Questions:

• What is the main point of the cartoon?
• How can a person protect themselves if their credit card number is stolen?
• Are consumers responsible for charges made on their cards that they didn't authorize?

Questions:

• What point is the cartoonist making?
• Who is the person "under the thumb?" Who is holding them down?
• What are the ways that credit cards can do this to consumers? 
• What are ways that consumers can avoid being "under the thumb" of card companies?

Questions:

• What is the point of this cartoon?
• Do credit card companies require you to pay off the full balance every month?
• If you don't pay off the balance in full every month, what are the consequences?
• How quickly do credit card companies hope that you will pay your bill? 

Questions:

• What does the cartoonist mean when he says "something costs too much and you want to pay more for it?"
• How do consumers pay more for something that they use a credit card for?
• Have you ever seen a store that offered a discount if you paid with cash? Why do you think they do that?
• Are there situations where a credit card company pays you for purchases you make? Give examples? 

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Looking for more cartoons on different personal finance topics? We have more at the NGPF Blog!

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.

More posts by Tim