I also found our cash back rewards summary, looks like we cashed in $130.00 worth of rewards last year. I still have $10.79 left, but I refuse to use Discover again. I don't want to deal with multiple credit cards. Citi is already out of control this year, last thing I need right now is to worry about another payment and debt.
I'm starting to think there's a pattern of bad behavior causing a lot of our unnecessary spending. I think the wife and I have issues we need to work out. I hope we don't end up in marriage counseling but the reality is that we need to change, I'm just not sure how... more on that next week.
HS
6 comments:
I ran some numbers on my credit cards and realized I charged $5,018.77 in the last 11 months. Of course, the majority of that was to my budgeted expenses (like food and gas). I've only gotten $25 from all that. I have a horrible rewards program on the card. I do have a bunch of points building up though... so I will get another $25 soon enough. But it works out to about 0.67% cash back. Not even a full 1%.
I guess I'll take what I can get though. I have been closely tracking it and making sure it stays under my budget in all areas. And it has. So I know I would have spent that much even without the card.
If I found myself spending more, I would have to stop using it. There's no way the tiny rewards would compensate for any increase in usage.
I never understand why people are so reluctant to go to counseling. If it would make your marraige better, why wouldn't you do it.
It's scary to admit that you have a spending problem that isn't getting any better. I really hope this is what you need to take control of your finances. Good luck to you and your wife! :)
Retail therapy won't fix whatever problems you guys are having. It might make you feel good for the moment, but in the long run....what are you really gaining?
Good for you for realizing this. Hope you are able to be honest with each other about your issues.
FWIW....Hubby and I will be married 12 yrs in January. And the only way we have made it is by being honest.
I indulged in a LOT of retail therapy (that I could not afford) when I was in an unhealthy, unhappy and VERY miserable relationship. Now that I'm in a wonderful, functional relationship, I no longer feel the need to buy buy buy. Get counseling. If you really want your marriage to work, it shouldn't be an issue at all. Doing whatever you can to save your marriage is priority number 1.
When my sister got married her hubby said that she was buying stuff from QVC and that they had boxes coming to the house nearly every day.
My mom said that she felt my sis was overcompensating for all the years where she wanted to make a home for someone so bad. And now that she was married and had someone to make a home for, she was going overboard.
I have no idea about any of that but I do find the comment interesting.
I think the best thing to do for overspending is to maybe write down what you were thinking or feeling when you bought something. Then it kind of lets you know what your thought process is.
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