Ok, here's what's on my mind. I happen to be in a good job and my bills are getting paid, but I don't use credit cards (and I'm happy that way so don't try to sell me on them, thanks very much). I don't like debt at all... call me extra-super-conservative if you want, but I was not brought up with the idea of debt being an OK thing.

Occasionally we all, credit card users or not, have unexpected extra expenses that suction our available saved funds and more... hospitals that surprise you on the day of surgery by demanding cash in advance, plane flights to Mom's funeral on the West Coast when you live on the East Coast, a broken heater on a Minnesota winter day, bailing your kid brother's worthless butt out of jail, you know the sort of thing I mean.

What are some ways that you have been able to (legally) make a chunk of extra cash in an emergency without having to borrow?

I'm in your subways, stealing your meats....

I'm surprised the disabling of FBC wasn't a top post.

Thoughts:

1) om nom nom.
2) I want to go home now.
3) *yaaaawn*
4) Is anyone going to go to the Woodstock exhibit at the Newseum?
5) Any recommendations for online florists? I want to get some flowers for a friend of mine, but I don't have time to deliver them to her house. I know some people really like proflowers.com, but their prices are steeper than 1800flowers.com. :(

@pecan 3.14159265: Does it have to be an online florist? Local florsits deliver, too, and many of them have online ratings. Even if you're not in the same town, you can still research and then call a florist local to her. I did this for a funeral in another state once.

@speedwell, avatar of snark: Stripping is legal.

Kidding. No, I don't really know, unfortunately. I'm a grad student on a very tight budget (that sentence is actually redundant), and I, out of sheer stupidity, just completely forgot about property taxes coming due in July. BAM, $400 hit to my budget. I borrowed from the 'rents...otherwise I'd be putting everything on my credit card and paying it back when my cashflow gets better in September. Borrowing from someone you trust (and who trusts you) is sometimes the best (and only) bet.

@speedwell, avatar of snark: Timely, since I just stopped using credit cards. If I were in that situation, I have a lot of jewelry I don't wear much or haven't worn in decades, but keep because of who gave them to me. Pawn shop or jeweler, stat.

@speedwell, avatar of snark: It can be local, but I looked at some and the prices are pretty steep. I can't pay $50 for a bouquet, even if I want to support local business. And I really don't want to give my credit card information over the phone, or have to stop by to arrange for a flower delivery.

I just registered for an account, on account of the discontinuing of anonymous and facebook comments and...
1. My email already had an account Via my use of the anonymous comments. (so, either I hunt up a second email account to register or I work with the anonymous account)

blah blah blah bored with my own post.

The short of it is...

Cannot seem to change user name and password of previously anonymous account....HELP?

Thank you!

er um seems that the user name did get changed...

Password help please?

@pecan 3.14159265: I second speedwell on the local florist tip. I have been burned a couple of times by one online company in particular (1-800-FLOWERS, so you don't have to guess).
Give the local florist a ring and work with them directly. I am sure they would appreciate eliminating the middleman as well!
Oh, and why did you have to yawn? Now you've started it.

@pecan 3.14159265: If you haven't been to the Newseum, it is totally worth a full day visit.

This is whats on my mind- toxic assets making a come back.

[business.theatlantic.com]

@HRHKingFridayXX: Whoever wrote that article doesn't know much about accounting, especially concerning "other comprehensive income"... I wouldn't put too much stock in the hype he's trying to create.

I didn't eat today and shit, that Subway sammich looks *really* good right now, even covered in cat hair as it might be.

@speedwell, avatar of snark: Pawn shops, Craigslist, Donating bodily fluids (seriously - blood, plasma, and um, procreation fluids.) Not a lot of money, but I guess it all depends on what you need.

@Lizzy4e: Reset the password and set a new one: [consumerist.com]

This only works if you still use the e-mail address you registered with, though.

@pecan 3.14159265: I've been really happy with proflowers, used them for years. If you hit the microphone picture on the top right, you can add a coupon code. Try Lynn, Dave, or Alex - you'll get special radio listener offers and a free vase.
You might look into an alternative like a cookie bouquet or if there's a local candy store that delivers. When I was sick my friend sent me a get well bear from one of the popular teddy bear companies, another sent me a plush germ from [www.thinkgeek.com]

@speedwell, avatar of snark: Unfortunately the only solution is to build up an emergency fund, even if you are have to live Spartanly for a while. Either that donate a kidney, and the very generous and kind recipient might donate money back.

@h3llc4t: Are you gonna wash it down with a Pepsi Mouse?

I'm annoyed with Chase Bank. Last week when it was still WaMu my deposits became availible the moment the teller put them in. Now, yesterday when I went to put in my paycheck the funds weren't availible till this morning. And now Saturday deposits don't count either.

This sucks. And don't tell me to join a credit union. I'm already a member at the closest one to us and they ticked me off by arbitrarily raising my CC rate with them for no reason whatsoever. They are the most bank minded credit union I've ever seen.

/Bitterness

Who, besides me, can get behind the fact that our President likes a tall, cold one every now and then? I'm a Miller Lite guy myself, so I can't necessarily get behind him drinking a Bud Light.

Naturally, Fix News can't either, albeit for different reasons than me:
[www.foxnews.com]

@morlo: Fortunately, I have a generous emergency fund that could cover six months of expenses or more. Unfortunately, I have only one remaining kidney (after the aforementioned surgery).

Actually, what made me think of asking was not my own present need, but past needs.

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts.

@morlo: Or you can find a crooked rabbi who will buy your kidney and sell it at a 1000% markup.

@katstermonster: ...

@HRHKingFridayXX: I love the Newseum.

@Tankueray: I wish I could do that. My friend is pregnant, so one day, a cookie might be heaven sent and the next it'll look like someone puked on it.

@Yoko Broke Up The Beatles: I'm more impressed with the fly killing thing myself.

@megusi: Yeah, I get that its not going to affect the bottom line, but just the fact that the assets have to be included at market value *somewhere* should be interesting.

@katstermonster: Where are you that property tax is only $400? We've talked about buying (one day...) and property taxes scare the crap out of me. If they were more manageable (it's all relative - out here they are horrific), I think I'd be less terrified of this prospect.

1. I'm thinking that I can't understand credit card companies. I read on the Consumerist all the things you're NOT supposed to do because they'll cut your credit and raise your rate. I do half of them, and get an email congratulating me that my credit limit has increased. huh???

2. Don't know how I'm going to finish the amount of work that I have to do in the next 9 months on time.

3. Second (third?) Pecan's yawn.

4. I think I'm waaaay behind in Consumerist Bingo.

@pecan 3.14159265: I dont use pro-flowers anymore, since my mother was scammed on her credit card for some EZsaver coupon thing that originated from her pro-flowers purchase.

What about edible arrangements? or a candy bouquet?

@pecan 3.14159265: You should be able to call them up and give them a price range - they should be willing to work with you.
If you're that worried about the credit-card-over-the-phone thing, your CC company should have something on their website where you can obtain a disposable CC number.
Sorry my other comment came in after your response - I was so busy getting both references to work I missed your reply. Good luck - and, for the record, sending flowers is very sweet.

@Kimaroo - 20% More Kitty Added!: Get direct deposit. Seriously.

But the real solution is to get away from the traditional banks. For some reason, having retail branches all over the place seems to go hand in hand with scammy behavior.

I went from Citibank to Charles Schwab Bank in January and I couldn't be happier. You mail your checks in, or transfer them online from another account. Also you get every ATM fee refunded at the end of every month. So for pulling cash out, your "free ATM" list just went from "every chase/wamu ATM" to "every ATM everywhere, including the $3-fee one at McDonalds, the mall, or the airport."

It is a little work to get things like the online transfers set up, but totally worth it. Their online access is good and when I get a check I can't wait to cash, then I hit up the Credit Union.

The customer service is staffed by humans. I called up to ask questions twice before and was connected to a human after very little waiting, and the person patiently explained things to me.

Anyway the account I have is called the "High Yield Investor Checking" and it's 100% free (no monthly fees, minimums, or direct deposit requirements) and it comes with an (also free) brokerage account that you have no obligation to use.