$4000 Squirrel

[Preita]

I do have to say... Elk tastes REALLY good.

Yes it does! We had this running joke about my grandpa, he had a hunting licence for every kind of animal in the US! lol We would tease that it was his goal to kill or catch one of everything before it was his time...I think he's made it.


Its a toss up which was worse...the time he shot the moose or the bear. Bear is greasy and none to appetizing and well moose...500lbs of moose...he bought 2 extra freezers for moose...we ate moose EVERYTHING for almost 2 years. mmm moose chili, moose burgers, moose stroganaff, moose steak....moose actually tastes pretty good, a little sweet. but it was a lot of moose!

 

[Mary-Beth]

Yes, you NEED credit cards, you pretty much cant buy a house or a new car without a line of credit. And just TRY to reserve a flight on an airline.

No, you do not NEED a credit card. I've never had one. I use a debit card for all of my on line purchases and, like princess, if I don't have enough money to buy something I just save up until I do. Also about a year ago we were approved for a mortgage loan with a very decent interest rate. If the seller hadn't backed out of the deal I'd be out of this stinking trailer right now lol.

Yes, a credit card is a nice thing to have for "just in case" situations and I'm thinking of getting one just to build our credit score a little.

Personally, I am 43 years old, own my house AND the building my business is housed in outright with no mortgage. Own my car outright (yes its a crappy 1996 Ford Taurus wagon but its mine mine mine!!) and have no credit card debt. I use credit cards but pay off the balance every month. And my husband and I are far from rich. Together we earn less than 40k a year.....

I own my home (granted, it's a trailer) and my car as well (2003 Honda Civic) - both paid in full and we make less then 21k a year. It has nothing to do with credit, it's all about money management.

 

[Preita]

I agree about money management. We have 2 credit cards between my husband and me. They never see the light of day. But they sit there just incase the house implodes or whatever.

I have always saved up for everything...that also makes sure you wont have buyers remorse because you have had some time to think about it

 

[princess]

...it's all about money management.

I totally agree. I saved $18k (Australian) in 2 years of frugal living but still ran a car, a horse and a social life....that funded my European trip which was meant to be for a year and 4 years on I'm still here!

I have a good friend who smokes like a chimney and can't resist when she sees 'an awesome pair of shoes that she just must have', but is always scraping together her change to pay bills. She's on a good income but has no idea how to manage it.

 

[Joejr14]

I own my home (granted, it's a trailer) and my car as well (2003 Honda Civic) - both paid in full and we make less then 21k a year. It has nothing to do with credit, it's all about money management.

Right, so what happens if at some point you decide you want a house, you go an apply and they say, "We're sorry, you have no credit--we can't approve that mortgage for $150,000."

Credit cards ARE necessary. If you're using your debit card as a credit card---why not just use a credit card? Get a card that you KNOW you have to pay off at the end of the month (like an Amex) and build yourself some credit while you're making normal, everyday purchases. I use my credit card to buy gas and sometimes groceries. There's nothing wrong with having and using a credit card as long as you're paying the balance off.

 

[Mary-Beth]

Right, so what happens if at some point you decide you want a house, you go an apply and they say, "We're sorry, you have no credit--we can't approve that mortgage for $150,000."

...about a year ago we were approved for a mortgage loan with a very decent interest rate.

I'll see if I can find my notes and stuff and post what the interest rate was.

Credit cards ARE necessary.

That keeps getting said but there are people here that live WITHOUT a credit card, If people can live without them then they are NOT necessary.

*edit
BTW, $150,000 would buy a mansion around here.

 

[Jynx]

Keep in mind MB that you don't have to make huge purchases all the time to build up credit. Buy gas, a few groceries, pack of cigarettes (if you smoke) etc etc. AND if you pay off the entire balance when you get your monthly bill, you do not pay interest. I have 4 of them, and I ******* hate credit cards, but I use them for things I know I am going to be able to pay off right away. I have one that is for emergency use only that stays in my wallet. Other than that, unless I know I'm going to use it, then the other ones stay at home.

People can get into trouble with them if they are not responsible. I think my brother is paying off a $15,000 debt to VISA, and he is only 25. Most people can't understand that they have to pay it back. They don't look at it as their money. That disassociation is normally what screws them. Just don't make any purchases that you wouldn't make with your own debit card. If you don't have the money in the bank, then the debit card will be declined right? Look at it the same way. It can do wonders for your credit. I'm 23, I own a 2005 Jetta GL, a new house, and my credit score is aroun 750... I haven't even finished college yet! Not very many people my age can say the same thing. You just need to teach yourself how to use them.

OT-$150,000 for a mansion? Um, I think I want to move out there. I bought my house for $135,000 brand new. The boom out here has gotten so bad that I can sell it now (6 months later) for almost $220,000. Hey, its an investment and if you play it right, real estate can give you the best return.

 

[Mary-Beth]

Thanks for that advice Catherine.

I just looked quickly through the filing cabinet and didn't see the paper work for the loan.
Don't really feel like looking at it anyway. The guy selling the house decided to tear it down and put trailers on the land to rent out. I F-ing hate trailers. :angry01:

 

[starsevol]

Just remember debit cards DID NOT EXIST until recently. When I took out my loans I NEEDED a credit card. And having a credit card and knowing how to use it responsibly will get you farther than a debit card will. A good credit score says alot about a person...

 

[Mary-Beth]

Just remember debit cards DID NOT EXIST until recently. When I took out my loans I NEEDED a credit card. And having a credit card and knowing how to use it responsibly will get you farther than a debit card will. A good credit score says alot about a person...

You're absolutely correct!
I was never trying to say credit cards are bad, just that you can live without one.

 

[Preita]

Absolutely you can live with out one. I think MB was saying that she uses her debit card...but not like a credit card...meaning that when she is buying something...she actually has the money right there to pay for it. Same as cash.

 

[SnowCorn87]

I don't like the idea of those "guided hunts". If you ask me, thats not hunting at all. Its just weird... Its like those hunts where you go to a place where they keep it stocked with game... Thats just weird. I guess if you're a city slicker you think you're really being a man by going out there for the sake of shooting something... Not something I would do, I prefer real hunting.

 

[ghosthousecorns]

You can live without one, but it's tough. Everyone looks at credit scores, landlords do when you rent, even some employers when you apply for work.
I also live in a mobile home. I used to live in a really really crappy mobile home in CA (manufactured dwelling if you prefer) I found a much better, nicer, newer one in OR and it cost less than what I sold the other one for. Because I still have to pay rent every month it's just not the same as owning a house to me. I have the ambition that I want to own a real house and I know I won't be able to if I don't have a good credit score. At least it's paid for, and my truck (98 chevy) is finally paid for. I paid the remaining balance off finally but had to finance it at first, and the interest rate I got for the truck was horrible because I had not enough credit yet at the time, I had just gotten out of debt. You can live without a credit rating but it's hard to advance that way unless you happen to have the $150,000 in a box under your bed or a family that has money and will loan it to you, and not all of us are so lucky.

 

[coyote]

I have no credit cards. Have had none for over 14 years. I do have a debit card. And, during those 14 years I have bought a house. A Habitat for Humanity house. 0% interest mortgage, $276.00/month which includes overage for escrow for taxes and insurance. I don't have the kind of lifestyle that demands rental cars or airline tickets. Also, when I use the debit card, I don't have any interest to add to the price of the purchase.

 

[coyote]

I don't like the idea of those "guided hunts". If you ask me, thats not hunting at all. Its just weird... Its like those hunts where you go to a place where they keep it stocked with game... Thats just weird. I guess if you're a city slicker you think you're really being a man by going out there for the sake of shooting something... Not something I would do, I prefer real hunting.

There is a guy here in Montana that was just arrested for several counts of poaching. He owns about 1200 acres and was running an outfitter business on his property. People from all over would pay him for the privilege of guided hunts on his property. Private property or not, game animals belong to the public and can only be killed during hunting season by those holding valid licenses.

The guy was caught when an airline passenger from Montana overheard three of his customers talking about their trip. The passenger called a poaching hotline and turned them in. The customers were charged with poaching but the business owner was fined $25K, imprisoned for 1 year and had his right to hunt and own guns revoked FOR LIFE.

Currently Montana has, after 15 years, re-opened limited bison hunting. Licenses have been issued for the purpose of killing bison that have left Yellowstone Park. There was quite an outcry 15 years ago.

I, personally, am not reconciled to this policy. It is promoted as a "fair game" hunt, but I don't agree. These animals are habituated to human proximity and don't have the fear advantage of other game animals. I think it is no better than a canned hunt.

The controversy surrounding bison leaving the park and wandering into Montana "proper" stems from a fear that Montana could lose its Brucellosis Free status if infected bison spread the disease to cattle. I say bupkis. Other large game animals can be infected also, thus exposing cattle grazing on PUBLIC lands to the disease. And even being exposed themselves from infected cattle. Apparently the bison no longer belong to the American people when they leave the boundaries of Yellowstone Park.

In contradiction to this fear about Brucellosis, Montana must accept Canadian cattle and products even though there have been confirmed diagnoses of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in Canadian cattle.

The logic (?) of poitics!

 

[Joejr14]

I have no credit cards. Have had none for over 14 years. I do have a debit card. And, during those 14 years I have bought a house. A Habitat for Humanity house. 0% interest mortgage, $276.00/month which includes overage for escrow for taxes and insurance. I don't have the kind of lifestyle that demands rental cars or airline tickets. Also, when I use the debit card, I don't have any interest to add to the price of the purchase.

Well if you pay the CC balance on time, you pay no interest rates. Even if you take an extra month---the added interest is so small you hardly even notice it.

 

[starsevol]

Yeah I'm wicked old....
I remember life without microwave ovens, computers,debit cards, bar codes, cable tv, touchtone phones and Kwanzaa.

I remember when Exxon was Esso and Mastercard was Mastercharge.

And it all happened so darn fast....

 

[ghosthousecorns]

Diner's club... Pan Am...I remember being all excited when Pong came out, the first video game ever. Remember how huge the first cell phones were?
I hate new technology sometimes, yet if you don't embrace it you get left behind.
How's this thread get so :-offtopic anyway? Sorry blckkat!

 

[Clint Boyer]

I don't like the idea of those "guided hunts". If you ask me, thats not hunting at all.

I think you're thinking of what's called a canned hunt, where the animal is in a cage or fenced area.

I worked as a guide for an outfitter in Montana and believe me, we had to 'hunt' just like everyone else.

 

[coyote]

So Clint, what are your feeling about the bison hunt.

They showed pictures on the news of the two that were killed today. The bison just graze and totally ignore the people, like they are accustomed to do during tourist season. Even after one was shot and the people went down to start processing it, the rest of the herd just hung around eating. "Fair Game" hunt or not? Doesn't seem like sport to me.

There are 50 permits and three months for each recipient to kill his/her bison. FWP are saying that by the end of the three months the bison will understand what is going on and will run when they see humans. Bet that behavior will be real popular when the tourists come back to the park next summer.

Still, I suppose it beats being rounded up, and shot in pens.