• yamper@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    seriously. car payments crushing people? understandable to an extent, cars are required for most americans. credit card debt? thats a personal issue.

    • bdonvr@thelemmy.club
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      4 days ago

      Ehhhh I wouldn’t be so sure

      It’s really easy to fall into when you’re month to month.

      You just barely scraped by on the rent and essential bills. Now you have $36.29 to make it through the next 2 weeks.

      But hey, you do have that credit card with a few thousand available. You need to get food for the house and $36 ain’t gonna feed the kids. You’ll be frugal. Maybe $200 or so. You’ll pay it off next month.

      But next month it’s the same story. Minimum payment it is.

      And next month

      And next month

      And then you need emergency dental surgery

      And then…

    • spicy pancake@lemmy.zip
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      4 days ago

      hi there I’m somebody struggling with credit card debt who is considered extremely frugal with purchases

      the bulk of my credit debt was incurred when I was forced to pay several months of rent using my credit card during unemployment that resulted from a mental health crisis

      not everyone with credit card debt got those balances buying “frivolous” things and even many of those who did were buying those things as self-medication along the same lines as abusing alcohol, drugs, food, etc. (not an excuse, but still a reason to empathize)

      a lot of people I know with large credit card balances have them because they were forced to put uncovered health expenses or astronomically large copays onto the cards in order to not severely damage their health or outright die

      just a friendly reminder that the elite weaponize the working class sentiment of “some people are so much more lazy/irresponsible with money/etc. than I am!” to keep us at each other’s throats shaming each other instead of sticking together as a community

      • No1@aussie.zone
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        3 days ago

        If anyone’s situation improves, look into converting credit card debt into a personal loan. The interest in some cases can be a lot less.

        Usual disclaimers. Everyone’s circumstances are different, and not financial advice.

        • spicy pancake@lemmy.zip
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          2 days ago

          I just keep balance transferring it to new cards with promo 0% APR for some months

          the balance transfer fees are significantly lower than card interest for sure (not sure about personal loan interest, I’ll have to check my bank)

          every time I do this I hope that this time around is the time I finally pay it all off before a new crisis arises that I have to pay for. sigh