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Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time :(

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:11 pm
by Loop Bizkit
After my divorce, I paid off all my credit cards, and cancelled them. I made a resolution to only buy what I could afford to pay in full at any given time.

It's been awesome. I'm completely debt free....except for my modest mortgage.


So yeah... most of the time, it's great. Except....

I did the most unmanly thing ever today. I sold 3 guitars to buy a wedding band, rather than finance it. I didn't want to take the money out of savings, because I've worked really hard on having a good savings account.

I shot myself in the foot with the engagement ring, which is worth more than my car. Now I have to do a wedding band on caliber with it. Ugh.


Hope she's worth it. :lol:

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:13 pm
by Diocide
The engagement ring I got for my chick is worth more than my truck...











But I drive a 99 Ford Ranger :D

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:14 pm
by phrophus
But, you've managed to acquire like 3 new guitars in the last few months. :lol:

But, good on you, man. I want to be debt free really badly. Student loans suck.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:15 pm
by Dave
Congrats, Loop!



Your guitar collection is like Gene's pedal collection. 3 missing won't even scratch the surface :p

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:19 pm
by Loop Bizkit
Murdoch wrote:None of them were the N7 or the Ibby 8, I hope...


Nope... but one of them was my beloved RGD2127Z that I used to do my entire LQG EP. :(

It was collecting dust once I got the N7. Still stung a bit to let it go.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:20 pm
by sleewell
you guys sure look real happy on fb, i am sure she is worth it.

congrats!!


i rarely carry cash. for me its easier to put everything on plastic, get the rewards and pay it off monthly. self control is tough though, when i splurge i just work harder to pay it back.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:23 pm
by Loop Bizkit
sleewell wrote:you guys sure look real happy on fb, i am sure she is worth it.

congrats!!


i rarely carry cash. for me its easier to put everything on plastic, get the rewards and pay it off monthly. self control is tough though, when i splurge i just work harder to pay it back.


I hear ya...

I just got in a bad way with credit cards years ago, and as much as rewards/points are cool, I don't trust myself anymore lol. I'm too impulsive. Hell, 2 summers ago I bought a Porsche (wrote a check for it gaaahhh ) and sold it 5 months later. Guys like me should only use cash/check/debit lol.

D and I do really well for ourselves, and have been blessed with great jobs. If I want something, I kind of like the anticipation of working and saving up for it. :)

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:25 pm
by facefirst
I now only have one credit card which I only use for small purchases now and then just to have revolving credit. My mindset is that if I can't afford it, then I don't need it or I need to save for it. Makes life easier for me.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:28 pm
by NinjaRaf
Our wedding bands cots 140...for both :D

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:33 pm
by Loop Bizkit
NinjaRaf wrote:Our wedding bands cots 140...for both :D


Saw on FB. Neat idea, for sure! I showed D, and she said no. :lol:

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:36 pm
by NinjaRaf
Loop wrote:
NinjaRaf wrote:Our wedding bands cots 140...for both :D


Saw on FB. Neat idea, for sure! I showed D, and she said no. :lol:


haha yeah, I dont imagine most people would go for that kinda thing, but we decided tattoos from day 1. Neither of us like wearing jewelry. It took us 4 months to decide what we wanted, though.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:24 pm
by Elessar [Sly]
Congrats AND Mojo! hehe.

I don't think I've ever owned a credit card.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:35 pm
by RSBro
i owe on my house and my car, the latter of which i'm about to get something more reasonable and no CC debt which is a great feeling.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:41 pm
by Dave
Yeah, credit card debt is for the birds. My balance is zero and has been for some time. I don't even use it for the rewards anymore. They kept shrinking and playing the game got to be a burden.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:46 pm
by RSBro
Chuck Nutz wrote:Yeah, credit card debt is for the birds. My balance is zero and has been for some time. I don't even use it for the rewards anymore. They kept shrinking and playing the game got to be a burden.


i have and keep using my Continental (now United) rewards Chase card simply bc I have a shit-ton of miles on it that I want to use at some point, but I use it strictly for gas and groceries so the bill is never too much.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:47 pm
by sleewell
Do you guys use debit cards or cash then?

I hate carrying cash and worrying if they give proper change. I also don't want to worry about balances and fees if I overdraft a day from payday so I don't use my debit card much. Whatever works for you, everyone is different as long as you aren't paying those fucking bankers interest and fees.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:51 pm
by RSBro
sleewell wrote:Do you guys use debit cards or cash then?

I hate carrying cash and worrying if they give proper change. I also don't want to worry about balances and fees if I overdraft a day from payday so I don't use my debit card much. Whatever works for you, everyone is different as long as you aren't paying those fucking bankers interest and fees.


i use my debit card for everything except the aforementioned gas or groceries. and even then, if it's just a quick stop into Kroger for 1-2 things i'll use my debit also.
i usually keep about $20 in cash on me, about 10 $1's and a couple of fivers or whatnot.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:53 pm
by sleewell
I would have imagined you carried more ones, interesting. LOL

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:56 pm
by Loop Bizkit
RSBro wrote:
sleewell wrote:Do you guys use debit cards or cash then?

I hate carrying cash and worrying if they give proper change. I also don't want to worry about balances and fees if I overdraft a day from payday so I don't use my debit card much. Whatever works for you, everyone is different as long as you aren't paying those fucking bankers interest and fees.


i use my debit card for everything except the aforementioned gas or groceries. and even then, if it's just a quick stop into Kroger for 1-2 things i'll use my debit also.
i usually keep about $20 in cash on me, about 10 $1's and a couple of fivers or whatnot.




This is exactly what I do. And I monitor my account with my phone.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:57 pm
by indienoise
Never had credit card debt in my life. I'm too impulsive, it's not a good idea. Owe about 48k on our house and some on a medical bill, and that's it.

Good on you for having the restraint to do it that way...and the resolve to sell those guitars. That's non-negotiable for me, I'd MUCH rather use a bit of savings than take a hit on a guitar I don't want to part with.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 2:58 pm
by Yarbicus
Actually, that was a VERY manly thing to do. :thumbup:

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:00 pm
by CrunchBerries
Loop wrote:After my divorce, I paid off all my credit cards, and cancelled them. I made a resolution to only buy what I could afford to pay in full at any given time.

It's been awesome. I'm completely debt free....except for my modest mortgage.


So yeah... most of the time, it's great. Except....

I did the most unmanly thing ever today. I sold 3 guitars to buy a wedding band, rather than finance it. I didn't want to take the money out of savings, because I've worked really hard on having a good savings account.

I shot myself in the foot with the engagement ring, which is worth more than my car. Now I have to do a wedding band on caliber with it. Ugh.


Hope she's worth it. :lol:


Didn't learn your lesson the first time? :-w

And your credit cards are the worry?



lol just kidding man, congrats on the engagement / wedding planning etc.. :D

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:00 pm
by RSBro
sleewell wrote:I would have imagined you carried more ones, interesting. LOL


bwhahaha

i went to the bank the day before NYE and i was going downtown and so i just wanted a lot of $1's and 5's for the bars for tips/drinks so didn't have to open tabs and yeah, the girl at the drive through was just looking at me and lol'ing when i told her the split i wanted.
i think i got 20 $1's and 20 $5's or something like that hahaha
she was like "You have yourself a GREAT New Year's Mr. Oh!" :lol:

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:04 pm
by Dave
Loop wrote:
RSBro wrote:
sleewell wrote:Do you guys use debit cards or cash then?

I hate carrying cash and worrying if they give proper change. I also don't want to worry about balances and fees if I overdraft a day from payday so I don't use my debit card much. Whatever works for you, everyone is different as long as you aren't paying those fucking bankers interest and fees.


i use my debit card for everything except the aforementioned gas or groceries. and even then, if it's just a quick stop into Kroger for 1-2 things i'll use my debit also.
i usually keep about $20 in cash on me, about 10 $1's and a couple of fivers or whatnot.




This is exactly what I do. And I monitor my account with my phone.



Yarp


Notifications for any activity over $125 be it deposit, purchase or withdrawal.

Helps that my main savings account is with a different bank and not linked to my main checking/savings. I used to be scared about using my debit card but with hese measures in place I feel good.

Re: Living without credit cards is GREAT...most of the time

Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 4:14 pm
by Harvest
I have one main card I pay for a bunch of stuff every month with. It works well because they have purchase rewards points or whatever so you can rack up quite a bit if you're putting lots of recurring expenses on there. BUT you have to be disciplined and keep track of paying it off every month or all that is for nothing. You also get much better protection from identity theft/card compromise with a CC than a debit card.

I also kinda fucked up and signed up for a store CC when I bought some furniture just after Christmas. They advertise it as "3 months same as cash", which to me should mean no interest and no fees PERIOD. I got the details in the mail last week and there is a $20/month balance protection fee AND if I don't pay off the balance in those 3 months it's 29.9% annually. So with the balance I put on there it's a little under 1% monthly (which increases as the balance goes down actually, I think the $20 will be a flat fee) which works out to an ADDITIONAL 13% annual interest. Needless to say, it will be paid off and chopped up ASAP. Don't fall for that shit from these fuckin' predatory lenders man.