Friday, August 14, 2009

Swipe!

I realized sometime last month that 1/4 of my take-home pay goes to my credit card bills. If I had saved the money from the start of the year I would most likely now have enough dough for a down payment on a new car. Or invested it in mutual funds or in time deposit.

Since I have more responsibilities now like tuition fees, maintenance medicines for lola, financial support to close relatives who are in dire straits I have decided to let go of some perks that I have been enjoying for the past few years. Credit card will now only be used to purchase plane tickets online and postpaid cellphone bills. Dining out and drinking sprees will be kept at a minimum. Dating too. Some weekends will be spent in bed with Efa, my books, or the DVD player.

It is a win-win situation for me. I get to save money for possible tough times ahead and also share whatever blessings I have with others.

*****

I wrote this post yesterday at the office. Just a few hours ago I was able to test how committed I was to the new Scud when I passed by one of the Ayala malls. A blue checkered polo shirt caught my eye. I tried it on. It was a good fit. Really good. I could use it either with slacks or jeans.

I looked at the price tag. Not bad.

I thought for a few minutes if I should swipe my card since I didn't have enough cash with me. Then I went out of the dressing room, returned the shirt on the rack, and told the saleslady it was too tight.

That was the first time I resisted buying myself a shirt which looked good on me. Now I need another way to subtly impress my crush(es) at the office. Haha.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

14 comments:

Photo Cache said...

congratulations. i found staying away from malls is the best way to exercise credit card abstinence :)

good luck.

gillboard said...

naisip ko... best way na maiwasan ang ganyan eh wag na mag-apply ng credit card at all...

ShatterShards said...

Leave the cards at home, but keep a record of the card numbers, so you can still do online purchases. When used wisely, credit cards can be such a boon, the problem is, I haven't met anyone yet who's able to do so.

DRAKE said...

Minsan hindi mo alam kung okay ba talaga ang credit card o pahirap talaga yan. Psychologically malaki ang epekto nito sa pagiging gastator ng isang tao! hay problema ko rin yan, iniiwasan ko ng magkaskas ng magkakaskas

Visual Velocity said...

To save, I try my best (emphasis on "try," ehehehe) not to bring my credit whenever I go to the mall. It works wonders!

Raft3r said...

hehe
so wala ng "swipe away"?
hehe
tama ka
sa paningin ko din root of all evil ang card
nyahaha

happy sunday, scud!

nood ka na lang ng darna ni marian
libre na
maganda pa
hehe

len said...

And I thought I have big responsibilities; yours are bigger.

Good luck sa tipid mode! Go, go, go! At least you're being practical, di tulad ng informal settler sa Malacanang. :p

The Scud said...

photo cache > can't do that. mallrat ako. hehe.

gillboard > tama ka. pero too late na for me. im hooked. lol.

The Scud said...

shattershards > i could be the first. or not. i am sorely tempted to buy a really cool lacoste shoes. :D

drake > sundin na lang payo ni shattershards. leave the card at home but remember the number.

The Scud said...

andy > gagayahin ko na yan. sana. hehe. i want that lacoste shoes!!!

raft3r > only you na lang ako. haha.

The Scud said...

len > i do but i dont see them as a burden. im a good boy. nyahaha...

atticus said...

*palakpak*palakpak!*

ganito ang isa pang paraan: isang credit card lang. na gagamitin lang pag nasa abroad.

bumili lang ng mga bagay na hindi kasali sa basic needs kapag napag-ipunan na.

carla said...

ay sus! wag na papigil! hahahahhaha!

The Scud said...

atticus > susundin ko payo mo. wala ng swipe swipe. hehe.

carla > loko ka. iiwan ko na sa bahay ang card ko. im serious. gayahin mo rin ako. haha.