Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
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Anonymous
| I don't even think her cc bill is high! |
Anonymous
| But she can't afford it |
Anonymous
Why not? She lives at home rent free. |
Anonymous
And she says she has no debt. She sounds cheap. |
Anonymous
I disagree. I give her credit for handling the DCUM a-holes with restraint. I think it actually shows a great deal of maturity. |
Anonymous
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Get an envelope and put the CC in that envelope. Don't carry it with you all the time (too easy to slip and use). Whenever you take it out, write the date down, when you get home, put the card back in the envelope and write the amount you spent next to the date. Look at the amount you've spent this current month every time you take the card out, so you know before you use it how much you've spent this month. At the end of the month (or the first time you use it in a month), just put a line under the last entry all the way across so you can visually see also how many times you've used it this month.
If you make yourself aware when you take the card out of the envelope (e.g. before you use it) how much you've already spent that month and how many times you've taken it out of the envelope, it can help you be more self-aware of how much you are spending and you have to knowingly push yourself beyond whatever limit you set yourself for a month by tracking it. |
Anonymous
| See the other thread OP. Your spending is minimal. |
Anonymous
I stay out of Target for this reason. For Costco I make a list beforehand and stick to it, and I never ever let DH set foot in there. |
Anonymous
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OP- I think you're awesome! You don't have a real, serious spending problem but you see yourself flirting with one. You want to be responsible and develop the good habits that lay a foundation for your life. That is really great and you should be proud.
1) If you must go to Target take cash out of the wall or use what's in your wallet. No CCs allowed. That place will bleed you dry in a hurry. In fact, think about what you are going in for and try to figure out another place to get it. Grocery store? Drug store? Clothing store? That cuts out the impulse spending. 2) Stick your card in your freezer-- physically or metaphorically. Don't do that thing where people freeze it in a block of ice, because that is stupid. What I mean is put it where it is never accessible on a whim. You might be disciplined enough to have it in a drawer or maybe even in a separate pouch in your handbag. Just do whatever it takes to break the urge to be impulsive. I might have more tips but my youngest is flooding the bathroom right now so I must RUN. |
Anonymous
I tell myself that Uber is cheaper than a DUI. |
Anonymous
What do you mean by cheap? |
Anonymous
She is crying/ complaining about spending a small amount of money, under average spending. |
Anonymous
What are you buying at target if you live at home? Are you paying the monthly balance in full? You should be given you're living with your parents and (assume) you have a FT job. |
Anonymous
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When you are living rent free, you should be saving for when you actually have to move out and pay rent.
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Anonymous
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OP, I really applaud you for thinking about this. The more you save now, the better off you will be in the long run. This is the optimal time to save! I do think you can get a cheaper phone plan that you will like. I moved from Verizon to Cricket and have not noticed ANY difference. It saves me $60 a month (from $100 down to $40) and it is a month to month so I can change to another plan if I really want to do that. I suggest you try another provider when your contract comes due. You can always go back to Verizon if you don't like the new provider. Also, if you don't pay rent, pretend you pay rent and put that amount into savings. Choose a reasonable amount that it would cost for rent and put that away (and deem it untouchable). This is good practice for when you do go out and rent and gives you a pot of money that you can use as an emergency fund or for whatever you may need later in life (and I mean need, not want). Good luck! The sacrifices now will pay off BIG later! From, Someone who has been there |