Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 29, 2019

Oops! I guess Tiffany’s not ready for world domination juuust yet…

quit feeding the monster with ideas, Dez, while you’re ahead.. I mean the business degree instead of counseling was a good idea at first, but applying for your own credit card will make Tiffany still overspend on wardrobe

It might help Tiffany to get a real “job” first. To help pay the insane interest rates on that credit card.

And I thought I read once where college kids were up to their collective ears in credit card debit.

Anyway, Tiffany had better get a GOOD paying Summer job by:

1) Taking that dishwasher job at the Fuse. Just get Ox to keep Les at bay.

2) Talking to the Ladies at “All about You Salon,” and see if there’s an opening.

3) Working at Weenie World, Which seems to be a rite of passage for many characters in the Strip.

4) Working at Gunther’s Uncle’s paint store. (Old Story Arc from the 1990s)

5) Calling Simone and working at Soufflé in Paris.

OR

6) Talking to your Dad and seeing if there’s a Summer Internship in at his business. That ought to impress him.

And by getting your OWN credit card and paying those ridiculously high interest rates will be a real wake up call, Tiff. Maybe you then see what Ann’s been B*tching about all this time……, ;)

“I can do that?” she asks. Is she ready? At least, she appears to have the support of both Dez and Bern.

Well, I guess Borenice after all is not just a killjoy. Bore and Dez are giving Tiff a big hand. Tiff, first you graduate, later you go and get your power suit. Then after that you go and triumph with your own money and like that you will defeat Anne Awful. Something tells me Tom is going to need your help in the future. Stay the course, Tiff.

She still has to pay the credit card bill, or hasn’t anyone thought of that.

Fuddy duddies projecting again. Listen folks Luannverse is coming to the rescue for Tiffany. The voice of reason, Bernice, is pointing out the academic solution for TIffany. Dez is pointing out the liberty Tiffany has if Tiffany learns to depend on HERSELF. Whether she gets a credit card remains to be seen, although for college students getting credit cards is incredibly easy in the real world. Tiffany of course thinks of her clothes, but hey don’t you’ll get it? That is a brand issue in this context, and this is a brand world (used to be material and a material girl, Now its brand, and Tiffany is a brand girl). Two names one evil, Trump and Kylie Jenner. I leave it to you to decide which one is evil, but they are both brands, mediated through social media. This is a way for her to become her on person. Tch, Tch does not apply IMHO.

Classic Tiffany: The first thing Tiff thinks of is what she will wear. Tiff should work part time for a salon for a while – to learn how to treat customers, including listening to them instead of talking about herself. Tiff should maybe take one starter business course – so as not to be overwhelmed with stuff that is all new to her.

Why sure, they hand out credit cards to just about anyone – only problem is, you have to pay them back.

.

Reminds me of the last real estate boom out here in Califoni – “We’ll loan you up to 125% of your home’s value, even if you’re only renting…”

Okay she get’s the Credit card what should her max limit on the card be $1,000.

Dez continues to deliver.

Tiffany, i can’t stress this enough: NEVER EVER use a credit card to fund a business unless you know for certain you have the funds to pay off what you charge. The interest will eat you alive.

The blind leading the blonde…

How about securing a source of income before debt?

Sure, get a credit card, buy a ton of clothes, and then be surprised the following month when the bill comes and you don’t have any money to pay for it.

Given that she’s got no credit history, she’ll end up with a very tiny limit. And she’s proven herself to be smart when she’s focused.

Credit cards are a trap. I have two: one is a medical card that’s interest-free for 18 months. That’s for the dentist and the vet. The other is just in case there’s an emergency. I’ve actually needed it once. I use it occasionally and pay it off right away just so they don’t cancel it. (My last credit card was cancelled for lack of use.) Avoiding debt is the smartest thing (heck, maybe the only smart thing) I’ve ever done in my life.

Introducing the new independent Tiffany!

whoa there Dez… no need to go into debt.

It’s great to see how Bernice and Dez work well together. Together they can really give great advice. One thinks of the rational side, the other of the emotional side.

Dez – be careful telling Tiff that. Yes, it would help if she had her own card. But first, she needs to learn how to manage debt carefully and not over extend herself…. That, and how to pay that card off. Be very wary…..

I’m not sure poor Tiff quite understands the concept of actually having to pay for the purchases you’ve made on your own credit card. More than one teen has gotten themselves in deep doodie this way.

And run up a bunch of debt you can’t pay back without Daddy’s help. This is going from bad to worse! Between the head shots and the power suit (does ANYONE even wear those anymore?!) she will be in worse shape than she was with Ann Lording it over her. Daddy will have to swoop in and write a big fat check and save the day. That is, if Ann is truly lying about his financial status. College kids running up credit card balances is a big problem these days. They either abuse the card a parent gives them or do as Tiffany is planning to do and get one without their parents knowledge. Credit is notoriously easy to get but hard to control unless you are a disciplined spender.

ann doesn’t control she just complains

Luann the comic strip reminds me of Charles Dickens, whose stories first appeared as serialized chapters in popular magazines. I wonder if Dickens’ plots were influenced by the readers’ suggestions?

I can’t be out of money— I still have checks left….

can already see a plot line with tiffany getting several credit cards ,running up exorbitant debt and ending up begging daddy for help

Uh-oh !

I wonder… Getting her own credit card could be a badly needed reality check.

Establishing credit in her own name should be something anyone should be doing by college, however, it comes with it’s own dangers, especially to those not used to paying off what they spend.

On the other hand, this might be the easy way to bypass Ann, she could always go crying to daddy at a one-on-one visit where we might see this as a way to keep both “girls” happy.

Tiff could pick up some money posing for the art classes. Bernice could also do the same by posing nude when the class covers stick figures.

Something is a little confusing to me. The Evil Stepmother alluded to an allowance that Tiff received from Dear Old; she cut it in half. But then Ms. Awful also stopped an (apparently) unlimited credit card. If the card was unlimited, why then would Tiff need an separate allowance?

Sight. The ways of Toonville are indeed mysterious, Grasshopper.

I hope this is the beginning of a Tiffany arc where she learns the ins and outs of achieving her independence from the Dastardly Duo; Terrible Tom and Ann Awful. There is plenty of ’toon material in such an arc, both by way of hilarity (ala Luann1212) and pathos. There is also room for making new relationships and refining old relationships with established characters.

Moreover there is the opportunity in the offing to tell Ann Awful to stick it in her ear and Kiss My Grits! :o)

3

The well meaning Dez, has unknowingly and unwittingly awakened and stimulated as horrifically stupid and profoundly dangerous idea in Tiffany. The one thing Tiffany does not need with her current understanding of the realities of the world is a damn credit card. Far, far too many folks see only the purchasing power in a credit card and are oblivious (or ignore) the notion that the money has to be paid back.

Tiffany, with no appreciable income at the moment, and very limited motivation to obtain a job that can provide her money at this moment in time, will almost assuredly see/view/use her credit card to support her lifestyle…. and the bills will come back to bite her in the rear. She will very likely only make her situation far worse with her current mindset and a credit card in hand.

Both Bernice and Dez were trying to give Tiffany good advice…. but Bernice’s message goes apparently ignored, and Dez’ message was given to an unprepared and misunderstanding audience.

Nothing in this arc so far suggests that Tiffany is willing to do the nuts and bolts hard work and studying involved to achieve her goals. She’s only looking at the glamour (from yesterday) and surface elements. I hope I’m proven wrong as the story continues but now that I’ve reread her “Plan A” from the past of what she wanted to do with her life: be an actress, all she thought about was fame and awards, nothing about learning the craft and becoming good at acting. And yes it does seem odd that it never occurred to her that she could apply for her own credit card.

OOPs … bad advice Dez… you don’t know Tiff well enough. Whatever happened to the little nailshop in the dorm room that was getting so many customers? It could have kept going until the admin would take it down. That and switching to a Business BA program is all Tiff needs, not $, not a credit card under her name (by any means). Tiff alias ‘cart ahead of the horse’ is veering off track and she hasn’t even begun.

TERRIBLE idea!

Are we witnessing the birth of a new Triumvirate here?

One step at a time, Tiffany, you will get what you want.

Given a good enough business plan, you can get loans in the multi-million dollar range.

Tiffany needs to establish an income stream before she decides how to finance her new venture. In the timeframe of a cartoon, strip saving enough to capitalize the venture seems out of the question.

Alternatives?

Lucky Tiff would hit the lottery.

Capitalist Tiff would sell stock.

Socialist Tiff would seek a government grant.

Commune-ist Tiff would drop out, tune in and turn on in some hippy commune.

Venture capitalist Tiff would present her plan to Frank and Nancy for financing (apparently they have resources).

Valley Girl Tiff would explain her idea to “Daddy Warbucks,” err Tom who will think she is so cute though clueless he’ll get her started.

Precocious Tiff will walk right up to Greg Evans, put on her cute face and tell him she’s tired of being the designated loser and wants to renegotiate her contract! :o)

uh oh :-(

Enough silly questions, silly Tiff! Just do what they say! Good Lord!

I love this strip so much! What a fabulous lesson about the mental jails in which we put ourselves, and sometimes those jails look like palaces. I can’t believe you got me rooting for Tiffany, a character I used to love to hate. Excellent job Mr. Evans!

And, down the Rabbit Hole she went.

Tiffany needs to secure a paying job before getting a new credit card. If she still doesn’t like the idea of washing dishes, then the salon she goes to can probably give her some on-the-job training. She can work in reception, or perhaps do light housekeeping (folding towels, keeping salon areas tidy, assist with opening and closing the tills, etc.).

Once she has a secure income, then she can think about having her own credit card.

Okay, it’s time I told a story…

A few years ago, I was a layout planner for a newspaper. I worked my way to that position after starting out as an advertising sales clerk. I served twenty years before suddenly being told that I was made redundant. I didn’t even get a farewell get-together. I was given the weekend to pack everything and vanish.

This lead to two years of unsuccessful job-searching. That’s a long tome to go without an income, and the bills were not paying themselves. It became rather depressing. Then a former co-worker recommended me to a photography studio. As soon as I went for the interview, I was given a chance right then and there with some on-the-job training. I quickly learned about taking digital photos for passports and visas, and understanding that different countries had different requirements. Soon I became the second assistant, and was minding the studio when he and his main assistant went to do school photos.

My point is… Tiffany should go to the salon and ask about part-time work. She could do salon-related duties and get some on-the-job training for her cosmetics degree. She could earn money while still getting her business degree. Once her income is secured, then she can think about getting her own credit card. But she would still have to be wary of her spending habits. If the salon gives her some light housekeeping duties, she can let her maid service go…

⇧ yawn…

Shocking Revelation Time, ehh Tiffster? —Yes! You can get your own card!

But you can also over-use it and find yourself in huge debt, thanks to the usuriously high interest rates charged by most credit card companies….

Beware, Tiffany! Do not fall into the Credit Card Slough of Despair!

Snag the URL. Enroll in the Moony program. Hold off on spending what you don’t yet have!

I was wondering when the credit card thing would come up, lol.

Okay, as shocking as it is for Tiffany to not know about getting her own card, let’s be fair about this…

Remember the credit card Ann Eiffel took from Tiffany and cut it in half for everyone there to see? Tiffany got that card from her father when she was 10 years old! At that age, other kids were learning about how to save their allowances in piggy banks. But her father gave her what most teenagers can only dream about. She’s been over-pampered her entire life.

Now, Ann Eiffel comes and forces her to face a harsh reality in a very harsh way. She can’t rely on her father anymore, and Ann won’t give her any peace if she uses the card she has now. But shopping is one of Tiffany’s favourite things, and she needs money to do that.

Ox helped her discover her calling in cosmetics. Now Dez and Bernice have to help her with finding a part-time job that will give her the income she needs to get out from under Ann.

It looks like Greg shoulda snagged that domain before someone else did. I just checked and someone got it and now has it for sale…

Maybe Gunther can make her a power suit.

Tiff envisions success resulting from what she has already done – primping and picking out stuff to wear. The next step will be a hard one for her.

First bad advice Dez has given. With a spending history Tiff has no control for a credit card. Next thing is she’ll be floundering in debt!

Oh Lord. A credit card? Tiff’s well meaning friends are about to REALLY send her on a one-way ticket to the poorhouse. The percentage of undergrads who finish college with massive credit card debt is pretty substantial.

Shut UP Dez! How is she going to pay the bill?!?

Didn’t explain that she would have to pay for it. All her current cards never sent HER the bill.