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Why Don't You Want My Money?

One of my projects this year has been to consolidate my savings accounts. I previously had two- one I just kept open with the minimum amount to earn a higher cash back rate on my credit card and my primary one. Recently the extra cash back for the credit card was reduced, so it was time to consolidate.

I did some research via bankrate.com to locate the best paying online accounts. I was amazed at how many places would not accept accounts that are set up as a trust. I've had all my accounts in the name of my trust for 2 years. I've never had a problem. Why don't these people want my money? I truly don't get it.

I finally did have success with Ally Bank. They were happy to take my cash. If you're looking for a new bank, I'd highly recommend them. You can get a live human 24/7 by pressing zero, and every time I've called, I've gotten a native English speaker. Much easier to communicate that way. They also post on their website how long the wait is to speak to a representative. I've never seen it longer than a couple of minutes. They'll also send you an ATM card and free checks for the account if you wish. Overall, I'm very pleased. And no, they aren't paying me to recommend them. Though if they'd like to throw some extra cash my way, I am very open to the idea.

That's Marketing

Perhaps you've seen ads for Trop50 by Tropicana. It's advertised as having "50% less sugar and calories." Want to guess how they do that? It's watered down juice with a few additives. If you don't believe me, check out the ingredient list the next time you are at the grocery. You are paying the same price for a bottle of that's half water as a bottle of 100% juice. Think of the profit margin. I have a feeling Mott's for Tots is a similar product. It brags of having "40% less sugar than apple juice."

Do I blame the companies for trying to put one over on us? Nope, if we are too dumb to read labels or too lazy to dilute our own juice, more power to them. However, if you have a spare 10 seconds in your day, buy real juice and dilute it yourself. It's much cheaper.

An Expensive Lesson

Several weeks ago I noticed that my upstairs neighbor seemed to be home but her car was not, an anomalous situation in our car dependent part of the world. I finally saw her outside and asked her about it. From her expression I could tell there was a story. And quite a story it was.

It seems she got pulled over a couple of blocks from the apartment complex, for reasons she never made clear. During this stop, the officer noted that her tags had been expired for EIGHT months. It seems that when they're this far gone, you don't just get a ticket. You also get your car towed to the impound lot until you make the situation right.

She, of course, got to spend some time and serious cash getting all of this resolved. In addition to the expired tags, she had never transferred the title from the state in which she bought the car. Between doing that, paying her back tags, court costs, towing, & impound charges, she said the situation was going to cost her between $600-$700. An expensive lesson.

Someone asked me if she knew her tags were expired. I'm sure that she did. During this debacle, I noted that one of my coworkers had expired temporary tags on his car. I told him about it and relayed that story of my neighbor. He said he didn't know, thanked me, and said he would get right on it. I saw Friday that he is still driving on expired tags. Looks like someone else might be learning an expensive lesson soon.

Yes, HR May Hate You

Have you ever thought that HR hates you? As Suzanne Lucas writes, you may be onto something.

I asked my coworker to see whose faces popped into her mind as she read the article. Even if you're not in HR, I bet you can put people from your organization with the categories she mentions.

The Shakedown

Recently a group of our employees was presented the company's highest award for their work in planning our company's upcoming facility expansion. This award comes with a rather sizable check. After the ceremony, one of the winners corralled three of the other winners, two of whom are his direct reports. He noted that another key person on the team did not receive the award (she was the nominator). He told them "I'm going to give Jane X of my bonus (half the amount) and I want you to each give her some". One of them came to my coworker unofficially and said "What I am supposed to say? He's my boss". Another went, again unofficially, to my boss. Apparently when the asker approached another awardee, she actually started screaming at him in her displeasure . Eventually, someone who wasn't one of the award winners told the intended target of this beneficence what was going on. She said "I'll take care of it. I don't want their money". And trust me, she meant both statements.

I didn't find out about this until much after it happened. I thought ARE YOU SERIOUS? You have the gall to tell other people what to do with their own money? I was floored that he would even think to do this. This person is a senior member of management and should obviously know better. As my boss said "If you want to give part of your money that's fine". But if it's not your money, it's not your business.

There Are Better Ways To Moonlight

We all know that times are tough. Many people are working more than 1 job to make ends meet. This guy was actually performing two money making activities at once, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Some Things Are Meant To Be

About two months ago my mom lost the diamond from her wedding band set at work. She had been breaking down some cardboard boxes, looked down, saw one of the prongs was broken, and the stone was missing. She looked all over and couldn't find it. She asked the cleaning person to keep an eye out for it that night, but she didn't find it either. My mom decided she didn't want to replace the stone as she doesn't wear the ring that much anymore, so she sold it for the gold. She said it made her kind of sad to know it was going to be melted down after she'd worn it for 36 years.

Low and behold, about a month later my mom walks into her office one morning and sitting on her desk is THE DIAMOND. The cleaning person found it in one of the rooms in her department in a corner on the floor. My mom is going to have it put in some other piece of jewelry.

This is actually the 2nd time she has lost and found the diamond. A couple years ago she lost it while working an event at a golf course. Miraculously she found it then too.

I think my mom said it best in the e-mail she sent out when the diamond was found:

"Amazing, this diamond has had several lives... It was meant for me to keep it"