topic Re: do you get frightened... in Community Chat

do you get frightened...

GoneButNotForgotten — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 18:41:35 GMT

...at the thought of your credit card balance at this time of year?

I sometimes do so I take a deep breath and look at the balance every day or two. Once in a while I'll shriek when I find out how much I've run it up but usually not. I budget a certain amount every month for Christmas--kind of the way banks--years ago--would have special accounts for (mostly) little kids to spend at Christmas.

Re: do you get frightened...

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 18:51:50 GMT

I don't worry about my card - I put back money each week for Christmas. I have a certain amount I (we) spend on each person. When it gone its gone. I did spend $13.00 more on one grandchild than budgeted...but I rarely overspend.

I do check my card every other day - just to be sure nothing odd has been charged.

Re: do you get frightened...

Meowingkitty — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 18:52:42 GMT

Nope because if I can't pay for it immediately (I charge it to get cash back) I don't buy it.

Re: do you get frightened...

Carmie — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 18:53:41 GMT

I really don't use a CC too often. If I buy anything on line I mostly use PayPal to pay for it. I have the money taken from my checking account.

I only buy gifts for my friend who is in a senior home. The rest of my family gets cash. I save the money all year and when Christmas comes, I am ready.

I have asked my family if they would prefer gifts, gift cards or cash and all said cash. It makes it easy for me and I don't have to rack my brains out trying to get something for those who already have everything they want already.

My cash is perfect...no exchanges , no regifting or tossing out unwanted stuff and little anxiety for me.

The youngest Is 14, so I have no real little ones. My DH and I don't exchange gifts for Christmas.

Re: do you get frightened...

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 18:55:23 GMT

No, my budget allows for only what I can afford. Always keep some aside for my emergency fund each month.

Re: do you get frightened...

kitcat51 — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 18:56:36 GMT

No, I finish gift shopping on a budget in Oct & pay my CC bill off every month. I have a huge property tax bill due in December so that's my only to me from me gift...Merry Christmas to me, ugh.

Re: do you get frightened...

deepwaterdotter — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:04:10 GMT

@kitcat51 For us also, I share your "ugh".

Re: do you get frightened...

qvcfreak — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:06:12 GMT

I put back $100 a month and sometimes a little more for Christmas. I put everything on my CC to get my rewards cash. I pay Statement balance.

I finished Christmas shopping Nov 30th and my statement closes on the 14th. So everything I've charged from 15th on will be due Feb 9th.

Re: do you get frightened...

PhilaLady1 — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:07:44 GMT

Yes! I buy gifts and also buy for me. I always pay my cc bill in it's entirety every month because I will be in bigger trouble if I don't. I know I can look online but do not want to peek at it until I get the bill in the mail.

Re: do you get frightened...

Chopsmom — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:08:36 GMT

@GoneButNotForgotten

I've never had a long gift list, but when I worked, I always knew that my Christmas bonus and the one or two monetary gifts would pay off the Christmas credit card. Kind of like even exchange.

Now, I just budget throughout the year for it.

Re: do you get frightened...

sunshine45 — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:10:41 GMT

not really......

i have my own personal christmas club fund.

i do the 52 week money challenge and the 365 penny a day challenge throughout the year.

i begin using the cash accumulated for the holidays to purchase whatever items that i need for gifts and whatever is leftover goes to the credit cards.

i end up with $2,045.95 doing both challenges.

Re: do you get frightened...

Boomernichols — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:11:32 GMT

@GoneButNotForgotten NO, I am rhe captain of my ship so I am the responsible party for any charges I incur. I have a budget and adhere to it accordingly.

Re: do you get frightened...

ThinkingOutLoud — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:13:05 GMT

Nope. I've never been one to run up my cc.

Re: do you get frightened...

GoneButNotForgotten — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:17:46 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
@kitcat51 For us also, I share your "ugh".

me too. I put aside my best estimate of what our property taxes will be (i.e., I divide my guess by 12 and put that amount aside every month). Taxes are going up rapidly so when I make my estimate, I increase the previous year's amount by about 10% or so.

Re: do you get frightened...

FranandZoe — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 19:36:31 GMT

No because I'm aware of what I'm charging. I actually pay my credit cards off twice a month in full.

Re: do you get frightened...

Grace729 — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 20:00:46 GMT

The credit card is neutral as is the balance - it's the meaning imposed on it that incites or engages fear. Watch the mind

Re: do you get frightened...

Chopsmom — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 20:17:23 GMT

@FranandZoe wrote:
No because I'm aware of what I'm charging. I actually pay my credit cards off twice a month in full.

I did that too when I worked. Next to the car payment, it was my second expense out of my paycheck.

Re: do you get frightened...

Helen Bach — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 20:18:53 GMT

terrified. I overdid it this year and now it's time to pay the piper

Re: do you get frightened...

GenXmuse — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 20:22:54 GMT

I paid off two credit cards in the last few months and working on my third so I'm not charging anything this year to get out of debt.

Re: do you get frightened...

ALRATIBA — Sun, 18 Dec 2022 20:25:09 GMT

No. I"m able to pay off the entire balance each month.

I put off my retirement until I was on a sound financial basis and would not have to worry about money. I saved for years.