There Is No Such Thing As A Free Puppy

We’ve all seen it. Usually, we’re walking back to our cars from shopping, and in the corner of the parking lot is a guy who has found himself the owner of seven Labrador puppies. The guy is always desperate to unload these expensive little pups on a gullible parent walking with a child who is excited by the sign reading “free puppies.”

Additionally, we’ve all heard the child begging, “Pleeeease, Mom; they’re free!”
And, of course, the parent succumbs to the big brown-eyed pups, and off they go with their new puppy.

In a short amount of time, the family will purchase a plethora of items for the puppy: food, vaccines, neutering, heartworm and ring worm preventative medicine, a kennel, a leash, a collar, and hopefully a couple of toys for the pooch. Dogs are expensive. There is no such thing as a free puppy.

The same thing is true with credit cards. That free T-shirt you get for filling out the credit card application in the mall is not free. Read the fine print. Check your interest rate and wait to see if it is raised or fees are applied for seemingly no reason. You most definitely end up paying for that free T-shirt.

If you are suffering from debt, another credit card won’t help. Regardless of the rewards offered or free T-shirts tempting you to fill out the application, the consequences of another credit card in your wallet will do more damage to your financial health than a free puppy.

Almost nothing in life is free; there is always a cost even though it is sometimes hidden. Weigh the risk: is a free T-shirt that is two sizes too big and plastered with the credit card company’s logo on it really worth the potential damage you could do with a new credit card?

Author Bio: Allison Roberts is a graduate of the University of North Texas Department of Journalism. She has experience in agency and in freelance public relations. Allison currently writes for Credit Solutions and she is completing an unfinished work of her late grandfather. For more articles by Allison on debt consolidation visit Credit Solutions.