Comments on: “Proper” Budgeting Tips To Help You With Your Credit Card Spending (Guest Post)

By: Baby England Kit

Baby England Kit — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:27:59 +0000

I am looking for a recommendation for a credit card for an American living overseas, earning a salary in dollars which is deposited into an American bank account. The card would be primarily used abroad (Israel), with occasional online purchases from U.S. companies. I assume the main issues we need to look at are: 1) whether there is a foreign purchase transaction fee, and 2) how good is the exchange rate. Any advice? Thanks so much.

By: Lumineers Cost

Lumineers Cost — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:10:21 +0000

People misuse credit cards and that is why they try to avoid them. They can be immensely helpful when used carefully, however, people get them these days for all the wrong reasons.

By: Tracie

Tracie — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:07:35 +0000

Good advice..Personally I feel ,we sometime hesitate saying no to people just because it may cause discomfort to us followed by resentment. But we must learn to trust our inner voice and never end must never end being people pleaser.What matters is our hard earned money and before spending we must think twice.

By: oneadvice

oneadvice — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:27:36 +0000

Wow… this is one comprehensive list.
Good to get an overall view and see how one financial slip on one area can really have a knock-on effect on my whole budgeting!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:22:01 +0000

I purchased 2 drinks for myself and 2 shots (one for myself the other for a friend). And I must say that the $14 martinis did not taste any better than the $5 martinis I’ve had at other places. Good idea with the alternating drinks between alcoholic and non alcoholic! I’ll have to try that next time I go out. There is no way anyone would be able to tell the difference between a cranberry juice and a vodka and cranberry juice!

By: Living Room Furniture

Living Room Furniture — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:01:12 +0000

Great tips, special thanks for best credit card deals section, great 3% and 5% cash back cards. People feel shy and hesitate to take help from their closed relatives and their debts. So, there is a great need that people should manage their budgets.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:47:39 +0000

Your article on this blog is fantastic.
Well done! I’m a big fan of your blog and be sure to keep up the great work.
I plan on returning and linking to your site.
Sincerely,
Alan H.

By: MoneyLoving

MoneyLoving — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:32:35 +0000

I would recommend switching from a contract cell phone to a prepaid service. Before I switched I did plenty of research and found that Net10 has the BEST OVERALL VALUE when it comes to prepaid services. Switching has saved me so much money!

By: LuLuGal

LuLuGal — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:16:42 +0000

Thanks for pointing that out to us. I think the important thing here is to note that you make your budget work for you. I do not separate into essential and non-essential because that is not an issue for me, whereas you do.

Each person is different and each budget is different too.

By: LuLuGal

LuLuGal — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:14:31 +0000

Ouch Ashley!!! That bill must have been a shocker to you. I think I might have fainted that time. Now why are you the one paying for all those drinks? Were you buying drinks for everyone? I don’t drink but I think a good rule of thumb is to alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks when you go out. That should save you some money as the sodas juices will fill you up and you drink less (expensive) alcohol.

By: SaveMoneyHound

SaveMoneyHound — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:34:06 +0000

Good advice from Mr Credit Card. I also fall into the 2nd camp and agree that credit cards are useful and can save you money. I do try and benefit from any rewards program. However, I think that the key advantage of a credit card is if you use your credit well and pay in full, you are getting the advantage of extended credit without the penalty of paying interest.

In terms of budgeting, I find it useful to break my expenses into “essential” eg mortgage payment and “non essential” expenses eg. entertainment. It helps me determine how much of my budget is being chewed up by non essential expenses and whether i am happy with it!

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:07:21 +0000

Good tips! Drinks out with friends usually get me in blowing my budget. I think mostly because instead of directly asking I always give drinks a ballpark figure “Imports cant be more than $5, right?”. I went out with friends last night to a happy hour where drinks were supposed to be half price and somehow spent $56 on 4 drinks…. apparently what I ordered wasn’t in the special, should have asked to make for sure!