Moving from the mineral world to the world where you try and get rich buying things, will it be paper or plastic? Plastic!
Australians made $17.9 billion worth of purchases using their credit cards, according to Reserve Bank figures released yesterday. The total number of purchases using credit increased by 17% for the month. The number of cash advances—where the interest rate is usually higher—also increased by about 15% to over $1 billion.
On the flip side, credit card payments were $18.8 billion in October, a 14% increase from the month before. And this is good news, According to CommSec economist Craig James. “It's clear that Australians are using their credit cards more often but more wisely. The conventional wisdom is that consumers are drowning in a sea of credit card debt. But the evidence is totally to the contrary.”
It’s certainly good that Aussies are paying off what they’ve borrowed. But if you’re borrowing to make ends meet, or to live a lifestyle which the TV teaches you to be accustomed…well that’s a problem. No one has ever spent their way to wealth, at least not that we know of.
Dan Denning
The Daily Reckoning Australia
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About the Author
Dan Denning is the author of 2005's best-selling The Bull Hunter (John Wiley & Sons). He began his financial publishing career in 1997 and has covered financial markets form Baltimore, Paris, London and, beginning in 2005 Melbourne. He’s the editor of The Daily Reckoning Australia and the Publisher of Port Phillip Publishing.
Comment by Rob of Brisbane on 21 December 2007:
hi Dan
I have a question for you and your colleagues at the hold hat factory.
How many jobs have been created by $43 billion worth of credit card debt?
I guesstimate some 400,000 plus jobs.
What is your opinion on this?
Comment by Brian on 21 December 2007:
Hi Dan,
I don't follow Rob from Queensland's logic!
If the people used cash to buy the goods instead of credit, the people would still have their jobs, but wouldn't be so busy.
As there would be less demand for goods and services, prices would be lower.
If one follows Rob's logic, then we should all go out and spend and we will soon achieve full employment. All we need is another $30 Billion in debt and we would be there!
Comment by christina on 22 December 2007:
I work in a shop, and an old man came up to me asked me (sarcastically) "Exceuse me, but do you still accept cash?" and I go "yeah, why?" and he says "Oh, its just that so many people on every register in this shop are paying by credit card and making the lines go slow, so I thought that the shops musn't accept cash any more" He made his point perfectly, don't you think? Anyway, if you want to see something else to really freak you out, do a google search on the words "christmas 1928" and click on the second search result that comes up, the art deco one. It shows a magazine cover from Christmas 1928,which is the Chrismas just before the great depression hit. Do the people in the picture look familiar? Hint- they look just like the fools at the shops right now!!! All stocked up with lavish presents walking past shops full of expensive designer stuff, just before the biggest depression in history came and wiped them all out. Little did they know that that would be the last affluent Christmas most of them would ever experience in their lives again, and that less than one year later the biggest depression in the world would hit them. Look at the arrogant looks on their faces, does that remind you of anybody? Hint- most people in our generation who are at the shops today right now!!!
Comment by gordon on 22 December 2007:
I read where Americas total income is around 2.7 trillion and it's total liabilities could be between 50 & 60 trillion, what are the comparitive figures for Australia. I know our debts are climbing but don't know what the important figures are?
Comment by Danny in Perth on 22 December 2007:
To Rob of Brisbane:
I feel tempted to answer your question although I don't have any relation with this publication. I merely visit this website occasionally looking for an interesting read.
You ask a pretty open ended question there. I'm not sure how you arrived at the 400,000 new jobs figure from the extra credit card debt. Credit isn't necesarily bad as long as it is maintained within a managable level. Credit card debt contributes to the overall level of credit and I believe the current level of 160% of household income may be too high. this should also leave people quite exposed should there be an economic contraction. It appears we are heading that way too btw and inflation is also creating further problems. As you would know inflation is contractionary and when the CB steps in upping interest rates and the commercial banks follow I think the jobs situation will look alot more dim . Maybe the 400000 extra jobs you estimated which were created by debt may turn into 500000 thousand less jobs in a downturn due to excesive debt servicing requirements by the sectors of society (private, corporate, financial). I think the important thing here to consider is the best outcome in the long run. Excessive debt levels may just exacerbate business cycles and be too inflationary on the upswing and too recesionary on the downswing.
On the on the other hand credit cards are handy for some transactions and online purchases rewards etc.. Therefore it just on the overall debt levels and management of debtors not the form of the debt if you know what I mean.
So there's my two cents, hope I helped.
Comment by kage on 23 December 2007:
Debt is Debt.
Can it create jobs ? Yes, but very inefficiently, while boosting inflation.
What happens when you are unable to pay it back ? Borrow more ? What if the lenders stop lending to you ? Goodbye jobs.
Comment by FriedBourbonnCoke on 23 December 2007:
The way this has been achieved is by banks limiting the amount of cash you can withdraw without seeing a teller... it has been socially engineered to take longer to get enough cash. Credit however only has the limit you put on it(I lowered mine intentionally to inhibit fraud). This way the banks get to charge the customer at least twice a transaction... the maintenance fees plus the fee they charge the merchants(passed along of course) and then a couple of hidden fees for using each others electronic systems. Managed sensibly(and keeping in mind the real meaning of 30 days interest free) credit is just an easy way of having access to your money immediately, used as a short term loan it is an expensive solution to being impatient.
Comment by mike on 3 January 2008:
If 100 credit-thirsty bathers jump into a swimming pool and start drinking the water....tell us.. rob of brisbane.... will the waterline rise or fall...
Comment by Gary on 19 January 2008:
kage has hit the nail on the head here. There's a limit to the employment produced by debt. One day borrowing will hit a low and where will we be but unemployed and massively in debt? A definite bone of contention here.