Cash Only is Cool

I read this article yesterday and totally agree with it.

My parents taught me an amazing skill of budgeting and living on cash only. When I came to college, I didn't have a checking account for a few years and never had a credit card. If I wanted something, I had to take money out of my savings account via the ATM and purchase it with cold, hard cash. It is true that it makes you second guess all of your purchases since you physically see the cash leaving. It also makes you save for emergencies and plan for the future since you know that you don't have credit to save you. Basically I learned to live within my means. Yes I use credit cards now (the rewards can be a great free benefit), but I pay them off every month to avoid carrying high interest debt.

There was some friendly teasing (including from my wonderful boyfriend, now husband, Ben), but I am happy that the skill so many desperately need is second nature to me (and becoming so to Ben). I hope the nature of Americans change to those of our parents/grandparents, and we teach the skill to future generations so they do not repeat current mistakes.