I was tested these last few days…my emotional stability was tested…um, i failed, a little…I broke my unwritten rule of never letting money upset me. I’ve actually broken it a couple of times. As a single mom I have chosen to raise my boys alone. This means that I will not allow myself to work more than I absolutely have to. This also means that every single cent counts. I do not get assistance, except for my childrens health insurance. I pay for rent, electric, gas, phone, food..etc on my own. So, Im not going to lie, when in a matter of 3 days my PNC bank charged me NINE overdraft fees at 36 dollars a pop…um, well, it hurt a bit. That is a two week pay check.

I made 3 phone calls to them.  It does not help that they appear to be looking at a totally different account than what I look at.  The only time it appears that my account goes into negative is when they take the three consecutive overdraft fees from me…from that point on my account completely spirals out of control and they take an additional SIX overdraft fees.  Im not going to lie, Im upset, and im using my blog to vent.  After the third phone call and me crying so hard that they cant understand me, they take the first three off my account.  They refuse to work anymore with me.  I understand policy, but at what point does it stop being policy and start appearing almost criminal.  Isn’t a bank supposed to be a safe place to put my money?  I almost feel safer putting my money in my mailbox with a note outside of the mailbox saying “here is my money.”  So, there is no more I can do.  Actually, my next action will be closing my PNC account as soon as humanly possible.  But, really, I have to move on.  When my check gets deposited on Tuesday, the entire thing will practically vanish without it going to a single basic bill.

This whole experience has made me want to be nicer to people.  To actually sympathize with people, and to realize that in the end, its just money.  I went over to my aunts the other day, her sister (my aunt as well) passed away last month.  I realized that this is the first time in 60+ years that she has ever lived alone.  I made her lunch and promised to bring me and the boys to visit every friday.  I forgot about that money for a couple of hours, it didnt matter.  Helping someone did.  That is what mattered.  Money, in the end, doesnt bring back your loved ones.  You cant let money be the deciding factor that makes things better, AND you can’t let it be the thing that makes a situation worse either.  Does that make sense?  It made more sense in my head…but I think you get the point.

Im not always a rational person…I am unfortunately and fortunately,. depending on the situation, always an emotional person.   I enjoy having a job and a life where people actually matter to me.  The most difficult time to not let money become important is around the holidays.  I love a challenge.  Today is not christmas, today is November 14th.  I must practice living in the present.  I tend to blog about about not making money important, not because I am an expert, but because I tend to forget.  Reading and writing this really helps send it home.

Alright, Im sure my facebook and real life friends are sick of hearing about  PNC bank.  I will stop.  It isnt important anymore.  I have done all I can, and am moving on.  I let my kids whatch the Grinch 6 times in two days..no joke.  I really love this time of year.  I always have, even in the most trying of times.  This year will be no different.  We will still decorate our tree and for the next 2 months we will watch christmas movie after christmas movie and it will be like watching them for the first time…again.  We did receive some good news, my sons wheelchair should be in by christmas along with some other equipment that will help him be independant.  Be thankful for what we have and try not be regrettful of what we dont have.