Bill Me Later

Last Christmas I decided that I wanted to buy myself a present. I decided that because it was already after Christmas and my friends and family had already given me gifts. I just didn't think it was appropriate to ask for something else. Plus my birthday is 3 weeks after Christmas, so more presents were coming. :-)

The truth is that I wanted a $200 pair of Ugg boots from Zappos. As you well know by now, I did not have $200 to buy the boots. However, did you know that there is such a thing as Bill Me Later? Well, there is. It was right on the Zappos website right next to the free shipping. It said that if I used Bill Me Later to buy the boots I didn't have to pay for 90 days! Yipee!! So I figured it out. I could use Bill Me Later to get the boots and then I could make a payment every time I got paid and the boots would be paid off within 90 days and I would pay no interest. Am I too smart or what???

Well, my party pooper husband said, "That's still buying on credit." I said, "What are you talking about? I'm not paying any interest!" He tried to explain that not having the money to pay for the boots up front and using Bill Me Later was still like taking a loan and that if I paid it off before the 90 days it was an interest free loan. (He's too smart for me.)

This week I received an e-mail from Bill Me Later. The subject of the e-mail is Important Information about Your Bill Me Later Account. (By the way, I haven't used this account since I bought the boots.) Then it reads:

We're glad to have you as a Bill Me Later customer and we wanted to let you know about an important limited-time benefit that has been added to your account for the holidays. Now through January 15, 2008, we’re giving you a set amount of Holiday Spending Power. Your total Holiday Spending Power is $2,500, and as of 11/12/07, you have $2,500 available for your use.*

How lucky am I that Bill Me Later wants to give me an important limited-time benefit? That's exactly what I need...NOT! Holiday Spending Power? I don't think so. It's more like holiday turn the key in the shackles just a little bit tighter. Up until now, I would have been thrilled to receive some holiday spending power. This year...I'm good. I think I'll pass.