The next time you whip out your credit card to pay for a tall latte or a pack of gum, put the card back in your wallet and dig out some cash.

Credit card companies are trying to get you to charge $25 or smaller amount purchases with plastic and are making it easier than ever by allowing no signature transactions for small dollar charges at convenience stores, movies, fast food restaurants. Not only will some consumers find themselves falling deeper into debt, but this is causing all of us to pay higher prices for all sorts of good.

Every item charged on a credit card comes with a cost to the retailer as well. Merchants have to pay anywhere from 1.8% to 2.4% of each transaction to the card issuer when a charge is accepted. As we make more small ticket purchases with plastic, merchants' profit margins will erode. To protect profits, merchants will raise prices, not just for the chargers, but for all of us.

For small purchases, please pay cash.