Spending Under the Influence
Everyone is well aware of the dangers of getting behind the wheel after a night of drinking at the bar.
However, there is something lurking in your pocket that could be potentially more dangerous than your car keys: your credit card.
Everyone's had one of those nights where they wake up in the morning not remembering what exactly happened the night before.
There's flashes of going out, having a good time, and then the last thing you can think of is taking that infamous shot of tequila.
The entire night is a blur -- until you glance over your credit card statement.
It turns out, you ordered drinks for a few dozen strangers, bought a bottle of the establishment's finest champagne, and paid for everyone's cab ride home.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you have nothing to show for it but $500 of debt.
Hopefully, this scenario doesn't occur often for you; but certainly, it happens to some of us more than others.
For those of us who don't already have a load of debt, this type of reckless spending can be written off as a loss.
Unfortunately, for those who are already overwhelmed by credit card debt, this unnecessary expenditure can be devastating.
Like the accompanying hangover, there's nothing you can do about it after the fact but slide back some aspirin and mull in misery as you pull the covers back over your head.
There is, however, something you can do to prevent this situation from occurring in the future.
The best way to prevent over-spending during a night out drinking is to leave your credit card at home.
This might seem like common sense, but sometimes, the most obvious solutions are the best.
The key is to think ahead of time.
Plan ahead by making a trip out to the ATM before heading out for the night.
Withdraw a reasonable amount of money that you can spend to stick within your budget.
Then, most importantly, take your credit card out of your wallet and put in a safe place that you won't forget.
If these steps are followed properly, every night out should be a fun one -- without having to face the financial consequences the morning after.
While it's important to keep your own finances in check while you're out having a good time, it's also important to keep a watchful eye on your friends as well.
It might seem irresistible to pass down a free drink, but when you see your buddy pull out the credit card, it's probably a good idea to tell him to put it away.
Always remember -- friends don't let friends spend drunk.
However, there is something lurking in your pocket that could be potentially more dangerous than your car keys: your credit card.
Everyone's had one of those nights where they wake up in the morning not remembering what exactly happened the night before.
There's flashes of going out, having a good time, and then the last thing you can think of is taking that infamous shot of tequila.
The entire night is a blur -- until you glance over your credit card statement.
It turns out, you ordered drinks for a few dozen strangers, bought a bottle of the establishment's finest champagne, and paid for everyone's cab ride home.
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you have nothing to show for it but $500 of debt.
Hopefully, this scenario doesn't occur often for you; but certainly, it happens to some of us more than others.
For those of us who don't already have a load of debt, this type of reckless spending can be written off as a loss.
Unfortunately, for those who are already overwhelmed by credit card debt, this unnecessary expenditure can be devastating.
Like the accompanying hangover, there's nothing you can do about it after the fact but slide back some aspirin and mull in misery as you pull the covers back over your head.
There is, however, something you can do to prevent this situation from occurring in the future.
The best way to prevent over-spending during a night out drinking is to leave your credit card at home.
This might seem like common sense, but sometimes, the most obvious solutions are the best.
The key is to think ahead of time.
Plan ahead by making a trip out to the ATM before heading out for the night.
Withdraw a reasonable amount of money that you can spend to stick within your budget.
Then, most importantly, take your credit card out of your wallet and put in a safe place that you won't forget.
If these steps are followed properly, every night out should be a fun one -- without having to face the financial consequences the morning after.
While it's important to keep your own finances in check while you're out having a good time, it's also important to keep a watchful eye on your friends as well.
It might seem irresistible to pass down a free drink, but when you see your buddy pull out the credit card, it's probably a good idea to tell him to put it away.
Always remember -- friends don't let friends spend drunk.
Source...