Credit Cards

My camera’s battery life has been significantly reduced over the past three years or so. Somehow it feels like the suckage happened overnight, but–the point is, my battery sucks and I need to replace it. At first I considered replacing the entire camera, but it’s pricey, and I’d rather spend conservatively over the next few months, or until I get a job that can help me pay my bills. My search for a new battery led me to amazon.com where, as I got ready to check out, I was offered the Amazon Visa card. Along with that offer was a very tempting instant-rebate of $30. $30 off my $39.99 purchase? Hell yeah!

But then I got worried. I don’t want to become one of those people with ten different credit cards and a huge debt at the age of 23. I’m already taking a loan out for school, and I feel awful enough about that. Besides, I do have three credit cards already (though I’ve never thought of them that way; GAP, Macy*s, and Radioshack).

Then, last week, I received a brand new credit card in the mail. I thought it was some sort of mistake, but when I read everything carefully, I saw that it was supposed to replace my Radioshack card.

I’m still sitting here, pondering whether or not I should get an Amazon Visa.

Pros:
-$30 off
-rewards
-I do shop at Amazon enough to warrant a credit card

Cons:
-It’s a credit card

Then I’m wondering if I should just use my brand new credit card, but I’m afraid the bill won’t come before I leave for DC, thus making me pay the bill late.

And finally, I’m wondering why I’m not just taking the platinum card that my bank is offering me.

This is so complicated. Once you open an account, you have to stick with it; it appears that canceling a credit card hurts your credit score–but that not using your credit cards at all isn’t good, either. So you have to make at least one purchase with each credit card per year and pay your bills on time.

Maybe I’ll talk it over with Susan and co. when I see them in NEW YORK THIS WEEKEND! That’s right; I’m heading to New York for a wicked time. I hate it when people call it “The Big Apple.” It’s STUPID.

Anyway. New York!