“THE BEATINGS WILL STOP WHEN MORALE IMPROVES” reads the sign posted on the refrigerator at work.
I don’t know who tacked that sign to the ice box, but it’s pretty damn funny. From what I’ve heard, our department’s monthly ‘social’ on Wednesday was frowned upon and ended by an outside request. It was a Luau. I wasn’t in attendance as I had an appointment. I do not mean for this to sound like I’m referring to my place of employment in a negative way. I love where I work… I love the people I work with… I work at the best place in the whole world…
Credit Cards
Karyn Bosnick was on the Today Show this morning. I’m sure the publicity is going to help her out even more. What’s worse is she’s 26, she’s cute, she’s blonde [trendy do] and she’s like, totally, like bubbly – and the world now knows this, totally. I’m certain it will be only weeks until she gets enough money to pay down her debt after appearing on the most popular, nationally syndicated morning television show. I personally hope she gets an equal amount of hate mail and care packages filled with Burger King employment applications.
So far Karyn has received $4,105.84 from people who want to help her out. She stated that she receives ‘gifts’ from people who have “been there before”. Aside from cash gifts, people have sent her Monopoly money, squishy stress balls, bath soaps and pens [for writing checks to pay her bills].
Karyn like, totally told Matt Lauer that she doesn’t want to be compared to a charity – that people should like, totally give to charity before they give money to her. She says that she’s just a girl who likes Prada shoes and Gucci purses.
Give me a break. Get a part time job, and another one on top of that one. If you’re working all the time, you won’t have time to go to Bloomie’s. And just when you think you’ve worked so hard that your bones are going to split – then you can sit your poor, mistreated, lazy ass down in front of the computer and sell more of your JUNK on eBay. Then go to your neighbor’s apartment and use his computer to sell your computer. It’s called “Stuffitis” and anyone who sends Karyn any money [or gifts] is a absolute moron in my book.
I think Karyn is really clever. Her idea is novel and I wish I would have thought of it. Does that make me a hypocrite? I don’t think so. I like the idea. I would love to do something like that to pay off my student loan debt – something worth the indebtedness. It would belittle me to ask strangers to pay for my interest-accruing stuffitis. I value my integrity, not my possessions.
Elise and I don’t have a credit card. That’s the way it’s going to be. El and I are extremely happy people. El and I don’t have a lot of stuff. El and I don’t need things. El and I have a roof over our heads, modest vehicles that take us to work every morning and food in our pantry. El and I are learning to live below our means. We have each other, El and I. That’s all we need.
To save face: I want a Playstation 2. I’ve sold other things so I could have the cash to buy the PS2. I can’t justify buying a PS2 other than I just want one. One does need to enjoy life. Sometimes that involves spending money, that’s just simple economics. I’m not going to spend what I don’t have and be miserable – scared to open my mailbox or answer the phone because I owe someone else money – not because I thought I could buy now and pay later. I’ve been down that road before and I hated it.
My Dad helped me establish my good credit when I was a teenager. When I turned 16 and was legally permitted to work, I asked Dad if I could get a new car so long as I held down a job. He said “Sure”. I got a job. Mom, Dad and I went to the bank and borrowed $15k for my own set of wheels. I made my payments on time each month and I attained a good credit rating.
I moved to Austin to attend college, wet behind the ears with a good credit rating. I got a GM Master Card. I got stuck with a $5000 bill, late fees and compounded interest.
I was over $5000 in credit card debt and stuck. I tried everything that a full time college student with a part time job and a Master Card could do. I requested a hardship from the sharks at Master Card and even tried to pay off this credit card with another credit card.
I’m lucky to have two of the best parents any person could ask for. I finally broke down and asked Dad for help. Again, he helped. He paid off my credit card debt for me. This was all he had to say: “Josh, don’t do it again.” That’s all it took. I wish someone would have told me earlier on: “Don’t do it” and I would have never experienced this. Trial by fire, I guess. I know things were different when my Dad was my age – there weren’t credit cards, buy now, pay later temptations and creditor’s marketing budgets. It could have been a lot worse for your humble narrator, but believe me, lesson learned!