Comments on: Credit card overload

By: bluntmoney

bluntmoney — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:35:01 +0000

Jamie, I may check out Mvelopes just out of curiosity, although budgeting isn’t the problem.

Cassandra, I think cash would be a disaster for me, because I definitely care about keeping track of how and where I spend it.

Revanche, yup, that’s right.

Chris, there are actually only two places that I go regularly that don’t take AMEX. I’m surprised there are few places when traveling that don’t. But then again, I was surprised when I was traveling elsewhere at how few places took credit cards period.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:58:14 +0000

Our company is actually changing the charge card we use for travel from AMEX to a Visa because of the very issue of how few places take AMEX. Maybe you should consider the same change – just ditch the AMEX and only use the Visa?

By: Revanche

Revanche — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:53:59 +0000

I didn’t think you were having problems with keeping track at the POS, just when you’re reconciling receipts, right?

If it’s at the POS, I use little stickers on my cards w/notes to keep them straight. The Chase Cash Plus card says “gas, groc, drugstores, reg use.” The AMEX says “hotels, restaurants, cell phone.”

I’ve stopped keeping track beyond that.

By: Cassandra

Cassandra — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:45:41 +0000

Use cash? I have one debit card and a couple credit cards that we are trying to pay off. I don’t use the credit cards and use cash most of the time instead of my debit. I haven’t had problems keeping track of cash flow in months, ever since I got in the habit of only withdrawing a certain amount from the bank and making sure that amount is recorded in my budget. Then it doesn’t matter how or where I spend the cash, as it’s already recorded.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:10:50 +0000

Can’t help you much with making sure you use the right card at the right time. I suggest making sure you have them organized in your wallet the same way every time. But for keeping things straight and making sure you pay off balances at the end of the month, I highly recommend Mvelopes. I’ve been using it 3 years now and LOVE it. Keeps credit cards on track so you can pay them off at the end of the month and you can’t beat an envelope style budget. Grandma knew best.