An article in today’s edition of the Times Online titled “Soaring cost of living is claiming many more middle-class victims” claims that a growing number of Irish middleclass individuals have become victim to the spiraling debt crisis due to “super-inflationary” rises in the cost of living. The article discusses the role of credit cards as an accessible form of funds in the situation proving both a financial lifeline but also a source of dependency if abused. Whether or not the growth in credit card use is attributed to the economic situation, they are certainly becoming more readily available to the general population. A growing number of sites are offering a wide range of credit card applications for Irish customers with easy to use card comparison features allowing consumers to apply for the right card to fit their lifestyle.