Edinburgher gets cracking!

lulabelle1

I used a cashback credit card for years and whilst the cashback was great, I realised that I actually ended up spending more money... Reason being is that with a credit card, I never ran out of money. I would always pay the bill when payday arrived, but sometimes it would end up quite high.

Today would be a good example as to why this happened - I no longer have the cashback credit card. A friend has asked me if I fancy going out for dinner tonight. I will prob cost me around £20 - however, I'm due to get paid some money tomorrow and until then, there is no money in my current account - so I have politely declined. If I still used the credit card for all of my spending, I would have just gone anyway. So I guess when using my current account for all spending, as the funds run out - I have no choice but to spend less or nothing. With the credit card (whilst I didn't go crazy) I would just go ahead spend anyway - knowing that it would be paid off on pay day. The impact of this was that I'd then have less leftover to save/OP etc.

Anyway, very long winded, but I guess in a nutshell what I'm trying to say is that the cashback credit card didn't really work brilliantly for me.

ammonite

gallygirl wrote: »

I agree with Ammonite - give it a go!

Why thank you

lulabelle - I find spending on credit cards harder than if I used debit cards or cash, I've found that if I pay it off as I go then its not bad but I hate being hit with a big bill at the end of the month. Now when I go shopping and spend £20, I come home and pay off £20 immediately. It is definitely harder to keep track of though.

edinburgher

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm just annoyed with myself because I'm trying to think up vaguely imaginative ways to boost my OPs and this mistake makes me feel like I've 'lost the game'

I called them and they didn't seem to think I'd lost the cashback. That said, the person I spoke to sounded very vague, so I'll need to wait and see what happens on my next bill date in a months time.

I have set up faster payments and sent over enough money to cover the difference... now only time will tell.

Back to work - exceptionally busy - wasn't on MFW during my shift at all yesterday :rotfl:

£21 payments to OP Pot and EF - no more until I sell something!

misscousinitt

Hi Ed - don't beat yourself up - we all make mistakes - I bought a super bargain suit which arrived yesterday - steam ironed one side of the jacket this morning and have marked the jacket before I have worn it! Put my poppy over the marks and I'm going to order another jacket today (the sale has finished so it won't be a bargain anymore - but hey ho!)

Driving - I passed on 3rd attempt and only really as I was distracted by the instructor. Poor love had had a traci and his voice was very raspy - but I found it so funny and it took all my effort to keep my face straight - I think it stopped me from being nervous and I passed!

On DHs 2nd test, he messed something up and the instructor said to him, 'well you messed that up didn't you', next thing you know he handbrake turned, drove on the pavement, round a lamp post and back on the road and said, 'now I've messed things up!' - needless to say, he didn't pass that time - he passed 3rd time too.

Good thing we can laugh about these things now.

Fingers crossed that you still get the cashback - it might not be as bad as you think.

MCI

edinburgher

Hi Ed - don't beat yourself up - we all make mistakes - I bought a super bargain suit which arrived yesterday - steam ironed one side of the jacket this morning and have marked the jacket before I have worn it! Put my poppy over the marks and I'm going to order another jacket today (the sale has finished so it won't be a bargain anymore - but hey ho!)

That is so the sort of thing I'd do - my equivalents would be the fact that I'm *guaranteed* to drop a new mobile phone or watch within 14 days of receiving them :eek:

Driving lesson tonight, I am brushing up on my road markings so that I actually know why I'm doing what I'm doing...

moneycurious

Ed, you are doing really well , keep it up - we are all behind you. The credit card thing is my vice - as Lulabelle said , its easier not having a cshback on e. as i just think - the more i spend the more i save - which is utter rubbish!!! the less you spend the more you save!!!! I feel like i wish the months away at the moment ready for the next OP. But reading everyones threads gives me hope!! xx

edinburgher

Driving lesson - bad to worse Stalled about 10 times, instructor had to emergency stop me once and several maniacs tried to run me off the road :eek:

Stiff drink and off to watch TV.

HelenDaveKids

I havent got a credit card and have never had one. I find the thought of spending what i havent got too scary and not sure id be strict enough with paying it. On the other side, apart from my morgage I have never had a loan either. I can see the idea behind cashback etc but too scared.

Vala-Mal-Doran

I have a cash back card, I tried for 4 months to 'play the game' with it but I was the same and would end up over spending an losing track so hit with a bigger bill than was worth it!
You need to be so so careful and strict with them, Iv still hot my card but its only for big purchases now (like I originally got it for)

Sorry you had a bad lesson, stallings nothing to worry about-happens all the time! It's just when you're learning you think it's the worst thing ever, when you've passed it's just funny!!
V

edinburgher

Thanks guys - re. cashback credit card - I was only spending money we would have spent anyway and we have 8-10x the limit sitting in savings linked to a current account. I agree, only use credit cards for things that you already have the money for!

Not being reckless, just trying to squeeze all I could out of an offer. Letting the dust settle now, will see what happens re. cashback.

Feeling a bit sick this morning, apparently you're not meant to eat Pringles at 10 p.m. :eek: