with cash or cards.

Dialog

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Marni

Mason: I got 10,000 new credit card applications in the mail. And they just bug me, ‘cuz I’ve got my one, I’m signed on to the whole credit card thing, and I need everybody else to just leave me alone.

Marni: Yeah, but you’re gonna be inundated with offers if you have good credit.

Mason: I have great credit.

Marni: Right, that’s the thing.

Mason: The secret is pay it off.

Marni: But that’s why so many Americans and so many people get into trouble, is because they carry debt.

Mason: It is. It’s so easy, you’re just like “Hey, it’s just a little piece of plastic, and sure, put this on my tab, I’ll run that one, no problem, I’ll pick up this check.”

Marni: So, I had been using my credit card relentlessly, just paying for everything with my credit card.

Mason: A vicious cycle, it’s a vicious cycle.

Marni: Because I never have cash on me. And then my balance started just getting so high that I felt like I was spending money that I really didn’t have. So I had to scale back and actually start budgeting and paying for things with cash again.

Mason: Well and you know, you’re just robbing yourself, because the credit card companies, if you can use them right, you get great benefits, you get cash back or you get the miles, or you get shopping rewards or whatever.

Marni: Right. And I think that’s such a good incentive to use your credit card. But it does…I feel like it becomes a vicious cycle.

Mason: It’s like a game. You play the game and you get your little points…Stick it to the man! That’s what the credit card’s all about. The magnetic man. Stick it to him.

Grammar Point

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Discussion

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Paying your credit card bill on time every month and never carrying debt are good habits to get into. But as Mason has discovered, they also have a downside. When you have really good credit, you tend to receive tons of annoying offers for more credit cards in the mail.

Most places in the U.S. let you pay with a credit card, so it’s almost unnecessary to carry cash with you these days. Marni didn’t like to carry cash, so she used her credit card all the time. But she realized that she was spending too much money that way. Now she tries to pay with cash more often.

Do you usually pay for things with cash or a card? Do you think there are more pros or cons to using a credit card?

Comments

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41 through 52 of 52
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nossy

Saudi Arabia

Humm

I had been hanging out at my friend`s house .

vincent_tin

China

I agree with yours opinions.

I have two credit cards two, and I use it by some debts when I run out of my cash. It's great to take some debts for emergency .Troubles always come up .Didn't it ? Taking good use of credit cards can make life better than no one can be asked for cash.

trongdu

Germany

i don't use card for purchasing. because i didn't believe safe in my country.

ehighlight

China

Credit card companies just set up a trap for all card users,if you pay little attention to using it,you'll fall into the trap,deep in debt.It is really incentive to pay something by credit card,it's much more easier,more convenient,and more gifts,but all of these things are prepared for baiting you on hook,actually a trap.Only few people can play the credit card and earn money or sth.,but most of the people will be in trap.Pay attention!

nossy

Saudi Arabia

For me I prefer the cash because by the card you are spending more and more without countig,and many times I gather my stuff in the shop or the pharmasy without any cash in the wallet and when he trys the card he discovers that it is emptyat that moment, look at my plushed face .

looool

PumpkinSoup

Thailand

There're more cons to me personally. When I buy things with credit card it doesn't feel like I'm spending real money and I always end up overspending. Shopaholics should stay away from credit cards, you'll never be the man in charge and I'm speaking from experience.

fedorame

China

That little magic card is so attractive to someone, but for me, it is just a tool, the only reason I want to use it is that I can get the bonus and rewards the bank would give back to me in the wake of spending a certain amount of money.But I hate the feeling that ''hurry up, pay off the debt before the deadline!" and the money becomes less in my account for the debt.that is really bug me!

glaciernew

China

cash or card? i use both. if it doesn't cost much, i pay it in cash, otherwise i use card. so that i don't need to take much money with me. but i don't buy the things that i can't afford, because i don't want to be in debt.

rosendo

Mexico

if u go to the mall and have not enough money and u want to buy the stuff it is convinient use the credit card , the hint to manage it , is just pay on time the bills and u wont have any problem or if u rather pay by cash it could be better too.

saludos.

julywidiawati

Indonesia

Mostly I use card for paying things, and it's a little bit inconvenient if I have to pay cash because I never bring cash, one important thing that I should remind about having credit card is never take it when I visit house of Barbie with my daughters.

solbong

South Korea

I use 'card' around 90 percent of purchasing things cuz it's convenient and easy to carry. Unfortunately that's why i spend much. I totally agree on the couple's story.

Ahn Soo-hyun

South Korea

I don't like credit card even though it is convenient. I have two credit cards, but I'll use it for emergency and public transportation. Usually, I pay in cash.

And here is a resolution for me. Next week, I ' ll reduce drinking and going out. Maybe my friends know this meaning, anyway what a happy day! Have a gorgeous day!!!