I was thinking today about all the things I could have done to perhaps have stopped myself being irresponsible with credit cards.

Gambling made up part of my credit card debt, along with irresponsible purchases of material things such as games consoles, televisions and things I did not need.

If I had the mindset I find myself with today, I could have done the following: –

• Cut up all of my Credit Cards.
• Never have even taken out a Credit Card.
• Called my Credit Card providers and asked them to reduce my limit.
• Took up a hobby that didn’t cost me anything or very little money.
• Appreciated what I already had and understand that the experience of life is more important than the latest game.
• Stopped gambling sooner.

In a previous life

Previously, I would find myself obsessing over my new purchase, researching it, getting excited about buying it and planning how I would get it. One thing I never thought about was how much it would cost me.

I never even considered the cost an issue because my flexible friend, otherwise known as the credit card was going to stump up the cash. Unfortunately in the real world all I was doing was adding more onto the pile of debt.

With the gambling side of things, because I could not actually see the physical money it didn’t stop me and make me think about what was actually happening. Whilst I could have installed software to stop me gambling, I would have been able to get around it in a number of different ways.

I suppose I might have been a bit bored and spending money I didn’t have entertained me. Gambling may also have been because of this boredom, and the potential of winning possibly excited me, although in reality it just costed me money I didn’t have.

In Hindsight

What I really should have done is to think. A lack of thought is exactly why I am in so much debt today. Had I thought about how much debt I was getting into, maybe things would be different.

However the situation I face is what it is. It was caused by a lack of thought and self-control, with a sprinkling of irresponsible behaviour  It is too late for me and I can only share this experience with you. So the next time you think about putting something on your credit card make sure you will be able to pay it back.