Credit Cards

Somnium

Amex for EVERYTHING.

Rewards points =

GreenTeaDisease

somnium wrote:

Amex for EVERYTHING.

Rewards points =

I've had an AMEX since college and NO ONE accepts it. Every store complains that the merchant fees are too high.

Somnium

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I've had an AMEX since college and NO ONE accepts it. Every store complains that the merchant fees are too high.

Smaller places, right?

Pearls&Stones

I couldn't imagine not having it for emergencies. Plumbing issues, needing new tires, etc.

Yeah, mine has a somewhat high balance on it, but it beats having a foot of water in my basement from the plumbing being backed up. And it beats having no furnace.


I also have a Sears card, which I use for "no interest" larger purchases. I bought my HDTV when they offered no interest, no payments for a year----This is where people get into trouble. I am paying $100+ a month and will have it paid off way before the year, but some people see that and think "SWEET its free for a year." Then they pay 27% interest.

JenInTheBx

I use mine for everything- pure convenience. I put my gas, groceries, random shopping, car insurance, everything on there, and then I pay it off in full every month. I've found it to be helpful with controlling my spending- when you see everything listed with a total at the bottom, it's enough of a reason to think twice before spending.

Indian Summer

i have two credit cards.

Card A - I put everything on. Automatic Deductions for my Mortgage, Electric Bill, Cell Phone Bill, Cable/internet, Student Loan, Gas, Groceries, entertainment....whatever. This gets paid off each month in full...makes it really easy when paying bills...one payment on line that I schedule when I want. This way I get cash back from the CC, as well as a nice easy statement outlining what I spend each month.....cake way to do a budget. Also, my checking account is never at risk. With fraud protection on the card I can always dispute anything out of the norm. I feel really in control of my money doing it this way, but its not for everyone. Been doing this for about 2 years now.

Card B - Used only for emergencies. I've had it since 1998, and the only time I've used it was for some spur of the moment car repair that totaled in the the thousands.


Credit cards are a great thing when used wisely.

xavier mcdaniel

i have one and it's used for vacations because it's not like i can insert a couple of hundreds through the computer and pay for plane tickets and hotels that way. I also use it for tickets i order online. that's about it, i'd never use it for a 10-dollar order of food or anything like that.

Heineken Helen

tonadax wrote:

It's Credit Card really necesary? 9 of 10 people always tell me sad stories about their credit cards debts...... i'll always try to pay my payments Cash, of course i don't have issues like having babies, married thing, etx.........

They shouldn't be necessary but they are if ya wanna have half a life. Try booking a flight, hotel, ANYTHING without a credit card :mad: ya CAN'T. I don't have one... I use my debit card for some things, and for others there are prepaid vouchers ya can get (kinda like a debit credit card ) but I think it's disgusting the way it's going... since when did 'cash' become a dirty word?

Heineken Helen

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

I use mine for almost everything so that I can easily track expenses

TRACK being the operative word. Credit cards bring me straight into conspiracy theory mode :eek: I don't like them at all... they're evil evil evil... and like everything else, everyone thinks they're great and they'll get lots of them and think how handy they are... next thing they're being arrested for assassinating the president :eek:

Ok I know I did a HUGE jump there... but some people may possibly know what I mean

Heineken Helen

failedpersephone wrote:

Credit Cards are nec. if you want to make larger purchases...you need to have a show of credit to your name. If you can, you should try to live off of cash as long as possible...mostly because Credit Cards have small devices in them to mind control and keep track of the number of visits to Starbucks that you take each month.

I like you.

Isn't it crazy that you need to show you're in debt in order to prove you're a responsible, normal adult

Heineken Helen

audiodave wrote:

I'll probably get one once i'm earning just to build up my credit rating. I've never been one for buying things I can't afford. The only time i've ever done that is where PJ is concerned. I hope they don't announce a tour the day after I get a credit card.

wouldn't it be more beneficial to get a loan... invest it in a high interest savings scheme... and pay THAT off weekly/monthly? If you want to get one simply to build up credit rating.

audiodave

Heineken Helen wrote:

They shouldn't be necessary but they are if ya wanna have half a life. Try booking a flight, hotel, ANYTHING without a credit card :mad: ya CAN'T. I don't have one... I use my debit card for some things, and for others there are prepaid vouchers ya can get (kinda like a debit credit card ) but I think it's disgusting the way it's going... since when did 'cash' become a dirty word?

Yes you can. I've travelled round a fair bit of Europe without a credit card. Can't have been more than two occasions that somewhere required one, but that's just my experience.

audiodave

Heineken Helen wrote:

wouldn't it be more beneficial to get a loan... invest it in a high interest savings scheme... and pay THAT off weekly/monthly? If you want to get one simply to build up credit rating.

Well it isn't something that i've really thought about as i've never needed to. But if I sell my soul and get a graduate job, then i'll most likely be payed monthly and will have need of a credit card to buy anything.

Heineken Helen

audiodave wrote:

Yes you can. I've travelled round a fair bit of Europe without a credit card. Can't have been more than two occasions that somewhere required one, but that's just my experience.

Ok well in fairness I've gotten by without one... but it's pretty difficult! How do you get flights without a credit card or an equivilent or a really good friend? Sure, SOME hotels don't require credit card number to make a booking online... but most do.

Heineken Helen

audiodave wrote:

Well it isn't something that i've really thought about as i've never needed to. But if I sell my soul and get a graduate job, then i'll most likely be payed monthly and will have need of a credit card to buy anything.

But then you're spending outside of your means... why pay things BEFORE you get paid and use your wages to pay what you paid for LAST month? If you can start the other way around it's much better.

Housing Jim

I've had a credit card for about ten years now....just the one and I pay off the entire balance every month, no matter how much it is. I know that I'm fortunate to be able to do that.

I think they're necessary for buying stuff online. When you;re using a credit card it usually comes with some kind of protection attached. I'm alwasy wary about using debit cards online....if anyone gets hold of that info then you're pretty much screwed.

Unfortunately banks are literally trying to throw money at people these days and I know folk who are in serious trouble with debt now because of credit cards etc.

They;re great, as long as they're used sensibly.

audiodave

Heineken Helen wrote:

But then you're spending outside of your means... why pay things BEFORE you get paid and use your wages to pay what you paid for LAST month? If you can start the other way around it's much better.

:rolleyes:

Sorry mum.

Like I said, it's not something i've thought a lot about. But when I have a reason to think about it, I will look at all the options before I make a decision, as that's how I do things.

Heineken Helen

audiodave wrote:

:rolleyes:

Sorry mum.

Like I said, it's not something i've thought a lot about.

:rolleyes: Yep, I can see that :cool:




Look, I'm not a fucking financial advisor anyway... but I hate hate hate credit cards with a passion so if you can at all cope without one, don't get one

Indian Summer

Heineken Helen wrote:

Look, I'm not a fucking financial advisor anyway... but I hate hate hate credit cards with a passion so if you can at all cope without one, don't get one

It's okay if you are not responsible enough to handle one, lots of people aren't. But if you are wise enough, and disciplined enough to use them, they can and do work to your advantage.

audiodave

Heineken Helen wrote:

Look, I'm not a fucking financial advisor anyway... but I hate hate hate credit cards with a passion so if you can at all cope without one, don't get one

I know you aren't, yet here you are giving the advice anyway. :D

I'm not a fan of credit cards, but I see the point of them. I'm not wasteful with money, and I always know what is going out and coming in, and when, so when the time comes that i'm in a stable financial situation, i'm sure I will get one.

But i'm still never going to Starbucks.

Heineken Helen

Indian Summer wrote:

It's okay if you are not responsible enough to handle one, lots of people aren't. But if you are wise enough, and disciplined enough to use them, they can and do work to your advantage.

If you're wise and disciplined enough... you wouldn't be taking advice from here anyway. I'm talking to people like Dave (who probably would be able to cope with one... but I mean those coming out of college and just getting their first step into the financial world of responsibilities and bullshit) who can cope without one, never learned to depend on one... why get one?

Heineken Helen

audiodave wrote:

I know you aren't, yet here you are giving the advice anyway. :D

I'm not a fan of credit cards, but I see the point of them. I'm not wasteful with money, and I always know what is going out and coming in, and when, so when the time comes that i'm in a stable financial situation, i'm sure I will get one.

But i'm still never going to Starbucks.

I don't doubt you could cope with one. Just be careful about airing any controversial political views online once you get one though cos then they'll have ya :(

Indian Summer

Heineken Helen wrote:

If you're wise and disciplined enough... you wouldn't be taking advice from here anyway. I'm talking to people like Dave (who probably would be able to cope with one... but I mean those coming out of college and just getting their first step into the financial world of responsibilities and bullshit) who can cope without one, never learned to depend on one... why get one?

I'm not taking advice, I'm giving it. I've had two for years, and I'm pretty much a financial genius. Don't hate on them because you don't like them.

Heineken Helen

Indian Summer wrote:

I'm not taking advice, I'm giving it. I've had two for years, and I'm pretty much a financial genius. Don't hate on them because you don't like them.

You misread... I said if you're that wise and disciplined you won't be taking advice from here... whether it's from me or from you! Also, a lot of people might THINK they're wise and disciplined... til they get a credit card. Even some of the ones who are disciplined now have admitted to encountering problems along the way. Don't hate on them cos I don't like them? Can you think of a better reason to hate on something? :cool:

audiodave

Heineken Helen wrote:

I'm talking to people like Dave (who probably would be able to cope with one... but I mean those coming out of college and just getting their first step into the financial world of responsibilities and bullshit) who can cope without one, never learned to depend on one... why get one?

I have some financial responsibilites, and I have had for a few years. But i'm not naive enough to think I have very much. Anyway...I don't think I would get into a situation where I depended on credit cards. I can't say for sure that I wouldn't, but I know myself, and I don't really spend much money and I don't try to live outside my means. The point was that you can use them to your advantage. Granted, many many people use them to their vast disadvantage, but like people have said, it works both ways.

Indian Summer

Heineken Helen wrote:

Don't hate on them cos I don't like them? Can you think of a better reason to hate on something? :cool:

I don't like Heineken beer, but I'm not gonna tell everyone that it sucks. If they want to drink it, that's fine.

Heineken Helen

Indian Summer wrote:

I don't like Heineken beer, but I'm not gonna tell everyone that it sucks. If they want to drink it, that's fine.

If they like it, yeh, that's cool... but if they've never tried heineken before and were asking my advice I'd strongly recommend that they don't bother... and I'd urge them to try some good Belgian beer instead. That's what friends do . I wouldn't say 'well I don't like heineken but you may have different taste buds so go ahead'

dunkman

Heineken Helen wrote:

but I hate hate hate credit cards with a passion so if you can at all cope without one, don't get one

so people shouldnt get a credit card because you hate them???

credit cards mean you are guarenteed on internet purchases.. it means if you are stuck abroad or at home without a cash machine you can purchase things.

pay the balance of every month and there is no issue.. in fact i have a reward style one.. and last year we got enough points to be able to get a brand new computer table/drawer thing..

but, its everyones choice.. however i wouldnt say not to get one to somebody just cos i hate them... :rolleyes:

Chazz

Housing Jim wrote:

I've had a credit card for about ten years now....just the one and I pay off the entire balance every month, no matter how much it is. I know that I'm fortunate to be able to do that.

I think they're necessary for buying stuff online. When you;re using a credit card it usually comes with some kind of protection attached. I'm alwasy wary about using debit cards online....if anyone gets hold of that info then you're pretty much screwed.

Unfortunately banks are literally trying to throw money at people these days and I know folk who are in serious trouble with debt now because of credit cards etc.

They;re great, as long as they're used sensibly.

I agree...I use 'em for Internet stuff and pay it off each month. I've seen my sister rack up loads of debt in the past on credit cards, so much so that she's got no money for anything else, except minimum payments, it took her years to get out of it and she only did that by cutting them up.

Your right about the banks/CC companies too, and they target young people just starting to earn who look upon a card as 'free money'. My friends son was maxing out one card then getting another until the end he had so many he couldn't get out of debt, couldn't get any more cards and couldn't get a loan himself to help pay them off - in the end my friend had to get a loan in her name to pay off his debts! Surely if you max out one or two cards its clear that you've got enough debt and don't need another card!!! But long as they're getting the interest they don't care.... just my two peneth

Heineken Helen

dunkman wrote:

so people shouldnt get a credit card because you hate them???

credit cards mean you are guarenteed on internet purchases.. it means if you are stuck abroad or at home without a cash machine you can purchase things.

pay the balance of every month and there is no issue.. in fact i have a reward style one.. and last year we got enough points to be able to get a brand new computer table/drawer thing..

but, its everyones choice.. however i wouldnt say not to get one to somebody just cos i hate them... :rolleyes:

I said if you can cope at all without one... not to get one... so what WOULD be the point in getting one if you can cope without (apparently you can't so that's grand... good for you)? I actually think it's irresponsible to tell people to ignore me and to just get one if they want one