10 Creative ways to cut-up your credit card
By glblguy
Photo by: Fauxen
This article is part of a group writing project started by Lynnae at Being Frugal. 11 different personal finance blogs are participating in the effort and are writing a series called The Twelve Days of Christmas – Personal Finance style. You’ll find links to all of the other articles towards the bottom of this article.
On the 10th day of Christmas (PF style) my true love gave to me…
10 Creative ways to cut up your credit cards
Readers of Gather Little by Little know that I prefer a lifestyle without credit cards and that I’m a huge advocate of cutting up credit cards if you aren’t disciplined enough to use them wisely (like me). How do I define “disciplined”? You are disciplined if you pay off your balance monthly and have no credit card debt.
I debated writing a serious article, but instead decided to have a little fun. So to help inspire you to cut up your credit cards, here are 10 creative ways you can cut up your credit cards:
#10 – Scissors
This is probably the most popular but most boring way to cut up your credit cards. All you need is: well, a pair of sharp scissors and all of your credit cards. Cut along the length of the card. Cut it at least twice, once through the magnetic strip on the back and next through the account number. I also found these neat hand shredder’s which look like a good option as well, especially since the picture shows them being used on a Chase card!
#9 – Shredder
Next up is the paper shredder. This option causes a great deal more noise and is more fun than scissors. It’s nice to see that card shredded into small bits of plastic. Be careful though, not all shredders are made to shred plastic, so read the manual. Mine has a special slot just for credit cards and CDs further emphasizing this must be a popular option.
#8 – Hatchet or Ax
Using a sharp hatchet or ax is another option. This of course requires a little more strength and I would suggest you be outside. All you need is some like a log or stump to place the card(s) on and swing away!
#7 – Blow Torch
Nothing better than watching you credit card catch on fire and melt away. It’s a great way of “sticking it to d’man“. You’ll need something to hold the card. I’d suggest a small metal vice. Light the torch and burn away!
#6 – Chainsaw
Oh yeah, nothing like the sound of a chainsaw to put fear into the eyes of those pesky little credit cards. Tape or mount your credit card to a log or stump, hold the chainsaw correctly and let it rip. Now is that manly or what???
#5 – Blender
The blender will absolutely tear your credit card to itsy bitsy pieces. If you want to see the results before you do it, check out this video. The more cards you have, the better the effect! I love how they let their little boy put the cards in. We let our kids shred our cards in the shredder.
#4 – Sledge Hammer or Hammer
You know all of that built up frustration and anger you’ve had with yourself and the credit card companies? Now you can finally take it out on your card. Find a hard non-breakable surface and beat that credit card into smithereens. Give it a good whack for me!
#3 – Give it to your dog
Our golden retriever absolutely loves to tear apart plastic. So if your dog is anything like ours, turn your credit card into a chew toy. Not only will you dispose of your credit card, but your dog will have a blast. Just make sure he/or she doesn’t take off to the pet store with it.
#2 Hole puncher
You know as well as I do that credit card company has been taking one notch at a time out of your finances…sometimes even a big notch. Here’s your chance to notch them back. Turn that credit card into little dots and throw some confetti!
#1 Shoot it
Take your card down to the local shooting range, mount it on a target and have a blast. This is the ultimate way to dispose of your credit card and vent a little of that built up tension. For added effect, use a shot gun.
Disclaimer: Please use extreme caution when doing any of the above suggestions and you do them at your own risk…so be careful!
Read the rest of the days of Christmas Personal Finance style:
- Day 12: 12 Frugal Things You Can Do This Week @ Being Frugal.net
- Day 11: 11 Ways to Get Paid (…for Pipers…) @ Mrs. Micah – Finance For A Freelance Life
- Day 10: Uh, you just read it @ Right here at Gather Little by Little
- Day 9: 9 Financial Lessons @ Cash Money Life
- Day 8: Eight Maids a Milking @ Rocket Finance
- Day 7: Seven Tips When You’re Swimming (in debt) @ Working For Financial Freedom
- Day 6: Six Streams of Income @ Moolanomy
- Day 5: Five Golden Rules For Snowflaking @ I’ve Paid for This Twice Already…
- Day 4: Four Calling Tips @ Plonkee Money
- Day 3: Three Paid Credit Cards @ DebtFREE-Revolution
- Day 2: Two Guaranteed Ways to Financial Freedom @ Credit Withdrawal
- Day 1: The Best Way to Manage Money @ BeingFrugal.net
December 20th, 2007 at 7:12 am
Love it! Thanks for the early morning laugh!
December 20th, 2007 at 8:18 am
Sounds like fun! I’m not sure giving it to the dog is a good idea though… wouldn’t it be a choking hazzard?
Nice blender shot, by the way! ;)
December 20th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Hmmm. As a Brit I’m going to struggle with the shooting range, but otherwise a solid collection of good ideas. Maybe I’ll take some up after I cancel a couple of my cards.
December 20th, 2007 at 8:43 am
@Patrick – I don’t know, I am constantly amazed at the things our dog finds in our yard and eats. Never seems to get choked…but, I’m not expert.
@Plonkee – No shooting ranges in Britain?
December 20th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I love it! I’ve posted some great YouTube videos of fun ways to destroy credit cards :) with my favorites being the blowtorch, explosives, and of course the shotgun and handgun one. Hubby came up with a variation and used a cigarette lighter to melt his Chase MC and AmEx together.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Thanks Ana, feel free to post some links!
December 20th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Ah, I love it! :)
I’m thinking the catharsis of a gun would be fun.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I’ve tried the chainsaw method before. Remember to wear goggles.
December 20th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Mrs. Micah – had to look catharsis…good word, have to remember that one.
MMH – Very very good point. That applies to most of the items I listed. Have a video ??? :-)
December 20th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Very nice list! Very creative. One of these days I’ll have to give the blender method a try! I’m still sticking with my trusty paper shredder. :-)
December 26th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
I cut up a handful of credit cards and membership cards with a pair of scissors. I cut them into the shape of dough scrapers. Now I use them as small hand tools when baking my own bread. They’re big enough to get the job done, and having a handful of them is great when doing a lot of baking. They get gummed up with dough pretty fast. It’s better to re-purpose the plastic, in my opinion, than add it to the waste stream.
December 27th, 2007 at 12:52 am
If you want to see another blender in action, check out http://www.willitblend.com/
they’re pretty ridiculous!
and they do have a credit card blending: http://www.willitblend.com/videos.aspx?type=safe&video=creditcards
December 27th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
@Kate – That is an awesome suggestion. I would suspect there are lots of uses for them. I’ve used them the scrap ice before :-) Thanks for the great comment and for reminding us to recycle.
@Stephanie – That is a hilarious site! Thanks so much for sharing!
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:42 pm
One of the best options when it comes to destroying documents or even credit cards, is to always use commercial shredders. these companies would not only destroy such sensitive documents but would also make sure that your data is destroyed and make sure that they stay destroyed. But giving it to your dog, well, that may not be a great idea and would in all probability end up with your dog at the vet.
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February 2nd, 2011 at 4:15 am
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