I think I am going to scream

**treeluva** · 04-26-2006, 09:58 AM

I used to be very into every penny that I had... then something happened. You can call it carelessness, or the fact that I had plenty of money to cover everything, so I stopped looking at my money books everyday. (I seriously used to spend an hour a day on my finances) Well, I am starting to get into looking at them all the time again, because I realize how much money I have just wasted. In this process, I was looking at all my credit cards, and I just saw that one of my Credit Cards, (that does not have a balance, THANK GOD!) Is at 20.49 PERCENT! WHAT????? I was never late paying that card, and I swear when I got it 4 years ago the interest rate was 9 PERCENT! Now it is up to 20.49! OMG! I am so happy that my card expired and for some reason, I never got a new one in the mail. At least I can not charge ANYTHING on it..... not even be tempted cause I cant use it! 20.49 PERCENT? That is HIGHWAY ROBBERY! I think I am about to have a heartattack.
Good news is, I am getting back into my money mode. I really dont have any good reasons why I stopped doing it in the first place. I must have lost my mind!

**FreesiaE** · 04-26-2006, 10:07 AM

The good thing is that if you have 0 balance, it doesn't matter what the interest rate is! 9%, 20%, 500%--don't really matter!

**AmyBoz** · 04-26-2006, 10:46 AM

treeluva...call that card company and cancel the card

**nodmicks** · 04-26-2006, 10:46 AM

We have no balance on our cards either but I noticed the rates are shooting way up. I'm ussuming its rates in genereal beacause our credit score is excellent.
Heres to getting more frugal!

**carolyns** · 04-26-2006, 11:16 AM

can I just say that saying you have Plenty of money to cover everything on these boards might turn a few people off? not trying to be mean, just sayin...

**Sari** · 04-26-2006, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by carolyns

can I just say that saying you have Plenty of money to cover everything on these boards might turn a few people off? not trying to be mean, just sayin...

Not necessarily. To me that could mean she's been frugal and been able to save money to get to this point. I think I might learn some things from her.

**carolyns** · 04-26-2006, 11:23 AM

Sara -- I understand that, but saying she has plenty of money to cover everything yet has 6400 in cc debt seems contradictory to me.

**AmyBoz** · 04-26-2006, 11:24 AM

Carolyn...I hope that isn't the truth. We are all at different places in our financial lives. Because a few of us may have more money than others of us is no cause for upset. Wealthy people make money mistakes just as easily as middle class people who make them just as easily as those who are struggling.

Here at the village we seek to support everyone, regardless of our differences.

**FreesiaE** · 04-26-2006, 11:27 AM

I don't think OP was bragging, nor rubbing it in anyones face. FV isn't about how much money one does or doesn't have, it's about making good fiscal decisions for each persons own situation. Being frugal and being "poor" don't necessarily go hand in hand. FV about sharing ideas that others can benefit from, laughing about what did/didn't work in real life, and supporting and encouraging fellow FVer's no matter what place they are in in their lives.

**frugalnana** · 04-26-2006, 12:46 PM

Treeluva I agree with Amy, cancel that card even if it is expired and get rid of it. Sometimes we all get off track watching our money. Many things factor into that. Glad that you have your money under control. I understood what you meant by having plenty of money.

We have debts we are paying down but we are in a better financial picture now than we were several years ago.

Great job for the successes you have.

**sarathom** · 04-26-2006, 03:13 PM

Hang in there....you're doing great! WE all make financial ooopses (is that a word????). Sounds like your ready to get at it again!

**my4littlebuffaloes** · 04-26-2006, 03:26 PM

I just noticed that my cc has upped the rate to 24.99%! I couldn't believe it! We use it and pay it off every month and when we got it, it was around 7%. We have never been late or carried a balance. I was in shock as well. My guess is they are just hoping that one month I will be late and then they will hit with all that interest and make up for years where I haven't paid a dime to use the card. LOL That is all I can figure out.

Jennifer

**treeluva** · 04-26-2006, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by carolyns

can I just say that saying you have Plenty of money to cover everything on these boards might turn a few people off? not trying to be mean, just sayin...

When I said I had plenty of money to cover everything, I dont mean that I was rich. It was just I stopped worrying about it. Which was totally stupid on my part. I am an E-5 in the Army, trust me when I say, I am far far far away from being rich!

**ewokgirl** · 04-26-2006, 05:15 PM

Interest rates have been rising. I just read in the business section of our newspaper this week about how much mortgage interest rates have risen lately. DH has a CC with a $0 balance, and the interest rate on that has shot up to 23%! That card hasn't been used in years, and we're never late with payments on any other bills, and our credit is good. I think it's just the nature of the beast.

I wish everyone could say they had plenty of money to cover all the bills! I certainly don't begrudge anyone here who is able to say that! When it comes right down to it, DH and I have money to cover our bills; however, we're not socking as much away in savings as I would like, nor is all our debt paid off. But, we're fortunate that we're always able to pay way more than minimum on the CCs, and I don't have to work outside the home. We'd definitely be able to save more and faster if I did go back to work, but we'd lose out on so much more if I did. I am trying to be more frugal with our money, though, which has a lot to do with why I'm enjoying hanging out at these boards!