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Shopping online, credit cards, and compulsive spending.

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anneurysm
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26 Jan 2010, 7:00 pm

MathGirl wrote:
I'm in a bit of a dilemma.
I am an avid fan of online shopping. There is stuff online that is simply not available anywhere in a regular store. However, I'm scared about getting a credit card. I know that a lot of aspies simply don't have a credit card because it may lead to compulsive spending. I'm scared that once I start buying, I will not be able to stop. Is there a way to put a limit on your credit card? If you have a credit card, how do you manage your spending?


I know a few people (all NTs!) who have had issues with this. My trick is to put it at the back of my wallet...out of sight, out of mind. As well, approach your spending from a logical standpoint...look at the amount of money you are able to spend each month. Then treat yourself with one item online (within your budget) every month or whenever you feel is a reasonable timeframe. That way, your urge to spend will be satisfied without going overboard. I hope this helps!


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Given a “tentative” diagnosis as a child as I needed services at school for what was later correctly discovered to be a major anxiety disorder.

This misdiagnosis caused me significant stress, which lessened upon finding out the truth about myself from my current and past long-term therapists - that I am an anxious and highly sensitive person but do not have an autism spectrum disorder.

My diagnoses - social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

I’m no longer involved with the ASD world.


b9
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27 Jan 2010, 5:58 am

ToughDiamond wrote:
b9 wrote:

1.an "e-saver" account which pays 5.25% interest (paid monthly). i can not use my atm card at an atm to access it. also it is not valid for "eftpos" transactions.

That's a very good rate - which bank is that? And what country?
.


it is westpac (which stands for "western pacific") bank in australia.
australia did not suffer so badly from the GFC and our economic growth is at a rate that warrants higher interest rates to keep a mild brake on the economy so it does not overheat (inflation need to be kept in check)


ToughDiamond wrote:
b9 wrote:
2. an "everyday" account that my salary gets paid into which is accessible from any atm. it has 0% interest no matter how much i have in it.

In the UK, Lloyds do a "vantage" current account that pays 4% if the balance is kept between £5000 and £7000.

the e-saver account pays the same rate on all balances. i have about $250,000 in it which pays $1073 monthly at the moment. the interest is paid monthly which is good. before the GFC, the rate was 8% which yielded $1635 per month. i transfer what i need to my everyday account so i can use my card.



ToughDiamond
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27 Jan 2010, 9:08 am

^
Hmmm.......considering the way most governments woffle on about the wonderful global market, I wonder if there's any way for people outside Australia to open Australian bank accounts? I seem to remember that wealthy people in the UK used to invest in Swiss bank accounts - the Gnomes of Zurich had an "ask no questions" policy which made it difficult for the taxman to probe those assets, hence their popularlty among the super-rich and other villains.

Or would matters such as varying exchange rates, currency conversion charges and the fact that Os is outside UK legal jurisdiction just cause more complications than my idea is worth?