Update on the Three Apps to Help Save Money Through Shopping

On September 26, 2016 I wrote a post entitled Three Apps to Help Save Money Through Shopping on my using three apps to help save money. Today I wanted to update my progress so far.

The three apps that I'm using are Checkout 51, Receipt Hog and iBotta. The premise is simple, buy the things you need and get paid back by using rebates and uploading receipts. Here is where I stand with the three apps.

Receipt Hog

This app is the simplest one to use. It doesn't require any particular purchases or purchases at any specific retailers. All you do is scan your receipts and get coins in return. Once you reach 1000 coins, then you can cash out for either $5.00 to your Paypal account or in the form of an Amazon gift card.

As you can see from the picture to the right, I am at 615 coins, which is almost 2/3rds of the way to my first $5.00 cash out. In using the app, I have discovered that there are a few limitations to the app.

First, you can only accrue 100 coins through receipts based on their points scale per rolling week. After you reach 100 coins, all receipts regardless of the amount spent will be worth 5 coins.

Secondly, you can only upload 20 coin earning receipts during a rolling week period. After that you'll get a Coin Receipt Threshold notice and have to wait for the amount of receipts you have scanned to pass the seven day mark.

Thirdly, you can only upload up to three receipts from the same retailer on the same transaction date. So if you visit Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks more than three times a day, only your first three receipts will be authorized, so I would recommend that you be selective on which receipts you upload.

You can also earn coins by taking surveys and earning spins on the slot machine. You can earn spins by hitting weekly goals and by uploading receipts from retailers such as Best Buy, Home Depot and Barnes and Noble.

Checkout 51

This app works by buying specific products regardless of the retailer and once accepted, you get credit for the item. Each item has its own rebate amount and once you reach the $20.00 mark, you can cash out in the form of a check.

As you can see from the image to the right, I have earned a total of $23.60 in rebates since first using the app. I want to wait until this week's worth of rebates ends on Wednesday October 19th before cashing out. Gotta maximize that cash out. Right?

iBotta

This app is the most complex of the three to use. The app requires you to purchase items for rebates at specific retailers. Though many rebates can be redeemed by purchasing at multiple retailers, if you purchase an item at a non recognized retailer, then you can't get credit for your purchases. This app requires that you be very careful of what you buy and where you buy it. But the good thing is that this app starts you off with a $10.00 credit after your first upload and you can accrue money relatively quickly.

This is especially seen if you link your Facebook account to the app. Any of your Facebook friends that use the app will become part of your team. When they redeem rebates, you can reach "team goals" which in turn helps you earn more money.

So as you can see, I have earned $19.75 worth of rebates and once I reach $20.00, I can cash out to my Paypal account or choose to cash out in the form of a retail gift card. Some require you to cash out at $25.00. With Christmas around the corner, cashing out to a retail gift card would help with gift shopping.

So that's all for now. I'll come back to the apps in about a month or so for another update. If you haven't downloaded the apps, I suggest you do so. Give it a shot.

Until next time,
FH

Three Apps to Help Save Money Through Shopping

I really must apologize to everyone reading this page. I really didn't realize that I hadn't updated this page in almost a year and a half. That is really unacceptable. So starting with this post, I hope to rectify that by highlighting three apps that I have starting using in order to save some money WHILE shopping. Ok, I know, that sounds like a contradiction. But if the apps are true to their meaning, money can be made by just shopping. So let's not wait any further and dive head first into these money saving apps.

Checkout 51

While checking out this weekend's coupons and circulars, I came across an ad for an app called Checkout51. This Apple and Android app is pretty simple to use. The app has a number of items that you can earn cash back with every week from Thursdays to Wednesdays. All you have to do is to purchase those items at any location that will issue you a printed receipt. Then using the app, you take a picture of the receipt, upload it and in the app you highlight the item(s) listed on the receipt that are eligible for the rebate. Then once the receipt is approved by Checkout51, your credit is placed in your in-app account. So how does it turn to cash.

Once you reach $20 dollars or more worth of credit, then you can chose to "cash it out" and it will be mailed to you in the form of a check. That's it. Keep in mind that some items have restrictions as to where you can purchase an item to get credit for it. You can shop at the small local mom and pop shop, to chain stores like Walmart and Kroeger's to the big box wholesale club stores like Costco's and BJ's. The key is to get a printed receipt that clearly states the items you purchased.

So far, I've been able to accrue $4.90 since yesterday. We'll see how the rebate deals are in the near future, but for someone who has two hungry teenagers, any ways to save money helps. While talking to my sister about this app, she turned my on to the next two apps.

Receipt Hog

Receipt hog, which is also supported on Apple and Android is also very easy to use. This is how it works. You can scan up to 20 receipts in a rolling 7-day period and depending on how much the receipts are for, you can get coins, sweepstakes entries and slot machine spins. The location of the receipt that you scan determines the rewards you get. And there really is not limit as to what businesses you can scan receipts from. From supermarkets, stores, retail shops, gas station, bars and restaurants, you can upload receipts to earn points. Receipts cannot be more than two weeks old and have to be printed from a register, not hand written. You can also earn coins by linking accounts and filling out surveys through the app.

When you reach 1,000 coins, you can cash out to either a Paypal account or your Amazon account.

So far I've earned 303 coins since yesterday. And since you can scan in receipts from anyone in your household, you have virtual limitless receipts to chose from.

iBotta

The iBotta app is one that is a bit more convoluted to use. While you can choose from many different retailers, you are only limited to the items they list as being part of the rebates. Most have multiple items that need to be purchased in order to qualify for said rebate. And once you unlock a rebate, depending on the item, it is eligible to be redeemed across multiple retailers. Some rebates are generic so all you have to do is buy the item regardless of the brand, which broadens the amount of savings. You can also link it to apps like Groupon, Best Buy and other retailers Now, the good thing about the app is that upon your first rebate and receipt upload, you earn a $10 dollar bonus.

As with the other two apps once you reach the minimum you can cash out. Where this app differs from the others is that there is a wide array of gift cards that you can cash your money out to in addition to Paypal and Venmo.

What do I think about these apps. Like I said earlier, if they are true to their words, then I think all three have the potential to earn some cash by just being diligent. My sister said she fell off in keeping track of her receipts with the Receipt Hog app so she hasn't been able to cash out a reward. For families this is definitely a godsend. You just have to look at the lists, see what you need and upload your receipts. AND you can still clip and use your coupons as long as the items you buy meet the parameters of the rebates on the apps.

You are only limited by your resilience and imagination. I promise to update where I stand with these apps in a few weeks.

Until next time,
FH

Update on the 60-Week Challenge Part II

On January 3, 2015, I posted an update on my 60-week challenge savings goal. On that day I had by week 8 for the dollar challenge, $36 dollars saved. For the quarter challenge I had $9 dollars saved. Now I am a third of a way through my savings goal and to be honest, I didn't think I would make it this far. I wasn't sure if I would be held over at the store past the seasonal work shift. Plus there was a bit of uncertainty when it came to consistent work hours that I felt would scuttle my attempts to follow my plan. 

Luckily for me, things have worked out and I have been able to keep socking money away in the coffee cans. As you see below, at the 20-week mark, for the dollar challenge I have $210-dollars saved. In the quarter challenge can, I have $52.50 saved. 

From here on in it only gets harder. The amounts per week get higher. But I think that I can stay on course. I'll update on my progress at the halfway point: Week 30.

Until next time,

FH

Using Store Flyers To Save Money

Another way that I try to save a few dollars when doing my food shopping is by perusing various stores and their flyers. Using the little key chain cards that stores love to give out to their customers can really save you some money and get you some bang for your buck if really know how to shop.

As you can see above, I like to look at a variety of weekly flyers to find the best deals. Even chain pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS can provide amazing deals if you look closely. Here's an example of one such sale I took advantage of.

CVS a few weeks ago had the 12oz bag of Starbucks Breakfast Blend coffee (just like the one to the right) at $6.99 per bag. Now if the flyer noted that if you bought $20 dollars worth of Starbucks products, you would receive a $5 dollar Extrabucks rewards coupon to use on any purchase before February 15, 2015. Not that I needed any more incentive to buy three bags of coffee but utilizing the sales to get coupons to be used at a later date is something I couldn't resist. Especially since what I was buying was something that I would use.

So I turned around and used the coupon on a sale that CVS had a week or two later for three boxes of Crispix cereal. Now Crispix is one of the few cereals my daughter enjoys and as one of the Kellogg's "Healthy" offerings, it is one of the most expensive selections. The sale had the cereal at buy 3 boxes for $7-dollars. Using my coupon, I ended up getting 3 boxes for $2-dollars. I can't even get a regular priced box for under $4-dollars so to get 3 for $2 was an amazing coup. That is the key here. Buying stuff you need with the coupons you earn instead of just buying stuff for the sake of getting a coupon or to use a coupon.

That seems to be the methodology of the extreme couponers you see on TV who fill up four to five shopping carts worth of products that they will just sock away so they can use manufacturers coupons to reduce the price of the products they want. Don't get me wrong, it looks amazing on TV to see the large amount due whittle down to virtually nothing after the coupons are scanned in. But its not something that I can do. I do try to buy things that are on sale in order to stock the back-up pantry and if I have a coupon for items on top of a sale price, I try to use it. But back to the key point from above.

Make a list, stick to it and buy what you need. We've all been guilty of walking into a store without a list and leaving with bags full of stuff that caught our eye as we walked down the aisles. Hell, that even happens when we have a list. The key is to fight the urge to buy something that is not on your list. You need to show some willpower, moderation and frugality. If a sale focuses on a store brand rather than a corporate brand name, take advantage of it. There's nothing wrong with a store brand especially when you are trying to stay within budget like I am.

The day will come when you can splurge, but by then if you re-train your way of doing shopping by taking advantage of sales, you won't feel the need to do so. But that is just me. I can only make the suggestion. You guys have to make the effort.

You have any suggestions on what works for you? I'd love to hear about it. For the next post, I did a little test on how much coffee I can get out of a 12oz bag of coffee in the Thermos I received for Christmas and how it compares in terms of price to a daily cup of coffee bought at a store.

Until Then,
FH

Frugality Sucks and Its Really Hard to Keep To The Plan

As I've posted in recent weeks, I've been trying to find ways to lower expenses and save money in a financial situation where I am not making as much as I have been in the past few years. A couple of nights ago, the weight of my goal hit me squarely in the face when I found myself re-routed due to train construction. 

Fast track was happening on the 6-train and the re-routing would have consisted on taking an express bus from 125th Street to Hunts Point Avenue, just to get off the bus to take the train to my stop to HOPEFULLY catch my bus before it stops running for the night. Yes, it is just as convoluted as it sounds. And time consuming to boot especially since I was working an opening shift the next morning after a closing shift. The other option is to take the express bus that leaves me four blocks from my house. Now here is where I realize what I am trying to accomplish with my frugality and how my life has truly changed since my bar days.

In years past I wouldn't have even given a second thought of catching a cab home from 125th Street, or dropping the $6 bucks for the express bus. Hell, I would have sat at the Live Bait Bar on 23rd Street and had a couple of cocktails while waiting for the scheduled bus to arrive. Instead I stood at the bus stop 20 minutes dreading having to spend 2+ rides worth of Metrocard rides on one ride. That's to the degree that I am trying to maintain a budget. Unfortunately, the unlimited ride Metrocards don't work on the express buses. Now, luckily I got home no later that I would have if the train and bus were working normally. But I guess after a busy shift at work, walking to the express bus from Union Square and walking the four blocks home from the stop on Bruckner Boulevard, I was much more tired than I thought. To the degree that I woke up the next morning feeling like a truck hit me and I felt as if I was hungover at work without having done any drinking. So what keeps me from coming off the rails and spending money in ways I shouldn't? Routine.

I stick to the plan by maintaining a strict routine. I don't carry any of my credit cards to avoid the temptation of sitting in a bar (I'll go into this in a later post), spending money while waiting for the bus or using them to shell out for a cab ride. I don't carry any cash so that I don't spend any money frivolous manner. What I do maintain as a part of the routine is a journal. I have one journal that keeps track of earnings and spending. I have a second one called Building the Best You: A Two-Year Discovery Journal by Caroline Harper. Here is how the journal is described:

How can you become the person you’ve always dreamt of being? Personal transformation begins when you take stock of where you are and what you’re doing right now…and work to change it. And with this two-year self-discovery journal, based on the tenets of Positive Psychology, you’ll not only see results from year-to-year or even month-to-month; an amazing difference is visible day-to-day. All you have to do is answer some basic questions and take five minutes of “focus time” daily to get there. Best of all, charting your entries is an affirmative experience, because you’re responding to queries like “What am I grateful for today?”, “What challenged me?”, and “How can I overcome that challenge?” It highlights the courage, joy, hope, forgiveness, and love that live inside you.

The unique and attractive design places year one and year two questions in two side-by-side columns, so you can easily compare answers, notice patterns, and celebrate how far you’ve come in only 12 months.   

The questions are very repetitive but the idea for me is to create my routine by maintaining my journal and putting what I feel to paper to avoid taking it with me to bed and carrying it over into the next day. My maintaining of a routine journal certainly helps with the budget aspect since I keep both journals together and if I update one, the other one reminds me to update the other. It also helps me realize that this journey isn't easy and many a sacrifice has to be made to reach the level where I want to be both financially and spiritually.

So I take the good days with the bad and keep rolling with the punches. It sucks but so can life sometimes. No? Ok, enough of the complaining. LOL. I go back to my efforts to save money in my next post in the form of using store circulars to save money on items that we need on a daily basis and to try and stock the pantry for a later date.

Until next time,
FH

Living Within Your Means Part I

In my quest to create financial freedom for myself, I've relied on a series of books for advice and ideas. I previously mentioned that I have been referring to Nancy Dunnan's How to Invest $50-$5000. The Small Investor's Step-by-Step Plan for Low Risk Investing in Today's Economy. Tenth Edition.

I've also been reading two very different books in terms of tone with each other. One is You're Broke Because You Want to Be: How to Stop Getting By and Start Getting Ahead by Larry Winget. Winget's tome is very much in your face from the start with a very honest, tough love kind of financial advice that some might not find comforting in the least. Personally, I find it amusing and quite appreciate the forthright tone of Winget's words. This is a man who reached financial success, lost it and climbed the mountain anew learning and using the lessons of his failure.

The second book Frugal Isn't Cheap: Spend Less, Save More, and Live Better by Clare Levinson. Levinson's book takes a more friendlier tone using personal anecdotes to relay her message that being frugal isn't being cheap. It just means that you are aware of your financial situation and not only respect where you want to be financially but that you care about where you want to be.

Now while both authors have different ways to bring about their message, one of their common threads is living within your means. Now this sounds like a simple concept, but you'd be amazed at how many people fail to live within their means. The over-reliance on credit to pay for virtually everything leads people to live a life way beyond that they can afford. This leads to massive credit debt that takes forever to pay off, leading to big profits to the credit card companies. Now my case is a little different.

Before I was fired from my job at the end of June, I was living within my means. Doing so, I was able to put away a decent little nest egg and was able to live comfortably. My mistake during unemployment was that I didn't "cut the fat" fast enough. What do I mean by that?

I made the assumption that I would find a job soon after my time off to enjoy the summer with the kids. I mean, why wouldn't I. I had 12-years of experience at one bar and a total of 20-years experience in the bar business. Lo and behold, I was in for a big and humbling surprise. Nary any interest in my resume led me to realize that my days in the bar business were over and I had to look in another direction for employment. Now I don't want to harp on ancient history, but what I should have done was cut my expenses from the beginning, instead of doing so when I saw that I would eventually take a considerable pay cut.

I tried to keep life as it was before I was fired and that was my mistake. I couldn't live life as before because I was only getting a fraction of what I was making, first from unemployment and then from my current job. So what I, and many of us need to do is this: LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS. So what does that exactly mean.

I'll put it this way. If what you pay out in bills and expenses in a month is less that your income then you are living within your means. If you borrow from Peter to pay Paul on a monthly basis to help pay off what you spend in a month then you aren't. Now in my experience, its a matter of looking at your expenses and finding out what isn't needed and "cutting the fat away."  One of the things that Larry Winget suggests is taking an account of what you spend in the form of a budget sheet. Here is the sheet he has listed in both his book and on his website (You can download it in PDF format):

If what you make is less than what your number is on the Total Debts and Expenses line then you need to lower your expenses.

Two recent examples of expenses that I lowered was my Cable and Netflix. My cable consists of cable, internet and phone and I was paying close to 220.00 a month. This is an obscene account. If it was up to me it would all go with the exception of the internet and the phone. Since my wife and I both work similar daytime schedules, the kids come home alone after school. Since they don't have cell phones (no need to additional expenses), the house phone is our link to the kids. I was able to lower the cable bill by almost $60 dollars by lowering my plan from the Gold plan to the Value plan. Now this eliminates all our premium channels and other channels.

In terms of Netflix, I've always had the movie rental plan. When Blu-Ray movies became available I upgraded the plan. At most I used the 5-movie at a time plan which caused me to pay almost $50 a month. Now I could afford that plan because we really don't go out to the movies. That in itself is a BIG expense, especially if you have kids. Since July, I downgraded from the 5-movie plan to the 3-movie plan to the Streaming only plan. I went from paying close to $50 a month to less than $7.99 a month. As per the post A Quick Update On Our Streaming Plans And Prices from Netflix blog page dated May 9, 2014:

To continue adding more movies and TV shows, we are increasing the price of our $7.99 a month streaming plan by one dollar to $8.99 for new members. Current Netflix members get to keep their current price for two years, enjoying HD-quality movies and TV shows on any two screens at the same time.

With the channels we do have, plus Netflix and Hulu there is enough to watch. I should see a savings of close to $80 a month with the reduction in Cable and Netflix services. If I could find these layers of expenses to cut, I'm sure you can to. You just have to evaluate what you need and what you don't.

I'll continue to revisit my attempts to live within my means in future posts. Feel free and comment to let me know what tips and tricks you have utilized to live within your means. I'd appreciate hearing what you've done.

Until next time,
FH

For Further Reading:
- Larry Winget's official website
- Clare Levinson's official website
- Nancy Dunnan's column Dunnan on Dollars from the Online Investor website

Bagging Your Lunch To Save Money

I originally wrote this post in November but decided to hold it over until the New Year. Maybe those of you who are feeling "New Year's Resolution Fever" will take heed of the message that I am putting out in this post. I'm sure food is expensive in most major urban centers but eating in New York City is expensive, especially if you work on the island of Manhattan (yes folks, NYC is more than just Manhattan).

Now I guess you can eat off the value menu of places such as McDonalds and Wendy's or have street meat on a daily basis. But why would you do that to yourself and your stomach. Even pizza, which used to be an economical way to have something to eat has gotten ridiculously overpriced. So I calculated the amounts that I would have spent on lunch and decided that it was easier and cheaper to just bag my lunch.

The calculations are based on estimates on what I used to spend on lunch/dinner when I bartended. We would order wings from a local wing spot and between the wings, tax and tip, we'd drop $20 each for the bill. That was roughly the same when ordering from the diner or any other take out spot. Spending that much on just food adds up. Not to mention that we would spend extra getting something from the local deli whenever someone did a run to the store. I am not in the position to spend that kind of money on a daily basis and I'd rather utilize those funds to buy food that I can make at home at a considerable savings AND make to satisfy more than just one meal. So for the purpose of this exercise, I'm dealing with round numbers so your estimates might be less than mine.

So let's say you work a five-day week and let's say your daily expenditure for lunch rounds out to $10 a day. Multiply that by 5 and you spend $50 a week on lunch. Multiply that same $50 by 52 weeks and you find that you spend $2600 a year on lunch.

• $10 x 5 days = $50
• $50 x 52 weeks = $2600

That's a pretty hefty amount and I'm not even taking into account the money that is spent on your morning coffee, donut, roll and danish.

Now who are you kidding, we busy New Yorkers don't have time to have breakfast at home. Many New Yorkers are so busy that they would rather spend the money to buy their breakfast on the street rather than waking up early and having breakfast at home. Again, as with the lunch estimate, I round out the amount to $5 a day though if you use a street cart it might be cheaper and if you go to Dunkin Donuts, Tim Horton's or Starbucks it might be more expensive.

Based on a five-day work week multiple it by $5 dollars for a total of $25 a week. Multiply the $25 by 52 weeks and that's a total of $1300 a year for breakfast.

• $5 x 5 days = $25
• $25 x 52 weeks = $1300

So here is what we are looking at so far:

• $2600 Estimated Lunch a Year 
• $1300 Estimated Breakfast a Year 
• $3900 Estimated Expenditures on Lunch and Breakfast a Year 

So we are looking at an estimated total of $3900 in meals a year and that doesn't include the afternoon coffee you sneak out to buy, the candy bar or bag of chips at the office vending machine, the fruit you buy from the street fruit vendor and so on. Multiply that by two if your spouse or partner spent the same estimated amount and you are look at close to $8000 spent on what you and your spouse spend to eat during the day while at work. I don't know about you but that is a little over five months worth of rent for me. That kind of money can be better served in other areas. So bagging lunch it is. Now am I saying that you shouldn't treat yourself? Absolutely not.

You work hard so you should treat yourself occasionally. Just do it in moderation so you can save some of that hard earned money. If you have to buy coffee while out on the streets, look into ways that you can save money to do so. Some small coffee shops have rewards programs such as if you buy a certain amount of cups, you get a free cup of coffee. Dunkin Donuts for the holidays sells a Holiday gift card (like the one shown to the right) which for $15 you would get 10-large sized cups of coffee. Normally a large cup of coffee would cost you roughly $2.50 so for 10-large sized ups you would save $10. The card doesn't expire and they cards are still being sold. This is something that would work perfectly in terms of both budget and satisfying the craving for a cup of joe.

Another option is to do what I do: Bring your own coffee to work. Luckily for me, my darling wife Momma-San listens to me and heard that I wanted to buy a Thermos to bring my coffee to work. So for Christmas, I found a Thermos sitting under the tree. Now, if you are thinking that I got an old school tan colored Thermos with the plastic lid that doubles as a cup you are mistaken.

What I got was a sleek looking container that according to the product description for the Thermos® Stainless King™ 24-Ounce Beverage Bottle from the Bed Bath and Beyond website:

It features TherMax® double-wall vacuum insulation for maximum temperature retention that keeps cold beverages cold for up to 24 hours and hot liquids hot for up to 18 hours...Holds a generous 24 ounces

If 24-ounces isn't enough, they sell a 40-ounce Thermos: the Thermos® Stainless King™ 40-Ounce Beverage Bottle, which is the same price as the 24-ounce Thermos.

This Thermos has already paid for itself. I take roughly 20-ounces of coffee with me everyday to work. It stays hot during my entire shift and now I don't need to purchase coffee during the day or even after work AND I'm not tempted to buy a donut or two which helps keep my big gut in check.

I'm currently trying to see how many days of coffee I'm getting out of a 12oz bag of ground Dunkin Donuts medium roast coffee. I just bought four bags at CVS at $5.99 a bag using their Rewards Card. I'll go into using those cards in a later post.

Basically the only daily expenditure I have is my transportation. Its gotten to the point that I don't even carry cash with me. Not carrying cash takes away the temptation of spending money. And since I hate swiping my debit card for small amounts I don't have to worry about using that either.

Times are tough. We all need to find ways to save some money. I hope this helps.

Until next time,
FH

Update on the 60-Week Challenge

Happy New Year to you all. Just wanted to give you all a brief update my progress on the 60-Week challenge. As I described in my last post, I am adjusting the 52-week savings challenge for 60-weeks taking advantage of the seven weeks that I was working before the new year plus one week in advance. Why one week? I figure that there will be a week where I won't be able to put into the pot so I would be ahead of the game if I did hit that point.

So far I am 12.5% into the challenge. Now I am doing one challenge at intervals of a dollar and one challenge at an interval of a quarter. So far in week 8 for the dollar challenge, I am at $36 dollars saved. For the quarter challenge I have $9 dollars saved. Now I know the amounts don't seem like much, but the savings start slow and accumulate during the year. The big challenge for me is trying to stay on mark during the weeks where the amounts to be deposited go into the double digits. Hopefully my budgeting will free up enough money that I can continue with the challenge. I guess I'll worry about that when I get to it. For now, here is how the coffee cans look like:

For my next post, I look at ways that we can save money from the perspective as New Yorkers who work in the big city by looking at the amounts of money that we spend on breakfast and lunch. Also, let me know how you are doing with your money challenge. Any suggestions and ideas?

Until next time,
FH

The 60-Week Challenge

I recently post to my Instagram a chart for the 52-week challenge. Now if you haven't seen it before, the 52-week challenge is a way to put money away every week, in increments until you reach the end of the year. The goal is to take $1 dollar in week one and put it away. $2 dollars in week two, $3 in week three and so forth. By the chart on the right, you should reach the desired goal of $1,378 at the end of the next calendar year.

In my case, I'm doing a 60-week challenge. Why? I don't want to wait until January to start my savings program. The final amount for the 60-week challenge will be $1,830. Here's a word of warning. Keep in mind that as you progress in the weekly interval, you will be taking out amounts in the $40, and $50 dollar range from your check on a weekly basis. That might be something that is very prohibitive depending on your expenses. Another way to do the 52-week challenge is to do so in reverse. Carrie Rocha in her article Don’t Do the 52-Week Money Challenge (At Least Not Their Way) from the Pocket Your Dollars website dated January 8, 2014 describes how you can do it in reverse by taking out the bigger amounts in the beginning when you are motivated and have the smaller amounts taken out in December when you're main expenditures for Christmas happens.

In the end, do what works for you. I'm starting now because I am not guaranteed a job after Christmas season. I was hired as a seasonal worker and I am trying to stay on permanently. So starting now helps me get a start for when I get hired on a permanent basis (hopefully). I'm doing a smaller one as well, starting with 25¢ and going up from there at 25¢ intervals. They key isn't the amount, its the dedication to stay on the path to savings. Just find what works for you. Here are a few more examples of savings plans.

If you rather do your own plan, print out this chart to keep track:

There's no right or worse way to do this plan. Just find what works for you and ride it out until the end. I'll post on how I'm doing in the near future. Let me know what you think.

Until next time,
FH

No More $20 Dollar Cocktails For Me

I have to admit that I never thought that I would be where I am at the age of 42. Now I never particularly planned specific end goals for the age of 42. But I never thought that I would have been without a job and surviving on unemployment benefits and a dwindling nest-egg when I turned 42.

It really is a humbling situation to be in. Even more so, since working in the bar business offered me the opportunity to make good money, albeit off the illness and addictive habits of many a customer. That in itself formed a type of moral issue for me. But I digress.

Fast forward about a month and a half and I'm employed in the retail sector. Why? Because the bar business well dried up. In almost four months I had three interviews for a person with almost 20 years in the bar business. 3!!!!! When I interviewed for the Olive Garden and I couldn't get a second interview or a call back of any type, I knew at that point it was clear as day that I was done in the bar business. You know what? It was a good thing.

I was downright miserable. I really dreaded going to work to deal with the constant bullshit that came from both within and without. If you've never worked in the service industry, you really wouldn't understand. A five night work week in the bar feels like a seven day or more work week at a day job. Trust me, I've been on both sides of the workforce. Not to mention, you see people at their worse and they treat you like you're shit. As if you're job in dealing with their drunk and belligerent asses isn't a "Real Job." Don't let me get started on the internal issues.

So you may ask "Why do it". Plain and simple" The money is good. Back to working the proverbial 9-5 40-hour work week as a daywalker, I can tell you that on a bad night, I could make almost the entire amount that I would now make in a week. Talk about sobering. But again, it was a good thing that I was knocked back down to square one. I probably would be miserable and working at the bar. It took getting kicked in the balls and going through my savings to realize that it was a blessing in disguise. I might be cash-strapped but I have my peace of mind. The money issues have created another stress but it has allowed me to refocus and re-learn the idea of living a simpler existence. In trying to cut the fat from my expenses, it has allowed me to better manage the little funds I have available. I can no longer live by the idea of "I'll have a kick ass night that will cover the bills and what not." As I mentioned to my sister the other day: No More $20 Dollar Cocktails For Me.

So where do I stand. I'm back at square one after taking my lumps and ready to dish out some punishment and take my next steps. I'm going to try and rebuild my savings and then some. The original amount that I had saved and subsequently went through is irrelevant but I will attempt to use tried and true methods of saving money and share my successes and failures here through periodic posts.

The first recommendation that I have is that if you can, pick up this book: How to Invest $50-$5,000: The Small Investor's Step-By-Step Plan for Low-Risk, High-Value Investing by Nancy Dunnan. Now in its 10th edition, the book is a great resource in educating people on what resources are available out there for investment written in plain English. It won't make you rich with a turn of the page, but it will allow you to learn the foundations of investing and give you ideas on what services might be ideal for you. I'm sure you can find it in the public library if you don't want to buy it. That's how I got a hold of it. Let me know what you think.

Until next time.
FH

Yet Again Another African Email Scam

It's been a while since I've posted anything here and decided to do so with one of my favorite kinds of scam emails. I find it amazing that people actually fall for some of these. The thought of having millions deposited to your account at a time of desperation must be hard to dispel. Though for this one I have to admit that the person writing it is actually doing some research though their lack of grammar is a dead give away. The insertion of the link to the CNN article from 2008 about plane crash that took the lives of four people including a member of the Cabinet of the President of Kenya and his assistant is a nice touch in an attempt to lend some credibility to the scam. Here is the text of the email I received:

Dear,

My name is Cynthia Kipkalya Kones,
I am writing this mail to you with tears and sorrow from my heart. With due respect,trust and umanity, i appeal to you to exercise a little patience and read through my letter, I wish to contact you personally for a long term business relationship and investment assistance in your Country so i feel quite safe dealing with you in this important business having gone through your remarkable profile, honestly i am writing this email to you with pains, tears and sorrow from my heart, i will really like to have a good relationship with you and i have a special reason why i decided to contact you, i decided to contact you due to the urgency of my situation, My name is Miss.Cynthia Kipkalya Kones, 21yrs old female and I held from Kenya in East Africa. My father was the former Kenyan road Minister. He and Assistant Minister of Home Affairs Lorna Laboso had been on board the Cessna 210, which was headed to Kericho and crashed in a remote area called Kajong'a, in western Kenya. The plane crashed on the Tuesday 10th June 2008.

You can read more about the crash through the below site: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/06/10/kenya.crash/index.html

After the burial of my father, my stepmother and uncle conspired and sold my father's property to an Italian Expert rate which they shared the money among themselves and live nothing for me. I am constrained to contact you because of the abuse I am receiving from my wicked stepmother and uncle. They planned to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. Meanwhile i wanted to escape to the USA but they hide away my international passport and other valuable travelling documents. Luckily they did not discover where i kept my fathers File which contains important documents. So I decided to run to the refugee camp where i am presently seeking asylum under the United Nations High Commission for the Refugee here in Ouagadougou, Republic of Burkina Faso.

One faithful morning, I opened my father's briefcase and found out the documents which he has deposited huge amount of money in bank in Burkina Faso with my name as the next of kin. I travelled to Burkina Faso to withdraw the money for a better life so that I can take care of myself and start a new life, on my arrival, the Bank Director whom I met in person told me that my father's instruction/will to the bank is that the money would only be release to me when I am married or present a trustee who will help me and invest the money overseas. I am in search of an honest and reliable person who will help me and stand as my trustee so that I will present him to the Bank for transfer of the money to his bank account overseas. I have chosen to contact you after my prayers and I believe that you will not betray my trust. But rather take me as your own sister.

Although, you may wonder why I am so soon revealing myself to you without knowing you, well I will say that my mind convince me that you may be the true person to help me. More so, my father of blessed memory deposited the sum of ($8,500.000.00 USD) Dollars in Bank with my name as the next of kin. However, I shall forward you with the necessary documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me for the transfer and statement of the fund in your country. As you will help me in an investment, and i will like to complete my studies, as i was in my 1year in the university when my beloved father died. It is my intention to compensate you with 30% of the total money for your services and the balance shall be my capital in your establishment. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest I will put things into action immediately. In the light of the above. I shall appreciate an urgent message on (cKipkalya@yahoo.fr) indicating your ability and willingness to handle this transaction sincerely.

AWAITING YOUR URGENT AND POSITIVE RESPONSE, Please do keep this only to your self for now un till the bank will transfer the fund. I beg you not to disclose it till i come over because I am afraid of my wicked stepmother who has threatened to kill me and have the money alone. I thank God Today that am out from my country (KENYA) but now In (Burkina Faso) where my father deposited the money with my name as the next of Kin. I have the documents for the claim. Please contact me here (cKipkalya@yahoo.fr)

Yours Sincerely,
Miss.Cynthia Kipkalya Kones
cKipkalya@yahoo.fr

Alas my dear Cynthia, I cannot help you. I'm sure you'll find another patsy, umm, knight in shining armor that will ride on in on his trusty steed to help save the day for you. Au revoir.

On a side note, here is another little nugget I just received:

Hi Friend I am a banker in UBA BANK .I want to transfer an abandoned sum of 10.5 USD to your account.50% will be for you. No risk involved. Contact me for more details. Kindly reply me back to my alternative email address ( kasimmohamed712@yahoo.com )    Dr Kasim Mohamed.

Really now. To quote Ed Lover: Come on Son.

FH

Talk About A Shitty Commute

I step on the Uptown 6 train after work this morning to find a man taking a shit in the train car. Yes folks, the guy was taking a dump on the train and had the nerve to get mad at us for interrupting him while he was pooping. As if. We promptly left him to his shitting and moved into the next car. The rest of the ride was basically a comedy skit made up of a steady stream of commuters who got on the shitty car and made a bee-line to the now full next car. It reminded me of the chase scenes in Benny Hill. All we needed to hear was Boots Randolph's Yakety Sax over the loud speakers.

What I find curious is that a rider who got on later  blamed the MTA for their shitty service. As much as I have had my issues with the MTA, I can't blame them for this shitshow. You never know when someone is just going to pop a squat and drop a duece on the train. The dude did so after the train left the Brooklyn Bridge station.

I really feel sorry for the person who has to clean that shit up. My sympathies to you whomever you may be. That is definitely NOT in the job description.

FH

Here's a little travel music for your commutes. Enjoy ;)

A Piece of Advice On Dealing with Baby Mommas

If you brothers (or sisters) out there happen to have more than two baby mommas allow me to give you one piece of friendly advice: Have separate places where you take each baby momma. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE TAKE BOTH (OR ANY COMBINATION OF BABY MOMMAS IF MORE THAN TWO) TO THE SAME BAR. Sorry for the caps folks but I just wanted anyone reading this to realize that this was an important point. Why do I mention this? Well, we were faced with good old fashioned baby momma drama at the BSB.

It started before I arrived to work where baby daddy was at the bar with who I believe is baby momma #1. Now what had happened was, as they are shooting pool, baby momma #2 rolls up with the babies in the car. Comes into the bar and has words with both baby daddy and baby momma #1. Quite the predicament baby daddy finds himself in.

Baby momma #2 storms out with baby daddy in tow threatening a whole slew of things. Baby daddy was frozen in what to do. He decided to leave with baby momma #2. Now that might have been the right decision for him but not for us. For by making his decision to leave with baby momma #2, he left a seething baby momma #1 for us to deal with at the bar.

Now I can't blame the woman for being irate. But instead of logically focusing her rage on the rightfully parties, she chose to do against us. She vented attitude, insults, breaking a glass and when she was told to leave by my doorman she started to get physical by slapping his chest, arms and if she could probably his face. Before I go any further, allow me to shed some light on the issues doormen/bouncers face.

If this was a guy we were dealing with, things would have been resolved in a faster manner. As much as we try not to have situations get physical, it happens. If given on other choice, we would just physically remove a man from the premises. Not so with a woman. Under no circumstance do we try to touch a woman to have her leave the bar. Now my stand-by is to take a woman's purse and/or bag and take it outside the bar. No woman I know would ever leave her purse behind purposely. This is where this situation differed from others. If this woman was willing to get physical with a bouncer who's to say she would get worse if he grabbed her bag. Who knows if she has a weapon in it. Its easier to let time go by and have the person walk out on their own than to physically have to do so. I always shake my head when people like to insult us with "why don't you get a real job". People would shit in their pants if they had to deal with half the shit bar people deal with on a nightly basis. But I digress

After a period of time she makes her way to the front to order a drink. She's been cut off. She asks why and I patiently continue to tell her why. Finally the final straw came when she started insulting my bartender and tried to grab a glass to potentially throw at someone on my staff. We nudged her outside and closed the door on her with me standing in the front dealing with her incoherent ramblings and insults mixed in compliments on how cute I was. I don't know whether she was drunk, high or both but she was both laughable and pitiful. Finally after some more time of doing that, she stalked off into the night. Luckily we didn't see or hear from her again.

What a way to start a Saturday night. It wasn't even 8:30pm when she left. Nights like these make me want to just say fuck it. I'm done.

FH

The Stone Faced Señora on the Train

On comes this stone faced señora on the train, mean mugging each and every passenger (including your humble narrator). Now at 5am, the train is a very precarious blend of nightwalkers making their way home after a long night of work or play and those early rising daywalkers who are heading to work. And then there is the stone faced señora.

Now I can admit that I often find myself gritting my teeth at the racket on the train in the late/early hours. That's why I have my big headphones to block out undesirable noises. But back to my aggro amiga "Cara de Piedra Duran".

Like I said earlier, she stalks onto the train, mean mugs everyone and sits down with a look on her face as if she ate glass with nails smothered in battery acid and passed them while tearing her sphincter and surrounding hemmorhoids. Yeah, that's how she looked. But she gets worse.

This is the time of the day where people are going to work all nice and chipper after a good night's rest and a piping hot cup of tea, while listening to the birds outside their window sing them a beautiful aria to start the day. In having done so, they are more than willing to have a lively and spirited conversation on the good old early morning Iron Horse. Well, my aggro amiga did not like it in the least. Though she didn't say anything to the ladies who were talking at a reasonable volume, she kept sucking her teeth (making a louder noise than the women) and covering her ears with her fists while rocking back and forth to block out the apparently offensive noise. Luckily for all involved, including myself, the conversing chicas got off on 68th Street and our stone faced señora went back to mean mugging yours truly. I thought she was going to go nuclear while riding my favorite filly Iron Horse #6.

Luckily for me, Medusa's power of turning flesh to stone did not have an effect on me. She eventually stomped off the train a few stops later to grace others with her sunshine of a personality. And I say that I'm a curmudgeon.

Sweet dreams buttercup unless you also scare those away as well with your mean mug. Talk about "Frau Blucher".

FH

In Chicago and Illinois Part I

One way to describe this trip is that size does matter. Granted that the reason we were going to Chicago was for G-Fest XX that celebrated everything that was Godzilla and Kaiju related. But before I go into that, I wanted to go back to he size thing. No, I'm not talking about THAT (this is a PG post folks). Allow me to elaborate.

We flew out of LaGuardia airport on the Delta Shuttle to Chi-Town and for these short flights they utilize smaller "shuttle" planes which hold roughly 70 passengers. Since I sat with my son, I didn't feel cramped in my seat (which I usually find myself feeling on most planes). It was at the bathroom where I felt the size crunch. Lets put it this way, I must have felt like the Big Show from the WWE feels in ordinary bathrooms. My head made contact with the ceiling of the bathroom while the door shut directly on my back. I just had enough wiggle room to use the facilities and to turn around to lock and open the door. Consider that I'm a decent sized man at 6'1" and 270lbs but even there I found myself compressed in the cramped commode. I made sure to use the bathroom on the plane just once. LOL.

After we arrived at O'Hare Airport, we took the shuttle bus from the airport to Enterprise Rent-A-Car where again I was met with a size challenge. My last rental from Enterprise was a Volkswagen Beetle which I drove from Monterrey to San Francisco in 2011. I absolutely loved it. Again I decided to go with a compact car and this time I was given the Fiat 500c. It is a nice little car. I have no complaints on how it drove. Very smooth on the road and easy to handle. The issue for me was that once I got in (and stopped banging my knees) there was not much headroom. Now, I wasn't bad as Bob Parr aka Mr. Incredible in his little car but again as with the bathroom on the plane, there wasn't much wiggle room. It was a useful little car while I rented it but I couldn't think of owning one for myself.

After getting lost for a while in and around Rosemont, Illinois and finally finding the hotel, we checked into our room. We decided to relax for a bit before the double feature at The Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Illinois. Now why was I surprised when I turned the TV on and saw that they were playing a Japanese monster movie. I should have known better. Actually, the convention had a whole slate of movies, documentaries and interviews from prior conventions playing throughout the convention on channel 2. It was a very nice touch. On to the theater we went.

Park Ridge was about five miles or so from our hotel and we found ourselves in a small town which that "Main Street" feel you tend to see in the movies. There was a outdoor festival going on called A Taste of Park Ridge where a band played and food was served in a nice park next to the City Hall. I have to say that I felt a little jealous of this. you just don't see events like these in the Bronx. It reminded me of the old 14th Street Fair in Astoria from my youth and the feasts that are still done on Ditmars Blvd. before I get lost on memory lane, let me get back to Park Ridge.

We parked and stopped off at the Pickwick Restaurant which is located next to the theater. I felt as if I not only left NYC but I also went back in time. The restaurant evoked the feel of 1950's and 1960's diner. The only thing missing was the personal jukeboxes on the tables. The service was super friendly and you can tell that the same clientele went to the restaurant often since the staff referred to the majority of the customers by their first name.

Taken by RUSSELL B. PHILLIPS courtesy of http://www.anatomicallycorrect.org/alltheworldsastage.htm

Now as you can see above, the exterior the Pickwick is an old school theater. The theater looked like it was ripped out from a book of old Chicago-area movie houses. It was old school down to the machine that spit out the ticket stubs, the prices for a regular movie (see below) AND the small concession area. We were definitely NOT in New York City folks.

Luckily for me that's where the old school feel ended. The theater of the Pickwick that was showing the movies had been recently renovated. They installed a huge digital screen and these massive cushioned rocking theater seats. I was definitely happy about that. I was dreading having to spend the better part of 7-hours seated in cramped theater seats.

Oh, and the movies we saw? Well the double feature had Gamera vs. Gyaos and The X From Outer Space (which surprisingly is a Criterion Collection movie) and at the midnight showing was Pacific Rim which you need to see ASAP if you're an fan of action flicks.

By the time we left the theater at 2:20am and got back to the hotel it was close to 3am. We took ourselves to bed knowing that we needed to be up early for the registration of the G-Fest XX Convention. Little that I know I would be even more tired after day two. :)

FH

Why

Things that happen in daily life often make you ask the question: "Why?" Now add a situation like the recent bombing of the Boston Marathon and the subsequent chaos that followed during the days after and the question "Why?" looms even larger.

For example, why did two young brothers allegedly do what they did. Why would these brothers lash out in a mode of terror when it seemed to many that knew them that they were enjoying the best of what the American Dream was providing them. These were two young men with apparent goals and aspirations  So the question "Why?" continues to loom large. We have yet to hear their side. With the death of the older brother, that question cannot be answered by him not can it be answered by the younger brother since he is on the lam.

Why the Boston Marathon. What statement did placing those bombs there want to be said. Why the senseless injuries, maimings, dismemberments, and deaths to two adults in the approaching the prime of their lives and a young boy of 8-years of age who never got the chance to live his life. Add to that the 26-year old police officer who was killed in the line of duty on the campus of M.I.T. Another person senselessly killed.

As a father of two children I empathize with all of the parents involved. One never wants to hear about one of your children being hurt, maimed, dismembered or killed. The thought is unimaginable. The feelings that these parents are experiencing is something that I hope to never feel. Those families will never be the same.

On the other side you have the father of the two suspects who feels as if his sons are innocent. How can a parent not empathize with his pain. Who wants to wake up to the news that their two sons are capable of undertaking such atrocities. No one wants to believe that of their babies. No matter how old they (and we) are, they will always be babies to us. Not only that but regardless of guilt, no parent wants to hear via TV that their son was killed by a combination of bullet fire and being run over by their fleeing younger son.

That family is torn asunder with relatives taking to the air talking about innocence, guilt, shame, embarrassment  astonishment and forgiveness among the many emotions that are being displayed. Taking different sides that undoubtedly will destroy familial bonds. That family will never be the same.
The family of missing the Brown University student whose name was mentioned on a police scanner since going missing in March went from jubiliation of their missing relative being found to unimaginable horror that he would be capable of these crimes to despondency that he was not the person being chased and was still missing. That family will not be the same.

The towns that are currently on lockdown will also never be the same. Any sound during the night reminiscent of gunfire will trigger memories of last night's events. A increase in the number of law enforcement at any time will bring back memories. Anyone who would resemble all of those involved will bring back memories. Those lives will never be the same.

In the end, all parties involved will all have different questions that will all start with one word: Why. Its a question that we may never get an answer to.

May everyone in the greater Boston area be safe and may this situation come to a swift end and hopefully without anymore injury and loss of life.

FH

Ivory Coast Email Scam

For those of you who have read this blog before you know that I find email scams to be rather amusing. I really find it amazing that people will actually fall for some of the things that are sent to their email from strangers in places that they will probably never visit. I am amazed how people believe that they can make millions by just answering an email. I guess if you're in dire straits anything can seem realistic. But man, people need to think. Here's an example of another email scam that recently ended up in my spam folder. Read on:

ASSALAMU'ALAYKUM !!!!!

VERY URGENT FROM THE HOSPITAL

PLEASE DO CONTACT ME THROUGH THIS MY PRIVATE EMAIL: Mariammuhammaddd@yahoo.co.th

I am Mrs. Mariam Muhammad, a widow to late Muhammad Hashim former owner of Petroleum & Gas Company here in Ivory Cost West Africa. I am 63 years old, suffering from long time Cancer of the breast. From all indications my condition is really deteriorating and it's quite obvious that I won't live more than 2 months according to my doctors.

This is because the cancer stage has gotten to a very bad stage. I don't want you to pity me, but I need your assistance and trust. My late husband died early last year from Heart attack, and during the period of our Marriage we couldn't produce any child. I found your e-mail address in the web directory, and I have decided to contact you, but if for any reason you find this mail offensive, please you can ignore it and please accept my apology.

Before my late husband died he deposited the sum of One million, Three Hundred Thousand United States dollars (USD$1.3 Million) in a Bank some years ago, that’s all I have left now, I have wholeheartedly decided to donate the entirety of this fund to any devoted Believer or organization and to achieve this, I need an individual that will utilize this funds adherent for these purposes.

1: For the sick, less-privileged
2: For the Widows and the motherless babies e.t.c
3: Orphanage or Charity Home

Presently, I'm in a hospital in Ivory Coast, where I have been undergoing treatment for esophageal cancer. I want someone, who is God-fearing to use this money for the propagating the good news of God, orphanages and widows, I await your quick response to this mail as this is my last wish to see this funds transferred before my death. I want you to contact my servant with this information below:

Servant Fouad Khalifa Address: Rue De La Yamoussoukro L/G 152 Macory Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire Tel +225-66404825 Email: Fouadkhalifar@yahoo.co.th

He will give you the documents of the fund and will direct you to a well known lawyer that i have appointed, the lawyer will assist you to change the documents of the money to your name to enable the bank transfer the money to you. This is the favor i need when you have gotten the money:-

(1) Give 20% of the money to my servant Fouad Khalifa as he has been there for me throughout my illness and i have promised to support him in life. I want you to take him along with you to your country and establish him as your son. The lawyer's name is Barrister Pedro Jose. And Let Fouad Khalifa sends you his International Passport to be sure of who you are dealing with. Fouad Khalifa is so little, therefore guide him.

I hope God gives you the wisdom to touch many lives that is my main concerned. 30% of this money will be for your time and effort, while 50% goes to charities that will appreciate your assistance for this project. The doctor has stopped me from receiving and making calls due to my health condition.

Yours Sister in Islam.
Mrs. Mariam Muhammad
Allah Hafiz.
As Salam Alaikum!

As you can see this one is rather polished compared to others I have gotten. The spelling is correct and has very few grammatical errors. It kind of makes your heart go out to Mrs. Mariam Muhammad. Kind of.

Come on people. Don't fall for these scams. You know better than that.

FH

Detour MTA Style

Before I go into my story, I have to admit. I really haven't had much to complain about in terms of the MTA. Even with the upcoming fare hike, I thought the way they handled Hurricane Sandy was amazing. Service on my lines have been virtually flawless. But something has really been infecting people as of late. No, not the flu but the push people into the tracks bug has been rampant as of late. Now before we make assumptions, I don't know that this morning's issue was due to a pushing. But I was told that the delay on the Lexington Avenue line was due to someone being trapped under the train at 23rd Street. Knowing that, I can proceed.

I get to the Bleecker Street 6 train station at 5:14am with time to catch the 5:16am train and notice that a 4 train is pulling out slowly. On the PA system I hear do to a police investigation, there is no local service between 42nd Street Grand Central and Brooklyn Bridge in both directions. I quickly exit and walk to Prince Street to catch the N to 14th Street Union Square.

I wait at Prince for about 10 minutes and after a few minutes on the train I get to Union Square. I notice the LED time schedules all say "Delay" for the Lexington Avenue trains. That got my "Spidey-sense" a-tingling but continued down to the platform where a 4 train was in the local track with its doors open and everyone walking off the train. Apparently the train was stuck there until further notice. Now mind you, I just finished working a 9-hour shift at the bar with a bad day of sleep before (Momma-San is sick with the flu) so I was already beat up. But as in typical Sisco fashion, here I go on one of my epic early morning trips.

Out the train station I go Westward toward 14th and 7th to catch the 2 train to the Bronx. I always hesitate to catch the 2 train home especially late night/early morning. Why? Two reasons. One is that there is an unusual amount of jackassery that's happens on that line late night. The second reason only make the first one worst. The 2 train runs local late nights and going from 14th Street to Pelham Parkway (where I was planning to go) makes for a loooooooong ride. To avoid being caught in a sweepytime moment of my own, I got a cup of coffee to stay awake while on the train. Good news, the 2 train was pulling in as I was waking down to the platform. Bad news, it was indeed going local and that got even worse in the Bronx. Good news, there was no jackassery. Bad news, for some reason, the 2 train instead of going to 241st Street and Wakefield as it normally does. It detoured from East 180th up the 5 train line. So imagine how I felt when I heard at East 180th that the next stop was Morris Park and not Bronx Park East. So much for an easy remaining ride. Off the train we went to wait for a 2 train shuttle to take us to Wakefield. 15 minutes later we were finally moving North. By this time, I had to use the bathroom and dipped into the Rainbow Diner. After I bought another cup of coffee and used the facilities I walked to the Bx39 bus stop.

At this point it was 6:54am and the bus was due to arrive at 6:59am. Guess what happened next. The bus arrived on time? Yeah right. You didn't think I was so lucky for a bus to actually be on time. Silly of you to think so. Well, it was on time. The 7:09am bus was on time for its scheduled stop but the 6:59am bus was either super early or didn't show at all. Since the stop was empty, I'd wager that it was early. At least 5 minutes early. Truly unacceptable.

By the time this bus crawled down White Plains Road and I got home it was 7:45am. A full two and a half hours later from the time I left the bar. Mind you, my trip optimally can take an hour from the point I catch the train to the moment I walk in the door. Alas, that was not to be in the cards for me.

And here I am 10 hours later on a 6 train heading back to work. Ay-yay-yay.

Later,
FH

The Gatorade Bottle and The Missed Train

Since this week is the Fasttrack along the Lexington Avenue line, I have to take a detour on my way home and decided to take either of the Broadway line trains. As I walk down to the 8th Street station I notice a train is approaching which if anyone who rides the N and R trains on a regular basis know catching one late night with nary a wait is truly a blessing. I get on and notice that the train is an N.

So at the next stop, a man gets on and sits down next to an 1/3 full bottle of Gatorade. The bottle was there when I got on the train. He grabs the bottle (which is obviously not his) and proceeds to take a swig from it. This act draws the attention of the person who the Gatorade belongs to. He licks his lips excitedly since I assume the free drink was delicious. The former owner of the Gatorade just shakes his head and goes back to his reading.

The new owner then takes the bottle and plays a nice beat along it's bottom while singing a tune that I couldn't understand. There seems to be something amusing to him as he would laugh and chuckle almost at random. As fast as this show started, he got off the train at 34th Street. End of the adventures? No way.

I get off at 59th Street to catch the 6 train and see I have a 15 minute wait for the next train. The 4 train is due to arrive in 10 minutes. Why is this important? Well here goes.

As the 4 train pulls in and pulls out, I hear someone yell out "Fuck". A man goes through the turnstiles and misses the train. Nothing special there right? Well the dude goes on the kind of major league tantrum that two year old go one. He starts yelling out "Fuck" as if it was on a constantly playing loop and proceeds to kick a garbage can on the platform, to smack his newspaper on the upright beams. He causes a group to scatter from one of the benches as he throws his stuff down and starts shaking another garbage can while yelling "Fuck" into the can for about 10 times before he sits down on the bench resigned to the fact that he'd have to wait for the next train. As I pulled past him on the 6 train, no one would have looked twice at the now calm man reading his tattered newspaper.

Ah, the sights I see on the subway as a nightwalker. Gotta love it.

FH