Many retailers, typically via online stores or print catalogs, offer high end goods for a low monthly price. While more reputable retailers advertise the total price of the item, these catalogs print that price only in small type, instead offering that spiffy new TV for only $45.00 per month. Electronics, high end kitchen accessories, even luxury handbags are all available for this apparently low monthly payment. The retailer even offers a period of financing with no interest. The advertising slogan on one of these publications? "Making luxury affordable" While you may well be able to manage that $45.00 per month payment for your television, take the time to read the fine print and do a bit of comparison shopping.

First and foremost, let us take a look at the pricing in these stuff pushing publications.A quick internet search revealed that a camera priced at only $15.00 per month, or $369.00 total is available at regular price, with no particular sales or comparison shopping, for $299.00 at mainstream retailers. Similar price variances occur with nearly every item, and if time is taken to shop around, the difference can be even larger. However, the bigger question is whether that advertised $15.00 per month is true and accurate…a review of the fine print will answer that one.

Perhaps the only good thing that can be said about these retailers is that the fine print is not hard to find, and makes clear how they make their money. First, that $15.00 a month, or $30.00 a month is not your regular monthly payment, but rather your first minimum monthly payment. Reading through the credit terms quickly reveals that the APR on this particular financing option is well over 20%, assuming that you make all your payments in a timely fashion, and avoid incurring any fees or rate increases due to late payments or similar (which will raise your interest rate to well above 26%). If you make only the minimum monthly payments, you will find yourself not only paying the base price, which is well over the standard retail, but also substantial interest and finance charges.

Have these retailers really made luxury affordable? Can we all have this great stuff, whether it's a new camera or an expensive and impressive coffee pot? By now, the answer should be clear. Spending $1800 on an $800 dollar computer is not a wise financial choice. While this should be a common sense issue, slick images of happy people enjoying their plasma televisions and video cameras appeal to that part of each of us that just wants all that stuff. What can you do? Pitch the junk mail, and keep in mind that all that stuff, that luxury they offer will bring you nothing more than debt, worry and stress.