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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by Pinkisles
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist. 
I don't even know why people are interested in if other people having bills or not? Does it make them feel better if they see others have bills and they do not? I honestly never ask my friends about their financial situations and they never ask me about mine. I wouldn't want to know either unless they were in need of help.
I didn't answer because it's nobody's business but my own. In my opinion, people share way too many personal details on a public website. If they are comfortable with that, that's fine but just not my style at all.
I think many people, including myself are interested to see if they are in the same boat as others or if they are alone in how they are doing in life (the reason why people go to financial advisors or go on shows like Suze Orman and ask on the "how am I doing" segment on the show.
It is always good to get advise from others on how they budget and how they get through life. It might help someone to know that you shop here or there or use certain credit cards to get points for things.
I also think people on this messageboard also are either doing very well, or they lie.
We live on LI (the majority of us) and it is very expensive to live. Unless you make a ton of money, it is hard to get by living in one of the highest COL places.
I see gofundme's all the time that people need money for funerals but then I come on here and people are boasting about buying $500 pairs of shoes. I don't get it.
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Posted 12/28/15 10:18 AM  |
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by Paramount
I could never ever be on board to spend money I don't have, ever.
There is a myth that the holidays are not the holidays unless there are tons of presents under the tree for everyone. The marketing of Christmas has become so extreme that people go into REAL debt just to buy gifts for everyone. Both Chanukkah and Xmas.
Whereas my sister (who is not Jewish) was basically on food stamps and had gifts and bought shit all the time. Lost her house car etc. She ALWAYS had ipads, TV's the best gadgets. There was nothing she could afford or pay back. I hope the holidays they had and the ipads made up for loosing their house.
My best friends family, on the "outside" was the perfect family. TONS of gifts under the tree, big family parties etc etc. Bankrupt. Lost their house. MASSIVE CC debt and ended up renting a small 1 bedroom apartment because they lost everything.
The commercialism that surrounds the holidays that makes people think they have to go into debt for a good holiday makes me very sad.
I think about these kinds of stories and edit what I purchase.
My cc bill is $2k. That includes more "regular' stuff than holiday, since my holiday was over 2 week ago. This bill will be paid by Feb.
Exactly but when you come on this site, everyone is doing so great, no one is in debt and they have a ton of savings.
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| Posted 12/28/15 10:20 AM |
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by LotsaLuv
Posted by DaniJude
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist.
If i had bills, I'd admit it. I don't see the shame in it.
I wouldn't lie about it.
I just don't. I'm fortunate, I get it. Maybe it's not the norm. I don't know. I only know about my own situation
But I don't think it's right to say that everyone who said they don't have bills and debt after Christmas is lying or won't admit it.
Yes, I agree also.
I was being honest -- but I also didn't spend tons of money on Christmas either otherwise maybe I wouldn't have been able to just debit it. But I've never been a big credit card person - they scare me. I tend to only keep one for an extreme emergency.
I have loans though - I mean, I have a car loan. I have student loans. Does that make anyone feel better? lol! There's some debt! And if I have it, I admit it. It's nothing to be ashamed of.
I agree. I choose to live within my means which is why I can pay my CC off every month. It also helps that we do not carry any student loans. When we bought our house we made sure everything was paid off. We had a good amount in savings so our mortgage was affordable for us, we only have 1 car payment since the other is paid off, and I do not need to keep up with the joneses. I do not go for monthly hair appts, I do not get my mails done on a regular basis, I shop clearance racks for clothes, and come holiday time, I do not spend what we can't afford.
This is not to say that anyone who has bills lives above their means, this is just the way I live and budget our household. I do budget down to the penny, and make sure I save before I buy. My mom was this way too, and I learned from her I guess.
I am the same way but still have credit card bills.
If you have kids and don't make a ton of money and live on LI, it is extremely hard not to have bills and be able to do many things.
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| Posted 12/28/15 10:22 AM |
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2BadSoSad
LIF Adult
Member since 8/12 6791 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
No, I do not going into debt for Christmas. We plan for Christmas and pay cash.
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| Posted 12/28/15 10:40 AM |
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Peainapod
Peanuts are here!
Member since 1/09 13591 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: Christmas Bills
I really try not to go overboard with DS. this year he got a new bike, Nintendo 2DS that i got on a great sale, a crayola tub of stuff, some stocking stuffers, and soccer nets for the yard.
my SIL made a comment that "she had no idea how her and my DH are normal considering all the gifts they got as kids." She was really glad to see we didnt over do it with DS. DH was 16 when they lost their dad suddenly. my MIL always says that she created a monster with my SIL when she tried to make up for not having a dad by buying tons of shit.
I've been on the brink of financial disaster. I know what the burden of CC debt is like. I have a balance on our card now due to IVF treatment but will pay that off with DH's bonus in January. we really try not to carry balances anymore and I found Dave Ramsey's show and budgeting lessons to be life changing.
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| Posted 12/28/15 10:54 AM |
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Cacarina
Two girls!
Member since 12/09 2971 total posts
Name:
Cari
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by alli3131
Cash. Or debit. I gave up credit cards except for travel.
Ditto.
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| Posted 12/28/15 11:05 AM |
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist.
20 kids is a lot- if I had that many it would definitely be a budgetary issue. We have a small family- only 1 child plus 4 nieces/nephews. And we're not extravagant- not that there is anything wrong with that- and neither DH or I wanted any big-ticket things this year. I was lucky this year to have a well-paying freelance client who paid me via PayPal which was how I paid for most things, and I also used about $50 in cc rewards. In past years we hoarded change and used Coinstar to turn it into Amazon GCs- usually that paid for a significant chunk of our gifts.
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| Posted 12/28/15 11:36 AM |
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klingklang77
kraftwerk!
Member since 7/06 11489 total posts
Name:
Völlig losgelöst
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist.
If I had bills, I would admit it. It isn't possible to have a balance on credit cards here. It just isn't done. People don't use credit cards like here like in the US. You can ask the bank, but I don't need to do that. I'd also prefer not to do that because it sounds like a lot of paperwork.
I also think you need to take a look at the situations of others. I don't have a house or kids to pay for. I choose not to do that because it would cut down on my lifestyle. I also shortened my Xmas list considerably and don't buy for a lot of people. It got to a point where we were exchanging gift cards. It's dumb and I don't need it. I decided to minimize a lot in my life and this in turn creates no bills for me. So don't assume and roll eyes without looking at the whole situation.
Student loan bills are another situation... 
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| Posted 12/28/15 11:58 AM |
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BabyBMakes3
LIF Adolescent
Member since 4/13 711 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist.
If i had bills, I'd admit it. I don't see the shame in it.
I wouldn't lie about it.
I just don't. I'm fortunate, I get it. Maybe it's not the norm. I don't know. I only know about my own situation
But I don't think it's right to say that everyone who said they don't have bills and debt after Christmas is lying or won't admit it.
Please don't misunderstand me...I never said anyone was lying about not having bills...I just wish more of those people who DO have difficulty would step up and join me. It's really more me being totally jealous of you ladies who CAN pay off your bills each month, and wishing I wasn't alone!
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| Posted 12/28/15 12:27 PM |
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Millie3
LIF Adult
Member since 7/13 1280 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist.
This thread is just talking about Christmas debt, plus you have a ton of kids to buy for so I get that you must spend a lot.
Student loans, daycare / nanny payments, credit card bills, mortgages, second mortgages, car loans / leases are all huge debts that many families have. One family may not have CC debt , but have to pay daycare/ summer camp and car loans. It's all the same, it's all major major debt that needs to be paid IMO.
For me, we did not go into debt for Christmas but have many other bills to pay.
Also, everyone's definition of tons of savings is different. Some think 5 k is a lot, some think 500k is nothing.
Message edited 12/28/2015 4:05:15 PM.
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| Posted 12/28/15 3:59 PM |
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blu6385
Member since 5/08 8351 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
yes I have freaking bills! I own a home and pay a little (an I mean a very little ) under 30K a year for daycare. I had bills before the holidays and I still have them. do I want them no but I don't have a choice, well for the most part there are things that we bought that we don't need but you know what you only live once. I pay off what I can and eventually once my 30K a year day care is gone we will be much better off.
ETA: if the question is did I go into more debt for xmas ... yes/no depends how you look at it. I have a few thousand that will go to bills if you want to say its going for xmas rather than other bills sure we can say that but when you have debt you have debt who cares if I put the money towards xmas or the other bills. if it makes other feel better to say what they have saved went for presents rather than paying their current bills off I get it
Message edited 12/28/2015 4:22:10 PM.
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| Posted 12/28/15 4:18 PM |
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skew
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 6794 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
For those of us (including myself) that use credit cards, yes we have Christmas bills. Will the bills be paid by in full by the payment due date? Yes, mine will. Like others, I don't like carrying a balance.
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| Posted 12/28/15 5:09 PM |
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itsbabytime
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 9644 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Christmas Bills
....
Message edited 3/20/2016 10:20:20 PM.
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| Posted 12/28/15 5:23 PM |
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RainyDay
LIF Adult
Member since 6/15 3999 total posts
Name:
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Christmas Bills
I hate posts like these........It makes people who do have CC debt NOT want to speak up because all you see is people posting how they always pay off their cc bills every month. Great for all those who are able to pay them off each month but I feel like this is a serious pissing contest.
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| Posted 12/28/15 8:37 PM |
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Mom0710
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/14 682 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist.
If i had bills, I'd admit it. I don't see the shame in it.
I wouldn't lie about it.
I just don't. I'm fortunate, I get it. Maybe it's not the norm. I don't know. I only know about my own situation
But I don't think it's right to say that everyone who said they don't have bills and debt after Christmas is lying or won't admit it.
Please don't misunderstand me...I never said anyone was lying about not having bills...I just wish more of those people who DO have difficulty would step up and join me. It's really more me being totally jealous of you ladies who CAN pay off your bills each month, and wishing I wasn't alone!
You're not alone. We have debt that we are working on. It happens more then we realize. No one is perfect not having debt doesn't make anyone better then anyone else.
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| Posted 12/28/15 8:47 PM |
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by itsbabytime
This thread is so confusing! What do "Christmas Bills" even mean? I pretty much use a credit card for everything - even a $3.00 coffee lol beause it's just so much easier than carrying around tons of cash all the time for so many reasons. So, yes, there is always a cc bill but, that cc bill is paid every month in full and Christmas is no different. I'm thinking you are asking if people have actual debt that they are carrying after Christmas that won't be paid in full? I would clarify your question if you want to get the answers to the question you are asking.
Also, I don't get all the hostility and "calling out" posters as if people aren't telling the truth about having debt etc. I mean, this is the internet and we all are posting under screen names not even real names! WHy would anyone care enough to lie! And, honestly, if you think struggling to pay bills is a norm on LI - I think you are wrong. It's certainly not the norm where I live. I would say it's more the norm to have no issue shelling out a lot of money on gifts. I think it's all relative to our own situations.
Wow really, not the norm on LI? Consider yourself lucky then. Sounds like you are quite well off. Many people IME living on LI are just making it and that is with working multiple jobs.
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| Posted 12/28/15 8:48 PM |
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by RainyDay
I hate posts like these........It makes people who do have CC debt NOT want to speak up because all you see is people posting how they always pay off their cc bills every month. Great for all those who are able to pay them off each month but I feel like this is a serious pissing contest.
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| Posted 12/28/15 8:49 PM |
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alli3131
Peanut is here!!!!!!
Member since 5/09 18388 total posts
Name:
Allison
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by BabyBMakes3
Posted by EatingMyVeggies
I think many people do but not quick to share publicly.
But yeah, I will. A little bit. Nothing too nuts. It is what it's and life goes on.
It seriously annoys me that NOBODY will admit it on here. I give a truly sincere pat on the back to those ladies who are paying off their bills every month..but there's NO WAY they are "the norm". I own my own home on Long Island where it's incredibly expensive to live, I make what I consider a mediocre salary, I have almost 20 kids to buy for for Christmas...of course I have bills after Christmas and I have no issue admitting that. They won't put me in the poor house...but they exist.
If i had bills, I'd admit it. I don't see the shame in it.
I wouldn't lie about it.
I just don't. I'm fortunate, I get it. Maybe it's not the norm. I don't know. I only know about my own situation
But I don't think it's right to say that everyone who said they don't have bills and debt after Christmas is lying or won't admit it.
Please don't misunderstand me...I never said anyone was lying about not having bills...I just wish more of those people who DO have difficulty would step up and join me. It's really more me being totally jealous of you ladies who CAN pay off your bills each month, and wishing I wasn't alone!
I don't have the CC bills cause I learned years ago after getting into debt with them but don't think that because I live on my cash and don't rack up CC bills means that I ( or others) am not swimming in debt. I have loans that would make people's head spin. We all (or most) have debt it's just in different ways!!!!
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| Posted 12/28/15 9:06 PM |
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blue11
LIF Adult
Member since 2/11 1706 total posts
Name:
kat
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by itsbabytime
This thread is so confusing! What do "Christmas Bills" even mean? I pretty much use a credit card for everything - even a $3.00 coffee lol beause it's just so much easier than carrying around tons of cash all the time for so many reasons. So, yes, there is always a cc bill but, that cc bill is paid every month in full and Christmas is no different. I'm thinking you are asking if people have actual debt that they are carrying after Christmas that won't be paid in full? I would clarify your question if you want to get the answers to the question you are asking.
Also, I don't get all the hostility and "calling out" posters as if people aren't telling the truth about having debt etc. I mean, this is the internet and we all are posting under screen names not even real names! WHy would anyone care enough to lie! And, honestly, if you think struggling to pay bills is a norm on LI - I think you are wrong. It's certainly not the norm where I live. I would say it's more the norm to have no issue shelling out a lot of money on gifts. I think it's all relative to our own situations.
Wow really, not the norm on LI? Consider yourself lucky then. Sounds like you are quite well off. Many people IME living on LI are just making it and that is with working multiple jobs.
Everyone's experience is going to be dependent on where they live, where they are in career / age etc. In my group of family / friends I would say the majority do not have an issue paying bills- they are able to afford vacations etc. no one works two jobs but most both spouses work. I wouldn't say they are well off but they aren't struggling day to day to put food on the table. They watch what they spend, budget and splurge occasionally.
Anyway that has nothing to do with Christmas bills - I charge everything for the points and we pay off the bill monthly. Part of what we save annually is for Xmas so I transfer that in to cover gifts.
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| Posted 12/28/15 9:59 PM |
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lululu
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 9511 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by RainyDay
I hate posts like these........It makes people who do have CC debt NOT want to speak up because all you see is people posting how they always pay off their cc bills every month. Great for all those who are able to pay them off each month but I feel like this is a serious pissing contest.
So confused!!! Why would you like this comment? You created the post to begin with and then had the first response saying that you won't have any Christmas Bills lingering over your head.
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| Posted 12/28/15 10:38 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by lululu
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by RainyDay
I hate posts like these........It makes people who do have CC debt NOT want to speak up because all you see is people posting how they always pay off their cc bills every month. Great for all those who are able to pay them off each month but I feel like this is a serious pissing contest.
So confused!!! Why would you like this comment? You created the post to begin with and then had the first response saying that you won't have any Christmas Bills lingering over your head.
Same
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| Posted 12/28/15 10:52 PM |
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stinger
LIF Adult
Member since 11/11 4971 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
Yes I always have bills in January.
Related to Christmas shopping - I am fortunate to have enough money to pay off the credit card that I spent too much on this past month.
I could have used the $ that I spent on paying an extra mortgage payment, college funds or general savings for myself but I didn't! I think those that I gave gifts to were happy!
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| Posted 12/28/15 10:55 PM |
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Sparrow
LIF Adult
Member since 11/10 6826 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by stinger
Posted by lululu
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by RainyDay
I hate posts like these........It makes people who do have CC debt NOT want to speak up because all you see is people posting how they always pay off their cc bills every month. Great for all those who are able to pay them off each month but I feel like this is a serious pissing contest.
So confused!!! Why would you like this comment? You created the post to begin with and then had the first response saying that you won't have any Christmas Bills lingering over your head.
Same
Yes, very confused about the "like" also. This seems quite obviously like one of those posts only made do the OP can pat themselves on the back.
Also, people don't go to financial advisors so that they can see how their personal finances compare to others. That comment also made me  .
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| Posted 12/29/15 4:51 AM |
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Pinkisles
<3
Member since 11/13 2868 total posts
Name:
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Re: Christmas Bills
Posted by Sparrow
Posted by stinger
Posted by lululu
Posted by afternoondelight828
Posted by RainyDay
I hate posts like these........It makes people who do have CC debt NOT want to speak up because all you see is people posting how they always pay off their cc bills every month. Great for all those who are able to pay them off each month but I feel like this is a serious pissing contest.
So confused!!! Why would you like this comment? You created the post to begin with and then had the first response saying that you won't have any Christmas Bills lingering over your head.
Same
Yes, very confused about the "like" also. This seems quite obviously like one of those posts only made do the OP can pat themselves on the back.
Also, people don't go to financial advisors so that they can see how their personal finances compare to others. That comment also made me .
Yeah that was a strange answer.
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| Posted 12/29/15 8:46 AM |
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StaceyWill
It's a girl!!!
Member since 6/10 21539 total posts
Name:
Stacey
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Christmas Bills
I'm not really surprised, but I’m confused as to how this thread turned. The OP asked if we have "Christmas" bills. And the truth is a lot of us budget for it or save throughout the year or get Christmas bonuses, etc. and literally don't have any. That doesn't mean we don't have debt or are very well off or lie, etc.
And OP. I like you and am not trying to be snarky, but I think you should chill with the financial questions. They always turn into something else.
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| Posted 12/29/15 9:13 AM |
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