Use sandpaper to cut impulse buying (not a joke)

mmillie

I came across this very novel idea for how to cut unnecessary credit card spending on the instructables web site;

http://www.instructables.com/id/Save-money-with-a-sandpaper-insert-in-your-wallet/

The suggestion is that you put a piece of sandpaper in your wallet next to your credit card. Every time you take your card out, the sandpaper is going to damage the card a little bit, and after a while you will have to phone up your credit card company to get a new card. Because you know that you are causing yourself a little bit of grief every time you take your card out, it makes you stop and think whether or not you really need to be spending that money. That 5 seconds pause can be enough to stop an impulse buyer from buying something that they don't really need.

Might be worth a try if you need help cutting your spending.

Martin

gazman100

Is this a joke?

bobobins

I just wrap the damn thing in barb wire and explosives and be done with it.

gazman100

Or perhaps just leave it in a vat full of poisonous snakes?

bobobins

Or just give it to Gandalf, who will shout "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!" everytime you think of treating yourself to that new TV.

purple.sarah

Leaving the credit card at home instead of taking it everywhere with you would be easier, that's what I do. Mind you it's a Capital One credit card so the interest rate alone is enough to put me off spending!

I've also heard of people freezing their credit card in a block of ice so they have to thaw it out every time they want to use it, which makes them think twice.

gazman100

Competition time!

Best answer wins a special prize - a wallet full of sandpaper!

rabbit_burrow

Half fill a bucket with vomit and dog poop. Drop card onto mixture, top up the bucket to the brim with more vomit and dog poop.

If you put your hand (no gloves) into that mixture to gain the card without puking or gagging, then you obviously deserve whatever treat you were planning to buy.

Repeat as necessary.

bobobins

step 1: get a contactless card.

step 2: get a large (and rather vicious) dog(Alsatians are good).

step 3: feed card to dog.

step 4: when tempted to purchase, will now have to scan dog to make payment.

Conclusion: dog may well bite or worse during transaction, may also create mess on shop counters. Added bonus: looking ridiculous whilst trying to buy a pair of shoes from asda by swiping a dog.

FooFan73

So your advice is I line the pockets of 3M instead of showing a little self restraint?

Hominu

This could be described as intentionally damaging your card, and so the card issuer may make an additional charge for replacing your card.

I've had Barclays ask me to take my CC to a nearest branch before they'll replace it before. Imaging handing over a card thats been sanded until it stops working!