Bank Fees for Using Your Own Money?

Cory has been putting most of his paychecks into savings this summer.  Sure, he's spent a bit of his money too, but he's been trying to put most of it into his savings account so he wouldn't be tempted to spend it.  When he wanted to buy something or go do something, he'd move money into his checking account so he'd have enough.  It just makes him think a little harder about what he's spending and what he's spending it on.  He can manage his accounts online like at www.aurorabankfsb.com, or even on his phone, so he always has access.

Then yesterday he suddenly got charged a $12 fee for going over the 'Savings Withdrawal Limit' - a limit he didn't know he had, and a fee he didn't know about.  Needless to say, he was a bit upset.  I got home at the end of the day yesterday to find two messages from him on the answering machine about it.  He has his account information texted to him every morning so he can keep track of his balances and avoid overdraft fees, and he checked the text while at work.  I checked the bank statements after I got his messages, and the only thing I saw on there about a fee was that the monthly fee was waived because he kept a minimum balance of at least $300.  Where/when did they ever say he could only move money out of his account so many times - and how many times is it? - before they'd help themselves to some of his money.

He's going in to the bank today to talk to somebody and find out what this is about.  Hopefully they can get it straightened out and let him know exactly what he can and cannot do.  When we changed his account from a Student Checking account to a College Checking (and Savings) account last summer, the only thing they mentioned was the $300 minimum balance on the savings.  Beth kind of let her savings account dwindle to nothing once she was out of school and over 18 because she didn't keep enough money in it, and they started charging monthly fees, and she wouldn't do anything about it.  The Student checking and savings accounts had no minimum balance requirements because they were tied to our accounts, a good way for young people without a lot of money to get started with bank accounts.

Instead of just closing Cory's account, because he didn't have any money to put into it, I transferred the minimum $300 into it and let it sit - until this summer when he started to add to it and use it.  So we've avoided fees until they suddenly sprung this one on us.  It has me wondering what other fees we're going to have to watch out for.  I've been reading that banks are testing monthly fees for debit card use, which would be another fee that would eat into Cory's hard-earned money.  He uses his debit card all the time.  I think we're all just going to have to get a bit more creative about how we manage our money.  I'm not sure taking it all out of the bank and storing it in a shoe box is the answer, but there has to be a way to keep the banks from grabbing more than their fair share.

Related articles

• Bucks Blog: Banks Test Monthly Fees for Debit Cards (bucks.blogs.nytimes.com)
• 10 Ways To Avoid Overdraft Fees (theindustrycosign.wordpress.com)
• Bank accounts: Get a fair shake, not a shake-down (money.cnn.com)

Tuesday Tidbits

Image via Wikipedia

Another Tuesday almost gone.  I keep meaning to do these posts earlier in the day, but today I really had an excuse - I was gone all day.  I went with Beth and the kids to Old World Wisconsin again.  We had fun walking around - it is definitely good exercise pushing those strollers up the hills!  This time we rode the tram for a while, but it's almost more trouble than it's worth to unload everyone and everything from the strollers so they can be folded and stashed in the front of the tram.  The kids got to pet some horses, and see some chickens, pigs, sheep, and a calf, so that was fun.  (We did not see the oxen pictured here.  That was a picture I took on another visit.)

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After we left OWW, I went with Beth back to the house where she works, and while she got the kids down for naps, I took her vehicle and went and picked up my new glasses (the expensive ones).  I like the way they look, but I think it's going to take me a while to learn how to look out of them.  She said it would take a while to get used to them, so we'll see.  And, because I went to the fancy in-plan optical shop, besides the glasses I also got a fancy gift bag that contained, get this - a bottle of cleaner, a cleaning cloth, and a miniature candy bar.  Yep, definitely worth the extra money!  NOT.  Also, we just picked up Jeffrey's new glasses at Walmart Friday evening, and they were much more thorough there making sure his glasses fit right and the bifocals were right than the place where I got mine.  Makes me wonder what I was paying for...

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Anyway, after picking up the glasses I also stopped at Walgreens and Aldi and grabbed some stuff and then went back to get Beth and Jason.  I finally got to meet the people she works for.  She talks about them all the time, and they're really nice people.  They really appreciate the way Beth takes care of their kids and seem to like her quite a bit.  So it was after 5:00 when we left there, almost 6:00 when I got home and in the house and started putting stuff away.  And then I had to figure out what to have for dinner.  By the time dinner was over - mostly leftovers I pulled out of the fridge - I decided to skip washing the dishes.  I can certainly see how nothing would ever get done if I was gone on a regular basis.  How do people do it?  There's enough stuff I'd like to get done but can never seem to get to as it is.

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But for now?  I'm thinking the only thing I'm getting to is bed.  I can wash dishes tomorrow.  And fold towels.  And pick beans. And...  I need to vacuum, clean bathrooms, catch up on receipts, write some posts, etc., etc., etc.

Study on Your Own Time with Online Courses

Beth called me yesterday and asked me to go to Old World Wisconsin with her and the kids again.  The little boy she watches is starting school on Thursday, and she wanted to do something special with the kids before that.  Once he starts going to school every day, they won't really have time to go and do anything.  She'll be taking him to school, taking care of the other two, picking him up from school, naps, snacks, lunch, etc. - no time to get out of the house and do something.

She mentioned that things have been going really well, and all three kids usually nap at the same time, giving her some time to herself every day.  So maybe once Ben starts school, she can get back to seriously considering signing up for some Online Courses. She can take her computer to work, and work on her classes and assignments when the kids are asleep - take advantage of that time.  Now that she's out on her own, she might even be able to get some financial help when she fills everything out at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. It's certainly worth a try.  She has always put off school because she hates to spend so much money with no guarantees that she'll even find a job or be able to work once she's done. Getting some help paying for her education and being able to work on it while she's working at her present job would be perfect.  At least that's what her father and I think, but Beth will have to decide that for herself.

I wonder if I should look into online degree programs in web designs? Or maybe something else.  There are so many to choose from, not only degrees offered but colleges and universities offering them.  I'm not like Beth who has known for a long time that she'd like to do interior design.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up.  I just know that if I'm going to study something, I'd much rather take online courses than have to attend classes somewhere.  It's cheaper, I could study on my own time, and I wouldn't be limited to classes offered by local colleges.  And I wouldn't have to fit in with all those kids my son's age!

Need Tickets?

Image by bradlby via Flickr

It seems like there's always something going on - concerts, sports events, festivals, etc.  It has me wondering how so many people can afford to go.  How do they justify spending so much on a few hours' entertainment?  The news around here is that the Packers are planning to add on to their stadium (that's what it's called, right? where they play football?).  Anyway, they figure they can pay for it because there is a whole list of people who are just waiting to get season tickets, and they'll have more space so they can sell more of those tickets and make enough money to pay for the expansion.

Not me.  I'm not on the list.  I can't see spending that much money, whether for Packers tickets, Anaheim Ducks Tickets, Chicago Blackhawks Tickets, or any other tickets.  Partly that's because I don't really care about sports much, and mostly because I can't imagine caring that much.  I'm just too cheap.  Occasionally we'll see a basketball game or hockey game, but only when we get really cheap tickets or free tickets.  I have a good time when we go, but I don't get all excited and decide we need to see more games.

For those people who just need to see the games, there are some options that aren't quite so painful.  I checked out acheapseat.com and found some Packers tickets for Thursday night's pre-season game against the Kansas City Chiefs for around $20.  Not that I'd know if they are good (or even remotely decent) seats or not, but they're tickets to the football game, and that's not bad for the experience.  I'm sure there are some decent deals on Boston Bruins Tickets, Calgary Flames Tickets, Buffalo Sabres Tickets,or whatever teams or games are in your area, too.  They also have concert and theater tickets.  See if they have the tickets you need - for the price you'd rather pay.

Related articles

• Packers to add 6,600 seats to stadium (marketwatch.com)

Mat Kearney - Young Love

I have to admit - I'd never heard of Mat Kearney, but when One2One Network offered me a chance to check out his new CD, first I checked him out on Spotify, and then I signed up!  I love checking out new music, and I could tell just by listening to the first few tracks that I was going to like this CD. 

Here's the video from the first song Hey Mama.  Watch it and see if you don't agree.




Young Love is Mat's 3rd album. Released on August 2nd, it debuted on the #1 spot on iTunes Album and Rock charts.  I guess I'm one of the few people who hadn't heard of him!  According to the info given to me by One2One Network:

If you aren't familiar with Mat's music you've probably heard some of his previous hits on your favorite TV shows. Past songs have appeared on 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, Friday Night Lights, Scrubs, NCIS, and numerous other television shows.

So maybe I've heard some of his music and just didn't know it!  After listening to this CD, I'm definitely going to be checking out his other two - and so is my teenage son Cory.  I'm lucky I even got a chance to listen to the CD at all.  The day after I got it, he 'borrowed' it to listen to in the van.  The next day he told me, "That Mat Kearney CD is awesome!"  Sometime in the next day or two I heard him refer to it as his new favorite CD, and he was telling his friends they should listen to it.  I still don't have the actual CD back.  I had to go back to Spotify to listen to the whole thing!  Of course, once I listened to it, I could see why he's not giving it back.  This is definitely something I will be listening to again!  This CD will have you moving your feet (or at least nodding your head) and feeling good.  Yep, I was dancing around the kitchen while I listened!

Here's the track listing for Young Love:

1. Hey Mama
2. Ships In The Night
3. Count On Me
4. Sooner Or Later
5. Chasing The Light
6. Learning To Love Again
7. Down
8. She Got The Honey
9. Young Dumb And In Love
10. Rochester
11. Seventeen (Bonus track from the Mat Kearney iTunes page)

Ships in the Night - love!  Sooner or Later - love!  She Got the Honey - love!  Well, actually, really loved most of them.  The only song I didn't really like was Rochester, which he dedicated to his dad, and I liked that part, but it just wasn't as catchy or memorable as the rest.  I'll have to listen to it again a few times...

Mat will be on tour this Fall beginning in September and playing nearly 40 shows in the US and Canada.  Tickets are on sale now.  Here's the whole list of Mat Kearney shows.  Maybe there's one in your area.  Also, check out Mat on Facebook - I, of course, had to 'Like' him.  If I could have figured out how to embed this Mat Kearney widget, I would have, but I couldn't - so you'll just have to check it out where it is.  It's just kind of fun to play with.

Ok, enough of that.  Go check out the new Mat Kearney CD Young Love and let me know what you think!

Disclosure: I got a free CD from One2One Network.  All opinions are 100% mine (and Cory's)

Try Proactiv Solution for FREE

For a limited time you can try Proactiv Solution for FREE.  Sign up and get the 3-step system for only $19.95 with free shipping, and get $20 credited to your Shop at Home account.  No Shop at Home account?  Sign up for a FREE account, and you'll also get a $5 bonus for making your first purchase.  That means you actually make $5 on this deal!

You also get to choose a free gift with your order and have the option to include a free 30-day supply of Vitaclear vitamins.  There is no commitment and no minimum to buy, but starting 30 days from your order date, you’ll receive a new 90-day supply of  the 3-Step System every 3 months at the guaranteed low price of just $19.95 per month plus $7.99 s&h per shipment, unless you call to cancel.

Proactiv is the #1 acne system in America, and I've been wanting to get this for Cory to try, so I'm not sure if we'll cancel or not.  I guess we'll see how it works.  It's supposed to be really good - and getting to try it for FREE is awesome.

To get in on this deal, simply visit Shop at Home, sign in or create your new account, search for Proactiv, and then click the blue 'Shop Now' to be taken to the Proactiv site.  Shop at Home will track you so they know you are placing the order and you can get the $20 credit.   Choose the 3-step system for $19.95, pick your free gift, check out and pay for your order.  Within a few days, you'll see the $20 credit in your Shop at Home account along with the $5 bonus if you're new.  And then, of course, don't forget to cancel, unless you decide you want to continue receiving Proactiv.

Thanks to Mom and More for the heads up on this one.

Tuesday Tidbits

Another Tuesday come and gone.  Well, almost gone, and I'm just now sitting down to see what kind of random things come out.  Yep, that's how I work. 

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So, this weekend - Saturday we attended a funeral for the mother of one of our long-time friends.  It was nice getting to see some people we don't see regularly and sharing in some memories.  She was quite a lady, and I know the family will miss her.

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Sunday we went to Walmart, and Jeffrey picked out and ordered some glasses.  His total before insurance reimbursement?  Less than my total after insurance.  It's just not fair!  I sent in the reimbursement form today.  They say they cover up to $70 on frames and up to $75 on the lenses, so I'm interested to find out if they actually cover what we paid, or if it's some percentage they have.  Anyone ever used VSP for out-of-network glasses?

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Does anyone else have to fight the urge to correct people on facebook?  Spelling, grammar, use of words, there are so many things that are wrong.  Would it really take that much longer to read comments over before submitting them to make sure there are no mistakes?  Of course, that would mean people actually have to know a mistake when they see one.

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Cory will be going back to college soon.  He and his roommate are planning to move in on the 2nd, and classes start the 6th.  After that I probably won't see him much because he'll be busy with classes and rehearsals, and all that college stuff.  He was going to be home on the weekends so he could work, but he's an understudy for a play, and they have Sunday rehearsals scheduled - so there goes his only day to work, and he has to quit.  His last day is the 5th.  He can go back next summer, but during the school year he'll need something closer that he can schedule around classes and rehearsals.

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Once he's back in school, I'll get my van back.  Not that I really have a need or desire to go anywhere most of the time, but it might be nice to get to the grocery store once in a while.  Eventually.  I've had Jeffrey pick up a few things on his way home from work, and had Cory pick up a few things at work or on his way home, and grabbed a few quick things whenever we happened to be out, and there's really nothing we desperately need.  So it can wait.  Also, I have things that need done around here, and when I'm not home they don't get done.  Sometimes (way too often) they don't get done when I am home, but it's worse when I'm not.

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I think that's it for now.  Enough, anyway.  I'm sure there will be plenty more random things run through my brain as soon as I publish this post.  Oh well!  Join me next week...

On Being Three Months Old

Jason, 3 months old - 8/10/11 (I took the video last week, but just now got it uploaded)




I'm not sure exactly what he's trying to say here, but he's sure cute saying it!  Telling us all about being 3 months old, I guess.  He'd just eaten and had a diaper change, so he was a happy boy.

Also, I think his great grandpa in Missouri will really appreciate this.  He hasn't met Jason yet, and since he's blind, he hasn't been able to see any pictures either - but hearing that precious little voice is something he can do!  And the rest of us can enjoy it, too.  I think it's impossible to watch this video without smiling.  I dare you to try.

Who Even Thinks to Ask This Stuff?

I'm anxiously waiting for the commercials to get over so I can find out which celebrity America trusts the most, and which one is least trusted.  Not exactly.  I'm just wondering who really thinks to ask this stuff?

Most likely advertising agencies, don't you think?  They've got to know the best celebrities to hire for their ads and endorsements.  There's a bunch of money riding on choosing the right celebrity to endorse everything from designer engagement ring settings to bathroom cleaners.  Of course, they need to think a little bit harder about who they choose to actually write their ad campaigns, because some of those commercials are just plain dumb and don't encourage anybody to buy whatever they're hawking. (Think that awful orchestra teacher Target commercial, and, come to think of it, I don't think any of the current back-to-school/teacher commercials Target is airing right now will actually make anyone run out and shop at Target.)

Anyway, the answer is Betty White.  She was chosen the most trusted celebrity, and also the most likely to boost business.  That part clued me in to who was actually asking the question.

Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen both ended up on the least trusted list.  I guess I can agree with that.  Would you really buy anything Charlie Sheen is selling?  But Betty White?  America's buying.

Two Pairs of Mossimo Gauchos for $12 w/ Free Shipping

Today only at Target.com you can get 2 pairs of Mossimo Gauchos for $12 (Buy one/Get one Free) with free shipping.  That's $6 per pair.  There are several colors available.  I got some of these last summer, and I really like them.  They are so comfy, and look really cute with a t-shirt and flip flops.  With a nicer shirt and sandals, they can look quite dressy.

I got black and white last year, wanted brown, but they didn't have it in my size.  So, this time I grabbed a brown pair, and one in gray. To save even more, go through Shop at Home and get 13% cash back.

Hurry, though, because this deal is only for today and only while quantities last.  It looks like some of the sizes in some of the colors are already gone.