Comments on: My Top Five Financial Blunders

By: otherdeb

otherdeb — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:20:13 +0000

@Adalisa: Yes, companies here will do that, too. The problem actually lies with us, in that we tend to push off calling until we are in far too deep for either side to have much wiggle room. For most of us, we lie in the hope that we will e able to fix it “next time.” Unfortunately, all that usually leads to is a bigger mess to have to fix, which we then push off even further. Sometimes, we don’t wake up until our services are cut off, or we are being threatened with lawsuits. I wonder what it is in our makeup that doesn’t “let” us tend to things while they are small enough to handle.

By: Adalisa

Adalisa — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 18:06:10 +0000

Actually, and I forgot to say so, I went to the phone company and the light company (The ones I usually push back) and they told me that I could pay the bill in small payments as long as I finish paying before the next cut date, so I can make five or six small 10.00 dlls payments one each week, and not get interest paid on. So that’s what I’m doing now.

Sometimes, companies will make accommodations, as long as you pay. They only care about the bottom line, but at least here, they understand that the bottom line might be easier to get if they’re accessible.

By: otherdeb

otherdeb — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:23:32 +0000

@Adalisa: Re your last paragraph: Yeah, and what’s worse, it sets up a bad cycle, because that bill you don’t pay in January is not only doubled, but its being so means that you push off a different bill in February., and again in March, etc.

Is there a way that in February you can pay January and half of February, and then in March pay half of February and all of March? You won’t eradicate the late fee (if any), but you will keep the cycle from happening.

By: Adalisa

Adalisa — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:24:40 +0000

My dad, who was an amazing wonderful man in every aspect but this, lived by 4. Unfortunately, that means that now he’s passed on, I’m the one who has to explain to the bottom feeders that, no, he’s not alive anymore, and that constitutionaly, they can’t force his debt on me. It’s gotten to the point where I’m offering them a shovel and directions to his grave when I’m particularly annoyed. Even when I don’t owe them money, it’s still stressful.

My personal blunder has always been ‘prioritizing bills’. Sure, sometimes, the phone bill is not the top priority to pay, but that means that next month? It’s going to be twice as much. And so on, and on and on, and that always sets me back a lot. Makes it worse that they don’t immediately cut your services, so you end up thinking you’re safe, when you’re not.

By: otherdeb

otherdeb — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:59:58 +0000

@Matt G. Leger: First, love to you and the SongBird.

Second, thanks for your good wishes.

Third, yeah, the rebuilding of our own integrity, to the point where we can look at ourselves in the mirror is one of the most important parts of this process.

Fourth, thank you, but no kudos are necessary. If one person reading my blog can avoid some of the mistakes I have made, I’ve done my job. Really, I’m just paying forward all the help I’ve received over the years.

By: otherdeb

otherdeb — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 02:53:31 +0000

@Peter Alway: Yeah. To both assertions.

By: Matt G. Leger

Matt G. Leger — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:44:16 +0000

I myself have been guilty of at least three of the five, and continue to catch myself doing #3 far too often. Little by little, I am trying to get a handle on how much I need, how much I spend, and rebuilding my own integrity. Kudos to you for being willing to discuss the same sort of struggle publicly and many good wishes to you for continued improvement.

By: Peter Alway

Peter Alway — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:25:48 +0000

“1. When downsized, not cutting back on spending or expenses.”

Been there, done that, shouldn’t have bought the T-shirt.

Once I was forced to reduce my expenses, it proved to be not as hard as I had expected. Oh, well. Lesson learned.

By: otherdeb

otherdeb — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:54:54 +0000

@Ariel Cinii: The thing is, most folks who need to hear such things usually can’t hear them. And until they are ready to, all the good intentions in the world won’t help them. It’s not a matter of finding an acceptable means of warning; it’s a matter of the person who needs the warning getting an internal wake up call and heeding it.

By: Ariel Cinii

Ariel Cinii — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:04:19 +0000

Yeah, over the years I’d witnessed you doing at least three of the five, but like other adults, I presumed you knew what you were doing and that I should just mind my own business. It’s hard to tell a competent friend when they’re about to make an error becuase it puts one in the bind of appearing to try and run their life when one is barely able to manage one’s own.

Many of us live in glass houses perched upon slippery slopes that stay intact by means of timing, luck and magic, so dissing your fellow witch’s spell is just not done. Still, we should have an acceptable means of warning that does not lead to embarassment for either party.