I was reading NoDebtPlan’s recent experience with CC.  He made a mistake in paying his CC off and is not hit with fees.  OUCH.  Couple of a things. 

One, this is probably why I just pay my bills and keep a 1 month buffer in my bank checking account. Yes, it’s a huge “waste” of money but I personally sleep better knowing all our bills are paid and we have enough to pay them if they needed to be doubled!

Second, my DH has almost paid late fees and interest on a credit card.  When we first met my DH was not very responsible.  He didn’t spend much, very frugal guy.  However he was very irresponsible about paying bills.  Not just credit cards but utilities, etc.  He still is actually!  This is how I got into managing out money.

When we meet I found a CC bill my DH had forgotten to pay.  He called and had the charges removed, but he didn’t use a credit card again for quite awhile.  You’re probably thinking why would he?  Well we got joint cards ever after and he never had to pay a bill ontime again.

So why would we use credit cards?  Well it’s not because it was a credit card he didn’t pay the bill.  Nope.  When we first moved in together he also “forgot” to pay our cable, phone, and electric bills.  We decided we would take turns paying bills and I found the bills and realized he hadn’t paid them.  I had to “nag” him and “remind” him to pay our bills. It was too tiresome, instead I took over bill paying 100% and he just asked me for money.

And yes his allowance continues to today.  He has not paid a bill in about 8 years.  And we’ve never not paid a cable, phone, cell phone, utility, credit bill late ever.  Like I said everything is paid at the beginning of the month no matter what. 

Actually as I am sitting here writing this post and paying all my bills.  My mortgage, HOA, CC, utilities are all done for September.  Yes it saddening that I have about $5k in my checking account but all my bills are paid and I still have money in case of emergencies and enough to pay our October bills as well.  September’s paychecks will be for October.

So my DH is not a huge spendthrift and actually very frugal.  But he is a very absentminded guy and if we weren’t together he’s paid many a late fees on just bills in general.  Not usually on CC because he didn’t use them much, but he typically was late on his utilities, the only thing he was never late was rent.

Moral of the story?  Don’t use CC if you have a bad memory.  Also don’t pay any bills if you are “forgetful” like my DH.