I did the unthinkable!  I neglected my checking account.  Just as id always feared, I loosened up a teeny bit and POOF!  OVERDRAFT!  It all began when Phil lost a reciept from walmart and I misplaced that months statement.

A few days later $250.00 in overdrafts.  Bastards.  I understand a fee for having to cover me but isnt it obvious that if someone overdrafts in the first place its bc they lost track?  No one does it on purpose!  And the first fee should be enough and you should be given a phone call and allowed 24-48 hours to correct the problem instead of charging $40.00 for each transaction.  One of those checks was for $7.00! 

Anyway, I took care of it, I took out an advance and got a measly $230.00 pay check.  Thank God Phil had overtime.

I had been meaning to switch my account over to Pinnacle instead of Great Western.  Ive had a grudge against them ever sense they treated me like an outlaw when I applied for my mortgage when id been banking there sense I was 10 years old.  And pinnacle, without knowing anything about me and never setting foot in there building was like "Sure, how much do you need?"....So ive been meaning to switch ever sense then. 

I wanted to wait until I got my name changed so the checks would say Mr and Mrs instead of Christina and Phil.  Luckily just the day before the overdraft fiasco I got my name changed. 

I left $200.00 in the bank to cover anything else that might come in.  And took the rest of our money to pinnacle to open an account.  They are just sooo much more friendly over there.  Im glad I switched. 

I snatched Phil's debit card, he has been banned from using any form of plastic.  He is a teensy bit irrisponsible.  He will deal with cash from now on. 

After paying our mortgage and covering my indescretional overdrafts and paying the rest of our monthly bills we have less than $200.00 for my family to survive on for the next two weeks. 

Phil asked me for money and I handed him $50.00 and told him to be really careful with that its all he gets until next pay day.  He freaked out. 

"Why are we so broke!  I had a shitload of overtime"

"Well, my check was not so good, the bills are paid though, so be happy for that"

"Fuck...super, our bills are paid but what about my truck?  I need new breaks and possible a new radiator"

"How much is that?"

"a lot more than $50.00 more like $120.00"

"Sorry babe, we cant this pay period"

"Well, ill have to take an advance out then cuz if I dont fix my breaks and need new suspension and thats a lot more"

"well, do what you have to do, but remember we have just as much bills next pay period so dont take too much of an advance"

"k....ya know, I hate to bring it up again, but now is not a good time to owe for a $1700.00 computer"

"Yes I know you hate to bring it up, thats why I wonder why you do it so often"

"lol, im sorry"

"Im sorry too, but we need that computer for the business and school"

"ya i know"

"besides the computer itself isnt what was so expensive, it was all the programs and business management things I put on it that is so expensive"

"ya and dont you think the business should pay for that instead of you"

"In a perfect world, but the business cant afford it, I am buying it for the good of the business, its an investment"

"ya ya alright"

Today at lunch we brought left over hamburger helper, he heated it in the microwave and when he pulled it out the bottom of the bag broke and it went all over the floor.  I thougth he was gonna cry he looked so upset knowing we cant afford to waste food or to eat out instead.

My dad saw this unfold and bought us both mcdonald's.  My dad feels partially responsible for our financial crisis.  He was the one that opened up the body shop and invited Phil to join in.  Everyone thought it would be doing better by now.  But despite Phil's expertise, the shop is empty and has absolutly no work.  Its very disapointing.

We cant even sell some of our posessions.  Its rediculous.  Phil has 4 brand new offroading tires.  He started out asking only $400.00 for them.  A week or so went by, no bites.  He started reducing it and reducing it and now he only wants $200.00 for them and still, no one is interested.

Our home came with a washer and dryer that work perfectly, a couple maytag's no older than 7 years.  I already have a washer and dryer and im trying to sell these spares for some extra money.  $550 for both or $300.00 each....No bites...im not going down on that price they are worth atleast that much.

We also returned a stove for a refund and they havnt sent us our refund check yet.  They sent the wrong stove. 

We instead found a free one that Phil fixed at a garage sale, we cant even get the money we are owed.  It rediculous.

Ive been slowly filling the garage with sale items that I think we can live without.  Hopefully we will have a garage sale before it snows.

I have a brand new portable washer and dryer i bought right before we moved and only used 2-3 times for only $500.00 I paid $600.00...no one wants it. The stickers are still on it for crying outloud.

Im thinking of trying to sell our lazyboys my parents gave us.  Its the nicest furniture we own, maybe those would sell. 

Im beginning to think the only way for me to make some extra cash is to sell drugs.  Jesus Christ....Im being sarcastic I would never, but i have thought of it. 

I use to think Nebraska, or atleast my little town would never feel the recession.  I thought we were self contained.  The farmers always generate income and that fuels our economy.  But im wrong.  Im starting to feel it.  My hands are in two businesses, one has been opened and successful for over twenty years.  Then the insurance company's began to get greedy and our profits plumetted when they started naming their own prices demanding sometimes 50.00% off of list price.  Bastards. 

Two very prominate business in my town are for sale...thats scares me.  The video store that has been opened ever sense I was born is for sale.  I asked em about it and they said they just cant compete with Red Box and Netflix...sad...

I cut an add for the body shop today, hoping to spice it up with some good background music instead of the usual elevator crap.  I hope Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody in the back ground of our add I made will bring some people back from the dead.

I was gonna have Michael Jacksons Smooth Criminal but to my shock and amazement my dad didnt want that bc he was worried people would think we support child molestors.  He has a point but that wasnt my thought.  I thought people would be glad that I was paying respects to the greatest pop artist known to man.  Poor Michael Jackson. 

Wow, im all over the place with this post.  Im sorry.  I think ill cut my self off now.