CalhounSq said:

Unfortunately we've fallen into credit card use again but we're alot more careful and keep them manageable.

No and it feels great.

yes. working on rescuing responsibly!

No.

Yes, and it began in college when I signed up for a credit card in exchange for free candy.

What did my mother teach me about candy & strangers?

That damn Mortgage.

LeCram said:

That is a really excellent idea. I never would've thought of that. Thanks!

NDRU said:

I have a friend who signed up for a credit card because she got a free ipod out of the deal.

PurpleJedi said:

Once I dig myself out again, I'm going back to my "cash only" policy which had worked for years once I dug out the first time. It's really the way to go if all is going well

Credit card use is such a trap, and using one is NEVER a good idea (unless you pay the entire balancde off every month) unless it's a life & death type thing.

But the entire US economy is based on debt (over 10 trillion, now) so many of us find ourselves just not making enough to do things like buy clothes, visit the dentist, let alone do fun things, without charging them.

It's on us to get out of the trap, but it's not really our faults either, when employers just don't pay very much.

meow85 said:

mayby here you can find some other useful tips.
http://www.moolanomy.com/...resources/

Not eating lunch out at work is one of my biggest money savers. I can spend as much as $10 per day on lunch unless I bring my own from home.

I don't eat out much at all. I am starting to miss it, though! I think I need to make more money

NDRU said:

So true. When I had a lull in the work schedule I had to put my health insurance on my card b/c I needed my cash on hand for rent

NDRU said:

I take my lunch every day, even if it's a janky $2 frozen thing from the store You save SO much money that way, or cooking for the week & bringing it every day. I'll let myself have takeout every now & again, but I don't buy lunch regularly at all. I'm cheap!

CalhounSq said:

wow, crazy! I need a crown on my tooth, and I am hesitant because I don't want to charge it, but I don't have that much cash & my insurance doesn't cover the whole thing.

When I was a kid, using a credit card for groceries was not normal. You had to go to a special station where they'd swipe the card. I read they didn't want to encourage that kind of thing. My, how times have changed!

CalhounSq said:

My husband is a big believer of "cash only" we never charge anything. If we can't afford to pay cash for it, we can't afford it.
Thank god for my husband, because I would sepnd spend spend if it was just up to me.

NDRU said:

Some chains were also very reluctant to allow grocery purchases on credit cards because margins on most grocery items are so thin. I work for a Canadian retailer that mostly deals in groceries, and we only started allowing VISA purchases for grocery items about 8 years ago I believe. Prior to that, your only options were cash or debit unless you were buying general merchandise, electronics, etc.

Personally, I use my credit card for every single purchase I make. I find it to be a very effective way of monitoring and managing my expenditures: I upload every statement into a spreadsheet & categorize my purchases & when I go over budget in any given area I scale back my purchases during the next 4 week cycle. Plus I get points on my purchases, which is a nice bonus. But I make sure I pay off the full balance every two weeks.
[Edited 9/28/09 15:00pm]

NDRU said:

I usually buy lunch but I spend less than $5 a day and I get good, quality food for that price. My work cafeteria is actually awesome. For example, one day last week I had an egg-white omlette w/asparagus, artichoke and havarti cheese w/fresh fruit on the side and a bottle of water for 295 calories and it was under $5.
I eat better that way then if I brought frozen meals and I don't think ahead to make my own so it's worth $25 (or less) a week for me.

CarrieMpls said:

You're lucky! I work in a college town, so the food is either horribly unhealthy or expensive.

I made my lunch today! Rice & curried chickpeas, it was probably very cheap (though I have no idea how much the ingredients were)

I definitely think we deserve to eat out, but it's also a good way to save some cash for me.

I save money by living at home instead of elsewhere

PaisleyPark5083 said:

Your husband is spot on.

Hell no.

NDRU said:

talk to your denist office person. Many times they are willing to work out a payment schedule.

PaisleyPark5083 said:

My husband is that way too and thank god for it cause I probably would be less so. Now, no matter, I would NEVER have a credit card. People will try to convince you that you NEED one in case of an emergancy but you DON'T. You can get financing on almost anything in any kind of emergancy.
We have a mortgage a car payment and a harley payment...and that's it.

Shorty said:

How do u rent a car with a CC? Or book a plane ticket?

Graycap23 said:

Probably Visa debit card. Same principal as a CC but ur using ur own money.

PanthaGirl said:

Graycap23 said:

with a debit card...with a Visa logo.

PanthaGirl said:

:ding:

Shorty said:

That doesn't always work. A friend of mine does not have a credit card, but a bank/debit card with a MC or Visa logo -- he cannot rent a car in NYC.