Comments on: Out Of The Mailbag: (Juggling Credit Cards)

By: tzippi

tzippi — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:47:45 +0000

re 59: thanks.

By: tzippi

tzippi — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:06:57 +0000

Not that there’s much more to say on the subject, but why isn’t this on the list of “Out of the Mailbag” letters on the homepage link?

By: ZachKessin

ZachKessin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:16:40 +0000

The gedolim shli”ta have stated in many venues that the importance of learning Torah and helping kollel yungerleit supercedes ALL monetary concerns

All? Really Its more important to learn in kollel than to put food on the table? How about pay the rent?

Do you think your kids will be filled with the a respect for a Jewish life if all they see of it is nothing to eat because their father wasn’t able to pay the bills?

By: tzippi

tzippi — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:30:32 +0000

55, and what if you’re doing all that and still can’t make ends meet?

By: yitzy99

yitzy99 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 22:17:02 +0000

It is interesting that although the original topic is credit card debt, somehow the kollel system is cited in many comments. This reflects the unease that so many feel regarding what has happened to Jewish family life, in one generation. The kollel phenomenon is a great social experiment, and like many of us, I fear the consequences.

By: n977ll

n977ll — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:00:31 +0000

The crux of the problem is not Kollel or not.The REAL problem is people have to learn to say NO!If you dont have money for camp KEEP THE KIDS HOME.If you dont have money for the bungalow STAY HOME FOR THE SUMMER.If you dont have money for the latest Honda Oddysey lease deal DRIVE A GOOD USED CAR.If you dont have money for matching outfits for 5 girls USE HAND ME DOWNS. If you dont have money for the fancy bar mitzvah MAKE A NICE KIDDUSH IN SHUL AFTER DAVENING.if you dont have money to go to a fancy hotel for Pesach MAKE PESACH AT HOME.And on an on.The point is that you shouldnt envy your neigbors and get into debt to keep up with the Jonses and be obsessed with WHAT WILL (fill in) THINK!

By: Mrs. L

Mrs. L — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:45:42 +0000

Love #38. And when is one allowed to pay HUGE interest rates on culminative credit cards charges so that he can stay in learning. 18% monthly charges is the standard rate, last I saw.
Do you really sleep well at night, knowing that unless you win the Lottery, that is no way you’ll ever in one lifetime pay up. It stands to reason that you are comfortable living and after 120 yrs., dying with a monstrous debt.
Are the parents supposed to bail you out? Do you expect some Vaad to put heartbreaking letters of appeal in various newspapers asking for money to “help a yungerman, a ben Torah who is (actually his wife)buckling under from the strain of debt”? The Vaad will of course leave out the credit card angle.

By: hackmirnisht

hackmirnisht — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:29:37 +0000

Dear Letter Writer,

If I may paint a different scenario to explain the need for living on credit cards and getting into the debt you talk about.

Suppose husband and wife work for Yeshivos and (unfortunately) constantly get paid late, with a family size of 8-12 children, with the Yom Tov of Pesach (nobody invites you anymore because your family is too big). Do the math and figure out how much you need to support your family on a MEAGER lifestyle.

Is this scenario not happening often enough??

By: ZachKessin

ZachKessin — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:21:26 +0000

The thing is that if you keep running up credit card bills to learn in kollel you still have the bills. The Credit card company does not care about how wonderful your kollel is. They want you to pay them back. If you don’t sooner or later they will stop letting you have more credit. If you can’t pay your bills bad things happen. By which I mean the bank will foreclose on your house (or your landlord will kick you out). In addition if you can’t afford heat and food child services (or whatever they are called where you live) may take your kids and put them in foster care. If you think I am kidding I am not.

Wanting to learn in Kollel is fine and good, but please spend a few minutes to think about how you are going to keep a roof over your head for the long term future.

By: dovidl

dovidl — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:13:01 +0000

#7
“Did the school stop and think that certain families might not be able to afford these extra activities along with $200 trips to Hershey Park or $180 shabbatons”

I also have a 8th grade daughter in Yeshiva of Spring Valley and there were definitely a lot of extra expenses this year. And I also know of at least one father who sent in money to the school to pay for girls who may not be able to afford to pay for the trip. However, there was no Shabbaton AT ALL and they certainly did not have a trip to Hershey Park for $200. The trip was to Newport, RI and the cost was $72. Stop and think before you are being Motzi Shem Ra.