Snake Debt

Going in the hole for a snake to add to a collection is silly, yet people do it everyday. The only person I am in debt to for snakes is myself. I use money that I have that is not part of my emergency savings. Right now, I really want a female pied. Hell, I even have a nice male for it already. I could go out and buy one and not really have to worry, but I have decided that only my snakes will buy me snakes. After my initial large investment, I do not want to actually pull money out of my pockets to add anymore. But, heck, if I profit $2000 at a show why not spend a bit to reinvest? Or make a trade for the snake you can't live without.

Once the hobby becomes a financial strain, then it opens the door for the passion to be lost.

I really don't have much snake debt. Technically I've only ever bought one snake on credit, and that was only $350.

BUT my husband and I have way more CC debt than I want, we live from paycheck to paycheck, and since I had to quit my job for health reasons, I'm scared silly we are going to end up in an even worse situation.

I try to keep things under control, or at least I tell myself I do. But even after my mom payed off both of our car loans to help us out, that $700 a month still manages to disappear somehow. I thought we'd have money saved up by now and be in good shape, and we don't.
I need someone to teach us how to manage money better I guess. I tell myself I try very hard, I do my best to keep track of spending and such, I try to limit unnecessary purchases, but I know in my heart I can't blame it all on my husband. I just wish we could see eye to eye on this and work together to fix it instead of blaming each other and things never get any better.

Gale

Actually.. I own my home outright, my running truck outright, and another project truck outright. I don't have ANY credit cards and never have had a credit card and the only person I owe ANY money to is the IRS. I don't believe in owing large amounts of money to companies or people.

But, I've been talking to a finance guy(a professional my friends know) and will be getting 1-2 credit cards in the near future. I'll be using these to buy a tank or two of gas per month, then paying it in full each month in order to build credit up more. Why? Because I need superb credit because I want to buy a new property with a better home because dang it, I feel at 42 years old, I deserve it.

Deborah, if you'd PM me with info on which credit cards are the good ones, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm going to get a bank credit card through my own bank, and I need one more.

I've spent the last two years going: Oh my... I want one NOW!... And being stuck waiting. Basically, I've been snake window shopping, and it's been very frustrating. I'm tempted (quite tempted!) to just shove everything on my credit card and go... However, I know I'll regret that later on, and I'm stuck still staring at the snakes going: "But I want it..."

I just recently got my credit card to start a line of credit (hooking up internet and electricity was difficult enough without one!), and I only use it if I know I can pay it off before it collects interest. Basically, I only spend what money I have.

When I order my Animal Plastic cages, I plan on just shoving it all on my credit card, if possible, but I plan on putting money away each two weeks to be able to afford it, and pay it all off in one go. It's a game of patience, and I'm hoping that by the time this game of waiting is over, I'll have a lovely pet, or a few.

All I know is that my empty snake terrarium is staring at me in the face, but soon, once I'm all saved up, I'll be able to jump into the project full swing, and I know I'll be proud of it.


How would I handle debt? One step at a time. I'm over 4k in debt after losing a job, and from my girlfriend going to university, and we're just making plans, and budgeting. Everything (except the snakes) is being pushed until we're debt free. (Then I'll take a university course or four and cry all over again!)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

But, I've been talking to a finance guy(a professional my friends know) and will be getting 1-2 credit cards in the near future. I'll be using these to buy a tank or two of gas per month, then paying it in full each month in order to build credit up more. Why? Because I need superb credit because I want to buy a new property with a better home because dang it, I feel at 42 years old, I deserve it.

---

You DO deserve it! We're trying to do something similar. We'll be looking for a beautiful piece of property next summer, and then once we save up another good chunk of cash we'll start putting some sort of house on it. Right now it's a 50/50 split between a modular, and something site built but with all the energy saving doodads. He's in his 40's, I'm almost 40, it'd be nice to not have such high utility bills for the rest of our lives.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MasonC2K

To all the folks saying "never spend money you don't have."

I guess you've never owned a house or car. And with that mentality, you never will.

Credit cards and loans have their place. It's only a problem when someone uses them foolishly.

---

I think the argument being made here is you need a home/apartment and vehicle (at least where there isn't public transit) but it is hard to argue you need to go into debt every time you see a cool reptile.

That being said, we are looking at buying our first house, but I've been having a lot of trouble find and holding down a job since 9/11 so we are buying a house solely based of my husband's hourly salary. When I'm working, I make 3x what he does, but we are not even going to consider that as a possibility - we are buying only what he can afford alone. Sure, he could get hurt at work and we'd lose his income, and in a few months we'd be struggling when the saving ran out, but since in that time we wouldn't be buying any animals, won't be going out to dinner, and no new video games, I hardly see us as "Spending money we don't have" on a mortgage. Just my 2 cents.

I have 4 cc but I pay cash for everything. I learned my lesson when i was "younger". If I don't have the cash, I don't buy it. All my snakes were paid cash. I use my cc for gas or groceries and I pay them off in full as soon as it posts. I agree with everyone, don't spend money you don't have.

Sent from my EVO Design using Tapatalk 2.

I'm in a situation where I have three different people offering me a 5 level rack, 2 melamine, and 1 pvc. One of those racks don't have bins. All of them have flew watt setup, and two is missing the thermostat. I can get all three for $400 and I just need 5 iris tubs, and the two thermostats. I reallllllly want them all. However, I need to check what comes first. New brakes and wheels on my truck, or 3x5 rack, and a lesser male??

I wouldn't say never do it, but I would say, 'only do if you've done all the math, can afford the debt, and can make additional money by doing it'.

pretty much all of our output goes on a credit card. Why wouldn't someone take advantage of using someone else's money for nearly a month interest free? Any time the 6 month or year interest free ads come around, we start looking for anythign we might want or need.