h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As some of you already know, a few months ago I enlisted the aid of a consumer credit agency to help me repay my debts at a more manageable rate. Basically, what I had to do was report my income, expenditures, and current balances on any debts I have. I've got a student loan, a hospital bill and three credit card balances. I was paying over $900 a month, and they all were due pretty much at the same time, which made getting out to eat, to the movies, to see live shows, etc., all but impossible for several months.

Thus agency negotiated me new interest rates with my creditors and got my monthly payment down to a little over a third of what it was. That freed up a substantial amount of money to allow for more than just bills and transport and essentials. It was amazing how the stress lifted almost immediately now that I don't have to worry about struggling to make all those payments on time.

Now I've gotten into a substantially better paying position (with checks that don't bounce! ), and we've got the car note paid off. Isn't it how things all seem to happen at once, once they finally start happening?

So now maybe the next time JEllen recommends a movie for me, we can go to see it! And I can finally ship out all these parcels I've accumulated for Terri et. al.

Additionally, within the next few months, I may be replacing my Beast. When that time comes, I wonder, do hootooers still try to get used Beasts to needy hootooers? It'd be nice to share a little of one's good fortune.

Has anyone else been having especially smooth sailing lately? (I know Fundamentally Flawed has been having a really crap time, and a couple other folks are having some difficulties ) And when the shoe falls, where do you think it will land? I'd like to duck this time.

Glad that you're having a good time PC!

I'm finally having something like a life So, I think I'm happy...

That is sooooooooooooo wonderful PCandy! I am happy for you! Things have been going well here, if a wee bit stressful. I'm excited because we may be getting a new infra monitor to help out with Mom. It would be terrific if it works okay. Keep fingers crossed for me!

By the way, what are K and you doing for Valentine's? Anything special?

Congratulations. I really should do something similar myself. Like many people, I am 'Financeophobic'. The very thought of dealing with bank accounts brings me out in a cold sweat. It's very common, apparently. Maybe it relates to a deep-seated desire not to have to grow up.

Re. new 'puters. *Don't* be tempted by Linux. What you save on software, you lose in time. (And anyway - whoever pays for software? )

err! what's money ???


JEllen, all my wishes lovewith the infra monitor

I think in my case, I avoided dealing with it for so long because I felt I should be able to handle it, and to ask for specially negotiated rates would be tantamount to admitting failure. Or something. But it's not my fault that I was laid off during a time when the job market was so tight. And it's sleazy business for a credit card company to jack a customer's interest rate to 36%. It got to the point where the exorbitant monthly payments were going only toward interest. Under my current arrangement, I'll be paying interest rates in the single digits and will actually see those balances disappear. And the smaller payments free up more money each month for living a little.

JEllen, that's wonderful news about the infrared monitor. I hope the plans works out- and that the monitor helps. You and your dad need your rest, too.

ohhh how marvelous!

Still swimming in bills and punishing myself daily and wistfully looking at guitars online...I don't want the green one anymore - I went to have a strum on it again the other day...and then had a strum on a gibson...no contest really...I like the flamboyant look of the Ibanez but the quality of sound doesn't compare....

Hoping that the tax returns will be favourable and we can pay off all the credit cards

Still it's nice to hear things are coming together for friends money wise...lend us a tenner, mate!

I don't know about giving away beasts...sometimes they are best sent to the knacker's yard...rather than postage and packing and then chancing that the thing will work the other end with other foreign bits n' pieces...that may not fit - but then again I don't know sweet FA, mine just upped and died...didn't even get chance to think of that!

I know there's organisations that take 'retired' PCs and give them to schools in the 3rd world.

I could do some digging. This really *is* a Linux thing. Because all the software is $ free and copyright free, they can take knackered old PCs (ie - like mine), pour in a couple of quarts of Linux and make them useful again.

My tax return was quite favorable- enough to purchase a shiny new Beast with the CD and DVD burners (so I don't need to switch out my old CD burner), and decent software for multimedia stuff as well as MS Office so I can work from home if/when necessary.

I might even splurge for a cordless mouse!

If and when I need to retire the old Beast, I may just go ahead and donate it, either to one of those organizations which reconditions them and sends them off to needy schools, or to the public library down the block.

Hope Vix's tax return works out favorably enough for that gee-tar!

I wish K would give me his W-2 already so I can do his return and see if I can actually spend my refund, or need it to pay some shortfall on his return.

I hope things are improving for you JEllen! *fingers crossed*

Re: Beast stuff: as you all know i am award winner of "total non comprendo geeksqueak"; i can't get sound on this one, am told all i need is a sound card (i have speakers)

I imagine that's just a little microchippy thing you stick in the right hole? Or does it involve paying someone to take the beast to bits?

But if it's simply the former & is compatible with this beast (seems to be a Fujitsu "Myrica"?)& you would otherwise chuck it, could you chuck it into the parcel you are sending anyway? It would be great to listen to stuff online again!

There's definitely some scheme to donate Beasts to 3rd World places & it changes lives enormously; i used to have it bookmarked but ...erm...on the old Beast that died!

zdt

I'm doing not-so-bad lately considering how things were. I'm always cheered up by coming on here so I'm very happy at the moment. I think I told you (PC) I would e-mail you and tell you what's been going on but I still haven't gotten around to it. I will try to get enough energy to summarize and e-mail you. Or Terri can tell you if she wants, I had lots of msn conversations with her on most of it.

I don't know where or when the big steel-toed boot will fall, but I hope everything ends up in a "good place" where ever that may prove to be. I'll be writing a journal entry in the not-so-distant future with updates on school and moving stuff.

(But beware a new problem has popped up *eye roll* and I don't know how much worse it will get. Hopefully it won't affect hootoo time.)

Good for you PC! Glad things are nicer

If you have lots of "Biiiiiiiiiisssssssssssooooooouuuuuuuuuuuus" in the bank, you will be fine!!!!

*Hiya abbi*for you too.

And for FF's 'cos they don't like being kissed i bet? Yoda goes all disgusted when i try, cuddles yes, kisses, no.

zdt

Terri...soundcards:

Yes, basically a green thing with chip-y things on it that fits into a hole in something that's on the inside of your computer. (I could tell you that it's a PCI expansion slot on your motherboard - but I don't want to worry your pretty little head.). You can order one from Amazon for EU10 max - and I've just seen one for about 2EU!!! (how do I make this stupid keyboard type a Euro symbol? ) Just search for 'soundcard' on Amazon or ebay.

Installing them isn't difficult...but if you're scared of opening your PC, I wouldn't suggest paying a pro - ask around and *someone* will know how to do it. It's not difficult. Even I can do it!

Or...and I didn't know this until just now...you can get soundcards that plug into a hole on the outside (A 'USB port', dear) Cor! £17! I might get one of those myself! http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002Z2QQY/qid=1140000266/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3_3/026-4633487-7214025 With those ones, you may also have to put the silver coaster that comes with it in the automatically-retracting coffee cup holder before it will work. ('Drivers')

My major breakthrough with technology came when I got a friend to repair a turntable for me. As he undid the screws and ripped it apart he said 'You have to realise - these things are designed to be assembled by unskilled labour'. I'm now happy to monkey around with most consumer products, but I draw the line at cars (you get cold and wet and dirty while you're working). Sometimes when I re-assemble the things I've disembowled, they even work again! So...my home PC is an eight year old 'Franken-PC'. As a different friend (yes, I have more than one!) said 'One of the disadvangages of having children is that once they're able to crawl, you have to screw the cover back on your PC.'

As far as I can tell, Terri, my sound card would not be compatible with your Beast. I had thought of that myself.

I have to keep the cover on the PC to keep cat fuzz and kitty litter out of it.

I rather like my work PC and might get something similar, except that I'll be getting it with CD and DVD friendly software. If I get the one we've been eyeballing, a flat screen monitor will be included as well, which means I'll have two of those. I might just give it back to my uncle.

Maybe once I get the new PC, I'll be able to get my printer and scanner to operate again, as well!

Is software readily purchasable in the US?

Yeah, if I wanted it I'm sure I could get it. I'm fairly certain that the stock software that accompanies the CD and DVD burners will not override copy-protection settings.

It's my understanding, though, that it's perfectly legal to copy or record something for personal viewing. So I'm not sure why when I started my thread on "Ask", everyone jumped in griping about yikesing and such. I'm not planning to distribute anything, just copy stuff for personal use. Sheesh.