Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Suddenly: Allergies!

I won't lie. I messed up again. At this point, it is costing me more to WORK on my part time job than NOT to work. I made about $78 net by working on Saturday. On Thursday, my dad asked to switch vehicles, since mine was the only one without a check-engine light on, and my younger brother needed it to take his driver's test. My car had a full tank at the time. I got the big SUV with no gas. So I put in $45 (which was barely half a tank!). I figured that since my car had a full tank, I wouldn't need to put any more gas on it for 2 weeks.

Yeah. Right. I get my car and they managed to put in over 200mi in a mere 3 days. I have no idea how that happened, but I had to put more gas on my car. So there went $35. That's $80 in gas, which is more than what I had just earned that weekend. It left me with $70 for all other purchases, except... oh, yes. I had agreed to pay their electricity with my card, because my dad had his money on his Paypal and wouldn't be able to transfer it on time to make said payment. But he only had part of the amount and not all. He was $40 short, which he'd deposit in my account on Thursday. I didn't get it. So that's another mark off. $30 left for the next 2 weeks.


I bought some groceries, but not a lot. Not enough, for sure. But all in all, I have a LOT of stuff I need to buy, at least $20-$30 of stuff (including allergy medication, because it seems that suddenly I've acquired allergies to any airborne particle, and I've sneezed so much in the past 2 days that my nose hurts). But guess what? I have $0 left for another 10 days. This is a dilemma.

Should I:
1) Charge it to Chase and pay it off with the next paycheck (accruing no interest, since the payday and payment due date are the same)?
2) Underpay the over-payment to CC1 (I got a second bonus from my Chase credit card, $300, plus the regular $100 payment makes a total of $400 which will be transferred the 18th)
3) Use the reward points I've gotten from Chase so far ($45 or so worth, which I was going to keep as an ongoing Christmas fund)
4) Hold off until next pay day and bear it. I am really hoping this allergy thing doesn't stick around for long. Because for someone who has never really had allergies, this is REALLY uncomfortable.
5) Use emergency $15 in the car's glove compartment

I'm leaning towards 1. I would do #4 as a punishment, but I am so unfocused and borderline miserable at work, that I will have to get something and hope it works. I've been recommended a generic Zyrtec, so I'll go with that. Hope everyone is having a better night! I'll try to get some rest, slathered in Vick's vapor rub. It seems to calm my head a little.

13 comments:

  1. Punishment is not an option. Alllergies are really bad this year. I would use the chase card and just pay it next week. Yes you will use the card but its not like you are abusing it

    You have no reason to punish yourself

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  2. Ditto to what "just me" said...life happens, you have to roll with it! ;)

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  3. Honestly, I wouldn't pay the electricity bill, especially because they returned your car with no gas in it...but it's just me.Otherwise, I would probably go with #1. Allergies can get really bad, I hope you get some relief soon.

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  4. None of the above, cut your family OFF!!!!! How crazy is it that you have to go without so your family can do what they want. Sorry just had to rant, get your meds and feel better

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  5. I vote #2....underpay the overpayment. But I agree with Debby....you need to stop bailing out your family. You aren't their personal bank.

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  6. I only have a comment about allergies. I just wiped the dew off my car windows and the cloth was fluorescent yellow with pollen particles. When the pollen settles down you should feel better.

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    1. That is what I am hoping. I had thought that was settled, but I guess I was wrong and it came back with a vengeance.

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  7. Hey email me your address and I'll send you some Zyrtec for free!! That way you don't have to buy allergy medicine. I bought these with a coupon late last year and they were free, so trust me, I don't mind! Plus I only get allergies every so often, and don't use it that much. it will just go bad if I dont give it away!!
    And I would vote #2. And I also agree with everyone else. You need to stop being your family's personal bank. Ask any financial guru and they'd tell you your family is keeping you from financial success.

    p.s. take me up on the zyrtec offer

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    Replies
    1. I'll definitely take you up on that... I've done that before (giving medication away before it expires), because I just can't ever get through it before it goes bad. Thanks a lot!

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  8. Yes, I was also looking for option #6 - cut off family forever! What a bunch of jerks! If I must choose from #1-5 then I would underpay the overpayment.

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  9. I suffer with awful allergies, so I advise that you go get so real (sold behind the counter) sudefed as well as the Zyrtec. Most pharmacies sell it for about $4, generic. It's one of the 5 things I have to take daily for my allergies, and it's the one I can't go without when allergy season hits.

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    Replies
    1. I'll have to check for that. I don't really "suffer" from allergies, and I am hoping this is a one-time, or short-term event. $4 is not bad at all! Allergy medication is so terribly expensive.

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  10. This is what you said to me in regards to punishment

    "It is not about punishments, but rewards. Don't condition yourself to only act when you've done wrong, but also when you've done good."

    I don't think the punishment is necessary. You've already received great advice already. Any of the first three are good enough for me though but it seems newlyweds give you a good offer so I hope you take it up.

    Also, I know how you are with your family, I won't tell you to stop bailing them out as I know you know this already and you will stop for yourself when you can. What I do advise is to get some sort of system in place. You've done so much for them and you have a lot of debt that isn't yours. I wish they didn't inflict so much more punishment on you.

    I hope things get better and the allergies go away.

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