Retirement Savings	Roth IRA: $3,843 401(a): $7,226 403(b): $16,471 Total: $ 27,540 (24,972)
Emergency Savings	Catastrophe: $ 29,594 Problem Cushion: $ 1,000 Total: $ 30,594 (30,352)
Short Term Goals	Car Maintenance: $1,068 Insurance: $2,541 Travel/Con: $401 Taxes: $3,369 Moving: $3,472 Total: $ 10,851 (10,842)
Long Term Goals	House Down Payment: $101
Investment Loans	Prosper-ish: $12,630 Personal Loan: $2,000 Savings Bond: $362 (current accrued value) Total: $ 14,992 (14,992)
Total Assets	Illiquid: $ 27,540 Semi-Liquid: $14,992 Liquid: $30,594 Expense Acct: $9,540 Goals Savings: $10,851 Total: $ 93,517 (91,118)
Debt and Liabilities	AX: $154 Chase: $1,850 Rent: $0 Total: $ 2,004 (2,187)
Net Worth	$ 91,513 (88,931)

There wasn't a whole lot of change this month other than dumping more into my retirement accounts. I did spend a lot, though, and I'm relieved that the damage doesn't appear to be much worse.

The end of next month should be much more exciting!

Addendum: Clearly, I was too lazy to make any real comments when I first posted this. The overall numbers look goodish, but the reality is I saved next to nothing in cash, and spent a lot. More than half the credit card balance is covered by the car insurance fund, but the absolute numbers are still ridiculously high for someone approaching unemployment.

I'm not fussing about it, but I am publicly noting that the spending needs to stop or slow down to a trickle.

On the other hand, I AM flush with cash enough to be much more flexible in my approach to paychecks and bills. I kicked up my 403(b) contribution for one paycheck to the max, which leaves me with next to nothing in my second June check. There's plenty of money in the expense fund, so that's no sweat. And I'm getting my final check, complete with vacation hours, two weeks after the non-check, so there's really no stress on that front. Being responsible is so worth this flexibility!

Ah yes, hindsight. I knew this layoff was coming, most likely mid-year, yet it took me until April to start making appropriate adjustments.

Earlier this year, it was important to have cash on hand, so I cut back on retirement contributions to a bare-bones 3% (not including company match, which was maxed). My reasoning at the time was sound, but flawed due to incomplete knowledge.

Error One: I'm entitled to severance equal to one month pay when I separate from this employer, as well as over 200 hours of vacation pay. Didn't take that cash payout into consideration. I made this assumption because I hoped to quit before the layoff which would have meant no severance.

Error Two: For another, my cash savings program was much more successful than anticipated. In January, I had $7000 for routine monthly expenses and $23,000 in savings. Since then, I've added ~$10,000 to those accounts, all while still paying bills. I could have spared a few thousand for retirement savings, considering the "sale prices" of the past several months, without being cash-poor & investment-rich post-employment.

Error Three: I didn't consider that I'd be eligible for unemployment, and that it'll cover all my monthly bills. At the time the plan was conceived, monthly expenses were well over $2000/month, so I estimated needing at least $35,000 in cash for 12 months of unemployment. In the meantime, the truck was sold, the family car was totaled and if nothing else, my monthly needs improved tremendously thanks to both events.

Being that pessimistic means I have an unusual stash of cash, just sitting around, while only having made just a little over $2000 in retirement contributions. Ergh. I hate throwing away both the opportunity to invest at lower prices and the tax benefit.

Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not bemoaning doing better than expected, for heaven's sake. I'm just wishing I'd done a little better at making decisions based on the long-term, or at least considering the whole fiscal year. I subscribe to the "hope for the best, plan for the worst" mentality, but I clearly need to work on my automatic worst-worst-worst case scenario planning reflex. It's a little dire. After all, it's not like it's the Zombie Apocalypse.

Of course, I haven't hyperventilated about being a bag lady in a while, so maybe that was necessary for peace of mind.

For now, I'll make a small adjustment to my contributions for the last check and leave payroll alone. Maybe I'll make a few smaller investments, in addition to the CD I just bought. No sense in fussing too when we have so little time left, not until I learn how to read the future!

[Dear Magic 8-ball: will I find a good, well-paying job with benefits adjusted for COLA this year? What's that? "Concentrate and ask again"? Hmph. I prefer Neil Gaiman's Magic 8-ball. I miss it.]

I've just locked up $10k in a one year CD.

It would have been more prudent to ladder them, but there aren't any rates that are worth locking up the money for any amount of time apart from the one year term for which I'm earning a whopping 2.25 APY. At that price, it's still twice as much interest as the formerly high-yield online savings accounts. Remember when those were the five magic words? I loved saying it, back in ought-one, the days of 5.35% APY: High-Yield Online Savings Accounts. Mmm.... delicious.

Oh, right, back to reality. What a drear existence for cash monies these days: interest-bearing checking accounts are barely registering on the interest scale at 0.10%.

This was what you could call an impulse investment. It wasn't a scientifically, mathematically or otherwise analytically sound decision based on how much money I could afford to have locked away for 12 months. It was a nice round number, and I figured in a mental, back of the envelope calculation that it leaves me with approximately 20K in savings. That'd get me through 12 months of no income before breaking into the CD. (Worst case scenarios around here, all the time.)

Works for me.

How about you? What are you doing with your money? Or is it just lollygagging about like the rest of mine?

Fighting the good fight against credit card debt:


I was checking out my Etsy purchase and switched to the credit card option because I never use debit when avoidable when this screen popped up. The novelty was enough to make me stop and read it.

I was sure that it was because PP makes more on bank account funded payments than credit cards, and assumed that the sellers would assume that cost, but it looks like they charge the merchant the same fees:


Which probably does mean that, assuming PayPal is subject to the same merchant transaction fees that individual merchants pay, they're eating the cost. No wonder they encourage the buyer to use their bank accounts! But how nice of them to remind us that interest charges aren't desirable.

Just when it seemed like things were moving along swimmingly, I got the following notices in quick succession last week:

WAMU Investments: My rolled-over account is still alive, with 2 cents in it.
Ugh! Is it unreasonable that I just want m'darned account closed for good? No. No it's not. Not long after the letter arrived, I saw that the brokerage account had been converted to a Chase account. Maybe I can get the two cents applied to my credit card balance. :P

Citibank: My CD expired on May 15th and I have to call or send a letter via postal mail to make arrangements.
Why can't I just log into my account and click on a box that says: cash out my CD! or Rollover! The CD department had the nerve to question my cashing it out saying, "we have excellent interest rates, and you won't be earning nearly as much interest in your checking account."
Uh, I'm not an idiot. I'm not leaving that money in my checking account, duh, and your interest rates are Not Nearly Awesome Enough. Hmph! I was perhaps a little huffier than the situation called for since I was in no mood to hear a sales pitch.

Prudential: A letter in the mail stated that they never received my long-form and that my application was being closed. Lies! I'd already gotten a letter from my employer stating that my increased life insurance was approved and in effect. But I called anyway to be sure, and found that sure enough, my policy is in force. Chalk another one up for wasting my time.

Emigrant Direct: In a fit of pique, I started to transfer all my money out. Except it gets marginally more interest (0.05%) than ING Direct, and they've both peeved me something special with their blockage of Yodlee. So I guess most of that money can stay put. But I feel like locking up about 10K in a CD at 2.25% APY. No, it's not great, but it's a full percentage point above my Citi savings accounts.

Today's the day. Y'know. The Day.

Are y'all tired of clothing posts, yet? How about we change gears to something even more mundane? Groceries!!

That's right. Groceries are wonderfully life-sustaining and delicious. I'm happy anyway.

The Target run was ostensibly only to get *ahem* stockings, otherwise known as thigh-highs, for my skirt suit. I'm gonna need to be demure and professional-like sometime this week. As you may know.

In the checkout lane, I remembered that last week I promised myself one bag of candy. (What? I never buy candy.) I've been suffering from Snickers mini/Kit Kat deficiency. This could turn into a serious problem, and prevention is the best defense! Or something like that. Non-spending fail, but that won't be what I think when I reach into the candy pocket of the purse and find Transformer Snicker Minis! It remains to be seen if the yellow nougat freaks me out.

As usual, giving this mouse one goody meant that it almost turned into a major case of impulse buying: the baked sea salt and vinegar chips were irresistible, Colby Jack string cheese sounded perfect .... luckily, friend was on the phone with me and told me to Leave Now. I even managed to put the goodies back, as well.

The trip to the local grocery went a little better, nutritionally speaking. Fresh corn on the cob was on sale, 4/$1. Corn = summer, and good deals on corn are even better. That's what the green beans (1/2 lb), oranges (2), bananas (3), whole wheat bagels (6), and eggs (12) are for. My grocery shopping can be a bit haphazard, if you can't see a meal in there, not to worry. Neither can I.

Drat.

This summer's wardrobe allowance: one summer appropriate, semi-formal dress, one pair comfortable-for-walking flats, and one pair walking/running shoes.

I missed the New Balance sale on 6pm.com, but something else will come around soon enough. Endless.com's shipping two pairs of flats, ETA: Monday. I love free shipping and returns; if I never have to go shoe shopping in a brick and mortar store again, I shall pen an ode to Endless.

The dress allotment, however, is totally covered. Was totally covered. After days of scouring the 'nets, I found five promising designs on Etsy. Only two of the designers I convo'ed responded promptly, and of those two, one offered a more flexible design. The price was higher than I wanted, but not ridiculous considering the off-the-rack sales prices out there. Together, we drafted adjustments so that it will flatter my body, not just my type, and should fit 100%. Special trips to the fabric store were made, colors were considered, delectable details like "A-line," "boatneck," "silk georgette," "timeless, classic shape" were bandied about.

The cost of buying custom, saving the price of a seamstress post-delivery, might actually beat the cost of finding a great designer dress on sale and having it tailored. It's certainly saving time and effort trying to find that great designer dress now that the order's been made, and sewing has commenced.

Sadly, oh-so-sadly, the anticipation for this lovely semi-formal frock has been derailed by the horrifying discovery that the event for which this garment was commissioned is Black Tie. Ugh!

I like being gussied up once in a while as much as the next girl, but with less than a month to go, oughtn't the intrepid organizer have sent the invitations stating that sartorial splendor was expected? True, it was as much my fault as hers that I simply assumed semi-formal was the order of the day, but still. I'd venture that no one is going to be surprised and thrilled by the late revelation that tuxes and tails will be required.

Now that my new dress has been rendered redundant, but the money's already spent, it's back to the drawing board. Rather to the internet! What does black tie mean?

For men, indeed, tuxes or dinner jackets are expected. For women, "remember that black-tie means very formal."

Some style recommendations:

Look for full-length skirts and dresses; lengths that hover around the knee are usually considered semiformal.

Consider the material and texture. Silk, satin, embroidery, beads, rhinestones, velvet and metallics are all well-suited for formal attire.

Remember that your dress options are unlimited. Consider spaghetti straps or a jewel-neck collar; a plunging back or a revealing front neckline; and side or back slits. Some events may call for more conservative attire, so consider this when making your selection.

Thus armed with information, I've dug back into the closet to pull out old bridesmaid dresses because I'm not spending any more money. I've narrowed it down to two: the already tailored, navy blue bridesmaid dress and the still-uncut, never been worn, silky peach dress. Seems like the latter would be more appropriate for a summer evening, but it would require yet another trip to the seamstress. Eh. What thinks ye?

I'm going to be VERY vague because I don't want to be a) disappointed or b) jinxed by speaking too soon.

But, I could use some good wishes over here. I've applied for a position with a company that I've always wanted to work for. Same industry, different ... genre, let's call it.

The job description is in line with my experience, minus some management.

I've got an insider in the form of a higher up in the company who is willing to vouch for me, or help nudge the hiring person towards at least giving me a phone interview because it's located on the East Coast and no one would usually bother to call back an applicant on the West Coast. No promises, but it's better than the usual resume-in-the-fray situation.

So, for this to happen, I need:

~ an acceptable salary. I don't mean minimum wage, I mean more than I make now since I have to be able to live in that pricey city, send money home, AND save.

~ the person I would report to be Not Crazy. I don't care if that person is a workaholic, or creatively abstract. As long as their goal is to do their job, I'm good. As long as I'm not expected to sacrifice my entire life to the company [a la The Devil Wears Prada], not expected to read minds [a la current job], and not expected to accommodate hourly shifting priorities and make insane major changes happens just because the Boss had a whim or forgot what was decided that morning, it's fine.

Work is supposed to be work, not play: challenging, demanding, and ultimately rewarding when you achieve your goals. But not insane.

~ there to be room for advancement. I will work my tushy off for a job I like, I don't even need to love it all the time though that'd be nice, but there needs to be room for promotion when I've clearly demonstrated ability and reliable competence. Which I will. You can set your watch by that.

~ to impress the heck out of the interviewer, whoever it may be. That part's on me. I just need your good wishes for all those things above that are out of my control because I'd really like to take a chance on this.

Friend's husband, let's call him A, causes the funniest conversations:

A's wife: Did you see that Dilbert cartoon A sent me? He asked if that was why I married him.
A: Well, I AM financially stable.


A's friend's wife: Well, you know, financial stability is how those nerds get the hot wives. Even the really ugly ones!
A: Hey!
A's friend's wife: No, I mean, you know, my husband is a nerd! [Her husband and A work together.]
R: Good job, friend. I think this means you're the hot one.
A: HEY!! Why are you calling me ugly??



R: Hey guys, how long does your dishwasher take to run a full cycle?
A and wife: Dunno.
A: R, you're such a calculating person.
R: [pause] Are you sure that's what you mean?
A: Calculatory?
R: I don't think that word means what you think it means. Does it? Do YOU?
A: Uhhhh......
R: Ok, did you mean it in a mean way?
A: Uhhhh......
R: Never mind. I'm doing laundry now.


Should I sell my 30G video iPod? I haven't used it since I got my iPhone, but I do not plan to keep the iPhone forever, or upgrade to the latest & greatest iPhone, either.

A fellow train rider offered to look at and buy it.

[I wonder if the iPod function still works on the iPhone if the phone is deactivated. Must go Google this ....]

Edit: According to AppleInsider, deactivated phones can still be used for all non-cellular phone activities, rendering it a default iPod Touch. I won't be able to restore iTunes or upgrade it, but I doubt that I would bother anyway. Also, it can still access Wifi. Sweet!

The comments over at GRACEful Retirement made me laugh a little. Many of the commenters were noting that they enjoy posts of all varieties whether they're updeat or downtrodden, and that openness is why they enjoy reading blogs.

Not that I'm known for being terribly sunshiney, but posting has been sporadic lately because I just haven't felt like showcasing my life's warts and bruises. That's not to say that what I have posted about has been untrue to what I'm up to, it's just been more focused because I didn't want to morph into the Boo-boo-blues Diaries.

But, a quick update on the topics I've been avoiding:

1. My family is still driving me crazy. The brother is still only randomly coming through with monthly payments and I'm regretting allowing him back under our roof. It's not full-house access, but still. Egh. The need to Get Out is ever stronger, and the longer I'm around them, frustrated, the more strained our relationship becomes. And still watching my mom's mental and physical health deteriorating ... let's just say I'm not dealing with that very well at ALL.

2. Six more weeks to freedom! [or, y'know. Unemployment, and all that that entails.]

3. I'm at very loose ends with regards to my financial goals....

3a. and have been online window shopping way too much. Partly out of boredom, partly because my stuff is wearing out. My go-to flats are nearly destroyed, and ... I *need* a new dress for an event later this summer. It's the last work-related shindig, and I don't have anything suitable. Never mind that this layoff has zero to do with me or my abilities, not having a job lined up eats at my pride. A lot. [Not to mention, has me privately freaking out a good deal.] So you know, new dress, strong showing, pretend to all the people I've known for almost 5 years that I'm poised, confident and polished. Employable!

4. It's not like not making plans for a few months is the end of the world, but it signals stagnation and boredom on my part. I'm stuck in a purgatory of searching for jobs and contacts, sending in apps, working the network, and coming up empty. Rinse and repeat.

Intellectually, I know I will be fine. I've saved, I've hunted jobs like a fiend, my reputation in the field is strong and as long as I wait 6 more weeks, I'll be eligible for unemployment if it comes to that. I can even afford to take a few short vacations, during my down time, provided they're not extravagant.

Constitutionally, though, it's hard to go on faith for so long, even backed by a good sized emergency fund.

Finally home.

32 hours of this weekend were a bolus of driving and domesticity the likes of which will not be repeated for at least another month. Unless absolutely necessary.

BFF had her baby, and at two weeks and 9 lbs, he is the cutest dragon baby I've ever had the pleasure of cuddling. Opinions are divided as to whether it's more of a dragon or dinosaur-like child, but I'm voting dragon. And Auntie Revanche drove 8 hours round trip to cook, clean, wash and fold for this child's parents, so she's entitled to a full vote!

After a 4 hours on the road Saturday, and a stop at the grocery store, I let the proud and sleep-deprived mommy get to changing yet another diaper while I rolled my sleeves up in their kitchen. They had their very own live cooking show, and her husband and our other friend were occasionally drafted as my sous chefs.

After almost four hours in the kitchen, I'm proud to say that Kevin's Turkey Chili recipe [sans beans, plus multi-grain rice] was excellent. Likewise, his recipe for tilapia with pesto and roasted tomatoes was excellent and disappeared entirely. But the variation on the theme of Hainanese chicken and rice disappointed (me). We substituted a brown rice which was delicious, but I had to use deboned frozen chicken breast meat instead of a whole chicken, and probably used just a cup or two too much water when making the chicken stock. The rice was more moist than I prefer, but the chicken just wasn't perfect.

Never mind, though. Having never made any of those recipes, two of three under pressure and in doubled quantities turning out well isn't a terrible showing. [Clearly, I am no longer a perfectionist. Not after nearly 4 hours in the kitchen.] The point was to make decently cooked meals with enough leftovers for the Husband's lunch and their dinners for at least a couple days. BFF is only just now able to get around a bit, so this should give her a chance to slowly ease into a more active routine.

Our visiting meant they were eating off real china for the first time in weeks since I was more than happy to deal with pots, pans, and dishes, three loads of laundry, and snapped 689 photos of baby.

I'd like to think we were exemplary house guests, for once. ;)

I split the cost of gas with Friend ($19), and paid for the groceries ($21). I got off lightly on the grocery front because they already had the frozen chicken and the turkey, so I only had to buy one protein of the three.

My reward was cuddling dragon baby during the movie after dinner, and darned if it wasn't the most blissful two hours ever. He's like a half puppy half baby right now the way he curls up in his sleep, and snuggles into your shoulder or neck. *sigh* Baby squeaks are irresistably darling. Can't say I'd mind borrowing him once in a while if he stays this lovable. Though, I only think the crying is cute up to about a month old. Even the angry crying. After that, though, it's a bit too loud.

You know, it'd be a lot easier to stay on the straight and narrow, the responsibility train, the sensible spending wagon if it weren't for these jokers. Oh, I mean! lovely lady-friends on Twitter:




Actually, I tease. We're all pseudo-enablers because we appreciate a few fine things in life, and I'm just now starting to be able to enjoy it a wee sma' [that means "a little" if you're not familiar with the Scottish] without worrying about being foolish about our money. My girls would rein each other in if we sensed impending spending disaster, right? Right? Girls?

And credit where it's due, FB isn't shy at all about what she wants. And Well-Heeled is a great sounding board for refining my style. And we're all pretty good about analyzing potential suitors to a fare-thee-well for size, fit, appropriateness and overall awesomeness.

It's thanks to my faith in them that I stepped in 'round Gilt Groupe for a look-see, and immediately fell in head over heels for some of the most gorgeous designs I could not, should not, luckily-missed-the-sale-entirely-so-would not, afford. Herve Leger, will you be mine forever?













The color combinations, the fabrics, the dangerously unforgiving fit, mmm! I'll tell you what, I'm grateful as all get out that they were sold out of every single one by the time I arrived on the scene because I might have been flogged out of the PF blogosphere for egregious lack of judgment and utter abuse of rationalization.

But, look at them! Can you really, really blame me? [Pssst, yes. Say yes!]

Anyway. The sane part of me, and the wallet part of me, are both saying their Hail Marys that I didn't get a crack at one of those dresses because I'm pretty sure the sale prices were around a neck-poppin' $600. For those who care, one of them retails at $1590. Don't care how much the discount is, $600 is still insane. So I can say when it's no longer within my grasp.

*shaking head*

Alright, I think that's gotten the swooning out of my system. Time to go pay some bills.

I'm trying to do way too many things at once:

Make travel arrangements for my friend's high school reunion with only travel dates and no other information, while getting the best price and travel times;
Coordinate a visit to my new nevvie this weekend with another close friend;
That hideous bridesmaid dress has to go to a seamstress 30 miles away SOON.

All this mental chaos leads to my picking up my water bottle and trying to dial it with my left hand while holding the cell phone with my right hand.


* Recently contacted an attorney friend for a referral to an estate planning lawyer, though I said "will and trust" lawyer so as not to imply that I think I have lots of money. He asked for a list of assets and approximate value. Unexpectedly, I was reluctant to tell him. Maybe because I think I should have saved more for what I've made? Because I think I should have a bigger, rounder number? Who knows. Emotions are weird.

* I'd really like, if I ever had to replace or modify my eyesight, to have the ability to instantaneously evaluate potential parking spots and determine if they're big enough. I hate pulling up next to a spot and calculating if I'm too big, or it's too small and driving away disappointed.

* I miss sprouts. What's wrong with sprouts that our cafeteria won't carry them right now? Should I grow my own? Loved this how-to from guest poster Laura at Almost Frugal.

* Of course this is practically the most exciting thing I've read all day: Flexo's post on the 2009 Federal Income Tax Brackets and Marginal Rates. I really like seeing the new tax brackets. Can't wait to trot out new estimated taxes for my friend's projected salary.

This is really 7 things you didn't know about me. Different post! Abby of i pick up pennies tagged me for this meme, and since I so rarely open up to y'all *cough* I'm going along with it. Only because I have a batch of particularly weird thoughts this week.

1. I really want to train a dog to come meet me at the train station so I can walk him/her home on nice summer evenings. Walk with him or her, I guess, since a dog that well-trained wouldn't really need a leash on the return trip. Except for the leash law thing.

2. I am surprisingly self-conscious about writing for an audience. *quirked brow* But once in a while, I turn out something that someone thinks is funny or entertaining and that's a heady sip of writer's champagne.

3. Growing up, I was surrounded by people who were smart, funny, weird, quirky, talented, caring, thoughtful and down to earth, or any combination thereof. Also, really mean, snarky, sarcastic, and occasionally petty as teenagers are wont to be, which means we were actually a decently well rounded set of personalities. As we were referred to as the "LA people" by my extended family, the first time I became acquainted with the stereotype that LA folks are shallow, superficial, and occasionally lacking in soul was about three years ago, and I had no idea what that looked like. Thanks to the "Housewives of ... " and other reality shows, now I do.

4. After 8 years of neighbordom, during which time I've always been old enough to drive, my lady neighbor still genially waves me over with a "go bounce" invitation to make use of whatever rented bounce house/castle/slide/donut they have up at the time. I'm guessing it's her version of "hey, how ya doing?" because if she honestly thinks I'm still 13 now, I'm totally doing something wrong.

5. 5 years after graduation, I finally accept that keeping my literature books from college around will not also make me smarter or more literate. And that I'm really probably not going to read them again. Bye-bye, Ernest Hemingway, Henry James, and Chaucer. Fare thee well!

6. I was recently in the same room as former First Lady Nancy Reagan. She looks so tiny!

7. If it takes too long to dial a phone, I might forget what number I'm dialing, who I want to speak to, or why I was calling in the first place. My attention just wanders. One spectacular example of this was thankfully at a study group back in the day, "Hi, may I please speak to Sam? No, Fred! No! John? I'm sorry!"

When distracted, I forget where I am when I answer phones, too. "[insert name of former employer of 5 years ago], may I help ... oh! errr ... [insert name of current employer]." *sheepish*

Anyone want to tag themselves? Let me know and I'll link back to you!

I love my current ride, which I did buy new, but I just don't see myself doing that again. New cars are great but they mostly smell like big fat monthly payments, insane insurance premiums, and freaking out over every ding and dent. My car's six years old and I still get mad every time I discover a new scratch. My nerves just can't take this.

I discovered three new dents in the driver's side door last weekend and my blood's still boiling.

The older I get, the more I feel like I'd be happy with an older beater car, something about 10 or 15 years old with just basic amenities like heat, a/c, working locks and windows. Not just happy, happier. Happier that I can worry less about the car being stolen, broken into (I leave nothing of value in there), or vandalized. I could be totally wrong about that last, because if you're parking in an iffy area, I doubt it matters what you drive. But again, if it were an old, properly functioning vehicle, that wasn't worth too much, it probably wouldn't matter as much as a $23k car, right?

Am I fooling myself, though? I've only ever driven a real beater car for a short time back in college when I was between cars and someone had gifted my brother a really old two-door Toyota circa 1980.

Blame it on a hazy memory, but it wasn't that bad. I do hate manual windows because I can't reach across the car and roll down the passenger side window, but also because my hands are the first to go when I'm having a bout with the disease. Then again, it's not like I was stuck with it.

Perhaps I'm more willing to wear [a little of] my money than drive it. This is all hypothetical anyway. She's on a 20-year contract, aka: I'm driving her until the wheels fall off, replacing them, and driving her some more. :)

Has anyone else had a problem with their account aggregators of late? For the past 3 months, Yodlee has given me error messages for my ING and ED accounts and I've been growling at it under my breath. They finally told me that the contact was being limited at ING and ED's end today. ING's reply to my inquiry into the veracity of this statement:

I understand that you recently had an issue trying to connect to our website using Yodlee. This service is commonly referred to as an account aggregator. While this service may have worked in the past, most users are finding that their aggregator does not work with our New Sign In Process.

The security of your information is very important to us. Once your personal information leaves ING DIRECT, we have no control over your information or how it is used by third parties. Because we have no way of monitoring how account aggregators address security, privacy or the use of cookies we are unable to support the use of these services.

To best protect your personal information and your funds, we recommend that you do not share your personal information (including your Customer Number and PIN) with any third party.

Thank you,
XXXX

ING DIRECT USA

This pretty much infuriates me. Why did it take Yodlee this long to tell me what the real problem was? Why did I keep getting useless "we're working on it" and "the problem has been resolved" messages?

And ING! And ED! Why do ING and ED get to arbitrarily decide that they're not going to allow you to allow access to your own accounts?

I feel like I'm being flung back into the personal finance era of 2001 before I discovered account aggregation and had to sign into every single account manually.

I am not a happy ING Direct customer. Why can't we have the choice about whether or not we're going to share our personal information with a relatively secure third party? Is it my account or not?

And while I'm on my soapbox about losing personal control to a faceless entity that "knows what's best" for me:

This Reuters article about The End of Personal Finance really put my back up. Of course individuals can't take care of, plan for, or be prepared for every single possible disaster in life, and expect to succeed. But to suggest that "personal finance" primarily consists of hot stock tips and therefore, personal responsibility was simply a pipe dream? *deep breath* And the implication that taking responsibility at all - under the "guise" of a misdefined personal finance - is actually usurping the "rightful role of the government?" That has me sputtering in outrage. Ridiculous.

The government is not our life-support parental unit! Heck, my actual parental units don't expect to support me for the rest of my life, as well as my kids' lives. And you bet that I'm disabusing brother of the notion that he's got the right to that as well.

*grumble*

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Some of these are train-related, from back when I Twittered that the train folks were in a feisty mood. I only participated in ONE of these conversations.

"Remember that one girl who always shoved her husband's photos in our faces? Whatever happened to her?"
"Ugh, that was obnoxious, I'm just glad it stopped."
"Come on guys, she's just insecure."
muttered: "She should be!"

"Congratulations on your new house!"
"Thanks! You have crazy bedhead!"
"...... thanks!"

*burst of giggles from three people*
"That is NOT sexual harassment!"
*more giggles*

"My dad called me this morning: 'Don't leave your house, don't go to work, don't take the kids to school! Don't do anything you don't have to!'"
"Dad, are you going to pay my bills?"
"He says, 'Oh. Go to work.'"