Warning: the 'freeze your credit card in a block of ice' trick cost me $150

I saw this hack online to stop impulse buys, so I froze my card in a big Tupperware container. Last month, my car battery died in a Target parking lot and I needed a jump pack. I had to buy a cheap hair dryer to thaw the block, which took 25 minutes, and then I was late for work. Has anyone found a less ridiculous way to curb spending that doesn't involve turning an emergency into a sitcom?

3 comments

3 Comments

paige4271mo ago

Using a hammer on a block of ice with a credit card in it is a good way to break the card. The plastic gets brittle when it's frozen. I just leave my card at home when I know I shouldn't spend.

campbell.tara1mo ago

Actually, the plastic in most credit cards doesn't get brittle when frozen, it's designed to be flexible. Paige427, I read that the ice trick is more about the hassle of waiting for it to thaw, not breaking it. Honestly, just putting it in a bowl of water in the freezer works better than a solid block.

hart.mark1mo ago

Tried the ice trick once and ended up using a hammer like a caveman. My neighbor still brings it up. What's your current plan to stop the spending?