Confessions of a Credit Junkie: Everything You Need to Know to Avoid the Mistakes I Made

by Beverly Harzog

“Beverly Harzog is a credit warrior. She has gone into the arena, faced the lions, and emerged as one of the foremost experts in the field. I believe that her encyclopedic knowledge of the world of credit cards is unmatched.”—Adam Levin, Chairman and Cofounder, Credit.comCredit card expert Beverly Harzog shares how she went from being a credit card disaster to a credit card diva.When Beverly got out of college, she spent the next 10 years racking up debt on seven credit cards. Credit card limits, she believed, were merely “guidelines,” certainly not anything to be taken seriously...especially if she was in dire need of a new pair of shoes. The fact that she was a CPA at the time adds an ironic twist to the credit quagmire she slowly descended into.In Confessions of a Credit Junkie, Beverly candidly details her own credit card mishaps and offers easy-to-follow advice, often with a touch of Southern humor, to help others avoid them. In this much-needed book, you’ll to use the Credit Card Personality Quiz to choose the right credit cardsThe seven ways to use a credit card to rebuild creditHow to get out of debt using a balance transfer credit card—and pay zero interest while doing itCredit card strategies to save a bundle on groceries, gas, and moreAnyone in debt will benefit from the down-to-earth, practical tips Beverly offers.

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Money, Audiobook, Memoir

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 25, 2013

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no intention of reading this book; I planned to use information from it as I needed it like I would a reference book. But with my first inquiry, I got caught up in the friendly, soothing, comforting voice of the author. When I read for pleasure I usually pick thrillers and escape into a suspense-filled world. I didn’t think anything to do with personal finance was thrilling at all. But I was wrong. This book made me want to take control of my credit cards and get the most I could from them. The concepts put forth by Harzog were new to me; it wasn’t just a rehash of old tips about credit cards. Instead it was a book with useful ideas written by someone who really knows her stuff. I highly recommend this book if you’re in credit card debt or just want to get the maximum value out of your credit cards. Excuse me, I need to go send for my credit report so I can get going on my journey to financial health.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did the audiobook version of this book and really enjoyed it. I agree with other reviews that the book was sometimes repetitive, but for those interested in credit the book is very helpful and informative.

[Mardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit in need of an update on some info; but, otherwise, great information for someone starting out with credit cards or getting ready to attempt to rebuild their credit after a bankruptcy.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some good information, but very repetitive. The book could’ve been about half as long and not be missing anything.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was mainly for Americans but it was still useful for a Canadian like me. Really good info about credit cards and made me feel I was not the only one in my situation.

[Valerie Rind · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are countless blogs and books about ordinary people who racked up lots of credit card and other debt but managed to claw themselves back to solvency. At first glance, this confessional is no different.

However, once her balance sheet was in the black, Ms. Harzog made it her life mission to learn and then educate the world about credit. She takes a subject that can be dry and downright boring and in a folksy tone, makes it more personal and (almost) entertaining. It's as if she were sitting at your kitchen table and sharing coffee, rather than lecturing you on the evils of credit.

The book covers all the basic credit topics, but there's so much more. Finally we understand all those different credit scores. What's a FICO score? What's a FAKO? Are there any truly free scores? Why are there dozens of other types of scores that we never even hear about? Are credit monitoring services worthwhile?

The author spends countless hours reading the fine print and explains it to you so that it is a little less painful to interpret.

You can determine your "credit card personality" with a brief multiple choice quiz. The types are the Power User, Juggler, Rebuilder, Accidental Debtor, and Walking Disaster. The purpose of this categorization isn't to beat you up if you don't have perfect credit. It's to help you understand which types of credit cards would be the best choices for you.

The book includes a detailed breakdown of the many different types of cards (rewards, secured, business, charge, retail, balance transfer), including specific branded cards and programs. However, you do need to do your own research. The information provided in this book about a specific credit card may be outdated by the time you apply for it.

You also can learn how to beat the credit card companies at their own games in order to score better benefits and how to play "arbitrage" for your financial benefit (e.g., using zero interest balance transfer cards while stashing the funds in an interest bearing account). There's even a chapter on credit for small businesses.

This book goes so far beyond the mere admission of personal finance failures. It's a comprehensive catalog of everything you didn't know about credit and how you can use it to your benefit.

[Alicia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping this book would be more about Ms. Harzog's personal credit card horror story. Instead it was a very detailed book that explained cc terminology and the best types of cards for people based on their interests and credit history. This book wasn't for me but I could see it being very appealing to someone who is about to apply for their first credit card or who is trying to restore their credit history.

[Rachel Blom · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a credit card junkie, but being from Europe I am new to the American credit card system, especially the credit score. This book is a great introduction into how credit cards work, how your credit score is calculated, and how to keep or create a good score. I loved the tone of the book, which was funny, warm, yet direct. Tons of practical info, especially for newbies like me.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I'm honest, it's a "mostly read" situation. I'm not a credit card junkie by any means. I've never had a problem with my one and only (and always paid off) line of credit. However, this book still provided interesting insight into how credit cards and credit scores work. I think it would be the perfect gift for someone who is just about to start out on their own.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overview of credit cards and how they work in a simple-to-understand explanation. I learned a little bit though this book, but a lot of the information she covered could be found online through finance blogs or finance websites.

[Mrs. Christine Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learn How Credit Works

I consider myself pretty good with credit. A few years ago, I lost my husband and treated my depression with too much spending. This book has given me some good ideas to get back on track.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for beginners. The author is clear and explains everything very well.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really great book if you wanted to know all of your credit card options, and ways to use them to build and repair credit.