I used to be debt-free

It wasn’t so long ago that I had paid all of my credit cards down to zero. Considering the six months I lived in Europe, financed almost entirely on credit, that was no small task. And yet I am now back in a bit of debt. It’s not nearly as much as it used to be, probably less than a third of my worst debt ever. But still, it’s there, looming over my bank account every time I swipe one of my cards. (One of the first signs of danger is that I have multiple credit cards.) It seems to add up so quickly–groceries, gas, and oh yeah, that iPod purchase probably didn’t help matters. I am envious of my best friend, who doesn’t even have a credit card. But it seems like a necessary evil. When I bought my condo, my real estate agent told me that having credit cards would actually increase my credit score and help me get my loan. Of course, it only helps your credit score if you pay them on time every month (which I do) and don’t carry too high of a balance (which, obviously, I am working on.)

I thought I would be able to zero my accounts again last month but, much to my horror, I ended up having to pay five times what I expected in taxes. So the minimum balances were paid and not much more. I don’t really have an answer to this quandry I find myself in, other than to follow the advice of one of the funnier commercials I’ve seen about this and literally freeze my credit cards in a block of ice. Judging from my lack of self-control when it comes to luxuries such as that ever-important-iPod, maybe that’s not such a bad idea.