Credit Cards: Are You Able To Control Yourself?

Intelsucks

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:22 PM
Original message

Credit Cards: Are You Able To Control Yourself?

~3 years ago, I was ~$17,000 in the hole to the ol' fantastic plastic, but I somehow managed to discipline myself to get them completely paid off. Then I went out and bought a new car, and now I feel like I'm right back where I freakin' started, with new debt to boot!

being in debt to the tune of thou$and$ makes me nervous, yet If I want something, I willingly go into debt to get it, and then regret it later. Why? :shrug:

Sometimes it helps to tell complete strangers your problems.

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mmm

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:24 PM
Response to Original message

1. you don't live forever- it's good to live a little

and it sure don't make you a bad person

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AndyP

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:25 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Know the feeling

I was pretty deep in debt too. I'm in college though so paying them back has been a long and hard process. I'm on my way though. Hey we should start a support group or something. :)

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INTELBYTES

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:27 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. Hi AndyP!

Welcome to the DU!

:party:

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NightTrain

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:27 PM
Response to Original message

4. Kinda sorta

I had to file for bankruptcy in 1996 because I got into trouble with my credit cards. Now I have just one card, but the balance is substantially higher than I can pay off in a single month.

However, a lot of that balance was built up due to things I couldn't do without, like a $985 transmission rebuild for my car. What had gotten me in trouble the first time was all too frequently splurging on luxury items like books, CDs and videos.

Best thing I can say about my current debt is that it has allowed me to rebuild my credit rating. Guess there's something to be said for that!

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HEyHEY

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:28 PM
Response to Original message

5. yeah but at the end of this you will have a car

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bif

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:28 PM
Response to Original message

6. Pay it off every month

I hate owing $.

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trof

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:39 PM
Response to Reply #6

10. yep

Very handy, as long as you do that.
Discover Card hates us.

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tomzee

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:29 PM
Response to Original message

7. saving's more fun

First of all, if you really want to stay out of overwhelming debt, you will. You first have to want to, to see a reason for it. Until you get to that point, the lure of material things that are luxuries is going to be stronger.

Second, once you get into the habit of saving money, and buying little bits of long-term freedom in the process, you'll see the material benefits of putting money away.

Money can mean freedom in the right hands. And isn't that what we all want?

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Skittles

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:38 PM
Response to Original message

8. yes

Edited on Thu Dec-11-03 05:38 PM by Skittles

I'm 46 and have NEVER paid a cent in interest on a credit card. I simply do not feel the sense of entitlement I see a lot of people do. I grew up without and learned to live without. Don't miss "things".

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Intelsucks

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:41 PM
Response to Reply #8

12. I grew up "without" and then got a taste of "with" and became addicted

;-)

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Sir_Shrek

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:38 PM
Response to Original message

9. I'm not too bad....

I don't run it up to where it's completely unmanageable, but I do carry a balance more often than not. I'm on a plan to get it paid off in the next 3 months though...I put about $250 a month towards it currently, and I'm actually getting a bonus from work so I've earmakred at least 50% of that towards credit card repayment.

But someone said it best here...saving really is fun.

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populistmom

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Thu Dec-11-03 05:40 PM
Response to Original message

11. Yes, but my spouse can't

We're just getting them again after 3 years of none and it's going to be only in my name because he was so bad with it previously.

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