I listen to the radio often, as we are unable to get television signal without paying for it, even with a digital antenna. So, we listen to the radio. One of the nightly radio personalities is a guy named John Tesh. He tries to give advice to help people that I often poke holes in as my wife rolls her eyes from her Facebook page to the ceiling in reply.

Tonight he was talking about credit scores. He was actually referring to “your credit score” throughout the piece; I won’t say it is “yours”. I want to have a lousy credit score.  

I would like a very low credit score that reflects the fact that I pay cash for everything I purchase. That is not to say I whip out a wad of Tommy J’s and pay for new high dollar purchase. I have a debt card and I have a checkbook. What these “helpful” hints pertaining to credit scores are trying to do is get you thinking about buying things with credit. Buying things with credit means you will have to pay the credit fees.
Not having a credit card is the most effective way to save money on credit card purchases. The credit companies taut the supposed need for credit cards in case of emergencies. A large savings account will make up for any credit card offer. Socking a few hundred or a thousand of your tax return into a savings account will help prepare for emergencies. A recurring “emergency” should be considered an annual expense. Plan for it. Personally, we have had automobile problems toward the end of the year for the last three years, usually costing over $400. This is now considered an expense.  

The question should not be “How can you to improve your credit score” but “What can you do to ignore your credit score?” Having the ability and patience to pay cash for things makes the credit companies irrelevant in life. Retailers are also more willing to haggle on the price if you have cash. We bought a van a few years ago. The used car dealer had a price of $6900 on it. We brought cash and told him we might go $5000. We left to look at other vehicles. A few hours later and about four phone calls, we bought it for $3000. That amounts to more than a 43% discount for cash.

You cannot be debt free if you buy with credit cards.