A monkey with a credit card

My cousin Apryl recently invited me to join a credit repair group on Facebook. After reading through a couple of dozen posts my soul began to ache as I remembered the thousands of dollars debt I was in at one point in time. The people in this Facebook group naturally were chasing their credit scores and asking which credit card they should be attached to.

Now don't get me wrong. I don't believe that credit is the root of all evil. I believe that credit is a tool that needs to be used responsibly and constructively. However, when we glimpse at the various lives we connect with we see friends and family using credit for just about any purchase.

For example, they are buying sneakers, candy bars, cars they couldn't otherwise afford, groceries, their morning coffee at their local coffee shop. Most if not all of these things should be bought outright within your cash income. Buying things meant solely for consumption is just burying yourself in debt. That's what credit is...debt.

When is it a good idea to take on credit or debt? Looking at the successes of credit users we see that credit is best used to strengthen you or your child's income potential. Examples of strengthening income potential would be:

Opening a business. Paying off startup costs with the business income and keeping what you make afterward.

You or your child's education so that entry-level positions are not your only option for employment

Buying a vehicle so you can get to work

I want everyone to experience prosperity. I don't want to see anyone behaving like a monkey with a handgun when it comes to using credit. Please do your research! Not only on credit but money history as well.