I Don't Like Him

  Hello family, well here's the story for the week, you know tax season is April 14. I had my taxes done this week, and Uncle Sam let's just say if I could shoot him, if I could. He's taking a large sum of money from me this year. I miss the days when I was getting money back from him instead of paying him more than I care to. So, how are your taxes treating you this year?

I realized I could hold on to things longer than I planned if I really need to.  Meaning the washing machine that I wanted to buy at a cost of more than the $500 I wanted to spend, and that was a stretch for me. My old machine is still working pretty good, but I do have to babysit it when it goes into the spin cycle. If I don't, my old washing machine goes crazy with the shaking and might tip over. It did that before I started watching it.  Besides, it still cleans my clothes, so why buy another one until that one really dies out,, right?

Right now spring is here, and my mind is on cleaning or getting rid of stuff. Did I mention that I love throwing stuff away. It makes me feel good. I hate clutter and junk. I want to be a minimalist in the worst way. Working toward that now, if it were up to me, I would have very little in my house. Since I live in a house that has accumulated over 60 years' worth of stuff. The stuff isn't mine; it came with the partner. You know what I'm facing when it comes to cleaning out, right? So, what are you doing, it's springtime, what's your plan for the season? 

                                      That's my Story What do You Think?

                                    https://coinqueensyardsale.ecrater.com/

                  

I Got It!!

  Hello all, well here's my story so far.  Finally, and I mean finally, after 6 months of waiting. I got my $55 NYC-required garbage can. It's big, heavy, deep, and really not needed in the area I live in. We don't put out that much garbage in a month. New York is just being greedy, making people pay $55 for a garbage can with the NYC name on it, no less. The only reason I got the darn thing is that our governor promised to give us a rebate on it. Still waiting for that check to come in.

Spring is here, and my house is a mess. Truthfully, it needs so much work done to it. I don't know where to begin. First, the outside needs new lights, I need my carpets cleaned, and a whole bunch of other stuff. The problem is I'm just too lazy to start. What about you? Have you started spring so call cleaning yet?

Also, I didn't want to mention this, but I got dumped a couple of weeks ago, and I'm just getting over it. Yep, they left me, and I was taking care of it for so many years, I didn't think they would leave me like that, but they did.  I was taking care of a stray cat for three years, always buying it food and stuff. It just left me. I still have some of the food I was using to feed it. I loved that cat. I called him Firstborn. Since he was the first one born from a stray cat that used to hang around here. Oh well I guess I'll use the leftover cat food to feed the raccoons or the possums that are starting to come out. I'll tell you my backyard is like a little forest with small creatures walking through it in the night.  So, what's going on with you? How's your march been so far?

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

Is A Home Worth it Anymore?

  Hello all, well here's the story for March. Is having a home worth it anymore? Especially if you live in an expensive place like New York, like I do. I heard my energy company is raising its rate once again, another 10% it's bad enough I'm paying 4250 a month for gas and electric, now they want more!  That's crazy. Also, our fine mayor wants to raise property taxes like we aren't paying enough taxes already for things not to get done in the city, let alone in the borough where I live. Why is it that if you don't shovel your walkway when it snows, you would be fined a couple of hundred dollars? Last I heard, the sidewalks belonged to the city, so why should I shovel them?? I'm starting to believe that you really do need a million bucks to live here, and that's just a middle-class lifestyle.

Still shopping for a washing machine, I added to the list of other things that need fixing in my house that will cost me money. Again, is owning a house worth it if it drains you of the money, you might need for other things? You tell me. Don't get me wrong, I like my house, it's just the cost of it is killing me, along with other costs you have to pay just to live. I know you're saying that you moved. Where to would be my first answer, and everything that used to be cheap, like Vegas, I love Vegas, is expensive.

                           So, I ask you family is owning a house really worth it anymore?

                                              That's my story, what do you think? 

Why So Expensive??

 

 

Hello all, well here's my story for February so far. Why does everything break down in the wintertime? I went to a few stores that sell appliances. Why didn't you tell me how crazy expensive they are now? So, I went shopping, well, really looking at prices for a washing machine. First, the cost of a basic machine is $500, then you have to purchase a $50 hose to set it up, and a delivery charge would be $35, and to take your old one away would be another $50 plus the tax. The cheapest one that I looked at was costing me around $800, the one before that with everything was $900, close to $1000. What happens to the washer and dryer cost $25-400? Now you have to purchase this with it when it used to come free. One of the stores tried to sell me a surge protector, which was $130 for the washing machine, just in case, since most washing machines now run on computers, and if the power goes out, the machine won't work, and the computer chips in it would be ruined.  I tell you, family,  they try and nickel and dime you anyway they can get. So anyway, I decided that I have to get the cheapest machine I can. Right now, my washing machine is still ok but it's on its last leg and will be replaced soon. Now today, my partner tells me the television is broken, and we need a new one.  I ask you, family, why does everything break in the winter??

P.S. Forgot to mention I saw a $3000 refrigeration, it was big, had disco lights on the door panels, you could fit a small child and a pet, and still have room for food. I kid you not.  Who needs that, and it's runs by computers.

                                      That's my Story family what do you think?

                                       

 

I Hate Snow Now!!!

  Hello, all happy Feb 1st, well here's my story. I hate snow now. You know I live in New York, and last Sunday we had a snowstorm.  The snow was pretty high when it stopped me, and the neighbors were out there shoveling away and talking.  Anyway, it took me an hour to shovel. While my partner stood in the doorway to supervise. I kid you not. Only because he has some back issues and other medical problems, so I don't mind shoveling. It's good exercise. He gets mad at me because he thinks I do too much when I shovel. So, I always give him the finger, and he shuts up.  Finished shoveling on Sunday, didn't it snow again on Monday. Making me go back outside, cursing at the snow and Mother Nature. To top it off, it was like 5 degrees outside, I was freezing my butt off, and the snow had turned to ice, which made shoveling harder. So, yea I'm not a fan of snow anymore. It was pretty when you first see it, but not when you have to shovel, it's not so pretty anymore. I need to move to a tropical island where snow is illegal. 

 Is it me, or did January just fly by? I haven't even started to do the things that need to be done for the new year. What I have been doing is looking over my checkbook for 2025 to see what my expenses were for that year. I wanted to see if I could live on my pension and social security alone. I can't. My household's basic bills are over 3,000 a month, and I will only be bringing in about $2100. I'm short $900 or more. Let's say $1000, which I would have to pull from my savings account to make the difference. All of this is if I lose my partner's income for some reason. It's scary to think that seniors like me can't live without a good income coming in, and social security sure ain't it. It's crazy out here, finally, folks. That's why every penny I don't need I save. Because, like someone said, you can't predict life, but you sure can prepare for it.

                                              That's my story what do you think? 

                                           https://coinqueensyardsale.ecrater.com/

Being Strong Armed

  Hello all, well, here's my story so far. We're supposed to be getting a big snowstorm this Sunday. Everybody is in a panic. Come on, it's New York, it's not like were not used to snow.  We basically get it every winter.  The news stations broadcasting this big snowstorm every twenty minutes. People are in a panic; there are long lines to get gas for your car. Being knocked over at the grocery store for that last container of milk. You know crazy stuff. I had already planned ahead this past Tuesday; I got my stuff already. The most we would be in the house for because of the storm would be two to three days top. So why panic? We stayed in the house longer than that with Covid.

Anyway, New York City is strong-arming people. Just like the mafia. Except it's legal. If you don't do this, then I'll come back and not only fine you big money, but I'll also have you arrested for not complying. I got a letter from the water department yesterday stating they need to come into the house to check the water meters. If I don't make an appointment by Feb 15, they will fine me $500 the first time, if I still don't make an appointment, they will fine me $1000, and so on. You see, the water department is trying to find ways to get more money out of you. Crazy, right? Why am I still living in a place that's always in your pockets?

Not to mention last Sunday, around 2 in the afternoon, my whole house went dark. I mean, nothing electric worked. I went next door to see if they had any electricity, thinking it was just my house only. On my side of the block, all the houses were without electricity. I called Con Edison they said it was something they had to fix. It took them a day to fix it. I asked about my food since the refrigerator was out. They said they would pay me up to $250 if my food was spoiled. That's it, what a pack of steak and chicken costs with inflation now. Thank god the power came back on before the food got spoiled but I know now to get extra batteries for the flashlights I have at home and to be ready for anything. Did I mention Con Edison wanted to raise the rates even after they shut the power off? Why am I still living here!!!

                                                     That's my story what do you think?  

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/