unformed 0 #1 April 29, 2005 so my goal in life has been to backpack europe .... personally, i'd prefer to that now while i'm still pretty young (23) but the biggest problem, of course, has been money... now, i just got an offer from a credit card for a one year 0% APR with a $3500 credit limit. I can probably also scrounge together another two grand or so quickly .... altogether i could get by on this for about three months .... now, i'm thinking, should i say fuck everything, quit my job, where i'm making decent money, but don't really like at all, and just go and have a blast, knowing full well, that when i get back i'm gonna be a little bit in debt when i get back ... actually, i know the correct answer .... a better question would be, is there any reason i should not do this ?This ad space for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #2 April 29, 2005 Quoteis there any reason i should not do this ? It's exactly what the CC company want you to do. Run up a maximum balance and keep it there as long as possible. Work for six months more, saving every penny, then go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SarahC07 0 #3 April 29, 2005 QuoteWork for six months more, saving every penny, then go. I like that idea. The other seems a bit... off... BUT, you do whatever you like!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith 0 #4 April 29, 2005 Since you're making decent money, save up enough to pay for the trip then go. I'll enjoy your trip more knowing you're not coming back to a mountain of debt. Also, if you read the fine print in the credit card offer you'll find out that if you're one day late on a payment they'll start charging an outragous interest rate. Save the money - then go have the time of your life.Keith Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #5 April 29, 2005 You only live twice, Mr Bond... "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Punky_Monkey 0 #6 April 29, 2005 I agree...Save a while longer and then go... The CC company wants you to do this. Then you get back and you owe the CC company monthly payments. After that year of 0% unless you can pay it off in full you will be paying intrest on top of interest. Have you thought about how long it will take you when you get back to pay off that CC. Maybe it's worth saving a little longer and then going. Just something to think about.******* Punky Monkey You may never get rid of the butterflies, but you can teach them how to fly in formation Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #7 April 29, 2005 Quote I'll enjoy your trip more knowing you're not coming back to a mountain of debt Uh... Is he taking you along? "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
heidihagen 0 #8 April 29, 2005 i would say no. or, atleast wait a few years. don't get me wrong, it sounds fun!!! ...but how long have you been with this company? and do you work in a field where you could easily get another job again when you return? are you insured if you get sick/hurt? blah... blah blah...i didn't lose my mind, i sold it on ebay. .:need a container to fit 5'4", 110 lb. cypres ready & able to fit a 170 main (or slightly smaller):.[/ce Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CloudOnMyTongue 0 #9 April 29, 2005 Too many people view their credit limit as money they have in the bank. If you really want to go, save your money, it's never a good idea to spend money before you earn it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith 0 #10 April 29, 2005 I'm expensive but worth it. Keith Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #11 April 29, 2005 QuoteAlso, if you read the fine print in the credit card offer you'll find out that if you're one day late on a payment they'll start charging an outragous interest rate Or, even better, they back-date the interest to day one, 12 months ago! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #12 April 29, 2005 The main thing -- you're 23 and single for gosh sake -- GO! I wouldn't do it on the CC. Have a car payment? Sell it and buy a $400 pos to drive for six months, save every penny (ie make your own lunches etc) and do it that way. You'll have the rest of your life for a career. You might find you like it over there (or just elsewhere) and change career paths to fit more travel in. It is different there than here, and can't be experienced unless you go THERE. Also, it is much better to spend some time at a place than a day here and there like on a vacation. You can have it good, fast, or cheap: pick two. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #13 April 29, 2005 Yep. Better to do something dumb and pay the price for it, than spending the rest of your life wondering "what if?"... Besides, it may not be that dumb. "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #14 April 29, 2005 My current 0% CC says that if I'm late on any payment anywhere they'll jack that interest up. So I'm not and I get to use their money for free. Also, make arrangements (like banking online) to make CC payments while you are traveling. I wouldn't know how to go about it, but arrange a job over there to pay the rent for a bit. UK is easiest because the language is the same. Immigration rules may be against such a thing, I have no idea. Also if you make money over there it'll go farther because the exchange rate currently sucks bad. You can have it good, fast, or cheap: pick two. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWFlyer 2 #15 April 29, 2005 QuoteYep. Better to do something dumb and pay the price for it, than spending the rest of your life wondering "what if?"... Besides, it may not be that dumb. Wow, I agree with the sexyfrenchbitch! I tend to regret more the things I didn't do than the things I did. Go for it."There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vmsfreaky1 0 #16 April 29, 2005 Hi, man i'm so jealous, I went europe when i was 24 and had the TIME of my life, however I didn't save a penny and paid for it by going hungry and homeless some days. I'd advise to get a little kitty together first, make sure you buy a RETURN ticket home (I was impulsive and only bought a one way ticket, it took me 18 months to get my flight home) Have FUN! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unformed 0 #17 April 29, 2005 alright, well here was my original plan ... i was gonna buy a one way ticket, get a few thousand in the bank ready to blow, and put aside another grand for a trip back. When I ran out of money, I'd buiy a ticket back. Yes, I know coming back into debt isn't smart, BUT I also know with my knowledge and my field I can make 3500 before the time is up. (I did this a year ago; got an Amex with 5 months 0% APR, got LASIK done, put it on the card, and then paid it off before I had to pay any interest..... essentially a $5000 interest free loan for five months. With a year, I can go live it up for three months, then come back and fix it. I thought about saving it up, but it's not gonna happen .... I spend every penny I make on jumping and other expensive hobbies. ./... But I think Frenchy said it best; if I don't go, I'll be more pissed off in a year than if I go and come back to a mountain of debt ... now i just gotta give my two weeks ;)This ad space for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #18 April 29, 2005 Yep...there's nothing like the old "Jeez, I wish I had done that when I had the opportunity to do it." kick-in-the-ass. What I did was: Got a passport Packed my backpack and guitar Bought a round-trip ticket Landed in Luxembourg in January with $150 USD in my pocket Cruised Europe for 11 months on a 90-day visa. Periodically worked odd-jobs in different countries. Got busted for immigration violation in Germany in December. Free plane back to the US. Lifetime of priceless memories. You will find Europeans (excepting French and Italians) very helpful when you try to speak their language and VERY rude and obnoxious if you approach them expecting them to speak English to you.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peacefuljeffrey 0 #19 April 29, 2005 QuoteMy current 0% CC says that if I'm late on any payment anywhere they'll jack that interest up. So I'm not and I get to use their money for free. I've heard that not only this happens, but if you are late and get the interest jacked up on ONE card, YOUR OTHER CARDS WILL DO THE SAME! I don't know if it's true or not. I heard it from someone. I dug myself into a multi-thousand dollar hole twice in my life. No, wait, three times. Nothing like paying $200-$300 a month and barely denting the balance. I am so incredibly happy to be free of that. Trying now to keep up the discipline to not let it happen again. Skydiving makes it easy -- and skydiving was not even what made it happen in the past! -Jeffrey-Jeffrey "With tha thoughts of a militant mind... Hard line, hard line after hard line!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites unformed 0 #20 April 29, 2005 QuoteGot busted for immigration violation in Germany in December. Free plane back to the US. Hell, that's the ticket. (no pun intended) I don't even need to buy a return ticket that way. For everybody saying watch out for credit card debt yada yada ... i know the drill, my parents have been in debt for the past couple years, trying to just pay off the interest, but my limit is three grand, i can pay that off that in a heartbeat. hell, i could sell my rig and be done with more than half of it. besides i plan on living cheap and working at hostels and crap for room and board ... i just want to this before i'm "that crusty old guy" at the hostel..This ad space for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites flyangel2 2 #21 April 29, 2005 Yes, life is too short. My suggestion: Set a date in your mind for a cut off to have some money for your trip. This way you don't use the CC for all the traveling. When that date comes, then put in your two weeks notice and go for it.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wmw999 2,583 #22 April 29, 2005 QuoteLanded in Luxembourg in January with $150 USD in my pocket Icelandic, right? I landed there too To the original poster, the most likely chance you'll have of regretting it is if you charge the whole thing up and then hope to find a job when you get home to pay it off. The closest you can come to that would be to have enough savings to pay the credit card bill (with interest) for your whole trip AND another six months afterwards. At least then you have some hedge. If you get a job sooner, use the rest of your savings to pay down the CC bill. But saving first is the way to go. And (I hate to say it) you should have some sort of health insurance. But find a way to go. I still have the notebook I kept, and it's the only set of pictures that I actually put into an album. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites sunshine 2 #23 April 29, 2005 GO!! ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites GravityGirl 0 #24 April 29, 2005 I have no regrets for any of my "Get up and Go" adventures. I have always come back more knowlegdible, with more contacts and therefore more marketable. Perhaps consider getting the CC for backup. Make as many contacts as you can before you go. In various countries, DZs, etc. That way you can find a place to crash and make some side money. I used to travel with hemp and beads to make necklaces to sell. One necklace could mean food for a couple of days. Locally in the US, it was T-shirts as some of you may well know. My point is, you can travel indefinately if you are willing to do a little hard work here and there, if you are outgoing and willing to try new things. I'm a Mom living a very ordinary life now. Looking back, I have no regrets. No wishfull thinking, "I wish I had..." I can truely appreciate the motherhood phase now without feeling like I missed out on ANYTHING! So, go get it. Just keep that bill down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites pyke 0 #25 April 29, 2005 Having done this myself when I was younger I can say there are good and bad to this decision. Good: you have experiences that you can always draw from, that shape your life, that provide incredible insight into your discussions with everyone in the future, that help you land jobs, and most of all - provide life long memories!! Bad - I have found that my "modest" $3500 debt when I was 24 is STILL plague-ing my every paycheck. Mind you, I have allowed it to bloom into well over $7000, but never-the-less - it took me 4 years to pay half of that off...and hopefully won't take me another 4 to finish it. The 0% CC's LOVE getting you into this mindset...it's what has shaped America thus far. And, with the bankruptcy laws changing - there's less room to get freedom from your debtors. IMHO...I say go for it - but understand the risks, all of them. $3500 takes almost NO TIME to spend, but to pay off...plan on about 4times as long!! Kahurangi e Mahearangi, Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Prev 1 2 Next Page 1 of 2 Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. 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unformed 0 #20 April 29, 2005 QuoteGot busted for immigration violation in Germany in December. Free plane back to the US. Hell, that's the ticket. (no pun intended) I don't even need to buy a return ticket that way. For everybody saying watch out for credit card debt yada yada ... i know the drill, my parents have been in debt for the past couple years, trying to just pay off the interest, but my limit is three grand, i can pay that off that in a heartbeat. hell, i could sell my rig and be done with more than half of it. besides i plan on living cheap and working at hostels and crap for room and board ... i just want to this before i'm "that crusty old guy" at the hostel..This ad space for sale. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #21 April 29, 2005 Yes, life is too short. My suggestion: Set a date in your mind for a cut off to have some money for your trip. This way you don't use the CC for all the traveling. When that date comes, then put in your two weeks notice and go for it.May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,583 #22 April 29, 2005 QuoteLanded in Luxembourg in January with $150 USD in my pocket Icelandic, right? I landed there too To the original poster, the most likely chance you'll have of regretting it is if you charge the whole thing up and then hope to find a job when you get home to pay it off. The closest you can come to that would be to have enough savings to pay the credit card bill (with interest) for your whole trip AND another six months afterwards. At least then you have some hedge. If you get a job sooner, use the rest of your savings to pay down the CC bill. But saving first is the way to go. And (I hate to say it) you should have some sort of health insurance. But find a way to go. I still have the notebook I kept, and it's the only set of pictures that I actually put into an album. Wendy W.There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #23 April 29, 2005 GO!! ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GravityGirl 0 #24 April 29, 2005 I have no regrets for any of my "Get up and Go" adventures. I have always come back more knowlegdible, with more contacts and therefore more marketable. Perhaps consider getting the CC for backup. Make as many contacts as you can before you go. In various countries, DZs, etc. That way you can find a place to crash and make some side money. I used to travel with hemp and beads to make necklaces to sell. One necklace could mean food for a couple of days. Locally in the US, it was T-shirts as some of you may well know. My point is, you can travel indefinately if you are willing to do a little hard work here and there, if you are outgoing and willing to try new things. I'm a Mom living a very ordinary life now. Looking back, I have no regrets. No wishfull thinking, "I wish I had..." I can truely appreciate the motherhood phase now without feeling like I missed out on ANYTHING! So, go get it. Just keep that bill down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peace and Blue Skies! Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pyke 0 #25 April 29, 2005 Having done this myself when I was younger I can say there are good and bad to this decision. Good: you have experiences that you can always draw from, that shape your life, that provide incredible insight into your discussions with everyone in the future, that help you land jobs, and most of all - provide life long memories!! Bad - I have found that my "modest" $3500 debt when I was 24 is STILL plague-ing my every paycheck. Mind you, I have allowed it to bloom into well over $7000, but never-the-less - it took me 4 years to pay half of that off...and hopefully won't take me another 4 to finish it. The 0% CC's LOVE getting you into this mindset...it's what has shaped America thus far. And, with the bankruptcy laws changing - there's less room to get freedom from your debtors. IMHO...I say go for it - but understand the risks, all of them. $3500 takes almost NO TIME to spend, but to pay off...plan on about 4times as long!! Kahurangi e Mahearangi, Kiwi, RB #926, AFF-I, FAA Snr. Rigger, RN/BSN/Paramedic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
