Anonymous wrote:Can't find a cheaper phone plan, I like Verizon.

Anonymous wrote:I'm early twenties, living with my parents. Zero debt, minimal bills every month. i just paid down a $900 balance last month and now I'm already at $700. HELP. Help me to stop. I'm saving as much as I can, but now since opening a credit card I'm racking it up so fast.

I want to keep it to like, phone bill ($100), gas ($23 every week), and occasionally groceries (probably $100 a month)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you live with your parents, why aren't you just on a family plan with them? My cell phone bill is very low due to the family plan. It's like an extra $40 including taxes to add another person on.

They kicked me off because I have a full time job.

I'd kick you out of my house too then, based on that logic

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you live with your parents, why aren't you just on a family plan with them? My cell phone bill is very low due to the family plan. It's like an extra $40 including taxes to add another person on.

They kicked me off because I have a full time job.

Anonymous wrote:I think that OP needs to develop a credit history. If she ever wants to get an apartment or a mortgage, she will need one.

Now it the time to learn how to use credit responsibly! It's good that you're getting the spending under control when your bill is still in the $700-900 range per month.

The previous suggestions to budget and add things weekly are excellent. Also, define for yourself what you WANT to use the credit card for -- plane tickets, gas, grocery store are all good places that come to mind. Also copays at the doctor (helps me track reimbursements).

If you want to cut down on restaurants, make sure you're packing your lunch for work. This way, you still have some money in the budget to eat out with friends on the weekend. Make sure you're paying in cash, tho. Don't put it on your card and have people pay you!

If you slip up at Target or buy more clothes that you budgeted for, return them.

Good luck. I think you can get this under control quickly.

Anonymous wrote:
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 wrote: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 wrote:

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 wrote:

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 wrote:

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 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.

Anonymous wrote:I think that OP needs to develop a credit history. If she ever wants to get an apartment or a mortgage, she will need one.

Now it the time to learn how to use credit responsibly! It's good that you're getting the spending under control when your bill is still in the $700-900 range per month.

The previous suggestions to budget and add things weekly are excellent. Also, define for yourself what you WANT to use the credit card for -- plane tickets, gas, grocery store are all good places that come to mind. Also copays at the doctor (helps me track reimbursements).

If you want to cut down on restaurants, make sure you're packing your lunch for work. This way, you still have some money in the budget to eat out with friends on the weekend. Make sure you're paying in cash, tho. Don't put it on your card and have people pay you!

If you slip up at Target or buy more clothes that you budgeted for, return them.

Good luck. I think you can get this under control quickly.