I don't give to the rich

[tjones80]

No, I don’t have any credit cards any more, I don’t use a bank to store my money, I don’t have a mortgage or rent that goes to the rich. I don’t feel bad about my choice and I hope more people will join me. After all I earned it myself, so why should I give it to people that have billions of dollars in the bank?

 

[Supewoman]

When you put money in the bank, you will get interest over it. Nowadays not so much, no, but considering there’s still inflation, it’s better than nothing! Also, banks redistribute money through loans, helping (small) businesses. So, when you put your money in the bank, you don’t actually give it to the rich, you help your community! (And yes, you also help the bankers get their salary and bonus, but alas!).

 

[agnes_therese]

No, I don’t have any credit cards any more, I don’t use a bank to store my money, I don’t have a mortgage or rent that goes to the rich. I don’t feel bad about my choice and I hope more people will join me. After all I earned it myself, so why should I give it to people that have billions of dollars in the bank?

Hmm, you haven’t been reading another thread about “I don’t give to . . .”, have you?

 

[ClearWater]

No, I don’t have any credit cards any more, I don’t use a bank to store my money, I don’t have a mortgage or rent that goes to the rich. I don’t feel bad about my choice and I hope more people will join me. After all I earned it myself, so why should I give it to people that have billions of dollars in the bank?

It’s probably difficult not to give to the rich. They are into so many successful businesses. I think you probably also do give to the rich in some way or other.

 

[ClearWater]

Hmm, you haven’t been reading another thread about “I don’t give to . . .”, have you?

That’s what I was thinking, as well.

Also, what’s wrong with putting one’s money in a bank, getting some interest? That money will be used for investments, I think. If you don’t allow your money to be used by the rich, it probably won’t be used by anyone, since the rich, in many ways, make the world go round!

They are the movers and shakers of the world, like it or not.

Some are really good at what they do, and that’s why some are rich. We don’t need to resent them for this.

In the Bible, Christ was talking about the guy who was given one talent, who didn’t put it somewhere where it’d grow. The master wasn’t pleased. Christ really wasn’t talking about finances, but I think it could also apply to finances.

 

[bingbell484]

Unfortunately, if you purchase goods or pay taxes, you give to the rich.

 

[Neofight]

No, I don’t have any credit cards any more, I don’t use a bank to store my money, I don’t have a mortgage or rent that goes to the rich. I don’t feel bad about my choice and I hope more people will join me. After all I earned it myself, so why should I give it to people that have billions of dollars in the bank?

You’ve earned it all yourself? Be careful, because that attitude can easily lead you to the conclusion there is no need to be a good steward of what God gave to you (as compared to what you “earned”), and resentment in sharing your wealth with those in need.

 

[KrazyKat]

I consider banks and credit cards a convenience for my benefit. When I was down, if not for them, I would have starved and been homeless.

Using credit prudently is a blessing.

 

[pianistclare]

No mortgage…ahhhhh, what bliss would that be…???


Sometimes I feel like mine will never be paid off…

 

[balto]

When you put money in the bank, you will get interest over it. Nowadays not so much, no, but considering there’s still inflation, it’s better than nothing! Also, banks redistribute money through loans, helping (small) businesses. So, when you put your money in the bank, you don’t actually give it to the rich, you help your community! (And yes, you also help the bankers get their salary and bonus, but alas!).

Thank you. You’re not “giving money to the rich” when you put it in the bank. You’re loaning your money to the bank who is paying you interest on your money and then they use it to loan out to other people that need it who pay interest to the bank. Unless someone has hundreds of thousands of dollars sitting around (i.e. a rich person) you’re not going to live in a house or go to college until you’re in your 50s or 60s and by then it’s not worth it obviously. Sure there are greedy bank owners but banks are not bad in and of themselves. If you would rather use a credit union or a community bank that would be one thing. Go watch It’s a Wonderful Life.

As for credit cards, you only need to pay interest on your purchases if you don’t pay off the entire balance at the end of the month. So you could just do what I and many other people do which is don’t make any purchases that you can’t pay off and mark every purchase as coming out of your bank account when you make it so you’re always going to have enough money to pay the balance off at the end of the month. Plus it gives you a good credit rating so you can get that loan to buy a house or open a small business .

 

[Cricket2]

When you put money in the bank, you will get interest over it. Nowadays not so much, no, but considering there’s still inflation, it’s better than nothing! Also, banks redistribute money through loans, helping (small) businesses. So, when you put your money in the bank, you don’t actually give it to the rich, you help your community! (And yes, you also help the bankers get their salary and bonus, but alas!).

Actually, banks have become so corrupt in their dealings that I am afraid the OP is more on track than we might like. I used to be a teller, and even at that position I got a pretty good picture of what goes on, lets say, top side. If banks had been being honest via their mortgage loan practices we would not have had the last housing crash, or any of those that happened in the early 80’s (Savings and Loan Scandal), or 90’s.

Interest rates are so low it is hardly worth having an account, especially if you are poor, they require opening balances that most people can’t afford in the first place, or at least can’t afford to maintain, have added so many charges for every little service that any money one might make via interest is absorbed back to the bank.

I would much rather give money directly to some poor woman short on money in the grocery store than to a bank. As I need a way to pay bills and some companies do require bank information to work with I have a small account, but in a savings an loan.
As a rule their rates are better and they are more strictly regulated than banks, ah because the banks have demanded it. (A way to “manage” their competition.)

 

[Timothysis]

How have we arrived at the conclusion that being “rich” (whatever that means) is a moral evil? If you have any surplus money, then you are doing better than the bottom 1/3 of the world. If you live in a permanent dwelling, have a job and eat everyday, then you are doing better than the bottom 1/3 of the world. In their eyes, YOU are rich. See how that slices both ways?

 

[GratefulFred]

Perhaps a misuse of the word, “give”?

True giving is a gift with no expectation of getting anything in return.

Credit cards and mortgages: Actually we GOT something first from the rich and give a promise to pay it back. We got convenience. While we use their money, they do not have use of it. We owe them something for their service to us. That debt that we pay is certainly not “giving.”

Life is a gift from God. What do we owe Him in return? Would you feel right in saying you give Him nothing because He is the richest of all by far and thus you are the better for that?

 

[balto]

Actually, banks have become so corrupt in their dealings that I am afraid the OP is more on track than we might like. I used to be a teller, and even at that position I got a pretty good picture of what goes on, lets say, top side. If banks had been being honest via their mortgage loan practices we would not have had the last housing crash, or any of those that happened in the early 80’s (Savings and Loan Scandal), or 90’s.

What you have said is true, but if anything I think this is a good indicator of how it is better to have smaller community banks or credit unions than enormous, international banking firms. Then the owners of the bank are at the local level and make decisions that are more informed by their customers’ concerns. So maybe there is something to the Catholic Church’s teaching on subsidiarity after all .

I don’t think there’s anything wrong per se with banking as all it does is facilitate money transfer from savers to spenders. It’s better if person A’s saved money is invested in person B’s house or small business and then when person A needs the money back person B pays the money back. Otherwise the money is just sitting in person A’s mattress. Of course there’s all kinds of risks associated with this, but the whole point of having a bank is to attempt to minimize the risk as much as possible.

 

[mikekle]

No, I don’t have any credit cards any more, I don’t use a bank to store my money, I don’t have a mortgage or rent that goes to the rich. I don’t feel bad about my choice and I hope more people will join me. After all I earned it myself, so why should I give it to people that have billions of dollars in the bank?

I agree, I closed my bank account over the summer and will never go back, not after reading about the corruption and greed involved in this industry. My ex-wife and her parents did the same thing after I showed them some articles about the banking cartels and those involved, last I heard her parents managed to get a few of their friends to do the same thing…So I like to think I opened these people eyes to the evil of banking! I truly hope it keeps going and their friends convince others, so on and so on.

I still have my car loan at a small credit union, and get my pay direct deposited here, but always just cash it out on payday. Keep an envelope of money in house in a secure spot too.

I think everyone should close out their bank accounts, they are controlled by the most evil, corrupt group mankind has seen in a long time. One only has to look back thru history to see all the evil things banking cartels have been involved in…it is beyond scary!