Post New Topic

How much credit card debt are you in?

Original post by Katherine121

You can remain totally anonymous on this one by just responding to the poll.

When I listened to a news report about how the majority of Americans LIVE off of their credit cards, it got me to thinking. Just how much credit card debt does the average American family have?
Katherine121 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?


Posted by lipglossjunky73

We are living in credit hell now, but thats because we had no money to live... we get calls from creditors all the time - its a nightmare...



Ever thought of consolidating?
DjPiLL Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?


Posted by Beth1210


Posted by ckgmwedding

NONE! I pay my off each month and DH only leaves a couple of hundred on his to increase his credit score. Believe it or not, his is higher due to his having a small balance that he pays off over time.



Jake- my DH and a credit expert- mortgage banker told me they don't like it when you pay in full- it better to carry a balance- another crazy thing that doesn't make sense

that's why my score is as high as it is- I always a have balance, pay more then the minium

everyone wants to give me credit- it's annoying





There are much better ways to 'keep a balance'. A car loan is a perfect example. Same goes with a student loan.

You should NEVER carry CC debt if you have a choice. A slight increase in your credit score is not worth 20% interest every month.

I actually had somebody once tell me... 'Oh I dont pay off my CC balance because I have cash in my savings thats earning interest and I don't want to touch.'

Whats worse... 1.5% MM savings? Or 20% CC interest?

Sometimes people just don't think.
heidla Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?


Posted by lipglossjunky73


Posted by Beth1210


Posted by lipglossjunky73

See - the thing is - how many of you have FH's paying child support? And maintenance? Before I got involved with him, I had my credit under control - being engaged to someone who half his salary goes to his ex-wife is hard to do and still be in the clear with credit...




wow- that's rough!



this year has been the roughest - between him being laid off and getting a new job with a 20k paycut, the holidays and birthdays both in January for his 2 daughters, plus his debt before we were together (he is 10 years older than I am and had a few relationships before me - he went away with them and did all the fun stuff - now he settles down and I get stuck with the bills with him... )



That is a hard one!!! I'm just curious if you are helping to pay off the debt that he accumulated before your engagement?


Before DH and I were married we didn't combine our money. Heck, I still have my own savings and checking account in addition to our joint one. I know that I am over cautious, but if anything were ever to happen I don't want to have all my possesions intermingled.
Hazeleyes33 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?

Even WITH insurance you can pay alot out of pocket. I am going to get socked with a $2,000 medical bill soon with my procedure I just had. The actually bills were over $40,000 though! This was unexpected and we did not have this extra money sitting around. We are going to use our tax money to pay off the bills. I don't want to but I am very lucky just to be alive.

Meaghan729 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?

There are much better ways to 'keep a balance'. A car loan is a perfect example. Same goes with a student loan.

You should NEVER carry CC debt if you have a choice. A slight increase in your credit score is not worth 20% interest every month.

I actually had somebody once tell me... 'Oh I dont pay off my CC balance because I have cash in my savings thats earning interest and I don't want to touch.'

Whats worse... 1.5% MM savings? Or 20% CC interest?

Sometimes people just don't think.


if your cc interest rate is lower than your savings rate, best to put it in savings imo. i have a cc that is 0%, i kept a balance (school related) no more than 2k, put what i would have paid to the cc in savings - when my 0% is up I am going to xfer out of my savings and pay if off, I end up making a few hundred $$ in interest..
Preshy7 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?


Posted by heidla


Posted by lipglossjunky73


Posted by Beth1210


Posted by lipglossjunky73

See - the thing is - how many of you have FH's paying child support? And maintenance? Before I got involved with him, I had my credit under control - being engaged to someone who half his salary goes to his ex-wife is hard to do and still be in the clear with credit...




wow- that's rough!



this year has been the roughest - between him being laid off and getting a new job with a 20k paycut, the holidays and birthdays both in January for his 2 daughters, plus his debt before we were together (he is 10 years older than I am and had a few relationships before me - he went away with them and did all the fun stuff - now he settles down and I get stuck with the bills with him... )



That is a hard one!!! I'm just curious if you are helping to pay off the debt that he accumulated before your engagement?


Before DH and I were married we didn't combine our money. Heck, I still have my own savings and checking account in addition to our joint one. I know that I am over cautious, but if anything were ever to happen I don't want to have all my possesions intermingled.



same thing here...his loans are his. my debts are mine...

i have my own accounts and he has his..and its working wonderfully..no resentment or anything...
if we go out we alternate who pays...we dont fight about money- he lets me do what i want

swags1016 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?

None!

cocoa Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?

we pay off the balance every month. no need for more debt
Blu-ize Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?


Posted by DjPiLL


Posted by Beth1210


Posted by ckgmwedding

NONE! I pay my off each month and DH only leaves a couple of hundred on his to increase his credit score. Believe it or not, his is higher due to his having a small balance that he pays off over time.



Jake- my DH and a credit expert- mortgage banker told me they don't like it when you pay in full- it better to carry a balance- another crazy thing that doesn't make sense

that's why my score is as high as it is- I always a have balance, pay more then the minium

everyone wants to give me credit- it's annoying





There are much better ways to 'keep a balance'. A car loan is a perfect example. Same goes with a student loan.

You should NEVER carry CC debt if you have a choice. A slight increase in your credit score is not worth 20% interest every month.

I actually had somebody once tell me... 'Oh I dont pay off my CC balance because I have cash in my savings thats earning interest and I don't want to touch.'

Whats worse... 1.5% MM savings? Or 20% CC interest?

Sometimes people just don't think.



I totally agree..
Beth1210 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?



Whats worse... 1.5% MM savings? Or 20% CC interest?

Sometimes people just don't think.



I don't pay close to 20% - except on my bloomies card-

I depleated my personal savings after the wedding- so once it's back to where I want it to be- I am paying almost all towrds my cards

Jake told me next big commission check- it's all mine to pay down my bills- anyone need a loan?
oakslady Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?

zero - we dont use credit cards - if we cant afford to buy it cas we dont need it

jessnyc711 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?

We have about 12K debt that is slowly decreasing, but I use my Amex and pay that off month to month. I have to get more into paying cash for everything.

Beth1210 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?


Posted by jessnyc711

We have about 12K debt that is slowly decreasing, but I use my Amex and pay that off month to month. I have to get more into paying cash for everything.



we could be the same person

I took my Amex out of my wallet this month- and the bill is next to nothing- I had to use it for 2 things- but now I use my debt card more and I think more before I spend real money
jessnyc711 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?


we could be the same person

I took my Amex out of my wallet this month- and the bill is next to nothing- I had to use it for 2 things- but now I use my debt card more and I think more before I spend real money



I'm into using my debit card too, so I guess thats more like cash. It just seems like there's always something coming up like someone's birthday, holiday get togethers, I like to have friends over and entertain....I guess thats what gets me in trouble - I have to stop doing all these things and say no.
I'm just a sucker for enjoying the 'NOW' in life. I don't know, anyone else go through this?
slwh2005 Posted:

Re: How much credit card debt are you in?

none (whew!)

Reply to this topic

Log in to reply or quote a post.