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I have lived all my life without a credit card

I know…shocking right lol. I have been living without credit cards all my life. I have had store cards but never anything I can use to buy from multiple stores. I would get store cards and pay them off within 6 months and then close the accounts. I know that’s bad but I remember my moms teaching….you don’t need a credit card to live in this world. My mother never had one and my bestie and I don’t have one. We are the few select people who are living without credit cards.

So the question you might ask is….how do you get credit to buy a car and a house?

Easy….when I first moved out of my dorm room with my roommate back in my college days my grandfather cosigned for her and me to get an apartment. After a year of paying on time, the apartment people took the cosigners off. After that everything was in our names and we began to build credit. I also took that opportunity to buy my second car (my first car was paid for cash by hustling in college) and made payments on that. I was also working a full-time job (which I sat out from college a year to do) and was able to get financed through that time frame. I remember going to the car place and them saying….you are 20 and you’ve never ever had a credit card lol. Believe it or not, my credit score went down because of student loans…..so at one time I had a -500 (just playing but it was low at one point) and there was a time that my credit wasn’t up to par. I worked through that and by hustling and doing without I managed to pay off my private student loans (I still owe navient there payments) and get my credit back in shape. I was also able to buy my first home last year because of the hard work I put in. Now my goal is to build wealth, keep living without credit cards, and to help others to stop living paycheck to paycheck through the nonprofit that I have started in honor of my husband. The Decarlo Allen Foundation is an organization that helps families pay a big bill so that they can take the money and pay down their other bills so they can stop living paycheck to paycheck. In other words…..let’s say you are behind on your car note but you have to still pay your rent. We will pay your rent for you so that you can take that money that goes towards the rent and pay the car note up. More on the foundation later but today….I want to talk about ways to manage money and build a better life. First I want you to watch this video……

 

Build wealth by living without credit cards

People who look like money don’t always have money…..it’s the ones with a 10-year-old car looking plain that has money. Don’t ever judge a book by its cover! So here is how I am trying to build my wealth….

Only purchase an item if you have the money for it

So if you want to go on a trip save the money for the trip. Don’t put it on the credit card even if you have to put it on the credit card. Have the cash value of the trip in the bank (along with spending money) so that when you get back you can pay the credit card right on off. If you need a new wardrobe…save up for it. If you put it on the credit card pay it right off. My motto…if I don’t have the cash for it I don’t pay for it…..period

Say no to credit cards

You know the drill…every time you go to the store they ask you to open up a credit card to save 10%. Happens when you go to Old Navy or Target….oh you can save some money by opening up a card. I always say nope I don’t do cards….are you sure…..the look I give them lol. I always say no although I had a Macy’s Card and a JCPenney card I no longer have them because I paid them off and closed both accounts. I plan to keep living without credit cards.

Track your spending

– My mom used to have a notebook that she used to track spending. She would write down how much she got a month after paying herself first (which went into savings) and then pay money from that. If she went over she would take from another bill. I remember my mom would set aside the light bill of what she thought would be the total for the month and then if it was below that amount she would leave the access money there for the next month so that her light never got cut off. I recently started tracking my spending and found out that I was spending a lot of money unnecessarily for things I didn’t need. I was paying for people to create flyers for me when I can create them myself. I was paying for people to do videos for me when I can create them myself. See what goes out each month even down to a bill that may be 10 bucks….my dropbox service and stock photo service….costs me so much a month and I didn’t add them in last year because I thought oh…it’s just a few dollars but those few dollars add up!

Pay what’s important first

My rent, water, light, internet, car insurance, and cell phone bills are paid first. Everything else takes a seat and I make sure I pay other bills last. I am not late but I don’t make other bills a factor. The amount for the above is taken out of my bank account every month as a recurring payment so I don’t see it. I have a special account just for my bills…I pay that bank account from what I make so that I can pay my bills for the month….automatically. I use to hate recurring payments but I find that they are easier to do and keeps me on track

Build an emergency fund

So photography and my blogging money is my extra money for the month. Since those two aren’t guaranteed money (social media marketing is my main breadwinner and I am under contract with various companies as a contract worker) I take money from that and put it in my savings account. I can’t depend on photography or blogging on a steady basis so that is where my savings come in at. If I don’t make money doing either I am not worried because that money doesn’t pay my main bills. I also know that I have it in savings for an emergency. Find a way to build a savings account by hustling for extra money or doing extra gigs. Working overtime helps or finding a way to cut bills so that you can put more money into savings. In this economy you should have a savings account even if it’s just $50 in there….start one today!

Don’t shop at expensive places

I love expensive things but I also love seeing money stay in my account. Living without credit cards means I don’t buy expensive clothes or expensive shoes. My friend bought me a Pink from Victoria secret for the holidays my first pair of designer sweats lol…..me….I buy them right from Walmart in the men section. Why would I pay 60 bucks for something that says pink….you have got to be kidding me. I also buy shoes from shoe carnival…buy one get half off. Save money at the grocery store…I grocery shop every week at two different places and base my meals on what’s on sale for the week. If ground beef is on sale this week guess what we are eating burgers, tacos or spaghetti. I create my list the day before I shop and only buy whats on sale! Now I am not a huge fan of thrift stores but I will go in there for items for my home. Clothes wise…I shop on sale and use coupons.

Protect what you work hard for

If you rent please please please have renters insurance. I have an expensive camera…you best believe I have insurance on that bad boy. I work hard for the expensive things that I do have and I want to protect my investments. Make sure you hire people who know what they are doing in the stock markets so that you can invest. Make sure you are banking with someone who has your best interests in mind.

I am in the season of trying to build wealth because I am so tired of being broke. I took steps into making sure that I have more money coming in than what I have going out. I am not all the way where I want to be but I am slowly getting there. Living without credit cards is one way to build wealth. How are you building wealth? Any tips or people we should follow to learn more?

Can you live without a credit card? I have lived all my life without a credit card. Living without credit cards isn't easy. But with my credit card tips, you will be on the path to building your wealth.

21 Comments

  • Bren Pace
    February 27, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    Fabulous tips, Kita! I don’t know how you’ve gone all this time without. I think it’s good to have one but to only charge what you can pay at the end of the month. At least that way you’re able to build some credit. 🙂

    B

    Reply
  • robin Rue
    March 1, 2017 at 11:41 am

    I had one when I was younger, but I paid it off and canceled it about 5 years ago. Best thing I ever did.

    Reply
  • Karen Clough
    March 1, 2017 at 12:03 pm

    Wow well done you! I’ve found it quite difficult to avoid, even though I’m always great at repayment

    Reply
  • Nikka Shae
    March 1, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    I only have two credit cards. I’ve learned my lesson that you don’t need but one or none.

    Reply
  • valmg @ Mom Knows It All
    March 1, 2017 at 12:26 pm

    I have only seen department store credit cards. We didn’t have credit cards for many years, it’s very possible to do.

    Reply
  • candy
    March 1, 2017 at 12:30 pm

    I totally agree with all you ideas, tips, suggestions. Yes I do have one credit card. It is paid off every month. I mean every month. By using my credit card I have gone on many trips that have been for free with the award points. Have use them wisely.

    Reply
  • Annemarie LeBlanc
    March 1, 2017 at 1:10 pm

    You are amazing! I cannot believe you were able to do it for the longest time. I have two but I make sure I pay off the balance immediately. I don’t want to incur interest charges.

    Reply
  • Jeanette
    March 1, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    We have lived for years with the credit cards and honestly I do not regret it. If I don’t have the money I just don’t get it. We have one now but only because we travel and it’s easier to use the card at hotels. But again we do not go on trips until they are completely paid for.

    Reply
  • Paula Schuck
    March 1, 2017 at 1:57 pm

    I have two credit cards – a business one and one that is essentially for emergencies and other big ticket items that can’t be paid by Interac – believe it or not there is a limit on Interac. So these are some interesting tips. I can’t imagine living without one credit card and I need one for the business. I agree the smartest thing is to pay it off in full every single month though. And honestly it’s best policy to never buy anything you can’t afford. Good tips!

    Reply
  • Tamara
    March 1, 2017 at 3:44 pm

    I have had them in the past, but I don’t have one right now! It feels freeing. I still have an emergency fund, but just no credit cards. Awesome tips.

    Reply
  • lisa
    March 1, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    This is a great list. I have 2 credit cards and they are “just in case” cards. We don’t live beyond our means but we do like keeping our credit scores up!

    Reply
  • Melanie
    March 1, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    I have a card, but I rarely use it. I also pay it off every month for whenever I do use it.

    Reply
  • Pam
    March 1, 2017 at 7:39 pm

    These are good tips for people who want to live without a credit card. You definitely want to make sure you are living within your means.

    Reply
  • Christopher Lewis
    March 1, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    Great tips and so important to consider. We do have a credit card, but only spend minimally and within our means.

    Reply
  • Jenn @ EngineerMommy
    March 1, 2017 at 10:55 pm

    Building an emergency fund is so important. It’s vital to keep one’s savings in mind as life is always throwing curve balls. We are very serious about saving every month.

    Reply
  • Stephanie Pass
    March 2, 2017 at 7:51 am

    This is so important for young people going off to college to understand. We live on cash as much as possible, but with a big family, we do have occasional unexpected expenses that require a credit card sometimes. But, I always pay those off quick.

    Reply
  • Dawn McAlexander
    March 2, 2017 at 9:48 pm

    I wish that I had never taken my first credit card. It has been nothing but a hassle to pay it off since I did. I really hate them now and I don’t ever want another one.

    Reply
  • lisa
    March 3, 2017 at 1:13 am

    Great post! I haven’t had a credit card in years, I paid them all off and never got another one!

    Reply
  • Peachy @ The Peach Kitchen
    March 4, 2017 at 2:32 am

    I have a card but we now rarely use it because we still have to pay off some debt off of it.

    Reply
  • Paula Bendfeldt
    March 8, 2017 at 11:33 pm

    These are all such great tips. My husband hates credit cards but I do have to admit that I have a few myself. I do make sure to pay them all immediately and use them only for racking up miles. 🙂

    Reply
  • […] to have owned it outright. Kids absorb what you teach them at an early age. My mom taught me to never get a credit card and I never got one.  I want my son to know the value of money and that you have to work hard for […]

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