I'm a student and I have a credit card, however my limit is of 500$. I would like to purchase an ibook, however this would exceed my credit limit. How can I make such a purchase if my credit card limit is too low? I have more than enough funds in my bank account, however I appear to have some difficulty transfering it.
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Credit Card Limit
- Thread starter THX
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see if you can get a debit card for your bank account and you should be able to pay for it through your bank account though the debit card without a problem so long as it has a Mastercard/Visa logo
THX said:
Do you mean that you're a high school student, and your card is one of those ones that is co-signed by your parents, or a college student under 18, or...? Anyway, this is what I would suggest, but it might need your parents to talk to the CC company on your behalf and not just you, depending on the circumstances...
Call your credit card company. Many of them will offer temporarily enhanced limits to allow a person to make a large purchase. Perhaps you can mail them the money (a check for the rough figure, to be deposited into your account, as if you were paying an existing balance) *before* you buy the computer.
EDIT: What PlaceofDis said while I was typing is really good advice too.
mkrishnan said:Do you mean that you're a high school student, and your card is one of those ones that is co-signed by your parents, or a college student under 18, or...? Anyway, this is what I would suggest, but it might need your parents to talk to the CC company on your behalf and not just you, depending on the circumstances...
Call your credit card company. Many of them will offer temporarily enhanced limits to allow a person to make a large purchase. Perhaps you can mail them the money (a check for the rough figure, to be deposited into your account, as if you were paying an existing balance) *before* you buy the computer.
EDIT: What PlaceofDis said while I was typing is really good advice too.
I'm a college student with a student card and my parents have not co-signed. I will call them to learn if I can receive a temp. limit increased. However, do you mean it would be possible to add funds to my credit-card and over-balance it? ie. instead of having a balance of 0, I could add 500$ to it and essentially would only reach my credit limit if I spent 1000$?
THX said:
I'm not sure -- it's definitely possible to overbalance your card, with most companies. I've had it happen for other reasons. With regard to using this to allow you to purchase over your credit limit, I've heard of it being done, but sometimes, their system will be set up so that, even though you will never exceed the limit in your allowable *credit*, you will still be declined because the transaction amount > your limit. But its worth talking to them.
mkrishnan said:
What you do is overbalance your card.
So your limit is $500... and right now you owe $0.
Make a payment of say $700 to your card.
Your new limit would be $1200.
However.. you've technically paid off $700 of the ibook..
So.. you can make your payments of the remaining $500 by your choice..
Pay in full or make your minimum monthly payments..
dvdh said:
Yes they do, though you have to wait for Snail mail.. They also take wire transfers from your bank.
ericssonboi said:
I suppose this could work, but be careful... give yourself some extra "leeway".
What I mean by that is, credit rating agencies frown very heavily on credit card users who hit their credit limit. It is very bad for your credit rating.
So if you're doing to do this, make sure you "overbalance" your card with enough of a payment so that when you purchase the iBook, you don't hit your credit limit.
Were I you, I'd just pay cash though -- it's probably easier.
yg17 said:Do you live anywhere near an Apple Store or reseller? They take cash
I wonder if anyone buys PMG5's or ACD's with cash. That's a whole lot of greenbacks!
Don't whatever you do plan on making minimum payments on the credit card -- consumer card debt is the most expensive form of financing and an excellent way to waste money.
Getting in the habit of maintaining a balance on a charge card can dig you into a hole for the rest of your natural days.
My recommendation is to only ever use a charge card for what you can absolutely, positively pay off 100% at the end of the month. If you want to make payments on something, far better to go to your bank or credit union and set up a loan.
Getting in the habit of maintaining a balance on a charge card can dig you into a hole for the rest of your natural days.
My recommendation is to only ever use a charge card for what you can absolutely, positively pay off 100% at the end of the month. If you want to make payments on something, far better to go to your bank or credit union and set up a loan.
mkrishnan said:I wonder if anyone buys PMG5's or ACD's with cash. That's a whole lot of greenbacks!
Mmmm...my Mom paid cold hard cash for my powerbook, it was at the apple store of course!.
I think I have a good grasp of your dilemma, if it is a bank/debit card with a $500 daily spending limit you can call your bank and ask for a one time spending limit increase or call in your apple order and explain your situation which is common, and they will work with you. If it is a credit card, then you can overpay as suggested, ask for a credit line increase ( which works if you have been a diligent customer for 12 months or more).
also there is always the option of buying directly from the apple store with cash.
either way I am sure you will figure it out! and the ibook is a great machine! Be sure to take advantage of the $10 upgrade to Tiger if it does not come with your computer.
You could also check into getting a credit card with a higher limit... If you have been establishing a good line of credit, that should be no problem. I got a CitiBank student card and that has a limit of $2000... which is more than enough for my needs. It also has online banking, if that interests you. Something to look into, at least, if these other options don't seem to pan out for you.
do yourself a favor.
DON'T USE A CREDIT CARD. If you have the cash use cash. If you can't get to it right away then WAIT. Be patient.
But since you are young, you should learn that credit cards are EVIL and will get you in trouble.
Don't use them. My friend got into some big trouble with them and destroyed his life for a few years. He inherited a boat load and paid everything off and has a fresh start. He's lucky most people are not.
Good luck and you'll get that iBook soon!
DON'T USE A CREDIT CARD. If you have the cash use cash. If you can't get to it right away then WAIT. Be patient.
But since you are young, you should learn that credit cards are EVIL and will get you in trouble.
Don't use them. My friend got into some big trouble with them and destroyed his life for a few years. He inherited a boat load and paid everything off and has a fresh start. He's lucky most people are not.
Good luck and you'll get that iBook soon!
iMetalG5 said:
If you're wise, credit cards can be good, but you do have to be careful.
I never spend more on my cards than what I have in my checking account. I never carry a balance on my cards either. This way, the money stays in my account longer, and is actually there for emergencies, etc.
You might see if you can get some sort of financing. I know Apple used to offer financing for their iMac that was like, a pizza a week or something. You might be able to get something for being a student, but I'm not too sure about that...
iMetalG5 said:
CC's aren't evil, some people are just idiots when it comes to using them. Having a CC and using it responsibly is a fantastic way to build your credit history and generate a great credit score. Refusing to use a CC can bite you in the @ss down the road when you apply for any type of loan because you have little/no credit history. Which means you are a greater risk. Which means you'll pay a higher interest rate and may not be able to get as big a loan as you want.
I got my first CC when I was 16 or 17, used it responsibly (i.e. paid it off each month), and because of that I have a great credit score which means it's easier for me to get loans and to get lower interest rates on those loans. Heck, because of my credit score the rates on my CC's are so low that if, for some reason, I needed to by 5 decked out PowerMacs it would be cheaper for me to put them on one of my CC's than to get a loan for them.
So, ideally, THX should save up enough cash to cover the iBook, find a way to put the iBook on the CC, then write a check covering the complete cost of the iBook to his CC company. In fact, that's the way a CC should be used. Generally speaking, if you can't pay the bill off at the end of the month you are doing something wrong.
Lethal
As reccomended, Credit Cards are no fun.
The interest rates alone are enough to ruin your life forever.
If you MUST use a card, use a charge card, like American Express - if you dont pay it off you are screwed but its just like paying money except you need to pay them back.
Or just have $500 cash.
The interest rates alone are enough to ruin your life forever.
If you MUST use a card, use a charge card, like American Express - if you dont pay it off you are screwed but its just like paying money except you need to pay them back.
Or just have $500 cash.
I paid cash for my PowerBook $2400 cash. I pay cash for most everything. It is not about a paper trail. It is that the powerbook was expensive as is. If I charged it then I am paying 10-24% more than everyone else. Remember, when you charge something a lot of you will pay interest unless you pay it off right away. If you charge it and can pay it off in 30 days, just wait 30 days and pay cash. Think about it.
Whoever recommended getting a used one and a $20 book about managing money is a freaking GOD!
Whoever recommended getting a used one and a $20 book about managing money is a freaking GOD!
The best thing to do is get a no-annual-fee cash back rewards credit card and be sure to pay off your balance every month. I currently have a CitiBank card that gives me 5% back at gas stations, supermarkets, and drugstores and 1% back everywhere else as my primary card. I also have a card from Chase that gives me 3% back at restaurants and 1% everywhere else.
Credits cards are most certainly not evil if you can use them to your advantage. Interest free loans and cash back in your pocket...what could be better?
Credits cards are most certainly not evil if you can use them to your advantage. Interest free loans and cash back in your pocket...what could be better?