What Really Grinds Your Gears?

[OakleyFrankFMJ]

lol - I was like, "Debit? As opposed to credit? What's the problem?"...

But yeah, paying off something like that just takes a firm commitment to a sizable monthly payment and sticking to it, without adding to the debt, until it's gone and you're no longer getting hit with all that interest... It's frustrating to see that much money go away each month, you think things like, "I could be making a nice new car payment with this..." and then having to stay that way for some number of years, potentially.

Some people will make that big monthly payment but also keep adding to the debt and, even if they're paying more than they're adding, the interest added just by having the debt is money down the toilet and net change to the balance is minimal.

But once it's gone, all that monthly payment money is finally freed up and all one has to do is live within one's means. We pay for nearly everything with credit, but we pay off the full balance each month and thus never incur any interest.

But on the whole "credit / debit" thing, it makes me think of another "grinds my gears" thing - people who still pay for groceries with an old-fashioned check. Especially in the express lane. It takes forever. C'mon, people, welcome to the 21st century!

Afraid of identity theft from using a debit card? Well, guess what - that check you're writing has your name, address, phone number, driver's license number, bank account number, sometimes even your SSN, and an example of your signature on it. All unencrypted. Now THAT's identity theft risk.

Just distrustful of electronic media vs. paper? Again, guess what - more and more business are converting to check processing systems where the check is scanned into a digital copy and the transaction is handled as an EFT.

So buck up, get a debit card, and relegate your old checkbook to writing gifts for the grandchildren...

Could always pay cash.

 

[Duke Nivram]

lol - I was like, "Debit? As opposed to credit? What's the problem?"...

But yeah, paying off something like that just takes a firm commitment to a sizable monthly payment and sticking to it, without adding to the debt, until it's gone and you're no longer getting hit with all that interest... It's frustrating to see that much money go away each month, you think things like, "I could be making a nice new car payment with this..." and then having to stay that way for some number of years, potentially.

Some people will make that big monthly payment but also keep adding to the debt and, even if they're paying more than they're adding, the interest added just by having the debt is money down the toilet and net change to the balance is minimal.

But once it's gone, all that monthly payment money is finally freed up and all one has to do is live within one's means. We pay for nearly everything with credit, but we pay off the full balance each month and thus never incur any interest.

But on the whole "credit / debit" thing, it makes me think of another "grinds my gears" thing - people who still pay for groceries with an old-fashioned check. Especially in the express lane. It takes forever. C'mon, people, welcome to the 21st century!

Afraid of identity theft from using a debit card? Well, guess what - that check you're writing has your name, address, phone number, driver's license number, bank account number, sometimes even your SSN, and an example of your signature on it. All unencrypted. Now THAT's identity theft risk.

Just distrustful of electronic media vs. paper? Again, guess what - more and more business are converting to check processing systems where the check is scanned into a digital copy and the transaction is handled as an EFT.

So buck up, get a debit card, and relegate your old checkbook to writing gifts for the grandchildren...

my grandma still writes checks and most places convert it to an electronic debit and hand the check back to her. funny and slightly embarrassing to watch

 

[Duke Nivram]

Could always pay cash.

but then you dont get the points

 

[OakleyFrankFMJ]

but then you dont get the points

I always pay with a card....rack up a crapload of points.....I also pay it off before the statement even comes in.

 

[kronin323]

Also cash doesn't include any buyer protection.

But it does allow a certain anonymity, if desired...

 

[Duke Nivram]

I always pay with a card....rack up a crapload of points.....I also pay it off before the statement even comes in.

that is my goal be ahead of the game cash flow wise and then be able to capatliaze on the points offers

 

[OakleyFrankFMJ]

that is my goal be ahead of the game cash flow wise and then be able to capatliaze on the points offers

I walked into Best Buy the other day and started talking to one of the guys about the 85" 4Ks.....it was 10 grand..... I told him I was waiting to have enough BB points to get it for free....he laughed at me....I asked what was funny and he goes that will take you probably till these are obsolete! I said to him I am already more than halfway there. He didn't believe it till I logged into my account in front of him and he was like I said, yeah.....I'll probably pick that up sometime in the next year but they will make something better by then so I'll just get that for free.

Buy TV for free now.....wait 5-6 years for points to rack up for another free one....buy again for free.

The points are great as long as you can rack them up without killing yourself.

 

[Frogskins]

Also cash doesn't include any buyer protection.

But it does allow a certain anonymity, if desired...

A fact that Client 9 should have remembered ...

 

[kronin323]

I walked into Best Buy the other day and started talking to one of the guys about the 85" 4Ks.....it was 10 grand..... I told him I was waiting to have enough BB points to get it for free....he laughed at me....I asked what was funny and he goes that will take you probably till these are obsolete! I said to him I am already more than halfway there. He didn't believe it till I logged into my account in front of him and he was like I said, yeah.....I'll probably pick that up sometime in the next year but they will make something better by then so I'll just get that for free.

Buy TV for free now.....wait 5-6 years for points to rack up for another free one....buy again for free.

The points are great as long as you can rack them up without killing yourself.

My name is <strike>Ozymandias</strike> OakleyFrankFMJ, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

 

[kronin323]

A fact that Client 9 should have remembered ...

You talking about Spitzer? lol...