Subj : Emerg. Broadcast Stations To : Nancy Backus From : Barry Martin Date : Sat Jul 25 2020 08:38:00 Hi Nancy! BM> NB>> The trick is to normally stay on top of things, only buying what is NB>> well within one's means, so that one has the margin to get the less NB>> accessible needs when they arise... and be able to make any necessary NB>> payments on any debt that needs to be incurred... And then, when you NB>> have the money and don't need to borrow, not to be sucked in by the NB>> pesterers... ;) BM> Yes. Was reading the other day what the article classified as poor BM> were constantly zinged: if no bank account the person gets charged $7 BM> (article's number) for check cashing. So to use easy numbers their BM> $100 paycheck is now a little over $90. Pay a bill by buying a money BM> order, there's a fee for that, further chipping away at that paycheck. NB> The commercial banks, even the small town ones, aren't set up to NB> be kind to the poor, what with their fees and monthly maintenance NB> charges when under some minimum amount (or without direct deposit NB> of pay or pension)... But that's where the credit unions come in NB> as a godsend to the poor... As long as one meets some basic NB> criteria (generally living or working in the area served by the NB> credit union), one can open a free checking account, no fees, and NB> for as little as a $1 deposit... So the person the article NB> referenced could deposit the paycheck into the account, and write NB> checks to pay the bills, no extra fees... And the FCU I use gives NB> a free box of checks when one opens the account... and a debit NB> card if one wishes, to access the account without checks... :) OK, yes; I'll admit to sort of forgetting about the credit union option. (And my Mother and I use them!) My credit union has a $5 opening and minimum requirement which still could be a stretch if someone is searching for couch cushion change but at least that's a one-time fee and as long as don't go below one doesn't get hit with other fees. I don't recall if the first box of checks were free; replacements aren't (have to pay) but with the free Bill Pay (electronic payment) they last quite a while. Also got the free debit card which has or had some sort of points programme attached to it: purchases get points as long as used five times per month. (The credit card I usually use is a better deal for me.) BM> OTOH I get money (interest/dividend) because I have money in the bank/ BM> credit union, get free checking (and whine about paying for a new box BM> of checks)..... NB> Credit unions are a much more friendly option... :) And the NB> accounts that I use a lot of checks for, I generally get my NB> checks mail-order at one of the discount places like Checks NB> Unlimited... their 4-box offers for new customers are a lot less NB> expensive than buying new checks through the bank or CU... :) It NB> takes me a long time to use up 4 boxes worth of checks... Yup! My old bank had a style of check that was free: plain and a light blue IIRC. Fine with me: do I really care the Gas and Electric Co. is getting a check with puppies on it? LIS my credit union charges for the checks -- also plain; I'd guess a light red as their logo is red and black so could print with two colours (red and black). BM>>> I remember when the store switched over to direct deposit: no physical BM>>> paycheck to symbolize payment of the work I've done. Work work work BM>>> and nothing in return. Sure, the money was in my account, just I BM>>> didn't get to touch it like with the paper paycheck. NB>>> A different psychological/mental impact.... ;) BM>> Yes: I was raised with paper so when "took that away" the link between BM>> work and payment was gone. NB>> That's when one needs to set up other ways of maintaining that link NB>> mentally... whether between work and pay, or income and outgo... :) BM> Right. For me the handwritten entries in the journal seem to help BM> with that linking. NB> So that works for you.. :) For me, it's usually sufficient to NB> enter the direct deposit into the bankbook... ;) And to keep up NB> with the various debits, checks, withdrawals etc into the NB> checkbook register... :) Right: one accounting method doesn't work for all. While doing the multiple entries in my method sometimes seem like a pain (I'll even occasionaly grumble!) for me helps to focus on money in and money out. And not saying you're not having the same focus, just your method is slightly different. ¯ ® ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® ¯ ® ¯ (Humans know what ® ¯ to remove.) ® .... Autobiography: A history of cars --- MultiMail/Win32 v0.47 þ wcECHO 4.2 ÷ ILink: The Safe BBS þ Bettendorf, IA --- QScan/PCB v1.20a / 01-0462 * Origin: ILink: CFBBS | cfbbs.no-ip.com | 856-933-7096 (454:1/1) .