Family upset that I cut up credit cards!

[janie]

My siblings are worried about me because I destroyed all of my credit cards. They do not know I am getting ready to file Chapter 7. They do not think it is safe for me to travel without one in case of an emergency. I understand their point & wish I wouldn't have opened my big mouth about the cards! I guess I will brush them off and maybe tell a white? lie & say I requested one replacement card to keep on hand.

[oregonpilot]

Hi janie
I remember when i cut up my credit cards, I cried. My DH was cheering me on. LOL
I felt naked going out the door with no plastic in my purse. I have gotten past it though.
Traveling is a tough one. I don't do much travlin right now. Furthest i go is a 3 hr drive to work if i get any jobs from where i use to live.
I have been using my debit card as my CC but with $30. to my name (in checking) i worry about it also.

Good luck...and IMHO what others think doesn't matter.
I have the book..What Others Think of Me is None Of My Business. Great one

[janie]

It felt so liberating when I cut my cards up! Sounds like a book I need to read, thanks!

Hi janie
I remember when i cut up my credit cards, I cried. My DH was cheering me on. LOL
I felt naked going out the door with no plastic in my purse. I have gotten past it though.
Traveling is a tough one. I don't do much travlin right now. Furthest i go is a 3 hr drive to work if i get any jobs from where i use to live.
I have been using my debit card as my CC but with $30. to my name (in checking) i worry about it also.

Good luck...and IMHO what others think doesn't matter.
I have the book..What Others Think of Me is None Of My Business. Great one

[oregonpilot]

You are so welcome...guess if they press the issue, you could just say "Got it covered"

[DebtHater]

While it may or not be safe to travel with out a credit card the key is you can't travel unless you have the money. Sure, emergencies arise. That is the reason to have an emergency fund. No emergency fund, no travel. No travel, no spending money you can't afford to spend.

After all, what hurts worse? Cutting up the cards or paying on them month after month?

Oh yeah, the family. In a few years when you're ahead of the game revisit the issue with them. "Remember when I cut up those cards...."

[kartoons19]

I agree with DebtHater, it is better to have an emergency fund comprised of cash, not credit cards, but I get that isn't always possible, especially prior to filing. As for family, if I had a dollar for all of the times my family didn't agree with what I was doing, well let's just say I would have never had to file! ;^). You have to do what is best for you and it sounds like you did that.

I actually saved my credit cards and had a shredding party yesterday when I was discharged. It was quite liberating seeing those credit cards along with the collection notices being torn to shreds. It sounds like you are doing what you need to. Good luck to you.

[oregonpilot]

Hi janie
I remember when i cut up my credit cards, I cried. My DH was cheering me on. LOL
I felt naked going out the door with no plastic in my purse. I have gotten past it though.
Traveling is a tough one. I don't do much travlin right now. Furthest i go is a 3 hr drive to work if i get any jobs from where i use to live.
I have been using my debit card as my CC but with $30. to my name (in checking) i worry about it also.

Good luck...and IMHO what others think doesn't matter.
I have the book..What Others Think of Me is None Of My Business. Great one

OOPS the book title is .......What You Think of Me Is None Of My Business.
Ahh kartoons now that is the kind of party to have!!!!

Yeah, not being able to have much of a cash reserve just B4 filing has been tough for me. I usually had 2-3k built up to get me through the "famine" times in the construction season cycles.
When attorney told me that i couldn't have more than $700 cash reserves i freaked & thought ok what am i going to do now.

[janie]

Thanks for the encouragement! I never travel but I am going to brother's for Thanksgiving. I can't wait to have a emergency fund in place by beginning to pay myself first.

oregonpilot: I will have to hold off on the book for now, struggling to have food & gas to get to work! I know...I am lucky to have a job.

[oregonpilot]

Best to you janie!!!

[BKDebby]

Good luck Janie! I'll tell you what is liberating...opening the mailbox and seeing no credit card bills! In fact, I hardly get any mail at all now.

[AngelinaCatHub]

Your act was the first step towards a new life. You did right. Why would you be on the BKForum otherwise? Think on that one.

My emergency fund is; a 100 dollar bill tightly hidden within my wallet and forgotten except for extreme emergency. It does not exist. Worse case condition is 911 and you have a DL and the cops will not leave you out alone under duress. You will always have help in some way. It is called Faith. 'Hub

[oregonpilot]

If we hadn't gotten ourselves in the place where we are , we would never have found all these GREAT friends.
Hub. I'm looking forward to having that $100, tucked away in my purse too. Not that YOU carry around a purse..LOL

[Peeps]

I suppose the act of cutting up plastic is blasphemy to some folks. A lot of people throw rocks while living in glass houses. They just don't know it until their own house comes crashing down.

Forget about what other people think. If cutting up the cards is what liberates you (on so many levels) then cut away!

Me, I haven't cut any cards up yet. No, they sit here in a tidy stack by the computer reminding me of how much trouble those little pieces of plastic can be. They look so innocent... a dozen thin little cards stacked one on top of the other, no bigger than a bar of soap. But that feeling that I get when I see them has been the most powerful reminder I could have possibly wanted for avoiding spending money on anything but necessities. Maybe some day I'll cut them up too, but for now they're definitely serving a higher purpose!

[oregonpilot]

I was going to leave one card out of the cutting up ceremony just to use as a paint scrapper.
Amazing how well they work for that.
YUP thy sure do look innocent don't they!!!

[Fletch]

They make great ice scrapers here in the Boston area. Late fall when you get that really thin layer of frost on the windshield.

I always had plenty of "Ice Scrapers" in my wallet. I guess I had better prepare myself with a real one soon.

Can't find the small box of cards, I think my wife may have shredded them.