The older generations talk negatively concerning playing cards, the lottery, or gambling in general. Those rank up there with debauchery, incest, and a few other big meaty words that have little place in conversation this century. Good Christians don’t play poker…I’m not completely sure why, but I’m fairly confident that this was the mindset of the blue hairs of our day.
But here’s my beef, and here’s what I think our generation should freak out about that is an equivalent to what gambling represented to the previous generation. Payday loans. Yep, you got it. Check into Cash is evil. You think I’m being funny, but I’m not. At least gambling is fun, at least it’s entertainment. Sure it preys on the poor, sure people get addicted to it, sure it’s a waste of money, sure it often brings out the worst in a lot of people. But at least it can be used for civil and entertaining purposes too. But payday loans are worthless in every way. What a cash advance from leading payday loan places ends up costing is the equivalent to a nearly 400% APR! And think about it, where do you see these stores most? In the ghetto. In the trashier parts of town they are literally (not actually) on every single corner. In every way payday loans prey on the poor, they prey on people in a pinch who feel the need to make a poor choice, they provide an “easy” alternative that ends up costing people an arm and a leg…Ahh, I don’t even want to talk about them any more. They piss me off.
Disclaimer #1: For those of you who choose to use payday loans, or for those of you who have done them don’t think I’m calling you stupid or something like that. I’m not. But there is a better way than this. Payday loans are a rip off and they’re screwing you over. There is a better way.
Disclaimer #2: As much as I hate payday loans, the problem isn’t with them. The problem is the fact that there is one on every street corner because they’re able to make it. Or in other words, they’re here because we want them to be. If we didn’t go there, they wouldn’t exist. Still though, you’re a scum bag Payday, a real scumbag. Leave us alone.
ryan you are dead to me.did you ever get the vid I sent?! you never said anything!I miss raj.
Dude, I completely agree. I hate those places – so freaking much.
have you ever bounced a check or overdrawn your checking account? if so, you'd understand why payday loans are popular. $15 per $100 is cheaper than than the alternatives.
thank you anony. I second that.
Just another jerk off who wants their opinion heard. If you don't like payday loan stores, don't use them! How hard is that? I don't like abortion clinics, so I don't use them! I don't like El Pollo Loco, so I don't go there! You say there is a better way? What is it? You even said it twice, there is a better way, but you cannot tell us what your better way is. Why don't you talk about something else that you actually have some experience with, like sex toys or whatever it is that you are into, and leave the payday loan stores alone. I use them, other's use them, and they are still around, so they must be needed.
First off Grant, chill out. Seriously, we can argue and criticize each others opinion but lets not get all nasty about it. It's more fun if we can argue without being mean. Sorry my opinion offends you so deeply, but I still stand by it one hundred percent. You want to know what the other way is? It's called budgeting, it's called planning, it's called getting a second job, it's called being the best steward of your money that you possibly can. I know it's not easy and sometimes may seem impossible, but it isn't. It just takes a lot of discipline and pursuit of more learning and knowledge that will allow you to do it.I hope that in your mind there is a difference between abortion and El Pollo Loco. I hope that hurting women and killing baby isn't on par with eating mexican food. To me it is ok to rail against and fight against something that is hurting people. People choose things that hurt them all the time, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with it. People choose to become meth heads, but that doesn't mean I'm cool with it. It doesn't mean I should just stand by while people ruin their life with it. Nope, I'm going to talk about it, I'm going to do what I can to keep it illegal, I'm going to try to show them a better way, etc. etc.If you want I can write a post about sex toys or about budgeting. I don't know too much about either, but if you want my humble opinion about it I'd be glad to share. My wife and I are very poor, we don't have much money at all, but through budgeting and planning we've been able to pay our bills and stay debt free. I'm proud of that and I want others to feel this same freedom. So maybe I'll write a blog about that some time.Thanks for your input and please respond to let me know what you think about my comment.
Oh and I meant to say this before, who are you Grant?
Why is it that society keeps finding clever and creative ways to take advantage of the poor? Desperation means you're a target for some scam, and those who do without are the ones who pay. Yeah, I've been overdrawn and I've bounced my share of checks (and $30 bouncer fees are just as criminal!), but the Check into Cash people are not heroes for the poor; they're vultures picking the bones.Grant, take up a hobby. Get away from your computer.
wouldn't it be funny if Grant were Raj? Clearly he isn't because he said "sex toys" rather than the Clearly Funny Alternative of "dildo", but…. it would still be funny if Grant were Raj.(its not. i can assure you of this, my friend.)
Concerning over draft fees in your bank account, I wouldn't consider those on equal terms with payday loans. I mean, you should avoid over draft at all costs. The simple answer would be…don't over draft your account. Granted, mistakes happen, but using a payday loan service isn't an accident, it's a choice. Generally if I were to be over drafting regularly I'd either need to get a second job or cut out some of my spending. Then I wouldn't have a need for payday loans because I wouldn't be over drafting.Another problem with the loans that I haven't even addressed is that it's a spiral. You borrow money from your next check because you're short on this check. But then the next check will inevitably run out just as early which will lead you to yet another payday loan except this time you'll be more short because of the charges accrued by using the last payday loan. This would go on and on until at some point you either make more money or stop some spending…which, ironically would have kept you out of the whole situation from the beginning.Again, I'm not trying to bash people that use payday loans. We all do different things with our money and possessions that probably aren't best. But if you're someone who's trying to justify payday loans as a good idea or if you're trying to lift up the payday loan business itself as something honorable…well…you're just wrong. Sorry.
You don't make any sense at all. The "blue hairs" said that people should not gamble, they didn't say that casinos shouldn't exist. Why don't you focus your efforts on educating people on how to manage their money better rather than being just like the old people and bitching about everything? Make yourself useful.
Grant, I had written a comment all calmly about how hard it is to deal with money sometimes, and give a little personal insight about my struggless with money. But I think you just want to argue like a little child and not discuss things like a man. Why is your profile hidden? Afraid your mom is going to find you using cuss words on the internet?
I agree wholeheartedly and, apparently, so does our government. They have made it illegal for payday loan 'stores' to provide their 'services' (for lack of a better term) to ANY active duty military member. Check it out: <a href="http://usmilitary.about.com/od/millegislation/a/paydayloans.htmhttp://usmilitary.about.com/od/millegislation/a/p… />Apparently exorbitant interest and the downward financial spiral was threatening the readiness of our troops. I would love to see them wiped out as well. =)
I forgot to add that any 'dependent' of an active duty member of the military is also covered by this law.