And so it begins...

I received my new Credit card yesterday, which arrived in much lesser time than expected. Endowed with a credit limit of $500, it came with a little booklet that contained my contract with the company, and the very technical terms and conditions document.

First Question- Why does it take a 'contract' to do every damned thing in the U.S? I was on the phone with a car dealer the other day, and this guy just could not give me a price on the car i wanted, meandering around stuff like options, financing, and the ubiquitous 'contract'...all i wanted was the base price, and he would not bring that number up. Finally, i got very frustrated and asked him to call back later.
Second Question- Why do these guys have something called 'MSRP'(manufacturer recommended sale price) instead of what the rest of the world calls maximum retail price, so that dopes like you and me can get ripped off ??

Anyway, getting back to the buisness of my credit card, i have decided that the best way to deal with this menace is to stay one step ahead of these card companies. i will equate my spending limit to whatever cash i actually have in hand, and not treat the card as a means of 'credit'. In other words, save money, buy what you need on your card, and pay the debt off as soon as possible from the money you saved. Do not spend over a set limit, say $350, and pay your bill with frightening regularity. Never, ever let yourself get carried away by the various offers these guys wave in front of you. Stay in control, always.

Cash, is King...