Credit Card addiction - how do you stop your self?

[Want2BDebtFreeNow]

Thank you all for the responses.  I was having a weak moment. I got up and left the house :-) and now its gone.  I just have to keep thinking to my long term goal: Be a first time homeowner in 2 years!

[Anonymous]

Having a goal and a plan really helps shoot down those random "can I get it" app's. That doesn't mean you can't take advantage of something when it comes along, but in order to even be considered it has to fit into a larger picture. I am on a similar path to HTSU. Every app I make has to be meaningful: "No Wasted App's!" At this point I am also not interested in app'ing for any major CC's that are not capable of reaching five digit CL's within 2 years. There is just no point. Beyond that another CU or two and maybe one other store card. Otherwise I am letting things age and waiting for the last of the baddies to fall off. (Two to three more years!) By then I should be in high FICO land (760+) across the board!

[Anonymous]

To me it is pretty simple. First, do I have sufficent available credit to meet any REALISTIC NEEDS we may have? The answer is yes.

Am I worried about "changes" to my Credit lines, interest, etc?  NO. This is simply because I have a long enough history and have proven I have the "3 C's of Credit" (something many of you younger people have never heard of but was the standard for credit granting for years).

I see no need to shop around for another credit product, looking for a better deal. Experience has taught me that I can walk into my bank, with whom I have established a LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP with and because of my track record, they will offer to match anything that another lender offers me.

It has been proven to me it  is far easier and quicker to get what you need when dealing with someone who has had experience with you.

[Karatz]

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@haulingthescoreup wrote:
I don't apply for stuff, because I have long-term plans. My credit is hurt by short AAoA, and every individual application drops my age and keeps me further from my goals. Since my planned app spree in spring 2008, I have gotten an AmEx Blue to replace my Gold (inq but no new account hit), and I accepted a line of credit from PenFed, just to have as a reserve (new account hit, but no inq.) It appears that Chase is closing their Boarders Visa card program, and they're supposed to be changing my card to a Freedom, yay, which is something I was hoping for.

When I first got started here, I made a plan on Notepad on the laptop, listing all the CC's that I wanted one day, why I wanted them, what it would take to get them, and so forth. I kept modifying the list as I learned things and as my goals changed. Whenever I got an itch, I'd go back and re-read the list, and that kept me on track.

Make a plan, figure what it will take to reach your goal, break it down into steps and milestones, and follow it.

And if you get really tempted, stay off of the Credit Cards board for a while.

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Pretty Darn Good Advice. 

[medicgrrl]

When temptation hits go over to the mortgage forum and read that for awhile!  LOL  Just remember your goals and focus on those instead

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Am I worried about "changes" to my Credit lines, interest, etc?  NO. This is simply because I have a long enough history and have proven I have the "3 C's of Credit" (something many of you younger people have never heard of but was the standard for credit granting for years).

I see no need to shop around for another credit product, looking for a better deal. Experience has taught me that I can walk into my bank, with whom I have established a LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP with and because of my track record, they will offer to match anything that another lender offers me.

It has been proven to me it  is far easier and quicker to get what you need when dealing with someone who has had experience with you.

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Your definition of long and proven must be different than mine. I was a B of A customer for over 10 yrs. Checking and savings included. FICOs upper 700s to low 800s. Util under 10%. Still they CLD me by nearly 20k! Naturally I no longer do business with the bank I had a long term and proven track record with. Np though as I went out and got other deals. Consider yourself fortunate not to have been treated poorly by your long term bank yet. They're not our friends.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Am I worried about "changes" to my Credit lines, interest, etc?  NO. This is simply because I have a long enough history and have proven I have the "3 C's of Credit" (something many of you younger people have never heard of but was the standard for credit granting for years).

I see no need to shop around for another credit product, looking for a better deal. Experience has taught me that I can walk into my bank, with whom I have established a LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP with and because of my track record, they will offer to match anything that another lender offers me.

It has been proven to me it  is far easier and quicker to get what you need when dealing with someone who has had experience with you.

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Your definition of long and proven must be different than mine. I was a B of A customer for over 10 yrs. Checking and savings included. FICOs upper 700s to low 800s. Util under 10%. Still they CLD me by nearly 20k! Naturally I no longer do business with the bank I had a long term and proven track record with. Np though as I went out and got other deals. Consider yourself fortunate not to have been treated poorly by your long term bank yet. They're not our friends.

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"Yet" is the key word in that sentence. Money center banks are no one's friends.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Am I worried about "changes" to my Credit lines, interest, etc?  NO. This is simply because I have a long enough history and have proven I have the "3 C's of Credit" (something many of you younger people have never heard of but was the standard for credit granting for years).

I see no need to shop around for another credit product, looking for a better deal. Experience has taught me that I can walk into my bank, with whom I have established a LONG TERM RELATIONSHIP with and because of my track record, they will offer to match anything that another lender offers me.

It has been proven to me it  is far easier and quicker to get what you need when dealing with someone who has had experience with you.

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Your definition of long and proven must be different than mine. I was a B of A customer for over 10 yrs. Checking and savings included. FICOs upper 700s to low 800s. Util under 10%. Still they CLD me by nearly 20k! Naturally I no longer do business with the bank I had a long term and proven track record with. Np though as I went out and got other deals. Consider yourself fortunate not to have been treated poorly by your long term bank yet. They're not our friends.

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Sorry you had a problem with them. I am sure if you took the time to sit down with your branch manager and ask for an explanation you would get one.

Credit is changing and the days of  large amounts of unsecured credit being extended is coming to an end and actually, that is a good thing.

I think as time passes we will certainly see more cuts in CL"s and much tighter criteria in granting new credit.

I am sorry but I have to disagree when you make the broad statement, "They're not our friends".  It seems to many people a "friend" is someone who will bend to their every wish where id someone says no, they are not a friend. I don't see it that way.

Glad you found other products you are happy with and hope they work out for you.

[Lyythine]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Re: Credit Card addiction - how do you stop your self? 

There are two types of addictions (or inappropriate behaviors) described here

1- Aquiring/Apping the credit cards (which is a personal badge of honor self worth thing)

Thats actually NOT so bad as long as you can control your use of the card and you do not APP so much that you are tanked for getting other credit you do need when that time comes up. But again- you can app so much you have a negative impact on your file.

2- Actually spending money/Charging.

You can have a stable of cards that if you use judiciously you are ok.

It is the spending/charging issue that is a problem.

If you think you have a problem, you probably have a problem.

You could easily have hit a wall in the past and that has caused you to back off and be good, but one falling off the wagon moment can KILL all the inroads you have made in your balances. (much like a weekly "Cheat Day" if not done under control can cause you to consume more calories then you limited yourself from all week)

Most people with compulsive shopping/spending issues have aother addictive behaviors married with them such as alcohol, food, drugs, hoarding, or gambling.

If you think you have a problem 12 step and some type of addiction behavior programs can help.

if you think you have a problem I do NOT recommend a BT to a new account as that will open up an unused card and make you want to use it.

if you think you have a problem only you can get help. Many people do not as in the case of any bad behavior we do not like to admit we have a problem.

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USMC,

I laughed so hard I almost spit out my juice while reading this... Im not sure if you meant it that way - but its one of those days and this just made it better...

I smoke cigarettes... and I love apping - indicating an addictive personality?  I think so... but ill live with it - but not for too long considering the first habit - the second is much less harmful 

[Anonymous]

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@Lyythine wrote:

USMC,

I laughed so hard I almost spit out my juice while reading this... Im not sure if you meant it that way - but its one of those days and this just made it better...

I smoke cigarettes... and I love apping - indicating an addictive personality?  I think so... but ill live with it - but not for too long considering the first habit - the second is much less harmful 

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Correct   Trading One Addiction for Another