I got a phone call from the bank this afternoon telling me my beloved debit/Mastercard had been compromised in some type of break-in and was being replaced. This is not the first time this has happened on this account. More like the third. In two years. I happen to find this annoying. HUGELY ANNOYING.
Anyway, I am sans card. FOR TWO WEEKS. TWO WEEKS of no shopping.* No money. Especially the cash monies.
Obviously I will not be tipping anyone.
And the cab rides. Oh... I'll miss the cab rides.
This means no impulse shoe purchases. No Barnes and Noble. No perusing the anthropologie sale section on Tuesday morning. No making good use of my Shopittome salemail. No impulse chocolate purchases. No lunch from DiBruno's. No swinging by the GAP outlet on my way home from work. No browsing in the aisles while I wait for my prescription to be filled at CVS (seriously, how easy is it to spend an extra $50 there on stuff you do not need?) No grabbing a glass of wine after work. No extra chocolate.
I'm on a two week spending diet and this is going to be ugly. I mean, it's going to be nice for my savings account. Well, not really because it really just means that I'm saving for my trip to awesome JCrew shoe store next month. But it is just brutal to have all of my discretionary expenses flaunted in my face because I can't have them right now.
Needless to say, when these two weeks are up I'll be buying myself a present. Or three.
*So it's really not as bad as it seems. I was whining about it to my dad today (he has the same bank) and he asked, "Wait, you can write checks?" "Yeah." "And you have another account [at a separate bank]?" "Yeah." "And you have a credit card?" "Yes, but I don't like to use it.**" "So you don't need anything?" "Well, no." And it's true. The bills have been paid. I just did a big grocery shop yesterday. I'm pretty much totally fine except for the HUGE ANNOYANCE of spending money not being easy.
**I keep a card so I have credit. It was a PITA to get. Do you know what makes you a high risk credit person so it's hard to get a card? NO CREDIT DEBT. Seriously. No credit history screwed me over once. Also, it's useful for renting cars because you can't do that with a debit card in all areas.
You deserve extra shoes next month at the J.Crew sale store.
Posted by: Rhi | January 12, 2009 at 09:36 PM
I had to BEG Aaron to get a credit card. BEG. Despite my law school indiscretions, my credit score was significantly higher than his when we got married. Because he had NO debt.
Posted by: slynnro | January 12, 2009 at 09:36 PM
Yeah, I'm glad I got my credit cards in college. Sure, I've dealt (and am dealing) with some resulting debt (unemployment will do that to you), but I keep my payments up to date, have less than 30% balance-to-debt ratio, and occasionally call the company to negotiate rates or deals. As such, when I transferred my car insurance last month, they pulled my credit score and my agent casually remarked that I had one of the highest ratings she'd seen.
Definitely made my day.
Posted by: Darcey | January 12, 2009 at 09:59 PM
I put everything on my CC and then pay it off at the end of the month. Some day, like 17 years from now, I will fly somewhere fabulous for free using credit card miles.
Posted by: Hope | January 12, 2009 at 11:11 PM
I live by my debit card as well and would be in the same boat as you. Except right now there aint no money going into it so it is kinda easy not to use it!
Posted by: anne | January 13, 2009 at 01:06 PM
Dang, girl! I'd look into a different bank. I can get a replacement card on the same day from my credit union. Yes, I have to go there in person, but still. Two weeks of no spending money?
That reminds me, I need to order new checks. :)
Posted by: Kim | January 13, 2009 at 01:27 PM
You know, you can write checks for cash at the bank? And at the grocery store?
I haven't always had a debit card. I'm old.
And maybe it is time to switch banks.
Posted by: Kristabella | January 13, 2009 at 02:33 PM
Instead of giving you credit advice, I would just like to point out: in the list of things you won't be able to impulse-buy? You mentioned chocolate twice.
Get some cash and buy your self a bag of Ghirardelli squares, or I'm afraid you might not make it.
Posted by: Mer | January 13, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Ugh, I hate enforced budgets. I want to be virtuous with my money by CHOICE, people!
(My enforced budget usually comes when we look at our student loan projections and I feel a wave of nausea).
Posted by: Janssen | January 14, 2009 at 09:18 AM
nice to see you blogging again.
Posted by: AmyH | January 14, 2009 at 04:41 PM
This sounds like a clip from Confessions of a Shopaholic...which means, I can TOTALLY relate. I've been on a budgetary spending freeze for months and I can't tell you how much I am craving a Starbux....or a guilt-free trip to Barnes & Noble. Or a clothing store.
Sigh...hopefully 2009 will have new resolutions, like BUYING OUT J.CREW's WOMEN'S SECTION!
xox
Posted by: heidikins | January 16, 2009 at 11:57 AM