financial discipline

currently very conscious of my own finances.

did some checks on my bank accounts and credit balances. i increased my credit limit on the citibank dividend (which eventually i will regret having done that) but decided to leave the credit limit on the other card as it is.

and i found out the switch card which i signed up to "help" evelyn, is actually not too bad. i get taxi rebates, lower annual interest rates and cash withdrawal without any additional charges.

so anyway, back to my finances. my reimbursements for the melbourne trip finally came in. as much as i am so tempted to splurge due to the sudden surge in my bank account, i decided not to.

in fact, i shall go pay up as much of my credit card bills as possible. don't wanna end up in a debt cycle and get stuck in it.

in fact, i shall use my bonus to pay off as much of my credit card bills (and my mum's). let's just hope they won't be too conservative about bonus this year. i really worked my ass off.

i remember scoffing at people who don't have money but kept signing stuff off their credit cards. stupid things like limited edition sports shoes when they have tons that they barely wear. and then accumulating debt...a mountain of debts. i told myself i'll never end up like that.

never spend money that you don't have.

people tend to go crazy when they get credit cards. so i'm quite glad i only got my first credit card when i started earning regular, reasonable pay...aka...last year.

i'm not in serious debt, though i sound like i am. it's just that when you don't keep track of your bills. and you only pay lump sums every month because you can't remember how much you chalked, it accumulates. and before you know it, you can't remember what it was that led to this certain amount.

i'm within control. i kinda have a considerable bill coz of some stuff i bought on interest-free instalments. yes...i am very careful about such stuff.

oh, and i never believe in just paying the minimum sum. it's too pathetic. it hardly does anything to reduce your debt. it's a vicious, vicious ploy.

by the way, my financial resolution for the coming year (and i'm starting a little earlier...from this month onwards) is to save up to AT LEAST 3 months worth of my monthly expenses by the end of 2009 and not touch it.

i think this is what resolutions should be like. simple. do-able. realistic.

and from now until hongkong (9dec-12dec), i shall NOT spend money on items that are not necessities. i.e., no shoes, no clothes, no bags, no magazines and nonsense.

if i have to, i shall make use of all the vouchers i got for my birthday.

oh yes, i bought the sex and the city movie dvd already. used my borders gift card! =)

see...i'm disciplined.