Bank of America charges the unemployed less than most banks for prepaid benefits cards. (Photo Credit CC BY/MoneyBlogNewz)

Prepaid debit cards can work well as a gift, but monthly maintenance fees, withdrawal and ATM fees can take some of the usefulness out of them. According to the National Consumer Law Center, prepaid cards may not be the best way of distributing benefits to more than 13 million unemployed in the U.S., as is the custom in 40 U.S. states. When already meager benefits are diminished by a bevy of fees, the unemployed are left with very little.

States should work harder for consumers

A major finding in the NCLC report is that the overdraft, ATM and transaction fees prepaid card issuers charge could be lower if states negotiated more aggressively on behalf of their unemployed. The states benefit from lower administration costs by not having to issue unemployment benefits in the form of paper checks, so working harder on behalf of the populace would be fair trade. While most states make it clear up front that the unemployed have the option of direct deposit or a prepaid debit card, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Oregon default to debit card. This is a practice that NCLC managing attorney Lauren Saunders says harms consumers.

“Prepaid card junk fees stack the deck against jobless Americans who need every dollar during a financially stressful time,” she told ConsumerAffairs.com.

Prepaid card fees vary by state

According to Saunders, prepaid fees and practices can vary from state to state, even for cards issued by the same bank. U.S. Bank charges overdraft fees in five states, the highest in Arkansas, where overdrafts cost $20. Most states charge only $1.50. ATM fees are standard in four states, not just for purchases, but merely for checking balance.

Among all state unemployment benefit systems studied by the NCLC report, Arkansas, Idaho, Nebraska, Ohio and Oregon are the worst when it comes to overdraft fees, ranging from $10 to $20 per incident. Not coincidentally, U.S. Bank is the card-issuing bank in all five states. The highest number of individual “junk fees” appear on JP Morgan Chase prepaid cards in Tennessee.

Doing the right thing for the unemployed

Saunders stated that not only does the NCLC report highlight which states need to cut a better deal for unemployment benefits debit cards, it highlights that the need for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is greater than it has ever been. Considering that only California and New Jersey aid their unemployed by keeping prepaid card fees to a bare minimum – both states are served by Bank of America – the Bureau has much work ahead.

Sources

Bankrate.com

ConsumerAffairs.com

GreenDot.com

Navigating the dog days of unemployment can be made easier if you're careful with your unemployment check. (Photo Credit: CC BY-SA/Robin Alexa/A.K.A. Binsk)

The process of pounding the pavement for work can cause perpetual frustration for the unemployed. The sometimes fruitless nature of a job search must not blind consumers to the fact that they’ll have to make that unemployment check stretch. To accomplish this, financially sound decisions are necessary.

Reaching backward for relief

The U.S. job market may be slowly improving, but that doesn’t mean the necessity to live frugally on unemployment benefits has gone out the window. Simply cutting out the Starbucks and buying less at the grocery store won’t do it, advises AOL Jobs. To begin with, personal finance expert Jean Chatzky suggests working backward. Once you’ve locked down the essential, fixed expenses, you can focus on what may have to go.

“I think the easiest way to budget is backward,” she says. “This is where my money is going now and then you can make changes.”

Know your expenses outside fixed costs

Austerity measures must be put to action when you have only an unemployment check to rely upon. This goes beyond savings, reminds Chatzky. It’s about taking an ax to those things that aren’t essential, fixed monthly costs in your budget. Rent, mortgage and car payments are inescapable, and they also don’t change from month to month. If public transportation is an option, however, it would be wise to consider the expense of maintaining a vehicle.

That leaves the non-essentials like cable TV and Internet. If you have 600 channels but feel like there’s nothing on most of the time, consider the TV bill carefully. Similarly, the Internet can be a time-waster, although it can also be an invaluable job search tool. If you must cut that one, consider using the Internet at your public library.

“The people that I’ve seen throughout this recession that have the biggest problems are the ones who continued to live as if there were two salaries coming into the family when there was really only one,” says Chatzky.

More revenue-generating, future-preserving ideas

The unemployed may have to consider some difficult questions in order to remain above water financially. Will you rent out that room above the garage, pull the kids out of private school or sell your prized guitar collection?

Taking money out of a retirement account like a 401(k) is an option some consider, although financial experts advise that the unemployed not touch that money unless it is a dire emergency. That nest egg was built for a reason, and the tax penalties can amount to 30 or 40 cents on the dollar for early withdrawal. In the worst case scenario where debt is absolutely smothering, filing for bankruptcy may be an option, although doing so is not as easy as it was a few years ago. Consult with a credit counselor.

Source

AOL Jobs

North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue on unemployment benefits

The February jobs report indicates that unemployment is starting to consistently decline. Photo Credit: Nightscream/Luigi Novi/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY 3.0

The February jobs report indicates that unemployment has declined slightly since January. The rate of unemployment declined .01 percent to 8.9 percent over February. It is the third month in a row that unemployment has decreased.

Employers adding jobs

The February jobs report was recently released by the Department of Labor, and it showed that the increase in hires during the month of February was a small one, but an increase nonetheless. The unemployment rate decreased by a paltry 0.1 percent, from 9 percent in January to 8.9 percent in February, according to CNN. Employers added 192,000 jobs to the economy, which was a dramatic improvement over January. In January, employers added 63,000 jobs to the overall economy, but January was slower than February as winter weather brought many areas to a near standstill, according to the Los Angeles Times. Besides an increase in hiring once the snow relented, December and January jobs reports were revised by the Labor Department to reflect that 50,000 new hires had gone previously unreported.

Third consecutive month of decreasing unemployment

The unemployment rate has declined for the third month in a row. The rate of unemployment has waxed and waned for the past several years, and there have been declines noted all along the way, but the unemployment rate declined nearly an entire percentage point from December to February, marking significant progress. The number of initial unemployment claims fell to 368,000 recently, marking a three-year low for new filers. More than 9 million people are claiming unemployment benefits, according to Forbes.  The economy is projected by the Federal Reserve to grow between 3.5 and 4 percent during 2011, though rising gas prices are sure to cause some hiccups over the next few months.

Government spending cuts could scuttle recovery

Congressional Republicans are on a mission to drastically cut the federal budget down to size, which some economists believe will negate any progress made toward curbing the high rate of unemployment, according to CBS. Mark Zandi, the chief economist for Moody’s Analytics, predicted that the House Republican plan to cut $61 billion from the federal budget could result in more than 700,000 people losing their jobs. A similar projection was also released by Goldman Sachs, though the objection was raised immediately that Zandi had been one of the most prominent supporters of the various stimulus packages and had claimed that unemployment would stay below 8 percent with stimulus spending.

Sources

CNN

Los Angeles Times

Forbes

CBS

Imports have declined while U.S. exports rose. Jobless claims also declined over the last month. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

The U.S. Labor Department has just announced some good news about employment. Jobless claims have taken a surprise tumble, as employers are indeed hiring. However, the slow pace of hires indicates that job market recovery will be an ongoing process. To sweeten that good news, imports rose slightly, narrowing the trade deficit further. Stock markets got a boost from the news. A double dip recession may in fact be less likely.

Jobless claims drop over August

Jobless claims, or new filings for unemployment benefits, fell over the last month to the lowest level in two months, according to ABC. There were 27,000 fewer claims filed. The number of jobless claims is seasonally adjusted to 451,000 which beat Department of Labor estimate of 470,000. Private employers hired 67,000 more people compared to August. However, overall employment has technically declined over the last few months, according to Bloomberg, because the Census is complete.

Trade deficit narrows

There was also a reduction in the trade deficit, or the gap between the amount of imported goods and exported goods. It seems more people are willing to buy American. The amount of exported goods rose by 1.8 percent, to $153.3 billion. Most of those goods were machine equipment, computers and aircraft. Imports, on the other hand, dipped by 2.1 percent down to $196.1 billion for August after a 3 percent rise in June, for an overall deficit decline of 14 percent. However, the amount of goods imported from the two largest exporters to the U.S., China and Germany, rose in that period.

Good news and Wall Street gets a boost

The good news of more new hires, fewer people taking unemployment and more goods being shipped by American companies led to a slight climb in the stock markets.The boost was not huge; less than 1 percent for all indexes. This kind of economic activity indicates that recovery is actually taking place, but not as fast as some would like.

Sources

ABC

Bloomberg

Senate Democrats mustered the votes to break a Republican filibuster on an unemployment benefits extension. Wikimedia Commons photo.

An extension of unemployment benefits for millions of jobless Americans overcame a Republican filibuster in the Senate Tuesday. About 2 million Americans have run out of jobless benefits since legislation stalled at the end of May. The U.S. unemployment rate is stuck at 9.5 percent. There are five times more people looking for work than there are available jobs. Most Democrats say unemployment benefits are an effective way to stimulate the economy. Some Republicans say unemployment benefits discourage people from looking for jobs.

Unemployment benefits escape Republican filibuster

The Senate voted 60-40 to break the Republican filibuster on the unemployment benefits extension. The vote took place minutes after Carte Goodwin was sworn in as the new Democratic senator from West Virginia to replace the late Robert C. Byrd. The New York Times reports that even after the vote, Democrats accused Republicans of needlessly stalling the unemployment extension by using their procedural power to delay the vote by another day rather than allow final consideration. Republicans said Democrats were forced to extend unemployment benefits because their efforts at lowering the U.S. unemployment rate with job creation had failed.

Unemployment benefits extended through November

The legislation extends unemployment benefits through November and retroactively covers people whose benefits have expired. USA Today reports that the House could pass the bill Wednesday and send it to President Obama for signing. Republicans said they wanted to help lower the U.S. unemployment rate, but only if the bill’s $33.9 billion price tag was offset with budget cuts elsewhere. On Monday, Obama accused Republicans of seeking to control federal spending “on the backs of the unemployed” while not demanding a way to pay for extending Bush administration tax cuts for the wealthy.

Unemployment benefits and economic recovery

The Congressional Budget Office says extending jobless benefits, which average nearly $310 a week, is the most efficient way for government policymakers to stimulate a weak economy. The unemployed spend their benefits on basic needs such as rent, food, gas and electricity. According to the CBO, every $1 spent on benefits generates 70 cents to $1.90 in economic growth.

Unemployment vote hardens political divide

Obama’s personal involvement in passing the unemployment extension has further hardened Republican opposition to virtually any attempt to govern the country. The Los Angeles Times reports that Tuesday’s Senate vote only increased the political divide in Congress and almost assured that any further domestic aid before November will be nearly impossible. Yet Democrats intend to press forward with new initiatives to promote job creation.

Unemployed Americans used as pawns in a political game

As November’s midterm elections draw closer, Democrats hope legislation like the extension of unemployment benefits will have an effect on job creation and economic recovery — as well as their chances for reelection. Republicans are trying to sabotage any Democratic achievements at all costs, in hopes that a fragile economy will improve their chances to regain control of Congress.

1. Homebuyers

First-time homebuyers may be entitled to a credit of 10 percent of the price, for a maximum credit of $8,000. The homebuyer credit is not limited to first-time buyers. Buyers who owned homes and bought new ones after Nov. 6, 2009, may be entitled to a credit of 10 percent of the purchase price, for a maximum credit of $6,500. Buyers must have lived in their previous homes for five consecutive years in the past eight, must have a house under contract by April 30, 2010, and must close by June 30.

2. Energy-saving improvements

For 2009, homeowners may be entitled to credits worth 30 percent of the amount spent on energy-saving windows, water heaters and other qualified improvements, up to a combined limit of $1,500 for 2009 and 2010. Installation of solar, wind, or geothermal energy systems may entitle homeowners to 30 percent credits with no limits.

3. Vehicles

Sales taxes on purchase prices of to $49,500 for new cars, light trucks, motorcycles, and motor homes purchased after Feb. 16, 2009, can be deducted on 2009 returns. Vehicles purchased through the Cash for Clunkers program are included. Taxpayers do not have to itemize deductions to claim the credit, although in some states, it may sometimes be more advantageous to include sales taxes in itemized deductions. The credit is limited to certain income amounts, and depending on income, some taxpayers may receive only partial credits.

4. College students

In 2009 and 2010, the new American Opportunity Tax Credit allows taxpayers to claim $2,500 per student per year for the first four years of college. The Hope Credit provides $1,800 per student for the first two years of college, and the Lifetime Learning Credit offers up to $2,000. Income limits apply, and a taxpayer can use only one form of educational credit.

5. Unemployment

For 2009 only, the first $2,400 of unemployment income is nontaxable. Unemployed married couples may exclude benefits of up to $4,800. Whether or not you were unemployed, if you switched jobs or looked for a job, job-search expenses (travel, career coaching, employment agency fees, etc) may qualify as miscellaneous deductions. Combined miscellaneous deductions must exceed 2 percent of adjusted gross income to be written off. Taxpayers who were out of work last year and had to pay for COBRA or other health insurance may add those expenses to the usual out-of-pocket medical expenses, making it more likely that they’ll meet the deduction threshold of 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income.

6. Freelance work

Taxpayers who took on any kind of paid freelance work in 2009 to make up for pay cuts or job losses, must report the income but can deduct numerous business expenses, such as supplies, equipment and work-related vehicle mileage. In the case of a home office, freelancers may even be entitled to deduct  prorated amounts of mortgage payments and utility bills.

7. Moving for work

Taxpayers who relocated to accept full-time employment can sometimes deduct moving expenses like truck rental or moving company fees, packing supplies, storage and travel costs. To qualify for the deduction, the new job must be at least 50 miles farther from a taxpayer’s home than the previous job was.

8. Earthquake relief

Charitable donations to Haiti made before March 1, 2010, are deductible on 2009 tax returns. A new bill currently in the House would allow deduction of last-minute donations made to Chile before April 15, 2010, and would also extend the time for making donations to Haiti until the April 15 filing deadline.

9. Investment losses

Taxpayers who sold securities at a loss in 2009 after owning those shares for more than a year may use the losses to offset capital gains. If a taxpayer had losses and no gains, up to $3,000 of net loss can be set off against ordinary income and any remaining amount can be carried forward to future tax years.

10. Federal disaster areas

Homeowners whose houses were damaged in declared federal disasters and not fully covered by insurance may be able to claim the losses, even without itemizing deductions. For 2009 only, after subtracting the first $500 of the loss, there is no limit on the amount, and any losses that can’t be used in 2009 can be applied retroactively to 2008 taxes.

Americans relying on unemployment

Millions of Americans are seeking jobs while relying on unemployment checks to sustain themselves and their households in the meantime. In the past, unemployment pay was set to last for six months, the official insurance limit on the program. However, difficulties and a down economy have forced the federal government to extend payments to as long as 99 weeks in some states. That’s the longest period unemployment has ever been extended since its inception.

The critics weigh in

Unemployment benefits are not being extended without criticism. There is now a political debate over the extensions. The cost of unemployment is $10 billion a month for the government and many legislators are questioning the move. Senator Jim Bunning recently made moves to extend benefits, but was attacked by Congress members who believe the cost is too high for the nation. For example, Senator Jon Kyl believes that extending benefits does little to encourage people to find work. They may become lax in finding jobs and seeking to change their financial positions.

The numbers speak for themselves

Despite Kyl’s position, the numbers on unemployment are showing otherwise. The National Employment Law Center showed that the main reason people are out of work is not due to comfort. There are six unemployed Americans for every available job in the market. In addition, many of the Americans who are looking for jobs are not qualified for the positions in need of filling. Those who are seeking payday cash are looking in as many different places as possible. Desperation is pushing people to consider job options they may have previously overlooked.

Unemployment compensation

Unemployment benefits were created in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act. The purpose of the fund was to sustain the unemployed as the economy wavered. Throughout the years, it has proven effective and helped millions of Americans pay bills, stay in their homes and remain financially afloat until new jobs became available. Studies have shown that about 67 percent of unemployed people take advantage of the fund. The bulk of the fund comes from employer taxes, but in times of unusual financial stress, the funds have been extended then scaled back when things return to normal.

The verdict on unemployment and its extension

Despite some debate, the decision to extend unemployment is most likely going to remain intact. Most people use unemployment checks the same way they would use payday cash. They put the money directly back into the economy. Due to a lack of discretionary spending, most of their unemployment check is channeled right into the market. That is the overall goal of the government-to spur people into spending and reinvigorating the economy.

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Senator Jim Bunning (R – Kentucky) (Photo: Wikipedia)

There was a time when Jim Bunning was feared. As the star pitcher for the Detroit Tigers (1955-1963) and Philadelphia Phillies (1964-1967), the big right-hander would rock back and fire his sidearm fastball and slider at overmatched hitters. For a pitcher with excellent control, it is telling that he hit more batters with pitches than any other hurler in the 1960s. In his mind, the plate belonged to him. If a batter dug in too close, they were going to have to dodge a bullet. In baseball parlance, he was “filthy” in more ways than one.

From the mound to the Senate floor

Jim Bunning’s work on the mound earned him a big pay day into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1996. After his playing career ended in 1971, the big Kentuckian worked his way into politics. By 1986, he was a state Representative, and in 1998 he secured a spot in the U.S. Senate. If Bunning’s approval ratings are any indication, the fear he once commanded on the mound have permanently been replaced by loathing.

Which leads us to his recent Senate elevator caper

As he was preparing to head to the Senate floor, ABC News caught up with Senator Jim Bunning and asked him about his recent decision to block a bill that would extend unemployment benefits to long out-of-work Americans who need cash now. Not only did Jim Bunning refuse to answer the question, but he screamed at reporters “Excuse me! This is a Senators only elevator!” Then, when asked if he was concerned about unemployed Americans losing their benefits, he reportedly made an obscene gesture.

His conservative colors don’t run

Apparently, Senator Bunning was not in favor of the bill because it would add to the national debt rather than be paid for out of existing funds. His preference, according to ABC, is to use unspent stimulus funds.

“I support extending unemployment benefits, cobra benefits, flood insurance, highway bill fix, doc fix, small business loans, and distant network television for satellite viewers. If we can’t find $10 billion to pay for something that we all support, we will never pay for anything on the floor of this U.S. Senate,” he said.

Ideally, I agree with Bunning’s reasoning

While I do not support letting people twist in the wind when they have children to feed and the American job market remains unresponsive, I also would like to see such a program paid for at the outset, rather than creating more debt. Such a thing simply gets passed on to each successive generation, with no end in sight. But how long can the unemployed whose funds are dissipating wait?

Needless to say, Jim Bunning isn’t popular these days

His record of Senate votes is rather conspicuous by the amount of absenteeism. According to Wikipedia, Jim Bunning was “the only senator to miss the Senate’s historic Christmas Eve 2009 vote on the health care reform bill.” Furthermore, his tally of 21 missed December votes is “one more than the 20 missed by 92-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who is ailing and in a wheelchair.” Maybe Jim Bunning subscribes to an old baseball adage applied to position players the Dominican Republic: “You can’t walk off the island.” In Bunning’s case, however, he can seem to walk to his seat on the Senate floor.

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Shoppers in the Washington D.C. area will have to spend more money on each trip starting Friday, January 1, 2010. These additional costs, which are part of a new plan by the administration to close the gaps in budgets, will send them racing for more payday loans. To the already burdened consumer, this will no doubt be another cost that they will deem unnecessary. However, they will have to live with the additional expenses as part of their own budgets, and will need to figure out how to make it all work.

Shopping Trip Charges

Under the new scheme, which the administration is calling a “nickels and dimes” policy, shoppers will have to pay $0.05 every time they shop and request a shopping bag. Groceries, drug stores, liquor stores and retail outlets are all expected to add this charge on consumers’ bills who have forgotten to carry a shopping bag with them. This charge will apply to every paper or plastic bag handed out by the shops, but this is not the only part of the policy. By mid January, more people will have to pay over $2 an hour to park their cars, which is sure to put an additional burden on consumers who were already looking to save their nickels and dimes. These plans are sure to make shoppers stop at their neighborhood lenders office looking for a payday loan. Of course, planning will help to eliminate this burden by bringing along their own shopping bags.

Fund Raiser Scheme

The administration claims that this scheme was designed to raise money for the various assistance programs that help people affected by the recession. Many states are already burdened by too many unemployment benefits and are experiencing a shortage of funds. It is under these circumstances that they are looking to raise additional funds from the very consumers who may be the same people they want to help. It’s not just the shopping bags and parking fees that the administration is looking to charge money for, but also on overdue library books and car pool permits. Taxes have already been increased on cigarettes and gas, and the city expects the 14,749 parking spaces, charging $2 an hour, should make up for their deficit. Increasing the costs of shopping will mean that the consumer must budget for more money that will turn into another rush for more payday loans.

Right Idea, Wrong Time

States are looking to enforce these charges because they are facing huge deficits in their budgets. Job losses and unemployment benefits are leaving them with no other choice but to increase charges for common items. At the same time, restaurants in the area are complaining that these charges will only keep their customers away and cause further losses, and as free parking time on the weekends is reduced, the restaurateurs have a point. Consumers will be paying more money for the same services they were getting for free before, and will look to cut costs, including eating out. They will also look to take out payday loans to cover for the shortage in cash.

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Unemployment Benefit Claims Decrease

The labor department in Washington reports that unemployment benefit claims have been decreasing since September. Money lenders will be happy at the recent turn of events, as it means that people who want to take out loans now have jobs with a regular income. Those who are looking to borrow money will now have the security of knowing that they can pay back the loan when it is due.

Labor Department Claims Founded

The labor department has been keeping a close watch on the number of unemployment benefit claims coming in each month, and have seen a steady decline in the figures over the past four months. Latest figures available indicate that claims for benefits fell to a seasonably adjusted figure of 432,000, the lowest it has been since 2008. Economists expected the figures to stay at 460,000, but have been proven wrong this time. It also indicates that there are more jobs available in the market now compared to last year. Unemployment benefit claims had risen to 674,000 back then, and looking at the current figures, one can only hope that the future remains positive.

Companies Want to Create More Jobs

Economic experts report that 40,000 jobs were created in December after 11,000 jobs were cut in Noevmber. If this encouraging trend continues, those who are unemployed may be able to look ahead to a great year, and it will only ensure that people no longer must rely on unemployment benefits or payday loans to make ends meet. Companies want to create more jobs locally, rather than just look elsewhere to get cheaper sources of labor. After people have been supporting these companies through the worst of times, they now need the companies to support them through job creation and stability.

What’s In It For Me?

If you have a job, you can look forward to receiving a regular paycheck, making your life easier. If necessary, you can also apply for a payday loan to meet your immediate requirements that you may have. While this situation may not change dramatically for most people over the next few months, there are still people who must wait for a while before finding a job. The job market may look upbeat in Washington, but the story is not the same in the rest of the country. There are millions of unemployed people who are still seeking their unemployment benefits, which are putting state assistance programs in jeopardy. The Obama administration estimates that nearly 4.9 million people are still receiving benefits across the country. Therefore, it can be safely assumed that the decrease in unemployment claims is limited to a particular region of the country.

Hopes for a Good Year

If companies across the country use the example set by Washington and create more jobs, there will soon be a great increase in many more jobs across the country. More people will be employed, as well as spending more money, perhaps wisely. Should they fall short of funds at any time, there is always a payday loan available to help out.

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I’m headed to New Zealand, because I have cash today, thanks to an online payday advance. Plenty of people will call that irresponsible, but plenty of people haven’t walked in my shoes. If you’ve been through the economic wringer in recent years, maybe you’ll get it. Or maybe you won’t. Either way, I’ve got money now and I’m going.

After two layoffs, I have money now

Two years ago, I was laid off from a good-paying job I’d had for several years. I collected unemployment for a few months and watched my retirement and investment accounts melt away like everyone else’s. I found a new, lower-paying job, but was laid off again after just a couple of months. This time, I didn’t qualify for unemployment benefits. After seven months, I was tapped out and couldn’t make my mortgage payment.

My head is barely above water, but I have money now

I managed to avoid a foreclosure with a lender-approved short sale, but everything I owned – other than my paid-off car and some beat-up furniture — was gone. I gave the furniture away and moved in with some friends. I finally found yet another even lower-paying job, and a couple months later, I was able to rent the apartment I have now. Luckily, I cut up my credit cards when I lost my first job, so I don’t have debts. My head is above water, but I’m still struggling to make ends meet.

The weather in New Zealand is perfect, and I have money now

I’m not in a stable financial place yet, but I’ve had my job long enough to get a personal loan. Now that I’ve got a little extra cash, I’m taking my life off hold. The coastline and mountains of New Zealand defy description. The whales are amazing. People say the Sauvignon blancs of the Marlborough region are better than the ones they make in Napa Valley. The air and water temperatures are perfect this time of year, and New Zealand is still a dollar-friendly place.

I have 23 hours plus a weekend, and I have money now, too

Last week I hit 23 hours of accumulated vacation time. Last night, I applied for an online payday loan. I had one in five minutes flat. The money was in my bank account this morning. I’ll pay it back out of my next paycheck and worry about how I’ll get by when it comes to that. Twenty-three paid hours plus a weekend isn’t at all enough time to visit New Zealand. Mostly I’ll be sitting on a plane. My grandmother is 94. I haven’t seen her in six years. She lives in Ashburton on the South Island. I fly out tomorrow morning.

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