tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post5581415004487290303..comments2023-10-04T07:16:32.683-04:00Comments on Kristin's Four Kids: Let's talk about money, shall we?Kristin....http://www.blogger.com/profile/04577486067704642675noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post-74978938035090335182009-11-26T21:49:55.016-05:002009-11-26T21:49:55.016-05:00I got the same Citibank letter this week! I was so...I got the same Citibank letter this week! I was so angry. We decided to close the account and just payoff, but I didn't realize we would only have 5 years. We may need to rethink that one. We have looked into a bank debt consolidation loan. Maybe I need to speed that up, my deadline is Dec 20th. Merry Christmas to us. <br />On the plus side we took the Dave Ramsey class and went cash about 2 years ago. It was wonderful, but very easy to fall off the wagon when money gets tight. Both hubby and wife must keep each other in check.<br />I understand your feelings about all of this exactly. I think the best thing we can do is be the best parents we can be and not let the worry of it rob the memories we can make without the money.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post-76135138180405339112009-11-06T23:26:59.767-05:002009-11-06T23:26:59.767-05:00Citicard sent me that letter, too, and I don't...Citicard sent me that letter, too, and I don't even use that card. I would consider transferring your balance to another card. LLBean Visa?Flax Hill Gardenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14594343758538152235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post-49917339033226787232009-10-26T09:06:48.969-04:002009-10-26T09:06:48.969-04:00I so feel your frustration. I got married young, ...I so feel your frustration. I got married young, and DH, though eight years older than I, is WAY worse with money, so our credit card debt went up exponentially very quickly. With kids, and me staying home, and living in the DC area for so long, expenses just went up and up and up, and we're incredibly deep in debt. That's part of why I'm substituting while I'm in school, to make a little extra to try and stay afloat. Next year, when I'm in school full-time, we won't have this money and it'll be hard again. We've done the same thing with equity loans, and had events take us right back into debt. Once I finally start teaching full-time, we'll get back on better ground, but until then, I hold my breath when I pay the bills.<br /><br />When I think about credit cards, immediately I imagine a grey, foggy mountain that is getting bigger as I climb. I used to think that it was possible to pay off my debt and straighten out our lives if we were reasonable, but now it's like someone has grabbed the edge of the image and yanked it straight up, like a bully chasing me up a slope. <br /><br />I live in fear of getting a 29.99% interest letter. Call them and ask WTF, your payments are on-time, and you're a good customer. Threaten to move your money and cancel the account.Astartehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07337583910910454897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post-66363866664984374852009-10-22T16:03:24.708-04:002009-10-22T16:03:24.708-04:00This same thing happened to us! And one more thin...This same thing happened to us! And one more thing they don't tell you. If you opt out of the increase, and ANYONE charges ANYTHING to your card, even by error, you then jump from 7% to 29.99%. For us, after the whole opting out process, an online vitamin company charged me a $12 annual renewal and jumped the percentage. Even though they admitted fault (we'd changed payment methods and they don't even know why they had this old card number in the system still) and they removed the charge, Citibank didn't care and the rate never went back down!<br /><br />Keep an excel schedule showing the progress you've made, even if it is over a few years, seeing the little bit off the house and the little bit off the car and the little bit off the credit card added together gives you proof that it is worth it. Then post that number for you and hubby to see, "We've paid of $7,452 in debt since Jan 2008" or whatever your numbers are. Remind yourself that you ARE getting somewhere, even if it is slow. Most of us are guilty of bad financial choices and are so mad at ourselves too! And DON'T beat yourself up for not working, with 4 kids it would never pay, and you WOULD be in this same boat because daycare would be eating all the salary.<br /><br />Encouraging you to keep going. You can do this, forgive yourself and just move forward, like you already are! :) Best wishes from one mad over money mama to another!Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10607355428134594306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post-49950359369839901532009-10-21T10:00:01.427-04:002009-10-21T10:00:01.427-04:00It's like the banks didn't get the memo th...It's like the banks didn't get the memo that people are already suffering. 30% interest is outrageous. Is there any way to transfer the balance to your other card or convert it to a bank loan?<br /><br />My husband and I had some major financial problems a few years ago due to his failed business. We tried to bridge the financial gap with credit cards, which was a big mistake. As soon as those cards were paid off (we sacrificed a lot to pay them off), we cancelled all but one and we only use that one to book hotels and things. We are strictly cash people now and it's quite liberating.LoriDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07646658618955664778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post-13541998963820516572009-10-21T08:56:05.833-04:002009-10-21T08:56:05.833-04:00Credit cards stink. I had problems with our cc co...Credit cards stink. I had problems with our cc company last week, went through three different supervisors with the end result not changing. They made an error, but I have to pay for it. I want this thing paid off and never used again unless it's a dire emergency. I'm done with these things!<br />I really don't know what "we" are supposed to do.Thiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14215607323324295590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3486169617395091403.post-74030817872879093652009-10-20T14:28:51.288-04:002009-10-20T14:28:51.288-04:00Citibank raised our rate - But not by that much. T...Citibank raised our rate - But not by that much. They also lowered it for 6 months when I asked. Did you have late payments? If not, if you call them, they may lower it, at least for a period of time. <br /><br />Good luck!3carnationshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15942247215569463561noreply@blogger.com