Archive for the ‘Employment’ Category

Of Crossword Puzzles and Red Wine – A Study in Economics

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May 14th, 2012

How to stay normal when the whole world is crazy

How is it possible, I ponder, as I fill in the C, that the answer to the clue “Warm up” in the New York Times crossword turns out to be ‘DEICE’? One of these days, I promise myself, I will dip into my pocket and treat myself to a new crossword dictionary, one with all the latest words, like DEICE which means ‘Warm up’. I am sadly out of date and lagging behind in my crossword English.

Shopping

“We’re going shopping!” The cry comes from the kitchen. I look around. There are only two of us here and we’re going shopping? The penny drops and I unwind from the couch with a groaning performance straight out of a grand opera.

Sunday night in the supermarket?

“They’ve got specials for one night only!” And the whole town knew about it except for a few crossword fans who were busy with the really important stuff. The supermarket is standing room only. “DEICE” meaning ‘Warm Up’? Oh you idiot, I tell myself. It’s DE-ICE and everyone turns to see who is shrieking with crazy laughter. Of course it’s DE-ICE. Now you are stuck in the supermarket. May as well be positive. Anyway DE-ICE wasn’t exactly fair. The clue should have indicated that the answer was hyphenated. What’s on sale?

The Red Wine Special

There are cases of red wines piled dangerously high in the corner under a large sign that says

1 bottle – $20
2 bottles – $35
3 bottles – $48
4 bottles – $62
5 bottles – $75
6 bottles – $87

Which one?

Hmm, which shall I take, I think. There are Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots. There are wines from Chile and Australia and a dozen countries I have never heard of. There are men crowded around the boxes and up to their armpits pulling out bottles and making smacking noises with their lips as though they are already sipping the stuff. “And just look at these prices! I’m taking 5 cases!” I stand back and watch with interest. Most of these men would be lot happier if they were pulling out bottles of beer. “How many are you taking?” asks my wife. “None. I just decided that I don’t like red wine. Have they got a deal on whisky?”

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

The $9 deal

They are running a $9 Sunday night sale on all sorts of goodies. Like 3 cans of pickles for $9, 2 packets of cookies for $9, 4 boxes of fruit juice for $9, and more. There’s a catch in very small print. You have to spend $100 to qualify for the $9 deals. We came home with packets of all sorts of stuff we don’t normally buy, but we made the $9 deal! It cost plenty.

Loaders or Loafers?

The clue is easy: “They have no ties”. Who? Idle (Free) Loaders on the streets or those Loafers that you pull on your feet when you’re off to the beach? Even the new dictionary wouldn’t help here.

Tags: Crosswords, Red Wines, supermarket, wines
Posted in Economy, Employment, Finance, Money, Personal / Internet, Shopping | No Comments »

Who the hell moved my bank?

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May 7th, 2012

My bank loves me but I don’t even like it back

I went across the street late last night to deposit a check that had arrived in the mail. The miserable check was payment for an article that was submitted about 6 months ago and was finally published in February. The mall was closing up shop when I walked in and the bank was gone. The windows plastered over with sheets of white paper.

Where?

“Where’s the bank?” I asked cleaner. She shrugged meaning:

I don’t know.
I don’t care.
I don’t understand English. I only arrived in this country from (Insert name of any third-world country) 2 days ago.

I eventually found someone who pointed across the street to a new building. I dropped the now irritating check in the deposit box at the bank.

The bank likes me

I used to have a bank account with money in it. These days I maintain an overdraft at the bank. It is not huge, but it seems to glow in a psychedelic red that draws every bank official’s attention to it whenever they walk anywhere near. So I get lots of mail and e-mails from the bank. Some offer me loans – they want me to build on my overdraft –, some say nice things like “please attend to your overdraft” and others threaten like “Attend to the matter of your overdraft immediately. If you have already done so please ignore this letter.” No matter how angry they get, they are careful not to stab me fatally!

I don’t like the bank

The bank is not my friend. There was time, a few years ago, when I would bump into the manager at the fast food court in the mall and twice we sat and ate together, discussing important stuff like the weather and the girls strolling by. I was convinced the guy was human. Before I could build on our friendship, they moved him and we got a dragon in his place. She does not greet me and did not even give me a calendar in December, a sure sign that I am at the bottom of the list.

Dependable

But you can depend on the bank. At one second past midnight on the first of every month I hear a ‘ting’ on my computer and an email slides in from the bank, listing the bank charges for the past month. Despite the many letters I write to the bank reminding them that any money in my account is mine, they charge me:

For depositing a check into my account
For withdrawing money from my account
For making a payment to someone from my account
For breathing anywhere near my account

Grandpa’s bank philosophy

I once mentioned to my very wise old grandfather that I needed to go to the bank for something or other and he said, “forget about the bank, my boy. They will never help you. The bank only comes out and offers you an umbrella after the rain has stopped.” Right on, Grandpa!

Tags: Banks, Money, Overdrafts
Posted in Bankruptcy, Business, Economy, Employment, Finance, Personal / Internet | No Comments »

Where to Look For Some Spare Cash

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May 5th, 2012

There’s no guarantee you will find, but it’s worth a look

Small change. Take a look under car seats and floor mats, glove compartments, dresser drawers and your spouse’s pockets or purse may not yield much at first, but be patient, and you’d be surprised how quickly these coins add up.

Silver and gold, mainly gold

You can get cash for those out-of-style earrings and the ugly place setting you inherited from your Great Aunt. Sold by weight, they’ll fetch you a percentage of that day’s market value, minus a percentage for the buyer. Do not go for the “we’ll send you an envelope” companies and “one-day-only” hotel events. Instead, visit reputable jewelers for examination and weighing while you watch.

Trash and treasure

Craigslist, eBay and consignment shops are useful outlets for selling your unwanted stuff. Take a look around the garage and the attic for vintage clothing, vinyl record albums, furniture, tools, stamps, coins and books. Are your kids’ old rooms still full of rock band posters and unicorn figurines? Your retro items in El Paso may be exactly what a Topeka collector is seeking. Besides making some extra money, you’ll gain extra space in the house. Also, if you keep a paid storage unit, consider what items inside might be worth money.

Forgettables

Did your new TV come with a rebate offer? Send in the paperwork immediately. Fine print and tedious requirements can preclude your getting your money, but mainly companies count on your forgetting altogether. Often, you can even track your rebate status online.

Credit card points

Most people save credit card points for travel, but you can earn valuable day-to-day items, even without a big balance. Every program differs, but for fewer than 10,000 points one major company currently offers DVDs, dining gift cards, cameras, computer speakers, energy-efficient light bulbs, vacuum cleaners and even that video game your grandson wants for his birthday, all with free shipping and returns.

Loyalty programs

Revisit those dusty loyalty programs to which you belong such as grocery stores, pet stores, rental cars. Remember that hotel loyalty program you signed up for in the lobby last year as your husband dragged in the luggage? You might have a free night waiting for you.

Insurance reimbursements

As with those tax-free accounts, be sure to submit insurance forms for yourself and family on time, and keep track electronically. Many health care companies now accept claims completely online. Next, ensure your reimbursement is correct; doctors’ networks and insurance allowances change frequently, especially for out-of-network care.

Pretax employee benefit programs

If you’ve signed up for workplace pretax health or transit savings programs, be sure to keep your reimbursement receipts straight. Search your desk drawers for outstanding paperwork, and sign up for the programs’ online accounts to more easily ensure you’re getting your money back. And be sure to act within the program’s time window to avoid losing your investment.

To earn money you must work

If all the above suggestions seem like a lot of work to make small amounts of money, think about the people who work at minimum hourly rates. The work involved in checking out these tips may pay much more!

Tags: Easy money, Found money, Money, Spare cash
Posted in Business, Economy, Employment, Finance, Money, Personal / Internet | No Comments »

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