Q&A | Online-Only Banking, Snoopy, and Blogging Income
First up: lots of you asked if I could just move the belt loops on the striped Helly Hansen raincoat I bought on eBay.
It is possible to do this, but it would require picking out the stitches on both the upper and lower ends and then resewing the loops on.
Since Helly Hansen stuff is pretty well made, these loops are stitched on very well, with lots of tiny tight stitches.
Also: there are four loops!
So, if I decide to do this, it will require a lot of patient stitch-picking. We shall see if I find the motivation.
I love the idea of high interest bearing online accounts but am concerned about problems due to not being able to walk into a brick and mortar bank building to talk to a real person. Problems can arise in the cyber world and there are always questions that need more than a yes or no answer. I wonder what ideas and experiences fellow readers have had.
A similar question would be - where do you put savings to get the best interest rate?
Keep up the good work, lovely friend!
-Book Club Elaine
Well, I have had an online bank account since September 2001 (I remember this because when 9/11 happened, it paused the process of getting the opening bonus from my new ING Direct bank account).
So, you can imagine that I am quite comfortable with an online bank account. And the online version of banks has gotten significantly better since those early days! There are chat features for customer service in addition to phone lines, there are apps, you can access in-real-life fee-free ATMs that connect to your account, and so on.
To ease the adjustment to online, here's what I'd recommend: keep your main checking account in a bank that has brick and mortar buildings. But for your online savings account, which you will rarely need to access, try an online high-yield-interest account, such as the one from CIT bank (which is where I have most of my savings parked!)
You will just virtually connect your checking account to the CIT bank account, and you can easily transfer money that way.
Your customer service needs for a savings account will be few and far between, so this should be an un-scary way to try an online-only bank. And then you can reap the very happy rewards of a higher interest rate!
You didn't ask about this, but I know sometimes people feel concerned that they are incurring some sort of security risk by having accounts online, but I do not see this as a concern. Why?
Because if you have an account at a real-life bank near you, they most certainly have your account information stored online, even if you never access it online! So, you cannot completely avoid online vulnerability unless you keep your money under your mattress. 😉
Note from CIT: For a complete list of account details and fees, see our Personal Account disclosures.
Hi Kristen: I enjoy your blog posts and reading about your resourcefulness. I have noticed you have some Snoopy things around your home and guess you are a fan? (I grew up in the 60s and we were Peanuts fans.)
-AF
Yes! I did always read the Peanuts strip in the daily newspaper when I was a kid, but mainly I love Snoopy because he is just so cute.
And I love his sweet relationship with Woodstock, who is also seriously cute.
Hopefully Chiquita and Shelley aren't offended by the fact that I love a cartoon dog vs. a cat (I'm sorry, but Snoopy is a million times cuter than Garfield!)
In real life, though, I vastly prefer cats to dogs. 😉
I've been a reader (and enjoyer!) of your blog for many years now, and one thing I really love about it is the way your voice comes through in such an open and honest way, and you tell stories of your life. So many of the blogs I used to love have ended, or have become what feels like simply clearinghouses for obvious affiliate links and sponsored content.
That's why I feel silly for asking this question! I promise I've been paying attention, and I know you've spoken with detail about how you grew your blog and community over years and now it provides your income. What I would like to know is: exactly how? I don't see big ads, your affiliate links are so subtle, what am I missing? I'm asking you instead of googling because what I really want to understand is how you've managed to find such a lovely balance of earning money and keeping things personal and real. (I don't mean dollar amounts; I mean more like strategies.)
Thanks for considering my question, and thanks for your writing!-April
Aww, thank you for the sweet compliments; I am so happy to hear that my blog has kept you interested and entertained for so long. Yay!
Most of the money I make comes from the display ads provided by Mediavine, my ad company. They handle 100% of the ad-related work, and they take a cut of the earnings as their pay.
You do have to build up a pretty significant amount of traffic before Mediavine will accept you for their program, so you can't just start a blog and then apply the next day. Which honestly makes sense because if you don't have a bunch of traffic, you wouldn't earn a bunch of money from Mediavine's ads anyway!
I know that I could make more money if I did more sponsored posts/affiliate links/content-meant-to-sell-stuff, but honestly, that would make me start to hate blogging. I have managed to keep blogging for a terrifically long time largely because I have always kept it fun for myself.
Most of the time, blogging doesn't feel like hard work! But if I expanded my blog into more of a money-making machine, I probably would start to hate it.
Also: I make enough to pay my bills (especially now that I'm not paying legal fees. Ha.) and I am content with that.
I have never been particularly strategic and business-minded with my blog, so sometimes I feel a little bit surprised that so many people come to read what I write.
And when people ask me for blogging advice, I am a little unsure what to say! I just show up here, write in a chatty way about my life and about my money-saving activities, and people keep coming back to read.
I am endlessly grateful and sometimes I really have to pinch myself. How many people over the course of history have wanted to support themselves by writing?? And here I am, doing it, almost by accident.
Got input on any of these topics? Talk to me!
(I'm especially hoping that if you have experience with online-only banking, you can share your experience to help Elaine feel more comfortable with the idea.)
That was an astute question regarding the ads and how they benefit you.
On-line banking: My checking and savings account are in a brick and mortar bank in our community which of course is owned by a bigger entity.
(I also have a savings account in the small hometown where I grew up and had my first account. This account was actually my Dad's which I was able to keep upon his death and I did not have the heart to close it. Besides that the account number is only one my Dad would have chosen or been given and it is a hoot. It is also easier to transfer money to my brother's account if necessary as we still know the tellers and his account is in the same bank.)
My bank just changed it's online system and I feel safer than ever. There is now a two step safety where a code is sent to my phone after I submit my user name and password if I want to check my account balances.
We have had money in savings, and recently CDs, at Discover Bank. We also have money in Ally, in savings accounts and CDs. We have never taken money from the accounts but it should not be difficult. I have our Ally accounts linked to our credit union account. I use the credit union account for checking/online bill pay. I also keep a bit of savings there but the interest rate difference is so extreme that I don't like to keep much there. I see CIT is paying a higher rate than our online banks. I will have to think about changing to them.
I saw a bunch of Peanuts tee-shirts and sweatshirts yesterday when we were in a gift shop. I think Snoopy and Woodstock are adorable.
Re: The belt loops. Sometimes when you pick out those tiny stitches that are close together, it leaves an unsightly blemish/micro-hole(?). I did that once with a tag on a cotton bag, and then I had to create a pretty patch to cover it up. So that's something to consider.
@Jody S.,
I hope you are well. I haven’t seen comments from you in a long time.
I emailed Jody to check on her a little while back, and she said she is just so busy with real life, she's had to cut back on her online time!
@Jody S., I've wondered and worried a little bit about you! I even emailed Kristen awhile back to see if you were okay. She said you were just focusing on real life, very busy. Good to know!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, Don't worry. I am fine. I just found that I liked reading ALL the comments so much...but I am trying to focus on the things (and people) I need to take care of (like teaching my children). I read once in a while and plan to comment rarely. Truth? It feels nice to be missed, and I do miss keeping up with everybody.
@Jody S., Chiming in to say I missed you too!
We've had all of our main bank accounts (checking, savings, and money market) in an online bank (Capital One) for close to 15 years, and we have been very satisfied. On the rare occasions that I need to withdrawal cash, I can do it at a chain of ATMs located inside of CVS stores. (I also have a Target debit card if I need cash back.) I also have the option of making cash deposits at CVS stores (with a daily cap), which came in handy when we sold a car and received cash for it. I don't ever remember needing to speak to a customer service representative, so I'm not sure how that would work.
I often see people tie the ties in back of coats—-especially rain coats. A loose knot…stylish…and it allows you to wear it. Try it!
@JDS, I have the opposite issue of Kristen -- I am short-waisted and coat ties hit me too low -- so I always knot the ties in the back of the coat. It works and it looks cute. Win win!
@JDS, That's a great idea!!
Some coats have two sets of loops. I wonder if you could just sew a new set right below them…
We were watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving yesterday and my 8yo son commented on how Snoopy was kind of like a person, kind of like DogMan. It made me wonder if the Peanuts comics helped inspire the DogMan graphic novels. Everyone used to read Peanuts, right??? It was also fun to explain to our kids the history of comics (or "the funnies") in newspapers.
Elaine, we use online savings accounts for things like the money we've got socked away for our kids' tuition or our next vehicle. Stuff we don't need to access often. We've used these accounts for well over 10 years.
@Ruth T,
My World Lit professor in college said the reason we love Snoopy, Garfield or the Norse and Greek/Roman mythology characters is because they are so much like us -- they have human personalities we can relate to/identify with/enjoy.
I wanted to find out about your blogging too. So many "make extra money on the side" articles say to start blogging. Well I guess it is harder than it seems! I don't have a ton of people that would want to read what I have to say and I would not be able to find a topic that would interest everyone that's for sure!
As for the internet banking, we use it for our emergency fund. This way, out of sight, out of mind. I have automatic deductions transferred to that account, so I don't have to touch anything and it grows. With the amount of interest we have earned this year, it's like we have an extra deposit made. And yes, it is linked to our regular brick and mortar checking and savings accounts, so in an emergency, we can take some of it out.
As for the sewing, that will take a lot of patience, which, if I really wanted the jacket I would do it. But I would have to really, really, really want it.
For 25 years, my primary checking and savings accounts have been with USAA Federal Savings Bank. Although this bank has a few brick and mortar locations at military bases across the country, customers like me bank nearly exclusively online.
I have an app on my phone and iPad. I pay bills, transfer money, and make deposits without ever leaving my desk. Best of all, I have never paid for checks or paid account maintenance fees. I can also use any ATM any where free of charge. When I have had a problem or need help with something that I can’t do online, I have found that they have excellent customer service. They also have excellent fraud prevention and security protocols.
In full transparency, I do have a local bank account. One of the large banks bought our mortgage years ago and gave us a free savings account. At the time, they had an antiquated system and my online payment could only be done from an account at their institution. I have kept this account to hide money from myself. Since I don’t look at the account at this bank often, I forget the money there. It’s also nice to be able to see a teller to deposit cash.
On another note, thank you for keeping your blog such a welcoming place. I have read many frugality and money blogs over the years, but yours is the only one I still read on a regular basis. Some have become political. Some are filled with ads and promotions. Some lost their focus. I’m glad that this wonderful place in cyberspace has sustained you.
@Bee, I will second USAA. They are a great bank to work with online; they are normally ahead of the curve on all the remote banking technology because of the dispersed military community that they serve, but they still have good customer service when you need to call. Kristen's recommendation for a local checking account and an online savings account is also a good one; I keep a small amount of money in a checking account at a local bank as well.
I have a CIT account I opened from Kristen's recommendation, and I use it exactly as she says. It's linked to our checking account, so I can transfer money easily. We actually have two checking accounts, due to one being necessary for a link to my husband's business account in another state and one a local bank that has a location ten miles from us (it's open one day a week, for five hours, ha) so we can more-easily withdraw large amounts of cash for things like buying firewood. Also for depositing physical checks, which, yes, we still get for various things. We tried the e-deposit things with the phone and hated it, so we do still want to have an actual location to go to for that. I hope that one bank never closes, because the next closest is 60 miles away.
My theory in blogging was that readers either loved to imagine themselves as you (or me 🙂 or were reading because they were glad they weren't you (or me). In your case, however, I think your readers imagine they could be friends with you in real life. And that is a very special position to occupy online. It's why you've been successful, not despite yourself, but because you ARE yourself. Yay, you!
That is such an interesting thought...that people enjoy blogs about people whose lives are wildly different than their own (looking at you over there cooking your bull meat. Ha.) or someone who they might be friends with in real life (me).
I personally will never be in possession of a freezer full of bull meat, but it's fun to read about your adventures in cooking unusual foods!
@kristin @ going country,
Same, I am grateful that Kristen mentioned CIT bank because I parked a decent chunk of savings in there and am very pleased with the returns!
Interesting thoughts about bloggers! I agree that many of us feel like Kristen IS a friend, whether we have met her or even corresponded with her or not! I've peeked at your blog too, Kristin, and also find it really engaging! I love how you're down-to-earth and a problem-solver You definitely lead an interesting life that is different from many of us. I hope your 5 hour a week bank stays open!!
I also prefer Snoopy over Garfield despite being a cat person! I inherited my parents' collection of Peanuts books as a kid and they're still funny now.
The comment about keeping money under the mattress reminds me of a scene from the TV show New Girl where a character distrusts banks so keeps all his money in a shoebox lol. The main character has to walk him to a bank and get him to open an account! On a serious note, I do like having a brick and mortar back up, so to speak, in case there is an issue and the online version isn't working. But I would consider having a separate savings account with an online bank.
I'm a big Peanuts fan and as a kid, owned a personality-filled beagle, so Snoopy is a huge favorite of mine. In 5th or 6th grade, when we used to make St. Valentine's Day boxes for our cards and everyone gave everyone else a card, I made one that was Snoopy painting his dog house red.
I have a checking and savings account in a local credit union, where I can go to roll my coin for free, get things notarized, personally drop off important papers like a death certificate, that sort of thing. Since I will get mixed up and accidentally spend money I meant to save for a future expense, (I am notorious for that!) I also opened two on-line accounts (and earned bonuses for doing so) and use them for periodic expenses, such as insurance payments and property taxes. I divide those expenses by 12 and make monthly deposits so the money is there when I need it. I also have an auto-transfer of a small amount each week from my credit union to those accounts, just to have some extra cushion in them. I pay my bills through Billpay at my credit union. All of my online and brick and mortar accounts have people who will answer the phone and I've had no problems with them, but I still like to be able to walk in and do something or ask a question face to face. It's nice to walk in and see a person smile and say "Hello, Miss JD!" (It's a small town in the south. Miss FirstName is customary and considered respectful)
Snoopy fans should visit the Charles M Schultz Museum in Santa Rosa, CA. It was nice to see how Snoopy developed and the impact Peanuts has had.
We have had online bank accounts for a couple of decades, in a few institutions. The interest rates make it worthwhile.
Yes! Love the interest rates, especially right now. And for money you rarely need to access, the online-only style is seriously no big deal.
@DCO,
You beat me to it! I heartily agree. It's been a few years since I've been there. A group I belong to is planning a trip there next May and I'm really looking forward to it.
(Context: I'm in Canada) We use a regular bank for most things, but we do invest through an online-only financial institution. It saves us a lot of money to use Questtrade over buyings stocks/bonds through the bank, because the fees are so much lower.
I guess I share Kristen's perspective--just because a bank has an in-person branch doesn't mean it's solvent! In-person banks don't have actual gold backing up every dollar--those days are past. So as long as a financial institution has the appropriate licenses to operate, I don't worry about it. And customer service seems to be equally terrible everywhere (lol)
Soo delighted to know that I, as a tiny part of this great Commentariat, helped you at such an important time of your life. It is like how I love to support the many small businesses in our town but a hundred times better. And we get such a return! A lovely community monitored and fostered by a natural-born writer with useful stuff to say.
I always though that we get the better end of the deal so it’s super great to know that we’ve helped in return.
Elaine, we’ve had an online savings for a number of years now, not only with no problems, but also with excellent customer service. Better yet, the helpful people were available at all hours and no driving nor getting out of jammies on our part.
It took my DH a while to convince me to place our second savings in a bricks/mortar into the online he had placed our other one in.
I regret the very large amount of interest we lost by me dragging my heels. We’ve taken money out for large home upgrades, deposit checks every month (annuity) into the online, use ATMs, seamlessly. No driving.
We have a bricks/mortar bank for a checking account, and kept the old savings account there, which earns pennies in interest.
I am so grateful for you and for every other person who reads my blog. You all make this such a fun experience!
One thing to be careful of with online banking is to be sure that it is actually a bank - I’ve been reading articles about Yotta where some people have lost their life savings because it’s not actually a bank.
Ohhh, yes, I will go back and edit my post to include that information. You need to make sure the institution is legit, and is FDIC insured.
Still think you should move the belt loops -- the coat looked very cute on you!
I'm a huge Snoopy (& Peanuts) fan also. Though I do not have any stuffies but do have some merchandise & almost every DVD made. I even found a vintage wooden pull along Snoopy dog last year that is in my cabinet. I grew up with Peanuts, so did my kids & I love that they still have Peanuts & Snoopy on at holidays on TV.
I do online banking, but it is connected to my brick & mortar local Credit Union. I remember when the online banking came out, just before Covid19 & my (now Ex) husband was furious that I had signed up for online banking (but still had in person access). Honestly, my primary concern was being hacked, but it has been such a useful experience & tool to have. I was able to transfer money during Covid19 & banks were closed (we had direct deposit for payroll) & still have somewhat normal regular access to our money. Fast forward & I deposit any paper check for my account through online anytime & is usually available within 1-2 days max. I can pay my banking bills online anytime, transfer money & view statements anytime/any where. Of course, I can communicate with bank during business hours & withdraw cash from many ATM'S for free or small fee & reimbursement for fees. Now you can even apply for mortgage & credit cards online.
I find online banking very useful & time saving, especially since my job (& life sometimes) doesn't allow me to always get to bank/credit union during business hours or in chance case of another reason they would not be open. For my credit union there are higher intrest rates on specific savings or checking accounts online or just normal in person bank accounts.
Do I still have concerns about being hacked? Definitely, but I've come to realize that there is little I could do to change that as online or not online, that will always be a possibility. Luckily there are safeguards in place that help if that ever happens. People have been & will always look for a way to steal your money if they really want your money (in person, online or whatever way they can). Nothing is completely safe. You have to do what you feel is best option for you. 🙂
Another ING customer here (I have stayed with them through several name changes -- they are now Capital One 360.) I love the convenience of having different accounts for different purposes. I opened my original account to park money for those occasional but necessary expenses like car insurance, taxes, etc. Later I opened an account to save for vacation. I had an account to save for a new car. They don't charge any monthly fees to have accounts. I still have a regular checking account at my local bank (they offer free checking since my husband is over 65, and do pay interest on that account.) I have money automatically transferred into the Capital One account every month, so it makes savings painless and when it comes time to pay taxes or insurance I know the money is there. I have never had a problem in probably 20 years with them.
I wouldn't go as far as saying your actual account data is stored online but it is available on-line. As are your medical records and HR information (though not all companies are using off-prem cloud storage).
Congress had a chance to create and enforce guardrails for the internet. A few "influential" (read old and money raising) senators thought the internet was just a phase. I'll have to go back to the main page and check but I've never seen an ad. Perhaps my ad blocker is working quite well?
We've always banked at a local bank. Bank One (now JP Morgan Chase) bought out one of the local banks we used. Customer service stunk and a lot of good staff moved on (or lost their jobs when the buyout was completed). When we were closing the fifth (and last) account there, we were asked if there was an issue?
Just think how much more interest we all would be making if such exorbitant bonuses and salaries didn't exist. Most of us remember the days when standard savings accounts paid 5% interest. Wasn't a big deal to buy CDs if their rates were more than 5%.
it should be thankful thurs. so many chiquita photos. over the years i have had 4 cats and now am on my second dog. i love them all so much. my dad had to get rid of my dog and cat when my stepmother didn't like them. i was away at college. my mom passed and my animals were given away. a very painful time. in the end my stepmother gave my inheritance away.
am a huge fan of snoopy. when you featured snoopy on an ll bean t-shirt i bought one right away. the camo one. big gan of camo. glad your outlook is better now. yay for frugal girl almost rn.
We had online banking then had some fraudulent charges. The bank did nothing about it and didn't cover our loss. Now we have Chase checking and have been happy with their coverage. No more online for us.
I was not comfortable with online banks. But there is no empirical reason. I had a few computer glitches and it freaked me out. I opted for "too big to fail" Chase which isn't a great answer but the best I can come up with right now. I am careful to avoid fees by keeping a CD at the same bank which meets a minimum balance.
I agree with a few others in that picking at those stitches will leave a blemish that may subconsciously keep you from enjoying the otherwise perfect jacket. I really like the suggestion of two sets of loops the second being solid white or blue to draw attention from the other.
RE: On-line banking, I have both an on-line account and a brick and mortar bank account. Personally, I will probably always have both. I thought about moving it all on-line because that account earns more interest but just in case something happens w/ the on-line I still want the other as a backup.
I use credit cards for mostly everything so few transactions come out of either account and both allow mobile deposit so really I am just keeping it for emergencies. It is also good to keep a brick and mortar bank incase I ever need anything notarized.
Thanks to everyone for all the input about online banking. I've previously been averse to this, but I'm now thinking that I may move my emergency fund savings account (which isn't earning zip in interest), my current CD (which isn't earning a great rate) when it matures in May, or both from my local bank into an online account.
@A. Marie, I was you and I’ve regretted the amount we lost with my year of dithering. We actually opened a second one with Amex to have money in two spots but both netting the maximum interest.
A live-chat customer service rep is always available, not just when a bank is "open." We’ve never encountered any problem with either one but sometimes have a question, which is then discussed when accessing the live chat or calling the number.
We’ve withdrawn small and large amounts with no problem. Same with depositing checks.
The accounts are FDIC insured. I don’t need to drive or get dressed to do any kind of banking…..well, except for ATM use ha.
@ErikaJS, Oops, we keep our longtime bricks and mortar bank for a checking account to use to transfer some stuff we’d rather do that way. And it’s savings because why close it.
@ErikaJS, thanks for your additional thoughts about the online banking.
And I meant to add this comment about the last photo of Chiquita (with her paws on the laptop): I think she's considering writing a guest post about being the cat of a frugal human!
She's about to write a treatise on the moral value of serving larger pate portions.
Another Snoopy lover here!! I love all things Peanuts related, I grew up on them.
I started with an online high yield savings back around 2006/2007 with ING Direct - they were all offering big bonuses for getting onboard at that time and had high interest rates - since ING went to the wayside, I have been with Capitol One and I LOVE them. As Kristin stated, you can hook your checking up to it -- its super easy to set up automatic transfers. One thing i really like about Capitol One is you can have as many "sub accounts" as you want, and name them all.......Its basically my "envelope" system - i have money transferred into 5 sub-accounts every pay period. You can also transfer back to your checking just as easily. Makes budgeting so easy for me.
Happy Snoopy who philosophizes and spouts accidental wisdom is much more appealing than Grumpy Garfield who complains and criticizes (this is coming from someone with a latent Cat Disorder).
I left Bank of America many years ago, opting for a local bank based in my county with many available branches, even one in my tiny town. Online banking makes me very nervous—the way that the internet goes down around here would mean I can't access my money. . . nope, not doing that. I find other ways to be frugal than getting higher numbers on a screen (meaning an online account).
@April sure did express her question well. It takes a significant amount of engagement and time online to build a following that can produce an income—Instagram, Etsy, FB all require a large commitment of time to get up and running. A person can't just show up and start selling things; you have to be involved, present, active, and visible for a long time to build a reputation and a following, either for your own sales or for ad companies to be interested.
The ads on Kristen's site are a little annoying—something is always flashing or moving or changing. Those ads are only a little annoying, and it is worth it to keep our online friend and frugal guru present in our lives. I can overlook them for the privilege of reading and participating in what I think is the best blog I've ever followed!
@Central Calif. Artist Jana, I agree that it is hard work plus you need to post every day, five days a week, to keep readers and advertisers onboard, I would imagine.
And to find topics of interest every day. Kristen also adds art-quality images so there’s even more time commitment. It feels good to know that she gets a lot in return.
The consistency is very important for building a following. It doesn't have to be every day, but if you're gonna post once a week, readers like to know you'll faithfully be there once a week.
And for a while at the beginning of any such venture, you are not going to be making much money at all. So if you are not having fun, it's hard to hang in there.
I am still having fun though, even 16 years into this life.
So glad you are continuing to blog. One of my frugal bloggers has mostly quit, hasn't been active for months at a time, and I miss reading about her adventures. Getting to check in with you and all the Commentariat folks is a distraction from some of the sadder things in my life.
This afternoon, I am having to take my dog to the vet for the very last time. I will come home alone to a very empty house. Her health condition -- cancer tumors, deaf, mostly blind, back legs giving out on her, difficult for her to eat, etc. -- has deteriorated to the point that her daily life is just pathetic. She's been with me 14+ years and was about 1 1/2 to 2 years old (we think) when she first arrived; I got her free off Craigslist (how frugal is that?!) So she's probably 15 or 16 years old, which is ancient for a German shepherd. (Part German shepherd, part teddy bear and part angel, best I can tell. She'll be a FT angel after today.) I feel like the meanest person on the planet having to do this.
Anyway, with more changes to come in future weeks, I am glad to have this little bit of community in my life. It helps to know there are others out there who are also trying to frugally navigate in this crazy world.
I was thinking about you this morning and wondering how things were going with your pup. Sending you love and support.
And just to reassure you again: you are not, in fact, mean for this. You are kind and unselfish. Hugs!
@Fru-gal Lisa, you are kind to do this for her. it is very hard. one of my neighbors in nyc had the vet come to her. my vet in brooklyn came to my apt to put down my cat but then she rallied and lasted another 10 years. i am so sorry that is not to be for your beloved pet. sending you a ton of love, prayers and hugs.
@Fru-gal Lisa, sending you love and peace across the miles on this difficult day.❤️
@Anita Isaac and Kristen,
Thank you.
Right now, it's lunch time and I microwaved an Aldi calzone, which has been my fur-baby's favorite food to "mooch." I gave her some, and she just sniffed and walked away. I gave her a smaller bite and she's walking around with it in her mouth. She has refused a 2nd bowl of milk this morning and two dishes of canned dog food over the last 2 nights, so when she doesn't eat, then it's time.
Thank you again for the hugs and good words.
@Fru-gal Lisa, I add my sympathy and love to everyone else's. Please take comfort in knowing you gave her the best possible life.
And, no, you are not "the meanest person on the planet" for choosing mercy. To be completely frank, I'd have done it to spare DH if it hadn't meant I'd have to spend the rest of my life in a women's prison Downstate.
Fru-gal Lisa, Big hugs to you. Been there so I know how hard this is.
@Fru-gal Lisa, Such a tough decision. Sending you (((((hugs)))))
@Fru-gal Lisa, that's how we knew it was time with our first dog, not eating.
@A. Marie, right there with on that realistic line of thinking. I'd have done it for my mom in a heart beat if I could have been better prepared (to not being charged or even a suspect).
As a military family, we’ve been able to use USAA for our online banking for years. It makes it so much easier when you move. It was especially good for us when we were in two different states for an extended period of time. A local bank in either place would have been a nightmare. They have great customer service both by phone and via chat. Their app is also great! Those are the things I would check out. How can you access their services and what do they offer in terms of customer support?
Very interesting to hear your thoughts about keeping blogging fun and making money from blogging.
I'm glad that you are keeping it fun because I quite enjoy your blog.
Our bank, USAA, has never had physical a presence. When we started with them, maybe 50 years ago?, it was all bank by mail. Being able to do it all online now is wonderful! We got a check in the mail yesterday. We simply photograph it and email the photo to our bank and they deposit the funds in our account. We have checking, savings, and retirement fund accounts with them. It is SO easy to move money from one to another. Our daughter also banks with them and we can electronically transfer money from our account to hers. When we bought our newest car, we simply did a wire transfer directly from our bank to the car dealer's bank. We can use any ATM, anywhere in the world, and they cover any fees. That was helpful back when we were world travelers. Please, don't be afraid of online banking.
@Linda - I totally agree about USAA! I haven't been inside an actual bank since maybe college, and that was in the 90s. We've also used ATMs in many countries, including regularly using when I lived in the country of Georgia for a year (and they reimburse for any ATM fees). I've never missed having access to a physical location.
The easiest thing to remember for online banking is if you receive direct deposit today, you're doing online banking. It's very secure. Just my $0.02.
I am a die-hard Peanuts fan. In elementary school, I invented “The Charlie Brown Club” which consisted of two members ( me included). We called the meeting to order, read the latest Peanuts strip, then ate cookies.
I also, in 5th grade or so, wrote to Charles Schulz and asked for a drawing. HE SENT ME ONE , AUTOGRAPHED! I could cry that I no longer have it.
Every year I host “Snoopy Thanksgiving Lunch” for my 6 grandkids. I serve popcorn, pretzels, toast and jellybeans (Snoopy’s menu). I also make turkey sandwiches to round it out a little. We watch the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving movie and play Snoopy bingo for prizes.
The kids are older now ( youngest almost 9)but they still participate happily ( they will if I have to tie them to their chairs! Lol)
@SandyH, Brilliant! That sounds like so much fun. Our plans have gone back and forth so much this week that I just told my family that this might be the year for us to go Snoopy... (and any complainers get the trick chair that fights back : )
@SandyH, how sad that you don't have it. i feel for you. i had a signed autograph of my favorite actor Van Johnson that he sent when I was in high school. i don't know how i lost it and i try not to think about it. it said "to anita stern g-d bless you. that was my maiden name. and he didn't use the dash but that is what we jews do.
I have two scrub tops featuring Snoopy and friends and every time a CHILD recognizes him, I am floored. I mean, I am a child of the 60's, after all. Snoopy will never go out of style. (:
Snoopy is iconic! A kid at my pediatrics rotation noticed him on my backpack last week. 🙂
We bank with USAA which is online. I have learned over the years to keep a local bank with just a little money in it. This is helpful if you need cashiers checks or maybe a $50 bill for a gift or whatever. There just seems to be once or twice a year that I wish I had a bank...so now I keep one locally. I can transfer funds into it if I need something local, but I prefer most of our money to be at USAA.
Our Vanguard account recently offered a 4% short term savings account. The % varies month to month, but I liked the idea of not having to start another account with yet another bank to get a good rate. My son uses SoFi and has been happy there. I think he gets just over 4%, so slightly better.
I would not pick those stitches out. I think they would leave a mark with that many stitches on that material. Also, I thought it sat high on the first girl that wore it in the pictures from her "Meet the Reader". Maybe it just sits that way? It is an adorable coat. I thought it looked great on you both, but if you don't like the higher waist...I would return it (maybe not if it was just a few dollars and no loss if the stitches left a mark, but it seemed like I remember it being more than $30...I wouldn't take the chance).
In case this is helpful to Elaine or others… for years, I hesitated to move money into an online high yield savings account. Over time, I realized my reservations were not about the brick and mortar aspect, even though that was the reason I always gave. It was actually my worry about not having all money instantly accessible for an emergency. I did not grow up well off, and having everything easily accessible in our online checking and (wee interest) savings accounts was comforting for me.
Eventually, my husband and I had a good money talk and we figured out what was reasonable to keep in checking and what felt comfortable (for me) to “tuck away” in a high yield savings account. That was such a helpful first step! Now that I’ve seen how easy it is to transfer money between accounts, we’ve actually increased what’s in our high yield savings account. Seeing the interest payments roll in has been a great incentive, too. But we never go below a pre-determined amount in checking.
This is just my own experience. But I am sharing in case anyone else might have childhood/emotional reasons like this lurking in their money decisions!
I'm a newer reader of your and have to say I find your content and style of writing so refreshing. It reminds me of the golden days of blogging, when people did it to actually share things and connect with others of similar mind rather than trying to simply sell to you. I have no qualms with affiliate links and people genuinely sharing things they like using that have solved problems for them - whether that be apps, products, etc. but that it's overwhelming that that is all you get now at every turn.
I recently started a blog myself (middleclassfire.com) because I am turning up the dials on pursuing financial independence and am hoping to build up a community of middle class earners who are trying to do the same. I see a very big gap in the FIRE community discussions -- there's just not a lot of representation of people (or chatter from these people) making regular amounts of money. With more and more people choosing to leave social media as well, I am hopeful that a return to the more wholesome version of the internet & blogs is coming! All fingers crossed :-D.