I’m the victim of a consumer trap. I still can’t believe I fell for it.

Here’s the story: Earlier this week, I went to the Planet Beach tanning salon on Avent Ferry Road. I usually only go once a week, but whenever I’m feeling sick or stressed (like this week, and next week, and the week after) I go more often.

Maybe I shouldn’t have asked. I had ten sessions left — plenty to get me through this month and next. But I asked about specials, and the lady behind the desk took her cue.

After about seven minutes of presenting the premium tan packages and bringing out a calculator to show me how much I’d end up saving in the long run, she had convinced me to sign away a contract for 24 months of unlimited tanning.

I guess I forgot it was the holiday season and I still need to buy gifts for everyone. It must have slipped my mind I still needed to pay this month’s rent. I also must have misplaced the reminder that I needed to save up for my trip to Sweden next summer.

Salespeople are clever. They are very clever, especially when they smile and catch you off guard. For example, every time I get a sandwich at Subway and go to pay, the cashier asks if I want a drink and chips with it. Without thinking, I nod and watch the guy swipe my credit card.

If I had instead paid with cash, would I have agreed to the combo meal? Maybe, depending on how hungry I was at the time. What about the 24-month tanning package? Probably not. I’d be counting out the bills and I’d realize that paying $45 a month for something that will just fade and could possibly give me skin cancer is definitely not worth it.

On my 18th birthday, my dad took me to the bank and set me up with my first credit card. He told me to swipe my card instead of paying with cash wherever it was possible so I would build credit, but to make sure that I remembered that the balance on that card doesn’t just disappear.

Now, I’m not going to belabor on falling into credit card debt, but you should keep that in mind when shopping during the holiday season. Swiping that card may have no meaning to you until the bill comes at the end of the month. According to consumeraffairs.com, more than 23 percent of Americans will not pay off their credit card balances from the holidays until March. Calculate the interest building on that balance over the months, and you’ll find it’s not a very pretty number.

Sure, we’re all stressed right now and our brains are probably exhausted from cramming for finals, but making decisions concerning money is something that needs to be done cautiously. Don’t fall into the consumerism trap; do all of you holiday shopping for others first and then reward yourself by going out to the after-holiday sales.

Leave your credit cards behind when you go shopping and use cash or your debit card to make purchases — you won’t be building credit if you can’t pay your bills.

I close this column and the semester with hopes that all of you will make wiser monetary decisions than I this holiday season. Don’t let the fear of credit card debt get in the way of (hopefully) acing your finals next week. Happy shopping!

Are you going to leave your credit card behind? E-mail viewpoint@technicianonline.com to tell us.