Comments on: Money Saving Tips: The Laptop That Doubled in Price http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/money-saving-tip-double-price-laptop/ The blog of the free, simple personal finance solution. Track all your spending automatically, find the best deals, save more money. And save the world. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:48:42 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Dr.Dyna http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/money-saving-tip-double-price-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-1020 Dr.Dyna Sat, 23 Jun 2007 10:26:59 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/train-wreck-tuesday-the-laptop-that-doubled-in-price/#comment-1020 I've seen a lot of train wreck and many lesser crashes. Poor credit scores is like so many other situations where once a person gets into a problem, the avalance just seems to keep building. I like the comment about using the CC like a debit (formaly known as a check book). Maybe that could be a suggestion - go back to the check book. When you have to fill in the blanks and flip back to the checks already writen and when they were writen in the "register", it may slow down the 'got to have it' impuses. If you have little or no credit there does not seem to be any way to correct it and the time it takes is very unfair. I have great credit & work hard to keep it that way. I bailed a friend out of their headache 4 years ago. They've gotten their score back up and with some coaching has gotten things but also has a great job and an even greater pay off plan. The thing is that they had to get a good score reestablished and now paying off these new things strengthens it. Maybe these new P2P style loans will allow others to have a 'family or friend' get them started on a new life. Otherwise the Catch 22 never has an end. I’ve seen a lot of train wreck and many lesser crashes. Poor credit scores is like so many other situations where once a person gets into a problem, the avalance just seems to keep building. I like the comment about using the CC like a debit (formaly known as a check book). Maybe that could be a suggestion – go back to the check book. When you have to fill in the blanks and flip back to the checks already writen and when they were writen in the “register”, it may slow down the ‘got to have it’ impuses. If you have little or no credit there does not seem to be any way to correct it and the time it takes is very unfair. I have great credit & work hard to keep it that way. I bailed a friend out of their headache 4 years ago. They’ve gotten their score back up and with some coaching has gotten things but also has a great job and an even greater pay off plan. The thing is that they had to get a good score reestablished and now paying off these new things strengthens it. Maybe these new P2P style loans will allow others to have a ‘family or friend’ get them started on a new life. Otherwise the Catch 22 never has an end. ]]> By: Stop Spending Start Saving » Blog Archive » Suggested Reading For 06/20/07 http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/money-saving-tip-double-price-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-981 Stop Spending Start Saving » Blog Archive » Suggested Reading For 06/20/07 Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:45:19 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/train-wreck-tuesday-the-laptop-that-doubled-in-price/#comment-981 [...] was Train Wreck Tuesday over at Mint. An anonymous reader sent in their story about The Laptop That Doubled In Price. The lesson learned here is that if you need to borrow money to buy something, you probably [...] [...] was Train Wreck Tuesday over at Mint. An anonymous reader sent in their story about The Laptop That Doubled In Price. The lesson learned here is that if you need to borrow money to buy something, you probably [...] ]]> By: Bags http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/money-saving-tip-double-price-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-976 Bags Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:05:27 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/train-wreck-tuesday-the-laptop-that-doubled-in-price/#comment-976 I think there is an even bigger lesson to learn. You can't let the limit of your credit card be your guide for how much money you can spend. Just because you have the credit available doesn't mean you should let yourself have it at your disposal. The reason I say this is the following line from your post above: "I hope to be able to get another low limit credit card like I had previously for gas and groceries etc because it was always easier to plan on that $300 as a fixed amount..." The thing that has worked best for me is treating my credit cards like a debit card. I allow myself to use it if and only if I know I will have the cash available to pay it off at the end of the month. In other words I am setting my own credit limit. If you have a card with a $1500, but know that you can only afford to repay $300 monthly then keep track of your spending and set your own credit card limit at $300. It's not easy, but after learning the lesson you already did I bet you can do it. I think there is an even bigger lesson to learn. You can’t let the limit of your credit card be your guide for how much money you can spend. Just because you have the credit available doesn’t mean you should let yourself have it at your disposal.

The reason I say this is the following line from your post above:

“I hope to be able to get another low limit credit card like I had previously for gas and groceries etc because it was always easier to plan on that $300 as a fixed amount…”

The thing that has worked best for me is treating my credit cards like a debit card. I allow myself to use it if and only if I know I will have the cash available to pay it off at the end of the month. In other words I am setting my own credit limit. If you have a card with a $1500, but know that you can only afford to repay $300 monthly then keep track of your spending and set your own credit card limit at $300. It’s not easy, but after learning the lesson you already did I bet you can do it.

]]> By: jos http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/money-saving-tip-double-price-laptop/comment-page-1/#comment-973 jos Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:36:00 +0000 http://www.mint.com/blog/train-wreck/train-wreck-tuesday-the-laptop-that-doubled-in-price/#comment-973 i feel your pain... i bought a special edition imac years ago while in credit, msrp was 1600 but i ended up costing me over 2200 i feel your pain… i bought a special edition imac years ago while in credit, msrp was 1600 but i ended up costing me over 2200 ]]>