Comments on: How to Make Your Credit Card Less Useful http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:40:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: How do you start fixing your financial problems? - SavingAdvice.com Blog http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-258419 How do you start fixing your financial problems? - SavingAdvice.com Blog Sun, 02 Mar 2008 19:57:01 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-258419 [...] for all your credit purchases. Get some gift card sleeves and write really scary warnings on them. If your magnet strip is not readily available, you’ll think more about running it. If your credit card is scowling at you when you want to [...] […] for all your credit purchases. Get some gift card sleeves and write really scary warnings on them. If your magnet strip is not readily available, you’ll think more about running it. If your credit card is scowling at you when you want to […]

]]> By: Cindy M http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-143446 Cindy M Sat, 10 Nov 2007 13:01:18 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-143446 I don't give advice and have never had much trouble staying out of debt. Dumb as it sounds, it's helped me to just stay out of the stores as much as possible and stop "needing" so much. I quit letting the media dictate my personal daily life and driving me crazy. It's amazing what you really don't "need" at all. And it's so neat not having much of anything on the credit card when the bill comes. It's helpful to quit taking the local newspaper so you don't have the ads staring at you to provoke you to spend (read a local newspaper on line). I quit magazine subscriptions (I can get them at the library but don't care to anymore anyway). I don't miss the paper. I don't have cable TV and if I have the urge to watch a movie, it's one I've reserved at the library or I find a free movie on the net. Most of the time the TV set is off. I stay busy in what little "free" time I have working in the yard or messing around my own home, God knows there's plenty to do if I'd just do it, ha-ha. I just don't care to jump in my car as much as I used to for no really good reason. I make myself walk to the store if I think I really "have" to have some staple items, the walk does me good and I usually don't come back with much. It's so great when all that "stuff" loses its appeal. I don’t give advice and have never had much trouble staying out of debt. Dumb as it sounds, it’s helped me to just stay out of the stores as much as possible and stop “needing” so much. I quit letting the media dictate my personal daily life and driving me crazy. It’s amazing what you really don’t “need” at all. And it’s so neat not having much of anything on the credit card when the bill comes. It’s helpful to quit taking the local newspaper so you don’t have the ads staring at you to provoke you to spend (read a local newspaper on line). I quit magazine subscriptions (I can get them at the library but don’t care to anymore anyway). I don’t miss the paper. I don’t have cable TV and if I have the urge to watch a movie, it’s one I’ve reserved at the library or I find a free movie on the net. Most of the time the TV set is off. I stay busy in what little “free” time I have working in the yard or messing around my own home, God knows there’s plenty to do if I’d just do it, ha-ha. I just don’t care to jump in my car as much as I used to for no really good reason. I make myself walk to the store if I think I really “have” to have some staple items, the walk does me good and I usually don’t come back with much. It’s so great when all that “stuff” loses its appeal.

]]> By: Carol http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-141674 Carol Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:27:53 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-141674 Re credit cards in freezer: I did this, and dh threw cards out during a cleaning frenzy. I told him cards were in there, but he swears he didn't know. I didn't want to write "credit cards" on the container cause I read thieves search through your freezer looking for drugs and cash. Re credit cards in freezer: I did this, and dh threw cards out during a cleaning frenzy. I told him cards were in there, but he swears he didn’t know. I didn’t want to write “credit cards” on the container cause I read thieves search through your freezer looking for drugs and cash.

]]> By: Jo http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-141318 Jo Thu, 08 Nov 2007 13:55:32 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-141318 jrochest, I agree with you as well. To reiterate, many say to put the card on ice. That's a lost cause; it's called hot water. If my cards aren't cut up, they're locked up in my safe deposit box at my credit union. That box has already paid itself off by me not spending more on my cards that are paid off. jrochest, I agree with you as well. To reiterate, many say to put the card on ice. That’s a lost cause; it’s called hot water.

If my cards aren’t cut up, they’re locked up in my safe deposit box at my credit union. That box has already paid itself off by me not spending more on my cards that are paid off.

]]> By: jrochest http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-140134 jrochest Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:13:08 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-140134 Actually, the 'freeze the card' thing doesn't work that well: if you run the block of ice under hot water for about 10 minutes, it melts. Sad, but true, I know this from personal experience. And yes, destroying the card is better than closing the account. Actually, the ‘freeze the card’ thing doesn’t work that well: if you run the block of ice under hot water for about 10 minutes, it melts.

Sad, but true, I know this from personal experience.

And yes, destroying the card is better than closing the account.

]]> By: Carnival of Debt Reduction #112 - Making Progress Edition | Cash Money Life http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-138254 Carnival of Debt Reduction #112 - Making Progress Edition | Cash Money Life Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:53:25 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-138254 [...] Hartter from Saving Advice presents How to Make Your Credit Card Less Useful. This is one of my favorite articles this week. The premise? Do something to your credit card so [...] […] Hartter from Saving Advice presents How to Make Your Credit Card Less Useful. This is one of my favorite articles this week. The premise? Do something to your credit card so […]

]]> By: vsjhoc http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135303 vsjhoc Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:29:01 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135303 Credit ratings are taken into consideration for a lot of things that have little or nothing to do with debt. Do you own a car? Your insurer determines your premium partly by your credit record. Applying for a job? Potential employers may be interested in how you manage your money and if you are financially pressed. Security clearance? It's the 2nd most important factor (after criminal record). Starting a small biz? Even if you have all the capital or have lots of angel investors, you might need some license or bonding or insurance. Guess what they look at. So we really can't escape the importance of having good credit. Credit ratings are taken into consideration for a lot of things that have little or nothing to do with debt. Do you own a car? Your insurer determines your premium partly by your credit record. Applying for a job? Potential employers may be interested in how you manage your money and if you are financially pressed. Security clearance? It’s the 2nd most important factor (after criminal record). Starting a small biz? Even if you have all the capital or have lots of angel investors, you might need some license or bonding or insurance. Guess what they look at. So we really can’t escape the importance of having good credit.

]]> By: JMBIndy http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135146 JMBIndy Thu, 01 Nov 2007 15:01:36 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135146 Credit Dude- Not all mortgage companies use a credit rating to determine if you're worthy for a loan. There are companies that do old fashioned underwriting, which is how they did it in the "old days", before the advent of the credit score. They research your financials and come to a conclusion on their own. Credit is only a way of life if you believe the myths.... Credit Dude-

Not all mortgage companies use a credit rating to determine if you’re worthy for a loan. There are companies that do old fashioned underwriting, which is how they did it in the “old days”, before the advent of the credit score. They research your financials and come to a conclusion on their own.

Credit is only a way of life if you believe the myths….

]]> By: Credit Dude http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135128 Credit Dude Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:27:19 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135128 Actually it makes perfect sense to cut up the card but keep the account open, though I would suggest using the card for some type of automatic payment each month to keep it active. JMBIndy - We all need credit, unless you have enough money to buy your house outright? And even if you did, it likely wouldn't be a wise decision. Credit scores are by no means overrated??!?! Actually it makes perfect sense to cut up the card but keep the account open, though I would suggest using the card for some type of automatic payment each month to keep it active.

JMBIndy - We all need credit, unless you have enough money to buy your house outright? And even if you did, it likely wouldn’t be a wise decision. Credit scores are by no means overrated??!?!

]]> By: JMBIndy http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135099 JMBIndy Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:55:15 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2007/11/01/101855_how-to-make-your-credit-card-less-useful.html#comment-135099 Creditman - If your purpose is to get out of debt 100% and stay that way, closing the account and destroying the card is the way to go. Credit ratings and score are overrated. Those numbers merely mean you are capable of incurring debt and paying it back in a timely fashion. If you live your life without debt, who cares about the credit rating? And as to the ways described in destroying the card itself, well it's just a little creativity in action, that's all. Creditman -

If your purpose is to get out of debt 100% and stay that way, closing the account and destroying the card is the way to go.

Credit ratings and score are overrated. Those numbers merely mean you are capable of incurring debt and paying it back in a timely fashion. If you live your life without debt, who cares about the credit rating?

And as to the ways described in destroying the card itself, well it’s just a little creativity in action, that’s all.

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