Mid-January

I know even some PF bloggers have made this mistake, but somehow that doesn't make me feel less like a doofus: I forgot to make a credit card payment this month! Worse yet, it was the credit card on which I have a little under $5000 at a 0% rate (for about 9 more months). My mind was just wrapped around my car getting broken into--as the days went on, I'd notice other things missing, and so the anger and frustration lingered longer than it probably would have otherwise.

I called earlier this week to plead mercy, but my payment hadn't yet shown up so the woman I spoke to couldn't yet do anything. She advised me to try again next week and assured me that they'd likely be able to waive the fee since I'd been "perfect" so far. I called again today (couldn't wait) and spoke to someone who both credited back the late fee and made sure my 0% rate wouldn't be affected. Thanks, Citi!

Other news:

Emigrant Direct is taking for-ev-er to set up an external funding link with my credit union. First I had to mail them a form and a voided check, then they have to verify the accuracy of the form with my bank (the check's not enough?) and THEN I have to verify two small deposits to my checking account. Come on! Other banks have figured out how to make this process easier, why not EGD?

My insurance agent found me a better rate for this year, only they didn't stop the old policy in time, so my checking account was debited twice for January. I called last Friday but the credit hasn't shown up yet. Urg.

I mailed my umbrella to Gilbert Center. It's going to cost me $50, including shipping. I bought the umbrella on sale for $25, and I haven't since seen a comparable waxed cotton umbrella for under $100, so I suppose I'm still ahead of the game...thought this will likely be the only time I opt to repair instead of replace this particular umbrella.

My Honda's thermostat gauge stopped working a month or so ago, and just sits in the "cold" range. When I take it in I'll give them the long list of things a tire shop told me "really needed" to be done. I'm hoping they were just trying to sell me repairs I didn't really need...