I got my tax return today. I immediately paid off my credit card with the highest APR, and I'll be paying off my bicycle purchase I made back in December as soon as CitiFinancial will answer the phone. High call volume, I guess?
I struggled with the debt I had amassed last year, and I turned around and got myself in the same spot again. After spending a lot of time soul searching and confronting myself with truths about my own coping mechanisms and how unhealthy they are and how they are damaging my life, I've made some changes. Changes not only in habit but also in attitude.
I really want to focus on living below my means for the rest of the year, really make the effort to save money and spend less.
I live in such a central location to things that the only time I really drive is when I go to work or have to make the trek to Target(to buy shit I don't need, funny how that works) or a larger grocer. I have a co-op within walking distance to my house, and I'm going to buy a membership, and possibly volunteer one day a week, if I can spare the time between work and school/studying. I'd like to start biking to get my groceries instead of driving. I cringe every time I have to buy gas, so the less I use the less I have to go to the pump.
I'm interested in trying to live more simply for a number of reasons, so hopefully I can work hard at changing my attitude about the way I participate in a consumer culture. Work at being more conscious of my actions and their impact on not only the environment, but also my own well being.
If there is one thing I hate, it is credit card companies. I have spent all morning on the phone canceling lines of credit and lowering the two I decided to keep, and it is like pulling teeth to just get someone to do what you ask. I've worked at a call center before, so I know the kind of crap they have to offer and have to say, but come on.
Oh, and please explain to me why, even though I was late on my last months payment(by one day, stupid post office) and you raised my APR from 1.5% to 26.75%, but also raised my credit limit by $500. That makes no sense logically. Now I also understand that's a great way to make money off of me, but sorry, it's not going to happen.
I cut up four lines of credit today. It feels GOOD.