Hunker Down (for five days)

January 6, 2018, Friday evening, about seven. I received a phone call from my bank. In hindsight, I admit my mental state wasn’t very sharp.

I probably shouldn’t have answered the phone.

She was from my bank. She was calling to tell me they were not able to stop my account from being charged.

She offered two options. She could void my current Visa card and issue me a new card. A new card would arrive within a few days.

The other option was I could contact the company and negotiate with them regarding my issue.

She said the company presented some interesting ‘blocking maneuvers’ that prevented an easy stop payment.

Blocking maneuvers? Hearing that term got my attention.

Have you ever tried to say ‘NO’ to a phone solicitor? Have you ever had to deal with your cell phone provider? Have you ever experienced trying to deal with a non-human on the phone?’

Those are negative experiences.

Contacting the company and negotiate with them wasn’t an option.

I told her to cancel my Visa card and issue me a new one.

With that decision, she went ahead. She canceled the current Visa card. Within five minutes the entire business transaction was completed.

Smiling, I relaxed. I avoided a potentially long and lengthy negative experience with a company who wanted me to pay for a product I never received and I no longer wanted.

Then I realized I’d placed myself in a very unfortunate situation. It was late Friday evening. The Visa card would take two or three business days to arrive. With the weekend approaching, I wouldn’t have a Visa card until Wednesday.

I no longer had easy access to my bank account.

I use a single credit card. I stopped all other credit and debit cards more than ten years ago. It’s how I keep from going into debt. I withdraw a specific amount of cash from the ATM early in the month and live on that amount.

Unfortunately, I hadn’t made a withdraw this month. Now, I did not have access to my bank account. I’m in Arizona, and my bank is in Texas. I do all my banking online and withdrawals by ATM.

I scrambled up from my chair and rushed to the desk. I opened my wallet and found a twenty-dollar bill and five singles.  Opening my secret stash desk drawer, allowed a relieved sigh. Several twenty-dollar bills lay there.

I pulled them out and counted one hundred twenty-five dollars.

I would survive until the Visa card arrived. I had enough food in the house and half-tank of fuel in the car.

I would need to prioritize where I went and what I ate for the next five days. I wouldn’t spend a penny for the next five days.

It is hunker down time.