Buyer Beware

It's PNC again. We were assured we could use our old checks. They'll be routed to the new account number. All for our convenience.

Today I discovered one of the 6 checks I mailed July 14 strayed into our OD Protection account. The rate of interest for OD Protection is 24.79% APR!

It took 38 minutes on the phone and two different departments to convince them that the check was not drawn on the OD account which carries our old National City account number but rather a regular check that was to come out of our checking account.

Serious problems. We will visit our personal banker when we're back in town. The OD account is crap. We really need the money market account and the checking account tied together to avoid bouncing a check or two.

Let's face it. I am enough of a control freak that I watch our accounts. Now I have to watch daily.

Buyer beware. Don't assume. You are the only one who really cares about your $.

'til later

ATM Card

Monday Bob and I decided to try out our ATM cards and take some cash out of our checking account. We needed help working the machine and then found out the cards were tied to our money market account and not our checking.

We spent 15 minutes with "Joe" our personal banker but he could only tie my card in with our checking account. Bob's would not work even after a phone call to the main office in Pennsylvania and several minutes at a computer.

A new card would be ordered and it would automatically be tied to both accounts. Can we wait 10 days or so for delivery. No problem.

I got to the computer last night and found a $10 fee for a replacement card. After 20 minutes on the phone with "Victoria" the charge was reversed.

Maybe the whole idea of an ATM card is crazy for us. Are there benefits other than our bank is no longer open on Sundays?

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Cell Phone

Bob has cell service through Verizon for his business and we just add a second phone for me. It costs us about $13.60 a month. We have had our phones for 6 years. Unlike many people, we are content and do not fall for the ads. I have a niece who changes her phone every time she gets the notice from her server. I think she thought once her contract was satisfied she needed to replace the equipment.

Last month's Verizon bill was over $14 for the second line. Ouch. I called the company. Evidently it costs 20 cents to receive a text message and someone sent me 3. I could see that the box had messages but just deleted them as I don't text and can't on this antique phone.

Verizon has now blocked all texts from reaching either of our cell phones. They erased the extra changes as well.

It pays to watch the details of invoices.

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As Shared

A young engineer lost his job when the local factory closed. His severance package expired this spring. He has interviewed several places but remains unemployed.

My friend works at a factory not far from this Raleigh suburb. The engineer was interviewed and offered $75,000/year.

Everyone was shocked when this father of two toddlers declined.

"I was making $80,000 and have no need to take less than that. We are getting by on my unemployment which is good until 2012."

My friend offered a line operator from the closed factory a supervisor position. It was declined. In his mind $45,000/year wasn't good enough since it was not an hourly union position. His unemployment will run out a year from now.

So, some are finding job offers but the cushion of unemployment may seem like lost income if a position is accepted?

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Take Care of Business

It was one year ago today that I received the first of three emails from the White House warning me of consequences of untruths and misguiding, straight from David Axelrod.

I took about 9 months off from my blog. I was afraid.

With much reflection I have decided to return to my simple regular postings about finances, tips of living below your means, life's blessings, and politics.

Taking care of business includes tracking our expenses, developing a budget, following our assets, and being charitable with our blessings.

This morning I spent time with my doctor. I was past due for regular check-up things like a Pap smear, blood work, blood pressure checking, and mammogram. I had put it off long enough.

What about you, my friends? Time for a check-up with your doctor? Time for a look at your finances?

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Tony

Have I told you about Tony? He used to work for the company that services our heating and air conditioning needs at our lake house. Now he works for himself.

Over a year ago we arrived at the house to find the furnace was not working. It was early spring and we needed the heat while we were there for a few days. Tony came over within 30 minutes and determined a part was necessary but not to worry as it was still under warranty.

Tony has many talents. He has wired extra lights in the crawlspace and changed pump filters. We called him Monday. He's not fond of plumbing work but he's capable. He will replace the insides of our 2 toilets before we get back to the lake.

We are expecting many guests in August and needed both toilets in shape. The reason we called was that one toilet was running some after flushing. The flapper was not sealing correctly. One hassle we didn't want our guests to face.

Bob and I live in Chicago suburbs. We wish we had a Tony here. He's a treasure.

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Factory Card & Party Outlet

One visit to this colorful retail shop was all that was needed.

Marney's daughter, my granddaughter, Elizabeth will turn 2 on Saturday. This store has theme decor from rodeo to Elmo, from Little Kitty to pirates. There are plates, napkins, crepe streamers, banners, balloons, center pieces and even party favors for dozens of themes.

We avoided Dora and Elmo and found a pretty pink and flowers collection. Marney said no to party favors as most of the guests will be adult. And no to the princess crown as Liz is too young. For table covers, she chose solid color complimentary to the collection. Also, nicer solid color plates and streamers to match.

She will pick up helium filled theme balloons on Saturday morning or Friday night. They should keep indoors overnight.

Now we all hope the weather cooperates.

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American Express

Bob has been in Canada lately on business. His receipts are in Canadian dollars so I print out the American Express statement to get the US dollar conversion.

American Express has started adding 3% fees for this calculation which bring the cost to an equivalent US sum.

An example is a dinner that cost $38.46 with a US conversion to $37.39. Then the American Express fee of $1.01 bring the cost to our company to $38.40 US.

We are still seeking an explanation as this "fee" has not occurred before.

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Hot Humid July

It's July and it's hot. The entire nation has been scorched lately.

Bob and I appreciate our air conditioning but we also know how large the electric bill gets so we keep the thermostat set at 77 or so.

We have decided fans are important for that cool-ish feeling. We have ceiling fans in several rooms and a large fan on a stand in the bedroom.

Bob empties the dehumidifier twice a day. Keeping things dry in the basement helps. Plus the attic fan working to take heat and humidity off the top of the second floor helps as well.

Stay cool.

Timing!

George M. Steinbrenner died this week. He was 80 years old. "The Boss" was the owner of the New York Yankees.

His timing was great for his heirs. This year there are no inheritance taxes. These will go back to full pre-Bush levels January 1, 2011.

Will there be a rush of suicides and assisted suicides before January?

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Stimulus

Remember the stimulus in 2009 of over $700 Billion?

It has been stated by the White House, although unsubstantiated, that "they" have saved or created 3.5 million jobs.

That's a cost of $150,000 per job.

Now they are creating another stimulus bill. More large debt? To what end?

Common sense: you can not spend yourself into wealth.

How crazy is this? And destructive!

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Curb Work

We received a doorknob hanger from the City telling us the city would be tearing up the curb at the bottom of our driveway and replacing it. That was June 28.

We have been parking on the street with a note on our cars [it is illegal to park on city streets from like midnight and 5am]. The City still has not come to tear out our curbing.

I have contacted the City and the work is still scheduled. The wheels turn slowly.

Even when the work is started, we will be parking on the street for up to 10 days.

Government works slowly. Private companies have much larger incentives....competition.

'til later

Counting

Counting, accounting, listing, cataloging, sorting, adding.....

Time consuming and tedious but worth the effort. It's only in the counting that we know what we have. It's only in focusing on the details that we get the complete picture.

It's only in the effort that we truly see the blessings in our life and can fully acknowledge our gratitude to our God.

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British Petroleum

Are we witnessing the demise of BP? The news last night said they were trying to sell some property in Alaska they held as a possible oil source. They have dished out billions already for clean up and trying to cap the leak.

The President's friend who will be deciding on allocation of the $20B stash said he should be up and ready for claims by Labor Day. He went on to say so many people just get paid in cash and were wondering about tax implications, etc.

I am sure there are many small fishermen and contractors who deal mostly in cash to avoid paper trails but this man made it sound like they were all tax avoiders and ignorant laborers. How condensating he sounded.

But the question remains. Are we watching the end of BP Oil? Will there be those who celebrate its death?

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Mail

We've been away from home since early July 1. I had the mail held and it's to be delivered tomorrow. I sure hope they are waiting there for us. There will bills that need to be paid immediately.

I'm glad I invested in those stamps that are good no matter how expensive the current rate is. I paid $.42 each. The cost now is $.44 and going to $.46 near the first of the year.

A penny saved is a penny earned. Saving a penny? Pennies become dimes quickly and then dollars. We do not consider ourselves penny pinchers but rather careful.

These days we are all careful with our $.

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Master Card

Visiting a smelly farm of wildlife animals in Topeka IN, eating leftover pizza heated in the microwave, waiting for a 2 year old to nap, time with family.....priceless.

Marney and her family are visiting us at the lake house. What a joy. We're waiting for the heat of the day to cool. Then we may venture to the small park on Dallas lake that has a playground and a beach.

Better get the battery to the camera all charged up.

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Disgraceful

Have you heard anything about the Medicare director Obama appointed as soon as Congress went on recess? It seems so many were voicing strong opposition at the mention of his name, Berwick, that the only way this coward dictator could get what he wanted was to sneak him in. An open socialist, a strong voice for rationing healthcare, a lover of the process in England where 6,000% more prostrate cases are terminal, and a redistributionist.

Sure, it's been done before. This is not a first. It's just cowardly, secretive, and disgraceful. With the media looking the other way ALL THE TIME, our ruler can do what he likes unchallenged.

I think the executive branch has eaten the others. Of what importance is Congress? A bump in the road. Judges? No problem. Obama's first judge talked about gun rights when drilled before confirmation and turned right around and voted against our 2nd amendment rights.

Dear God, help America.

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Worries

Worry, pray.

I am quite concerned about the direction this once great nation (we now apologize for that) is headed under this administration. I know I'm not alone but the rhetoric has been ratcheted up against capitalism.

I listened to part of yesterday's Obama speech (we receive at least one a day, not unlike a dictatorship). He talks like he knows how to get the economy going but the truth is he's never worked for a profit organization in his entire life. Well, maybe a few months right out of law school.

The economy is a big topic. I understand a little about how things work. Businesses hire people, sell a service or product, pay taxes and other expenses. The leftover part is profit and it's taxed in a number of way.

This president has no intention of helping business. He's a big government guy. Government, Big Brother, has all the answers and will be our nanny from birth to grave. Relax. Big Brother will care for us. No need to work and worry.

Is this how it will end. Democracy, capitalism, our greatness?

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Continued Saga

Bob and I were both on the phone yesterday. First with corporate PNC, then the credit card division. Followed by 45 minutes with our local branch.

The credit card payment was lost. No one had it. It was likely not to arrive at all.

The local branch assistant manager transferred a lump from our money market account to the credit card. He could only assure us along with the bank manager that the transaction had gone through. He is mailing us a receipt.

We decided that besides the late fee we were racking up interest charges every day. That was the reason behind sending a chunk that covered the lost payment plus some to make it an even payment.

The lost was found. My online access this morning shows the credit card payment was posted July 2! Plus the payment "Joe" transferred for us came out of our account but is not yet posted toward our credit card balance. I suspect a day delay as these two divisions are not as connected as they were under National City.

Now, the question remains. Continue with PNC?

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Late Fees

It cost us $39 late fee to find out this morning that our credit card payment is lost. Lost?

I set up a transfer of funds out of checking into credit card. It seems since it wasn't set up right -- thank you Mr. Banker we sat with 8 days ago -- the "paper check" that the bank cut and mailed 6/29 has not been received.

Oh! Why bank on line if a paper check gets handed to the excellent postal system? I can do that. I thought the whole idea was to save time and trees?

I am angry. The lady over the phone has posted a dispute to the late fee. Meanwhile, the balance is chinking up interest daily while the lost is found.

Hating PNC. Slamming PNC to everyone we know.

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Time?

What time is it? Have you got the time?

Bob lost his new cheap watch in the water Saturday. Efforts were made to find it in the 4 feet of murky water but in the end it was lost. It was not waterproof.

Kmart was open July 4th and like other stores, they had loads of seasonal specials. Watches were not in their ad but the watch Bob found did not have a box so the jewelry counter clerk took 10% off.

Alas, another cheap watch. But maybe that's just fine. He seems rougher on them than I thought. Maybe he should not wear it boating or get a cheap waterproof one.

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Money

I figure people around us must have loads of $. It seemed like every other house was blowing something off, either in their yard or right in the middle of the street.

After 11pm they were still making booms and lighting up the street. Scattering debris all over the 'hood. Since it doesn't get dark until about 10pm, many of the torchers had consumed their BBQ and a few adult beverages.

I wonder what they have left over for tonight since today is July 4.

And, where did they get all that $ to blow? Literally. Especially since all the communities around here had big displays Friday night and last night, I would ask why. Maybe there's a pyro in each of us. Just add $ and beer?

'til later

Gasoline

Bob and I have been on the road the past few weeks. Gas prices vary so much. Between Chicago area and northeast Indiana the price difference is nearly $.40/gallon. We can assume part of the difference is state and local taxes.

Yesterday at the pump, Bob could not get the credit card to work. He went in to charge it after filling but the attendant said all credit card access was "down".

Bob, who carries little cash, was able to scrape together enough for his purchase. He keeps his "fold'n" money in a money clip and accumulates singles until he doesn't see a $20 bill hiding. Then he either goes to the bank or asks if I have any cash.

When he travels alone, he does not rely upon his ATM card (his new PNC card is on his desk at home) but rather a wad of 20s stuffed in his wallet.

So, he sits crooked on his lumpy wallet when he travels. Otherwise, the wad in his pocket is likely more singles than anything.

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Credit Card

Confession time. With National City I could set a payment on line via "transfer of funds" in advance to pay our credit card timely without worries.

PNC does not permit advance scheduled transfers. After meeting with our personal banker on Monday I thought I set up a transfer from checking to credit card but it never appeared the next day as a transaction.

Yesterday I spoke with 2 people on the phone at PNC. Evidently I set up a "payment" which triggered a physical check being printed and MAILED to the credit card company. So now I'm praying the postal workers don't go postal, the check arrives today, and the payment is posted before July 4 which is the due date.

Bob said, "you've done your best". Somedays I wish I wasn't a control freak. I did remember to pull balances of some accounts off the web yesterday which was the first day of the 3rd quarter of the year. I can plug those balances into our balance sheet without waiting for physical statements.

'til later