YWJ: Which is a great segue to talk about a major bugaboo for today’s young consumer: credit cards.
Cruz: One has to understand that credit cards can be extremely beneficial if used correctly. In fact, it’s almost a necessary financial tool. But I would recommend students to ask for smaller credit lines to begin with. Keep track of what you spend; and never, ever, ever use your credit card without first seeing if you can pay the entire amount out of your checking account.
Ramsey: There is no positive side to credit card use. You will spend more if you use credit cards. It doesn’t matter if you have discipline, because you don’t! By paying the bills on time, you are not beating the system. You are falling for a lie. There is not one single place in Scripture where God uses debt to bless His people.
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YWJ: But what about marriage? Can that be a financial curse, too? Or is it more of a blessing?
Cruz: I’ve seen many, many studies that show people with long, stable marriages are far more financially successful than either single people or people who go through divorces. I don’t think you should marry somebody because you’re financially compatible, but it’s absolutely essential that you discuss finances with the person you’re planning to marry. These issues can create a lot of tension later on.
Ramsey: The reason money is the No. 1 thing we fight about is because it’s a struggle over power, and we are selfish people. How do we handle this? First, when you get married, you need to decide that the person you are marrying is most important to you. Secondly, you can’t be a liar. Integrity is a basic element in any quality relationship. If you think that hiding money from your spouse is being “safe,” you are being stupid.
YWJ: Do you have one tip to help youth get out of financial trouble?
Ramsey: Create a budget. Have a plan and tell your money where to go. You have to be intentional about your money, just like you do with your life.
Cruz: I’m going to go back to what I said at first: Know where your money’s coming from and know where it’s going. Make it a game. Over the next 30 days, track everything you receive and everything you spend, and see where it is your money went. Most people who do this had absolutely no idea where their money was going.