
So I decided I would and got off the bus. Once inside the market I was happy to find that the it was mostly empty. Great! I got my cart and proceeded to shop. I'm really a quick shopper so it only took about ten minutes and I was done.
I made my way to the check-out. There were just a couple of people ahead of me so my little shopping trip was going well, I thought.
After few minutes of waiting it was my turn to check-out. As the checker was scanning my stuff I had a really disturbing thought. I remembered that I hadn't transferred any money onto my debit card since Friday. I furiously tried to remember how much I transferred and how much I'd spent since then. But I was having a hard time remembering.
Just then the checker was done and it was the moment of truth, time to slide my debit card. So I slid my card and entered my PIN. Then the long wait. Oh darn! The transaction was denied! Did I enter my PIN incorrectly? I tried again.
Again the transaction was NOT APPROVED.
Arrrgh!
At this point the lady behind me in line was giving me one of those sideways looks that said "Girl you know you don't have any money on that card so why are you wasting everyone's time".
I tried to remember if I had any cash on me, then I was relieved to remember my emergency money. Do you carry emergency money? My mom drilled it into my head that a woman should ALWAYS have emergency money in her wallet. She'd say "You never know what's going to happen" and "You might get stranded and need to take a cab".
After I remembered my 'emergency' money, I gave the woman standing behind me in line a sideways glance that said "See miss smarty-pants, I HAVE money, so there".
Only I shouldn't have been thinking about her I should have been thinking about that ipod docking station I'd bought the previous Saturday afternoon because it was on sale. What a bargain I thought as I pulled out my EMERGENCY MONEY to pay for it.
Drats!
Okay, that's it no more options. There was no point in me continuing to stand there trying to look un-embarrassed. So meekly I explained to the 'gettin'-a-attitude' checker that I didn't have any cash on me. "Sorry about that" I told her as I walked away and left all my stuff behind.
I was so glad to get out of that store.
And what's the moral of this little tale? Never spend your emergency money on ipod accessories! (and don't forget to check your debit card balance)
16 comments:
aww, that sucks. i don't have emergency cash, i have emrgency checkbook. i never write checks except to pay rent and my son's preschool, but i keep it with me anyway. i use my checkcard for gas and i'll stuff it in my pockets and forget when i change clothes. so, i have forgotten the card when i went to get groceries but i had my checkbook to save face.
LOL, yeah if I had a dime every time that has happened to me.
What makes it worse for me is ever since they started moving into a check card society I keep having trouble remembering what my balance is. When it was all about cash you ran out that was it nothing to do but go to the nearest ATM machine. Now you can charge away and not realize you went over your balance till you see that negative on your account.
I need to get better at that.
I am SO sorry that happened to you. It's 1 of my worst nightmares. I don't have emergency cash because I usually know down to the penny how much money I have in my accounts. That's because I'm always spending it.
Take heart though. I know you won't repeat this mistake again. Good idea about the emergency money.
that happened to me once, except i was in the self-check line and didn't have enough cash....so the lady asked me what i couldn't pay for. i showed her, then my baby smiled at her and said something sorta like-oohbeechoowaaaaa...and she told me to take the food cuz my kid was so cute-LUCKY BREAK! i was like-are you sure...and she said, only because you have such a cute baby, go ahead
:-S
One idea for the future: try pushing 'credit' instead of 'debit'. It should give you about a day or two to get the $$$ to your account.
I know personally (I bank with Wachovia)! LOL
Speaking of iPod accessories, you know I'm a new iPod owner, and I was just looking on circuitcity.com for a docking station-I found one for $49.99. Think I'll be buying it this weekend...LOL
O.k., so like a few folks said, this is my worst nightmare, but know that most regular peeps have found themselves in the self same situation. Oh.. my mom and dad called it mad money. It's a few dollars stashed away in your wallet, just in case you get mad and need to get away quick!
Browngirl,
I never use checks. I guess sometimes it would be good to keep them with me, like on Monday. (lol) I might start carrying them with me.
ClnMike,
Exactly, I have a hard time remembering my balance too. I bet I won't have a problem with that in the future though! (lol)
Danielle,
Thanks for your concern. And you are So right. I'm going to be like you in the future and keep better track.
The Addict,
Wow that was a really lucky break. Sometimes things go your way when you least expect it.
Randi,
(lol) Thanks I didn't even think of that. I never really use the credit option. I'm going to keep that in mind.
That's a good price. ipod accessories are sooo expensive. Even the cases for them cost $25 or more. So when you find a deal run with it.
Mango Mama,
Mad money: that's a good name for it.
You're right I bet that grocery checker has seen much worse!
Hey MDC,
That actually used to happen a lot here in Israel. What they do here is they treat a Check Card account like a Credit Card. On the check cards you have a monthly limit. Mine for example is 4000 NIS per month that I can use on my card. So this forces me to carry skeqels for little things.
When I lived in the states, during the broke phase I went through I was ALWAYS paranoid about going to buy something and not having the cash to cover it in my account. I remember times standing in line sweating bullets because I couldn't remember my balance, and have that sigh of relief when it went through.
At least now with on-line banking you can check your balance more frequently. Also, it may be good to keep your bank account phone banking number in your phone. That way you call find out your balance immediately.
Ehav,
I have a primary account that I transfer funds to the debit card that I carry. I do that so that if I lose the card it won't have a large amount of funds on it.
I don't have a cell phone! So I can't call and check my balance or transfer funds. I guess I could use a pay phone but they are disgusting. (lol)
Wow. You are the ONLY person I know in our age group who doesn't have a cell phone. When I lived in California back in 1999 I fought the need for a cell phone, until I got lost and had no way to get directions. After that I bought one.
Back on topic. That is a smart move to have a bigger account with only smaller amounts on your debit. Pay phone? Those things still exist? (joke)
Ehav,
Cell phones annoy me and also I don't feel it's a needed expense. I have a phone at home and an answering machine, that's good enough. I hear people complaining about the cell bills all the time.
There are still one or two pay phones around. (lol)
I think we've all been there but I don't carry emergency money...I sure need to though...
Ohhh, I have so been there. I have to pray everytime I swipe my card. LOL, so sad.
Afrodite,
You should carry some emergency cash, it can't hurt. Trust me! (lol)
Divine Blackness,
(lol) I'm trying to make sure it never happens to me again. Once was too much!
MDC: Been there. Done that. Trying not to go back!
Lisa,
I'm trying not to go back either. No more spending my emergency money!
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