minneapolisgenius said:

I just started making my coffee @ home - I don't even want to THINK about how much $ I've given Starbucks over the last 2 years or so

Another bad thing about my bank (Wells) - I have an overdraft account BUT if they have to draw from it, the shit costs me $10 (used to be $18!!!)

But if I know I'm running low & I move $ over myself there's no cost...

But you can only do 6 transfers in a month...

I need a new bank What's the point of calling it "overdraft" if you charge a muthafucka for using it??

CalhounSq said:

This was about 9 years ago that this happened and for years afterward, I boycotted Starbucks, refusing to give them anymore of my money. So now family members give me Starbucks cards as gifts so I don't have to spend my own money there.

Which is also really sad because I don't even really LIKE Starbucks coffee. It's just the peer pressure of it all.

jone70 said:

"Playing the float" is becoming increasingly risky, for two reasons. The first is that the traditional check-clearing system has become faster over the years. The second is that businesses are now able turn a paper check into an "electronic check" that can clear your bank within 24 hours. So far, I've noticed that three companies -- Cingular Wireless (cell phone), MBNA America (credit card bank), and Sallie Mae (student loan lender/servicer) -- are now doing it with the paper checks I mail them.

minneapolisgenius said:

It's interesting how financial experts always chose the daily latte at Starbucks as an example of an expense that really adds up over time.

Anyway, I guess it's a good thing that I don't drink coffee, as I live in Seattle, and you can't throw a rock here without hitting a Starbucks.

CalhounSq said:

Thank you ever so much for not holding up the line while you fill out the check, write your home and work telephone numbers on the checks, show 5 forms of ID, get fingerprinted, provide a DNA sample, etc.

CalhounSq said:

Well, my bank doesn't call it "overdraft protection." Rather, it's a line of credit, and it appears as such on my credit reports. What they'll do is automatically deposit money into my checking account from the line of credit (in $100 increments) to let a check clear instead of bounce.

Their promotional materials do mention that the line of credit can prevent an accidental overdraft, but they also actually encourage people to use it if, say, they want to buy something that costs more than what they have in their checking acount.

IIRC there isn't exactly a "fee" for this; rather, they'll just charge me interest. The rate is so-so, but I have no intention of using the line of credit; it's strictly in case I accidently write a bad check. Better to pay interest than to bounce a check... if you bounce too many checks, you can be effectively blacklisted from having a checking acount, and you'll be using money orders for the next few years.

matt said:

Thanks "dad"...I appreciate your concern but I don't really need a lecture.

BTW, I don't use any of the companies you mentioned.

matt said:

Yeah, I hate peeing into a cup whenever I want to buy stuff with a check at Wal-Mart.

matt said:

Here is one form of ID I always like to show...

TMPletz said:

jone70 said:

Umm you do know writing a bad check...meaning one that is not covered by the funds in your account is a form of fraud? Its not all that intelligent of a thing to do.

notoriousj said:

I'm not writing a bad check...the funds are in my account when the check arrives, just not when I put the check "in the mail."

here's an example: If my rent is due on March 1 (a Wednesday) and my paycheck will be automatically deposited to my account on February 27 (a Monday) I could mail the rent check on Friday or Saturday. By the time it gets to the company on Monday or Tuesday, the money will be in my account and the rent check will arrive before March 1.
Not that I need to justify anything to you, but for the record, I'm a pretty intelligent person, I have extremely good credit, a retirement account, a savings account for myself, my niece, & nephew, and except for my graduate student loans, I am debt free; so money management isn't a problem for me.

BTW, you do know that buying bootlegs is illegal too, but perhaps you've done that...?


Don't judge, please!

jone70 said:

I am not juding you....I am just telling you how it is....watch your ass.

notoriousj said:

You wrote, "Its not all that intelligent of a thing to do." To me that is a judgement on my intelligence. And please, unless you know me personally, don't lecture me (e.g. "watch your ass").

notoriousj said:

Can I watch yours?

TMPletz said:

anytime anyplace...

notoriousj said:

I play a very tight game with money because I don't have much. But it works pretty well as I do update my Quicken program almost daily and set monthly budgets.

jone70 said:

You seem a bit... defensive... about this. Personally, I don't care if you "play the float"... just as long as it's not a check payable to me.

matt said:

By the way you still owe me that 200.00 bucks.....

notoriousj said:

I paid you in frequent flyer miles.

matt said:

I left your tip on the table...

CalhounSq said:

I know, sis. I was touched. But, I still had to you a little.

matt said:

That IS a good thing. And yeah, coffee at Starbucks can cost almost $4!!!

I save money on coffee here in Holland. I go to this smokey, old-man, old-school coffee/ice cream parlour that's been around forever here in Den Haag, and they have the best coffee I've ever had for 1 Euro.

In lieu of balancing my checkbook I've been reading this thread before bedtime for the last couple of days and I've been quite happy with the results.

matt said:

Did I mention I've been making my coffee @ home lately? I should add up how much I've saved just in these few weeks

matt said:

I hate that people still do that sometimes It's so fucking RUDE! Get off to the side & do a tally, don't hold me up w/ that shit - my lettuce is wilting!!!

matt said:

I don't think I've ever bounced a check in my life I don't think...

I haven't written anything in my check register in about 2 years. I'm trying to be better about it, but I just don't want to know. I never overdraft, I just call and check my balance when I'm unsure. But it's sad that I don't always know where my money is going. I think it leads to frivolous spending.