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July Just Chugs Along: The Highs And Lows Of Credit Cards And Credit Lines

all images by: moderatelivingblog.com

I got this message a few weeks back from my credit card issuer.

This is my regular credit card. I use it simply for budget reasons to indicate when my groceries and restaurant trips are getting out of control. It’s very utilitarian and serves this purpose well. But still, getting some extra financing money, I know a couple of tech items that I could buy with it. I was on cloud nine those few weeks planning out my fun purchases LOL

As much as I would have liked to permanently keep it at $500.00, I also don’t want to refuse an extra credit line because sometimes, you just want that buffer in case emergencies happen and your other credit cards or credit lines are tied up somewhere else.

Well, an emergency did happen.

Last week, one of my peripheral water lines broke and I spent the next 3 days turning the water on and off at the main shut off valve in my front driveway so that I wouldn’t incur a ginormous water bill. And also, I had to wait until I could get an experienced operator with a mini excavator down to where the busted pipe was. I have a license to operate these machines – but if I have to hire out another contractor to help me not crush my other pipe sections, I might as well just hire a team to do everything.

my water pipe: “hey Mike, I heard you just got a credit line increase – let me explode now after a combined 20 years of relative silence so we can test the limits of your new credit. wheeeee!”

caterpillar mini exc

the money maker right here

July is chugging along, I guess lol.

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43 responses to “July Just Chugs Along: The Highs And Lows Of Credit Cards And Credit Lines”

  1. Aptivi Avatar
    Aptivi

    I’m sorry to hear that one of your water lines broke. I hope you get it sorted out soon. 🙏

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thanks Aptivi. it’s all repaired now but that credit line is all used up for now lol

      Reply
      1. Aptivi Avatar
        Aptivi

        You’re welcome Mike. I’m happy to hear that it got fixed.

        That reminds me of when me and my family had to deal with no water for a few days in our oldest rental house we exited in 2021. We had to get a water truck to get it sorted, before it was eventually fixed. This happened in 2020.

        Reply
  2. CJ Antichow Avatar
    CJ Antichow

    Isn’t that just life hey Mike? Heaven forbid life just flow along smoothly…(insert witty pun here, about life flowing like the water out your lines flowing)😬🙄🤔😤

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      lol. oh man Ceej. what a crazy life this is lol

      Reply
  3. Betty Avatar
    Betty

    Wow, Mike — it really is always something, isn’t it?

    I’m glad you got the water line sorted out and that your credit card increase came through right when you needed it. Talk about timing!

    Credit cards can definitely be lifesavers in emergencies. I keep one with a $400 limit myself — just enough to cover those “uh‑oh” moments without tempting me into splurges. For me, they’re more like a safety net than a shopping spree ticket.

    Debt isn’t my cup of tea, so I steer clear for the most part… though I have to admit, your pipe’s sense of humor about your new credit line made me laugh! 😂

    My first laugh of the day.😂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      thanks Betty! yes, the water pipe and that gigantic crater has been backfilled now and all is well in the house. but sadly, no more fun purchases on the horizon lol. but maybe, just maybe, the water pipe was helping me from being an irresponsible spender 😂

      Reply
      1. Betty Avatar
        Betty

        😂 your welcome!

        Reply
  4. Nancy Homlitas Avatar
    Nancy Homlitas

    You were fortunate to receive your credit card perk when you did. Perhaps that’s a little nudge for you to establish an emergency fund that doesn’t rely on credit. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      I really was quite fortunate Nancy. I’ve been thinking about doing the emergency fund and I do have something stashed away. I’m wondering if it’s just all better to do cash for these things!

      Reply
      1. Nancy Homlitas Avatar
        Nancy Homlitas

        If you pay with a credit card, you have additional proof of payment if you misplace a receipt. I do both depending on the transaction. However, I always pay off my credit card every month so there is no interest charge.

        Reply
  5. MJ🍸 Avatar
    MJ🍸

    Oh goodness, I’m sorry to read this. That is no fun at all. Once it’s all said and done and paid off, treat yourself to something nice. Adulting is tough after all and we need to treat ourselves now and again.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      I’m thinking a brand new Xbox Series X????? 😂😂😂 lol, jk

      I wish I was young again so Mom could buy me stuff and I don’t have to pay for things like these haha

      Reply
      1. MJ🍸 Avatar
        MJ🍸

        Ha! I was like dang, I was thinking a nice dinner for yourself 😂
        And yes, I miss those days. Zero responsibility.

        Reply
  6. KikiFikar Avatar
    KikiFikar

    I’ll play One Step Forward Two Steps Back by Springsteen and we will sing along. Thank God for the credit increase. Tiny miracles!

    Glad all is fixed. Stay cool. Are you getting these smoky conditions too?

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      oh gosh Karen, the smoke was killing me yesterday. Today was a little better but there’s still that nastiness in the air – I can almost taste it every time I walk out! how about you guys? any smoke there?

      I’m just hoping we don’t get any wildfires down here!

      Reply
      1. KikiFikar Avatar
        KikiFikar

        Oh the smoke was just awful these last few days. Today we had torrential downpours all day. It’s so weird!

        Reply
        1. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          I was scared of the tornado warnings. I had my power stations out and ready to go just in case. glad things passed but I’m seeing the footage from the area with the flooding

          Reply
          1. KikiFikar Avatar
            KikiFikar

            My sister and brother in law were in knee deep water in NYC. They live right on FDR drive. Just nuts.

            Reply
            1. Michael Williams Avatar
              Michael Williams

              i could imagine. and we’re not even into the august storms yet!

              Reply
  7. Christopher Hall Avatar
    Christopher Hall

    Oh dude! You gotta be kidding me! What kind of sick joke is that! You cannot make this shit up! LOL! I know on the other hand you could say it was perfect timing to a degree. But that’s still some bullshit! LOL! 😂

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      I know right??? like, there were things I wanted to buy! actually, I gotta start saving for a new iPhone. I’ve had the 12 now for some time and it’s starting to slow down

      Reply
  8. vermavkv Avatar
    vermavkv

    What an entertaining and relatable post! I couldn’t help smiling at how quickly your excitement over the increased credit limit turned into an unexpected lesson in home ownership. Your sense of humor—especially the conversation with the water pipe—made a frustrating situation surprisingly enjoyable to read. Life certainly has a way of reminding us why emergency funds and extra credit buffers exist! Thank you for sharing this story with such honesty, wit, and perspective.

    Wishing you many more pleasant surprises—and far fewer plumbing ones! 😊👏

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      it really was a reminder Vijay – you are very correct! blessed are those adults who have both emergency funds and funds to purchase enjoyable things haha! hopefully, we all don’t have too many emergencies or financial surprises. may the road be much more smoother for all of us in that respect!

      Reply
  9. justrojie Avatar
    justrojie

    oh nooo… it’s like chaos knows when you’ve got $$ eeeek~

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      ikr??? i had so many fun tech purchases listed on Amazon. stupid a$$ water pipe lol

      Reply
  10. nancyb422 Avatar
    nancyb422

    Sorry to hear about that! We had to replace the oil tank in our basement (a little leak patched until replacement) in the same month our property taxes and MV taxes are due – a cool $10,000 out the door in July.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      OMG! i know that feeling.

      like, how does that much money instantly fly away like that? and why can’t it easily fly IN to our lives? lol.

      i hope the 10k comes back one way or another. i absolutely detest it when big expenses hit. this is why i’m careful with my credit lines too and I will try to have as much free as possible and not gum it up with unnecessary things (which is why i was so happy for that credit increase in the personal card haha)

      Reply
      1. nancyb422 Avatar
        nancyb422

        I know what you mean about keeping credit lines free and clear and credit cards! We have a high yield savings account that has a decent balance but I hate to see it go down! My paycheck goes into it every week but it will take a few months to fill it back up.

        Reply
  11. Lori Pohlman Avatar
    Lori Pohlman

    Ugh! One step forward, two steps back! So sorry!!!

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      right Lori?? why can’t it be 5 steps forward and half a step back? – life would be so much happier lol. people who say to “embrace the pain” or “be happy for struggles” are the people that have never had to pay for a water pipe break and it really shows 😆

      Reply
      1. Lori Pohlman Avatar
        Lori Pohlman

        Indeed!

        Reply
  12. Fairweather Walker Avatar
    Fairweather Walker

    Blecccch. It’s always something. I always turn down the credit increases they offer. Maybe I shouldn’t.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      i don’t know Fairweather. i spent alot of my life turning down those extra offers precisely because it’s so easy to gum up your credit. but in recent years, i’ve been more open to financing emergencies but only under the caveat that I could spread out the financial splatter to 3 or 4 months. $500/mo. is a workable number for me instead of getting hit with a random $2k bomb then I feel like I’m catching up for the next 6-8 months. it’s tough – but even if i was the one operating the mini excavator, I’d have to have someone there spotting the shovel attachment so i don’t do more damage to the pipe. and renting that caterpillar to begin with would be $1K on average

      Reply
  13. ibarynt Avatar
    ibarynt

    Mike, take that as divine intervention. The increase came at the right time when you didn’t need it, but the need miraculously showed up 😁.

    I’m sorry your happiness was short-lived 🤐

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      lol! why does money fly away so fast??? haha 😀

      Reply
  14. Bana.fahgeo Avatar
    Bana.fahgeo

    If it ain’t one thing. Yay! Because it’s done and not ever! 👌

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      exactly LOL! money needs to flow IN not OUT haha

      Reply
  15. Edward Ortiz Avatar
    Edward Ortiz

    Man, that sucks. Luckily, you had that credit increase.

    Reply
    1. Michael Williams Avatar
      Michael Williams

      yeah, what a total bummer. like it would have been somewhat ok if the final cost of repairs was underneath my limit but to have it go over is just a whole ‘nother level of suffering haha

      Reply
      1. Edward Ortiz Avatar
        Edward Ortiz

        I heard you. We were debating renewing our home maintenance insurance, but thinking about how expensive it is to call someone to repair or replace a furnace or AC, we decided to renew it just to be safe.

        Reply
        1. Michael Williams Avatar
          Michael Williams

          good call!

          Reply
  16. Functionally Ending The Year…And Beyond – Moderate Living

    […] is where the water pipe had burst over the summer. It’s hard to believe that even after a day and a half after I had the excavator in here, […]

    Reply

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