credit cards are evil

[angel607]

i am no longer using credit cards because I am in a lot of trouble with them. mostly it was my fault. last year my job would cut my hours so I would be short $60.00 sometimes so I charged up gift cards and sold them on ebay for cash to pay bills when I came up short. I didn't realize that my hours would be so bad and stores were closing in some states. I guess that is why they say prepare for the worst. after my tax refund ran out I was complaining to pat about not having hours in this place and wondering if they were ever coming back. pat said the manager said hours will be coming back because of the easter holiday. well they never did. our budget is 20 hours a week and no overtime. I have a phone interview at dorney park monday to see what they can offer me and what they pay for a second job. I couldn't pay my one credit card 2 weeks ago it was chase so I called and asked if they had a 30 day grace period. the guy seemed mad at me saying he could push the date back until april first but I had to pay something. I said okay that's fine. chase called me back and asked why I was late. I was confused because I said I talked to the guy and explained about my hours cut so he pushed the date back until my payday. I owe 212.00 a month now a $400.00 late fee that needs to be paid this april. my one friend suggested I call them but turned out it did no good I am still late. so I have to take my other friend's advice and call consiladated credit. I have to find a phone number. but they will call the creditors and I pay 1 bill a month for all of them. it was either that or call a lawyer for bankruptcy which I don't want to do because lawyers will cost alot of money. I wish I asked for help a year ago probaly wouldn't be in this mess. but now it's likely my hours I wont get until october which really stinks.

[Beangirl]

Wow that stinks. That is how I lost my cat kennel business. Credit card debt.I had a family member bail me out. I no longer have any cards.Just my debt. card. Wal Mart has cut hours but so far not mine.

[Classicblast]

Here comes an outspoken Republican.

What does an ex-minor league baseball player know about credit cards?
I have a few.

Credit of itself is not a bad thing. Credit cards are well, something to be careful with but I would not go as far as to cay evil. But rather a deal we have to make sometimes.

Its important not to trust them. That means when we have used a credit card to pay a bill we must realize the debt has been moved but has not been satisfied. That's a consolidation possibility but it does cost interest. When I played for Huntsville and Mississauga I was away most of the summer. Most of our major transactions were on a credit card account and had to be paid excessively each month from May through September. A large part of my pay was spoken for but that helped since Blastgirl and I were not always in the same place. I was away for most of the summer the last 4 years I played since I was traded and my home games were no longer played here.

At lest when I played for the Lookouts I was home for at least half the baseball season. But very little of it afterwords. That was a way to be organized and place certain bills on cards. Like groceries, activities for our sons, dental bills and other things like that.

Once that is used in a credit card payment, we must also realize that the receipt for sale doesn't go into a file of paid bills but into a file that this is what we can expect to see on or credit card statements and then gauge from that how much we must commit to paying on the accounts. All of it if possible but some months we couldn't.

Now I have a job we have fewer expenses.

When I was traded I had a small apartment and all of the utilities were placed on cards for that reason.

[Phil]

I have made videos about this too.

I have a few cards and they all serve a different purpose. I have 1 particular that is only used for fuel. And I have discussed a lot how much my truck takes.

The biggest problem is that credit card companies just about promote the cards as though they're a free source of money. Sadly a lot of people become hypnotized into viewing them as such.

I think they're a great short term solution to unexpected expenses. If you suddenly have a roof leak, or you have unexpected car trouble. They are just about mandatory for booking flights and renting a car when you get to where you are flying to, booking hotel rooms too.

But as already stated by everybody else in this thread its vital that you can pay them back in a timely way.

I have 1 card that usually charges about 300 a month. We went somewhere about a year ago we used 1500. That made the balance 1800 for that month. Knowing that we usually rely on it for 300 per month I add 900 to that 1800 and figure we are going to up our payment to about $675 a month for the next 4 months *including our usual $300 charges* to have this wrapped up in *if it was today* I would be saying 4th of July we should be caught up at this rate.

In theory that works well. However, if we have an unexpected need to use more buying power of that card we would have to up the payment or lengthen the time factor.

But that's how I go about credit card use.

[angel607]

yeah my mistakes are catching up to me. I should of asked for help a year ago instead of charging gift cards and selling them on ebay for cash to pay my credit cards. I was told I could take out a load but I didn't want to do that because if I couldn't pay them back I might be in trouble. I have to call and see about closing all the cards and paying 1 bill a month for them all.

[Phil]

There is 1 thing to be aware of.

Bill consolidation loans are a great thing. BUT AVOID ALL PROGRAMS CALLED DEBT RELIEF! Debt relief ruins credit. These firms imply that they're consolidation but they're not. What they do instead is negotiate that their client is in hard times and can't meet this *just say 10,000* debt but if you *creditor* agrees to settle now we can get you $4500.

That might legally get the person off the hook for that 10 grand if the creditor agreed to settle there's no other recourse but the reputation is out there and credit is ruined.

Consolidation is a good idea they put all the balances in 1 payment that would be similar to a car payment you pay it off monthly over about 4 years.

[angel607]

my one friend the one that yells was telling me to get a lawyer and it only cost $500.00 for bankruptcy. I think he is misinformed on life. he yells at me I am in retail and that it isn't a real job when I should be in collage. I agree I should be in collage but I would need loans on top of my debt I still need to pay. his ex is in Norristown on welfare. he is in collage for computers doing good but he has not had a job in almost 4 years. he said when he is done with collage he will have a great job. I have herd in Allentown people are getting out of collage going into Mcdonalds the economy is so bad but he says that's not here. it's great your in collage but you should also be working to pay the loans off in case you don't get hired somewhere right away and job experience always helps. he did give me the number of his bankruptcy lawyer but I have to decide which would be better to call. with bankruptcy I read your credit is shot and you can't declare bankruptcy for seven years so consilated credit might be the best way to go.

[Classicblast]

I think this friend of yours has good intentions but its not so easy.

Number one, if you go into bankruptcy your credit is ruined for a good number of years. The amount varies from person to person. If you have the means to build it back quickly it could be 3 years if not it could be 10 years it just depends what means you have to build credit.

College? Maybe, but the older you get the harder it is to make career changes. Obviously everybody here knows I played professional baseball from age 19 to age 34. While I was playing and it became pretty for sure I wasn't going to see the major leagues, people said to me "when are you going to get a real job and stop chasing this silly dream?"

Well, I chose to stay in the game until I was unable to get a contract. If I aggresively looked for a position 2 years ago I probably could have gotten an extra push for a year or two if I wanted to move around and risk not finishing the season.

When I didn't get offered a contract when the leagues sought available free agents I took it as a hint it was time to retire so I did.

What to do next became a question and a good one. I could have joined my brothers in the construction business. I have some knowledge in building and if nothing else I could assist them but that would mean relocation.

I grew up in northern New York state and that's where my family lives. That would mean moving Blastgirl away from her family. I am acclimated to this location and Blastgirl and our sons have never lived anywhere else. Obviously if there were no alternatives we could still move and my brothers would cut me into the business as I am entitled to that option as per my father. Not that my brothers would protest.

I could have gone to school. At age 34 that would have been a difficult option I'd still be in school and about 38 by the time I got through and probably 45 by the time I pay back loans and get situated. And even a graduate when you're in your late 30s is highly difficult time to start a new career.

I did though one way or another.

I took a job in 2010 as a scout. Lowball though. I got sent to watch terrible talent and write a report. I hated it but it solved my problem of employment for 8 months of a baseball season. In November of 2010 I found the position I have now selling sporting goods, sneakers and I assist at the baseball clinic that we have here at the store.

I enjoy it but I am new to this business and have more to learn. But it solved my problem of a job and it enables me to have steady work and not have to move.


That's just me saying I found a way.

Back to Angel607 I don't know what your friend thinks is not a real job about retail. We all have to work somewhere. There are differences between jobs and careers and store work falls under job where being an accountant or something along those lines would be career. Perhaps he means a "real job" is the career.

If you seek college now that's going to be more debt and more loans. Consolidate your credit that's the only way to go. Look for a second job if you can't get the hours you need but don't go into bankruptcy its short term solution and long term grief.

[angel607]

thank you classic for the advise. I am going to consilidate my credit. I also agree with you about collage. he get's $2,000.00 a month from the state but it needs to be paid back in 2 years. the thing with me is I feel it's more important to get out of debt then see about collage. like you like your job I like where I am at. I get to do different kinds of projects at work. I think retail is a real job because we take a lot of hell from custermers when they yell at us and we have to take it. long shifts especially around christmas time. before I worked in Arby's and I hated it so much. I came into work sick because the one manager lied and said you have to call off 6 hours ahead of time or there is nothing you can do. but when I told the other assisted manager he said they had no such rule. I was treated like crap in that place. where I am now it's pretty good and I have alot of experience put into retail. I think when you are doing what makes you happy that's what matters.

[Classicblast]

Its a very real job. And contrary to what some people believe there's just as much dead end problems in a career that requires degrees and field training there's no guarantee in that either.

[Beangirl]

I am 54 years old and my dad says the same thing to me. Retail is not a "Real" job.I tried college when I was young but never finished.I did better in trade school. I am happy with Wal Mart. I have benefits a 401K and a small savings account . I see so many people apply at Wal Mart and are not hired. I see some that are hired but fired right away. I feel I am lucky to have this job. I have been trained in retail and can also run a cash register. I usually tell my dad to take a "fly".

[Kimm]

Mar 30, 2012 11:53:34 GMT -5 Beangirl said:

I am 54 years old and my dad says the same thing to me. Retail is not a "Real" job.I tried college when I was young but never finished.I did better in trade school. I am happy with Wal Mart. I have benefits a 401K and a small savings account . I see so many people apply at Wal Mart and are not hired. I see some that are hired but fired right away. I feel I am lucky to have this job. I have been trained in retail and can also run a cash register. I usually tell my dad to take a "fly".

Youre doing the best thing for you right now. When does the school thing become enough.

I teach I support school and education but not for the rest of your life.

I am 31 and I did my schooling a bit late I had taken a few courses but I didnt really get my feet wet or start my true college til I was 22. But I know some people who I was in high school with that are still going to school or going back every few years.


Doesnt that get old? I mean if you dont become get your degree for a specific job why get it at all? I think that if a person has a job and is able to pay bills even if it takes two or three parttime jobs thats the important thing. Going to school til theyre however old to get a degree and end up not doing anything with it or starting at too old of an age for their own good I dont think thats sensible.

College is for a specific job if unless you have to take those courses in order to get that job and its realistic that you can get it, once youre over 30 theres no other reason to go to school.

[angel607]

i agree and if it was something in computers I would say school is good because jobs pay pretty good in that field. I didn't get why he is yelling at me when he is a year older and hasn't worked in a long time. I don't judge him. and Beangirl I think it's great you like your job. retail can be pretty fun because you get all kinds of different tasks on the floor. last night for me was horrible again. some little girl was riding a tricycle in the store which they are not allowed to do. she crashed into the clothing table I was straightening and hurt herself. I was on the other side of it so I didn't get hit. she was screaming her lungs out and her brother got her off the bike and left it there. I enjoy the days when I get day shift and do markdowns. just scan clothes with a rmu and ticket them. I think that's fun. it's also good when you get to work with a good team. yesterday I walked into the stock room and two guys were sitting back there talking. they were going to load something heavy for a custermer. they were waiting for the other employee and I herd on the walkie he couldn't make it there cause he was busy. so when I left they came out. if I was manager I would smack the lazy right out of them lol.

[Jersey]

Credit cards are probably something that are intended for use in emergencies or when you know you can take care of the balance later. But the trouble is that too many people think its free money and care very little about their credit scores because the government, in many cases, hands out welfare checks regardless of someones credit standing.

It's the same with mortgages right now. The housing crisis was caused by the government (under Clinton) forcing lending companies to make thousands of loans to people that should not have been able to get them due to bad credit and whatnot. When they stopped making their payments on the houses they couldn't afford in the first place, the banks bled millions in funds with no way to make it up, and now they've stopped making loans to everyone because of this. You have to have a stellar credit score and immaculate history to even have a snowballs chance in hell of getting a mortgage loan.

Credit cards and people thinking they're free money caused a lot of the issues that we have as a country right now. I'm not saying that's what you did angel, and I hope you get the problems fixed. I just wanted to put out my opinion on credit cards, loans, etc.

[Phil]

That's an excellent post, Jersey. Its exactly how I feel. Credit cards are there to help you get through an emergency or as you said cover the payment for things you know you can pay back relatively soon. Too often they're presented to users as a way to afford things that the cardholder would otherwise think are out of reach.

I use the example if you need car repair while you're on a trip and there's a sudden breakdown that's how you get out of the immediate trouble if you're using cards to pay utilities or everyday expenditures they're bad because they double the burden. Meaning that if the card us used to pay your electric bill now you have to pay the card payment and there's another electric bill this month.

[Classicblast]

I had a few different cards when I played ball. I cut a few of them up now because I no longer need them. The use of them was in part a way of accounting.

If I still had the cards I don't need anymore I'd be afraid they'd become too much of a temptation.

[Blastgirl]

Angel607, you need a Husband for division of labor. Packages from Amazon and Victoria Secret, those are for Blastgirl. Invoices from Visa and Master Card companies are for Classic. ;D

I am only kidding.

Seriously now it is a big problem especially during troublesome economic times that people become dependent on cards and it becomes next to impossible to shed the debts.

[Phil]

Blastgirl I think you went to the same mail sorting school as my wife.