Update XX: A Darn Good Judge of My Financial Situation

[Joe Biden 2020]

I made it safely to Tulsa about half an hour ago.  I have nothing against grocery stores and do not consider those employees to be beneath me.  If you think I think that, you are grossly misinterpreting things.  Not entirely your fault, though, as I am very poor at explaining things.  To show I do not have anything against grocery stores, I went by the Reasor's grocery store chain on my way into town and picked up some milk and cereal for breakfast tomorrow.  I also had to get trash bags, but altogether, it only took me 11 minutes and $18, but I went by a grocery store that did not have the name Walmart on the front of the building.  The store smelt nice and fresh especially by the refrigerated section.  Saturday, I will go by Walmart as I will have several more groceries to purchase.  For just one or two things, though, like tonight, I have no problems going by the grocery store.

[Joe Biden 2020]

All gaps in Bushie's employment can be explained by his dedication to his life as a freelance blogger.

For the gap between Utah and Tulsa, I have one simple answer - school.  Most employers are happy that it's something productive and a worthwhile endeavor.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I've got most of the stuff I brought up here with me put away.  I still need to fold some socks and put them away so I can actually go to bed at midnight like I plan to.  I've got most of both baskets emptied.  The baskets will convert back to clothes hampers after I get them completely emptied.  Tomorrow, I am going to wake up around 0800 and watch the news and eat breakfast until 0830 and then hop in the shower and head out the door at 0930.  The job fair starts at 1000, but there will likely only be two or three vendors that will offer drafting jobs, so I imagine I will be back home by 1100 or 1115.  The job fair is only 5 1/2 miles from home, so it should only take 10-12 minutes to get there.  When I get home, I will change clothes, eat lunch, and do a little job search before I head back to Grandma's at 1400 for supper.  I will leave Mom and Dad's to come back up here to stay as close to 0900 Saturday morning as I can.

[Joe Biden 2020]

How is your non-deadbeat brother doing? He lives in New York, right? What does he do again?

He's doing fine.  I'm not exactly sure what he does, but he is working and enjoying it.  Yes, he lives in far northern New York near Plattsburgh.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Not that I can cook worth a damn anyway, but buying food in Walmart simply makes my stomach turn.

Why? We shop at a Walmart -- they have "Neighborhood Markets" around Kansas City which are groceries-only. It comes down to price for us. We stock up really well for two-week time frames, and what was costing $350+ for two weeks' worth of groceries is often $100 less at Walmart. Plus they're consistent on what they have.

We go to an Asian market for fish and pork, though.

They have the Neighborhood Markets down here in Tulsa and OKC, too.  One is just a mile from my Tulsa apartment.  I tend to prefer big Walmart's, though, as I've found the selection to be better and prices cheaper than the NM.  I trust big Walmart for my meat selection, especially ground beef, steaks, and roast. more than I do just about any place else.  We don't have old fashioned meat markets close by so Walmart is as good as we can do.  When I was in college, Alva had a meat market that cut your meat right in front of you before you bought it and took it home to cook.

[Joe Biden 2020]

In case anyone's interested, for Family Dinner #2 tonight, we are having roasted chicken straight from the Sam's club or Walmart Deli!

Mmm... the "Walmart Deli". You can't go wrong there!

Actually, we had a change of plans, or rather clarification.  We ordered fried chicken from a local mom and pop eatery (imagine that!) called Jim's Fried Chicken.  They have been in business in Nicoma Park, OK for decades, but recently rebuilt and modernized their restaurant to include tables inside.  It used to be just for take out and, I think, catering, but now patrons can dine there if they so choose.  We chose the take out route, but that has quickly become our favorite fried chicken place.  It far surpasses the likes of KFC and even Popeye's.

[Joe Biden 2020]

You all missed the fact that I ate at a mom and pop instead of a big chain.  Instead, I got bashed over the head because it's fried chicken.

[Joe Biden 2020]

It is time to head to the job fair.  Then, a meeting with another recruiter.

I just had a phone call that may bring me right back up to Tulsa tomorrow for a possible CAD interview.  Stay tuned!!

[Joe Biden 2020]

I am home from the job fair and the meeting with the recruiter.  The job fair was largely a bust.  I only was able to talk to one employer which I'm not expecting much from.  However, right before I left this morning, I got a call from a recruiter here in Tulsa alerting me to a potential entry-level Mechanical Drafting job near downtown Tulsa.  She asked me to send her an updated resume and references and she would call my references today and talk to her account manager.  I may have an interview with this company either tomorrow or more likely Monday.  So, there is a chance I may have to make my move back to Tulsa either tomorrow or even late tonight if I get an interview early in the morning.  She is going to try to get me an interview on Monday because of the move, but I told her I can interview tomorrow if it makes a difference.  So, things are definitely percolating in the job market!

[Joe Biden 2020]

I had a good time in Tulsa last night and today.  I am encouraged about a possible interview early next week.  I made it back to Grandma's at 1545 and then made it back to Mom and Dad's about 1830.  There is no family dinner tomorrow night, so I am free to go up to Tulsa basically anytime I want.  I'm too tired and it's too late to go tonight, so after I wake up in the morning, I've got to do a load of clothes and then I should be able to be on the road by 1000.  This will get me back to Tulsa by 1145 or 1200.  I will probably go by Walmart and get some groceries tomorrow afternoon so I can have stuff to eat this next week without having to go out to eat every night.  By going up there tomorrow, I can relax most of the day Saturday before going to the Sunday School Fellowship in Claremore, OK (NE suburb of Tulsa) at 1715.

[Joe Biden 2020]

What was for dinner?

Pork tenderloin

[Joe Biden 2020]

Good Friday Morning!  I slept well last night and I am ready for the big move day!  The way things are going, I should be able to be out of here by 0900 or shortly thereafter.  I've got a pretty good size headache this morning, so I will be taking some medicine in a few minutes, but that shouldn't hold me back from getting done what I need to today.  My hope is to be in Tulsa by 1100 or so.  I am going to do a little job search before I leave, though.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm betting he stopped at the McDonalds on the OK turnpike.......Bushie?

Why waste time at McDonald's when you can wait another hour and a half, get all the way home, and treat yourself to Braum's?  I haven't gotten the Braum's, yet, but I am home and will be going right after the 1100 news to pay my February rent and get some lunch.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm betting he stopped at the McDonalds on the OK turnpike.......Bushie?

Why waste time at McDonald's when you can wait another hour and a half, get all the way home, and treat yourself to Braum's?  I haven't gotten the Braum's, yet, but I am home and will be going right after the 1100 news to pay my February rent and get some lunch.

Is Braum's featuring any seasonal specials, Bushie?  We can only hope they've dropped that 4-cheesed monstrosity in favor of faux-Caribbean/Hawaiian nonsense to get the minds off the cold.

No seasonal specials that I know of, although I get the same thing every time I go there.  I never try any of their specials.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm betting he stopped at the McDonalds on the OK turnpike.......Bushie?

Why waste time at McDonald's when you can wait another hour and a half, get all the way home, and treat yourself to Braum's?  I haven't gotten the Braum's, yet, but I am home and will be going right after the 1100 news to pay my February rent and get some lunch.

If you're going to wait that long, why not just make a lovely and healthy homemade meal?

I don't have any groceries, just yet.  I'm not going to Walmart until this evening after supper.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I'm betting he stopped at the McDonalds on the OK turnpike.......Bushie?

Why waste time at McDonald's when you can wait another hour and a half, get all the way home, and treat yourself to Braum's?  I haven't gotten the Braum's, yet, but I am home and will be going right after the 1100 news to pay my February rent and get some lunch.

That's awesome! How close are you to 300 now?

One of the things I miss most on my new diet is sandwiches and pizza. i bet I could tear through some Braum's right now.

I'm still at 290 as of this past Tuesday morning.

[Joe Biden 2020]

I've been awake since about 0810.  I went to Best Buy a couple of hours ago to get some ink for my printer and I'm just sitting here watching some college hoops.  Right now, I'm watching Tulsa take on East Carolina on ESPN News.  I tried to lay down about 1015, but my head started hurting almost immediately, so I got up after just 5 minutes.  At 1715, I am going to Claremore, OK for a Sunday School Fellowship with the church that I go to in Tulsa.  I look forward to worshipping with them again tomorrow morning.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Ok St looking horrible all of a sudden - losing bad again. Tulsa may be the ones challenging the Sooners for state bragging rights! Who'd a thunk it?

Once Tulsa pulls away, it's only logical to watch Kentucky finally lose (I hope)

At this point, I'm thinking OSU is a solid NIT team.  OU should still be a mid-seed NCAA Tourney team.  Tulsa currently is down by 6 at the half (35-29) to an 8-10 East Carolina club.  Tulsa is not looking real sharp today.  I think Tulsa really should be ranked with their record and should be a 10-12 seed in the Big Dance.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Do you print things often? I cannot remember the last time I printed a document from my home computer. Definately not since 2011, when I got my first smartiephone.

I print semi-frequently.  Right now, mainly resumes and bill payment confirmations.

[Joe Biden 2020]

bill payment confirmations.

Whenever I pay a bill online or make some sort of banking transaction, there is always a confirmation page.  I print that out to keep for my records just in case there is a problem later and proof is needed that I paid the bill.  It's a safety mechanism that Mom taught me.

[Joe Biden 2020]

bill payment confirmations.

Whenever I pay a bill online or make some sort of banking transaction, there is always a confirmation page.  I print that out to keep for my records just in case there is a problem later and proof is needed that I paid the bill.  It's a safety mechanism that Mom taught me.

My confusion was not about what but about why. You always have your banking records available. You're just wasting paper, ink, and money. There's also the security issue of having personal info printed, which must either be shredded (more money) or thrown out. Your parents give the worst advice ever.

We do that especially for bill payments made through the bank's website instead of through the actual merchant's website.  Mom has had to use that before.  She paid the bill through her bank's website, but the merchant never received and was trying to charge her monstrous late fees.  She had to show the merchant that she did indeed send the money to them, but it must have been a transmission error.  Turns out that's what it was.  Situation was resolved fine and without harm, but if she had not had those printed confirmations, it could have turned out different.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Look, guys, we all have our own ways of doing our finances.  My mother is not wrong nor wasteful in what she does.  She has good reasons to do so and she taught me very well.  Her advice, while not perfect, is nowhere near the worst advice ever.

[Joe Biden 2020]

Look, guys, we all have our own ways of doing our finances.  My mother is not wrong nor wasteful in what she does.  She has good reasons to do so and she taught me very well.  Her advice, while not perfect, is nowhere near the worst advice ever.

And how's that working out for you? Got your six-month safety net in the bank?

Their irritation comes from you likely spending a decent little chunk of money on ink (it's not cheap, and God help you if you bought color ink) when the free alternatives are numerous -- if those confirmation pages are that important, take a screenshot of them or save them as a PDF (usually an option), save them to your computer in an organized bill pay folder and email them to yourself so you have a version saved in the cloud.

Lots of little ways you could be saving money, Jeff, and $15 here and $30 there will make a difference to someone in your situation.

I bought black ink. My color ink levels are still moderately-high and I rarely use color ink.  I also spent a little more money to get the XL which is supposed to have twice the amount of ink of a regular cartridge.  It wasn't cheap, but it should last me quite a while as I don't print all that often.  I think it's a normal expense whether or not it is a little pricey or not.  I used my Best Buy credit card so I got 10% off.

[Joe Biden 2020]

What do you do with all of the documents you have printed? Do you have a filing cabinet?

I don't keep them too long.  I only keep them until I know the merchant has received my payment and my current balance reflects the payment.  I don't own a shredder, so I always just rip up the sheet into little bitty strips and throw it away.

[Joe Biden 2020]

LMFAO at actually printing out those bill confirmations.

Bushie, do you also read the full Terms and Conditions before downloading any program onto your computer?

He also bought $30 software that promised to "speed up his PC" that actually just sets your available memory to the maximum setting and empties your cookies every so often.

When did I do that?  I never fall for those kind of gimmicks.  And, no, IceSpear, I do not read any of the Terms and Conditions.