Is it worth it to get a credit card to treat yourself because you’re so fed up?

[LastHope30Something]

Just that. I know this sounds selfish and childish but I’m so fed up of waiting on everything. So fed up of having to be careful every month. I feel I’m not living and I know getting into debt before I’ve got a job will likely make it worse but my mental health has been taking a hit for a while. I’m so pissed off at those especially those online who get everything handed to them when I just get ignored and forced to just have to cope. I’m in the mindset that just is like f it I’m tired of being careful I’m going to get a credit card to treat myself and I’ll pay it off later. If I’m going to get one I’ll get a 0% one. I just want to go on a nice night out without worrying about the red of the month, I want a new phone, I want some nice new makeup, I want my Botox and fillers again etc. I miss the days when I was able to afford all that. I know it’s first world problems and people have it a lot worse and I feel terrible for those people as it’s not easy. I’m just so done and angry. I just feel like I’m in limbo and I want things to change for the better

save instead of "paying back later".

Put the money aside for it now. It will work out a lot cheaper, it will remove stress.

Finding ways to earn extra-cash during a few weeks/ months would help too.

You are not going to be approved for one without a job. Also, I am not sure how well your mental health will cope with having a huge and ever-increasing debt if you are only able to pay off minimum amount each month.

Will you have the means to pay it off in full when you get the bill? If so go for it. If not absolutely no way.

Clearly I'm going to say don't do it, most people will say the same.

I can understand the temptation though. The trouble is a small amount of debt can quickly lead to a bigger amount. Things get out of control, a little bit here and a little bit there soon adds up. If you feel you must, make sure you take a credit limit you are comfortable with. What level of debt won't make you feel worse? Only you can answer that, some people would worry about £200 of debt and others not care about £5000. Decide what sum of money you are comfortable with, what you can realistically pay off based on your present circumstances rather what you hope your future income to be. (Don't do what I did and assume I'd get a pay rise every year therefore I'd be able to pay off the £3000 I'd borrowed easily enough. It didn't work out like that.)

Don't do it, it will make your mental health worse.

I spend on a credit card but I only spend what I have and use it for the cashback/points. I pay it off in full every month. If I can't afford something, I save.

I think buying stuff to make yourself feel better is a dangerous habit to get into. And doing it on credit is a very slippery slope that can lead to major debt issues. There are lots of free or almost free things that can hugely help our mood which you could try - going outside for a walk, contacting a friend, doing some volunteering, putting on some music.

If you can get an interest free card and you know you can pay it off before the deal ends, and you can also trust yourself not to max it out to £££, then that isn't the end of the world to treat yourself.
Whilst the things you are missing may be 'first world problems' in that they are things you can live without, not having the occasional nice thing can be soul destroying when it seems its all work to pay the bills.
BUT
Do NOT get into debt on a credit card that you can't afford to pay back. The interest rates are eye watering once the deal is over, and if you end up paying the min amount each month on a card with interest, it will be a debt around your neck for years on what is essentially items you don't need.

Nothing wrong with credit cards if used properly.

If you already “have to be careful” every month then you’re not going to be any happier having to find the extra money to make the minimum payments on your card.

Are you able to take an additional part-time job, even temporarily, and save that money as treat money for the future? You’ll be able to see it building up in an account knowing it’s earmarked for something nice.

Edited to add: re-read and saw you have no job at all. You won’t qualify for a 0% interest card with no income, you’re high risk thus eligible only for high risk products - and you certainly don’t want that monkey on your back.

You need to get a job first, otherwise you may be stuck with the debt and unable to pay it off - that would feel much worse than the temporary joy you'd get from what you buy!

How about a middle ground? Decide you'll get the CC as a reward for when you're offered a job and have done the maths that you can pay it back. Probably still not 'sensible' but it may give you a bit of a confidence boost before starting a new role (which is always a positive!)

If you don't have a job you won't qualify for a credit card anyway. Focus your efforts on getting a job.

I replied not having seen that the OP doesn't have a job - in this instance absolutely do not get a credit card until you can get a job, so you know you can pay things off.
I know it's tough right now, but you don't want to add debt on top when you possibly can't pay it back.
Hope things get better for you soon.

If you can’t save up to pay for it then you’re not going to be able to pay it back.

Also without a job you won’t get a good credit card, not a 0% one, it will be a ridiculous 45% one IF you can get any which will just make everything worse.

Don’t think Botox will make you feel any better about yourself. Focus on the here and now and don’t compare yourself to anyone else especially online. You are comparing your inner self to their supposedly shiny exterior.

You will not find happiness this way. A credit card will just bring more misery.

No, you're stealing from your future self. Think of her. It's easy to spend on a credit card but a real pain to sort it out, especially if money is tight anyway.

Step away from the slope. It's very slippery.

I know you’re all right but it is soul destroying especially with the other things I’ve been through these past few years it’s like I work so hard and people can’t see it. When I do treat myself it’s like I’m punished for it. The only real big treat I get for myself bar a few mini pleasures is getting my hair done once every 2 months. I was held back so much in life and when things finally fell into place it got torn apart again. When I did work I was treated like crap during my pregnancy and medically neglected by doctors leading to depression and I couldn’t fully enjoy my pregnancy. I look back at parts of my life even dark times and I’m like yes that was shit but at least I was able to treat myself without guilt

Appreciate you are fed up but.....the credit card bill will need paying eventually. I would rather go without than have the thought of it hanging over my head

Botox, fillers and make-up will not fill the unhappiness hole you're talking about. Nor will debt. You'll get a brief buzz that will leave you feeling even lower and deeper down the hole. You know this and are reaching for what feels like an easy fix, but it's not and it will make things worse. Focus on getting a job and building your self-esteem, not getting into debt to fuel more things that don't help.

Sorry OP but if you are currently unemployed, struggling financially and have a child then I think credit cards to pay for nights out and Botox are a very bad idea.

You will regret it, you will struggle more. That buzz will only last a short time then all you are left with is the bill.

Bear in mind that the very reason why banks offer 0% interest deals is not because they like you and just want you to have nice things without having to wait, but because they are playing the long game and hoping to trap you into overstretching yourself and paying them lots of interest in the future.

In fact, that's the same reason why they offer up to 56 days interest free on all purchases - they hope to cash in on greed, need and/or irresponsibility. They will also increase your spending limit periodically for no other reason than to tip you over the edge and snare you.

Plenty of people using credit cards - and also 0% interest deals - will indeed 'win' and benefit from borrowing money for free, but they know that enough people won't end up doing that so that, even accounting for all of the 'winners', they will still make billions from all the 'losers'.

The one way you can guarantee that they can never ever get their claws into you from a credit card is by never applying for or accepting one.

I'm a big fan of credit cards, I have 9, some with huge balances. However if you don't have the cash to repay it, you would be very foolish to get yourself into debt for non essentials.

If you spent £1500 on a CC which is 0% purch for 9m, at min payments of around 2.5% you'd still owe £1120.44 after 2yrs (based on a follow on int rate of 24.9%). You'd only be paying off around £5 net pm for 14months which is daft.
You'd have spent £741 out of your bank but paid half of that in interest charges.

I'd recommend against it, I've been skint, it's so depressing, I get it. But short term highs for long term debt will not help unfortunately.

Ive never owned or had a credit card where i come from we call them debt cards.

If you can't save to do these things, then you can't afford to go in debt for it either. If it were a holiday or a large purchase, then it can be useful to spread the cost but you'd just be crediting a lifestyle that is beyond your means.

Exactly. It would be irresponsible. I’m just fed up and hoping better things come my way. I couldn’t even really enjoy the lead up to Christmas with the worry and now half term when a lot of the clubs are off I just feel like shit. I swear if I’m in the same situation by summer I’m literally gonna have a mental breakdown. I struggled badly with mental health last summer due to a friend going distant and no routine and at least I had a buffer from when I worked but now with Christmas the buffer is gone ffs