Getting a credit card

[jeeves_101]

Been thinking about maybe getting a credit card as i know they can come in handy.

e.g. if something went wrong on the car, moneys there.
not quite payday and need to get something, moneys there.
also come in handy for emergency money if on holiday and stuff

only thing is, got to remember to pay back in time otherwise it aint good.

so if any of you have got one, or more, do you think they are good, or would you stay clear of them?

cheers

[Jacko]

steer well clear...no point getting into debt...and credit cards are just readily available debt.

[Dan]

I would stay well clear, just save money then you dont have to pay it back. Worst thing I did was get in debt.

[Danhunt]

If you only want it for things like that
a. dont buy things if you cant afford them already
b. if you want it for emergencys, get an overdraft


getting into debt with a credit card really isnt worth it, in the long term could potentially ruin your life. Especially everytime you see something you like you will be like fuck it, ill pay it back etc

[jeeves_101]

ok cheers.

yeah, thats the neg side i had in my head, CREDIT = debt and could get into big trouble.

cheers

[jeeves_101]

yeah, but overdrafts you normally pay a overdrawn fee on and interest, but some credit cards you get 0% interest if each transaction is paid in before a certain time.

[Danhunt]

But an overdraft is alot smaller, if you get a credit card, the chances are you will get tempted to use it alot more often.
With my bank (nationwide) they dont charge alot. cant remember how much but to be honest its nothing like a credit card will be.

IMO i would stick without both, just try and manage to survive, but i do get your point as in needing for emergencys. Thats why i have my overdraft :y:

[jeeves_101]

cheers danhunt, i don't know if i will get one, well either really.

i just thought that for the case of emergencies and stuff it could be handy, but if you miss the pay backdeadline, then your screwed.

[Karl]

12 months 0% APR. Halifaxxxxxxx

Will be buying my new PC with it.

[jeeves_101]

12 months 0% APR. Halifaxxxxxxx

Will be buying my new PC with it.

you obviously think they are good, or you just using it now and then?

[AdamW]

12 months 0% APR. Halifaxxxxxxx

Will be buying my new PC with it.

Similar to mine.....I got an egg card few weeks back......0% APR for first 12months...after that I will chop it up and go with someone else.

I only use it for major things.....like repairs on the car and I paid the rent for the old dear last month as her money didnt go into her bank

[Danhunt]

Its not like im totally against them or anything,
but if you think about it, they wouldnt give you 12 0% apr, if they didnt think you would carry on using it, otherwise they wouldnt make any money.
Also if you have the credit card in your pocket, its so easy just to be tempted to buy things with it there and then. oh another tenner here wont hurt etc eventually you'll be reaching the limit with no way to pay it back lol

[Karl]

you obviously think they are good, or you just using it now and then?

I dont think theyre good,
I just dont have 1k wad of cash right now.
Will pay it off within 8-12 months anyways.
Is all I'll be using it for.

[Kelly]

I would say it depends on how disciplined you are with your spending. If you could just go in to a shop and buy something regardless of having the money or not I would say don't bother.

Correct me if I'm wrong but don't places like Kwik Fit do some sort of 'store card'? If they do its better to get something like that than a credit card cos if you pay the balance off fully when the bill comes through you don't pay any interest.

I keep thinking I want a credit card then reality sets in and with 3 store cards (with a total of £28 on) I don't think I'm safe with a credit card too cos I'll just go in to debt oblivion lol

[Karl]

you dont pay interest on 0% APR though Kelly,
well not for 12 months anyways.

[Kelly]

you dont pay interest on 0% APR though Kelly,
well not for 12 months anyways.

Yeah I know, what I meant was he'd be limited with the Kwik Fit thingy if it exists so he can only use it for repairs :p

[samcook]

ive got one with the halifax with 0% interest for the first 9months, but ill be going somewhere else when the 9month periods is over, good to have if your ever stuck just need to be sensible with it

[Mozza]

Not the best of ideas tbh, i got mine about 3 or 4 years ago and still not managed to pay it back even though its small. I used it for stupid things like going out and stuff as i was always tempted by it and now when i pay an amount back it doesnt usualy knock down the total figure, im just basicaly paying the interest back. Stay clear mate, if you cant but help get one then pay it back within 6months for peace of mind.

[JimoVTR]

STAY CLEAR

I have one.

Im 19 and its maxxed out! - wish I never applied now. becasue i pay it off then think, oh i can use it, its fine!
NO ITS NOT!

[hellonpluto]

Been thinking about maybe getting a credit card as i know they can come in handy.

e.g. if something went wrong on the car, moneys there.
not quite payday and need to get something, moneys there.
also come in handy for emergency money if on holiday and stuff

only thing is, got to remember to pay back in time otherwise it aint good.

so if any of you have got one, or more, do you think they are good, or would you stay clear of them?

cheers


Your DOOMED...RIP Jeevers_101

[betty02]

i got one, got it on my 18th, and the day it arrived i rung up activated it and then cut up the card lol...wy?

Because it gets my credit raiting good, which emans ive not missed a payment according to there files and technically ive always payed full money back although thats 0.00, just mena sin the future tis better for me in the long run, would never ever get one, just get an aranaged overdraft or something, but dont touch it unless its an emergency then at least u know its there, its at an aranaged price therefore you wont get spanked on it!

[Karl]

Jimo whats you limit?

[mattchewone]

I was thinking of getting one to pay for petrol and pay it back at the end of the month. Just to get a better credit rating for when the day comes to moving out and getting a mortgage. I herd having a credit card helps your rating.

[betty02]

Yup it does read what id di to mine, do that early then wehn it comes to having a house your more then likely to have a bloody gud en! but then dont forget things may have changed so dont realy on it

[jeeves_101]

alright, cheers people.

[SaxoJamie]

I'd stay away from credit cards tbh as it's not worth getting into debt. Life is too short for debts:y:

[jeeves_101]

i dont think i'd get into debt, i'm pretty good with money.

never borrow any, never gone overdrawn (dont have an overdraft), never had to worry.

was really just an idea for getting a credit rating and use in emergencies or where funds are low, but coming in soon. (e.g. mot, insurance blah blah)

[saxodan]

ive got 3

All with nothing on

they are great for a lot of things as long as you can contorl yourself, and lets face it, if you get a card and cant help but spend on it stuff you cant afford.. then I dont think you should be allowed money at all lol

[tstapleton]

I personally think you need to be able to control your money to have a credit card, because I could imagine it becomes very tempting just to use it to buy things you can't afford to pay back. I personally don't have one and never have, I once had an overdraft but got rid of that years ago. Instead of applying for a credit card stick that cash you would use to pay it off each month into a savings account then after a few months you have your own supply of extra cash to pay out on those emergencies, thats what I do anyway

[craig180]

I have several cards and I use them when I NEED to.

One card I use for fuel and that gets paid in full every month so never charged interest.

Other cards I use for other bits and bobs but always keep a check on them and pay as much as I can to keep interest payments down

They are a good asset when it comes to getting finance on anything such as a car/loan/mortgage as the lenders see you as being a responsible borrower if you are able to keep your payments and spending in order

[Hanuman]

very very VERY handy if you know how to use them.

i got one with 8months interest free so i could pay of my insurance which cost £800 now i already had 400 saved, so i couldnt get another 400 to pay it off in one go, if i paid monthly id end up paying like £1000 a year why waste 200 if i could get a credit card and work ti properly.

worked out great paid of 150 first month then 50 from there all paid off after a few months, never used it since, apart from getting an ipod which again i new i could afford worked out how long it would take,

if you make sure you get something work out if you can pay it back without any problems do it, people who say dont are just scared of "abusing" the card.

[tstapleton]

yea people kept telling me to get a credit card to boost up my credit rating, but I had no trouble getting a loan and a mortgage

[jeeves_101]

the reasons hanuman and saxo180 have given are the reasons i'd be tempted to get one.

i'd only ever use it, if i knew i could pay it off in full before the end of the interest free period.

i think i'm quite good with money, have a savings account and 2 pensions (company and state), plus my parents have always taut me to be careful and sensible with money, well i think i may look into it abit more, but cheers for advice people.

[Hanuman]

if its smoething like basically you need 500£ or want that money in one lump sum POINTLESS getting a loan for that amount, and you know you could get 500 but it would take you a few months then get one with 6-12months interest free pay it off 50 quid a month and BANG SORTED

[nickshally]

just use it if u can afford to pay it back m8,i gotta get 1 as i have no credit history and need credit history to buy a house,jst be carefull with it.

[Clouds_mate]

All those who say credit cards are bad have no personal/money management skills.