We've just cut up all our credit cards!!

BlushingRose

Standingtall wrote: »

I get paid a week early this month due to Christmas but of course, unless I am very strict with myself, this could make January very long indeed:o

Yes, Mr BR is getting paid early for the same reason, but only by a few days, so we should be ok. We won't be spending much for a while after Christmas anyway as we'll have all the food we need, and no plans to go out anywhere (apart from visiting relatives, so there'll be some petrol costs, but that'll be all, hopefully)

Standingtall

catslovelycats wrote: »

Know what you mean. I get paid on 22nd Dec instead of 31st and trying to work out where to best put the money until 1st Jan so I'm not tempted to dip into it!

I have an easy access savings account where I can transfer back and forwards to my current account with ease (all online). So I think that is where I shall stash mine:j. Might make a few pennies in interest:money:

argan_2

Wow what a nice thing to do, congratulations. I wish I had the power to do the same, Credit Cards are the root to all problems

Eastie77

Congrats BR! Late last night I finally said goodbye to two frenemies who have been in my life for far too long: I cut my Amex Platinum and Barclaycard up into small pieces and threw them in the bin. I had been kidding myself for a while that the Amex was a 'good' card to have as I got cashback on my spend but in reality I wasn't able to pay back the balance in full each month so the interest charges cancelled that out.

I now have one credit card which I need for work but I won't be tempted to run up any kind of debt on it as the APR is ridiculous and I contacted the bank today to have the credit limit drastically reduced. Hearing a work colleague screaming and shouting on the phone to a credit card company yesterday spurred me into action as I got a glimpse of the kind of situation I could find myself in - the reality is that I am just not disciplined enough to have a credit card. My colleague owes over 10k to Virgin and spent almost an hour on the phone trying to get them to reduce his interest rate. They responded by blocking his card and advising him to go on a debt management plan. It seem as if the credit card companies and banks are really clamping down now and with the economic situation looking set to be bleaker than ever in 2012 I've decided to end my love affair with credit!

BlushingRose

Eastie77 wrote: »

Congrats BR! Late last night I finally said goodbye to two frenemies who have been in my life for far too long: I cut my Amex Platinum and Barclaycard up into small pieces and threw them in the bin. I had been kidding myself for a while that the Amex was a 'good' card to have as I got cashback on my spend but in reality I wasn't able to pay back the balance in full each month so the interest charges cancelled that out.

I now have one credit card which I need for work but I won't be tempted to run up any kind of debt on it as the APR is ridiculous and I contacted the bank today to have the credit limit drastically reduced. Hearing a work colleague screaming and shouting on the phone to a credit card company yesterday spurred me into action as I got a glimpse of the kind of situation I could find myself in - the reality is that I am just not disciplined enough to have a credit card. My colleague owes over 10k to Virgin and spent almost an hour on the phone trying to get them to reduce his interest rate. They responded by blocking his card and advising him to go on a debt management plan. It seem as if the credit card companies and banks are really clamping down now and with the economic situation looking set to be bleaker than ever in 2012 I've decided to end my love affair with credit!

Congrats chuck - well done!!

I still have 'eeek' moments as it now means there are things we did now and then which we can't do cos we can't afford it, but in the long run it was the right thing to do for sure x

pumpkinsoup

well done br. you are at exactly the same point as us!!! took my hubby a good while to come round to the idea!! but we have lived on cedit for the past 4 or so years robbing peter to pay paul!! its so frightening but on the other hand liberating!! ive gone through tears to elation!! our new account is set up(having a joint one). We have moved the morgage and car insurance over so far!. i just hope i can manage to budget and that this all works out for the best cos we have no alternative unless we wanted to be in double the debt come another 4 years!! good luck to u hun and thanks!! its comforting to know we are not alone xxx

BlushingRose

pumpkinsoup wrote: »

well done br. you are at exactly the same point as us!!! took my hubby a good while to come round to the idea!! but we have lived on cedit for the past 4 or so years robbing peter to pay paul!! its so frightening but on the other hand liberating!! ive gone through tears to elation!! our new account is set up(having a joint one). We have moved the morgage and car insurance over so far!. i just hope i can manage to budget and that this all works out for the best cos we have no alternative unless we wanted to be in double the debt come another 4 years!! good luck to u hun and thanks!! its comforting to know we are not alone xxx

Yes, you're right, it IS comforting to know that, not only are there people who have done it and survived, and people who are still doing it and managing fine, but also that there are people at the same sort of 'starting out' stage too.
We can do this!! x

Standingtall

Hi BlushingRose and Pumpkin Soup. You know something else I am discovering now I can only use 'real' money? I think twice everything I open my purse or get out my debit card. I am rediscovering the value of money. I was probably about 17 years old the last time that money had any real value for me! :eek:

BlushingRose

I went to the pound shop today and bought..

1 x roll of wrapping paper 8m in length
6 x boxes after eight mints
1 x daft hat for Mr BR when he cooks lunch on Christmas Day
1 x money box for my sealed box challenge

and only paid £7..

pumpkinsoup

thank you standing tall !!! i have been reading up on here all day gone slightly cross eyed!! lol. But work tomorrow so its my doss day!! feel really posistive about things and look forward to being careful!!
I wrapped the little uns presents the other day and took two out for my son to give him on his birthday which is jan 12th so really pleased with that!!
Well done br i think we shall become pound shop addicts together lol!! whats the sealed pot challenge?? x