Here's the deal. I need to use my credit card to get an additional 850 miles QUICKLY to buy an airline ticket. That means, in my card's scenario, that I need to spend $850 (1 point/$spent). However, I don't want to buy anything. I have heard of some place where you can buy coins, I think it was silver dollars, for a very small premium, and you could use a credit card. This would be the perfect solution because I'm using my credit card to buy negotiable currency. Anyone familiar with this, or can offer another alternative for me to build miles without having to get 'goods'?
posted by lometogo on Dec 16, 2009 - 17 answers

Credit Card debt for teh first time in my life, I'm lost as to what my options are. [more inside]
posted by bluehermit on Aug 4, 2009 - 20 answers

Thirty days from being broke. Four in 10 people said their savings would last only 30 days if they lost their job, while 38 per cent said they would have to use credit cards to cover household bills and other essential expenses. Is this just an Aussie thing? I find the trend towards using credit to pay day to day living expenses a bit scary, but how common is it really in your demographic/country/etc? Is living that close to the financial edge the new norm in the Western world?
posted by Lolie on Jul 15, 2009 - 50 answers

Scared of going to prison due to tax payments. Need advice... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 21, 2009 - 7 answers

Seeking techniques for aiding/supporting/educating a financially irresponsible spouse who talks the talk but won't walk the walk. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 3, 2009 - 27 answers

What are the BEST credit card offers with values like cash back and other perks? I have excellent credit now, and want to buck up on credit now as I will be losing my job in August. I pay it off monthly. It's time the banks work for ME instead of THEM. Clark Howard was not helpful.
posted by ~Sushma~ on May 28, 2009 - 15 answers

Need to find a company to fix my credit score and rating. I didn't understand years back when I had a credit card and kind of messed it up. Please help. [more inside]
posted by minsid on May 20, 2009 - 9 answers

Why was my credit line increased? [more inside]
posted by luckyveronica on Apr 15, 2009 - 15 answers

Is there a single resource that I can read to get an undertanding of the USian "money culture"? As a European, I am puzzled by many things I read aroung the Internets about the way personal finance appears to be handled in the US. [more inside]
posted by themel on Apr 9, 2009 - 46 answers

I was born in the US, lived in Canada for ten years, and moved back to the States last year. While I was in Canada, I built up a solid credit rating- I had two credit cards, an unsecured line of credit with low interest (7%) and overdraft protection on my checking account up to $3,500. At one point when I was underemployed I built up some credit card debt, but I payed it off. Last year, when I moved back to the US for grad school, I got into a bad pattern of leaning on my credit cards and low-interest line of credit to pay for moving and start up expenses. This June, the world financial collapse coincided with one of my own- I was employed super part time, was making around $750 a month and was struggling to pay rent and buy $20 worth of groceries a week. I just couldn't pay my debt, and I paid very minimally, then not at all. I know I probably should have called the bank and tried to work something out, but what can I say- I panicked and froze. Currently, my total debt load is $14,000 on the line of credit, $3,700 on the overdraft and $1,400 on my Visa. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jan 13, 2009 - 6 answers

Someone near to me has recently recognised, and begun to address, a serious problem with debt. The debt is not a result of extravagant spending; it seems to stem from persistently bad decisions about consumer credit, and a habit of repaying loans with other loans. So... once the debt has been consolidated and the credit cards have been destroyed, what measures can this person take to ensure they never, ever get into debt again? Is it possible to voluntarily ban oneself from being offered credit? The person is in Australia.
posted by anonymous on Dec 30, 2008 - 9 answers

Traditional wisdom suggests that saving money while in debt is a bad idea: you pay hundreds of times more in finance charges on money you owe than you would get in interest on money you save. Under this scenario, your "safety net", at least until you are debt-free, would be the credit lines you are clearing out. However, in a response to a Lifehacker comment I made outlining this traditional wisdom, someone replied that given the financial crisis, companies could then lower your credit limit, regardless of cause, killing your safety net. Given this, is the traditional wisdom now wrong? [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Oct 13, 2008 - 19 answers

Should use my mutual funds to pay off my credit card debt? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Sep 10, 2008 - 10 answers

I'm thinking of getting a credit card -is it worth it? [more inside]
posted by Flamingoroad on Jul 13, 2008 - 14 answers

A man has debt, he comes into a little bit of money... how best should he spend it? [more inside]
posted by crewshell on Jun 13, 2008 - 13 answers

I have this money-making idea in mind, and I wanted to test its potential viability and profitability with some of you who may know more about banking and credit cards... [more inside]
posted by Christ, what an asshole on Apr 28, 2008 - 15 answers

Where can I get $1200? (quickly) [more inside]
posted by sixcolors on Mar 11, 2008 - 58 answers

Recommendations for a financial advisor/accountant for a young couple in NYC? [more inside]
posted by scazza on Jan 30, 2008 - 2 answers

I am trying to build up my credit. I would like to pay my rent by charging my credit card and then paying it off each month. Is there a service that will mail a check for you by charging a card? Can any one thing how to make this work?
posted by Morgangr on Jan 6, 2008 - 11 answers

How can I set up a system for allowing fraternity members to pay their dues by credit card without shelling out cash for a service? Any legal issues? [more inside]
posted by deeman on Nov 15, 2007 - 7 answers

Beyond the obvious (Google and MeFi searches have been done), what can I do to restore my credit over the next 2 and half years? [more inside]
posted by The Deej on Jul 7, 2007 - 9 answers

I am in my 20's, have no debt and have no need for a loan; should I get one anyways to help my credit? [more inside]
posted by MrBCID on Jun 23, 2007 - 18 answers

I've paid off all my credit cards.... now what? [more inside]
posted by weiler63 on Mar 7, 2007 - 22 answers

Bad Credit Filter: When I was 19/20 years old, my credit was ruined. It's nearly 7 years later, are these charges going to disappear, or is that just an urban legend? [more inside]
posted by idledebonair on Feb 20, 2007 - 40 answers

So... Debt collectors are calling, and I'm not sure if they're acting within the law. Please advise. [more inside]
posted by ganzhimself on Jan 20, 2007 - 13 answers

Cheap Money Filter: I've got a moderate amount of credit card debt right now ($15k), at reasonable but not great rates (13-18%). I'll be making more money in the upcoming year, and the debt load is manageable, but I want to explore trading these loans with an unsecured line-of-credit type loan or some other loan. Advice? Suggestions on where to get a good rate (i.e. got any good junk mail lately)? [more inside]
posted by zpousman on Jan 10, 2007 - 15 answers

Why would I need $80,000 in credit? [more inside]
posted by backseatpilot on Jan 6, 2007 - 27 answers

I'm being offered free money to try a Chase service out. Should I take it? [more inside]
posted by icebourg on Dec 29, 2006 - 9 answers

Buying a new computer: which of these options will be better for my credit in the long run? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Dec 28, 2006 - 13 answers

I have a question about resolving an issue with my credit that is keeping me from opening a new bank account. I was overdrawn at Washington Mutual in California. The amount is around seven hundred dollars. It went to a credit agency a while ago and now shows up on my credit report. I have moved to Pennsylvania and when I went to open a new bank account, surprise surprise was not allowed to. The bank employee told me that what I needed to do is call the credit company and tell them that I will pay the full amount, (which I want to do, and thankfully, can now), if I get them to agree to send a written confirmation that I have made good on my debt and that the matter has been resolved. He said that is the only way that I will ever get to open an account at any bank. A few weeks ago, I went through metafilter with a fine tooth comb to find advice on how to go about this, but didnt find the answers I need. [more inside]
posted by mammamia on Dec 5, 2006 - 17 answers

Help! I need tips for cleaning up my credit before I get hitched. [more inside]
posted by weirdoactor on Dec 1, 2006 - 10 answers

I'm having a one-day lingerie sample sale in Edinburgh, and am really struggling to work out the best way to process credit cards on the day. [more inside]
posted by ukdanae on Nov 4, 2006 - 9 answers

I just landed a well paying job in Seattle after having a soul sucking job, where I did not save a penny for about a year. While the new salary will be great, I am essentially broke, and I need a $3000 loan to relocate and get started (which has been determined to be my responsibility to cover by negociation). None of my relatives or friends have this kind of cash, nor do I have a credit card. So how would I go about getting $3000? Can I just take my job offer into a bank and use that as leverage for a loan? Mefites, help me back out of this corner and find the cash to live my dream.
posted by |n$eCur3 on Oct 27, 2006 - 16 answers

Like most Americans, my wife and I are struggling with debts. I thought of a great way to eliminate them, but my wife does not agree. What do you think? [more inside]
posted by Monkey0nCrack on Oct 3, 2006 - 42 answers

How do you find and pick the right credit union? [more inside]
posted by pomegranate on Sep 8, 2006 - 5 answers

I got a few credit card checks with 2% APR until April 07. Should I use them to invest in the stock market? [more inside]
posted by monkeycool on Sep 3, 2006 - 38 answers

Well over a week ago, I took some friends out to brunch and paid with my debit card. The charge still has not been debited from my bank account. Is there a limit to how long the restaurant has to deduct the funds? [more inside]
posted by catfood on Aug 8, 2006 - 10 answers

SketchyDebtCollectionsFilter: Someone calling and demanding payment on a credit card that was paid off and cancelled in 2002. Fraud? Error? What can be done? [more inside]
posted by moss on Jul 6, 2006 - 16 answers

What actually happens when one goes through credit counseling and/or debt consolidation? I'm in an ugly mess and I'm scared--everyone tells me it's not that bad, but that's only in comparison to horror stories. I see that it's not getting better anytime soon. Details inside--any practical advice is appreciated! [more inside]
posted by scaryblackdeath on May 1, 2006 - 34 answers

My wife and I are about to go through invitro fertilization and we think we'll need about $20,000. We have maybe half of that now and would like to get a credit card to pay the difference. We're looking for a card that has 0% for a year, preferably some rewards back (miles, cash, whatever), and obviously a somewhat high limit. Our credit is very good so we should qualify for the good deals and rates. Any recommendations for good credit cards that would fit our needs?
posted by misterdot on Apr 16, 2006 - 10 answers

I have finally paid off all my delinquent credit card debts. My credit rating is pretty crappy though. But I now have a secure job, and am now ready to re-open some of the closed accounts (if it's even possible), and also hopefully reinstate the original credit-limits on them. But there's that pesky issue of my credit rating standing in the way. What is my best strategy to get my credit back on track? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 20, 2006 - 13 answers

Which banks are the most secure? [more inside]
posted by scazza on Dec 19, 2005 - 14 answers

DellHellfilter: Dell are telling my sister that if she doesn't sign the contract they sent her for a new computer her credit rating will be affected and she won't be able to get credit for anything again. This can't possibly be true, can it? [more inside]
posted by Little Bravado on Nov 22, 2005 - 29 answers

Ok, so it says that the typical person earns $14/hour, and the typical household earns less than $40k/year. Yet everywhere I look, I see displays of wealth. Expensive homes, cars, boats, TVs, activities, etc. So my question is: how are people paying for all of these expensive things? [more inside]
posted by eas98 on Feb 22, 2005 - 46 answers

How should I repair my bad credit? I'm 26, my income ($53k) exceeds my expenses and I have only $1.5k debt, but I was awful about paying bills on time until the last year or so. Now I'm finding it difficult to secure a car loan. I haven't even gotten a credit report because I'm afraid to look at it. I will probably end up talking to a credit counselor, but I thought I'd ask for advice before I do. College kids, don't wait until the utility bill is yellow to pay it. Trust me.
posted by anonymous on Nov 10, 2004 - 13 answers

My wallet was stolen -- how do I protect myself against ID theft? [more inside]
posted by melissa may on Nov 7, 2004 - 7 answers

Is there such a thing as a disposable credit card? [more inside]
posted by RavinDave on Jun 26, 2004 - 12 answers

Trying to solve a problem for a dear friend from highschool. She's been ignoring her school loans and came to me out of confidence. They were around 22k about six years ago; She doesn't know how to get herself straightened out. A second job isn't an option (based on her first) as the first job pays well (travel), but is being garnished; She needs a way to get them off her back, but not overwhelm her so much that she drowns trying to deal with them.

I'm ok with money, but I just can't figure out what to tell her.

Are there any counselors who specialize in this that I could send her to? If you're shy about this and dealt with this, please feel free to contact me directly by email.
posted by filmgeek on Dec 20, 2003 - 12 answers

There's Paypal, eGold, amazon bucks et al. Is there a "net-cash" system out there that people from all over the world - from Aruba to Brazil to Zimbabwe - can use?
posted by dabitch on Dec 16, 2003 - 5 answers