Plastic passion

I got my first credit card when I was on my second job. It was not a matter of prestige or kicks, but a need – I was, after all, far from my usual beaten track and was never sure when I would need money for what. I also hated – and still do – carrying cash around, ATMs were not as common as they are now and rushing over to the bank waving a check was not exactly my thing. So, against all wisdom, I got myself a credit card, a neat plastic strip that tucked nicely into my wallet and was rarely, if ever, used. I was inordinately proud of it, perhaps because it was new and shiny and novel.

But this was not my first stab at plastic. Many years ago, when I had just got my first job, I went into the very plush office of a well known credit card company and asked for details about how I could get one. They effectively threw me out, saying snootily that I needed to be invited to apply for their card, I couldn’t just ask for one. I left, mightily annoyed. Today, so long after that stopped rankling, I still refuse to talk to callers from that particular company and will never ask for their card or agree to be sent the appropriate forms!

Today, I have more plastic than I want in my purse. There are my various bank cards – credit, debit and whatever else I am sent that I rarely examine too closely, but dutifully keep until they expire and can be used as bookmarks – and cards from various stores who expect me to be a regular and loyal customer. If they come for free, which they usually do, I fall for the sales bumpf and accept whatever I am given without too much argument, unless of course the eager-beaver salesperson is being really painful on a day that I have an attack of niggling conscience, PMS or no chocolate. In the last few years, I have accumulated ‘privilege’ cards from two bookstores (which I use often), a clothing store, my clothes designer a lifestyle store and…I seem to have lost count there.

A fairly new and very funny friend decided not too long ago to destroy all her credit cards. She works either with cash or with her debit card, shopping only when she has the money readily available for it. There is no anticipation of bills to be paid or payments to be made at some later date when she may just be flush enough to make them. Makes sense to be that way, to me. Maybe I should burn those danged bits of plastic bogging up my wallet and follow my friend’s example!