Why can't people live within their means?
i have never owned a credit card and so have my parents and I think thats how it should be, I've met 18 year old americans with credit cards and already in debt due to student loans etc. my question is why?

I have two credit cards and i pay them off all on time. So basically I don't have any debt.

I think people take advantage of credit cards and that's what screws them over.

I had a credit card when I was 18. It's safer to use than a debit.

People want nice things, and buying with credit is tempting.

And mess at you lumping in student loans to this. That's an entirely separate issue.

oh so basically you use your credit card as a form of overdraft? that kinda makes sense

Credit cards are actually really important if you want to buy a house. Credit cards are only bad if you have no self control. I always pay mine off at the end of every month. I never spend anywhere near my limit.

Credits are great, if you know how to use/work them, the issue is most people learn how to when they're already drowning in debts.

I'm glad my mom paid my debts and i learned the lesson quite young.

That's what I do as well. I pay for virtually everything with my credit card and then pay it off every week. It's nice because I can dispute false transactions (which have happened occasionally) and the credit card company will back me up.

how is a credit card safer than a debit? with a debit card you pay with what you have, and not getting yourself into debt.

student loan is still debt tbh, the only acceptable debt is house loan or maybe a car loan.

Student loans debt is a very different concept from credit card debt, so I'm not sure why you mentioned it. I have student loan debt; I also have a credit card, but it's relatively easy to manage it and not fall into debt. Young people who accumulate large credit card debt either haven't educated themselves on the use of credit or are irresponsible, in my opinion. We have a responsibility as a society to stop taking advantage of students and young people by peddling credit cards at them, but there's also a responsibility to educate oneself that lies with each and every prospective credit card user.

They mean safer when it comes to having your card stolen Or hacked into.

It's extremely important to have a credit card for a couple years solely to build credit up. Besides that, if you don't have the money, you shouldn't spend any.

Not really. I just never spend what I don't have. I have an idea of how much I have in my account and then spend accordingly.
Honestly I just have credit cards to build my credit so i can buy a car/ house in the future.

Credit cards are used to build up credit and to track your credit score, so if you want to own a house you need it. No wonder wants to sell a house to someone who has no history of credit or any way to track it.

How is student loan debt "not acceptable" though? In the US, higher education is becoming increasingly necessary for job success but is simultaneously becoming more expensive. Barring intervention from the state with regard to college costs, how do you propose individuals deal with this problem if not with student loans and careful financial planning?

i meant, they already have debt on their hands in the form of student loans and now they just add up the debt with credit card debt, looks like a disaster waiting to happen imo

I once racked up 500 dollars of credit debt. I learned my lesson with a quickness.

Responsible credit card owners only buy what they can afford.

It can be, but like I said, I feel a significant part in avoiding such disaster lies with the individuals themselves. If you know how to manage, it's not much of a risk.

mess

What did you buy?

!!!!