Money In 2026?

  Hello all, well here's my story so far. It's nothing like a new year to give you a financial wake-up call. Every new year, I try to go over my checkbook entries from the previous year to see how much I spent on stuff. This way for the new year, I get a running account of what I can cut back on. Can I tell you I gave Visa almost as much as a down payment on a new home last year! Yep, it was a lot, but it was my partner who automatically wipes out the visa card even if it's for something like $5.  I told him this has got to stop. With Con Edison and everything else talking about a price hike, it's too expensive for Visa to get more money than our normal bills. So that's the financial road I'm on this year, not spending has much money on foolish stuff and sticking to paying the basic bills and maybe a little bit of extra money for fun if necessary.

Let me give you a little warning if you don't like a lot of noise, kids, or crazy people, don't go on cruises on major holidays. I went on a Christmas& New Year's cruise with 4500 people, and 1/3 of those were kids and pre-teens. The cruise ship was overcrowded and crazy. I kept saying never again. I went on vacation to avoid all of the crazy stuff and got it cruising. The ship NCL Breakaway, leaving out of New York, the food was bad, drinks ok, the entertainment bad, and the balcony rooms were small. At least the one I was in.  Overall, they weren't giving you anything special for the money you were paying. That's just my opinion. 

                            So that's my story for the week what do you think?   

                                       https://coinqueensyardsale.ecrater.com/        

  

Happy 2026 Family!!

  Hello Family, Happy 2026. So, here's the story for the New Year so far. I decided to spend the holidays on a Christmas cruise. Big Mistake, even though the price was right under $4,000 for two people. The ship carried 4500 people, and 1/3 were kids who were so noisy I could hardly hear when I got off the cruise, and it was a 10-day cruise at that.   Why aren't some of the parents who have children teaching them simple words like excuse me, thank you, " and " sorry? I had so many children bump into me because they were running, stepping on my toes, and kept going, you get the picture. Did manners go out the window?? I'm just asking??

 The cruise itself on a mega ship was a disappointment. I went on NCL Breakaway. The food was bad, too crowded, shows not good. They also nickel and dime you to death. Everything had a fee attached to it. The only thing they had going for them was the casino, which was good, and the mudslide drinks.  Think chocolate milkshake with alcohol in it. They were good too.  

The island that I visited, which were 5 of them are struggling with the tourist are there, but they are doing tours and not shopping much. So, the island's economy, just like here, is suffering. You would think will all the cruise shipping coming to the island, the people living there would be rich. They're not, and it's sad. What's sadder is that the workers on the ship work 70 hours a week with no overtime pay or holiday pay. Plus, they have to deal with the public, which is not fun. I know I used to deal with them when I worked in social services.

So that was my story I spent Christmas and New Year's on the sea, which I love the water. So, how was your holiday? I hope.

                                                 That's my story, what do you think?. 

Happy Holiday!

      

  Hello all, well, just wanted to wish you a Happy Holiday, and maybe in 2026 Santa will bring us some extra cash, like winning the mega million for 1.5 billion. Or at least lower the bills we have to pay in 2026. Hey, you never know it could happen! Wishing you a Safe and Happy Holiday. Will let you know what I did in the holiday season, besides all the other crazy stuff that has happened to me. Be safe, blessed, and have a great Holiday Season. See you in 2026!

                                           That's my story what do you think?

                                                           

Your Killing Me !!!

  Hello all, well here's the story for the week.  I have an old washing machine that jumps when I put too many clothes in it. Yeah, it's old, like 20 years old. anyway, the last wash I did, the machine jumped and pulled the hose off the pipe, which caused my basement to flood with water. Lucky, I caught it in time before it could have really done some damage. It was a mess, water all over the floor, and spread to my second room in the basement anyway. After we cleaned up the water and got the materials to reassemble the washing machine to the pipes, which cost me about $50 for that. We tried to do the washing machine hookup ourselves, saving a few dollars. The pipes were so rusted that it was too hard to disconnect the machine on our own. So, I had to call a plumber to do it.

Here's where it gets crazy. The plumber told me it would cost $295 to hook up the washing machine. I almost said forget it, but I need to wash clothes, so I agreed. he came the same day and did the hook up in 20 minutes. It ended up costing me $265 because I paid in cash and asked for every discount he could offer. But still, for a plumber to come into your house for 20 minutes and it costs $265 is crazy. it hurt me so bad to have to pay that money, but what could I do? That darn pipe was too hard to disconnect, and we both tried to do it first.

For 2026, I have to do better, but what could you do with prices for everything through the roof, and certain things you need to bite the bullet on just to get them fixed? Something with car repairs for an oil change and general maintenance, I paid about $300. Really, there has to be a better way, and in 2026 I'm sure going to find it!!

                                    That's my story, what do you think?  

Happy Late Thanksgiving

So, I'm a little late with the Thanksgiving message, but did you have a nice one?  well, here's my story for the week. I went to Atlantic City for the first part of the week, Sunday through Wednesday. It was dead at the casinos and noisy. A lot of people were smoking weed so you get a contact high just by being near them. It was crazy. most of the food places were closed permanently or overpriced for what you were getting. Needless to say, I lost some money, but being a cheapskate, I know how to budget my gambling so that it's not a bad habit for me.

So, the Thanksgiving part, I visited my mother since she lived down there. we had a simple meal and mostly talked. I wanted to spend as much time with her as I can since she's about 80 and time is going so fast. What depressed me about the trip was that my mother talked about where she wanted to be buried. I really didn't want to hear about that. But in a way, you need to know these things, it makes it easier when the time comes. If the people write out what they want in the end. that way, you're not trying to figure it out. So, we talked about it. I was surprised. I found out a lot about what she wanted in the end. Overall, it's a hard pill to swallow, especially if you don't have any water.

                                            So that's my story, what do you think? 

Joy!!!

  Hello all, well here's my story for the week. Yesterday I went to the heart doctor. Yes, I have a heart problem, and my heart beats were normally at 35. But after having the test, the doctor said my heart rate was up to 45. I almost kissed the doctor, that's how happy I was. I think he was happy to. Just for me to hear that my heart is improving is a good thing. My other medical test came out fine, the doctor was happy, and so was I. Thank you, God!!

Anyway, I had to call my oil company because the contract was due, and they are now charging me for oil delivery $4.85, compared to the price he quoted, which was about $5.85. Did I mention I hate having to use oil to heat the house? It's too expensive, my bills that come every three to four months are no less than $500 and no more than 1200 for a tank of oil?? That's crazy, right? That oil is so expensive. I said to the customer service person I was talking to, didn't oil go down? He stated it's not only the oil I'm paying for, it's the delivery, the taxes, the gas for the trucks they use to deliver the oil in, and all that. You know all these crazy fees. did I mention hating using oil? 

What's your Thanksgiving looking like? Mind will be spent with family, relaxing. I hope. That's one thing you can't get back in life, spending time with family before it's to late. Well, have a nice Thanksgiving, be blessed, safe, and careful.

                                      Well, that's my story. What do you think?  

                                        https://coinqueensyardsale.ecrater.com/ 

Crazy Charges Are Hurting Me!!!

  Hello all, well here's my story for the week. Crazy charges are hurting me.  This is what I'm talking about. My Con Edison bill: after going over it, it cost me 88 cents for the gas I used, but $87 for them to bring it to me. Same as electric: it costs $1.99 per usage and $160 for them to bring it to me through the wires or whatever they use to carry electricity to your home. Really, my bill should have been minus all the carrying fees and extras that you really don't know what they are. My actual usage is $2.87 so why is my bill $237?? it's all the carrying fees plus some. That's crazy, right?

For November, I am tightening my budget because of all the crazy things going on in the world today. Especially when you see people who are working and getting a paycheck still rely on food banks and other government resources to live. Everything is going up or out the window when it comes to money. I am grateful it hasn't gotten to that point for me yet, but if I lose a major income source, which is my partner. Things will get really scary for me because my pension and social security would just barely cover my home expenses, forget the extras. Maybe that's why I'm putting off having some stuff repaired in the house and trying to focus on the really needed repairs. So, how are you doing so far this November?

                                           That's my story, what do you think?