Unique position in life

Sure, PM if you want.

I use credit very wisely. I use them for the cash back bonuses on stuff I buy anyway (fuel if traveling, groceries, targeted purchases on store-branded cards for extra like 3% on Amazon, 5% on Tractor supply, etc) so they pay ME to use them. I also use 0% APR promos, like my new laptop i got late last year, via 24 months to pay it back. I pay it off before the period ends, never paying interest. Anything without 0% gets paid back before interest is charged, unless I have some smaller emergency (under $1500), then I have a low interest credit union credit card I can fall back on.

But currently, I have a fair little chunk of money in savings to fall back in, for a dire emergency. And I am adding to it monthly, in varying amounts depending on my monthly expenses.

I just realized today that my dog might have cancer. Hopefully it's benign and can be removed, since it's in a pretty "good" place that makes it easy to access and might not be near anything vital. I called and got an appointment for Monday morning, as soon as they had at the nearby one my mom has used for decades. I also just applied for and got CareCredit which will allow 0% APR, just in case she ends up needing some surgery.

I haven't asked, but a friend might actually end up offering help with the vet bill because they're nice like that. I'm not relying on it of course, nor will I ask, but I won't say no if they offer. I did tell them about the growth though, and they want to know what the vet says. They'd have wanted to know regardless because they love her too.

 

I'm terrible with math beyond basics, but I can watch my money via electronic checkbook. I have to, I can't let it get out of hand. My mom is horrible about budgeting. She used to pay overdraft fees 2-3 times PER MONTH, for YEARS, rather than just cutting back for a month or two, or using a credit card as a buffer to catch up and paying a little interest vs overdraft fees.

 

It was 25 years ago, and I figured they were probably right. I was worse off at the time, in some ways. I didn't drive, I didn't manage money at all (my mom did it all) etc. Over the years I self improved as much as I could, and continue to do so where I can.

 

Yep, that's how I feel about it too. Too much bad is going on in various ways. Too many workers (automatic trucks is probably what opened the flood gates), very bad forecasted economy, crap pay that is not going to improve, etc etc etc.