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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Credit Cards - Can I ask?

48 replies

StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 17:08

What's your current balance?

Due to current times I'm trying to get myself in the best possible position to deal with the financial storm we are all in at the moment. I have my own credit card, which in recent years have paid off in full every month.

Reduced overtime on both sides and just basic cost of living increases have meant I have been unable to. My DH asked what my current balance was and went up the wall! I explained I was hardly living the high life with holidays and Louboutins, it's been for the weekly shop, diesel and the odd tin of paint (currently renovating our first time buy).

It's on 0% and will (unless anything unexpected crops up) be paid off in 3 months time.

Can I ask if my DH was being unreasonable? Current balance is £850.

TIA 😊

OP posts:
redskyatnight · 10/05/2022 17:24

Not sure posting here will get you helpful answers as people have such polarised views about debt.

I'm of the opinion that everyday living shouldn't be funded on credit.
My credit card is paid off every month and I'd consider having a balance that you couldn't pay off straight away to be too much. So I would be unhappy if you were my partner, but wouldn't over react as you clearly do have your balance under control. So whether DH is being unreasonable depends on what you mean by going "up the wall". Mildly annoyed NBU. Stamping round the house and throwing things - BU.

Sunworshiper · 10/05/2022 17:31

If your card was used for one off purchases for the odd big thing and you have 0% interest, that you would be paying off in 3 months then id find that perfectly reasonable.

But if your using it for every day expenses and fuel id say you may have an problem, if you cannot mange these just from your normal debit card.

Original poster
StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 17:35

@redskyatnight

Thanks for your response. I posted mainly here from traffic.

I completely get the everyday shouldn't be funded by credit. Totally, but the last couple of months we have not had the choice.

Not to drip feed but DH has a hobby, well....football....which he funds every month without giving a seconds thought about how that £40 every other weekend (and £70 a month for season ticket) could pay for other stuff.

Asking him to give it up is a an argument we have had atleast twice a year for the past 8!

OP posts:
BaaMoon · 10/05/2022 17:38

That hobby money could be food money. Anyway stop spending on the credit card he is obviously loaded so needs to carry some of the burden.

Original poster
StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 17:41

@BaaMoon

Thing is he isn't loaded. At all, but no matter how tight things are each month he always manages to afford it. Still...last game next week, so will be insisting that goes into bills for the next 3 months!

OP posts:
hopeishere · 10/05/2022 17:41

It's about £2400 but will be paid off in full on payday. I've learnt the very hard way about credit cards...

DinosaursAreCool · 10/05/2022 17:43

I’m using a credit card to build a credit history, only spend on it what I can afford to pay off in full. Current balance is about £150.

I don’t like the thought of having more on there that I could comfortably pay off in a short time. I grew up with parents always in debt and have never wanted to feel that way. Luckily I’ve been in a position, so far, where I haven’t had to get into debt to live.

I think having a small amount debt for essentials is different to having debt for buying too many clothes, holidays etc. I would feel uncomfortable with having a higher amount of debt, but as you have a plan to pay it off before interest it doesn’t seem like much of a problem.

Jajana · 10/05/2022 17:50

£6,565 however I am paying it in full at the end of the month.

I definitely wouldn’t say £800 is extravagant. My only advice is not to rely on overtime to pay your bills and try and get a 0% interest card

Original poster
StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 17:52

@hopeishere

Me too. I have never been in such a good place credit wise. From 18-30 I was savage with credit, which is why I'm so tight on it now and why I am so 😒 about DHs reaction because he knows it too.

@DinosaursAreCool

My best friend has £10k sitting on a credit card. He earns VERY well, yet only pays the minimum off each month, and that's on holidays, random drunk purchases on Amazon at 1am in the morning. I wouldn't be able to sleep!! It's not as if I'm doing it every week either. Its just been 2 months of shittiness!

OP posts:
Chaoslatte · 10/05/2022 17:57

I’ve never carried a balance on a credit card, always paid it off in full every month. I first got one as a student to start building my credit score.

I don’t think your debt is a problem but I do think your DH’s attitude is! It’s absurd that he’s paying for luxuries while you’re putting the weekly shop on a credit card. Why is it going on your card, don’t you manage your finances jointly?

Original poster
StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 18:03

@Chaoslatte

Yes we do. We each have a set amount we put into the monthly bills account (based on what we each bring home) and then food and petrol comes out of what's left. His football money is put aside as soon as he is paid. As previously mentioned it's a much repeated argument that after 15 years I have resolved myself to the fact I will never win. Always on my card as I am the only one that ever goes shopping.

OP posts:
Whammyyammy · 10/05/2022 18:03

We clear ours every month in full. Some months we only put £2k on it, but most months it's around £5 to £8k depends if we travel with work or holiday abroad.

We have a BA amex (visit u.s a lot) and it accumulates us a lot of avios. Which we either use towards holiday or exchange for nectar points. Normally have around £400 worth of nectar each Christmas, the odd flight and incur 0% interest as clear in full.

Everyone loves a freebie

Original poster
StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 18:03

Not resolved my self! 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Vsirbdo · 10/05/2022 18:08

I’d be a bit surprised if DH mentioned he had that much credit card debt that he hadn’t mentioned. Admittedly we have more than than but we buy big purchases and pay them off before the interest starts.

Stabbitystabstab · 10/05/2022 18:12

Approximately 16k
Bastard ex screwed me over, but barclaycard have just allowed me an interest free payment plan that should help me clear half of that within a year.
That was day to day costs when he was "too ill" to work.
It soon builds up

Chaoslatte · 10/05/2022 18:14

So the problem is not that you have a credit card debt, it’s that the amount you both put into the joint account is actually not enough to cover your expenses. Tell him that due to the increase in prices you need to review the arrangement to pay in more. If he can’t afford his football after food is paid for then that’s just how it is.

BaaMoon · 10/05/2022 18:15

StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 18:03

@Chaoslatte

Yes we do. We each have a set amount we put into the monthly bills account (based on what we each bring home) and then food and petrol comes out of what's left. His football money is put aside as soon as he is paid. As previously mentioned it's a much repeated argument that after 15 years I have resolved myself to the fact I will never win. Always on my card as I am the only one that ever goes shopping.

Does he never eat? The shopping needs to come out the joint account too. What a money grabbing penis head he is.

Jajana · 10/05/2022 18:15

Whammyyammy · 10/05/2022 18:03

We clear ours every month in full. Some months we only put £2k on it, but most months it's around £5 to £8k depends if we travel with work or holiday abroad.

We have a BA amex (visit u.s a lot) and it accumulates us a lot of avios. Which we either use towards holiday or exchange for nectar points. Normally have around £400 worth of nectar each Christmas, the odd flight and incur 0% interest as clear in full.

Everyone loves a freebie

Me too! I use my credit card like a debit card to reap the rewards of my Amex.

SolasAnla · 10/05/2022 18:15

StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 18:03

@Chaoslatte

Yes we do. We each have a set amount we put into the monthly bills account (based on what we each bring home) and then food and petrol comes out of what's left. His football money is put aside as soon as he is paid. As previously mentioned it's a much repeated argument that after 15 years I have resolved myself to the fact I will never win. Always on my card as I am the only one that ever goes shopping.

You are using your credit card to fund cost of living expenditure which are a joint purchases.

If you have a joint account the couple's expenditure element of your credit card should be funded from this joint account and your personal charges from "your" money.

Otherwise you are paying into the joint account and then paying additional household costs which remain hidden and long term are not budgeted for.

rhowton · 10/05/2022 18:15

We only use our CC for big purchases and holidays. I try not to use it for day to day purchases.

weddingwaiting · 10/05/2022 18:18

£850 is not exactly a huge sum on a credit card. The monthly repayments would surely be very small.

I recently cleared mine (£1200) which I had used to pay for my holiday and a few bits for the house we needed. I added £130 to it recently but that’s just to support with cash flow and I will pay it off when I get paid.

WonderingWanda · 10/05/2022 18:19

I think you need to have are think about your shared finances and actually have more budget in the joint pot for food and diy materials.

Whammyyammy · 10/05/2022 18:23

Jajana · 10/05/2022 18:15

Me too! I use my credit card like a debit card to reap the rewards of my Amex.

Show quote history

Rarely use my debit card, get zero reward for doing so.
Same as flights, only use American airlines, ba or iberia.

EllieQ · 10/05/2022 18:28

StupidUsernameUnavailable · 10/05/2022 18:03

@Chaoslatte

Yes we do. We each have a set amount we put into the monthly bills account (based on what we each bring home) and then food and petrol comes out of what's left. His football money is put aside as soon as he is paid. As previously mentioned it's a much repeated argument that after 15 years I have resolved myself to the fact I will never win. Always on my card as I am the only one that ever goes shopping.

Why are you paying for food shopping on your card instead of out of the joint account? We also have a joint account plus our own accounts, and all the bills, household stuff, child and pet-related costs come from there. It’s unfair that you’re paying extra household costs that he isn’t

Crikeyalmighty · 10/05/2022 18:38

I do think some of you who are clearly very comfortably off need to back off those who post such things who aren't as well off---- - when you don't have oodles of spare cash then the way you do things isn't always the most logical/cost effective but usually a 'needs must'at the time. There's a big difference between getting tutty at someone with £850 on a card and someone with £20k of debt. If you earn OP then I don't think that's a massive big deal, especially given his expenditure.