So, why do so many people suck hardcore at personal finances?

(Warning, rant)
The way I was raised, you don't buy anything unless you can pay for it.

If you can get it used and it works just the same, why bother getting it new for twice the price?

I don't make a lot of money compared to everyone else in the area I live in, and my wife doesn't work, but I live a whole lot more comfortably then a lot of people, because as soon as they get money they just spend it on random crap and have no idea where it went, max out a few credit cars while they're at it.

Then some people even turn around and blame the credit card/lending companies. I can understand predatory lending, but it wouldn't work if people just paid back what they owed in the first place.
(/rant)

Some other random dude's thoughts:
http://moneysmartlife.com/why-are-some-people-so-ignorant-about-money/

I pay all my stuff cash usually. I buy crap on my credit card like gas, and take out but I pay the whole balance every month.

Yeah, live a little more modestly than my peers. They all bought new cars, and I really like my 11 year old car (my 42 year old car is a great backup in case the other breaks). I paid off almost everything (still have a student loan) and now I can live comfortably on about $2k a month.

I put everything on my credit card that I possibly can. I get reward points that I redeem for gas cards, and I didn't used to have to pay for gas because of it, but now gas prices are too high, and I have to spend about $15 every so often. I pay off the balance in full every 2 weeks.

This last year was the first year I really financed anything big. I finanaced a snowmobile. Because I wanted to live my life and not really worry about anything else.

Well, now that I've been there done that, I won't do it again.

My truck is about to die (turbo is going @ 130,000 miles exhuast leaks transmission etc) and I would like to get a newer one, but it would be easier for me to drop 15k in repairs into the truck rather then drop 30+ for the replacement.


Lets just say that the last few months of living on savings have reset my spending habits for the most part ;)

I only have a Sams Club credit card. It came with a free chair.

I pay it off whenever I get the ebill.

As far as gas, I'd like a BP card, but those fuckers won't give me a card because I have no job.

I put everything on my credit card. I'm almost up to a free cruise in points :) The key is to over pay. As soon as I did that the first time they called me up and said "We've raised your credit limit and lowered your interest mr. Osborne" I said. Thankyakindly!

Did anyone end up trying the paypal money market?

I used to, a long time ago. Then I switched to an ING savings account (let me refer you and you get $25 *WINK WINK NUDGE* (I also get $15)).