Paper vs. Plastic: Money Talk

Americans like stuff. Americans like to spend money. Americans strive for the “American Dream” via having a lot of stuff and, sometimes, determine success by how much stuff they have. They tend to care more about stuff rather than their money. And this is why America is the KING of marketing and advertising compared to all other countries in the world… and not to mention, in jaw-dropping consumer debt.

And when I say “Americans,” I’m talking about the majority of the population (which more than likely, includes both you and me).

According to multiple studies, Americans are exposed to an average of 4,000 ads per day, even if we don’t consciously notice it. It’s everywhere we look. It’s on everything we buy. It’s a part of everything we do. And it’s why marketing and advertising industries seem to shape the way our society views money, lifestyles, material items, beauty, comfort, enjoyment, the American Dream, things we think we “need,” and almost everything in between. (Phew! Say that in one breath….) In a nutshell, marketing and advertising play a huge part in our daily lives.

Disclaimer: I am not writing this article to start a protest or outrage in the American people against advertising. Advertising itself isn’t evil; it’s a part of our culture and the essence of how most businesses grow in profit. Not to mention, it provides people with jobs to put food on their table. In fact, I currently work in the marketing/advertising industry myself. This is not the point I am making in this article. Instead, I merely want to give you a “buyers beware” to common marketing schemes and help you distinguish your spending habits.

Because our society consistently craves and strives for “quicker,” “more convenient,” and “easier,” it has caused the majority of Americans to use plastic – credit/debit cards – to pay for their items instead of paper – hard cash.

Recent studies show that Americans are willing to spend MORE on something if it is convenient, easy, or fast. 

A.k.a. “time is money.” I think we can all agree that we’ve done this at least once in our lives. I know I have…. I’ve gone to the more expensive gas station because it was conveniently right off the highway. I’ve gone to McDonald’s (which I typically associate with disgust) because they’re everywhere and available when I needed a quick place to get a coffee / breakfast sandwich before work. I still find myself going to Wal-Mart for most things (which I don’t like, either) because, again, they’re everywhere and I can conveniently go to one store to meet all my shopping needs. Convenient. Easy. Fast.

When it comes to paying with paper or plastic (cash or credit cards), which one should we use? Does it really make a difference?

The answer: cash….and YES!

Cash is one of the MOST POWERFUL negotiating and bargaining methods you can use… and one of the BEST money management tools.

Why? You will have a more “emotional attachment” to hard cash, rather than credit or debit cards. You FEEL the cash leaving your hands, but with plastic cards, you are not affected by it. All you do is swipe and then you put it back into your wallet. This provides the mentality that you’re not really “giving” anything away. 

It’s importantto feel your money, because when you don’t, it’s easy to overspend and buy more than you can afford. The exclusive use of credit cards, which doesn’t come with any emotional attachment to your purchases, is dangerous and why so many Americans are in consumer debt!

Why is using hard cash such a great money management and negotiating tool?

Cash is:

• visible/physical money 
• provides an emotional attachment for the giver
• provides an emotional excitement for the receiver 
• instant (no bounced checks, bad credit scores, late payments, etc. that neither the giver or receiver has to worry about)

Because cash is visible, instant, and provides anemotional excitement for the receiver, you have a MUCH better chance of getting a good deal, especially if a sales consultant is the one trying to sell you the item. That hard cash serves as a bone for a dog, and they don't want you to leave without it in their hands.

Because there is an emotional attachment to hard cash, you will be less inclined to give it away, more likely to negotiate for a good deal, and more likely to feel 'buyer's remorse' after you purchase something. No, the purpose of 'buyer's remorse' isn’t to make you feel bad for spending your money, but to get you to see the VALUE of the dollar and spend your money wisely.

Now, let's talk about credit cards.....

Although Dave Ramsey might be opposed to credit cards (period), I think that is a judgment call you will have to make for yourself. But let me help make that call for you:

• If you are in credit card debt and can't seem to stop swiping, you need to do what Dave suggests -- cut it in half with scissors. Do anything you possibly can to get $1,000 in the bank, whether that's selling things, working extra hours, or living on beans-and-rice for a little while.
• If you're like me and pay off your credit card every month, on time (sometimes right after purchasing something), and treat it as a debit card -- where you only swipe it if you have that money in the bank, as if it would be taking the money out instantly -- then it may not be a bad idea to keep your credit card.

BUT... you need to do your homework.

I agree with Dave that you should SAVE UP and pay for things in hard cash, in order to get a better deal and/or keep yourself from going into debt. But this is homework you will need to do yourself (just as I will be doing): check the specific fees, annual interest, and other charges you get on your credit card. 

The reason you need to check these charges is because essentially, CREDIT CARDS ARE MONEY PITS. Even I agree with that. Going back to the art of convenience, easy, and fast, credit cards have it all in that one plastic device -- hence, making you want to spend more. The "points" and "miles" rewards? Yeah, that's just to get you to spend even more...because you "benefit" from your spending habits. It may seem to be beneficial to get a free gift card or a trip to Colorado, but here's the catch..

Wait, there's a catch?

Yes. Even if your credit card offers points, cash back, or miles, most of the time (according to Dave and other financial teachers) the credit card company will "make up for it" somewhere else to ensure they make profit -- since, you know, they're a money pit. Their interest rates are much higher than those credit cards who don't offer such rewards...

CNN Money and Consumer Reports agree: "While cash back, gas and grocery rewards credit cards can offer some relief for costly essential items, they often carry higher annual percentage rates than traditional credit cards, Consumer Reports said. Looking at some of the more generous credit card rewards programs, the study found that rates varied from 9.74% to as much as 19.99%."

You need to do your homework and see how much interest and fees are being charged to you for using your credit card. Interest and fees are typically how credit card companies make their money -- and they're a booming business for a reason. 


Americans like their plastic. But only you can make the call to start spending your money WISELY, see the VALUE in every dollar, and start to FEEL your money instead of the emotionless swipe of a plastic card. 

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Sources for additional info:

One of the best ways to organize your cash and follow this money management method is to use Dave Ramsey’s “Envelope System.” Click here to find out more details.

Learn how to negotiate and bargain with hard cash, go to Dave Ramsey’s negotiating tips, or listen to the podcast “That’s Not Good Enough” from his seminar.

1000+ tips on saving money, living frugally, and budgeting wisely: http://www.themoneysavinggarden.com

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15 Must-Have, Affordable Kitchen Items

Honestly, I could have a list of at least 100 of my favorite kitchen gadgets...but not all of them are affordable, such as a Kitchen Aid mixer, Ninja blender, and DeLonghi espresso machine.

But I decided to only list my Top 15 Favorite Kitchen Gadgets that are most definitely affordable to purchase, as well as changing your life and kitchen experience. Of course, these are my personal interests and preferences in kitchen gadgets that I will forever continue to use them in my kitchen.




Wooden Food Masher Stick:

I love guacamole, but sometimes I buy avocados from the store and they aren't as ripe as I hoped they would be when I was ready to cut it up. Sometimes they are still too hard to mash up into guacamole when using a fork or spoon.

But then one day, I discovered this gadget in a drawer (must have been my sister's) and thought I would give it a try.

Despite the un-ripeness of the avocado, this gadget managed to mash it up very well and easily to make guacamole. I've been using it ever since...

This tool is especially great during sales of non-seasonal avocados (which are lower in quality and harder to find the perfect ripeness for guacamole).

Mini Food Processor:

For small, quick jobs, I love to use the mini processor. I use it to quickly chop up onions, peppers, or other vegetables.

I also use it to make a quick recipe of salsa, guacamole, hummus, pesto, and even smoothies.

Pampered Chef Ice Cream Scoop:

What's so special about this gadget? Aren't all ice cream scoops the same?

NO. This ice cream scoop melts ice cream as you scoop, which allows for easy scooping. How? As soon as your hand grabs the handle, it radiates and heats up the entire spoon. Essentially, your hand heat makes scooping hard ice-cream much easier and likable.

...and you wonder why most ice cream shops have these metal scoopers.

Mason Jars:

As cliche as they are becoming (in every wedding and all over Pinterest for crafts and gift ideas), they truly are still awesome.

Mason jars are great for multiple reasons. They are good for beverages, storage, organization, gifts, and decor...and on top of it all, they are a classic.

But the reason I love mason jars so much are because they keep food fresh much longer than the typical plastic containers, and they keep your fridge organized. Here's proof: http://bit.ly/1aYfcFU

Soy Milk:

"I actually prefer soy milk over regular milk," as the commercial says. And I agree. Now that I've tried it, there's no stopping.

It's not exactly the taste that won me over, either. The texture is a little thicker than regular milk, the taste is similar to regular milk (in cereal), and it is healthier than regular milk. But the reason I love it so much is that it LASTS LONGER. Much longer. There's nothing worse than opening up an expired gallon of milk and smelling it....

Soy milk lasts longer and even if it's about a week overdue, it's still okay to drink. It doesn't spoil like regular milk does, and can tolerate not being refrigerated constantly. The only downside to soy milk is you can't really cook with it. It definitely doesn't give the same effectiveness in cooking, baking, or anything else. But it's a great alternative for smoothies, coffee creamer, chocolate milk, and of course, cereal.

Lawry's Seasoned Salt:

Not that this stuff is all that good for you (at least it has no MSG), but this stuff is the perfect seasoning for.....well, everything.

I use it to season meats, eggs, fries, vegetables, and almost anything I cook on the skillet.

You can't go wrong with this stuff.

Microfiber Towels:

These are amazing. No towel I own can dry a wet dish, counter, window, hair, or anything else better than a microfiber towel.

They aren't as cheap as regular dish towels, but a great investment....especially if you hand wash your own dishes.

You can thank me later.

Cookie Scoop:

I saw this gadget for super cheap at Michael's one day near Christmas and thought it would a good stocking stuffer. Turns out, this item is a life changing kitchen gadget that I will forever continue to use.

It's not that scooping cookies was ever time-consuming or annoying to do, but this cookie scoop makes the perfect size and shape of cookie dough onto the baking sheet every time. Plus, you don't get your hands sticky (or any germs mixed into the cookie batter).

Using the cookie scoop is also at least 2-3 times quicker than using a spoon or your hand...and allows for proportion control, which means more cookies get baked!

Best Wine Bottle Opener:

When it comes to opening a bottle of wine, you don't want to mess it up and 1) get cork grinds in the wine, 2) accidentally push the cork in the bottle, 3) have to try multiple times to get the cork out, 4) messing up the cork --if you save them for crafts, or 5) hurt yourself.

This type of cork screw is, in my opinion, the best of the best. Even the cheap ones. It's the best type for ease of use, effectiveness of getting the cork out, and price. It's great for even beginner wine openers, like me, who aren't pros at using a traditional cork screw.

Quesadilla Toaster:

If you like to eat a lot of quesadillas, like me, then you will love this.

I make quesadillas because it's an easy and delicious way to cook up a quick meal. And I'm all about low-maintenance, quick, and easy meals.

But the annoying part of making quesadillas on a skillet is when it's time to flip it over on the other side...and all the stuff in the inside starts to come out. So this quesadilla toaster will heat up both sides, without you having to flip it over, and will give you a nice toasted crust in half the time.

Cup Sponge: 

If you hand wash cups or have to wash out cups before you put them in the dishwasher, this is the best tool for making sure the hard-to-reach areas inside of the cup gets washed.

The sponge fits inside any size of cup.

If you hand dry cups, there are also tools just like this but with a microfiber surface for drying inside the cup (instead of sponge for cleaning).

Microwave Cover:

For all of those dishes that you microwave that can easily pop and splatter all over the inside walls, this is the perfect solution.

It's a microwaveable plastic cover that is large enough to fit over a dinner plate, and tall enough that it won't touch the food on your plate.

No more fear microwaving messy dishes, such as chili, tomato soup, and spaghetti.

Kitchen Trashcan with a Lid:

There's nothing grosser, in my opinion, than a trashcan that smells and proudly shows all of it's waste inside. I prefer to keep it hidden.

For me, having a trash can with a lid on it (with or without a stepping component) is a keeper.

Why? 1) It hides the nasty, rotten smell, 2) keeps fruit flies from swarming over the trash and vastly multiplying by the second, 3) keeps the cats out of it, and 4) hides all the waste so you don't have to look at it every time you walk by.

Onion Slicer Fork:

Cutting fruits or vegetables with a sharp knife always gives me the jitters. I'm not very good with knives.

This slicer / fork is great for onions, tomatoes, and any other items that you have to slice thinly using a sharp knife.

I feel much more confident slicing stuff with this thing, but it also allows for more accurate and thin slices.

Wet Swifter:

Wet swifters quickly clean up your kitchen floor after a days worth of preparing meals.

From spills,  to goo, to crumbs, to dirt marks, the wet swifter will wipe it up with ease.

The Money Saving Garden: 100+ Ways to Save $$ On A Tight Budget

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