Today marks the 30th day I’ve totally cleared my credit card debts. The last debt I cleared was with Alliance Bank + Ikea Friends. In fact, I actually cancelled off my dealings with Alliance Bank once and for all, since they prefer to treat customer who’d been clearing their credits on time like dirt. I would not go into details here, but some credit cards company really take us consumers for a ride “after” signing up.

I currently have 3 cards, 2 Citibank ClearCards- Visa and one MBF Xuan MasterCard. All without any payments due. Ironically, Citibank Master owes me RM 5.08. I might have idiotically deposited extra when I banked in the cheque. :~(

I am carrying these cards in the wallet, but I will restrain myself from using it for any daily purchase. I make sure I carry enough cash for most of the purchases. The cards now only serves one purpose- my emergency ATM.

The first step to achieve financial independence is not to have a 6-months emergency fund in the bank, but to clear up all your credit card debts. And for those who doesn’t have credit cards, good for you, you are halfway to achieving a debt-free lifestyle.

If you can’t control your impulse purchases with these plastics, cut them up and burn them. See them turn into ashes. Don’t let these plastics control you!

Next, you can continue with your 6-months emergency fund.