Credit card ritual

[vaneramos]

Ironically, my Visa card happens to expire right now. The new chip card arrived in the mail this week. This afternoon I called and activated it. While on the line, I took the opportunity to reduce my limit by 90 per cent, from more than I earn in a year to more than I earn in a month.

As I folded the old card and broke it in two, I realized what was happening.

So ends April 2010!

Comments

[liadra.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I scare myself by adding up all the limits I have on various cards (store cards included) and realizing the amount is way more than I make in a year. It's scary how much they'll give you if you use the card and pay it off regularly. No wonder so many people are in grave amounts of debt.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

For years, every time I hit my max, Visa would increase my limit. I never paid it off; all I did was make the minimum payments regularly. They took advantage of people's bad spending habits, and I'm sure it got millions of people into trouble. It was unethical. When the economic crunch hit, they stopped doing it, and I had been maxed out ever since. Very stressful times indeed. I'm glad to put that behind me.

[lupinebear.livejournal.com]

What a perfect way to end the month. :-)

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there was something almost magical about tearing apart that old card.

[susandennis]

I have been so impressed by all the hard work you've done on both your finances and your emotional financial space. You came from such a hard place and you did such wonderful work to get where you are now.

But, even more impressive in some ways is the way you write about it. So openly, so honestly. If it hasn't happened yet, it will - over and over again - someone - someone, filled with financial fear - is going to find such joy and peace and acceptance - not to mention tips and tricks in reading your journal entries.

You've done many good things here. Thank you.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Susan, you made me glow! I have to admit my intentions in writing about this were entirely selfish. Debt had been my secret problem for many years, and I realized not talking about it hurt me because it added to the shame and anxiety, and it was harder for me to make any resolutions. So I wrote for accountability.

That said, as a writer I want my words to affect people positively. It's my highest aspiration. You put a seed of an idea in my head: that it might be worth trying to write and publish an article about this experience.

[hickbear.livejournal.com]

I am so incredibly proud of you, hon. I was once in my own financial abyss, so I know where you've come from. As well as how far you've already come. :-}}}}

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

It is encouraging to realize I'm not the only one, and that others have succeeded in escaping the abyss! Thanks for all your support!

more applause

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

What susandennis and atldaddybear said.

Re: more applause

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Even if I felt nothing when I paid off the credit card, I'm getting good feelings just from the feedback!

[rfmcdpei.livejournal.com]

it's a great feeling, no?

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Oh yes!