Financial Challenges Support Group
This community is for people who are struggling to meet financial obligations of any kind. Financial challenges include everything from the day-to-day challenges of making ends meet to managing credit card debt to bankruptcy. Get support from others who are going through similar obstacles on the road back to financial stability.
Looking back on it, I can say I was addicted to shopping. Not buying everything that was on sale but wasting money by using Credit Cards.
I didn't have the cash and, well, soda was on sale... so let's charge it! When I look back at it - I was nuts. I could justify every cent I spent, like any good addict can, yet deep down I knew it was insane.
I would buy cases of soda on sale for $5... put it all on a credit card that had an outstanding balance and not think twice about it. I never could get it through my head that as soon as the cashier handed me the receipt the interest was ticking away. That $5 case was $5.10 by the time I got to the car, by the time I got home, it was $5.40.
Then I would be so "proud" when the monthly bill came and I paid quite a bit more then the minimum... but two weeks later it was ,maxed out again.
Carrying a balance on a credit card is financial suicide. Just my opinion, but after I got out of the CC nightmare, I value cash a lot more and have a whole new respect for CC's and how fast they can destroy my life.
http://www.yahoo.com/health/6-subtle-signs-youre-addicted-to-shopping-125173175537.html
I didn't have the cash and, well, soda was on sale... so let's charge it! When I look back at it - I was nuts. I could justify every cent I spent, like any good addict can, yet deep down I knew it was insane.
I would buy cases of soda on sale for $5... put it all on a credit card that had an outstanding balance and not think twice about it. I never could get it through my head that as soon as the cashier handed me the receipt the interest was ticking away. That $5 case was $5.10 by the time I got to the car, by the time I got home, it was $5.40.
Then I would be so "proud" when the monthly bill came and I paid quite a bit more then the minimum... but two weeks later it was ,maxed out again.
Carrying a balance on a credit card is financial suicide. Just my opinion, but after I got out of the CC nightmare, I value cash a lot more and have a whole new respect for CC's and how fast they can destroy my life.
http://www.yahoo.com/health/6-subtle-signs-youre-addicted-to-shopping-125173175537.html
I see my compulsiveness with gambling...instant gratification and instant payoff. Before I became a compulsive gambler, I was a compulsive shopper and I started to gamble to get more money to shop and it did work for a little while. Sadly, addiction of any type, be it money addiction, shopping addiction, gambling addiction, is never sustained for the long haul.
And, I end up right where I started...home, alone, with no hope in site.
Quote from the BBofAA: "There is a solution."
I want to get off the insane merry go round of financial suicide, too, and I am working on it.
Thank you, Messenger, for the great discussion topic.
Today is the day of our Christmas Lunch. It's already paid for and I have to stick with water for beverage. :)