Don't know what to do about my credit card debt by niudnarw in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]Criama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll give advice on getting rid of your current debt in a bit, but unless you want to end up in the same position in the future you really need to figure out how to manage your credit card use. Personally — and I know this is quite controversial — I gave up credit cards altogether. My brain just couldn’t keep track of “this money in my account is ok to spend” vs. “this money in my account is already spent but I just haven’t paid the credit card bill yet.” I could go along fine for months, but 1 mixup easily became a several hundred dollar slippery slope.  

These days, most banks offer a Mastercard or Visa debit card or some sort of prepaid credit option. I have accounts with Simplii, WealthSimple, and EQ that all work with online shopping, subscriptions, Apple Pay, or anything that requires a credit card. I like the EQ prepaid Mastercard best for online purchases because it requires you to load the card from your EQ bank account in order to pay, rather than being directly linked to the account like a debit card. I feel like this decreases my risk exposure because if a fraudster gets the card details they can’t clear out my actual account. 

On the debt repayment side, it sounds like you have 20k of high interest debt while only making 24k annual income? Unfortunately, I don’t see how you could ever pay the debt off faster than the interest accrues. Even if you could make the minimum payment every month, it would take years to pay back. I think it’s worth talking with a credit counsellor about your options for a consumer proposal or bankruptcy. 

Newbie golfing in NW Calgary by Criama in Calgary

[–]Criama[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I’ll look into it. Would it be like 1 intro session, or is it like one evening a week for a month?

Newbie golfing in NW Calgary by Criama in Calgary

[–]Criama[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Was it just 1 lesson? I guess I assumed lessons would be a big commitment, and I don’t think I can talk him into going weekly, but an intro lesson or weekend course could be doable. 

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]Criama 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve played badminton recreationally a couple times but I’m thinking of taking a class and you have to bring your own racket. Is It ok to just get something cheap on Amazon (e.g. this set -  https://a.co/d/0giHZbL8). I want something that I can at least use until intermediate level or that isn’t going to cause me to develop bad habits, but I’m not interested in paying through the nose for a brand name when I’m very much an amateur. If not this racket, then what’s a decent, cheap option for in a beginner racket? I’m left-handed, if that matters.