| Gahvbm errrr djjmmmmfff...zzzzz ...zzzzz |
[Jul. 23rd, 2007|08:53 am] |
By Caffeine alone I set my mind in motion, by the beans of Java the thoughts acquire speed, the hands acquire shaking, the shaking is a warning. By Caffeine alone I set my mind in motion.
Jesus Christ, I am exhausted. I am running on maybe 90 minutes of sleep. The reasons behind this are basically my finances, as skimmed before in a previous entry, behind. Part of my problem stemmed from the fact I sent out some checks that were sent back because the postage rates changed and the post office returned a few bills as "postage due" for a whopping 2 cents. I have some of my bills paid online automatically, but not all of them have this feature, or they want unfettered access to my checking account and automatically withdrawing at their whim, which I find very risky at best. I had a friend who got reamed by Vepco, for instance, when a slip of a decimal point made his $83.20 bill drain his bank account with an $832.00 charge (this was later fixed, but he bounced a lot of checks that month). But the end result for me is late fees upon late fees. And the IRS claiming I owe them money (I have to find my 2005 taxes, which should be in a neat envelope). I haven't balanced my checkbook, either, because by 4am, my brain was too fried to do math. Sadly, it's too fried now to do math, but at least I got checks out this morning. I still have to balance my statements, find my 2005 Taxes, and try and find money for next month.
Sadly, a casualty of this is that TCEP is most likely not doable. This is CR's graduating year, and we have photos and stuff to get, plus his school supplies, clothes, and the usual back-to-school stuff.
I'd drink more coffee, but after 2 cups, my stomach goes sour and I get jittery. I even ate breakfast when I got to work (which I rarely do), and that didn't wake me up, either. My best hope is to drink a lot of water, a trick I learned back with FanTek security, when we realized that sometimes, your tiredness was beyond coffee, and it started to work in the opposite way (or gave you a headache and nosebleeds). |
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| Comments: |
From: (Anonymous)
2007-07-24 04:36 pm (UTC)
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Oh dear! Do take care Punky! I'd hate to see you get ill again because of some sleep deficit :( Or worries, for that matter...
One thing though... I've never understood why the US still cling so vehemently to checks. Over here in Europe we've switched to direct deposits decades ago. This seems to be a less problematic system and is much more suitable for online banking.
The last time I saw anyone cut a check was around 1987 I believe... Then all of us switched to direct deposit (for bills and such) and debit cards (for paying in shops).
Cailin Coilleach
To be fair, I am a little behind. I would say that checks are still important, however. Like if I had to pay for something I bought off a friend, and it was more than $20, I'd cut them a check. I just ordered a proprietary 9V adapter from a company who only had a paper form, and they only accept checks. Same with my upcoming high school reunion, although they did accept credit cards for an additional fee.
Credit Card companies charge fees to merchants, anywhere between 2-5% on average. Even debit cards charge 25 cents to a $1 a transaction, more so for withdrawing cash at a foreign ATM. And the ATM fees get worse every year. It used to be $2 just a few years ago ($1 from my bank, $1 for the ATM bank) but now I have paid up to $6.50 for withdrawing just $20 (ATMs in convenience stores and truck stops are massive ripoffs). But if I withdraw from my bank's ATM, I pay nothing for the first 6 withdraws a calendar month ($1 after that).
From: (Anonymous)
2007-07-24 07:09 pm (UTC)
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Sweet Jeebus! That's insane!
In the Netherlands all ATM withdrawals are free, regardless of which bank you're with. And since the European Community started messing with things, all ATM withdrawals across Europe are free as well. It sounds to me like all those US banks should get their collective asses in gear and start collaborating!
I'll go and read around the web to see if there aren't any bank reforms planned for you guys...
Also... Paying among friends is usually done by direct deposit as well. Most companies over here (I'd wager 99%) accept either credit cards (with a fee, that's true), direct deposit or COD.
I guess it's just so ingrained in your economy and culture that it's hard to even think about getting rid of checks. | |
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