It's an easy mistake to make. You sign up when the phone is new and basically forget about -- until you realize you could have bought two new phones with the money you spent on the insurance
@predictable.......those rebate offers kill me too. I forget to mail 90% of the time and find them in the desk drawer months after post mark date. Total waste of money!
Same for things such as cell phone insurance. Not too long ago I realized I was paying $7 a month on a year and half old Droid with a $95 deductible. The Droid is worth about twenty bucks right now and by the time I add up the monthly payments and the deductible, I could have a new IPhone!
I moved to the pay cash now or don't buy platform a few years ago. I will only buy something if I can pay for it right now. It hasn't been easy but I have not charged one thing for three years and literally have no credit cards (I didn't say no balances that I'm paying off...haha, just no cards). It sure feels good though to see the debt portfolio come down each month instead of level or rising.
Re: Amazon does not need scent, sound, or beautiful display
Value Hiker
12/4/2011 12:51:57 PM
Yaland;
you are right about gift vouchers, personally I got the several of them each holiday seasons, and had an urge to spend all of them when I still remember.
Predictable,
You are exactly right. That's why I said that it only works if you are extremely disciplined and you build it into your system, like I said. Of course I have been victim of the game before as well, either forgetting to go into autopayment or just not planning ahead. But occasionally I learn something. You can game the system if you outsmart them and make sure not to fall into the trap they are counting you to fall into.
Scott, you're a better man than I, when it comes to managing deferred payments. I know from experience that I don't "Watch it like a hawk" so I end up paying more than I planned.
My last purchase at "0% financing" was a custom swing set. All told, with interest, late fees and penalties, we ended up paying about 12% over the purchase price. Not a good deal and I'm sure it was partly my fault for not complying with all the fine-print terms. Don't think the lender was really watching out for me either.
Home Depot knows that there are enough people like me to make it profitable to offer the special financing deals.
Re: Amazon does not need scent, sound, or beautiful display
Noreen Seebacher
12/2/2011 8:52:01 AM
Don't beat yourself up! They seem like good offers on the surface, though they rarely are.
Re: Amazon does not need scent, sound, or beautiful display
driven
12/2/2011 8:42:44 AM
I've fallen for those. The worst are the ones that offer $25 of "free" stuff. of course, you can't buy anything for that, and end up spending another $25 or more for something that's probably worth $15 (at best) in the first place.
Noreen, the more you explain about this, the more I understand who people are having a hard time being nice. I'm already feeling annoyed and I haven't left the house yet!
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