Yesterday, I shared what was the first charge on my first credit card. That first month, I charged about $125.

According to the next month’s statement, I paid $80. Not quite paying the balance in full, but not paying the minimum payment ($20), either. But I turned around and charged an additional $215 on the card. By the end of December 1995, the card was basically maxed out with $22 left in available credit.

Three months was all it took.

Oh…what I would tell my 18 year-old self if I had a chance. I’m not sure it would have done much good, though. I should have known better. I like math - I should have realized what an 18.15% interest rate meant.

Anyways, what’s done is done. I never want to max out another credit card again.


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  1. Ryan S. responded:

    Gee, talk about starting small… but I’m so glad you’ve decided to attack your debt!
    -
    Ryan
    http://uncommon-cents.net/

  2. Frugal Dad responded:

    I maxed out my first card at 20. I had just started working for a bank and their employee rate was too good to pass up. I promptly opened a $2,000 card and consolidated my other balances. And so it began - I should have cut up those cards, but I didn’t, and soon ran those back up either.

  3. SavingDiva responded:

    I dont’ think I’ve ever maxed out a card, but I had much higher limits.

  4. Mrs. Micah responded:

    Credit cards sound so easy–not having to worry about paying it all off now. I’ve never actually had one, so this is mostly theory. I’ll remember this if I ever get my own.

  5. Al responded:

    Came across your blog and enjoy reading it. It makes me feel better, having no consumer debt (sorry!) I couldn’t help but wonder, and I went through the archives with no luck, how you amassed so much CC debt?? (Though, admittedly I found a post about how you smoke, and I have very little sorrow for people in debt who fork over money for smokes {now, and in healthcare later.}) Good luck anyway, though!

  6. MVP responded:

    Okay, here’s my cc confession: I can’t say I ever maxed out a card, but I’m definitely guilty of abusing them. I got my first cards in college (one my mom gave me - it had a low APR, but I still had to pay it), mainly for emergencies, which of course turned into my travel/party/need-a-new-dress fund. I charged a couple trips to Mexico and music festivals as a poor college student, and I lived on them during the lean post-college, low-paying internship days. Once I got my better-paying, full-time job, I was into the single-girl life and used the cards mainly for car repairs, weekend ski trips (hey, how’s a girl gonna meet someone if she just stays in her apartment all day?), and of course those emergency designer shoes! Then I got smart. I added up all the debt, got temporarily depressed, then realized it wouldn’t be long, if I kept it up, before I wouldn’t be able to pay my bills, and I had no one to bail me out. So I got on Dave Ramsey’s plan and the rest is history. No more ccs for me!

  7. Catherine responded:

    Tagged you on the 123 book meme!

    Only maxed out a card once, while I was waiting for the money to come through after my car was totaled. That was a rough winter. :( Since then, I’ve never been able to max them out, because as soon as I got close, they raised the limit! (I’m much better now…)

  8. Cynthia responded:

    I don’t have any of my records from way back then. I wonder what my first charge was. I don’t think I’ve ever maxed any out because like Catherine, they always upped my credit limit whenever I got close! At least now I have all this available credit and a rapidly shrinking balance - that looks better on the credit report, right!?! :)

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