Monday, September 24, 2007
Speaking of Rip-Offs (Atlanta Edition)
I have to use a company called Infinite Energy for my natural gas service. My bill this month included $7.15 in actual energy costs (amount used), a $5.95 "customer service charge" and a $15.95 "base charge," which is apparently charged by the Atlanta Gas Light Company, which actually sells the gas but not directly.
So, for my $7.15 worth of energy used, I'm paying $21.90 in fees. That's more than THREE TIMES my use cost. No wonder energy company stocks are so safe!
So, for my $7.15 worth of energy used, I'm paying $21.90 in fees. That's more than THREE TIMES my use cost. No wonder energy company stocks are so safe!
Labels: annoyance, Atlanta, bills, energy, finances, gas, irritations, rip-offs
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Malfunctions
Has anyone else noticed that half of the internet is down this afternoon? I can't get to Yahoo, Flickr, Myspace, Facebook, or even Wonkette, thus cutting off much of my ability to procrastinate. Or email people to scheme entertainment options. WTF? It's been like this a few hours, I would've thought something might have popped up on Slashdot by now. Hmph.
Also, I'm going to Chicago this weekend for a very good friend's wedding. The first in a flurry of the damn things this year. "Damn things" only because how is it possible that nearly all of my high school friends are getting married? Scary. The point is that when I reserved my hotel via Orbitz, and they also sold me a shuttle service to and from the airport, at a pretty good price.
The thing is, that when I called the service today to confirm, they told me that they don't serve the South side of Chicago. So I had to spend half an hour on the phone explaining this to Orbitz to get it refunded ("Brian" was very friendly and helpful, even if he had a thick accent and was clearly on a very crappy cell phone). So yeah - caveat emptor, etc.
Labels: annoyance, caveat emptor, internet, malfunction, Orbitz, refund
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Accounting
At the beginning of last year, I signed up for a frequent-flyer-gathering credit card from my bank, because I figure I might someday have time to travel, and miles could come in handy! So I got this fancy new bit of budgetary overindulgence, and have been using it (mostly) responsibly ever since.
Today I learned of a feature that this card, unlike my others, provides: a year-end account summary. Which is good, I guess, if only because it means I can put all the monthlies in cold storage and have this as an easier reference, should the need arise. The downside? The summary includes tabulations by type of purchase.
Health care: 6% (this is mostly paid by cheques to my insurance company)
Services (i.e., haircuts and Comcast...an odd pairing): 8%
Merchandise (includes groceries, clothes, books, and shoes): 31%
Restaurants (and bars): 41% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am well aware that I would be less broke if I cooked more, and drank less. I just really don't like being reminded. I also am reminded how annoyed I am that my school does not accept credit cards for tuition payment - that would allow me to go on a really fantastic post-graduation holiday extravaganza!
Today I learned of a feature that this card, unlike my others, provides: a year-end account summary. Which is good, I guess, if only because it means I can put all the monthlies in cold storage and have this as an easier reference, should the need arise. The downside? The summary includes tabulations by type of purchase.
Health care: 6% (this is mostly paid by cheques to my insurance company)
Services (i.e., haircuts and Comcast...an odd pairing): 8%
Merchandise (includes groceries, clothes, books, and shoes): 31%
Restaurants (and bars): 41% !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am well aware that I would be less broke if I cooked more, and drank less. I just really don't like being reminded. I also am reminded how annoyed I am that my school does not accept credit cards for tuition payment - that would allow me to go on a really fantastic post-graduation holiday extravaganza!
Labels: annoyance, budgeting, credit cards, gluttony, introspection, money, poverty., tragic
