How Did You Cope With the Task Without a Credit Card?
It’s time to turn the calendar page, which means it’s time to put an end to our problem without a credit card. How did you handle this month during Lifehacker’s most controversial challenge? Have you planned on using cash instead of plastic? Have you cut costs at all?
The second half of my challenge was easy compared to the first half, when I had to actively think about which payment method I choose every time I wanted to spend money. By the 15th, I used to choose debit or be ready with cash in places I didn’t want to whisk.
To be honest, what I liked most about this task was not to look at the credit card balance with regret. This month, when I look at my bank account, I know that everything has already been paid. I don’t have that feeling that lurks and whispers menacingly, “You think you have money, but get ready to look at your credit card account.”
This test helped me regain my sense of financial restraint and showed that I can have a great time without having huge credit card bills to wrestle with at the end of the month.
As for my attempts to win by the rules I came up with, I only got bronze status:
Bronze status: you reduce the use of your card, but decide to pay the necessary expenses if your card is on file, for example, in your doctor’s office. You use your credit card three or more times for purchases, in addition to regular payments and travel.
But damn it, I feel good getting a bronze in this challenge.
Lifehacker managing editor Virginia K. Smith says:
I’m happy to report that most of the second half of the month I did a lot better than the first! I avoided using my credit card for anything other than pre-planned purchases until the last weekend, when I dropped it a couple of times for a surprise dinner, doctor’s appointment, and a more expensive than expected pharmacy (the price of Flonase is criminal, by the way). I could afford to put this on my debit card, but I’m leaving for a 10 day international trip today and wanted to leave some cash in the check so I went with a loan. law with this problem, but I spent more responsibly, got some serious checks on my money habits, and ended the month with a much smaller credit card bill than usual. I completed the test a few days early for the aforementioned trip (I will by no means travel to another country and will NOT use my credit card with all its different safeguards and benefits), but when I return I will use this opportunity to take a look at my budget and set a monthly credit card limit for yourself.
If you took up the challenge without a credit card with us, how did you cope? Have you learned anything about your financial habits? Would you like to fix anything that bothered you? Found out that there is a better way to use your credit card for benefits while managing this tab? Share your experience in the comments.