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Clearly Broke - I may have debt... but I have no secrets.

Clearly Broke - June 2007

SAVED!

Whew.

So, I had previously written a post about how great my father is. Well, he's done it again.

Look, ma, no red!


He put $200 in my account to get me just-oh-so-over the red, and he also paid the multiple $13 overdraft fees -- which is WAY more than I asked for.


That brings the total for this Friday's Daddy Debt to $400. Jeez.

Again, keep in mind my father lives a comfortably lower middle class (middle middle class?) lifestyle. You all remember the story of the Satan spawn that is driving my tuition.

Anyway.

It's little luxuries like having a father who can manage to loan me money in a jam (by the way, this doesn't usually happen so often) that keep me from whining too much about being so poor. If he weren't able to help I'd be neck deep in shit creek. He keeps me at a more tolerable (though still disconcerting) shin-deep.

By the way, I would still like to write some more metaphysical musings on money for this blog. They're coming.
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June 13th 2007 @ 20:28

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


DISASTER. (Shit!)

... Alright. It finally happened. And I found out because a $3 train ticket I tried to buy with my checking card was declined. What a lovely way to start the work day.

I have been wondering what was up with the $600 check I had sent to Iceland for tuition. It had been months now, and it had never posted. So, I began playing the dangerous game of spending into the $600, assuming that my luck would hold and the check would post when I wasn't between paydays.

Wrong.

The killer.


The aftermath.


This is really bad, even for me. I've gone a few dollars in the red, but never TWO HUNDRED.

One thing about being a young adult who strives to live outside their assigned caste is that one can't be too proud to beg. Well, it's about time I'd start begging.

Oh, and though I feel like I'm going to keel over from an ulcer right now...
...is it worth it? Yes.
Would I do it all over again? Yes.

But Jesus! Just look at all those FEES! Why do banks take from you what they know you don't have? "Oh, you're broke. So to punish you, we make you more broke. Bwahaha."

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June 12th 2007 @ 15:58

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Bug Money!

I have a hard time saving money.

I have learned some things, though, that help me save a bunch.
1. Put money away somewhere weird. No banks.
2. Never, ever know how much you have.
3. Add small amounts from a regular source; augment with "surprises".
4. Keep it sacred -- if some MUST be borrowed, pay it back (with interest!).

I have followed my learnings with this cute little number:

Isn't he adorable?

He's a better money manager than I am!

I wonder how much is in there?!


So, in taking my own advice, let's revisit those four steps:
1. Here's my "somewhere weird" -- a bug backpack I got from a skill crane in Japan.
2. I never count it. I have no idea how much is in there. I go to Iceland on June 26th. I'll probably count it on the 25th.
3. My Starbucks tip money goes in here religiously, as well as any significant change. When I'm medical research subject, the earnings go in here, as well. Occasionally I pull out a $20 when I walk by an ATM and then stuff it in.
4. I do have to occasionally borrow $5 and what not for the bus. That explains why I sometimes pull $20s from the ATM.

I really think if this money were just deposited in the bank, it would disappear. And sure, my bank is far, far too empty... but in doing this little piggy bank-type trick, I have some feeling of reassurance that all is well.

I expect there to be enough money to pay my rent in Iceland, and hopefully feed me some, too. I guess we'll see!

To check what happens in Iceland, please check out my Iceland blog, Nightless.

When I return from Iceland, I will reenlist the help of the little guy so I can start putting away money to pay Michelle off. It should help! ^^
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June 11th 2007 @ 18:52

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


SuperGrafx: RIP :(

When I needed to finance my first trip to Iceland, I did something I swore I would never do: I sold some of my precious video game collectibles. I suppose when you're in a pinch and need fast cash, selling in one second what took hours of hard work to obtain is one of the few options.

Collecting rare/import/classic video game stuff is probably my biggest hobby (though, of late, lack of time and money has ground it to a mere interest). I would always tell myself "Hey, at least I have my games." Sure, they're petty (pretty!) pieces of plastic to the uninitiated, but what they represent to me is something else altogether


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June 11th 2007 @ 18:31

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


A debt repaid.

If you peep my TOKENSPARK blog, you'll see a story of a wondrous frivolity that is grounded by one act of indelible awesomeness.

It's the story of me being stranded in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan. And a man whom I'd just met handed me 10.000yen, or about US$86. No questions asked


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June 8th 2007 @ 21:37

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Paychecks SHRINK


Hmm. This isn't good
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June 8th 2007 @ 17:05

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


ROBOTS IN DISGUISE

You know, I'll admit to having tried not to like this band. Silly me.

Well, I gave up
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June 7th 2007 @ 16:34

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


I CAN HAS BLOGCATALOG

Here you go, BlogCatalog blog crawlers. Looks! I gaves you a buttons!


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June 6th 2007 @ 22:57

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Starbucks Visa Paid

In the last post I was angry at Chase for their silly security precautions. Well, I got that straightened out. Here's the payment -- I was $0.57 overlimit! Whew. Another $25 payment made. This week's paycheck is, like, GONE.

>.<;
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June 6th 2007 @ 22:34

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Overlimit Credit Cards Cadenza! Damnit.

I have plenty of credit cards.

My feeling on them is that it's not really a debt... whether or not I miss a few payments, or regardless of my credit rating, the cards should be very happy to have me, what with the interest and fees and all. And it isn't a personal debt (unlike the $1800 or so I owe my ex, which does make me very uncomfortable), it's more like a different number beneath my name on some nebulous, nugatory Excel cell. This sounds like reckless young thinking and would turn any status quo financial adviser a ghostly shade of white -- but I find it rather liberating. (I must admit, though, I wouldn't think this way if I weren't certain that after graduate school I'll make good money


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June 6th 2007 @ 19:46

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Crap.

That check to Iceland had better wait until Friday. Shit.

starone0604
Timing is everything.

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June 5th 2007 @ 05:56

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


American Express and Busride Bastard Stress

Man. I'm still floating around $1300 in the bank, with the possibility of $1200 being taken in the next week. If you recall, last Friday's payday didn't work out so well.

Well, my $65 minimum AMEX payment is due tomorrow. Hrm. That check to Iceland had better not post


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June 3rd 2007 @ 05:45

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Thanks, Dad!

One thing I must posit with some degree of ebullience is how important it is to have a rad parent or sibling if one's going to choose the path of a hungry young academic kook like myself.

Two days ago I had contacted my father, letting him know that there's a chance $600 rent and $600 tuition to the University of Iceland may post at the same time -- leaving me, for lack of a better descriptor, screwed. So, I asked if he wouldn't mind letting me borrow some money to serve as a cushion -- and, then, when I sort out this week's little paycheck fiasco and finally get doublepaid next week, I could hit him back


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June 1st 2007 @ 16:28

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Rent.

To make matters worse -- rent is due today!

This is the phenomenon known to everyone as "hope people don't cash checks too quickly so I can buy some time to figure shit out!". *ahem


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June 1st 2007 @ 14:29

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Payday!

OK. If all goes well, I will have a Starbucks check and a Sony check in my account this morning (which will prompty go to rent).

If you're curious. my job at Sony pays weekly. It's rad. And what's better is that I have a paycheck waiting for me from *before* Japan as I forgot to approve that particular timecard. (D'oh!) When I returned from Japan, I worked one whole day in the eligible pay period, so I should have six days worth of pay in my account


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June 1st 2007 @ 14:21

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


Yay, paid holidays.

Memorial day money lolz!

On Memorial Day I was earning almost $30/hour. How? Certainly not by having a Memorial Day BBQ. [ Click here to read more ]
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June 1st 2007 @ 13:59

Posted By: Philip Sharp - Category: No Category
   


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