Don't forget about balance transfer fees, even if another card is offering 0% interest on the balance. They'll still charge you a fee to do it. |
If this were my kid, I'd tell them that they're 21 and they can solve their own problems. |
| Glad to know that if your kids asked you for advice on how to handle a situation you'd tell them to solve their own issues. shitty parent. |
Much, much more complicated, but there are things that can be done. Seek assistance of a consumer attorney who specializes in student loans. |
If you didn't give it at least one night to sleep on it, my dear, that is the definition of an impulse buy. |
| Also, OP, start using a money tracking tool like Mint or LearnVest now, to start getting yourself in good money habits. These sites will help you set goals, pay off debt, and best, they make these things really visual, which is rewarding when learning about money. Good luck! |
Lol no kidding. I thought the same thing. |
| Op here. Thanks for the advice ..no thanks on the sugar daddy that was awkward. I paid of half today and will pay off the other half in a month. Definitely gonna improve in my spending. |
whats THAT about?
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Good for you for taking responsibility and for making a plan! When I was 21, I was racking up thousands of dollars in credit card debt without knowing how bad things would get for me. Many of my friends were worse off than I was. It took me a long time to climb out of that. Some of the people who post here love to come across like know-it-all assholes. But many of us have been in your shoes. My one piece of advice is to cancel that card after you get it paid off. You will sustain a bit of a hit to your credit history, because one of the things the credit agencies consider is how long you've had credit. But really, that card is bad news, and cancelling it means you won't get into this trouble again. |
While I don't know OP's situation, when I was in college, my program required a specific Mac laptop. I was a journalism student, and I know lots of arts majors also had requirements like this. I certainly didn't have money for it, but just like textbooks, it was a vital school supply. |
That is terrible advice. Keep the card active, just don't carry around with you, or otherwise keep yourself from using it except in emergencies. Your credit score later will thank you. |
NOt to mention the myth that closing a card will affect the length of credit history. Good trade lines stay (and count!) for 10 years. Bad ones, 7. |
I'm the one who offered this "terrible" advice -- it's not terrible. There are other ways to build a credit history than having THIS ONE credit card which s/he's already demonstrated a little bit of irresponsible behavior with (I'm not knocking you, OP - again, I've been there, seriously.) It's awesome that YOU have the willpower to just stash a card in a drawer forever and never think about it. I have that willpower too -- at age 42. At age 21? Not so much. Sometimes it is better not to have the temptation. Only the OP can make the call on that.
Good! Happy to be wrong. Even more reason to consider closing this card. |