I know that I am not the only one with this sort of luck, but I am really beginning to think that I have a dark cloud over my head just waiting to make things difficult for me. I know we all are experiencing financial challenges of one sort or another. So many have lost jobs, or their spouses have lost jobs, credit cards are taking a bigger bite out of our hides by increasing the interest rates, even groceries cost more. I am feeling the crunch just like everyone else. My day job is paying me over 15% less than I was getting 12 months ago. My SO has not been employed for longer than that. It seems that every source of income we have is providing less, while our bills are getting higher.
Then I had a glimmer of hope! I received a really good order from an unlikely source (Moscow, of all places, and it was legit!). I was boxing the order, and needed to print out a few items that I was short on. I was nearly done when….
The pages spewed out of my Laser printer looked like shit. The reds were orange, the orange was yellow, and of course all the other colors were off. What could I do? The magenta toner was within pages of being at the end of its use. I thought, THAT'S IT! Normally when a toner cartridge is empty, the printer just doesn’t print. Maybe for some reason it still thinks it has some magenta when there is actually none left.
I replaced the cartridge. I printed a page with great hopes that it would be as it should be, bright and vibrant. No-Such- Luck. I ran the calibration cycle, three times. It would not get better. I only had 4 booklets to print to complete the big order that was going to help me towards my goal of paying down my debt. Things did not look good. I couldn’t very well send bad quality books, and I did not have access to another printer.
It was time for my Mac guru to come over. He played with the settings, and tried his magic. But try as he might, my guru couldn’t save the beast. It was hopeless. Something about the laser for the magenta was not working as it should. It would not be worth the cost of fixing the ailing part, as it would cost more than half of what a new laser printer would cost. And since my printer was out of warranty....
Swifter than the IRS extracting money from tax payers at tax time, faster than my Bank of Absconders can invent more fees for me to pay, I saw my money earned from a good order flying out of my bank account, leaving just a small portion of my unexpected order untouched.
I want to know, who keeps tabs of when I get a nice chunk of extra money, that I could put to good, sensible use (or even for some well deserved fun)? It seems that every time I get a bit “extra” that I was not counting on, something happens that sucks it right from my hands. Is this the Money-god’s version of some sort of cruel joke?
Luckily, my guru had a spare printer that he gave me on loan, so I could at least finish printing my order. At least I have a little time to consider what I will replace my dead Laser printer with. At least the order I got will pay for the replacement. That is, if I can get to a store to buy one…judging from the puddle I just saw under my car, it seems that my faithful Honda is in need of a new radiator.
What was that?? Do I hear the fluttering of more dollar fledglings flying away???
What was that?? Do I hear the fluttering of more dollar fledglings flying away???
I truly feel your pain, Sig. My major source of financial drain during the last couple of years happens to be the dentist. I swear the guy is worse than any teenager. He must think we have a money tree in the backyard.
ReplyDeleteEvery single time I think (maybe thinking is my problem) we are going to be paid up, along comes another expensive dental issue. Of course, we do not have dental insurance.
I guess we all have fleeting dollars one way or another.
Cheryl
Sig,
ReplyDeleteOf course you know this is the way it works. The companies design every to fail after a certain point in time. My wife's printer no longer prints in color--only in black--so we will soon be in the market for a new printer (since the printer on my computer is older than hers).
Here's the good news: It looks like the newer printers are even better and less expensive. Well-- that's what it has looked like when I last checked the sale papers, but now that your looking they might have gone back up. Good luck and hope you find a good one that lasts awhile.
Lee
Cheryl,
ReplyDeleteIt's enough to make you want to pull your teeth out! (So to speak). There are some dentists I just don't trust. I think they are salesmen more than medical practitioners!
Lee,
You are right! They have come down somewhat from what I paid for mine. Trying to be positive, I am hoping that I will get more printer for less money!
Now, if only the toner would get cheaper!!
Sig
Sig, you are not alone.
ReplyDeleteThe vet is another one. it seems that every time we bring our animals in for a checkup, they want us to buy more & more. it's enough to drive me nuts.
I was so happy because I was going to have my Line of Credit paid in full at the end of the month and would have more money to pay other things. Not quite. I just got a notification that there's a major special assessment on our condo. All those funds? going direclty to that special assessment for the next several months.
GGGGGRRRRR!!!!! AAARAAARRRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!