Why use credit cards? 干嘛要用信用卡？

Why use credit cards?

I like to use cash. Why use a credit card unless it’s to keep track of claimable business expenses, do internet shopping, or spend money that I don’t have at a criminally high interest rate?

They try to make me worry about losing cash. Sure, that might happen once or twice in an entire lifetime. But credit cards could also be lost, resulting in more hassle and greater potential losses if I fail to notice and report in time. The total value of credit card frauds due to lost cards is US$50 billion per year.

Are credit cards more convenient? Not if you live in the city with an ATM on every block. I also find it reassuring to have a couple of weeks’ worth of petty cash in my pocket: My money, in my pocket, for the time being. It feels good.

Most importantly, when using credit cards for no reason other than the persuasive power of advertisements, I know I’d be penalising the average small business operator (who must trim every penny to remain competitive), and benefit banks who have done ZILCH in the transaction except sitting there, waiting to take a cut from someone else’s labour. 

They try to bribe me with bonus points. But bonus for what? Look at all that junk. Do I really need them? Am I going to spend like an idiot in order to move some of these unneeded items from the warehouse to my home? 

Last of all, frequent use of credit cards puts me on everyone’s junk mail list, and leaves a trail of my whereabouts. And what if my ass caught fire in the next financial kaboom? With all the plastic in my wallet, it might just give off toxic fumes.

干嘛要用信用卡？

我喜欢用现金。除非是方便商务开支，或者是在网上购物，或者是为了先花未来钱而不惜付出比高利贷更冷血的利息，我看不到有任何理由用信用卡。

袋现金怕丢？信用卡也有丢的时候呀！正常人一生总会丢一两次荷包吧，如果丢的是现金，丢了便丢了。假如是信用卡，又来不及报案，可能会引致相等于信贷限额的损失。每年由于失卡所导致的损失是 五百亿 美元哦。

方便？够现金方便吗？住在城市，每一条街都有提款机。我通常喜欢袋里有大约两个星期的零用钱。自己的钱暂时在自己的裤袋里，内心非常踏实，付钱时也神气。

最重要的原因，是银行广告看多了，有理无理也刷卡的话，会无心“惩罚”了辛苦经营小生意人。对他们来说，每一分一毛也得用努力赚取。我又怎么忍心损他们而不利己，把他们微薄的利润分给坐在那里喝香槟等分钱的银行家呢？

但是刷卡可以有积分，换礼物哦！我看看那些所谓礼物，都是些对我毫无价值的垃圾。搬回家干嘛？还是少刷卡，帮帮小商人省回手续费，比做慈善捐献更实际。

最后，不刷卡可以减少个人资料给人家买卖的机会，也可以避免把行踪私隐和消费习惯泄露于奸商。还有！下次金融大灾难的时候，假如不幸屁股着火，荷包里的塑料卡，分分钟会冒毒烟，令灾情恶化，还是少碰为妙。