Post by Roas on Nov 18, 2018 15:09:16 GMT -5
So, last week I blurbed in the random thought thread that my PS4 was half dead, ie. it won't play game disks or blu-rays anymore. After a brief freak out and personal whine session, I found someplace to take to be fixed. It was going to cost $129 to get fixed, but at that moment it was cheaper than buying another PS4 in any kind of form. Despite my woefully lacking funds, I was committed to this because until I can afford to get a new rig, my PS4 is the only thing I really have to game on and there are several good games I've got my sites on for the holidays. So, I brought it in last week, ready to slap the charge on what little space I have left on my credit card the following week when it would be done. I hate it, but I accept it.
NOTE- despite having said I am basically broke, dogged use of free survey's has netted me some amazon gift cards I plan to use this Friday through next Monday to take advantage of deals.
Anyway....let it not be forgotten that real life is always there to come around and kick you in the balls.
Real Life curve ball 1: My mom, who I do love dearly, screwed up a few weeks ago and apparently ran a red light on her way to work. For whatever reason she got distracted at that moment...she rolled right through the red and got caught on camera. So BAM...there's $50. I'm going to have to pay that, because I'm the only one with active credit cards, since all real money is tied up in basic living, bills, and rent.
Again, I accept this, because this is the way things have to be for the time being while I finish my current Masters, get an internship, and get back into the workforce within the next year.
Curve Ball 2: Let it be said that I hate Virginia. I hate it, but I will forever suck it up because it houses the communication industries I'm heading into. Of the many reasons I hate Virginia is its tax system, specifically the personal property tax. Doesn't matter which party has been in power here, both of them have screwed over the population with a fucking tax that makes you pay for things you already own...like cars.
The Virginia Car Tax is a fucking hose job for honest, hard working people every year. They take money from us for something we own and waste it on worthless programs or slush funds that accomplish nothing (I have studied the Virginia state government, so I'm not exactly talking out of my ass here).
So in moving back to school, I of course changed counties...but not fast enough for the last one to fucking ding us with a car tax for them....and right around the corner I know we'll get dinged here too for the car tax. So BAM...another $48.
NOTE- because of the snow last week, we basically lost $100 of income, so already these two things hurt.
Curve Ball 3: Dominion Virginia Power is a criminal organization. They have been ripping people off for decades with how much they charge for energy.
Due to the fallout of China, we've had a running balance with them for a 3 years now. There was an understanding that as long as we paid half of the balance every month, there would be no problems. And mind you, in January with my next round of school grant money, I was going to wipe out the balance to put us back on even ground.
Well what happened this week? A few days after I made the regular payment, Dominion decided that the standing balance was finally too much. So with the additional charge of next month's bill added on, they sent us notification that unless we paid another $180.90, the power would be shut off on the 28th.
Oh come on......
Well, that did it. Real Life wins again. After going over the numbers all day yesterday, I made the decision to leave my soon to be fixed PS4 on the repair place's shelf for the next 3 weeks so that we could afford to deal with all this crap. I mean, what was more important? Keeping the lights on, that's what.
Let it not be ignored that going into next month, we have successfully drastically lowered our energy bill, which means there will no longer be a balance, but still, this shit had to be dealt with now. I only wish it had waited until January, but eh...I decided I'd just pay myself back and make an extra large payment on my card then. It all balances out...sort of.
But then I get the final kick in the balls.....
Gist of discovered Voice Mail at 7:30 PM: Hi "Roas", yeah, we couldn't fix your PS4...sorry...no charge, so come and get it back.
...........................................
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had myself a good self pity fest for a bit after that.
But then....I had a realization....I reminded myself what time of year this coming week is.
It's Black Friday, stupid!!!!!
I called up the nearest Gamestop, and yes, minus a small refurbishment fee, I confirmed that I can trade in my half dead PS4. Add in everything I was planning to trade in anyways to try and get a few used games this week....and I'm basically a few short dollars away from a new PS4 bundled with the new Spider-Man game I wanted anyways. Yes, I'm sacrificing most of my remaining game library for this one thing, but I was going to trade them in anyways between amazon and Gamestop. All that changes is the final product, and getting a fresh 1T PS4 seems like a good trade off until the PS5 requires my attention.
Has it been a painfully annoying past few days?
Sure as hell yes when you then add in the crap I have to deal with from school.
Did I make the tough call to act like an adult and prioritize responsible things first?
I had to, despite childish disappointments.
Did it all work out in the end?
It looks like it will, since instead of $129 I'll probably only spend $30 on an entirely new PS4.
In the end sometimes we have to make the adult decisions. And while there might not always be a happy ending like this, you at least learn the life lesson of how to manage your life responsibly...or at the very least keep shit together until things get better.
NOTE- despite having said I am basically broke, dogged use of free survey's has netted me some amazon gift cards I plan to use this Friday through next Monday to take advantage of deals.
Anyway....let it not be forgotten that real life is always there to come around and kick you in the balls.
Real Life curve ball 1: My mom, who I do love dearly, screwed up a few weeks ago and apparently ran a red light on her way to work. For whatever reason she got distracted at that moment...she rolled right through the red and got caught on camera. So BAM...there's $50. I'm going to have to pay that, because I'm the only one with active credit cards, since all real money is tied up in basic living, bills, and rent.
Again, I accept this, because this is the way things have to be for the time being while I finish my current Masters, get an internship, and get back into the workforce within the next year.
Curve Ball 2: Let it be said that I hate Virginia. I hate it, but I will forever suck it up because it houses the communication industries I'm heading into. Of the many reasons I hate Virginia is its tax system, specifically the personal property tax. Doesn't matter which party has been in power here, both of them have screwed over the population with a fucking tax that makes you pay for things you already own...like cars.
The Virginia Car Tax is a fucking hose job for honest, hard working people every year. They take money from us for something we own and waste it on worthless programs or slush funds that accomplish nothing (I have studied the Virginia state government, so I'm not exactly talking out of my ass here).
So in moving back to school, I of course changed counties...but not fast enough for the last one to fucking ding us with a car tax for them....and right around the corner I know we'll get dinged here too for the car tax. So BAM...another $48.
NOTE- because of the snow last week, we basically lost $100 of income, so already these two things hurt.
Curve Ball 3: Dominion Virginia Power is a criminal organization. They have been ripping people off for decades with how much they charge for energy.
Due to the fallout of China, we've had a running balance with them for a 3 years now. There was an understanding that as long as we paid half of the balance every month, there would be no problems. And mind you, in January with my next round of school grant money, I was going to wipe out the balance to put us back on even ground.
Well what happened this week? A few days after I made the regular payment, Dominion decided that the standing balance was finally too much. So with the additional charge of next month's bill added on, they sent us notification that unless we paid another $180.90, the power would be shut off on the 28th.
Oh come on......
Well, that did it. Real Life wins again. After going over the numbers all day yesterday, I made the decision to leave my soon to be fixed PS4 on the repair place's shelf for the next 3 weeks so that we could afford to deal with all this crap. I mean, what was more important? Keeping the lights on, that's what.
Let it not be ignored that going into next month, we have successfully drastically lowered our energy bill, which means there will no longer be a balance, but still, this shit had to be dealt with now. I only wish it had waited until January, but eh...I decided I'd just pay myself back and make an extra large payment on my card then. It all balances out...sort of.
But then I get the final kick in the balls.....
Gist of discovered Voice Mail at 7:30 PM: Hi "Roas", yeah, we couldn't fix your PS4...sorry...no charge, so come and get it back.
...........................................
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had myself a good self pity fest for a bit after that.
But then....I had a realization....I reminded myself what time of year this coming week is.
It's Black Friday, stupid!!!!!
I called up the nearest Gamestop, and yes, minus a small refurbishment fee, I confirmed that I can trade in my half dead PS4. Add in everything I was planning to trade in anyways to try and get a few used games this week....and I'm basically a few short dollars away from a new PS4 bundled with the new Spider-Man game I wanted anyways. Yes, I'm sacrificing most of my remaining game library for this one thing, but I was going to trade them in anyways between amazon and Gamestop. All that changes is the final product, and getting a fresh 1T PS4 seems like a good trade off until the PS5 requires my attention.
Has it been a painfully annoying past few days?
Sure as hell yes when you then add in the crap I have to deal with from school.
Did I make the tough call to act like an adult and prioritize responsible things first?
I had to, despite childish disappointments.
Did it all work out in the end?
It looks like it will, since instead of $129 I'll probably only spend $30 on an entirely new PS4.
In the end sometimes we have to make the adult decisions. And while there might not always be a happy ending like this, you at least learn the life lesson of how to manage your life responsibly...or at the very least keep shit together until things get better.
It really needs to give you a break.
