View Full Version : Got in over my head with spending
Debit cards are horrible. I did not realize how bad it was until I went to the back today and my vovo(grandma) who is the manger sat me down and showed me the damage I did from 6/28/10 to 6/29/10.
With a card, I guess it was not apparent to me the amount I am spending, with no tangible cash, I just lost control. In the time period above I went from $878.87 to $310.85.
Spending list:
-$6.51 Play Station Network(movie rental)
-$49.24 travelling to and from Jersey City for 6hr of work
-$126.63 Barnes and Noble(I went there for 1 HK book and walked out with 1 HK raider book, 1 Uboat book, 1 HMS Renown book, and 1 membership card)
-$59.72 Best Buy(went in for a pair of headphones and walked out with NO headphone but 4 Blu Rays)
-$250.06 Amazon(went to get a book about HK 33 Pinguin, saw an interesting book about the Komet, saw another raider book, and so on...)
-$43.98 Eurosport.com (Portugal jersey shorts, to complete my Portugal uniform)
-$42.56 Applebees (I am that nice guy that if a friend asks to cover his part of the bill, I would, and I know this guy with never pay me back :cry: )
And the list goes on...
I guess I just wanted to talk to someone who is not pissed at me for this(parents, vovo, friends in Germany and my GF) So now I can not go to Germany, Nederlands, and Sweden this summer, there goes that dream.
And I just wanted to warn you guys about the dangers of the cards.
CaptainHaplo
06-29-10, 07:24 PM
Like everything else in life, you take an experience and learn from it - after going through it. The good thing is, this cost you something you wanted to do, but hopefully it has cost you nothing else - your still in the positive.
Also - count your blessings when it comes to someone willing to sit down with you and go over the thing - teaching you to be wiser down the road!
You have to remember its never a screw up in the end if you learn from it!
Platapus
06-29-10, 07:32 PM
Many of us have had the same failings. The question now is what are you going to do about it? From the tone of your posting, it seems like you recognize the problem and have accepted responsibility for it. That makes you a success. :yeah:
Oh by the way, there are some debts that are excusable. Books on U-Boats and Raiders are always a good idea. :har:
I am a bookaholic. For me it is used bookstores. I simply can't go into them any more. After years of self-help, I can now walk into a Barns and Noble book store and buy only what I was looking for. But it is tough,
So many books, so little time, so little money. It simply ain't fair.
Burt seriously, it sounds like you recognized the problem and the cause (you) and it sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of how to fix this problem.
That puts you ahead of about 75% of the population and ahead of 100% of Congress. :yeah:
Ducimus
06-29-10, 07:47 PM
I've used a debit card for years. Never had any problems. The trick is being always concious of how much you can afford to spend.
Add up your total monthy expenses, and subtract that from your monthly income.
Take that number and keep it in your head. Be aware of it.
Then, whenever you go out, save every receipt from every purchase on that card. Put the receipts in your wallet where you'd normally put your money.
Everytime you open your wallet, you see how much you've been spending.
em2nought
06-29-10, 07:56 PM
And I just wanted to warn you guys about the dangers of the cards.
Uh, thanks I won't go down any dark alleys where debit cards lurk. lol :salute:
Ducimus
06-29-10, 08:08 PM
The one truly sad thing about debit cards, is being good with them doesn't help your credit score. Only real credit cards do.
mookiemookie
06-29-10, 08:10 PM
www.mint.com
A great site to help you budget your spending. It sends you alerts if you go over your pre-determined budget for a category of spending. If you tie it to your online bank account, it helps you categorize your spending and see where you may be overdoing it.
GoldenRivet
06-29-10, 08:13 PM
its very easy to do... several years ago when my wife and i first got married we were very bad about monitoring our spending when it came to debit cards. We didnt budget things we used it for and it is very easy to lose control of it in a hurry.
our total overdraft fees for that year so long ago - im embarrassed to admit - totaled about $2,200... that translates to a little over $180 per month in overdraft fees. Considering that overdraft fees at the time were $20 thats around 9 or 10 overdrafts per month... :oops:
quickly realizing that a majority of our troubling transactions were the result of debit card spending we had to reel it in and tone it down.
I mean we were paying for one awesome vacation per year in overdraft fees alone - an entire month of my salary at the time.:stare:
needless to say we were living well outside our means, and the debit cards were allowing us to do that.
So...I took both debit cards and hid them in the pages of a book and packed the book away in a box one new years as a resolution of sorts... and we tried to forget of their existence for one year to see what a difference it would make.
Im happy to admit, the first year of the little experiment we didnt have any overdraft fees - i dont know... may have been one or two;), but your talking down from $2200 to $40 :o.
When we moved some time later we agreed that instead of having 2 debit cards... one for her, and another for myself... we would only have 1 debit card, and it would be tucked away for emergency expenses.
it was a learning experience, but since then we have become quite frugal and nothing of the sort has really happened to us since then.
debit cards are very convenient, and sometimes the only suitable way to pay for something. However, as you pointed out there is no tangible cash changing hands so its easy to lose track of it in a hurry. you dont get the sensation of your wallet getting thinner. But there is a great deal of sticker shock when you get your bank statement or you visit an ATM etc and you realize you have spent all or almost all of your money. :nope:
I've used a debit card for years. Never had any problems. The trick is being always concious of how much you can afford to spend.
Add up your total monthy expenses, and subtract that from your monthly income.
Take that number and keep it in your head. Be aware of it.
Then, whenever you go out, save every receipt from every purchase on that card. Put the receipts in your wallet where you'd normally put your money.
Everytime you open your wallet, you see how much you've been spending.
as an 18y/o that lives with parents who pay for my car stuffs, I have no monthly expense other than what I buy. For income, I work at Goldman Sachs, on-call, so I can work 1 day, and then not work for weeks(what is happening now)
During the school year, I saved for this trip and that's it! But as the price of tickets rose, I saw it as not going to happen. So I started spending, and when I over did it, my parents say they think they will pay for my ticket!
Like everything else in life, you take an experience and learn from it - after going through it. The good thing is, this cost you something you wanted to do, but hopefully it has cost you nothing else - your still in the positive.
Also - count your blessings when it comes to someone willing to sit down with you and go over the thing - teaching you to be wiser down the road!
You have to remember its never a screw up in the end if you learn from it!
I have learned my lesson, depressed, upset, but I will move on.
Yea my vovo is great with telling me I am spending too much or whatever. She looks out for my accounts! Love her
Many of us have had the same failings. The question now is what are you going to do about it? From the tone of your posting, it seems like you recognize the problem and have accepted responsibility for it. That makes you a success. :yeah:
Oh by the way, there are some debts that are excusable. Books on U-Boats and Raiders are always a good idea. :har:
I am a bookaholic. For me it is used bookstores. I simply can't go into them any more. After years of self-help, I can now walk into a Barns and Noble book store and buy only what I was looking for. But it is tough,
So many books, so little time, so little money. It simply ain't fair.
Burt seriously, it sounds like you recognized the problem and the cause (you) and it sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of how to fix this problem.
That puts you ahead of about 75% of the population and ahead of 100% of Congress. :yeah:
The raiders are my favourite subjet of history and history is my overall favourite. But after spending SO much on them, I think I will stop for awhile. I might ask for this one book from my parents cause it is like $60.00, but thats it.
I have indeed learned my lesson, I am far ahead of Congress lol.
I know how to fix it, No spending, no trip(GF=:x), no nothing
Ducimus
06-29-10, 08:34 PM
as an 18y/o that lives with parents who pay for my car stuffs, I have no monthly expense other than what I buy.
Then create an expense to get into the habit. That expense being a savings account! Trust me, save money when you can, and get used to not having alot to spend willy nilly. Living at home is a PERFECT opportunity to save some money.
Little story. I broke up with my ex about 2 years ago. Had to move back home with the folks to get back on my feet. My monthy expenses went WAY down. So, at 34 years old, i was in a similar situation your in now. I continued to treat my monthy finances as if i was i was in the same situation with my deadbeat ex. (IE, me paying for everything and the ex not pulling her weight). I took that money, and instead put it in savings.
When i moved out of my folks house and got back on my feet, i bought myself a 2003 ford ranger with 53K miles on it in cash, paid for corrective eye surgery in cash, and still have money left in savings for a rainy day.
Save now.
SteamWake
06-29-10, 08:42 PM
Learn to live with the consiquences of your actions and be prepaired to atone for them.
Ducimus
06-29-10, 08:50 PM
Learn to live with the consiquences of your actions and be prepaired to atone for them.
You forgot your smokey the bear hat.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2kjisMm3M9Y/SWcqngsLLZI/AAAAAAAAHkA/ye65yqJh7Uo/s400/R+Lee+Ermey.jpg
The guy already knows he F'ed up. Geez. We were all young dumb and full of c... ( ehh. nevermind that last word) at some point in our lives.
Then create an expense to get into the habit. That expense being a savings account! Trust me, save money when you can, and get used to not having alot to spend willy nilly. Living at home is a PERFECT opportunity to save some money.
Little story. I broke up with my ex about 2 years ago. Had to move back home with the folks to get back on my feet. My monthy expenses went WAY down. So, at 34 years old, i was in a similar situation your in now. I continued to treat my monthy finances as if i was i was in the same situation with my deadbeat ex. (IE, me paying for everything and the ex not pulling her weight). I took that money, and instead put it in savings.
When i moved out of my folks house and got back on my feet, i bought myself a 2003 ford ranger with 53K miles on it in cash, and still had money left in savings for a rainy day.
Save now.
Well, my next pay check will start the "saying spree" if you will.
You forgot your smokey the bear hat.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2kjisMm3M9Y/SWcqngsLLZI/AAAAAAAAHkA/ye65yqJh7Uo/s400/R+Lee+Ermey.jpg
The guy already knows he F'ed up. Geez. We were all young dumb and full of c... ( ehh. nevermind that last word) at some point in our lives.
See we are all!
And I was drinking coffee at the time :03:
Debit cards are horrible. I did not realize how bad it was until I went to the back today and my vovo(grandma) who is the manger sat me down and showed me the damage I did from 6/28/10 to 6/29/10.
With a card, I guess it was not apparent to me the amount I am spending, with no tangible cash, I just lost control. In the time period above I went from $878.87 to $310.85.
Spending list:
-$6.51 Play Station Network(movie rental)
-$49.24 travelling to and from Jersey City for 6hr of work
-$126.63 Barnes and Noble(I went there for 1 HK book and walked out with 1 HK raider book, 1 Uboat book, 1 HMS Renown book, and 1 membership card)
-$59.72 Best Buy(went in for a pair of headphones and walked out with NO headphone but 4 Blu Rays)
-$250.06 Amazon(went to get a book about HK 33 Pinguin, saw an interesting book about the Komet, saw another raider book, and so on...)
-$43.98 Eurosport.com (Portugal jersey shorts, to complete my Portugal uniform)
-$42.56 Applebees (I am that nice guy that if a friend asks to cover his part of the bill, I would, and I know this guy with never pay me back :cry: )
And the list goes on...
I guess I just wanted to talk to someone who is not pissed at me for this(parents, vovo, friends in Germany and my GF) So now I can not go to Germany, Nederlands, and Sweden this summer, there goes that dream.
And I just wanted to warn you guys about the dangers of the cards.
But I come over to the state soon so we can take some beer and spend a lot with Visa and Amex,so you don`need to go to Sweden this year.....:)
Note:This card card can really suck!
mookiemookie
06-29-10, 09:04 PM
Well, my next pay check will start the "saying spree" if you will.
I used to do financial planning for a living and that was one of the first things to teach someone - have 3 to 6 months of committed expenses saved up in reserve in case of bad times. You never know when something bad is going to happen. Pay yourself first on payday - put money away for savings before doing anything else. It will grow faster than you realize if you're disciplined enough to not touch it!
I used to do financial planning for a living and that was one of the first things to teach someone - have 3 to 6 months of committed expenses saved up in reserve in case of bad times. You never know when something bad is going to happen. Pay yourself first on payday - put money away for savings before doing anything else. It will grow faster than you realize if you're disciplined enough to not touch it!
at an interest rate of .01% it ain't growing lol.
But yea, this is what I am being told
But I come over to the state soon so we can take some beer and spend a lot with Visa and Amex,so you don`need to go to Sweden this year.....:)
Note:This card card can really suck!
:rotfl2: She was in from Sweden for my last Birthday and told me she could not do this again for a while cause it cost her a ton, so I need to travel there, which now is not happening.
Yes, this card stuff sucks
mookiemookie
06-29-10, 09:15 PM
at an interest rate of .01% it ain't growing lol.
But yea, this is what I am being told
Don't expect interest payments to help you out with that! :O:
You need to commit to putting $20, $50, $100, or whatever you can afford away in a savings or money market account each time you get paid.
:rotfl2: She was in from Sweden for my last Birthday and told me she could not do this again for a while cause it cost her a ton, so I need to travel there, which now is not happening.
Yes, this card stuff sucks
She come over ,obviously and your time is clear....:yep:
She come over ,obviously and your time is clear....:yep:
Sh*t she comes back here, my calender is SOOO clear, screw everything and everyone else! :D
Don't expect interest payments to help you out with that! :O:
You need to commit to putting $20, $50, $100, or whatever you can afford away in a savings or money market account each time you get paid.
Well, I have decided to commit my whole pay check, and give my self 1 purchase a month
Sh*t she comes back here, my calender is SOOO clear, screw everything and everyone else! :D so you can take a shot and visit your GF or take :timeout:
so you can take a shot and visit your GF or take :timeout:
No time outs we have been through that before, so it is time to ask for more hour at GS and save!
I almost never use a credit card, and instead use debit. OTOH, I always know how much is there—part of the beauty of debit cards is that assuming you don't use checks, you always have a current running balance with no work. Spend $100, balance drops $100.
I certainly see your point about money disappearing, however. Our bank has pretty good breakdowns of spending by payee, so we can look at a glance at food, entertainment, etc, and see how it goes on a monthly basis, and to whom.
Could be worse, when you are older you'll have to blow thousands on stuff like window replacement (me, tomorrow :/ ). Loads spent, and when done, it'll look exactly the same as it did before. Don't have anything to show :)
I just want to thank everyone here, you all have been helpfully and what not. The advice was great. I will tell you how it goes.
OH a raider book on Amazon! lol Just kidding
I almost never use a credit card, and instead use debit. OTOH, I always know how much is there—part of the beauty if debit cards is that assuming you don't use checks, you always have a current running balance with no work. Spend $100, balance drops $100.
I certainly see your point about money disappearing, however. Our bank has pretty good breakdowns of spending by payee, so we can look at a glance at food, entertainment, etc, and see how it goes on a monthly basis, and to whom.
My bank(Chase) = evil no break downs, just a spending list, i do have a rewards program, so my spending will give me something back!
BTW, I should add that even while you spent more than you would have liked, you did NOT spend more than you HAD.
That is a CRITICAL distinction, and a reason to think when it comes to real credit cards. To build credit you need to use them, but it is oh so easy to end up in a hole that is hard to climb out of without discipline. Always use real credit with great care.
BTW, I should add that even while you spent more than you would have liked, you did NOT spend more than you HAD.
That is a CRITICAL distinction, and a reason to think when it comes to real credit cards. To build credit you need to use them, but it is oh so easy to end up in a hole that is hard to climb out of without discipline. Always use real credit with great care.
Yea, my dad said it is not a good idea to get a credit card, and well he was right
A house-mate in college inherited a bunch of money (a bunch for a student, not a lot in the real world). He spent it very poorly, and at some point had added overdraft protection to his bank account for some nominal monthly fee.
The trouble is that the availability was for a nominal fee, but if he actually used it, each payee cost him what was in effect a bounced check fee.
He got over his head, and it was BRUTAL. Goes $5 over, costs him ~$20. Now he's $25 in the hole, but he had a check out for some bill, that would-have bounced, got paid, he's now a couple hundred under. At some point (his overdraft was some low amount) he started bouncing checks, many times the fees being larger than the actual checks. Yikes.
I always try to pay as I go, even now. We keep zero CC balance. We have used credit to remodel, but literally we pay it back 100% within a year or we don't do it (usually pay cash, even then and use credit as a bridge only).
A house-mate in college inherited a bunch of money (a bunch for a student, not a lot in the real world). He spent it very poorly, and at some point had added overdraft protection to his bank account for some nominal monthly fee.
The trouble is that the availability was for a nominal fee, but if he actually used it, each payee cost him what was in effect a bounced check fee.
He got over his head, and it was BRUTAL. Goes $5 over, costs him ~$20. Now he's $25 in the hole, but he had a check out for some bill, that would-have bounced, got paid, he's now a couple hundred under. At some point (his overdraft was some low amount) he started bouncing checks, many times the fees being larger than the actual checks. Yikes.
I always try to pay as I go, even now. We keep zero CC balance. We have used credit to remodel, but literally we pay it back 100% within a year or we don't do it (usually pay cash, even then and use credit as a bridge only).
My bank offers the same, go over 1-3 times you pay $35, then $75, then $100 and so on.
I have this great idea to make money fast! sale!
I have a bunch of DVDs I do not want, anyone interested?
No time outs we have been through that before, so it is time to ask for more hour at GS and save!
Good luck! :)
FIREWALL
06-29-10, 10:49 PM
I don't know about the rest of you. But when I was ivanks age and had saved a tidy $23,500.00 I almost became a miser and wouldn't spend money on hardly anything.
Finally found what I wanted most and was able to buy it.
Once that pile of loot starts to grow it does strange things to you. well at least to me and I didn't to part with it very easily. :DL
I don't know about the rest of you. But when I was ivanks age and had saved a tidy $3,500.00 I almost became a miser and wouldn't spend money on hardly anything.
Finally found what I wanted most and was able to buy it.
Once that pile of loot starts to grow it does strange things to you. well at least to me and I didn't to part with it very easily. :DL
1) You guys can call me Ivan
2) I started this summer (May) with $2170
FIREWALL
06-29-10, 10:54 PM
Hi Ivan I edited my post. I left out a 3. :D
Btw When I did spend it I spent it all at once. :haha:
1) You guys can call me Ivan
2) I started this summer (May) with $2170
for a change,what you did yesterday is history,you have always another option,so you can handle this in time be... :yep:
Hi Ivan I edited my post. I left out a 3. :D
Btw When I did spend it I spent it all at once. :haha:
Women,cars and beers...
FIREWALL
06-29-10, 11:09 PM
Women,cars and beers...
Only one of those Vendor. :DL And have spent more than ten times that much since on another one. :D
Only one of those Vendor. :DL And have spent more than ten times that much since on another one. :D
not too hard for solved this tread..:yep:
Castout
06-29-10, 11:44 PM
You seem to have a soft spot for books. My advice would be buy one or at max two before committing to buy another. Finish them first before buying the others. That would help you to buy only those that you really would like to have instead those that caught your interest.
Or befriend a rich stupid kid that holds the same kind of book interest and photocopy everything :haha:[will I get warning for this, was a joke, really LOL]
You seem to have a soft spot for books. My advice would be buy one or at max two before committing to buy another. Finish them first before buying the others. That would help you to buy only those that you really would like to have instead those that caught your interest.
Or befriend a rich stupid kid that holds the same kind of book interest and photocopy everything :haha:[will I get warning for this, was a joke, really LOL]
I have a serious case of ADD, so while reading one book, I will start another, then go back and read some more and so on. I am currently reading The Wolf, Sherlock Holmes, and the King maker.
As for the rich friend part, in my group of friends, I AM the rich guy, so no luck there
Sailor Steve
06-30-10, 12:30 AM
I used to have trouble with cards, but I have one debit card from a local credit union and that's it. I check my numbers every day, and only buy things on days I get paid, and only what I plan for very carefully.
The one truly sad thing about debit cards, is being good with them doesn't help your credit score. Only real credit cards do.
That's not sad to me. A debit card is just like a check, only handier. I carry very little cash these days. On the other hand when I did have a credit card I ended up with a bill that took me years to pay off. Then I worked briefly for a credit card company and ended up swearing I would never have one again. And I haven't. Of course the afore-mentioned bills kind of made so I can't have one anyway. :dead:
For me the secret is to check every day, know exactly how much I have and how much any particular thing is going to cost me. I never buy more than one item (book, movie, music) per payday. Of course the last three have been pretty hefty for my limited budget - video card, external hard drive and memory upgrade. No purchases at all for three more weeks, and then it all goes for a new five-string bass. Professional expense, you know.
:rotfl2:
Okay off topic, kinda.
I was talking to my parents(just came back from dinner in the city) and they told me, my 2nd cousin(42) who lives in London is dating this girl whose daughter, to quote my mom, is a "blonde 18y/o bombshell who loves history and is going to study in Zurich" RIGHT THERE, I stopped her and said THAT IS MY FUTURE WIFE!
Yes I have a GF, but while being a Swedish-Dutch is great, this Brit girl would mean my baby has a british accent!! WHICH IS JUST KICK ASS! and my GF is older than me, so she is always thinking of how she wants to start a family soon and all, and I am just too young for that :D
So yea, I must think now
Any one interested in buying some of my dvds? please
Sailor Steve
06-30-10, 12:36 AM
Sounds like you're all set then. Now all you have to do is meet her, convince her that you're the guy she wants, and marry her! Piece of cake!
Sounds like you're all set then. Now all you have to do is meet her, convince her that you're the guy she wants, and marry her! Piece of cake!
Yep! Off to London!
Just made $65!! Process starting!
mom owen 20 and my sister 45
SteamWake
06-30-10, 01:58 PM
Okay off topic, kinda.
I was talking to my parents(just came back from dinner in the city) and they told me, my 2nd cousin(42) who lives in London is dating this girl whose daughter, to quote my mom, is a "blonde 18y/o bombshell who loves history and is going to study in Zurich" RIGHT THERE, I stopped her and said THAT IS MY FUTURE WIFE!
Yes I have a GF, but while being a Swedish-Dutch is great, this Brit girl would mean my baby has a british accent!! WHICH IS JUST KICK ASS! and my GF is older than me, so she is always thinking of how she wants to start a family soon and all, and I am just too young for that :D
So yea, I must think now
As far as I know accents are not inherited. :haha:
GoldenRivet
06-30-10, 02:23 PM
you know it wasnt so long ago when my wife and i were newlyweds... it used to drive me insane how she would use her credit card to pay for fast food.
i absolutely refuse to use credit cards at a fast food joint.
i always said to her
"you realize you just financed a cheese burger, right?"
As far as I know accents are not inherited. :haha:
I know that! duh, since England has become a country I am considering living in, the accent should manifest itself
you know it wasnt so long ago when my wife and i were newlyweds... it used to drive me insane how she would use her credit card to pay for fast food.
i absolutely refuse to use credit cards at a fast food joint.
i always said to her
"you realize you just financed a cheese burger, right?"
:rotfl2: I am not into the fast food stuff, my mom was a chef for a while, so she makes great foods. If I want a food from a fast food place, she just makes it and it tastes SOO much better, and I am sure it is better for you
FIREWALL
06-30-10, 02:48 PM
Okay off topic, kinda.
I was talking to my parents(just came back from dinner in the city) and they told me, my 2nd cousin(42) who lives in London is dating this girl whose daughter, to quote my mom, is a "blonde 18y/o bombshell who loves history and is going to study in Zurich" RIGHT THERE, I stopped her and said THAT IS MY FUTURE WIFE!
Yes I have a GF, but while being a Swedish-Dutch is great, this Brit girl would mean my baby has a british accent!! WHICH IS JUST KICK ASS! and my GF is older than me, so she is always thinking of how she wants to start a family soon and all, and I am just too young for that :D
So yea, I must think now
Stick to reading 3 books and chill for a bit.:DL
Stick to reading 3 books and chill for a bit.:DL
:har::har: yea, about to finish Kingmaker, and I do not plan to start anymore until I finish the rest
FIREWALL
06-30-10, 03:16 PM
:har::har: yea, about to finish Kingmaker, and I do not plan to start anymore until I finish the rest
My advice really wasn't about the books. :haha:
My advice really wasn't about the books. :haha:
Oh? Then I am lost
Ducimus
06-30-10, 04:38 PM
BTW, I should add that even while you spent more than you would have liked, you did NOT spend more than you HAD.
That is a CRITICAL distinction, and a reason to think when it comes to real credit cards. To build credit you need to use them, but it is oh so easy to end up in a hole that is hard to climb out of without discipline. Always use real credit with great care.
Yup. When i was in my 20's i avoided credit cards like the plauge. I had learned my lesson at 18-19 years old when AAFES came out with this little thing called DPP (Deferred Payment Plan). It basically turned your military ID into something tantamount to sears charge card at the Base Exchange. Speaking of sears charge cards....I had one of them too. Took me YEARS to pay that off.
After those mistakes, i took to a "cash only" policy for myself. A debit card is essentually just that. The problem therein though is you need a good credit score for many things like renting an apartment, or getting an account with your local cable company.
I didn't get a credit card again until i was well into my 30's and have the self discipline to not use it. I use my CC for ONE thing. Buying Gas. Thats IT. Doing this helps me keep track of how much im spending on gas, and i pay it off every month to a zero balance to build up my credit score.
CaptainHaplo
06-30-10, 04:43 PM
Thats a great way to do things Ducimus. Over the last 8-10 years, I have been cleaning up my credit, though not building any new. Right now, I am in the long term market for a house. Sure, not having recent credit does hurt, but when you can look at the bank guy and say "Dude - I have NO debt" - they are usually willing to work with you since they know you pay stuff back. The world works on credit so much it boggles even a banker's mind that we pay our way as we go. My own recent situation is such that it really is helping me NOT to have debt.
Ducimus
06-30-10, 09:00 PM
but when you can look at the bank guy and say "Dude - I have NO debt" -
Dude, I have NO debt! (and its a wonderful feeling, i aim to keep it that way)
The world works on credit so much it boggles even a banker's mind that we pay our way as we go.
Yeah it is ridiculous how much the world revolves around credit. The sad truth is that in the long run, if your actually responsible and don't buy anything you already don't have the cash on hand for, you end up hurting yourself. You'd think it should be the other way around.
I wonder how long it will take to build up my credit using my CC the way i do. I mentioned eye surgery a few posts back. I financed it, even though i had the cash , and then paid it off 2 or 3 months later.
Skybird
07-01-10, 04:54 AM
If one apples costs one thaler, and you have three thalers, then... ooops, think I told that story before.
No debt over here, not planning to get some. Visa card maintained only for occasional internet actions, never using it in stores. NEVER. Considering the yearly fee, even that probably is not worth it, but I am a victim of a luxurious world.:DL
tip for people having troubles to manage their monthly budgets: use an excel sheet per month, 31 lines (1 per day), 3 columns: 1 for all regular incomes, 1 for all regular payments (telephone, home, electricit, insurance), 1 for all irregular payments (food, store, etc). Have a total being listed for every day and for the end of the month. that way you always can see at a glance how much you are within or outside your monthly budget.
I have had years when I was very low on money indeed, and had to get along with around 10 bucks per day for food, clothing, household items. But as a matter of fact you can get along with surprisngly small money indeed. Talking of spending discipline, and budget control! Just do not expose yourself to tasty temptations, not in deed and not by mind! While my future is secured, for the time beeing I still have not much money more than what I actually need for everyday life. One can learn how to handle limited resources. Taking credit is a bad method to handle it. In principle, I tend to think that credit only is for rich people who can afford it.
Schroeder
07-01-10, 05:29 AM
Considering the yearly fee, even that probably is not worth it, but I am a victim of a luxurious world.:DL
There are banks that give you a Visa card for free.;)
Jimbuna
07-01-10, 11:09 AM
There are banks that give you a Visa card for free.;)
I pay £30 per year to cover any eventuality should it become lost or stolen.
Fraudulent transactions are covered by the card issuer.
@Ducimus....you gave a lot of sound advice IMHO :up:
@ivank....pleaed to see the learning curve wasn't to steep :sunny:
Skybird
07-01-10, 01:07 PM
There are banks that give you a Visa card for free.;)
Last time I checked was maybe two years ago - and there was always a hook hidden. that reached from mandatory traffic minimum (else the transactions or the card neverthelss costs money) to higher all-in-all-acount fees if I replace my old regular aco**** with a new one (I have two, one for Visa, the other as Giro).
Never forget one ting,Schroeder: bank NEVER offer you something for free. NEVER. Possible, though, that they are extremely clever in hiding it in the small print. There must be a reason why there is so much smallprint. ;)
I personally consider consumers and banks/insurrance companies to be natural enemies. The first are prey, the latter are predators. The less i have to deal with them, the better. Trust - there is no room for it.
Visa (debit),and master Card ,and this depends where am are or be,and all together only 20,bucks.
My friend(who knows what happened) and I work out every other day, and yesterday was his turn to drive, so after the gym, he says he know a shortcut to my house. Instead he takes me to the Suffolk county region Best Buy warehouse/store, knowing the temptation I would be put through. What an assh*le right!? I went straight to the Blu Ray section and started picking up movies! Then I paused looked down at the price of the 1st one, looked at my card, and realized what I was about to do. So I put them back, got my phone out, and started making a list of all the movies I wanted. And I left. Now, when I get more money and am no longer in danger of debt I will one by one, buy these movies, always keeping an eye on my account!
Sailor Steve
07-01-10, 03:38 PM
:rock: That's the way to do it! :sunny:
Jimbuna
07-02-10, 07:10 AM
My friend(who knows what happened) and I work out every other day, and yesterday was his turn to drive, so after the gym, he says he know a shortcut to my house. Instead he takes me to the Suffolk county region Best Buy warehouse/store, knowing the temptation I would be put through. What an assh*le right!? I went straight to the Blu Ray section and started picking up movies! Then I paused looked down at the price of the 1st one, looked at my card, and realized what I was about to do. So I put them back, got my phone out, and started making a list of all the movies I wanted. And I left. Now, when I get more money and am no longer in danger of debt I will one by one, buy these movies, always keeping an eye on my account!
Nice one......take each step/temptation one at a time and grow stronger in your resolve :up:
As you know I have been trying not to spend any money, well when I went to deposit a paycheck today, it turns out my account went down!!! Microsoft charged me $14.99 for a Zune subscription, and $54.30 for something!! I do not even know what it is for!!!
$310
-14.99 Zune
-54.30 ???
-40 CVS film
=$200!!!
My pay-check was $95.00 so I have $295!!!!
I canceled Zune and Xbox live
thorn69
07-05-10, 03:09 PM
At least you're not doing as bad as Obama! Stay positive! :rock:
^^lol
I am disputing the charge with Visa now
Sailor Steve
07-05-10, 04:31 PM
Good for you! Find out what it was MicroShaft charged you the $54.30 for. If it wasn't something you specifically ordered, they should repay it.
Good for you! Find out what it was MicroShaft charged you the $54.30 for. If it wasn't something you specifically ordered, they should repay it.
Microsoft, not Shaft.
Anyways my vovo who works for chase, says they will repay me.
Sailor Steve
07-05-10, 06:51 PM
I know who they are. I though my version was funny, and much more polite that the terms some others use for them. :D
I know who they are. I though my version was funny, and much more polite that the terms some others use for them. :D
oh :D
Jimbuna
07-06-10, 08:18 AM
Have you any remote idea what the $54.30 could be for?
You should just spend like crazy. I'm told by the people in power here in the US that when faced with financial crisis, the solution is to spend a lot more.
Herr-Berbunch
07-06-10, 09:26 AM
Debit cards are horrible. I did not realize how bad it was until I went to the back today and my vovo(grandma) who is the manger sat me down and showed me the damage I did from 6/28/10 to 6/29/10.
With a card, I guess it was not apparent to me the amount I am spending, with no tangible cash, I just lost control. In the time period above I went from $878.87 to $310.85.
Spending list:
-$6.51 Play Station Network(movie rental)
-$49.24 travelling to and from Jersey City for 6hr of work
-$126.63 Barnes and Noble(I went there for 1 HK book and walked out with 1 HK raider book, 1 Uboat book, 1 HMS Renown book, and 1 membership card)
-$59.72 Best Buy(went in for a pair of headphones and walked out with NO headphone but 4 Blu Rays)
-$250.06 Amazon(went to get a book about HK 33 Pinguin, saw an interesting book about the Komet, saw another raider book, and so on...)
-$43.98 Eurosport.com (Portugal jersey shorts, to complete my Portugal uniform)
-$42.56 Applebees (I am that nice guy that if a friend asks to cover his part of the bill, I would, and I know this guy with never pay me back :cry: )
And the list goes on...
I guess I just wanted to talk to someone who is not pissed at me for this(parents, vovo, friends in Germany and my GF) So now I can not go to Germany, Nederlands, and Sweden this summer, there goes that dream.
And I just wanted to warn you guys about the dangers of the cards.
You started in credit, you ended in credit, be thankful for that. I used to spend it till it'd gone, then spend some more. Went bankrupt a few years ago and now don't touch credit at all. I have a budget of what I can spend on 'my crap' and when it's gone, it's gone!
Lessons learnt, harsh, but could be alot worse. :yeah:
Have you any remote idea what the $54.30 could be for?
None at all
You should just spend like crazy. I'm told by the people in power here in the US that when faced with financial crisis, the solution is to spend a lot more.
:haha:
Jimbuna
07-06-10, 11:46 AM
None at all
I think I'd be ringing them and asking for an update on my statement if I were you.
Surely you can do it online also.
I think I'd be ringing them and asking for an update on my statement if I were you.
Surely you can do it online also.
Chase wants to call Mirco before they fund me the money back
Jimbuna
07-07-10, 08:28 AM
Chase wants to call Mirco before they fund me the money back
That sounds fair enough but as soon as they have tell them (depending on what their explanation is) that you didn't order anything or require said service.
Unless there's something devious in the small print somewhere I'd have thought they would have needed a signature or your authorisation.
Well it turns out when I 1st got my Xbox 360, I set Xbox Live to renew itself automatic. So I had no idea this was happening, and only realized cause my account was soo low, any charge was noticeable. So my fault
Well it turns out when I 1st got my Xbox 360, I set Xbox Live to renew itself automatic. So I had no idea this was happening, and only realized cause my account was soo low, any charge was noticeable. So my fault
plan was to move on to U.K,have you cancel this?
Jimbuna
07-08-10, 06:48 PM
Well it turns out when I 1st got my Xbox 360, I set Xbox Live to renew itself automatic. So I had no idea this was happening, and only realized cause my account was soo low, any charge was noticeable. So my fault
Well at least you have received a plausable explanation....be better from learning from it :up:
plan was to move on to U.K,have you cancel this?
???
thorn69
07-08-10, 07:05 PM
You should just spend like crazy. I'm told by the people in power here in the US that when faced with financial crisis, the solution is to spend a lot more.
But ONLY if he gives the money to another country to spend! :know:
???
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Steve View Post
Sounds like you're all set then. Now all you have to do is meet her, convince her that you're the guy she wants, and marry her! Piece of cake!
Yep! Off to London!
_________________
ivank is online Report Post Reply With Quote Sorry if I was wrong! :yep:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sailor Steve View Post
Sounds like you're all set then. Now all you have to do is meet her, convince her that you're the guy she wants, and marry her! Piece of cake!
Yep! Off to London!
_________________
ivank is online Report Post Reply With Quote Sorry if I was wrong! :yep:
Oh! That was a joke, I can not possible get to London for some time now. Need more cash. But I would like to live in the UK for some years
Oh! That was a joke, I can not possible get to London for some time now. Need more cash. But I would like to live in the UK for some years
:salute:
Sledgehammer427
07-08-10, 11:24 PM
I don't know how far off topic we are but in response to the original reason you started the Thread Ivan, I've been down that road once before (Overdrafted like...3 bucks and I get an overdraft charge of almost 90 bucks. yep, I'm watching my account now. :shifty:)
my bank has the online thing going strong, I can check my account and see my spending in realtime, I can check it, see how much I have, go to mcdonalds and grab food with the card, come home and note the transaction.
If I intend on leaving my house and spending money on the card I'll check it before I leave. after losing 90 dollars out of my hard earned money, I'm not letting myself slip again. sorry to hear about having to cancel your trip, maybe it would be wiser to find a gf here that will give you all sortsa hell for spending even a little money. after three relationships of that I don't spend a dime unless I'm starving or it's the last copy on the shelf
I don't know how far off topic we are but in response to the original reason you started the Thread Ivan, I've been down that road once before (Overdrafted like...3 bucks and I get an overdraft charge of almost 90 bucks. yep, I'm watching my account now. :shifty:)
my bank has the online thing going strong, I can check my account and see my spending in realtime, I can check it, see how much I have, go to mcdonalds and grab food with the card, come home and note the transaction.
If I intend on leaving my house and spending money on the card I'll check it before I leave. after losing 90 dollars out of my hard earned money, I'm not letting myself slip again. sorry to hear about having to cancel your trip, maybe it would be wiser to find a gf here that will give you all sortsa hell for spending even a little money. after three relationships of that I don't spend a dime unless I'm starving or it's the last copy on the shelf If you look forward do to something ,you really wan't,and the you must cancel.....I'ts hard and takes alot to get throug,btw I see in you Sig,are you from ILL nearby Chicago?
I don't know how far off topic we are but in response to the original reason you started the Thread Ivan, I've been down that road once before (Overdrafted like...3 bucks and I get an overdraft charge of almost 90 bucks. yep, I'm watching my account now. :shifty:)
my bank has the online thing going strong, I can check my account and see my spending in realtime, I can check it, see how much I have, go to mcdonalds and grab food with the card, come home and note the transaction.
If I intend on leaving my house and spending money on the card I'll check it before I leave. after losing 90 dollars out of my hard earned money, I'm not letting myself slip again. sorry to hear about having to cancel your trip, maybe it would be wiser to find a gf here that will give you all sortsa hell for spending even a little money. after three relationships of that I don't spend a dime unless I'm starving or it's the last copy on the shelf
Chase has that too, but since the big drop in funds occured in 24hrs I did not check my account. As for the GF who can give me hell. Mine is attacking me cause I can not go see her, so I have one of those evil females, they are on sale at your local retailer:yeah: lol. And I ain't for these American chicks unless they Texans, Mid-Western or Southern. Y'all know that classic Southern hospitably.
Sledgehammer427
07-09-10, 01:07 AM
Vendor, I'm from NW Illinois, about 3 hours from chicago and one from the mighty Mississippi. right in the middle of corn country.
Ivan, you should come here. the girls from Illinois tend to be no-drama types, good looking, and proud pickup truck owners, the guys build hot rod domestics and street racing imports while the girls get the pickups.
so they are like texans...but make them more susceptible when it comes to extremely cold weather.
Vendor, I'm from NW Illinois, about 3 hours from chicago and one from the mighty Mississippi. right in the middle of corn country.
Ivan, you should come here. the girls from Illinois tend to be no-drama types, good looking, and proud pickup truck owners, the guys build hot rod domestics and street racing imports while the girls get the pickups.
so they are like texans...but make them more susceptible when it comes to extremely cold weather.
Pick-ups?! Now that's my type of girl! I am driving there now!! My Japanese SUV okay?
Sledgehammer427
07-09-10, 01:20 AM
you might get a few dirty looks from the gangster types but once they find out you are with me they won't bother you.
:yeah:
you might get a few dirty looks from the gangster types but once they find out you are with me they won't bother you.
:yeah:
:yeah: :D
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