'The System Punishes You '— Why Completely Paying Off Your Only Credit Card And Doing 'Everything' Right Isn't Always The Smartest Financial Move
The advice to have six months of emergency savings feels absurd when $600 took two years to build.
The system rewards people who can keep accounts open indefinitely, carry multiple lines of credit, and absorb temporary swings. Those conditions are much easier to meet when income is higher and mistakes are less costly.
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Credit Scores Matter More When You're Poor
Some commenters argued that credit scores are overrated unless someone is actively applying for a loan. Others pushed back hard.
“For poor people credit scores matter more,” one person wrote. “Because bad scores make everything more expensive.”
Low scores can mean higher deposits for apartments, worse car loan terms, fewer rental options, and even job barriers in some industries. In that context, a 28-point drop doesn't feel academic. It feels like another door closing.
One takeaway from the thread is that blanket advice fails people at the margins. Knowing when to keep a card open, downgrade instead of closing, or rebuild credit strategically can make a difference. But that kind of nuance rarely fits into viral money tips.
For higher-income households who are trying to make smarter long-term decisions, working with a professional can help avoid these traps. WiserAdvisor aims to fill that gap by offering a free matching tool that connects people with vetted financial advisors who fit their needs, with no obligation to hire.
“If you’re in the same boat you’re not alone and you’re not stupid,” the OP wrote. “The game is rigged. We’re just trying to survive it.”
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