For years, I’ve never had a credit card. A friend literally shouted at me when I looked at the application form. He said, “DON’T YOU DARE APPLY!!!” and so I didn’t. I didn’t even try to mind what effects they were trying to tell me if I own one.
Come 2007, in the land of milk and honey?!, I was forced to apply for a credit card. “Credit cards are needed to have credit scores”; “It is a must here!”; “Everyone’s got a credit card!”; “No we don’t carry cash, we carry cards”. So I did get one, nope, two, nope, three, nope… OK, to date I have 8 cards!!!!
Yes, I’ve been managing my accounts really well, never had a month without paying, at least the minimum amount. Yes, credit cards made us survive financial turbulence! Yes, credit cards made me say YES, YES, YES!
Since coming here in the land of the free?!, never had we stayed home for long breaks.. we’ve travelled and travelled far to beautiful places, checked in to different hotels, ate, bought, spent… NO budgeting, NO money management, and NO living within our means.
YES, I am powerful, I have credit cards!!!
The sad thing about being UP there is that there is no way to go but down, and DOWN the hill I go with credit card management!!!
This month, after 4 years, I befriended MS Excel, looked at all my finances and in my own eyes saw what has happened, what is happening and will continue to happen if I will not stop.
Screeeeeeeechhhhhh. Full Stop.
Now, I remember what my friends back then were trying to force me to understand but didn't – This time, I know.
When, maybe, all the while, I knew BUT never really mind it. I knew what techniques and process I should do to make credit cards work for me BUT didn't UNTIL I was faced with imbalance.
A bell is ringing soundly in my ears now... IMBALANCE, the word for the day. Until there is BALANCE in my life, balance in all four areas of my life - Physical or Health side, Intellectual or Wealth Side, Emotions or Self-Expression Side and Love or Spiritual Side, I will never be able to control my destiny and will never obtain Peace of Mind.
I've started with my Intellectual or Wealth Side (Financial Matters!!!), and would move on to my Physical or Health side soon... very very soon!
Now, I know why I need to do Project 365, to remind me everyday of what matters, what is essential and what WORKS.
What about you? What area in your life needs attention? Time to think about it now.. or go down the hill... and we don't want that to happen right?
*Let's journey together and make our dreams happen soon! God Bless! :)
-Day 2-
This is a great realization. I ,for once, had been in the rat race. I was chasing bills after bills. At times, I am allured by things that I see around. sometimes I have hesitation and try to ponder things and even question myself if I still have enough to defray the cost of my fascination, yet I submit myself into this financial labyrinth. I am going to admit that I did want to do what Jones's do. The same things as what you have accounted to do but along the way it makes me realize that I am not heading into my goal to financial freedom. Yes, sometimes, I am in between my desires or wants and my aim to at least save a considerable amount of money in the bank. I don't want to shove myself downhill. I want to somehow turn around the peaks and troughs of my financial situation. To elevate the troughs, I did pay some my debts and still manage to save a modest amount of money. and one thing that I am trying to do is to delayed my gratification which is the first step to financial freedom.
ReplyDeletevery well said! delayed gratification indeed is the first step to financial freedom!!! thank you!
Deletei'm not materialistic. i buy things for myself only when i need them. i don't rush to department stores because there's "sale". nowadays, i buy things for my kids, very seldom for myself, nor for my husband. my dad even calls me "stingy" (maybe because i don't give in to his wants, to his desire to flaunt. but i provide for his medicines and basic needs). i must admit though that there's one hobby that can get really expensive and i just can't let go - traveling. :) anyways, we travel on budget too. my husband even complained when we went to boracay because i chose a budget-friendly cottage. :) i've been using spreadsheet even in the philippines. now our money sheet is a little bit more complicated with all the formulas & graphs. when i get back to work, i already know where to put my-our money. i will definitely save for our retirement. :) and my take on convenient credit cards? it's okay to have them, for as long as you know how to manage and not abuse them.
ReplyDeletelol! yup... that's the answer to not be materialistic! thanks for reading!:)
DeleteMattew Kelly wrote a great book called "The Rhythmn of Life" that talks all about the importance of balance in our lives! I truly believe balance in all of those areas is key to staying on track! Great post!
ReplyDeleteBalance for a synergistic life! :) Thanks!!:)
DeleteI totally believe in being balanced! Great post! - Jules Smith
ReplyDeleteI love this line in your blog, "Now, I know why I need to do Project 365, to remind me everyday of what matters, what is essential and what WORKS." Thanks!- Charlene Rayburn
ReplyDeleteLiked your post, But I always had trouble with credit cards.
ReplyDeletethanks! sad right? :(
DeleteDuring my heydays, you name a credit card and I surely have it in my wallet. That was fifteen (15) years ago and for the same period of time, I have lived my life without them. Is my life balanced now? I can't say that but I am certain that I am no longer burdened with thinking of where to get money to pay credit card dues. It was a good riddance!
ReplyDeleteWe've been on the same boat but got off earlier. Buti na lang dito sa Pinas di gaanong malaki credit limit. wawa naman si hubby ko when it comes to paying the bills. So i had to stop. Now I don't buy what I want. It's all about my family na eh. If we need it, then I will. If not.. NO,thanks! WE ARE IN CONTROL, ayt? :D
ReplyDeletehehehe maybe a joke on me, coz i never applied a CC..
ReplyDeleteAlso my finances. THat area should have a big overhaul I can say. Although I'm not into credit cards, I am a confessed impulsive buyer. Goodluck to us Miss Gem. We can do this. :) ♥
ReplyDeleteI used to be a credit card collector during the credit crunch days and it was terrible. People would cry begging to extend the deadlines, the late fees and interests are killers. Don't ever get a credit card, it's a scam.
ReplyDeleteLucky me because, even if I want to, I'll never own a credit card. Why? My application will never get approved. I don't own anything. I have bank account. I don't even have a job. Ha ha ha! I only have my computer.
ReplyDeleteWow! Amamzing naman to,, Gustk ko yung right balance :)
ReplyDeleteat least I am still at my early age (22) to read such posts like this. and never really planned to get one even if I need one, I might just get one for the sake of it but not for impulsive "utangs." 8 cards are quite a lot, you must really be earning much huh.
ReplyDeleteTo be financially free is to free yourself from credit-card bounty. The easiness of the way is usually led the one's headlong fall - broke!
ReplyDeleteYou have conquered the freedom after all those years your suffered the nightmare of credit cards..and that what matters most now. I appreciate your honesty to admit how your life has turned upside-down because of this very manipulative tiny card and how you were able to stop. It is an inspiring circumstance to those whose lives now revolve so much with a credit card. Thanks God I did submit to this temptation.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations that your at last free.
i must agree..credit cards can make slaves of debt in all of us if we are not careful. i am glad i got rid of mine all those many years ago + never dared to apply for another one thereafter :)
ReplyDelete