Comments on: Oops…. http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/ A rich life without a lot of money Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:10:11 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: FrugalBabe http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24385 FrugalBabe Sun, 24 Aug 2008 07:14:36 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24385 MITBeta - sadly, we bank with Wells Fargo, and online billpay is only free for three months. I know we could switch banks, but I'm just not motivated to go through all that. We have our business accounts, personal checking, HELOC, and credit card with them, and I do pretty much all of our transactions on their website (that part is all free at least). I've got pretty much everything automated, except the HOA. Anything that can be paid with an automatic bank draft or credit card is set up to do so. I write a check for the mortgage every month, because we increase the amount we pay every month. I pay our credit card online each month. I do still send a quarterly check to our car insurance company, and I write a check for the HOA every month. This is the first time in five years that I've missed an HOA payment, so I doubt it will happen again anytime soon. MITBeta – sadly, we bank with Wells Fargo, and online billpay is only free for three months. I know we could switch banks, but I’m just not motivated to go through all that. We have our business accounts, personal checking, HELOC, and credit card with them, and I do pretty much all of our transactions on their website (that part is all free at least). I’ve got pretty much everything automated, except the HOA. Anything that can be paid with an automatic bank draft or credit card is set up to do so. I write a check for the mortgage every month, because we increase the amount we pay every month. I pay our credit card online each month. I do still send a quarterly check to our car insurance company, and I write a check for the HOA every month. This is the first time in five years that I’ve missed an HOA payment, so I doubt it will happen again anytime soon.

]]> By: MITBeta @ Don't Feed The Alligators http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24375 MITBeta @ Don't Feed The Alligators Sat, 23 Aug 2008 23:38:43 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24375 Can't you use online billpay to set up an automatic payment? Billpay systems try to make payments electronically, but when they can't they just send a check. You can prove this to yourself by sending yourself or someone close to you a small payment. I used to pay my rent this way to a guy who only had one rental apartment (in other words, he wasn't affiliated with Citibank or something like that...). Online billpay is easy (as I'm sure you know), and automatic, so you can't forget -- especially with something for which you don't get statements. Can’t you use online billpay to set up an automatic payment? Billpay systems try to make payments electronically, but when they can’t they just send a check. You can prove this to yourself by sending yourself or someone close to you a small payment. I used to pay my rent this way to a guy who only had one rental apartment (in other words, he wasn’t affiliated with Citibank or something like that…).

Online billpay is easy (as I’m sure you know), and automatic, so you can’t forget — especially with something for which you don’t get statements.

]]> By: Kaye http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24373 Kaye Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:39:08 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24373 CONGRATULATIONS! You have won the Mrs Nespy’s Frugal World Bronze Medal for August 22nd. Go to http://mrsnespy.googlepages.com/grabyourmedalhere to get the code to post your medal if you’d like. Thanks for the great writing! Kaye http://mrsnespysworld.blogspot.com CONGRATULATIONS! You have won the Mrs Nespy’s Frugal World Bronze Medal for August 22nd. Go to http://mrsnespy.googlepages.com/grabyourmedalhere to get the code to post your medal if you’d like. Thanks for the great writing!

Kaye
http://mrsnespysworld.blogspot.com

]]> By: FrugalBabe http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24355 FrugalBabe Sat, 23 Aug 2008 04:56:31 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24355 I paid the HOA dues today, along with the late fee. I am a big fan of asking that fees be waived - every year since we've had our house we've gotten Wells Fargo to waive the $75 annual fee on our HELOC. When we were in debt, I called our credit card companies and got all of them to lower our rates. And when a required purchase didn't post to our Discover bill by the end of the month several years ago, I spent what seemed like forever on the phone with their customer service people, convincing them to reinstate our zero percent rate (which they did). But in this case, I just paid the fee. I know that our HOA is struggling financially. They send out a statement every year, and it was pretty rough last year. They increased the dues by $10/month this year, and we've seen a huge improvement. The HOA has been making everyone (including us!) paint, clean up, and generally spruce up the neighborhood. They've also fixed fences on community property, and put in a lot of effort on the irrigation system. But I know that there's still a budget shortfall, and I know that our $25 will be put to good use. Nobody is making a profit at our HOA - all of the money goes back into maintaining the neighborhood, and that's a cause worth supporting (as opposed to fattening the profit margins at Visa and Wells Fargo, which is not high on my priority list). So while I won't be making a habit out of paying the HOA late, I'm ok with paying the extra $25 that I had to fork over today. I paid the HOA dues today, along with the late fee. I am a big fan of asking that fees be waived – every year since we’ve had our house we’ve gotten Wells Fargo to waive the $75 annual fee on our HELOC. When we were in debt, I called our credit card companies and got all of them to lower our rates. And when a required purchase didn’t post to our Discover bill by the end of the month several years ago, I spent what seemed like forever on the phone with their customer service people, convincing them to reinstate our zero percent rate (which they did).
But in this case, I just paid the fee. I know that our HOA is struggling financially. They send out a statement every year, and it was pretty rough last year. They increased the dues by $10/month this year, and we’ve seen a huge improvement. The HOA has been making everyone (including us!) paint, clean up, and generally spruce up the neighborhood. They’ve also fixed fences on community property, and put in a lot of effort on the irrigation system. But I know that there’s still a budget shortfall, and I know that our $25 will be put to good use. Nobody is making a profit at our HOA – all of the money goes back into maintaining the neighborhood, and that’s a cause worth supporting (as opposed to fattening the profit margins at Visa and Wells Fargo, which is not high on my priority list).
So while I won’t be making a habit out of paying the HOA late, I’m ok with paying the extra $25 that I had to fork over today.

]]> By: Mrs. Accountability http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24345 Mrs. Accountability Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:16:09 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24345 Bummer! I agree with the others to ask if they will waive the fee. It can't hurt to ask. This reminded me to check and see if my bank's BillPay will allow me to set up automated check payments. Bummer! I agree with the others to ask if they will waive the fee. It can’t hurt to ask. This reminded me to check and see if my bank’s BillPay will allow me to set up automated check payments.

]]> By: pidgeon92 http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24331 pidgeon92 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:30:53 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24331 I forgot to set up the online payment for my Discover card which was due a few days ago. I noticed it yesterday, processed the online payment, then called right away. They were kind enough to remove all of the late fees and interest charges. Definitely ask them to waive the late fee. I forgot to set up the online payment for my Discover card which was due a few days ago. I noticed it yesterday, processed the online payment, then called right away. They were kind enough to remove all of the late fees and interest charges.

Definitely ask them to waive the late fee.

]]> By: RetiredAt47 http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24330 RetiredAt47 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:05:17 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24330 I agree with the others about asking for the fee to be waived just once. The worst they can do is say no. I got a new credit card a few years ago and didn't realize that it has a really short payment cycle. I was mad when I was charged a fee, so I called and asked politely for the fee to be waived, and it was. But I do understand how you feel! A few days ago I drove past one of these stupid "Safe Speed" vans and worried that I might have exceeded the speed limit, and could be assessed a $40 fee. I really need to let that go :-) I agree with the others about asking for the fee to be waived just once. The worst they can do is say no. I got a new credit card a few years ago and didn’t realize that it has a really short payment cycle. I was mad when I was charged a fee, so I called and asked politely for the fee to be waived, and it was.

But I do understand how you feel! A few days ago I drove past one of these stupid “Safe Speed” vans and worried that I might have exceeded the speed limit, and could be assessed a $40 fee. I really need to let that go :-)

]]> By: MP http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24326 MP Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:42:04 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24326 Oh Thank You for this post! I got a call yesterday from the mortgage lender of the condo I live in - seems when I was doing "bill pay" on-line at the beginning of the month I forgot to pay the mortgage. (Fortunately, I did remember to pay the mortgage on the rental unit.) I hate having a late fee, but am glad for the reminding phone call. And, of course, it means that I was not in as great a financial position at this point of the month as I thought. Anyway, your posting reminds me that this mistake can happen to anyone. Oh Thank You for this post!

I got a call yesterday from the mortgage lender of the condo I live in – seems when I was doing “bill pay” on-line at the beginning of the month I forgot to pay the mortgage. (Fortunately, I did remember to pay the mortgage on the rental unit.) I hate having a late fee, but am glad for the reminding phone call. And, of course, it means that I was not in as great a financial position at this point of the month as I thought. Anyway, your posting reminds me that this mistake can happen to anyone.

]]> By: Saph @ Walk With Me http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24319 Saph @ Walk With Me Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:44:37 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24319 I know how your feel. We're not out of debt yet but now when something unexpected happens that requires cash to be paid out, I'm upset for maybe a few minutes. Before, I'd panic, cry and wonder how we'll pay our other bills. Now that we have a small emergency fund, I have peace! I know how your feel. We’re not out of debt yet but now when something unexpected happens that requires cash to be paid out, I’m upset for maybe a few minutes. Before, I’d panic, cry and wonder how we’ll pay our other bills. Now that we have a small emergency fund, I have peace!

]]> By: April http://frugalbabe.com/2008/08/22/oops-2/comment-page-1/#comment-24314 April Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:06:47 +0000 http://frugalbabe.com/?p=498#comment-24314 I agree with the last post. I forgot to pay a credit card bill once, and it was a day overdue, but when I called to pay it over the phone, I got them to remove the late charge. They'll do it once a year or so. I have to watch getting obsessed over spending and saving, too. It's important to remember that we're still better off than the majority of people on the planet and sweating the small stuff is just silly. I think to myself that I have my health, my family (and their health), shelter, and food. That usually puts it into perspective for me. I agree with the last post. I forgot to pay a credit card bill once, and it was a day overdue, but when I called to pay it over the phone, I got them to remove the late charge. They’ll do it once a year or so.

I have to watch getting obsessed over spending and saving, too. It’s important to remember that we’re still better off than the majority of people on the planet and sweating the small stuff is just silly. I think to myself that I have my health, my family (and their health), shelter, and food. That usually puts it into perspective for me.

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