[Mulderator]

Originally Posted by Guyzer

Farmgirl I just thought of one for you. Shower with a friend and save water.

Also, cut out frivilous expenditures on romantic evenings--she could save a bundle!

[Farmgirl22]

Originally Posted by Guyzer

Farmgirl I just thought of one for you. Shower with a friend and save water.

We already do...

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by jonasdatum

This is the soundest advice you can be given. In our society today people tend to buy things via credit. Then they accumulate a fare amount of debt that takes them a while to pay off. "If you don't have it, then don't spend it."

You can do that with credit card you know.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by WarC

My advice: Don't use credit cards.

CREDIT CARDS ARE NOT BAD! "If I've said it once, I've said it 20 times. IF you use a credit card and pay the bill in full or even better "over pay" the bill. Don't be a fool, if you can't pay the bill so it has a zero or credit balance, then you don't need it! Yes, credit card companies want to get over on us with outragous fees, but we already know that. Shop around, get the best deal. If you're going to be a fool and spend $5000 on a credit card and can't pay it off - you are stupid. Conclusively if you have an EMERGENCY then the card it is money!

I was watching Washington Journal 3/08/2007 ( rtsp://video.c-span.org/15days/wj030807.rm ), was about 1 hour 30mins into the show and they started talking about the federal hearing on credit cards. Still can't find it on C-Span.org, but am loolking. Anyway, many of the older people that called complained that they get charged a fee on the phone to pay the bill. Another stated "it's all about the money." Yes it is. I remember about 3 years ago I could pay my credit card an ulimited amount of times online. Now I can only pay it online 3 times a billing cycle online and it has to be the posted amount or less only. Can't overpay my bill online anymore. LOL, that is why I've said on another thread, goto the bank directly if possible and pay the bill in person. Even if you have to pay it via mail, pay it and overpay it. Used to be able to pay credit cards with 3rd party checsk, not anymore .


Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Hearing on Credit Card Practices
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing on "Credit Card Practices: Fees, Interest Rates and Grace Periods."
3/7/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 2 hr. 47 min.

Status as of 06:51 hours: watching/listening to it now.

- I had a credit card before I had a job, never had a problem paying it off.

- The first witness to testify made a very critical mistake, not paying for the wedding in full. This is the trap many people fall into. If you can't afford to pay it off, then don't buy it. Apperently this wedding was around $32000, slightly over the limit. Everybody has luxury items they buy, but could have simply went to the county court of whoever and get that certificate! The cerimony can wait.

- Convience Checks: When I had only one credit card, I used them every once in a while. Used them towards a few bills, pay my credit card bill and the cash advances (convience check). The idea was to BUILD MY CREDIT HISTORY. Keep in mind I was about 20 years old, I already knew that they would try to mess me over. What I didn't exactly know was that I was getting charged intrest (which was included in the total bill) on the advances. When I realized this, I stopped it.

- Almost ten years later, I recieved only one credit offer in the past 5 years. I periodically recieved cash-advance checks. Even on my spare/emergency/ almost never used card.

- After reviewing my last credit report w/ a FICO score of over 720; It's recommened I obtain one more credit card to improve my score. LOL, aparently I don't have enought debt! The only reason I'm thinking about it is because I want a card with more benifits.

- My parent died with a load of debt. I remember as a child I would watch filling out checks for credit card debt. Asked them, about the debt and why do let it continue. They said "I'll pay it all off when I die." LOL, and they did, more or less mot including some medical bills. Life insurance policy is good .

Try bankrate.com and investopedia.com. If you are in college take some investment and economic courses.

[jonasdatum]

Learn more about credit cards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_...terchange_fees

http://money.howstuffworks.com/credit-card.htm

Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Hearing on Credit Card Practices
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing on "Credit Card Practices: Fees, Interest Rates and Grace Periods."
3/7/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 2 hr. 47 min.: C-SPAN Radio

Linda Sherry, Consumer Action, National Priorities Director
Linda Sherry, Consumer Action, National Priorities Director also discusses the policies of credit card companies regarding rates, fees and disclosure practices. Those topics were discussed at a Senate hearing this week featuring the heads of three credit card issuers. Consumer Action, along with other consumer groups, issued a statement this week calling on Congress to impose more oversight on card issuers.
3/10/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 30 min.

Ken Clayton, American Bankers Association, Director of Card Policy
Ken Clayton, American Bankers Association, Director of Card Policy discusses the policies of credit card companies regarding rates, fees and disclosure practices. Those topics were discussed at a Senate hearing this week featuring the heads of three credit card issuers. ABA is a trade association which includes credit card issuers

I am sorry, but credit cards aren't bad if you try to use them responsably. One thing I forgot to mention. During the hearing, one woman testified that she tries to pay the bill online, because when the bill arrives in the mail, there is too little time to pay it via mail. My Anr to that is since you have a surplus of statements, use the the prior statement-bill slips that come with the card and send it in! LOL, I've doe it 100 times, they don't care. As long they recieve their money, that is all that matters to them phone, gas, electric, credit, rent, maintenance, etc. Make photocopies at your job and use the one from 5 years ago - as long as the address is the same.
3/10/2007: WASHINGTON, DC: 28 min.

Another Money Savings Tip: End of season sales, getting warmer suggest you check your favorite store.

[jonasdatum]

PayDay / Pay Day Loans, not a good idea.


Payday Loans Under Fire, Despite Changes
AP Centerpiece: Payday Industry Puts Forward Changes; Consumer Advocates Wary
By SUSANNE M. SCHAFER Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Mar 5, 2007 (AP)—
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireS...&Business=true

Wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payday_loan

Feeding on the ignorant, desperate, or foolish always works. . Savings and wise investment works best in life. While reading

...It costs more money to go to a bank and withdraw my own money from an ATM,..."

The plus would be that you pay a one time fee and get it over with. However, the people who were suckered into the loans keep owing everybody money. That is no way to live or even survive. Suggest you find another bank if at all possible. Learning to save and invest or paying a very skilled person to do it for you is always in your best intrest. Also, looked like these people lived "paycheck to paycheck;" a very good target indeed.

[johnnyburst79]

I am getting my first credit card next week, for emergency uses only or to increase my credit score. It is unfortunate that so many places need a credit score to really do anything.

I use the washing machines at work to wash clothes (saves around $400 a year). I use a brita filter for my drinking water, or the hose outside. . My lunches are often soups, tuna salad, or homemade sandwiches, instead of buying lunch out. I am a vegetarian so my meat costs are nil and some places are a ripoff. Salads are cheap and easy eats for a few days. I make homemade sushi when I can and that will cost me around $15 for the seaweed, rice, and assorted veggies which is enough to make it 3 times. The tuna, crab, and lobster is more expensive, but I don't spend more than $10-$12 per meal.

My biggest expenditure which I am cutting out, or severely back on...dating and eating out. I went on 3 dates last week and ended up spending between $70 and $90 on each one. From the dinner (at a great sushi place) to drinks afterwards, to a cup of coffee at a local afterhours place.

[tomlunt]

I read this in a book, so I can't take credit for it, but I think it's a good idea.

From Neal Boortz' "Somebody's gotta Say It"

Don't spend $1 bills. Start the day with only $5's, $10's and $20's in your purse / wallet. If you buy a coffee on the way to work, use the $5 bill, but if you get change with $1 bills, you can't spend them. So your coffee just cost you $5.00.

Any time you get a $1 bill in your change, you can't spend it. You take it home and store it away. (you can use the $1 bills for tips and tolls however). At the end of the month, count up your $1 bills and see how much you saved. Take them to the bank and deposit them, and try to convince the teller that you are not a stripper

TL

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by johnnyburst79

I am getting my first credit card next week, for emergency uses only or to increase my credit score. It is unfortunate that so many places need a credit score to really do anything.

I use the washing machines at work to wash clothes (saves around $400 a year). I use a brita filter for my drinking water, or the hose outside. . My lunches are often soups, tuna salad, or homemade sandwiches, instead of buying lunch out. I am a vegetarian so my meat costs are nil and some places are a ripoff. Salads are cheap and easy eats for a few days. I make homemade sushi when I can and that will cost me around $15 for the seaweed, rice, and assorted veggies which is enough to make it 3 times. The tuna, crab, and lobster is more expensive, but I don't spend more than $10-$12 per meal.

My biggest expenditure which I am cutting out, or severely back on...dating and eating out. I went on 3 dates last week and ended up spending between $70 and $90 on each one. From the dinner (at a great sushi place) to drinks afterwards, to a cup of coffee at a local afterhours place.

LOL, you eat way healthier than I do. I don't mind salads, but they don't last more than a day. Hence I normally eath frozen vegetables, yogurt, fresh fruits, fresh meats (normally *chicken*, beaf, pork and to a lessor extent fish). For grains I eat whole weat cereal of multiple brands, whole weat bread haven't brought white bread in about 5 years, and brown rice. Then to drink milk, soy milk (chocolate), whole fruit juice w/ increased nutritional value, and plenty of water! One thing that bothers me is you buying all this stuff, I plan losely my grocery shopping for the month. Food normally runs me at most $250 a month. How much do you spend on just food (no toiletry items)?

Don't date much, so isn't much of a problem. As for the washing machine, I use a community laundry facility myself. Aside for the occasional delicate wash, I spend maybe $35 to $45 a month.

Your credit score will increase significantly after getting a credit card, but will go down in the short term. As I've stated on many threads you should have at least two. However my two most recent credit reports with score say that since I don't have any other form of debt; should have at least three. One for everyday stuff and another for emergency situations. Try to make sure that the emergency card has a larger cash advance limit. Also, try to make sure the card is issued by a bank where you can pay it in person i.e. Citi, Chase, Bank of America, HSBC, etc. I am going to presume that you have a debt card, make sure you credit card has another logo. For example you should have one Visa (debit or credit) and one MasterCard (debit or credit). Not two Visa i.e. 1 x debit card and 1 x credit card.

[johnnyburst79]

I will be getting a Visa and that is who my debit card is thru. And yes, I can go pay in person at the bank.

I have zero debt, so I am good there.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by johnnyburst79

I will be getting a Visa and that is who my debit card is thru. And yes, I can go pay in person at the bank.

I have zero debt, so I am good there.

So you will have two visa cards? Not what I mean. What I meant was you should have ONE Visa (debit or credit) and ONE MasterCard (Debit or Credit).

[johnnyburst79]

I know what you meant, but my bank offered me a credit card just thru Visa. I am going to go thru them. My debit card does nothing for my credit report.

[jonasdatum]

Originally Posted by johnnyburst79

I know what you meant, but my bank offered me a credit card just thru Visa. I am going to go thru them. My debit card does nothing for my credit report.

Morning, I was checking to see that my credit card payment went throught. When I logged into my account there was a rather large graphical add saying "It's There When You Need It. - Order Your Cash Convenience Checks Now." LOL, dude if your bank EVER sends these things just shred them properly. Convenience Checks = Cash Advance that is charged to your account; with a higher intrest rate. It's like a payday loan except you have better credit.

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/cc/20010102a.asp

[johnnyburst79]

Yeah, I know that . I am not entirely inexperienced with the world of credit cards.

[jonasdatum]

It's in the Bag
People Spend Thousands to Carry Status Handbags
By NICK WATT
March 16, 2007—

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2957709&page=1

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/print?id=2957709

"If there are any women reading this, please explain the foolishness." We've all experienced the "dress for success" issues in our lives but come on, $45,000 for a bag? LOL, if I were a woman this bag better land me a job, a car, a house,etc. That is crazy, I don't spend more than $50 on a pair of dress slacks. Trust me ladies, most men you incounter professionally or casually hardly care what you wear. Not to mention your handbag.


A New Year Means New Savings on Groceries
10 Steps That Will Help You and Your Family Spend Less While Eating Better
By STEPHANIE NELSON
Feb. 14, 2007—

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/s...2860304&page=1
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/print?id=2860304

Most of this I already do as a matter of incident rather than habbit. I could do all my shopping during the week, but the store isn't far from me. So what I try do is go to the store during the week and buy in bulk, but by each type(s) of items when on my way from home I am tired . For example, one day I'll by all the meat I need, the next I'll by all the vegetables and friut, then the grain and drink.

Column: How to Cut Energy Bills
Column: How Can I Cut My Home Energy Bills?
By ELLEN SIMON AP Business Writer
NEW YORK Feb 13, 2007 (AP)—

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireS...&Business=true

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/print?id=2871871

I don't pay for energy, but the rest of you may find this worth while.