Cashing My Brain In

I love learning.  Working on this debt-reduction thing has been a fantastic way to stretch my grown-up brain.

I actually read the fine-print on a brochure tucked in with my credit-card statement!  I'm glad I did.  For years now I've used the promotional low-interest credit card cheques to transfer balances.  And up until now, there's been no charge for that.  I've saved interest with just a little maneuvering of time and money. But no more.  Royal Bank must have caught on to the fact that I was using their promotions for our benefit.  Now they wanna sneak a little more money outta me.  Well, $300/transaction!  But I don't think they figured on me actually reading the fine-print.  Bye bye transfers.

We gotta know what we're signing up for.  We've gotta be on guard.  We need to be pro-active and use our noggins!

I also read the fine-print as I looked up getting my credit report and score online.  If I want it fast, it'll cost a little money.  But what they don't tell you up front is that you'll be signed up automatically as a member, and that "membership" costs something...charged yearly to your credit card.  Sneaky turds.  So I'm pushing print on my computer, using a little pen ink and going old-school--with envelope and stamp.  Won't cost me more than $0.66!  All I have to do is be patient for a couple weeks till I get my report in the mail.

It amazes me how much I glean about life generally, from money-management specifically.  Oh, and a little plug...if you wanna know lots of great financial tips, check out Gail Vaz-Oxlade's website.  For instance, did you know that being pre-approved for a mortgage doesn't guarantee you'll get financing when you put in an offer?  Yeah!  I know!  I didn't know that either!  Ahhh, I can feel my grey matter synapsis snappin' :)

Thanks Lord, for giving me a little money to use and learn about, for Your glory.