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January 19, 2009 • Posted by Erica Adams

No Good Side To Plastic

With banks bracing for the next meltdown in the form of people not being able to pay their credit card debt, and Congress pushing hard for a Credit Card Bill of Rights, I thought it might be good time to touch on the topic of plastic. In a recent survey, 35 percent of Ladies Home Journal Readers indicated their top money worry was paying off credit card debt. For years, it seems, people have been living large, buying now and figuring out how to pay for things later. Later has finally arrived.   

I read an article recently where the author suggests that consumers should use credit cards for big-ticket purchases such as a refrigerator or home repairs. And while this author does make great points about the benefits and responsible use of credit cards, author and smart-money guy Dave Ramsey says credit cards are never a good idea. Don't believe Dave? Ask Thomas Jefferson who said, "Never spend your money before you have it."

At SmartyPig, we take the words of both men seriously. If you don't have the money to spend on an item, the solution is simple: save up for it instead. We know that in these difficult economic times emergencies do happen. But if you want to charge a new plasma screen TV or a family trip, wait it out. Start a SmartyPig goal instead. Then, when you've met your goal, the TV or the trip is all yours without a single credit card bill. Simply put, using cards in this economy, is an accident waiting to happen. Too much can go wrong. 

That's why we are working non-stop to make it easier for you to save money and stay away from your plastic. We've recently added new features to help the goal saving process, and we hope these improvements will further motivate you to keep saving and meet your goals. As Mr. Ramsey states, "There is NO positive side to credit card use." We could not agree more.

Tags: smartypig   •  saving money   •  credit card debt

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May 5, 2008 • Posted by Jon Gaskell

What's In Your Wallet May Be Wiping You Out

We talk a lot about what people are saving for using SmartyPig. Almost all of the time these stories involve a very optimistic individual or family looking forward to a wedding or a vacation or a baby on the way. But there are other stories. They are no less optimistic, mind you. But they are tempered with some despair. They are about people who have been, or currently are, being held hostage by their credit cards, and are using SmartyPig as a way to get out from under.

To be honest, we have only heard from a few people who are using SmartyPig to actually help pay off high credit card bills. Mainly, we have heard from, and read about, people who are using SmartyPig to help reverse the mindset of "buy now, pay later." Many are using SmartyPig as a way to save up for the next holiday season, while (OUCH!) still paying off last year's shopping binge. In fact, December 2008 is our most popular month for scheduled redemptions in the next year - by 3 to 1.

Continue Reading...

Tags: debt reduction   •  credit card debt   •  savings account   •  saving   •  budgeting   •  budget   •  credit card rates

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April 7, 2008 • Posted by Jon Gaskell

Here's SmartyPig!

We are extremely excited to introduce what we feel to be the most innovative, educational and rewarding way to save - ever. We call it "Simple, Smart, Savings." We're pretty sure you'll feel the same way. See, SmartyPig is not only a snap to use and is as secure as any other bank, SmartyPig will help you get more for your savings dollar than you ever thought possible.

In these scary economic times when credit card debt is skyrocketing, we feel the best way to help reverse the trend is to go back to the way things used to be. In our demo we ask the question, "Remember when you were a kid, and in order to buy something you had to save up?" In a nutshell, that is the idea behind SmartyPig. We want to help you get back on track. Phase out those credit cards. Set goals. Sensibly save up for them. Go back to the way it used to be... And be rewarded like never before for doing so.

We aren't suggesting you leave your current bank or to stop saving for the things you are already saving for like retirement or your kids' education or even your emergency fund. We just want to offer you a way to stop and smell the roses. You can start saving today for the holidays or a family vacation or a kitchen remodel without the worry of looming credit card debt - the kind that takes someone paying the minimum monthly amount on $1,000 more than 20 years to pay off.

So please explore the site, open an account, and if you find the experience to be rewarding, tell your friends and family members. For specific savings goals, we truly believe you'll find SmartyPig to be the most rewarding way to go.

Feel free to contact us at anytime. And please enjoy the experience of Simple, Smart Savings.

Thanks.
- The SmartyPig Team

Tags: smartypig   •  credit card debt   •  savings account   •  saving

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