tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post4673001732932986938..comments2023-06-11T02:19:27.429-07:00Comments on Academic Cog: Money potholeSisyphushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09880634753539329199noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-83646121461074320162014-07-31T10:43:53.916-07:002014-07-31T10:43:53.916-07:00The thing is, these little money surprises are jus...The thing is, these little money surprises are just a fact of life. It is rare that we don't get one each month even now (especially with homeownership).<br /><br />That's why you're doing such a great job paying down your debt and having some savings buffer. That means you're climbing out of the hole rather than digging one so deep that it's nearly impossible to get out. It seems like a set-back, and it is, but it could have been a disaster, and it wasn't.<br /><br />And no, do not buy a house now. Wait until you have no consumer debt and you have 20% down and you think you're going to be staying put for ~5 years or more.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-46139006522106003402014-07-30T20:41:29.310-07:002014-07-30T20:41:29.310-07:00Chiming in to say what everyone else said, and do ...Chiming in to say what everyone else said, and do call Comcast or whoever. They expect you to call, though they're more than ready to overcharge you if you don't bother. The worst that happens (if you get cable) is that you get their new xfinity box that has no search feature to speak of and doesn't give you any useful information about the movies. undinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05589384016564587214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-81761893110620069092014-07-30T13:28:37.375-07:002014-07-30T13:28:37.375-07:00Can you call your student loan holders and see if ...Can you call your student loan holders and see if they can let you pay less than the full balance for a month or two? I found that sometimes (but only sometimes), lenders were willing to work with me when I couldn't make a full month's payment, as long as I agreed I could go back to full payments after a month or two. It may be a stretch, but the worst that can happen is they say 'no.' Can you do any more house/pet sitting? I know it's not always the best, but it would bring a little money and if you're housesitting, then you're not running up your utilities! I spent 8 out of the past 12 weeks housesitting, and while it wasn't always great, it saved me a little bit of money this summer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-30345394574790385992014-07-30T11:35:43.285-07:002014-07-30T11:35:43.285-07:00It hurts when you're being so responsible and ...It hurts when you're being so responsible and so good, only to find unexpected expenses kicking you in the teeth.<br /><br />I'll second/third? the idea to call your providers and see if there's a better deal. If there's a competitive market at all, say satellite versus cable, check what the other would offer and then ask your current company to give you a reason for staying.<br /><br />Yes, that infamous Comcast call shows you how the poor saps working at customer service have to follow a script (or get canned!) but you can always ask to speak to retention or say you want to cancel.<br /><br />If it helps, I think we've dished out $2300 so far this summer on maintenance costs (one new window and one big plumbing fix) with a further $1400 minimum before my partner's school-year pay kicks back in. Even a modern, well-maintained house is a money pit. *sigh*Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14093558563358431804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-52764158868692496342014-07-30T10:03:05.578-07:002014-07-30T10:03:05.578-07:00Oh, I know the houses are awesomely cute and shiny...Oh, I know the houses are awesomely cute and shiny. But they all have water heaters that are ready to die ($1000), appliances that need to be replaced ($5000, minimum), flooring issues ($2000), grounds to maintain ($150/month), etc. Not worth it right now...<br /><br />Of course, I always got really grumpy when someone who had what I wanted told me it wasn't worth it. Doesn't matter if it was a house or a tenure-track job or a car or whatever. You want what you want. At this point I couldn't go back to renting because my house would sell for a loss, I'm guessing. And if I rented it out, I'm sure more shit would go wrong that I'd have to pay for. Rock? Meet hard place.Fie upon this quiet life!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12047096700049201873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-14545808356531108512014-07-30T09:44:04.793-07:002014-07-30T09:44:04.793-07:00Ooh look, it's everybody!
First of all, yes,...Ooh look, it's everybody! <br /><br />First of all, yes, I have direct deposit ... but they don't direct deposit the "extra" summer checks for some reason. Also, they cut it as three separate checks and then issue them all on the same day. It is the height of foolishness. I didn't teach summer school, so I have no clue what they do for those paychecks.<br /><br />but <b>fie,</b> the houses are cute and shiny! (whiiiine.) And it is so much fun to go looking at them all! :)<br /><br />Hmm, I will think about calling those contracts ... wasn't there just that horrible phone call about comcast being evil to someone who wanted to quit going around? I might "spend" more in aggravation than the money I save. And the rent going up and having to pay 3 months on the phone all at once are the big problems. <br /><br />I still hate budgets! And responsibility! Air conditioning, now that I like.Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09880634753539329199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-15302504569124983522014-07-30T07:48:47.159-07:002014-07-30T07:48:47.159-07:00Just one note on the introductory deals: you can a...Just one note on the introductory deals: you can almost always call up the cable/internet folks and get them to extend the deal. Tell them you want to cancel and see what they say.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-67695810077098466972014-07-30T07:22:53.326-07:002014-07-30T07:22:53.326-07:00^^What they said!
And now you have less credit ca...^^What they said!<br /><br />And now you have less credit card debt, so you're digging out of the hole. You rock!<br /><br />I bet by next year, things will feel better financially, too. But I sympathize with the frustration. It's hard to think you can see the edge of the hole you're digging out of, and then feel like you've slipped down a couple of feet.Bardiachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11846065504793800266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-58501207547434799022014-07-30T06:41:38.956-07:002014-07-30T06:41:38.956-07:00Also: Ditto to contingent cassandra. If you hadn...Also: Ditto to contingent cassandra. If you hadn't struggled to build up those savings balances you'd be in MUCH worse shape right now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-7050968299194075672014-07-30T06:39:41.945-07:002014-07-30T06:39:41.945-07:00Call up your contracts whose introductory offers a...Call up your contracts whose introductory offers are coming to an end and ask them if they can cut you any deals. Sometimes it works just by asking.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-73176946656468708042014-07-30T06:31:51.020-07:002014-07-30T06:31:51.020-07:00Frustrating, yes, but if you're actually able ...Frustrating, yes, but if you're actually able to pay all the necessary bills, I'd say you came out all right. And you undoubtedly saved more in interest on the credit cards than you could have earned in any bank account. <br /><br />Does your institution not have direct deposit? That's nuts. My institution now requires direct deposit, because it's cheaper for them. They're also now requiring 12-month pay schedules, but I'm grandfathered into 9. The difference is, indeed, negligible in the present interest environment for us, though probably less so for them. We also had the looming threat of a state government shutdown (budget wrangles) this summer, which made me glad to have already been paid. Contingent Cassandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08161652083031423415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7366909960546184927.post-32942475154231217092014-07-30T06:31:47.089-07:002014-07-30T06:31:47.089-07:00If I were you, I'd resist the urge to buy a ho...If I were you, I'd resist the urge to buy a house for a little while. The advantage of having the same mortgage payment for 30+ years ends up not being that good of a deal when you constantly have things breaking. Especially in a historic neighborhood, like ours! We have old pipes, old appliances, and lots of other old stuff -- much of which we're paying through the nose for. I can't even tell you how many thousands of dollars we've had to fork over to replace/repair things since we bought this house two years ago. Yes, I love where we live, but I really regret giving up a rental until we were more financially stable. Resist! Resist with all your might! Fie upon this quiet life!https://www.blogger.com/profile/12047096700049201873noreply@blogger.com