The wrapper on the red one said "Radberry - artificially flavored." Good thing too, because I think

[dolari]

After almost 10 years of filling out credit card (the first few to apply for a card, the last billion seeing how many times I'd be denied), someone was fool enough to send me a credit card.

It's a crap card. $200 credit line, incredibly horrible APR rate (24% or so), but it's an honest to goodness card. And, after seeing what credit cards did to my mom and dad (TWICE!) in the 80s and 90s, this card is going right into my safe lock box, and will be used as a cushion for when I get into the red on my debit card ONLY (and one purchase a month completely paid to try and build up my credit...I would like a house and a car ONE day).

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a 100 inch plasma HDTV to buy. ;)

Comments

[sammikitten1981.livejournal.com]

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a 100 inch plasma HDTV to buy.

oooh oooh ooohh

since you're big spendin, can i have one????? =^_^=

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

HDTVs for EVERYONE!

[chaoticset.livejournal.com]

:D YAY!

I'm getting crappy card offers too, but I'm completely avoiding them for a little while longer. I'll probably get one before the end of the year just to do a single bill with. :)

[aspasia13.livejournal.com]

Watch out. Some cards these days charge fees if you DON'T use them within a certain period of time after getting it. Read the fine print. I have one that I've had for years with no annual fee, but it just recently switched over to requiring a purchase or they charge a $40 annual fee. If you make a purchase, they waive the fee.

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

::nods::

The more I think about it, I think I'm going to use the credit card to pay my bills Right on Time. I'm never late, but I pay them on the edge of lateness. This'll get the phone and electricity paid right away, and pay off the credit card instead of paying the bills later.

[amw.livejournal.com]

How bizarre. I don't think i've ever had a credit card without an annual fee. I pretty much expect it - how else are they going to earn money off people who pay it off within the interest-free period?

[zaecus.livejournal.com]

"and one purchase a month completely paid to try and build up my credit"

From what I've read, this won't work. Credit card companies, being in it for the money, consider people who pay on time to be credit risks. Doing so may either have no effect on your credit or actually make it worse.

Certainly, you don't want to carry a balance for months, though.

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

Actually, the idea now is to use it to pay my bills "on time." I don't really pay them late, but I pay them VERY VERY VERY close to late thanks to how my paychecks are laid out. This way, I carry a balance for a few weeks, and the card gets paid back when the paycheck does come in.

[mikeyarrum.livejournal.com]

As long as we're on the subject, doesn't filling out tons of applications itself decrease your credit score?

[jandanadur.livejournal.com]

If the US system works anything like ours here in the UK, yes. For some crazy reason, each time you are declined reduces your credit-rating.

And if you don't like $200 and 24% APR, I should probably tell you about the credit card company I used to work for: £100 limit (technically, it is about $200, but £100 buys you as much stuff in the UK as $100 would buy you in the US) and 49.9% APR.

One day, we all had to leave our desks and take and 'extended lunch-break' while the Financial Services Ombudsman (banking regulator) decided whether 49.9% was even legal. The answer was 'barely'...

damned if you do....

[nightshadepyre.livejournal.com]

Yes it does, five points each time. Unless of course it's a slew of car or house related inquiries within the space of 30 days. They lump those together.

I used to work for a bank in the business loans department. Good stuff there.

[red-pill.livejournal.com]

only one? get 3! and one for the squrells too. :D