42 Comments
 

TommyGunn

credit cards are for americans

I dont even have one

dude - do you live in a forest or something?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

It is true though that a huge number of consumer markets pay with debit, in cash or other means. Paying a coffee with a credit card isn't very popular in many EU countries. In fact, most of my European friends don't even have a credit card.

Those markets build credit profiles through other ways, e.g. a mortgage, salary confirmation, digital profiles, etc without the credit card part.

 

~$15k-20k avg these last few months but it's been an unusually good year and not the norm, usually closer to $2k-3k.

 
Most Helpful

All of these conversations end up going back to comp (how much is your rent, how much on CC, how much to pay for vacation, a night out, etc), and even then, let’s be serious, this topic isn’t that useful for anyone (I understand the rent question maybe being useful for first years, but this really isn’t as you have other variables like cash vs CC spend, etc). It is mostly just shooting the sh*t. Even when people try to put things in terms to normalize for some of this (I.e. my rent is 10% or 15%, etc of gross pay) it isn’t that useful because the total comp matters (especially at the extremes). 

Like I said, the rent question can be useful, but if asked in the right context (I.e. how much to spend as a first year making X with Y bonus). 

Anyway, unsure why I felt the need to reply, but these questions are mostly just random thread starters that lead to debates about CC vs not and then people throwing out some big numbers and people asking them how much they make. 

 

I think controlling expenses and comp can be very different. Take a look at Warren Buffett’s expenses versus Floyd Mayweather. And Buffett makes much more than Mayweather.

I’m trying to keep my expenses down and spend less and need to stock up at the grocery store more and spend less on delivery and stuff. Also, when I workout really heavy some months the expenses go up just based on the large amount of calories I consume.

I probably should cut out my cable TV also as I don’t watch cable that much, mostly Netflix and Amazon

I guess the main attempt of the thread was to summarize what expenses are worth it month to month, comp is related, but not a necessary point to bring up.

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

Back when I was in NYC and making like 69k, I'd run up around 1.5k if it was a month that I went out a lot. I am very conscious of paying it off completely every month and have never carried a balance over..

I'm considering getting the AMEX gold card soon but not sure if I'll be spending enough on groceries/eating out to make it worth it. I'll reevaluate in a few months after I move and see how much I'm racking up.

Go all the way
 

I'm about 2-3K a month. 

But all points aside. I try to use my cc exclusively.  And pay the balance off in full.  Another reason I don't use a debit card is because you are potentially putting your Checking account at risk in the event the card gets compromised.  

 

btw, the USA seriously needs to get with the times on contactless payment.

when I was in SF the bartender kept my card behind the bar. first time I experienced that. usually I just tippy tap my card when buying things.

 

I see what you're saying, but I've only experienced that at mom and pop sit-down restaurants or bars. 90% of of the time you either swipe or insert the card into a chip reader for about 3 seconds.

I’m a fun guy. Obviously I love the game of basketball. I mean there’s more questions you have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself. I'm not just gonna give you a whole spill... I mean, I don't even know where you're sitting at
 

Ben Matan Biran

0

You're against credit cards?

"If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." - Bruce Lee
 

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