What if convenience stores sold savings bonds instead of lottery tickets? A call to turn our nation of debtors into savers.
(Money Magazine) — There was something odd about the commercial, but it took me a little while to put my finger on it. This not-too-young, not-too-old, not-too-hip hipster with sideburns is talking about his credit-card company. Seems it has a new Web site that helps him plan how he’ll pay off his balance – someday.
The ad has the bright, soothing tone of a spot for, say, Lipitor or Advair. Credit-card debt is presented as if it’s just another of those unfortunate but manageable conditions that a lot of people live with.
And that’s the surprise. Aren’t credit-card ads supposed to be about all the awesome stuff you can buy? Here’s a lender all but admitting that many of its customers live beyond their means. We’ve come a long way, babies, when even the credit-card marketers are talking about Americans’ chronic debt.
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