The Vent and Rant Thread

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by ApK

Maybe going off topic, but which are you talking about? The fat and sugar? It's not possible to cut them out entirely.
The credit cards? We're far, FAR better off without them entirely. No spite at all, face fully intact and in a much better financial situation. That's us. YOU do what you like.

I have a wallet full of credit cards, just about all of them cash-back or offering some other perk. Since I never carry a balance, the cards earn me money.

[John F]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I have a wallet full of credit cards, just about all of them cash-back or offering some other perk. Since I never carry a balance, the cards earn me money.

+1

Although I wouldn't say my wallet is full of them.

[Deskisamess]

We have 2 cards, the Chase earned close to $400 last year. We pay it off every month. The other is a Discover, we haven't used it much lately.

The debit card is only used for getting cash from the atm. We stopped using it at POS, and I've never used it online. PayPal is attached to a secondary checking account, not our main account. We make our cards work for us.

[ApK]

Less than half of credit card holders pay their balances in full every month (though it seems many more claim they do) and even for those who do, there have been studies that show people spend more when using credit cards. The study I saw was about the psychological detachment from not using 'real' money, I'm not sure if it even considered more direct stuff, like adding on to a purchase to reach a credit card minimum, or just outright paying credit card surcharges that are becoming more and more common. So I doubt the cash back is really netting out to a real benefit for many. The credit card companies are not charities giving money away. They are more like casinos. There are a few big winners, but most the time, the house comes ahead.

I'm sure you guys are the exceptions, though.

For me, I would not recommend or encourage the use of credit cards, especially since so many of us are struggling with debt or trying to recover from financial problems.

[AlanHK]

Originally Posted by ApK

For me, I would not recommend or encourage the use of credit cards, especially since so many of us are struggling with debt or trying to recover from financial problems.

This wasn't originally about "credit" cards. It was about needing a card to make online purchases (or in more than a few retail shops, over the counter). My "Mastercard" obviously does offer credit, that's how they make their money, but I only use it as a debit card. No fees.
The unavoidable cost is privacy.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by AlanHK

This wasn't originally about "credit" cards. It was about needing a card to make online purchases (or in more than a few retail shops, over the counter).

Actually, my engagement in this matter was because when BetterRed said this:

Originally Posted by BetterRed

I've never had a credit card. Always lived by the maxim - if you don't have enough money in the bank to pay for it then you don't need it.

John F replied:

Originally Posted by John F

You are aware that you can have/use a credit card and don't have to spend more money then you have in the bank?

(pronoun emphasis added)

Maybe John can. Maybe someone else can't. Maybe someone else has a compulsive spending problem or a history of abusing credit.

[Hemmi]

Count me in as someone that the credit card companies pay to have a card. Everything goes on the card and it's paid in full monthly and I earn cash back. I have never paid any interest ever.

[BetterRed]

My aversion to credit cards and the like has nothing to do with any financial considerations. It is a manifestation of my aversion to bureaucracy. I go out of my way, and knowingly 'suffer' financial loss, in order to minimise contact with the 'authorities'.

When I wanted to pay for my funeral the undertakers wouldn't accept a cheque because I had no credit rating, and my bank wouldn't issue a bank cheque because I had no photo-id. So I paid for my own funeral in cash. Stupid is, as stupid does.

One of my ex's is paediatric psychologist. She is of the opinion that had I been born 20 years later I would have been diagnosed as autistic, and that my aversion to 'the powers that be' is pathological.

BR

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

When wanted to pay for my funeral the undertakers wouldn't accept a cheque because I had no credit rating, and my bank wouldn't issue a bank cheque because I had no photo-id. So I paid for my own funeral in cash. Stupid is, as stupid does.

I hope that was in advance. I'd be slightly worried if you were paying it after the fact.

[Rumpelteazer]

I want a new laptop, one that can handle The Sims 4 better than my current laptop. I've had my eye on one of the laptops in Lenovo's Legion 5 Pro series. I've saved up and got the money, but the laptop has been on back order for months now at my preferred store. And laptops with similar specs are more expensive and the cooling isn't as good.

So I'm calling the store to ask if they know when they're going to get it. Kudos to Coolblue for giving you the option of having music or no music when waiting. I chose music and it isn't annoying music and no recording every 30 seconds to tell you you'll be helped as soon as possible.

[ownedbycats]

A book series I had on my Kobo wishlist was available on one of my Overdrive libraries. So I went and removed all the books from my wishlist. Only afterwards do I realize that the Overdrive copies were audiobooks, so kinda useless for me. Well that was silly.

[Rumpelteazer]

Earlier this week my doctor/GP called to check up on me after the surgery and my SI joint problems. She agreed that there was a possibility that I've been dealing with chronic appendicitis since at least August before it became acute appendicitis.

I also looked up the symptoms of chronic appendicitis and there were several I hadn't connected with it, but with other things. Like a change in diet, being out of shape and starting to exercise and anxiety. Some disappeared, other became a little bit better over time and a couple stayed.

Yesterday the hospital called for a check up. They also told me they had taken tissue samples to get checked and it turned out it was a serious infecting that I've had for quite a while.

So now I can stop feeling guilty over ruining the vacation my sister and I took in September (because I wasn't feeling well, quickly overheated and I wasn't able to be very active) and feeling lethargic all the time, not being able to even get myself to do things I normally enjoy.

My SI joint is doing a little bit better every day. Though bending and lifting things do aggravate it.

I'm so looking forward to my Reading Retreat in just over a week. After all the things that have happened since August I really need some time by myself.

[Hitch]

I just completed my grocery order.

As we are boonie residents, I tend to shop in large quantities and do a ton of freezing and "hoarding" (so to speak, not really) in my hall pantry, etc. of those things that are canned, boxed, not-perishable and all that. I buy about 3 months' worth of those sort of comestibles, with ~the same amount of meats, frozen veg, and all that, right?

Then we do run-in shopping as required, WHEN we are going into the local retail areas for other things--pick up fresh romaine, yadda.

My grocery bill, on my order? Increased by 40%. Now, I'll even say 10% of that is me stocking up on other types of things that I don't routinely buy. Replacements for condiments and the like, of which I've just run out (mustard, for example). I actually think that's only 5% of it, but I'll cop to 10%.

That means the cost of my food has increased 30%--in 3-6 months.

Lovely, just lovely. /s


Hitch

[Deskisamess]

Opinions please. My husband and I have been sick, he tested positive for Covid on January 23rd. I never took a test, but am fairly sure I had it too. This past weekend was our first time out of the house, and he went back to work today. (They went 10 days from the previous Thursday since that is when he ran a fever) We are both much better, no fevers for days.

His older sister had said she was making us dinner yesterday, because she knew we were still struggling with being tired. So she texted yesterday, and said she'd been sick, but was bringing dinner about 6:00. Hubby asked what was wrong, and she said she'd been up all night in the bathroom, etc. So hubby told her to please not bring dinner. We didn't want food made by someone who had a possible stomach bug etc. and even if she wasn't sick, the very thought was repulsive.

She wasn't very happy, told him he was being silly, etc. She is the type to hang on to a grudge, and while she may not talk about it, she will be mad. I hate to start family issues, but am surprised she would be offended by this. She is normally a real "clean freak" so this stumps me.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

Opinions please. My husband and I have been sick, he tested positive for Covid on January 23rd. I never took a test, but am fairly sure I had it too. This past weekend was our first time out of the house, and he went back to work today. (They went 10 days from the previous Thursday since that is when he ran a fever) We are both much better, no fevers for days.

His older sister had said she was making us dinner yesterday, because she knew we were still struggling with being tired. So she texted yesterday, and said she'd been sick, but was bringing dinner about 6:00. Hubby asked what was wrong, and she said she'd been up all night in the bathroom, etc. So hubby told her to please not bring dinner. We didn't want food made by someone who had a possible stomach bug etc. and even if she wasn't sick, the very thought was repulsive.

She wasn't very happy, told him he was being silly, etc. She is the type to hang on to a grudge, and while she may not talk about it, she will be mad. I hate to start family issues, but am surprised she would be offended by this. She is normally a real "clean freak" so this stumps me.

Given what's going on in our collective universe these days, I'm surprised that no matter what, she thought food prepared by someone who'd been praying to the porcelain God (or visiting him/her with the other end) is a good idea. I wouldn't want this pre-COVID, much less during-Covid or post-COVID.

That's just...odd. Bizarre even. I agree that it was beyond kind of her, particularly as she'd been sick herself. A Herculean effort on her part, BUT.

I wouldn't have done anything different than you. I'm sorry if she grudges out, but...I guess you could have accepted the food and tossed it, without allowing her to visit. Other than that...IDK.

Hitch