American Consumers and the Status Quo: A Slow Descent into the Corporate Trap
When I moved to the USA a couple of decades ago, financing options for home furniture typically spanned 12 to 24 months. It was manageable, and it made sense for significant purchases. Over the years, however, I’ve noticed a troubling trend: corporations have quietly extended financing terms to 60, even 120 months, normalizing this shift by keeping monthly payments artificially low. This isn’t just about furniture—it’s a symptom of a larger issue. As consumers, we’ve been conditioned to finance everything: homes, cars, furniture, and sometimes even everyday items. The pride of ownership has been replaced by a culture of perpetual payments, locking people into decades of financial obligations. The corporate strategy is clear: stretch payment terms, raise prices, and make it seem "affordable" in the short term. But at what cost? It’s time to pause and ask: Are we truly gaining, or are we just falling deeper into a cycle designed to benefit big corporations? What are your though...