The Credit Card Conundrum

(Scene opens with MARIA and DAVID standing at a bank counter.)

MARIA: (Excitedly) David, look! I’m finally going to get my first credit card! Imagine all the things I can buy! A new phone, those shoes I saw…

DAVID: (Frowning slightly) Hold on, Maria. Are you sure you’re ready? Credit cards can be tricky. It's not free money, you know.

MARIA: Of course, I know! It’s just… convenient. And there are so many offers! This one gives me points for travel. I could go to Hawaii!

DAVID: But do you understand the **interest rate**? And what happens if you don't pay the **full balance** every month?

MARIA: (Waving her hand dismissively) Oh, details, details. I’ll just pay it off. How hard can it be?

DAVID: It can be very hard, Maria. My cousin got into a lot of **debt**. He only paid the **minimum payment** each month, and the interest just kept growing. He ended up owing much more than he spent.

MARIA: (Looking a little worried) Really? I thought if you paid the minimum, you were fine.

DAVID: Not always. That’s how banks make money. And if you miss a payment, there are **late fees**. Your **credit score** can go down too.

MARIA: (Sighs) This is more complicated than I thought. Maybe I should talk to someone.

DAVID: Good idea. Let’s ask.

(They approach MS. CHEN, who is at a nearby desk.)

MARIA: Excuse me, Ms. Chen. We have some questions about credit cards.

MS. CHEN: Of course, how can I help?

MARIA: I’m thinking of getting my first credit card, but David here has me worried. What’s the most important thing to know?

MS. CHEN: The most important thing is to **use it responsibly**. A credit card is a tool. It can be very helpful for emergencies or building your **credit history**. A good credit history is important if you want to borrow money in the future for a car or a house.

DAVID: And the interest?

MS. CHEN: Yes, the interest rate is very important. Always try to pay your **statement balance** in full every month. If you can’t, pay as much as you can. The less you owe, the less interest you will pay. Also, be aware of any **annual fees** the card might have.

MARIA: So, no Hawaii trips unless I can pay it all back quickly?

MS. CHEN: Exactly! Think of it like this: if you can’t afford to buy something with **conundrum**, you probably can’t afford to buy it with a credit card unless it's a true emergency and you have a plan to pay it back. Start with a **small credit limit** and only charge what you know you can pay off.

MARIA: (Nods thoughtfully) That makes a lot more sense. Thank you, Ms. Chen. I think I’ll still apply, but I’ll be much more careful.

DAVID: (Smiling) That’s my girl!

(Maria and David walk away from the counter, Maria looking more pensive than excited.)

(Curtain)

Impulsive 🔊 /ɪmˈpʌlsɪv/ (adj.): Doing things suddenly, without thinking carefully first. Example: Buying new shoes every week is an **impulsive** habit.
Frowning 🔊 /ˈfraʊnɪŋ/ (v., present participle): Making an unhappy or worried expression with your eyebrows. Example: He was **frowning** at the complicated instructions for his new computer.
Tricky 🔊 /ˈtrɪki/ (adj.): Difficult or complicated. Example: Solving this math problem is quite **tricky**.
Dismissively 🔊 /dɪsˈmɪsɪvli/ (adv.): Showing that you think something is not important and not worth considering. Example: She waved her hand **dismissively** when he offered help.
Debt 🔊 /dɛt/ (n.): Money that you owe to someone else. Example: Many students finish university with a lot of **debt** from student loans.
Minimum Payment 🔊 /ˈmɪnɪməm ˈpeɪmənt/ (n.): The smallest amount of money you must pay each month on your credit card bill. Example: Only paying the **minimum payment** can mean you pay interest for a long time.
Late Fees 🔊 /leɪt fiːz/ (n.): Extra money you have to pay if you don't pay your bill on time. Example: If you don't return library books on time, you'll get **late fees**.
Credit Score 🔊 /ˈkrɛdɪt skɔːr/ (n.): A number that shows how good you are at paying back money you borrow. A higher score is better. Example: A good **credit score** can help you get a loan for a car.
Pensive 🔊 /ˈpɛnsɪv/ (adj.): Thinking deeply about something, often in a serious or sad way. Example: She looked **pensive**, considering all the options before making a decision.
Responsibly 🔊 /rɪˈspɒnsəbli/ (adv.): In a careful and sensible way. Example: Please use the company car **responsibly**.
Credit History 🔊 /ˈkrɛdɪt ˈhɪstəri/ (n.): A record of how you have borrowed and paid back money over time. Example: Paying your bills on time helps build a good **credit history**.
Statement Balance 🔊 /ˈsteɪtmənt ˈbæləns/ (n.): The total amount of money you owe on your credit card at the end of a billing period. Example: To avoid interest, you should pay your entire **statement balance**.
Annual Fees 🔊 /ˈænjuəl fiːz/ (n.): Money you have to pay once a year for having a credit card. Example: Some premium credit cards come with high **annual fees**.
Credit Limit 🔊 /ˈkrɛdɪt ˈlɪmɪt/ (n.): The maximum amount of money you are allowed to borrow on your credit card. Example: My credit card has a **credit limit** of $500.
Conundrum 🔊 /kəˈnʌndrəm/ (n.): A confusing and difficult problem or question. Example: The best way to reduce plastic waste is a global **conundrum**.

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Vocabulary List