If this is it, time is running out and standing still...

[obliviousally_lj]

You know, I should really know better than to vent about my finances in IRC.

So I checked my bank this morning and saw I have a whopping $56. WHY? WHY?

Because my paycheck was $140. And FUCKING BLIZZARD PUT A HOLD ON MY WOW SUBSCRIPTION (which I should have cancelled, but I forgot about it because I'm a goddamned retard). However, this hold causes my account to think 'oh, hey, let's ACTUALLY SIT THIS MONEY ASIDE AND LEAVE THE ACCOUNT WITH JUST A DOLLAR OR TWO. Another charge goes through, that should've been covered by what was in the account already (OH, EXCEPT BLIZZARD IS A FUCK) and drops my balance negative.

THEN.

Blizzard's balance goes through after the account is 'negative' (plus an overdraft fee, so I guess it fucking is now!) and hits me with another overdraft.

My overdrafts are $36 EACH.

So, anyhow, I vent in IRC beiefly and get the 'WHAT ARE YOUR FINANCES LIKE IF $15 PUTS YOU IN OVERDRAFT BLAH BLAH BLAH'. But this is coming from someone who has a steady job and is able to save money and shit. I'm told to cut out WoW (which I explain I only pay for on the months I feel like playing it, I go many months without it because I'm bored with it sometimes), I get told to stop eating out (when does this happen? for awhile, once every two weeks. and at somewhere cheap, at that.) and start making my own food (um, yeah, because that's not JUST as expensive).

Plus, I'm supporting TWO people. So it's not like the money I was getting was going to go far PLUS, I did DAMN WELL supporting two people on maybe $200. But you can't exactly 'set aside' money from that amazing sort of income.

So, whatever. I don't know what I'm going to fucking do at this point. My commissions haven't been selling and I feel like a fag taking on more. Plus, I'm not even sure if we'll be making Anthrocon at this point and I don't even have all the badge commissions for THAT finished.

On top of the fact that my late-coming birthday money from a friend didn't even get to go on birthday stuff. All went on necessities. Food, critter food, etcera.

I'm just a fucking mess. Fuck this.

Comments

[keeperofdreams.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know I don't work and I'm a drain on the checks.

[obliviousally.livejournal.com]

That's not the point here. You know that's not an issue to ME and what other people say about my finances means shit.

[keeperofdreams.livejournal.com]

Yes. But it's an issue to me.

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

UHG OVERDRAFT FEE HAET!

I don't know if it's something you'd feel comfortable doing, but some banks will let you charge a credit card if you go over rather than getting hit with all those fees. Or so I've heard. Might help if your budget is marginal-but-balanced to avoid unexpected (or ill-timed) charges from draining your $$ more than they should.

[keeperofdreams.livejournal.com]

We don't have a credit card. :/

[spiffystuff.livejournal.com]

Hurm, well I don't know if it's available to you but if you or ally get offers for any cards that have no annual fees, it's something to think about. They can be useful as a stopgap, just gotta make sure not to go into debt with them D:

[(Anonymous)]

Overdraft fees are gay. If you're prone to overdrawing your account you might see about switching to a bank that has a lesser fee? I hear local credit unions are pretty cheap on that sort of thing if you aren't planning on moving any time soon.

And just out of curiosity, why doesn't TJ work? If there's some disability I'm sure there has to be something she can do to help bring in some funds -- From what I've seen on your LJ (and I'm a long-time lurker, I <3 your arts. Don't always read everything, but I just have to come look at the pictures!) you both are talented ladies!

The only other advice I can think of is to budget, budget, budget. Write out what you buy (or what you've bought recently that you can think of), how much it was, whether or not you actually -need- it.

You mentioned WoW, so I'll use that as an example -- WoW is nice, fun, etc, but it's a luxury, you don't actually -need- it, you know? If you have extra cash for a month and want to play it then hey, that's one thing, but when you're struggling even for dinner... then things like this need to go.

I've also noticed you guys have a good few ratties, I'm not saying to get rid of them, but I wouldn't advise getting any more. Pet food and supplies can add up quick. If you're like me and love animals it's extremely hard not to have any, but it's something I'd put off until you're financially stable and can afford to live comfortably.

And I know it sucks not being able to do anything extra (Go to movies, eat out, etc etc) but if you can't afford it you can't afford it.

I know you can't turn off your internet since you need it for your arts -- But what about your TV? Can you cut that off or at least down to save some money? After all, you can watch mostly everything online these days, anyway!

Just sit and think about all of the extra things you buy during the month -- That money could be going toward food and bills and such things.

I'm not trying to sound bitchy or anything like that, so if I come off that way I apologize. I'm just trying to be constructive and helpful and what have!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, I almost forgot --

I don't know if Blizzard still does it, but you might see if they still sell prepaid account cards. This way you wont have to worry about canceling it and them charging you again.

[obliviousally.livejournal.com]

The fact that this is anonymous is the first thing that pisses me off.

The fact that you're a lurker and you haven't gleaned something from my journal is another thing that pisses me off. There's things you overlooked IN THIS POST ALONE.

TJ doesn't work for a variety of reasons. It's not to say he hasn't tried but I'm tired of having to justify the reasons why and having people think it's so easy to change the circumstance.

Do people honestly think I spend money monthly on a WoW sub? Really? I guess, you know, I talk about it so goddamn much it must seem that way, right? Except I only mention it when I have my sub upped which is...WHEN I HAVE THE MONEY. I had WoW last month for the first time in almost six because I had some extra cash on hand. I get bored with it after a month and cancel it, which is why I don't buy the pre-paid cards. Because they generally are wasteful to me if I only play for a month. This time, due to my mind being more concerned about other things in my life, I forgot to.

We haven't brought home a new animal in...probably close to a year. Any animals we rescue, we rehome. Plus, would someone assume a parent would get rid of their child because it's a drain on their income? No? That's what I thought.

The last time I went to the movies? Well over a year ago. And that was on someone else's dime anyhow. I eat out? Maybe once a month when I have some extra cash and almost always somewhere cheap where I can get a decent amount of food for under $5 or $6 (Chipotle, CiCi's Pizza, salad and breadsticks lunch at Olive Garden, etc.).

...I have cable? You must be kidding me. I haven't had cable in almost three years. And when I DID have it, there were other people chipping in on it. I have the internet. That's it.

It's like people assume that because I have money, I'm blowing it on dumb shit. My money goes on food, food for my animals, and then other necessities. It's a fucking privilege when I can buy myself some cheap clothes or a cheap action figure or even a new sketchbook or art supplies.

[(Anonymous)]

Pot, this is kettle. I said right off the bat that I don't always read everything, that I come to look at the pictures (AKA your artwork). I've always wanted to commission, just never had the extra cash to be able to do so. So I come to admire what I can't afford.

I also never said that you spent monthly on WoW, all I did was give some suggestions to attempt to help you out with budgeting and avoiding repeat situations, like suggestion the game cards instead of putting it on a debit card or whatever.

I also just gave suggestions on some common things that people do that can be cut out in order to save money. I was trying to be very general in my post with these.

Everyone spends on things that they can't afford once in a while, but there's a lot of people that buy extra things that they don't really -need- without even realizing it.

I'm also sorry to hear that TJ has ailments that prevents him from working, which is why I suggested something on the talent side of things. I remember seeing some cute hats and paws I think posted some time ago? With a con coming up little things like this might be an idea.

I also never said to get rid of your animals, I simply said that it would be a good idea not to take on any more. And no, a parent wouldn't get rid of a kid because they couldn't afford it, but I bet they would think twice about having one. At least the responsible ones would (which is what? Probably 3% of the population these days? A friend of mine was telling me about someone she knows that has a kid every two years for the tax money she gets out of it. Ugh.).

I hear you on the art supplies, clothes, etc being a privileged. The last time I got anything new in that way was for Christmas.

And I apologize for being anon over here, but I don't have a LJ account, never really bothered with it.

-Alexis