Oh god, yeah. No way I could have rehabbed my credit over the past five years, leaving me able to even think about doing what I am now, without online/auto bill pay.

My whole saving scheme just sort of developed organically - not sure I could have come up with something like that from the start.

Well, this may be a glimmer of hope. I walked up while my downstairs neighbor was talking to one of the new owners and overheard that they aren't looking to go condo in the near future. If that's true and it's just a monthly rent increase we're looking at, I have a much better chance at remaining in my home. And possibly becoming a pauper, but at least I'll have a place I love to come home to after a hard evening's panhandling.

Also, they're water blasting the building exteriors today. Hasta la vista, festering windowsill squirrel nest!

Brenda, the place is beautiful!

I'm home. Got all but my earrings put away (how much do I love coming HOME with a suitcase of clean laundry?! MUCH!) and have eaten and found the Devi. Sad to not be around the nephews. Played Transformers with D this morning (I've got those things whupped! Laughing in retrospect at all my brother's grad school friends who were stymied by them) and redraw the purple stickman on his forehead with a sharpie (don't ask. He's probably one of the few 4 year olds whose parents have given up the sharpie battle and draw on him themselves.) T woke up in a brilliant mood, so I got a lot of smiley happy baby time. Managed to get two long belly laughs out of him (he's just getting the hang of that now.) Love that. Then he fell asleep on me doing that painful, but adorable, pinchy hands thing. I have baby soothing powers!

Anyway, need to make tomorrow's lunch (blech) and go get my keys still.

Yay sarameg! I'm glad it was such a fun visit.

Brenda, the place looks great. Now I have to think of some business reason to head your way and raise a glass with you on that deck.

My only ish? The 1 week hold time on deposits.

Yeah, I can't see using them as my primary account for just that reason

I have an HSBC online savings account for my emergency fund, and I really dig the 5.05% APY. But yeah, there's a reason it's not my primary (i.e., rent/bills/food/comics) account — I need to access a large portion of my income quickly.

Also, online bill-pay is an invention that ranks right up there with pay-at-the-pump gas pumps in terms of Oh My God How I Love You So.

t edit Oh! Another Holy Grail invention is one I encountered for the first time today: Lane Bryant's new Right Fit jeans. Oh. My. God. Seriously, women who are size 14 and up, get thee to a Lane Bryant.

The jeans come in 3 different shapes, based on your waist-to-hip ratio, and they are fucking AMAZING. I bought a pair today, and they fit so well that I almost cried. I have a 10-inch waist-to-hip differential, so buying jeans has always been a bitch. Either they fit in the waist but nowhere else — which isn't viable — or they fit in the hips/thighs, and the waist gaps horribly. But these? These are a marvel.

Also, online bill-pay is an invention that ranks right up there with pay-at-the-pump gas pumps in terms of Oh My God How I Love You So.

It's beyond Oh My God How I Love You So and into the territory of Oh My God I Couldn't Live Without. Just like the squeeze bottles that are designed so you squeeze things out of the bottom, but with the advantage of saving my uncreditworthy ass.

Yes, online billpaying and banking are the only things that have enabled me to get even close to bringing my finances in order.

The discussion reminded me to go transfer some funds from the ING savings and to pay online both phone bills that are due. good times.

Steph, thanks for the jeans rec! I have much the same problem as you - they fit the waist or the hips, but never both! There's a Lane Bryant near me - I shall try these out.

Oddly, the only other jeans that have fit me well are No Boundaries (WalMart brand!) Junior Plus. Go figure that out.

Steph, thanks for the jeans rec! I have much the same problem as you - they fit the waist or the hips, but never both! There's a Lane Bryant near me - I shall try these out.

Seriously, they are AMAZING. The sales associate has to measure your waist (and possibly hips) to get your size, because the whole waist-to-hip ratio led to a new sizing scheme for LB. I had to try on a few different sizes/shapes, but the winning pair made me actually YELL in the fitting room, "Oh my God! I LOVE THESE!!!" They fit my waist AND my hips. And my ass and my thighs.