Tuesday 7 December 1999

Pic of the day: Another 6 weeks, another Strangers in Paradise. And half a dozen other American comic books too, but this is the best. Did anybody see what way my money was running? It seems to be missing... ;)

And it doesn't helpt to be stupid either. First, my apologies to the people whose e-mail I have not replied to for over a week because I just now got it to download all the posts of the last 10 days or so. Gaah! I must come across as the snotty dork deluxe. I did not mean to pointedly ignore y'all!

That out of the way, this all started because we've been lashed by storm after storm recently. The one last week was actually a little scary, blowing straight on the house to the point where water was seeping in over one of the windows. But despite the storm and the rain, the house did stand, for it was built on bedrock. The houses here are quite solid. And I considered the fact that in a less developed country, a storm like this could blow down quite a few houses and wash away the foundation of others. It is expensive to be poor.

I did learn that catchy phrase when I was young, but I have gradually come to see more and more clearly how costly it is to be poor, and particularly if you're stupid too. The recent blooming of credit cards really drives this home. I like credit cards. But let us face it, the interest rates are ridiculously high if you don't pay back within the interest-free interval (if any, depends on your card). So basically credit is free if you don't need it, but horribly costly if you do. Now doesn't that seem a bit backwards to y'all?

I guess I shouldn't go all hypocrite over this, seeing as I've made a pretty successful computer program for legal debt collection once upon a time. But have you noticed the fees that a creditor will slap on for sending a reminder? The actual cost is like the paper and a stamp, since the computer will do this automatically. Despite this, there is usually a fat fee to pay if you forget your bill till it is overdue. And if you are poor, chances are that you have to "forget" bills quite often. At least if you are poor very suddenly.

Anyway, the point is that being poor is expensive. You may not be able to buy things when they are cheap. Or if you do, you will have to pay so much interest that it is still not cheap. Perhaps you end up with an inferior product that doesn't last long. I used to buy cheap clothes when I was younger. Often they were downright poorly crafted. The buttons fell off the shirts in the first wash, and seams unravelled. The jeans and trousers unravelled in the front. Buttons and zippers were doomed from the start ... they may last a while, but then they were gone. Of course, I was sort of flexing my muscles more at that time than I do today. Still, the cheap clothes were not the great saving that I thought. The clothes I buy now costs three times as much and last five times as long. Plus they are better looking and more comfortable. Still, it may not be a good idea to buy them on a credit card if you are broke.

Which is why I have spent the last month paying little else but bills. Oh, I have had my share of McFeast burgers and such. But I've pointedly avoided buying clothes, CDs, books, and gadgets. Anything that I'd reckon an "investment". Because investing on these interest rates would be a bad idea, so I better pay off first and invest later. (OK, so I've bought candles. But that was mainly because I liked the social life in that shop.)

In three days it is payday again! On Freeeday. But I have a feeling that this month is pretty much pre-disposed already too. Because now Christmas is coming on. That means a (non-rebate) railroad round trip, some small gifts, new textiles to self and the studying masses, and lots of chocolate. Just for starters. Oh, and a small diamond or two, I guess. So it would be a bad idea to start this by incurring lots of unrelated expenses this month, to have to pay off in December. I am almost amazed that I have this much self control, as to not run out and buy a new stereo or something. Actually I guess I've just not had the time. Now that I think about it...