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Moving on up - Moving advice thread

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lepetitfromage:

--- Quote from: Jimor on 06 Jan 2012, 07:09 ---A good intermediate option is to get a secured credit card with YOUR bank (there are a lot of 3rd party banks that offer secured credit cards to "bad risk" customers, but they are designed to screw you over 5 ways from Sunday). You deposit an amount that acts as your limit on the card, and the deposit will even earn a little interest. This way you get the credit card security and regulations and can build a credit history, but you know you won't get into real debt using it. This assumes you have that much money to put into it in the first place, though. I did this years ago with a $1000 deposit, which eventually grew to $1400 with the interest, then eventually the bank just graduated that to a standard credit card and I was able to cash out the deposit behind it.

It's the only credit card I've ever had, and right now it has a $7000 limit. I had always paid it off monthly, but going back to school and only having a part-time job have combined forces to get me to actually use about half of it on a balance now, but I should be able to pay that off fairly quickly once I do get better employment here soonish.

--- End quote ---

Coincidentally, a secured card is a good way to repair your credit too.



--- Quote from: bainidhe_dub on 05 Jan 2012, 19:01 ---That is shockingly generous to me. My husband's bank (BoA :() recently settled a lawsuit that they were pick & choosing the order to apply charges to your account, in order to send you into overdraft sooner and collect more fees. So if you had $300 and make charges of $5, $10, $8, and $320, they would apply the $320 charge first and then you'd be in overdraft for the other three, even though you weren't at the time. And the overdraft charges are $35 each.
Plus if you make more than 6 withdrawals from a savings account in a month, more than three times in 12 months, the bank has to turn your savings account into a checking account. We were Not Amused when that happened, especially because the warning notices apparently come in the same postcard format that they use for the overdraft notices that arrive a week and a half later so I just throw them out.

--- End quote ---

OMG. I have Bank of America too and I've dealt with the EXACT same thing. I am so glad someone stepped up to them. Here's hoping we actually get some of our moolah back. I keep checking the website constantly for the elusive "Effective Date". We'll probably each get like, $10. haha

celticgeek:
I am working on moving all of my money (from B of A) to a credit union.  It is part of my solstice resolutions package.

Welu:
Talking to friends and family about moving out has got them telling me their stories about buying homes so general questions for people:

When did you first buy a house?
What age do you do think you personally would do it if you haven't?
Is renting a "big fat waste of time"? (Boyfriend's mother's opinion.)

Barmymoo:
I completely think that renting is a bad idea IF you are in a position to buy instead, but so few people are! You have to have a deposit, and a job that pays enough and is secure enough for you to get a mortgage, and you have to know that you'll be staying in the same town for at least a few years or it is not worth it.

I'm hoping to be in that situation in the next five years. I already have the deposit nestled away earning interest (I hope) and in five years I will (please please please) be a newly qualified midwife. That's the plan anyway...

Welu:
Good luck to you! :)


--- Quote from: Barmymoo on 20 Jan 2012, 05:25 ---... you have to know that you'll be staying in the same town for at least a few years or it is not worth it.

--- End quote ---

This is the bit that bugs me. I love my town and my friends are all in this area and as long as I live at home, I sort of feel like I could go anywhere. I'd feel very tied down which is what I'm trying to escape by moving out.

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