OHIO HB 545, and why Im torn...

An article in the Dayton Business Journal states that Ohio House Bill 545:
would cap annual percentage rates on payday loans at 28 percent, extend the repayment period to 31 days from 14 days and cut the maximum loan amount to $500 from $800. Representatives of the state’s 1,638 payday lending shops have said the House measures would kill the industry, particularly with the percentage rate caps. Payday lenders can charge up to $15 per $100 loaned over a 14-day period, which converts to an annualized 391 percent. Instituting a rate ceiling at a fraction of the current maximum, as H.B. 545 and two other bills have proposed, would cap fees at a few dollars per $100.

In a nutshell, I am out a job, albeit a stressful, low paying job, its a job nonetheless.

Here is my beef with HB 545.

What right does anyone have to tell us how to manage our finances? Sure payday loaning can be a "death-trap" if one doesn't use it responsibly, but so can credit cards and overdraft protection.

My bank once bounced a check for .06. That's 6 cents, my bank sent a check back to a grocery store for 6 cents. That's 28.00 for the NSF fee, 30.00 for the grocery store NSF fee. So it cost me 58.00 because I was .06 short in my checking account. I am sorry, but 15.00 fee to borrow 100.00 for a two week period makes much more sense than 58.00 for .06!

Ive been looking online for people's opinions on Ohio HB 545. Some people are totally against it, others are completely for it. I personally believe that some regulations could be put in place to educate consumers on how to use a payday advance responsibly. I don't feel that Ohio has the right to put 6,000 people into the unemployment lines because they don't agree with an APR that doesn't even apply to loan that one takes out for two weeks.

The Worlds Worst Tooth Fairy...

That would totally be me. There was never a worse Tooth Fairy than I. I just can't get it. I always forget. Not once in my childhood do I ever remember the tooth fairy forgetting to take a lost tooth and replace it with money. My son will blog one day how the tooth fairy never remembered.

Yesterday my son lost a tooth, the first one he ever pulled himself. Or as he put it, he bit down, and his top teeth "chopped it down." He carefully placed the tooth under his pillow and waited until morning to check to see what the tooth fairy had left him.

This was the actual exchange when my son called me at work after school to tell me the Tooth Fairy didn't come.

Chris: Hey Mom, I'm just calling you at work to see if you know something about the Tooth Fairy.

My Thoughts: SHIT! Why do I keep forgetting my part?

My words: I know a little about the Tooth Fairy, what were you wondering?

Chris: Will the Tooth Fairy take your tooth if it has blood all over it?

My Thoughts: Woohoo, an OUT!

My Words: ABSOLUTELY NOT! The tooth fairy only takes clean teeth.

This morning he was so happy to find the $3 instead the gleaming tooth, he polished to a high shine.

Nichole

I Aint Shit....

I saw a bumper sticker today, this is what it said.

IF YOU AINT A COON HUNTER, YOU AINT SHIT!

Apparently I aint shit, and Ive never realized it until today. Thank you d-bag in the rusted out pickup truck, for bringing me back down to earth.

A Classic Case of TMI.....

What is TMI, you ask?


TO MUCH INFORMATION!!!

Yesterday I went to Wal-Mart to get groceries. I purchased 174.00 worth of food, health and beauty aides, and OTC medications. While the check out attendant was ringing out my purchases, she shared these interesting tidbits about her life.

She usually works only 22 hours a week, but this week she only worked 14.

She missed hours because she had a court ordered class she had to take.

She is getting a divorce and had to go to a parenting class.

At parenting class, they made an example out of her, because she brought her new boyfriend along.

She was mad because she couldn't believe that the courts expect you to put your social life on hold while you wait the 12 months it takes to process your divorce.

Her 14 year old daughter told her to divorce her dad, so obviously it was the right thing to do.

Her ex-husband hit her with a coke bottle and bruised her stomach right after surgery.

Her son doesn't like condiments.

She used to go to subway and get mayo on her sub, but she doesn't anymore.

Her boyfriend prefers the spicy Italian sub with red wine vinegar over mayo.

She now gets her subs with red wine vinegar, because it isn't strong like most vinegars.

This is simply too much information.

A word to all cashiers......

A simple, "Is it still raining," or "its awful hot in here," suits me fine.

I feel like I invaded this woman's privacy, when all I really wanted to do was pay for my groceries, and get the heck out of there.

Silver Tonails...

I have one word for silver toenails......DON'T!!!!!

I was standing behind a lady at the bank today, I glanced down, and realized she had painted her toenails silver. (A very heavy metallic silver polish).

What is shocking, is she obviously did this on purpose.

I have absolutely nothing more to say about this.

My Job, My Stress...

I used to love my job. I didn't mind it at all. In fact, when I first started with this company, I wondered why they were actually paying me to do what I was doing.

Boy, did that come to a screech and halt...........FAST!

In an earlier blog, I described what I do. Ill recap quickly. I work for a payday loan company. You come in and borrow, say...500.00, you write me a check, I give you the 500.00 and on your next pay day you come pay me 575.00. The next day, you come back and do it all over again. This becomes a vicious cycle for some, others (the smart folks), do it once every couple of months to help them over some sort of financial hump. A lot of people (those with a good sense of right and wrong) pay back without a problem.

Then there are the folks who see us as a dispenser of free money. These folks are the reason I'm slowly going insane. Ive never been the pushy type, I cant sell water to someone who is on fire, how am I supposed to sell these jackasses on the idea that they need to pay me back?

There are a few that as soon as they walk in the door, my first thought is "kiss that cash goodbye." In the business that we are in, that is expected, and is just a fact of life. But then there are the loyal customer who are as nice as nice can be, and then one day they just decide to screw you.

I am so sick and tired of knocking on doors, calling these d-bags 10 times a day, and always getting the same response. No Answer, or the ever popular PICK-UP-HANG-UP. At least have the decency to tell me why you aren't going to pay, this gives me the opportunity to tell you what will happen if you don't.

Deep Fried Twinkie O's

When I was young, occasionally I was allowed to pick out the cereal I wanted. As, money was tight, this was a rarity. Because of this, I often had a choice between , puffed rice or puffed wheat. Both bland, bagged and as fate would have it, puffed. Not a good way to start the day.

Growing up in a household were money was tight, I made a vow: (well several of them). Here are a few.

When I have kids, they will be allowed to pick whatever cereal they want when we buy weekly groceries.

I will make a cheesecake without the crust and eat the whole thing.

I will drink more than one pop a day, if I so choose.

Never will I buy gristly pork chops, serve it up with a 25 cent box of macaroni and cheese and a can of corn and call it dinner.

Back to the cereal. When we go to the grocery store, and hit the cereal aisle, my son will grab the first cereal he sees. Honestly, I can place him at eye level with the worst of the worst, and he will go for the grape nuts. Recently he was at the store, and he was told to pick his cereal, he grabbed cheerios. What kind of 8 year old picks cheerios when he can have any candy coated, chocolate scented, ooey gooey heart attack in a box posing as breakfast stuffs?

When I was 8, and was given the honor of picking out my breakfast, I went for the most sugar coated, colorful box at eye level. In fact, I bet if there was a cereal called DEEP FRIED TWINKIE O'S WITH MARSHMALLOWS AND CANDY SPRINKLES, that is how I would have started my day every day.

Really, what is wrong with kids today?