Person Explains ‘How Credit Cards Work’ By Using An Analogy That Can Almost Be Turned Into A Movie (2024)

Person Explains ‘How Credit Cards Work’ By Using An Analogy That Can Almost Be Turned Into A Movie (1)

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Credit cards lie in most Americans’ wallets. Multiple studies say that about 7 in 10 Americans have at least one credit card.

However, credit cards can either be essential to your financial life or detrimental to it.

You need one to help build a strong credit history and improve your credit score, but if you slip up, you can rack up debt and get overwhelmed by high interest charges.

Last week, game designer Avery Alder explained just how fragile this balance is through a visual fairy mafia analogy.

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Image credits: lackingceremony

The simplest way to understand a credit card is to think of it as a type of short-term loan. When a person opens a credit card account, their credit card company gives them a set credit limit. This is essentially an amount of money the credit card company allows them to use to make purchases or pay bills. The available credit is reduced as the person charges things to the card. Later, they pay back what they spent from their credit limit to the credit card company.

Image credits: lackingceremony

Image credits: lackingceremony

“The analogy is one that I have been thinking about for months,” Alder told Bored Panda. “Over the past year, I’ve done a lot of work to expand my knowledge of personal finance, how building a credit score works in North America, how lenders often require a history of borrowing (with low but consistent credit utilization), and how the system works to entrap participants.”

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She wanted to share that story in a way that friends could relate to because she knows that a lot of that financial literacy is class-protected. “It’s something that middle-class families often know and working-class families often don’t,” Alder said.

“A lot of my friends are young and queer, so explaining ‘imagine there’s a fairy mafia offering you their gold’ might resonate more than a flat explanation of the credit industry.”

Image credits: lackingceremony

An online survey commissioned by NerdWallet and conducted in 2020 by The Harris Poll, asked 2,033 U.S. adults to describe their credit-building journey and how they feel about credit cards and credit card debt in general.

Just over half of Americans (51%) said they think credit cards are helpful while more than a quarter (26%) think they’re dangerous, and close to 1 in 10 (9%) even say they’re “evil.”

A huge majority of Americans (73%) believe having credit card debt is inherently bad. But the amount of debt they say would overwhelm them — or cause them to seek out credit counseling or file for bankruptcy — is different. On average, Americans say a credit card debt of $4,898 would cause them to start feeling overwhelmed.

Image credits: lackingceremony

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Image credits: lackingceremony

Alder herself shares a credit card with her partner. “We have multiple bills that auto-pay on it, and add a few additional purchases to it each month. We pay it down to zero every month. We always make sure we’re putting something on it every month but try to never exceed that golden 30% credit utilization. This keeps the fairies pleased with us, and they keep offering us more gold,” she explained.

Image credits: lackingceremony

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In the good debt/bad debt binary, credit card debt is often designated as ‘bad debt’ due to high interest costs and an assumption that using a credit card often leads to unnecessary spending.

While student loans pay for education and a mortgage gets you a home — they are often referred to as ‘good debt’ — credit cards can be used for just about anything, including so-called frivolous spending.

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Image credits: lackingceremony

Image credits: lackingceremony

Alder, who lives in Canada, in the Sinixt territory of Southeast British Columbia, thinks that credit bloat has become a huge problem in North American economics. “Real wages have stagnated over the past fifty years, while the cost of living has continued to skyrocket. This has created an unsustainable crunch economy in which people are increasingly forced to turn to credit cards and other lending strategies in order to survive,” she said.

“Advertising and popular culture continue to promote a consumer mentality that increases the temptation of living outside one’s means, never accumulating savings, and always putting more on credit. These choices aren’t something I would ever blame on individuals. Wage stagnation, predatory lending, and a consumer-driven culture push people toward these choices. I want to help people develop financial literacy so they can better navigate that trap, but I think the real solution lies in a larger structural overhaul.”

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Person Explains ‘How Credit Cards Work’ By Using An Analogy That Can Almost Be Turned Into A Movie (2024)

FAQs

Which describes how a credit card works? ›

Credit cards offer you a line of credit that can be used to make purchases, balance transfers and/or cash advances and requiring that you pay back the loan amount in the future. When using a credit card, you will need to make at least the minimum payment every month by the due date on the balance.

How do credit cards work in simple terms? ›

A credit card is a physical card that can be used to make purchases, pay bills, or, depending on the card, withdraw cash. The simplest way to think of a credit card is as a type of short-term loan. When you open a credit card account, your credit card company gives you a set credit limit.

What are credit cards an example of quizlet? ›

Credit cards are an example of revolving open-end credit.

What is the term for a credit card that can only be used at a few select locations? ›

Store credit cards, or retail cards, are offered through retail stores to let consumers charge their purchases and pay them off over time. Store credit cards are generally used only at the specific store offering them, although some store credit cards can be used within a family of stores.

What best describes a credit card? ›

A credit card is a line of credit that can be used to borrow money to make purchases, transfer balances and get cash advances, with the agreement that you'll pay back the money borrowed — plus any interest you owe on it — at a later date. There are two main types of credit cards: secured cards and unsecured cards.

What is a credit card described as? ›

A credit card generally operates as a substitute for cash or a check and most often provides an unsecured revolving line of credit. The borrower is required to pay at least part of the card's outstanding balance each billing cycle, depending on the terms as set forth in the cardholder agreement.

How does credit work in simple terms? ›

Credit is the ability of the consumer to acquire goods or services prior to payment with the faith that the payment will be made in the future. In most cases, there is a charge for borrowing, and these come in the form of fees and/or interest.

How do you explain credit card to a child? ›

In the case of a credit card, it's the bank's money. If you have a job and pay your bills responsibly, a bank will give you a credit card to make purchases even if you don't have the money in your wallet. If you pay the bank back on time, you don't owe any additional money.

How does the method of credit cards work? ›

A credit card works by giving you access to a revolving line of credit. You can borrow against the credit line, repay the debt and borrow again without having to apply for a new card. Many cards offer additional benefits, such as rewards and purchase protections, that can make them a better option than debit cards.

What is credit card one word answer? ›

A credit card is a plastic payment card that allows the user to make purchases on credit or borrow money from a financial institution.

What is credit card in simple sentence? ›

A credit card is a card which allows people to buy items without cash. Each card has a unique number. Using this number, plus other details on the card (such as the validity date, or a code), the client can buy goods or services.

What is an example of using a credit card? ›

You are making a purchase using the credit card company's money. Then, you'll pay back the purchase with or without interest depending on how long it takes you to pay. If you pay for purchases prior to your monthly due date you won't get assessed an interest fee.

Which best describes how a credit card works? ›

Which best describes how a credit card works? The credit card company extends you a line of credit. You purchase "stuff" and then have the choice to pay the balance in full or a minimum payment each month.

How does a credit card work? ›

A Credit Card is a facility that allows you to pay for various expenses. It comes with a set credit limit. When you use this card for payments, the issuing entity pays for your expenses on your behalf. The entity then bills you for the expenses incurred on the card, which you must repay by a predetermined due date.

What are the common terms used related to credit cards? ›

Understanding what credit cards are and key terms is important for getting the most out of your card. Words like billing cycle, annual fee, credit score, grace period, and EMI are important for managing your money wisely. Knowing these words helps you make smart choices and use your credit card well.

Which best describes how a credit card works Quizlet? ›

Which best describes how a credit card works? The credit card company extends you a line of credit. You purchase "stuff" and then have the choice to pay the balance in full or a minimum payment each month.

What is the description of a credit card? ›

A credit card is a payment card, usually issued by a bank, allowing its users to purchase goods or services or withdraw cash on credit. Using the card thus accrues debt that has to be repaid later. Credit cards are one of the most widely used forms of payment across the world.

What is the best way to describe what credit cards are? ›

Credit cards are plastic or metal cards used to pay for items or services using credit. Credit cards charge interest on the money spent. Credit cards may be issued by stores, banks, or other financial institutions and often offer perks like cash back, discounts, or reward miles.

How does a credit card statement work? ›

A list of all the transactions that have occurred since your last statement (purchases, payments, credits, cash advances, and balance transfers). Some credit card companies group them by type of transactions. Others list them by date of transaction or by user, if there are different users on the account.

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