The One Where I Accidentally Got a Credit Card

I’m not kidding.

For years it’s gone like this…

Salesperson: “Would you like to apply for a store card and get 20% off?”
Me: “No, thank you.”
Salesperson: “Why not?” (or, “May I ask why not?”)
Me: “I’m allergic.”
Salesperson: “Excuse me?”
Me: “I’m allergic. They give me hives and make me all itchy, so I’ll pass, thank you.”

It works every time. I’ve heard people try and give real reasons and when they do there’s always an objection handler. I’m fine with that, it’s the salesperson’s job (and sometimes their bonus) that makes them do what they do. But the allergy defense is one no one has been able to refute and I still get to be polite. Plus, sometimes they break out laughing and that’s always fun.

But I bought something for a friend of mine and she was going to pay me back so when they asked me if I wanted the 20% off I thought, “It will be less that she owes me” and said yes, fully expecting to get denied credit AND get a 10% discount anyway.

So when I was approved I looked totally flabbergasted, was totally speechless and finally uttered… “well crap”

I received the card in the mail today and I’m trying to decide what to do with it. I already paid off my friend’s purchase as soon as I had access to the internet payment site (it took a few days to get it set up in their system) and it’s no longer an issue and I paid no interest or charges.

I have begun to shop at Old Navy fairly regularly because the prices are right and the clothes are cute and they have “slim” fitting clothing for my oldest who we have trouble getting into pants because they fall off if they’re long enough. So if I had money and was going to go shopping anyway, maybe it’s better to get the rewards and coupons by using the store card.

As a fan of Dave Ramsey, something about it doesn’t sit right with me, though. I’ve also been considering cutting it up and never using it…or canceling the card outright…or burning it with a torch and screaming at it like it’s Frankenstein. But it’s not a monster – it’s a piece of plastic.

The key is this: If I spend one penny more than I was going to BECAUSE I have the card, the card is a problem for me to have. If I would have spent that much anyway and pay it when I get home, the card is not a problem.

But how do you measure that? It’s so subject to rationalization that I would never really know if I was being straight with myself or bending the truth. That scares me.

But I told the husband the other day that I wanted to take the girls in to get them some new clothes to get them through the rest of the school year and in the envelope with my card I got a 30% off coupon. Not on one item, either. So I was already going to go and spend money, now I’ll be spending less. Because I have the credit card.

I don’t know if that’s logic or if I’m sweet-talking myself.

Darnit.