miraje | Entries tagged with money

Ok, I just spent $60 yesterday on a new battery and tools to change it, and the battery was probably perfectly ok. *snort*

Now, it's down to the silunoid (spelling?) and the starter. The silunoid runs about $30-$40 bucks, and the starter runs about $200 bucks. I don't suppose you can guess which one I'm going to try to fix first. If the silunoid's not the problem, my dad is going to drive 500 miles up here to fix the starter this weekend. I don't want him to have to do that, so maybe I can catch some good luck and solve the problem.

You know, it's been about 3 weeks since I had good luck with anything. I'm ready for a change.

Oh, in 24-related news, I went checked on prices at Borders, Best Buy, Target, and Wal-Mart today for seasons one and two on DVD, and here's the lowdown:

Borders: Season one: no clue (was behind one of those locked cases), Season two: $69.99!!! HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

Best Buy: Season one: $45.99 Season two: $59.99

Target: Season one: $46.99 Season two: $55.99

Wal-Mart: Season one: nowhere to be found Season two: $48.84!!!

Dammit, why can't Wal-Mart carry season one? It would have been nice and pretty and in my price range.

That stupid ass SoBig.F virus has latched onto my public email address. I think one of the computers I used on campus to check my email had the thing, and it started using my email to send the damn virus out. I've gotten at least 30 copies of it back to my email after other people opened it on their PCs. I'm about 85% sure I didn't open the file and infect the computer myself, because it looks a lot like spam. I don't read spam. I delete it.

It looks like the big blackout affected my life in one way afterall. Iowa State University gets its Stafford loans and pell grants from NYC, and the money was supposed to be wired here on Friday night. I don't think anything got wired out of anywhere in New England Friday, so naturally, there's a delay. Looks like I'm buying my textbooks with my credit card...

I went to talk to nice Mr. veterinerian man today about Phoebe, and he gave me a bottle of 10 tranquilizer pills for $3.00!!!!!! I seriously think humans are being ripped off. Anyway, he used his own poor unsuspecting cat as an example to me of how to administer the pills. I really hope he gave her a vitamin instead of the actual sedative. He also stuck a pencil halfway down her throat to push the pill down. Ouch much? I felt so bad for the poor animal. Now I have to do that to my cat. She is so gonna hate me after this. Wish me luck...

Current Mood: nervous

Today has just been a day FULL of bad news. I'll skip most of it and get right to the great and wonderful fun I had at the dentist's office. One year ago, I got a checkup, and they told me I had NO cavities. Just one year ago. I went in today, and they found FIVE fucking cavities. He says I should floss daily to avoid this in the future. As if that would be bad enough, I decided to ask him about the alignment of my teeth. My teeth don't line up quite right. In the front, the top is narrower than the bottom, and as you get into the further back teeth, The top teeth on both sides sit off to the right of the bottom teeth when I bite down. This is otherwise called a crossbite, and a severe one at that. He's amazed that I never saw an orthodontist to get it corrected as a child. Well, if he had the life I had growing up, he would understand that spending thousands of dollars to fill my mouth full of metal and to put a jaw straightener around my head wasn't exactly feesable for us. Hell, I went at least 7 years without even a single dental appointment, because (I'm assuming) we didn't have insurance coverage to pay for it. Anyway, he recommends that I see an orthodontist to discuss what they could do. He also added that it could get quite expensive considering the extent of the problem. I really don't want to be in braces while I'm in college, and I can't afford it, so if this little problem of mine doesn't land me in dentures by the time I'm 30, I can handle a little abnormality in my wear pattern or whatever the hell he said.

I do need to brush and floss more often, though...

Current Mood: aggravated

My car is practically screaming for an oil change and new air filter, but I can't do shit to it until my paycheck makes it to Ames to be deposited in my bank up there. So, the car's just going to have to wait about 5 days for the USPS to get my moolah a distance that I could travel in 9 hours. I should have sent it Priority Mail. *shrug* Oh well.

I'm getting my hair colored as soon as I get back to Iowa. It'll be one of those Couleur Experte box colors in Butterscotch Creme. I've never colored my hair before, so I'm kinda nervous. I'm so ready for a change though. I don't enjoy being dirty blonde. I miss my light light blonde that I had as a kid, but I'm too much of a chicken shit to go that light right now. Maybe later. It's coming up on fall anyway, so bleach blonde doesn't quite fit the season.

Current Music: Santa Monica--Savage Garden

I did a little more research on this possible trip to Connecticut thing, and here's what I found. I can get a flight from Moline, Illinois to NYC for $108. That's pretty damn cheap. From NYC, I take the Amtrak from Penn. Station to New Haven for $46.00. Since I am a Best Western employee, I can stay at the BW in New Haven for $49 a night. So, adding all that together and then considering that I'll have to pitch in for gas and food on the way back, I'm looking at about $250-$300 in minimum, absolutely necessary expenses.

To be honest with you, this is starting to sound like it's worth doing.

I have a dilemma. My sister is going to Yale University for her freshman year this upcoming fall semester. She has to take a car up there to get her stuff there, but she won't be able to keep it. Parking permits there are upwards of $1000 a pop. So, the car has to come back. My mother is going with her to help make the long trip. It's roughly 20 hours to get from Des Moines, Iowa to New Haven, Connecticut. As I said before, the car has to come back. That leaves Mom driving the full 20 hour trip back to Iowa by herself. Here's my dilemma. Should I go up to Connecticut so that I can help Mom drive back?

Pros

-Less straining on Mom
-Get to hang out with sis and get her settled in
-Get to see a part of the country I've never seen before

Cons

-I'd have to fly up, which would be buku bucks for a one-way ticket.
-This happens over Labor Day weekend. Hence, I've got three days to get this trip done. Also, major travelling weekend across the country. Traffic will be positively miserable.
-I have to be at school the Friday before and the Tuesday after Labor Day. I will be dragging the ass like it's never been dragged before when I get back.
-Gas + Hotel rooms + Food expenses for the trip back.
-Car in question is not exactly known to be reliable. I don't have any wiggle room as far as time goes if the car breaks down on me.

So??????

Sis and I were just looking at prices for different types of travel to get her to and from Yale during holiday breaks.

To get from Wichita, Kansas, to New Haven, Connecticut (round trip):

By Greyhound bus: $253.00 with student discount
By Amtrak train: $215.00 with student discount
By plane: $523.00 with no discount

I wonder if going by train would be cheaper than driving...I guess we'll find out when we take her up there.

Working the night shift sucks. On one side of it, it's nice because I do absolutely nothing and get PAID for it. On the other side, my sleeping patterns are totally whack now, and it seems to drag on for a freakin' eternity. Plus, I only get minimum wage. Grr.

Oh well, I guess it's work.

I don't think I've been this bored in my entire life. I've got to think of SOMETHING to do. Here are my choices:

1) Get some actual exercise and go running at Lemon Park,
2) Go out in the country and take some pictures, or
3) Make some junk food and hide upstairs settling a score with Final Fantasy Tactics for a couple of hours.

As you might notice, none of these activities requires money...well, directly. Getting exercise and going into the country requires driving there, taking pictures requires developing the film at some point, and making junk food requires using up groceries.

Hmmm...what to do, what to do...

I'm finally settled in here at home. It's going to be a long summer.

I went in to find out what my schedule was going to be for the summer at the hotel, and they told me that I basically didn't have one. The two people doing front desk now don't want to cut hours, so that leaves me out in the cold. My boss told me that I could work the night shift three nights a week, but that is a) not enough hours, and b) the worst shift to do. No..fucking..thanks. I only make $5.15 an hour, so I could actually do a lot better. We'll see what I can find.

Anyways, just wanted to let you all know that I'm back.

I got my tax return in the mail yesterday, so naturally I decided to blow it and go shopping today. I really do need new clothes, I swear it. Most everything I own either has a hole or a stain on it somewhere. So...I bought a white fitted tee with pink trim with Wilbur from Charlotte's Web on the front. I also bought a coral colored long bohemian-ish shirt. Yes, I'm giving in to a fashion trend. GASP! Actually, I've always liked bohemian/hippy shirts, even before they were trendy. They're just a wee bit more accessible right now. The last thing I bought was a pair of white canvas sandals from Payless. I'll have them full of dirt and scuff marks in no time.

I'm feeling better today for some reason. Jennifer and Ashley stopped by to see me, and we're going out to eat lunch...whenever they get here.

My grandparents are FINALLY getting a little rain out at their place. They're farmers, and they haven't really had measurable rain in about a year. They've been hurting for it BADLY. I think they said that the cost of gas to run the irrigation pumps were up to $1100 bucks a month with the hike in the gas price. Nobody can afford that, least of all them. I'm glad they're finally getting some precip.

There are still other things that I'm concerned about, but my spirits are higher. You just have to remember that money shouldn't run your life, whether you have it or not.

I miss being happy and being myself. My brain is filled to capacity with worries over so many different things, and I don't have any space left to stop and enjoy being alive like I used to. Normally, I am really excited when we get thunderstorms. When the first ones of the year came last night, I think it's sufficive to say that I was little more than mildly amused. Normally, I'm totally thrilled when my birthday comes around. Not this year. I think it's just going to be another Friday, except I got a cake.

The worst part of all this is that most of my concern and worry is centered around money. I've NEVER been this preoccupied with it until now. If this is all there is to living as an adult, I don't know if I have the energy to live the rest of my life this way. I hate being poor, and I hate being in debt to others. My main purpose of going to school was to gain a lifestyle in which I didn't have to live paycheck to paycheck. I don't want to be a millionaire or anything, but being in debt the rest of my life is NOT a fucking option. I refuse to live like my parents did my whole life. God I hate this...it's dragging me down BADLY.

A Dixie Chick's opinion about Mr. Bush ignites protests

^^^The protests are fucking stupid. Why should such a backlash have to happen just because they don't agree with what she said? Go Natalie.

Social Security funds expected to run out in 2042.

^^^That's fucking perfect. I'll be 58 years old, SEVEN YEARS FROM RETIREMENT. I wish there was a little check box on taxes so that you can choose not to pay social security. Why pay it if I ain't gonna enjoy it?

$3.19 a gallon for gas in California!!!

^^^It's still $1.60-$1.70 here, but it'll likely shoot up around Memorial Day. As soon as I get home for the summer, I'm parking that Blazer in the garage and riding my bike to work..until August. No driving for me.

Severe Weather Expected Across Central Plains

^^^I'm right smack in the middle of that red area, so it should be an interesting night to be a meteorology major. If gas and auto insurance weren't so expensive, I'd go storm chasing.

10 ways to pay for this war

^^^Oh holy hell. I think a good 7 or 8 out of 10 of those hurt me or someone I know. The LAST thing that farmers need right now is less aid. Terrific.

I put a down payment on my first apartment today after touring it yesterday. It's a cute place! It's smaller and less modern than a lot of the other places I looked at, but it just had this cozy feeling about it. It's also only two blocks from campus, the closest of any that I looked at. Plus, I get to keep my cat now! YAY!

I'm heading home tomorrow for Spring Break, but it's probably not going to be much of a break. I have to work as many hours as they'll give me at the hotel. I'm really strapped for cash at the moment.

Grandpa went home earlier this week. It kind of shocked all of us that he went home so early, but it's not because he was cured. They put him on a home care program in which doctors come out to the house regularly to check on him. He's happy as a blue bird to be home, and I don't blame him. He's been in hospitals for over two weeks now.

LJ picked a convenient time to go down. I haven't anything interesting to say.

I forgot to turn in my time card yesterday, so I'm not going to get paid for another MONTH. As I tell myself to be tight with my funds, I make plans to go shopping tonight. I definitely inherited my paternal side's money sense. *rolls eyes*

I went to the housing fair today to size up some possible apartments for next fall. Being in the dorms is great and all, but I hate having my car a mile away from me and I'm bringing my cat up to Ames. Dorms do not appreciate pets that don't live in aquariums. I'll have a roommate to keep the cost down, so we were looking for two-bedroom units. The cheapest was about $395 a month and the most expensive was $1050. A lot of them wanted double deposit because of Phoebe living with us and others just wanted a small charge per month. All in all, though, we found some very reasonable and doable offers...and...DISHWASHERS!!!

I'm getting really excited about this! Ah, to have a kitchen and private bathroom again...

I think the insurance thing has been resolved. My blazer got appraised at $4400 by the insurance folks, and since it's being totalled, they'll just cut Dad a check for that amount. There's a sweeet 1992 S-15 GMC Jimmy sitting out at the dealership in town for $3900, but since Dad found hail damage on it, he's trying to talk them down to $3500. It has leather seats, cd player, 4 wheel drive, a brand new engine, new tires, and a pretty slick stereo system. Why they're selling it for that cheap is a mystery to me. Anyway, if the insurance company forces me to buy it, Dad will just give me the money to buy it from the check for the other one. If they make me put it on my own insurance, I will pay half and Dad agreed to pay half, since there's no way in hell I can cover it myself. My insurance will double because of the wreck for sure, but right now we're just praying that they don't drop us completely. In the end, it boils down to this: It shouldn't have happened at all, but it did and there's nothing we can do about it now. We worked everything out, and everyone has stayed out of the emergency room...well almost. The powers that be decided to finally cut me a fucking break. THANK YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE UP THERE.

On another note, my need to buy clothes is going to have to whoa for a few months. I just bought two pair of jeans from Wal-Mart with my gift certificates (I know, ick...but they fit me decently...and 17.98 each is all I can afford), and ordered one pair of Silvers off of Ebay for 14 bucks. You gotta admit, 13.99 for a pair of Silver's is damn cheap. I needed jeans BADLY. All my jeans now either have holes in them or a belt loop ripped off or they're too small or SOMETHING. It'll be nice to just throw on a pair without struggling to get them to fit. I need khakis, too, but I only wear them when I'm here at home, so what's the point? I need other things, too, but since I have to pay part of my car insurance from now on, miss Heather's on a tightwad's budget.

AND WHERE THE HELL IS THE PAYCHECK I WAS SUPPOSED TO GET ON DECEMBER 31?!?!?! I better fucking get double the money on my next check or else there will be hell to pay.

sunrays and saturdays

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

Just thought you'd like to know...

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

Profile

February 2010

Syndicate

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags