CALL YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY NOW!!!

stop whatever you are doing and call you credit card company right now!

I have been telling a friend to call and get her interest rate lowered on her credit card so I figured I should do the same for mine! WELL....to my shock.....when I called they had raised my interest rate SO high without my knowing it that the operator VOLUNTEERED to try to lower it!!! When I asked her what it was she said.....not 20%....not 30%....but 31.49%....I was so mad!!! She said she needed a supervisor to approve to have it lowered so I had to wait on hold. I waited a few minutes and she came back on saying she was unable to reach a supervisor right now but she could have one approve to lower my interest rate and call me back within 24 hours....I told her "i can wait"....she she put me back on hold and in about 5 minutes she came back telling me that the lower rate had been approved and it was now 11.2%....BIG difference!!!

I just don't get how the government lets the credit card companies get away with this. If they RAISE my interest rate they should have to TELL me! I think they should have to tell me BEFORE they raise it! And have to tell me WHY the heck they are raising it! If the government would worry about regulating these companies people would have more money and they wouldn't have to worry about a recession or printing more checks (that put the country in more debt) to send to people who they hope will spend it to get the "economy going again". They could save us alllll A LOT of money if they would just keep the credit card companies in line. I have a feeling though that this won't happen...I think that the government gets some kind of cut from these companies so they can continue to behave this way! It is an outrage!

so stop what you were doing before you read this....get your credit card or cards out....get a pen and paper....can call them all and make note of your current interest rate and ask them to lower it!

I am not going to be using the company I am currently with much longer as I am transferring my balance to a 0% interest card! I recommend you do the same! Otherwise you are PAYING THEM to SPEND your own money! Think about it...it doesn't make sense!

Rant about your interest rates here...I am sure many of you will be surprised when you call too!!!

Getting serious about my money.

I should have gotten serious a long time ago. But I just didn't understand that a few years can make a difference...as well as a few trips to the store! When I finally got serious about my money I started to one thing on purpose...I didn't really like it at first...but it has paid off. I started to watch TV shows and listen to radio shows dealing with money issues and the US economy. I thought it would be good to know what is going on in the country and the world...money wise....because it would affect my money some point down the line! I have a high level of respect for Suze Orman! She is one of my favorites to watch on TV! She may not always be nice about it....but she knows her stuff! If you have questions or want to know if you can afford something...she is the lady to ask!

When I got serious about my money I also put into play something very simple and practical that I could do each time I got a paycheck. I had already known that I should save...but how do you know when and how much? I didn't know how to set that limit...sooo...it just never happened. I would put random amounts into my account very randomly...and that is no way to save! I had known about Tithing too. This I did...I am sure I missed a paycheck or two. But I tried my best to do this. I knew that it was a priority of mine. The simple act that I put into practice was this..."Pay God. Pay yourself. Pay everyone else!" So, I started to do just that. Every paycheck...%10 straight to a tithe account...then %10 into a savings account (which I made sure had a good interest rate)...and then I paid my bills. The savings are there for when I need it. I try to leave it alone but in the case of an emergency...I have that money instead of just popping out the credit card and getting into MORE debt! I will talk about credit cards another day!!! ( BEWARE OF PLASTIC!!!)

Try these steps...they have worked for me! I believe that God is faithful! And that when we tithe (which is just giving back what belongs to Him anyways!) He is faithful to make sure our needs are met...and even some of our wants! :D I also believe it is important to take value in ourselves. I think I am important. Therefore, I save for my future. I know another easy easy way to save more...put what I used to pay in credit card payments (once I have paid them off) into my savings account each month. I know that one day more money will be going into the savings...when my CCs are paid off! That will be a glorious day!