So You Want to Be a Credit Card Person

Dave Ramsey would be ashamed.

For most people, debit cards are far safer than credit cards — and credit cards should only be considered when you’re truly standing on solid financial ground. In Ramsey terms, that means after Baby Step 3, with 3–6 months of expenses sitting in a fully funded emergency fund.

Credit cards are not a right of passage. They’re a responsibility. And like any financial tool, they can either reward you or completely wreck you.

Before diving into the world of revolving debt — or deciding whether you should keep the credit card you already have — you need to qualify yourself.

"Business Opportunities" MLMs: The Legal Pyramid Scheme

MLMs: The Legal Pyramid Scheme

You get a message from an acquaintance. They mention a “business opportunity.”
They’re vague about the details and insist “all your questions will be answered during the meeting.”

It’s the classic MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) pitch — using familiarity and social pressure to make a sale.

I’ve been approached many times over the years, and the playbook never changes. Knowing how to spot these scams early can save you time, money, and even friendships.

The Problem With Gift Cards

Gift cards are everyone’s favorite gift to give and receive. They look like you put in thought and effort, but without actually putting in thought and effort. In reality, it’s like giving someone shopping homework. And just like homework, it often gets neglected or put off. 

Sure, a gift card pairs nicely with a greeting card, but there are more drawbacks to gift cards than you might think. From wasted money to depreciating value, from “homework assignments” to trading in for an inferior product, gift cards aren’t always the slam dunk they appear to be. 

How Long Would It Take to Become a Millionaire?

The median post-tax take-home pay in the U.S. is around $41,600 per year. If you were somehow able to save every single dollar, it would take you just over 24 years to hit millionaire status. That sounds daunting—almost unachievable.

But what if you didn’t just save, but invested that money? With an average 8% annual return, you’d reach $1,000,000 in under 14 years. Just by adding investing to saving, you knock off a full decade.

Now let’s add another modern reality: most households today have two working parents. That means, together, you could reach millionaire status in under 9 years—if you both saved and invested every penny.