Anonymous
Post 04/02/2016 20:12     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month

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
Anonymous
Post 04/02/2016 16:39     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
When you are living rent free, you should be saving for when you actually have to move out and pay rent.

Anonymous
Post 04/02/2016 00:35     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:But she can't afford it


Why not? She lives at home rent free.


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
Post 04/02/2016 00:29     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:But she can't afford it


Why not? She lives at home rent free.

And she says she has no debt. She sounds cheap.


What do you mean by cheap?


She is crying/ complaining about spending a small amount of money, under average spending.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2016 20:28     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:But she can't afford it


Why not? She lives at home rent free.

And she says she has no debt. She sounds cheap.


What do you mean by cheap?
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2016 20:27     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:
I started pulling out a huge (for me) amount of money each month in an effort to halt the even larger cc bills. Yes, it hurts every time I have to break a $20 bill to make a purchase throughout the month, but it sensitizes me to the spending. I have a LOT of points accumulated on my card, so I don't mind using it. But, when I need to pull back, I switch to cash.

Uber is my weakness. Those bills bite me each month. I tell myself it's better than owning a car. I suspect it's just a lie I tell myself though. If Target is your weakness, you best stay away unless you have a list in hand and are purposeful in your visit. I used to take the kids and just wander around Target. The spending was RIDICULOUS. "Oh, what cute sheets! What an adorable set of dishes..." Stoopid. So, I stopped. I don't know what they pump into the air at Target, but it's intoxicating! I knew it was bad when everyone in a red shirt knew me (and the children) by name!

Good luck getting this under control. Financial spring cleaning is an awesome way to start the season.


I tell myself that Uber is cheaper than a DUI.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2016 20:08     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
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
Post 04/01/2016 20:01     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:Get Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover book, and follow his budgeting envelope system.

Places like Target are deadly. I never get out of there for less than $100, no matter what I planned to buy.


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
Post 04/01/2016 19:51     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
See the other thread OP. Your spending is minimal.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2016 16:45     Subject: Re:Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
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
Post 04/01/2016 16:45     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:thanks to everyone for the valuable and kind responses. anyone else with rude comments, god bless


You know that's passive-aggressive, right? And that when someone is passive-aggressive, it's a sign of immaturity? I'm not sure if that's what you intended to be putting out there, but it's what you've done.


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
Post 04/01/2016 16:41     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:But she can't afford it


Why not? She lives at home rent free.

And she says she has no debt. She sounds cheap.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2016 16:41     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
Anonymous wrote:But she can't afford it


Why not? She lives at home rent free.
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2016 16:40     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
But she can't afford it
Anonymous
Post 04/01/2016 16:36     Subject: Help - I rack up such a high balance on my credit card every month
I don't even think her cc bill is high!