Re “Churches fight predatory payday lending with political pressure, small loans,” Free Press Nov. 21-24 edition:

I think it is a positive concept that a church is dispensing micro loans to community members. It is obvious that payday lenders target the minority community, and black people in particular. Most of the customers I have seen are African-American.

The only economy I know that really works is “living cheap” — paying cash for everything. People who live cheap have the two major bills paid off — the house and the car. In addition, a lot of them end up with trust funds or savings for their children.

It is possible to pay cash for a house and a car, or at least to make a large enough down payment that the monthly payments are low and can be paid off sooner.

Extreme couponing also helps. That will help lower food and basic household expenses.

The Bible says the “borrower is servant to the lender.” So if someone doesn’t want to be a servant, don’t borrow.

TRACYE JAMES

Midlothian