CIBC Visa offer to the Dividend Girl: 0% interest for 6 months... but watch out the 1% fee

I had received today a promotional offer from CIBC Visa; 0% interest for 6 months, but an initial 1% fee apply. The 1% fee is what is f it all. No way, I won't pay a 1% fee just to get a 6 months at no interest. No Sir.

This make me remember the time when I used to have a 0% with TD Visa. At a point, the promotion stop and I decided to pay off the credit cards. I now only have my student loan and margin as debt, and its a real challenge to pay down those debt already, so I won't add up a credit card debt on top of that!

I had quite heavy on the expenses so far in August so I decided that the necklace I bought at La Baie was going to be the only thing I will buy this month for my birthday. I rack up at $550 already and the month is not even half pass and please don't ask me to skip the morning coffee please because I can't. But I can however control my expenses. Other than coffees, I have a thing for makeup, hair products, clothes... Today, I left my credit card home and I didn't buy anything except my morning coffee. And I only bought that single coffee.. So I feel I had made a great deal of efforts today.

I now realize that its not because I make more money now that it make it easier for me to save money. I always have to stay alert. I have a few vacations days coming up, and I don't want to spend more than another $500 for this month, that include the cost of my bus ticket. But lucky me, I have a tiny - but still, a $147 in cash coming from the dividend earns inside of my TFSA... hello mercy cash. The dividend cash coming from my non-registered account is also helping.   

But what is helping the most is to leave my credit card home and stop spending.

In Montreal, the temptation is EVERYWHERE. And I don't understand how middle class folks can afford a condo AND regular basic living feels + EXTRA curricular summer EXPENSIVES. I mean, impossible. Even while on a 50k annual income before tax.