Time to put my finances on ice...

As I write this my credit card is in a container of water in the freezer, turning into a frozen block of debt. Yes, just like in the the movies. ENOUGH! I need to get a grip and sop using my credit cards. Period. It doesn't matter if I get airline miles, cash back, whatever. It is debt. Not only did I rip my credit card out of my wallet and fling it in the freezer, but I moved my savings over to my checking and used it to make payments on my two credit cards.

What set off this flurry of activity? When I arrived home tonight there was a letter from my USAir MasterCard that started "Important Notice of Changes to Your Credit Card Account Ending in XXXX". As of November 1, 2009, my APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is switching to a variable rate. According to this letter the current variable APR is 5% higher than my current APR. In two months my account will be at the mercy of the evil credit lords. Eeeep!

How can this be happening? How do I even have credit card debt? A few years ago I was in a lot of debt, declared bankruptcy, and started fresh. I was really careful. I planned, saved, and didn't use credit cards. I applied for a credit card to build my credit score back up, and use it responsibly. Well, the economy is in the toilet and so is my job. I've had major pay cuts this year and because of that, am now in debt again. It's not much compared to how much I was in debt before, and compared to the average amount Americans carry in credit card debt I wouldn't even be considered in debt. But it makes me nervous. Debt is a slippery slope and I don't want to be in fear of creditors or worried that I can't pay my rent by the end of the year.

I'm posting this here so that I will be serious about paying down the debt and keeping on track with my spending. Yes, it's worth it to not eat lunch out when I'm down so that I keep that $7 off of my credit card balance. When I want to hang out with my friends or splurge a little on a magazine or book, I need to really think about what I'm getting out of that versus the potential debt it will give me. Isn't it worth some saving to be able to pay the bills that matter and not have an anxiety attack over it? I think so. I know this is going to be hard, but I have to do this now and not when I'm too far in to fix it.

Any book that has any sentence resembling the following gem* will never be on my good list.
"I stood at a discreet distance near the far corner of the table, nearly panting as he cut a thick slice, lifted it onto a plate, and sank a plastic fork throughthe voluptuous layer of icing to the moist cake beneath."**

*In fact, it has a good chance of sailing across the room for a spine-splitting landing, if I did that sort or thing.

**From Julie and Julia by Julie Powell.

Tried out my new commute today, one week beforemy office move. Here's a shot of Harvard Yard woth swarms of new students touring campus. My office is moving from near Lechmere/Kendall Square to a short walk from Havard Square. It's strange to be making this adjustment.

When I firstplanned my move to Boston 9 years ago I thought I would get a job in Cambridge that would have me cutting through Harvard campus all the time. I would find and do spur of the moment activites line plays and readings. I was basing my planned life on what I had seen in the movies and my friend,who really did work in Harvard Sq and have a fabulous Cambridge life.

Limbo

I'm sitting in the Rochester airport right now trying to distract myself until my flight comes up in a few hours. I was booked for the 11:30 am flight, and found out last night it was cancelled, and moved to the 3:11pm flight. I get to the airport, and they say they are oversold by one person, would I like to get on the list for giving up my seat. I wasn't sure but said yes. As soon as I got through security they called my name, bumped me, and now I basically have a free ticket for my sister's wedding in October. Yippee! But now I'm sitting here in the cold A/C on a yucky chair surfing online. Could be a lot worse, and I'm finally the one to get the ONE free ticket they offer. Take THAT USAir! I'll reach my apartment about 9pm instead of my planned 2pm, but I will save money later, which is really what I need.