Thursday, July 5, 2012

Becoming an adult: The credit card

After two years of trying, I finally got my first credit card today.  Yay!  Why did it take two years to get a credit card you may ask...well, it was because my credit score was a 0.  This is not because I racked up thousands of dollars in bills or didn't pay my bills.  It was because I have never had a loan and I always pay on time and in full.  It has been a battle and our banker was frustrated for us at the situation.  I have always chosen not to have a credit card because it was never something I wanted to tempt myself with.  I know that I would never have abused it, but just didn't want to have one. 

My not having a credit card was never a problem until Brad (who also had never had a credit card or anything) and I tried to buy our house.  Neither of use had any credit and we were told that it would be eaiser to handle things if we just went through a manuel underwrite with just Brad.  We knew that we wanted to work on the situation so next time both of us can sign for the house.  And I am a worrier and want to have a credit score for just in case something would happen to Brad and I have to take care of the two little people in our house.

The thing that frustrated us the most about the whole getting a credit card for me was that we have been wise with our money.  There are so many that aren't that have a credit card.  If I would have just gotten on in college where they hand them out like candy I wouldn't be in this situation.  It is pathetic that in order to do certain things like buy a house you need credit.  It should be more based on your records of paying bills and the such.  Why should I be punished for making good choices?

Brad would prefer that there were no credit cards in wallets. He is a big Dave Ramsey fan. But we both can agree that credit cards have their advantages. We only use his for whatever gets us points for the month and pay it off at the end of the month. Neither of us could handle owing money!! Also, there may come a time when we need to have a credit card, so it is safety tool.

But alas, the fight is over and now I can join the millions of other people with plastic in their pockets.