Wondering about Disney Cruises

[DonutGoddess]

We did do a Disney vacation where we paid for our room and got the meal plan. When I had to pay for it up front it was like "Oh poo, I'm paying all this money and we haven't even gotten there yet!" But it sure was nice to come home to no bills. I think we spent more on other things like souvenirs since we weren't paying for the meals separately.

[Lasolimu]

One thing you didn't mention is the length or term of the loan. Interest rates will be lower on a 15 year vs. a 30 year loan. There's also shorter term LIBOR loans that get you into sub two percent interest rates.

Here's my favorite loan calculator. It allows for modeling based on a number of factors.

That's awesome, I now have that bookmarked and will make use of it often.

[hobie16]

Just saw that credit card debt is up 5% over last year. Pay off those soul sucking pieces of plastic.

[Goofyernmost]

Just saw that credit card debt is up 5% over last year. Pay off those soul sucking pieces of plastic.

I agree with you and have been paying off monthly for at least that past 15 years, but, it seems like you must be a member of the "1%" and are forgetting that when you are starting out, it isn't always possible to do that and not everyone bought frivolous things with them. Sometimes a necessary expense happens when you really don't have the cash available to do it.

I have the cash available to pay cash for everything I buy, but I use CC's to keep my cash earning a little more for a month or so while I use their money to pay for things while accumulating credits for usage. It ends up that they pay me to use their cards, love it! I didn't always have that luxury and managed to get caught up in the spiral that is Credit Card Purchasing. At the time though I didn't have a lot of options.

[hobie16]

I agree with you and have been paying off monthly for at least that past 15 years, but, it seems like you must be a member of the "1%" and are forgetting that when you are starting out, it isn't always possible to do that and not everyone bought frivolous things with them. Sometimes a necessary expense happens when you really don't have the cash available to do it.

I have the cash available to pay cash for everything I buy, but I use CC's to keep my cash earning a little more for a month or so while I use their money to pay for things while accumulating credits for usage. It ends up that they pay me to use their cards, love it! I didn't always have that luxury and managed to get caught up in the spiral that is Credit Card Purchasing. At the time though I didn't have a lot of options.

The 1%? I wish. I held off on getting a CC for years. Cash, or check if I had to mail a bill, was it. I was finally forced into getting a card when I started traveling for business.

The only thing worse than carrying over debt on a CC is those legalized rape palaces know as check cashing stores. And don't get me started on Buy Here/Pay Here used car lots.

The working poor might just as well walk around hunched over as they take it in the keister, financially, repeatedly.

[felinefan]

Now you know why people used to get by with less, and save for years to buy something "big ticket" like a house, car, vacation.... (New horse and buggy....)

[Goofyernmost]

The 1%? I wish. I held off on getting a CC for years. Cash, or check if I had to mail a bill, was it. I was finally forced into getting a card when I started traveling for business.

The only thing worse than carrying over debt on a CC is those legalized rape palaces know as check cashing stores. And don't get me started on Buy Here/Pay Here used car lots.

The working poor might just as well walk around hunched over as they take it in the keister, financially, repeatedly.

I have to admit that the check cashing stores are something that I will never understand. No matter how little money I had, and at times it was very close to negative, I always had a checking account. Most were free or close to it, or enough so that it was cheaper then the rates at the CCS. Don't understand the need, I guess! If you could afford to go there, you could more than afford a checking account.

[DonutGoddess]

I have to admit that the check cashing stores are something that I will never understand. No matter how little money I had, and at times it was very close to negative, I always had a checking account. Most were free or close to it, or enough so that it was cheaper then the rates at the CCS. Don't understand the need, I guess! If you could afford to go there, you could more than afford a checking account.

I have known a person or two who ended up with bad credit and bounced checks with several bank accounts that could not get an account.

[hobie16]

I have to admit that the check cashing stores are something that I will never understand. No matter how little money I had, and at times it was very close to negative, I always had a checking account. Most were free or close to it, or enough so that it was cheaper then the rates at the CCS. Don't understand the need, I guess! If you could afford to go there, you could more than afford a checking account.

Check cashing stores are used by people that have so little buffer financially that they don't have enough money to set up a checking account that won't cost them money. They have no other options. The stores offer fee based services including cashing checks, electronic bill payment, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards and short term loans.

[delsdad]

Check cashing stores are used by people that have so little buffer financially that they don't have enough money to set up a checking account that won't cost them money. They have no other options. The stores offer fee based services including cashing checks, electronic bill payment, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards and short term loans.

Its unfortunate that these places charge such insane fees. In canada they are limited to 28% on loans,by law. And they charge every penny of it. Im not sure if the fees for cashing cheques are capped or not. But I know that a neighbor of my parents owns one, a franchise of a national chain. And in about 5 years it turned a well off businessman into a multi millionaire. He's a pleasent guy. But really he made his fortune preying on those who could least afford it. He eases his conscience by looking at it as he provides banking services to those who otherwise cant get them. Often these customers do not have ID, dont trust the banks or government, have a variety of 'issues". He feels he is their friend. :-(

This kind of thing is one reason the govenment keeps talking about giving out debit cards to social assistance recipients, freeing them from predatory cheque cashing shops.