How big is your credit card (s) bill?

[Lazy_Pilgrim]

BUT whatever you do, DO NOT pay late or less than the minimum... EVER.

So very very true. Having just got my degree the mountain of debt it looks like i have gotta climb to even be in a position to think about getting a mortgage is frankly sickening.
Plus its taken me since may to even get a good enough job to start paying back what i owed to the banks/education authority.
As far as the argument between using and not using cards both a valid, i would still say not to use them at least until you have steady employment for say 2 years. And not what i did, use them to survive till a job turned up.
So heres to living in a box house with a windows 98 comp and a can of fosters on a friday night.

[TheProwler]

Hmmm...regarding the advice about carrying a balance for two months and then paying the full balance...maybe that builds your credit rating faster, but that also costs you interest.

I've always paid my cards in full on or before the due date.

I've never felt a need to build my credit faster, because I could count on my family to help me out when I was just starting out on my own.

When I needed my first car loan, I got my sister to co-sign. I am pretty sure I got my mother to co-sign for a loan at one point too. When I paid those loans off without incident, I'm sure my credit rating was raised.

But I suppose everybody has different situations.

[Grooveman2007]

I never go over $500/month and I always pay it off in full.

[btownmeggy]

I put everything but rent on my credit card and spend about $2000/month. I pay it off every month, but get 2% cash back.

Between that and USAA (wootwoot) dividends, I'm bank-bank-banking on my banking.

[spaceghst44]

Maturity is the biggest issue with any type of credit because it is a double edged sword that you have to walk a fine line with.
Credit is a good thing. It allows us to enjoy things today that we could not get until a later date. Using present value calculations, we can prove that even if you are paying interest, that money today can be worth more than that money in the future, including interest. Meaning that even if you can’t pay it off in full on the minimum due date, it can still be beneficial to get said credit.

That said:
If you are not mature enough or just do not have enough information to know where or not it is worth it to you to acquire said debt, then you probably do not want to take it.

Bikes are not better than cars in every way, especially when travelling large distances or when weather is a factor.

I have 0 credit card debt, but that is not always the case because emergencies do happen. And when they do, you need to have a plan.

Dangerous Game:
When I do have credit card debt that I cannot pay, I get new one that offers 0 interest on balance transfers for 6 months and transfer the balance to that other card giving me 6 months to pay it interest free. I have done this many times and have saved a lot of money on interest payments doing this. It is not however for everyone, especially for people who should not have credit cards anyways. It can get you into trouble very fast if you are not careful. Just posting this for people who might need to move things around to save on high interest payments.

[Ditocoaf]

Bikes are not better than cars in every way, especially when travelling large distances or when weather is a factor.

If you're traveling long distances, take a bus or a train. If weather is an issue, wear a raincoat or a snow jacket. Mountain bikes can handle most road conditions better than cars do.

[Thor Son of Olaf]

Bikes are not better than cars in every way, especially when travelling large distances or when weather is a factor.

If you're traveling long distances, take a bus or a train. If weather is an issue, wear a raincoat or a snow jacket. Mountain bikes can handle most road conditions better than cars do.

I see that you are ignorant of the sheer vastness of Amerika, it is not like Europe where most towns are small and clustered closely, to say nothing of the state of it's public transportation outside of large cities and urbanized areas. I'd like to see you try and make a 96.5 km (about 60 miles) commute on a bicycle every day, even in good weather.

[Ditocoaf]

Bikes are not better than cars in every way, especially when travelling large distances or when weather is a factor.

If you're traveling long distances, take a bus or a train. If weather is an issue, wear a raincoat or a snow jacket. Mountain bikes can handle most road conditions better than cars do.

I see that you are ignorant of the sheer vastness of Amerika, it is not like Europe where most towns are small and clustered closely, to say nothing of the state of it's public transportation outside of large cities and urbanized areas. I'd like to see you try and make a 96.5 km (about 60 miles) commute on a bicycle every day, even in good weather.

I have lived in America all my life. If I had to make a 60-mile commute for a job, then that would be a job I wouldn't take. The day will come again when suburbs won't exist, and people will actually live near where they need to be.

I admit I'm probably just a naive college student, but I'm going to make this work as long as I can. And there is more public transportation than you think. I'm going home for "fall break" tomorrow. I'm taking the train from portland to seattle (taking a bus to the train station), followed by a short walk to the ferry, which will take me near a bus stop, which will take me pretty much home. You can get anywhere with public transportation, you just need patience, planning, and the willingness to walk a few blocks on occasion. Admittedly its bad for a commute, but if I live my life without commuting, then I certainly won't be missing out on anything.

[spaceghst44]

Have you ever figured out how much it costs to commute 60 miles every day twice a day? If it was so much better i.e. benefits vs. costs everyone would do it. Cost of living has a lot to do with it. You can buy a house out in the middle of nowhere and commute, or pay out the ass for a place near a good job. Sometimes it is more cost efficent to buy a car and cheap house than it is to buy an expensive house and take public transportation.

What might work for you now, might work for you for the rest of your life, but it might not work for the person who makes $40 per hour commuting 60 miles or $15 dollars per hour not commuting and working in the suburbs. I understand where you are comming from, but think about other people in your statements.

p.s. I take it you know how it feels to ride a bike 20+ miles in the rain or snow. Wearing a raincoat or a jacket does not even begin to make sense. I have done it, I did it for 1 winter in Harrisonburg, then bought a car.

[TheProwler]

When I was a kid, we had to walk 30 miles to school in snow that was over our heads in our pajamas.

[jonesthecurl]

When I was a kid, we had to walk 30 miles to school in snow that was over our heads in our pajamas.

You had pajamas? We used to dream of having pajamas.

[TheProwler]

When I was a kid, we had to walk 30 miles to school in snow that was over our heads in our pajamas.

You had pajamas? We used to dream of having pajamas.

You had dreams? We never got to sleep long enough to have dreams. Had to stay up late mending my pajamas and wake early to milk the cows.

[jonesthecurl]

Luxury!

[jonesthecurl]

We used to have to milk next door's cat if we wanted milk.

[TheProwler]

That's not what your dad meant when he yelled at your mom "It's your own damn fault I have to go next door to get some pussy!!!"

[Nickbaldwin]

That's not what your dad meant when he yelled at your mom "It's your own damn fault I have to go next door to get some pussy!!!"

[TheProwler]

"Mommy, what did daddy mean??"

"It's okay son. He's just going to milk the neighbour's cat."

[Nickbaldwin]

Gotta love pussy juice.

[The1exile]

Bikes are not better than cars in every way, especially when travelling large distances or when weather is a factor.

It may be harder elsewhere, but I'm pretty sure that with a bike I could probably go anywhere in England, if not the UK, within a day for less than £50 simply but using the trains/buses/etc. And if there's a hurricane I'm just not going (if it's just raining or whatever, wear a damn coat).

[jonesthecurl]

That's not what your dad meant when he yelled at your mom "It's your own damn fault I have to go next door to get some pussy!!!"

There. Now you've gone and hurt my felines.

[TheProwler]

Hey, "slammin' the pussy" doesn't hurt anybody...

(Haha on the "felines" joke)