August 21, 2007
Five minutes, and six clicks. That’s all the time it took to put nearly a thousand dollars’ worth of car insurance and registration for los PadresDuckies on my credit card. I give thanks that, for the most part, scrimping and saving every little bit is worth it and I haven’t been caught up short by “unexpected” expenses. And I’m really lucky to have a good job security, as much of my health as I’ve needed to work that job, and developed strong saving and planning habits. Well, ok, it wasn’t actually luck on that first or last. I have job security because I’ve worked my dang tushy off, and save like a fiend because I have bag-lady syndrome. Probably will for the rest of my life, too! As Blunt Money and SingleMa remind us, the three D’s have a lot to do with it, too: decisions, determination and dedication.
I’m reminiscent about this time four years ago when things were really tough. Four years ago, I was still at university working on my (lib arts, aka: won’t make much) degree, working 60 hours a week, had just lost my first dog to heart failure after two years of treatments, taken on a car payment and felt tied to my job because of it, and still lived with my brother so was losing an ounce of sanity a day. Stress was at a premium. I wasn’t ever sure I could make ends meet, and I definitely wasn’t saving anything.
A couple bills like this would have ruined my week. My months, even. Anticipation would have killed off a few weeks prior, I’d have a few weeks’ grace period because it’d go on my card, and meanwhile would have had to work even more overtime at my $10/hour job to cover rent, tuition, utilities and car bills.
Now? I sigh sadly that the money’s going out instead of coming in, and sigh with relief that I can say the most of that money is already sitting in the account designed specifically for that purpose.
Moral? If I can get from there to here, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t try to get from here to way … over … there (gesturing to greener pastures of people with health, wealth and wisdom)!!
August 15, 2007
Working late all week. And on the train ride, to and from. But I have this itchy urge to start breaking down my future budget and savings goals based on that raise that I haven’t got my hot little hands on yet.
This is also how I do my homework: based entirely on instinct and urges.
Namely, collecting child support! I’ve heard so many stories about how, if you’re not in utter, desperate need, the state simply doesn’t assist with collecting child support payments. They don’t have the time to help except those in absolute dire need. Well, if the “scofflaw” as this article refers to them had to leave the country, now, he or she will have to pay up. It’s probably only good for a couple of collections, and dependent on the person needing to travel, but that’s still better than nothing!
Unless of course, you’re this guy:
A boxer paid $39,000 in back child support to the state of Nevada last year to get a passport, which he lost. This year, his promoter had to loan him $8,930 so he could pay off his new child support debts and get a new passport to fight overseas.
I suppose that’s one reliable way to get money from that particular fellow.
August 9, 2007
If you watch any movies on opening night this summer, make sure that Stardust is one of them.
It’s a perfectly amusing movie blessed with good writing and surprisingly heavy star talent that actually lends their weight to the rhythm of the movie rather than causing one end or the other to be lopsided. There are pirates, there are princes dead and alive, witches and fairy. There’ll be a young man, and young woman, and a few more where they came from, all trying to capture the same thing, if they only knew it.
It will be lovely. I assure you of this. It will be lovely, and encouraging more such well-written and creative work, if Stardust does well enough to prove to the Hollywoodian powers that be that good movies are a Good Thing. Or it won’t, but at least you’ll have had the satisfaction of a wonderful time.
I’m saddened to say that CashDuck will be closing next week. Kira has done a great job with the site, and it was certainly one of the cleanest, most user-friendly site I’ve frequented.
It’s been good times, Cashduck!
As the organizer of bridal parties and bachelorette parties in the past, I’ve always paid my way and a little more for the bride if we were going out, and for some, if not all, of the supplies involved in the party. At the time, I was also usually a broke college student as well, so I always took the bride at her word: “Please don’t get me a gift, I just want you there.” Was that a terrible faux pas? Obviously, I was both very close to the bride and very very financially stretched just buying the dress and paying for the activities so I didn’t feel terrible about being very honest about my circumstances. Now that I’m a professional, still struggling, am I obligated to swing the pendulum in the other direction, spending more than I ought just because I never have before?
The other thing is that I want to do a gift right, if I’m going to do one at all, and have passed on the gift-giving occasion in favor of a more appropriate, personal gift at a later date before. Of course, my friends and I are casual people about the gifting thing. If anything, I would rather give the happy couple a really nice 1-year anniversary gift celebrating the true date of their marriage if I can’t give but a token gift now. After all, only the three of us (and all of you!) know when they really got married, and that feels much more personal.
August 6, 2007
I didn’t go into work today on the premise that I’ve have more Ma-sitting to do, but she and Pa are off to get some of her labwork done and she doesn’t need me for that. Still, my body is rebelling so it’s a good thing I got that extra rest to ease the aches in my old bones.
Meantime, I do have some goodish news on the financial front. What? That’s what this blog is about?? š
1. My Chase rewards check came in: +$50
2. Lil Boss reimbursed me for the gifts for coworkers from Con and for my transportation: +$125
3. Lil Boss also gave me my cell phone stipend: +$50
4. The Banquet TMF rebate came in: +$7.99
I’m still waiting on:
1. 8 months overdue Cardoffers check: -$60
2. Payout from DealBarbie: -$21
3. 2 months worth of payment from Bro: -$1400
4. 4 months of loan payment: -$4000
And it turns out that the mysterious thousand dollar deposit into my checking account really was from my uncle (yay). But it’s not for me (boo). It’s for his father in law who doesn’t have a bank account. I ought to start charging transfer fees if they’re using me as Western Union! How does MsMini’s Money sound? Oh, kind of like I want to just TAKE their money, huh? Let’s not explore that further. š
