Solving Problems Today

 Today, I steeled myself, gritted my teeth, then relaxed and put on a voice more pleasant than I felt. I got a woman to whom I have talked before and told her how disruptive this was to my financial life. So, this is the long story of how it happened.

I was at Bank1. They became Bank 2. I was told the free checks were good and free to use as long as I had them. I still have about 100 checks. I use them not often. I have never used one over the phone until a few weeks ago. That is the problem--the routing numbers are changed since it is under a new bank. Now, why couldn't someone else help me figure this out? I was an agent of the solving the problem. However, I had a late charge at Amazon. The local business took off the late charge and something else. So, now I know. Why could all these employees before her figure it out? Also, why couldn't someone have given me new routing numbers to use over the phone. I don't need new numbers if I use a check at the store or at bank. I do not have and have not had one overdraft, thank you.

Tommy just finished a 30-minute call to ATT about why he was not charged for long-distance service. Somehow, his charge was not put on the bill. But, the amount of talking required was too much. At least, his service was not cancelled.

Now, I need to talk with Amazon.,,,if I can find someone who speaks English well enough to understand. People in this country need jobs. I ordered something on sale for $329 and used my accrued points to pay for it. They did not use my points and charged me $449. Needless to say, this does not sit well with me!`

Tonight, we had baked chicken, garlic potatoes with green beans, and Romaine. Tommy had a salad, chicken and garlic potatoes with green beans. 

Additionally, I baked a turkey breast wrapped in bacon and some sort of stuffing. I pulled off all the bacon. Whatever it was stuffed with will keep my mouth and stomach burning all night. I only took a taste! 

A sliced baked ham went into the freezer. I cannot wait to eat it. I need to cook beans and bake sweet potatoes for that. Or, maybe we will have that for Easter.

a funny commercial

Obnoxious Hyundai Tucson "sugar mamma" commercial

My feet are so cold!

Three Free Things in the Mail Today

*$300 AT&T Rewards Card
*Meeting with light snacks
* Free haircut

First of all, the bad news. In order to get the $300, I have to bundle with AT&T and get Direct TV. Not for me. I am permanently out of their clutches and onto them!

The meeting with light snacks will be dinner for me. If not, only a bit more food will be needed later. Or, I could eat lightly beforehand. Snacks are always nutritious and never chips or such.

As I called, I read the card and it seems they cater to men. The woman said they could cut long women's hair, but they have no round brushes or products. They never use them for me, anyway. I told her I wanted to come in with hair washed and dried, get a haircut, and walk out. She said they could do that. 

Maybe no products means there will be no perms in the air. I doubt men use hairspray as much as they did a few years ago. At any rate, there should be less scents.

AND, the haircut is $14 not $18 like the other shop where I was thinking about going. If this works out, I may go back after the free haircut.

I explained the bad haircut and told her I did not want it "fixed," just made to look a little better. I could end up with a pixie haircut if anyone tries to make it perfect.

I told her I liked to come in with hair washed and dried, get a cut, and walk out. She said they can do that. So, hurray. I have until May 11 to use the coupon. Of course, a tip will be in order. So, that will make it a $5 haircut.

A free haircut and free snacks for dinner are two savings I can use. Boo to AT&T.

(I just went out to get mail and the wind is killing me with all the allergens. I have been sneezing and eyebrow area and nose really hurt.)

Have you gotten the ATT offer and Sportsclips offer in the mail? Do you ever have meetings where nutritious snacks are provided?

How Monday Went

Since I had trouble going to sleep, I just slept until I awoke Monday morning...10:35. Immediately, I started calling. The first call took me 1.5 hours and I was not happy with the results--government agency.

The Water Dept. adjusted my bill by ~ $40. Power Board noted on bill. Happy dance

Got supplies done at Lowe's.

Friend cannot do favor in time, but tomorrow.

Bank account--balance obtained. The missing check came in!

I picked up only part of trash because I forgot to take a bag. One item was cigarette pack like J smoked.

Church activity dates noted in day planner after calling both.

I washed my hair about noon.


go to Com. on Aging--question, sign papers and shredding papers done
call Water Dept. done
call Power Board done
go to Lowe's done
Call friend to do a favor done
pick up trash in my yard almost
pay for internet at ATT office
go to bank  done
call gov't agency done
go to courthouse
call church about lunch dates  done
wash my hair  done

Rolled over to tomorrow, two things:

go to courthouse to purchase tag and get Homestead Exemption. I just did not get everything done in time and was very tired. Where did the green text come from?!

Pay internet. ATT office claimed the could not help me. Ha! I thought I got rid of the green.

I stopped by the hair dresser that I forgot to get the telephone number to call. Still don't have number but can find it on internet. She was not there. So, that is for Tuesday. 

More List

I will publish the whole list. Right now, I am too exhausted. And, it is cold in here.

One thing I accomplished today was lowering my phone bill. By having it automatically deducted from my bank account, I save over $20/month from here on out. At the ATT store, I put my phones, debit card, driver's license on the table and sat there while the young guy worked to make it happen. If I had done it over the phone, it would have been such a hassle.

Groceries today: a bag of Haloes and an avocado.  The kind of lettuce I wanted at WM was gone. Since it is Friday and the first of the month, it disappeared. Early tomorrow, I will go back and buy it before it disappears again. So, tomorrow will be orange juice, lettuce, and bananas.

When I got med refills, I left one off as I do not like the side effects. Since I take some OTCs, I got those, too.

My new debit card did not work with the pin I tried to use. The ATT guy suggested just using it as credit card. I did. Then, I decided that might be the wrong thing to do. Exbf thought I should get to the bank and straighten it out. Ha! I was a block from bank and was going to confess. The woman said it was not a problem and changed my pin to one I want.

I even used the debit card for gas. It makes me nervous I might not write a transaction down. So, I stopped and wrote down all four transactions on my debit card today. I have never used a debit card before. I can see how this might be dangerous. It is so easy!

Now, the list must be reworked, checking things off and adding more. I may never get this list finished. Things seem out of control since I was ill so long and delaying regular dr visits and cancelling appointments and tests.

I need to turn up the heat since I am freezing and sneezing.

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow and we will, according to his prediction, have another six weeks of winter. I was hoping to go by Birmingham Bill's prediction, but he saw a shadow, too! It was sunny here. Still, I refuse to believe winter is still with us for so long. Stupid groundhog!

Do you have bills on auto pay? Does it work for you? Problems? Do you believe we will have six more weeks of winter? Let's rebel.

Lowering Communications Costs AND Retaining Services

The cost of communications has gotten out of hand for many of us. I remember forty-years ago when I was stressed by a $12 telephone bill and could still get TV without a cable or antenna. For the last few months, I have been actively seeking cheaper sources for home phone, cell phone service, tv and internet.

*The first thing I did last year or the year before was to get an antenna. Now, it seems every month I get fewer channels. I am down to two channels that don't get religious channels, most of which are in Spanish some nights. Then, both of those two good channels had football games last Saturday. Aaaargh!

*I thought I was getting a cheaper cell service from ATT last year. But, no! It is higher because I have to pay for the phone monthly, besides the fee for the service. I am looking at PCMetro. I would have to pay $150 dollars left on the phone to leave ATT. Does anyone have or know anything about PCMetro? I need to beat $57/month ATT bill.

*Yesterday, I had internet service that was soooo slow for about $40/month. I switched and at midnight was receiving a faster and cheaper internet service--$10/month + taxes and fees, making the total about $15.

*Magic Jack works for the home phone at less than $3/month. Plus, the phone never rings. An email is sent to me. If it is not a 30 second message, I delete the call. I love it and the price. If I want the phone to ring, that is possible, too. It did ring for many months and then I must have sent the phone to email. Plus, you don't need a computer to access Magic Jack.

The phone does ring! You have to choose the email route.

 I am wary of calling any of the many phone numbers listed in various internet sites for Magic Jack. A friend who has used MJ for a long time gave me this number which is a legitimate number: 844-866-2442.

*Getting more channels or programs was the next project. I heard about Hulu for $5.99 and signed up for that. Today, I signed up for Amazon Prime, getting something similar to Netflix, not sure. I had to buy a $28 Roku box, which I did several weeks ago. The $99 charge will be put on exbf's credit card in one month. I have that long to pay him $99. I can do it with the savings on other communications' lower rates. Amazon Prime can be paid with $9.99 a month. (I think that price is correct.)

Additionally, Amazon Prime gives me free two-day shipping. I order little from Amazon and only do so when there is free shipping. This will make it easier to take advantage of cheap prices.

Immediately, I cancelled Hulu. Since I am in my first month, cancelling meant I did not have to pay that $5.99. Plus, with Hulu there is no contract and a person can cancel at anytime. Hulu was a great deal, but I think Amazon Prime is better. If you use this, can you tell me if it is worth the money for the programs you can access?

I am breathing a sigh of relief as my costs have been lessened by a little over $30/month today just with the addition of cheaper and faster internet. I have plans to increase my benefits on other programs. Stay tuned!

Your turn
Do you use Amazon Prime for free shipping? For streaming and getting programs? Do you use a Roku box? Hulu? Antenna? Do you, too, think the prices for communications are exorbitant? Do you have any opinions, good or bad or caveats, about any of these programs?