One Way to Fight the Right - Get Out of Debt, Pay Little or No Interest

[we can do it]

As you probably know banks and credit card companies are big financial supporters of bushco. So why don't we help ourselves while we fight the right. Tips on paying down your debt -
http://www.insiderreports.com/storypage.asp?ChanID=MN&StoryID=20000698


A home is one of the largest investments most of us will ever make. Even without including real estate taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, and closing costs when you buy and sell, a $175,000 piece of the rock financed at 6.5% for 30 years could cost you $353,559 even more if you put less than 20% down! But if you add just $25 to the required payment on the $140,000 loan you’ll have to take out, you'll save over $16,668.
More on this...
http://www.goodadvicepress.com/mortmyth.htm

[liberalhistorian]

1. That's exactly what I intend to do.

The more in debt you are, the more of a "slave" (for want of a better word) you are, the less freedome you have, and the worse your life is.

I paid off my credit cards a few years ago and will never have one again. I use a debit card that also has a cc logo that can be used as a credit card, but if the money's not there it doesn't go through. It's actually perfect, because you get the benefits of a credit card without the down side.

If I don't have the money, I don't buy it. For the inevitable emergencies that will arise in even the most responsible person's life, I always try to keep a reserve of savings. Right now, it's not as much as I'd like it to be, but it's still sufficient for a few months expenses or for a major emergency (major car repair, medical emergency, etc., etc.).

And not having any credit cards has actually made it a lot easier to save, since I don't have those damned bills every month with a gazillion percent interest and I'm not a slave to the whims of the cc industry, which makes thirty percent of its revenue from fees (which is why they're sqeezing people more and more for ever more ridiculous fees) right now, as opposed to ten percent just a few years ago.

And I take great pleasure in shredding and throwing away the three or four unsolicited pre-approved cc offers I get each month.

[we can do it]

3. Good for You.

As you probably know, when you start paying off your debts, it seems to start snowballing and it gets easier and easier. We just got our mortgage payed off in under 10 years. I wouldn't have believed it if you told me it was possible 15 years ago, but now I know its possible for anyone to do - If you've got the dedication.

[meow2u3]

11. Some companies aren't accepting debit cards anymore

Such as the phone company's DSL service or rental car companies. That's their way of sticking it to the masses.

[we can do it]

14. Wow - I Didn't Know That...n/t

[liberalhistorian]

20. I don't know about DSL service,

but I have paid phone bills with my debit/credit cards without any problem. For a lot of bills, though, I just have them taken right out of my account electronically every months so I don't have to deal with that kind of problem too much.

Rental car companies, otoh, are a total pain the ass when it comes to using debit cards. When I went home to Cleveland for Christmas, I needed to rent a car since I couldn't drive my parents car because I wasn't on their insurance and I wanted my own wheels anyway. I'd rented from Enterprise many times over the past five years and had made a reservation with them. But when I went to pay for it, they caused all kinds of shit because they considered the debit/credit card to be the "same as cash." That meant they had to take TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS out of the account right then and there instead of just the rental amount. That really wreaked havoc with my Christmas finances, so I let them have it because I was pissed.

Then I had to fill out all kinds of bullshit paperwork, giving everything down to my great-grandmother's favorite breakfast cereal, including references. They even wanted employer contact information, which is none of their fucking business. And for the references they wouldn't accept cell phone numbers as contact numbers. Never mind that more than half of Americans now just have a cell phone as their only phone.

THEN they wanted proof of residence such as phone or utility bill, etc., etc., along with some other bullshit. I was in OH but lived in SD and had just moved to a new place, I HAD no such documentation and it was bullshit anyway that I needed it. I told them I'd been a customer of theirs for years, that I wasn't some crook who was going to steal their car, and I didn't appreciate all this bullshit.

I finally had to go through a few rounds with the big cheese manager and finally got the fucking car, all this shit because I didn't have a "real" credit card. What a bunch of bullshit. It's just another way to fuck poorer people over, as well as people like me who don't believe in having the damned credit cards anymore.

I make it a habit from now on not to patronize businesses that won't accept the debit/credit card, because they obviously don't want my money. The first rule of business is to make things as easy as possible for as many customers as you can, and too many now seem to have forgotten that.

[we can do it]

21. What A Crock of Shit- One Question About Debit/Credit Cards

Does that card work OK at gas pumps or do you have to go inside...I only use my credit card (which I pay in full every month - and I get LL Bean certificates back and free shipping).

[liberalhistorian]

28. The card works fine for me at gas pumps;

I've never had a problem at any gas station.

[FloridaPat]

34. I use mine all the time at gas stations. No problem.

[malaise]

18. I own one credit card

and that's for a hardware store for hurricane emergencies only.
I use a debit card which is linked to my current account. Separate debit cards from savings accounts so there is no temptation to spend savings.
Join a credit union and withdraw half of your savings deposits to fixed bank deposits at year end to earn more interest. This gives you access to credit in an emergency while allowing you to cash in on better interest rates for fixed deposits.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Amen to that. Our system is based on usury.... ask the fundies what

their man said about usury.

[stopbush]

4. Easier said than done, especially in a time of stagnant or falling wages

and rising prices. Most Americans are right where bushco and the corporationms want them - doomed to ever-downward spiral of debt.

[we can do it]

7. I Agree To A Point. - Especially Most Americans Acting According To Plan..

Spending more than they make (I am not talking about medical needs or emergencies). You have to admit that a lot of people charge things that are not necessities and only pay the minimum balance on their cards (which only makes the problem worse).

[malaise]

5. Stop fugging shopping

for wants and concentrate on needs

[EuroObserver]

6. Yeah. Back to basics. CLOSE IT DOWN! n/t

[we can do it]

8. You Got It - Stop Charging Chinese Bullsh*t, Jumbo TVs, $5000 Grills

Then crying - I'm maxed out, time for a New card... and for Christsake - balance your checkbook so you don't have to pay those ridiculous fees.

[cliss]

9. Yes, you are so right.

We live a debt-free life. We paid off all our debts a few years ago. It was incredibly difficult. Sometimes we didn't have enough to eat....

but it was more difficult to be in debt. It was horrible..

Our kids are very savvy about money, too. My teenager saved up about $5,000. He wanted to go to Europe. Went last summer. The money lasted more than 3 months. He had a wonderful time.

Even today, he has around $10,000 stashed away for a rainy day. He switched jobs; got into sales. His manager insulted him on the sales floor, so my teenager decided to quit. He was able to do it because he didn't NEED the job for his survival.

We've lived in really well-off neighborhoods where people made tons of money. Many of them were maxxed out on credit cards, huge debt loads. A small crisis would send the over the edge.

[Tsiyu]

10. This is so important

"Starve the BEAST"

Progressive Insurance, if you can

Buy nothing on credit, if you can help it

Buy from blue companies and local Democrats

Find ways to barter for what you need

Don't be a slave to fashion; buy clothes at thrift stores and yard sales

Entertainment: Library, take a walk, state parks, board games, learn an instrument or a foreign language

Teach your kids about the Constitution, since they aren't teaching this at school.

Cut off the cable!

[we can do it]

12. All Good Ideas - Work Together and Help Each Other

Barter is a great idea.
Teach your kids about finances, too. They sure don't do that in school.
Play cards with your friends.
Plant a garden - share what you can't use or freeze.

[FlemingsGhost]

13. How we earn and spend money is all we have left.

And if Americans can screw up an iota of courage, they'll stop paying taxes.

[we can do it]

15. Sorry If You Take This Wrong, But There Are Always Ways to Cut Expenses.

Charging up a fortune doesn't benefit anyone but the banks.

[Extend a Hand]

16. Mortgage

came from a french word meaning "death pledge" -- I just thought that was interesting.

[we can do it]

17. Whoa - How Fitting -

BTW have you heard they now have 45 year mortgages available?

[Catshrink]

19. Quicken's Debt Reducer says to pay off the highest interest CCs first.

But otherwise, it's the same advice.

Starving the beast -- I like that. It's one way we can fight the big banks.

[arkie dem]

22. This is just good...

common sense. I paid my 15yr mortgage off in 9yrs.I have only one credit card and use it sparingly and only borrow money from my credit union.

[we can do it]

27. Did You Get An Incredible Feeling of Freedom When You Were Paid Off?

I sure did and I wish everyone here could do the same.

[arkie dem]

33. Not really....

I need to spend some money on much needed repairs.
I can also afford to pay my 100% increase in my nat. gas bill.

[seabeyond]

23. house payment with father, he gets interest. credit card paid off

every month...... i love this card. 65 annually with frequent flyer miles for purchases on card. we were able to buy a flat screen tv with the frequent flyer miles last year. we purchase everything with the card and pay it off every month, no intested or penalty.

[we can do it]

29. One Question on Interest Paid to Your Dad

Does he claim this on taxes? Just wondering - I have a friend about to do something similar and she's wondering about it.

[seabeyond]

30. well documented. he always stays legal

he uses an accountant who does his stuff. if i talk to him today i will ask him that.

[we can do it]

31. Ok - Thank you

I will be happy with any info to pass on.

[seabeyond]

32. all technically speaking

dad has to pay tax on interest adn we get to right off the interest we pay on for this loan. i odnt think we are writing it off. maybe ought to look into that, lol

[kywildcat]

24. How feasible is it to 'incorporate' ourselves.

I've wondered for some time how workable it would be to incorporate ourselves. Our ssn as our 'employer/ee ID. When credit card companies mail flyers, or add additional paper/inserts for us to have to throw away, or some authority stops us to check ID's or some other goofy thing, why can't we send them a bill for our time?
I see it like this:
Credit card company sends me a solicitation:
I send them an invoice for my time for taking it from my mail box, throwing it away, and tack on additional fees (pest fees) for bothering me in the first place.
I get cell phone bill:
I look it over and discover they've charged me for 4 different calls within the span of 1 minute (according to their bill and their accounting)
I send my payment in minus the amount for my fees for
1. calling them and putting up with someone who doesn't speak enough english to grasp the problem.
2. time and expense for correcting their mistake
3. general nuasance fee
When a company solicits me for business, I let them know MY terms for doing business with me and all fees that I will impose on them for having to;
1. contact their customer service for any reason
2. Review bills (review their work) for mistakes
3. Put up with calls or contact from them to sell me something additional.


Can you imagine how mucked up thing would be if we, as individuals turn the tables on corporate amerika?

[we can do it]

25. I Like Your Thinking

I kept getting a bill from a radiologists office for something workers comp was supposed to pay. They kept billing me incorrectly, then they had enough nerve to inform me that they were sending it to collections unless I paid up ( they still hadn't bothered to send the bill to BWC). I called and got the office answering machine and went on a rant about charging them my overtime rate for my time in handling their problem and that I would take them to court for defamation of character if they did any damage to my perfect credit rating...amazingly, the radiologist picked up the phone himself, apologized for the problems and said I would not hear from them again. Amazing what happens when you turn the tables.

[MindPilot]

26. I used to work with a guy who in the early days of spam

wrote a program that would harvest a snail mail address from the spam by going to the website, then it would generate an invoice billing them $100.00 for the use of his system. On a couple of occasions he actually got checks, but it didn't really cover the cost of printing and mailing. It was one effective spam-blocker though.