When I called AT&T to cancel my land line, they offered me $6 credit each month for a year if I would keep my service. I countered with "I'm willing to pay $1 a month for phone service." CSR declined my counter-offer and my service was cancelled. So if you want $6 off each month for a year, call AT&T and treaten to cancel your phone service.

I'm glad I cancelled since they are discontinuing the Time of Day service. I'm gonna miss that lady. Who to call now when I need someone to tell me the time every 10 seconds?

My friends think I am weird and cheap because I am planning to block all text messages from my cell account. Just because everyone is doing it, I should be on board too. I don't get enough text messages in a month to justify the unlimited plan but I do get enough at 15 cents per message to see a difference in my bill. Yeah, I am cheap about this but I don't understand why someone can't just call me for free and ask me "what's the plan tonight?"

A week ago, I lied to everyone and told them that I blocked text messages with my cell phone company and the number of messages have dropped drastically, and I don't acknowledge the ones I get.

I really think the text messaging craze is as backwards as women lying about their ages. Why are people spending more money to by fancy phones with mini-keyboards and paying extra in monthly fees to talk less and type more.

After crunching the numbers and getting a neat 1 year intro rate, I decided to switch to cable internet and cancel my DSL service. I called the ISP that I had been with for 10 years, and told them I wanted to pay so much a month for my service, but they weren't willing to listen so I closed the account. They offered me a discounted rate but it didn't mean any savings over cable after considering I had to pay the the land line to have the DSL service. Now it's time to call AT&T and cancel my phone line. I've read that they offer naked DSL service that doesn't require the phone line but there was no savings for having such service. Total savings per month is about $20. Now what am I going to do with these phones?

I am going to miss the telemarketers calling all the time. It was such fun to badger them to the point where they have to hang up with me. Obvious I have too much free time on my hands.

I guess my fears about the repairs I needed for my car came to reality, but at least I was prepared for it. The Quote was more than I wanted to pay but after getting a second opinion, I that it was best to work with the dealership. I wanted to get some minor issues taken cared and they were willing to do it and not change the initial quote. Car is working wonderfully now.

Besides the normal R&R, this last vacation was financially rewarding also. Since the trip was planned a year in advance, there was plenty of time to save up money. Airfare and lodging was booked 3 months in advance so it was all paid for before leaving. It also helped that the US$ has has so much buying power in SE Asia. Nothing beats $1 meals, 50 cent drinks, and $5 resort massages. Though not much as spent on return gifts, it was still fun to haggle over prices, which made a difference of a nickel here and a nickel there.

It was nice to return back and go through the mail to see a very small credit card bill. The extra money for next month which will help when I have to get all the belts changed on the car.

For the 2nd trip in a roll, I came back a few pounds lighter than I left. All the walking and sweating in humid weather helped that cause. I am sure the food poisoning also played a part.