Frugal February-the sequel

[Caseythegoalie]

Congrats Granger on the new place!
Sorry coupongirl for your loss.

All kinds of stress here- rather than explain I will share my letter of complaint:

To whom it may concern:
On Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 I was on my way home from a doctors appointment in Hamilton. I was nearly out of gas so I stopped at a Pioneer gas station and swiped my bank card in the machine. It came up as an “error message” unable to process transaction. I got on my cell phone and tried to sign in to my online banking. I was given another error message and asked to call the 1-800 # so I did that. It was an excess of twenty minutes wait time. I scrounged up $10 in change in my purse to get enough gas to drive to a BMO branch. When I got there, I was questioned about a deposit of $600 cash I had put into the ABM machine at the Market street branch in Brantford ON on February 15. Was it cash or cheque? What type of bills? I was puzzled and began to feel upset. I was told that without warning, my bank accounts had been “frozen” and my Interac card cancelled. I insisted on this be removed, or having the surveillance camera tapes pulled to
prove my innocence, showing me counting my money, placing it in an envelope and then depositing it in the machine. The teller told me that only the police were able to view these tapes. I was told it was probably a “mistake” and the hold on my accounts had be removed. Satisfied, I left the bank and headed home. Unable to complete my errands (groceries, shopping for a birthday gift for my child).

A few hours later, I checked my account online. I had been debited $600! Meaning my account was now in the negative. I had no gas in my car, no groceries in cupboards and no birthday gift for my child. We are a family of five, who live on a tight budget. We don’t use credit cards or have a lot of excess in the bank account in between pay cheques. Immediately, I got on the phone with the branch. I was told the issue would be looked into and called back in an hour. In the meantime, I called the 1-800 # and explained my problem to the representative. The representative (Melissa) in turn called the branch and was told the same information. Basically a wait and see. The representative callously told me “not to worry” as I was becoming hysterical. I admit, I was upset. Waiting five to ten business days would not feed my children or get me to work. I hung up the phone and was called back within the hour by the branch. I was told a
“track” was put on my case and could take five to ten days. The teller had mentioned that my branch manager had denied giving me a temporary overdraft until this was resolved due to the fact that “I hadn’t had many ABM deposits”. I started to cry. The teller said she didn’t know what to say. Waiting two weeks for my money was unacceptable. I called the branch manager and left a message asking her to please call me back urgently. I waited fifteen minutes and called again and left another message.

I called the 1-800 # and explained my problem. I asked for the district manager. I insisted the surveillance be pulled. The gentleman that answered my call was very helpful-the most helpful genuine person I had dealt with that day and I told him so. He contacted the branch and was able to get the manager on the phone. Apparently she had been dealing with customers when I had called. She (Carmella), said she would call head office in Toronto to see if they were able to track down my “empty” envelope. I guess it was not only police that were able to view the surveillance. Within fifteen minutes they had located my money. This was now after five pm. I was offered 300 air miles for my trouble.

In total, six hours of my day was wasted trying to figure out someone else’s (essentially BMO’s) mistake. I was labelled a thief. I had not even been given a courtesy call. Just had my account frozen.
There is something wrong with this system. I know I am just a “little guy” with no money but I have been a loyal customer for several years. Pay bank fees like anyone else.

I am writing this in hopes somebody will read it and hopefully not do this to someone else.

I am writing this to let you know why I am taking my business elsewhere.

Sincerely,
Patricia (former customer).

Please forward this to your superiors

[Angela273]

Angela could your LO be teething?
Because if he is there isn't must that you can do, expect to walk him, sing to him, cuddle him, and just move around with him, sometimes it's very painful for them when they are teething, so if he is, try giving him something cold to bite on like a teething ring, or a frozen strawberry, or freeze some yogurt into a lollipop, or just get him your clean finger, just some thing to chew/bite on. Good luck.

We think he's teething one tooth right now, but that doesn't fully explain his behaviour. He wasn't teething last week and he still wasn't sleeping good. When he is sleeping nicely he is usually up for 1/2hr around 2:00am, he'll nurse and go back to bed. But at least half the nights he doesn't just get up once for a little bit. He can be up in 1hr intervals. *shrug* Just not sure what to do.

[Angela273]

Congrats Granger on the new place!
Sorry coupongirl for your loss.

All kinds of stress here- rather than explain I will share my letter of complaint:

To whom it may concern:
On Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 I was on my way home from a doctors appointment in Hamilton. I was nearly out of gas so I stopped at a Pioneer gas station and swiped my bank card in the machine. It came up as an “error message” unable to process transaction. I got on my cell phone and tried to sign in to my online banking. I was given another error message and asked to call the 1-800 # so I did that. It was an excess of twenty minutes wait time. I scrounged up $10 in change in my purse to get enough gas to drive to a BMO branch. When I got there, I was questioned about a deposit of $600 cash I had put into the ABM machine at the Market street branch in Brantford ON on February 15. Was it cash or cheque? What type of bills? I was puzzled and began to feel upset. I was told that without warning, my bank accounts had been “frozen” and my Interac card cancelled. I insisted on this be removed, or having the surveillance camera tapes pulled to
prove my innocence, showing me counting my money, placing it in an envelope and then depositing it in the machine. The teller told me that only the police were able to view these tapes. I was told it was probably a “mistake” and the hold on my accounts had be removed. Satisfied, I left the bank and headed home. Unable to complete my errands (groceries, shopping for a birthday gift for my child).

A few hours later, I checked my account online. I had been debited $600! Meaning my account was now in the negative. I had no gas in my car, no groceries in cupboards and no birthday gift for my child. We are a family of five, who live on a tight budget. We don’t use credit cards or have a lot of excess in the bank account in between pay cheques. Immediately, I got on the phone with the branch. I was told the issue would be looked into and called back in an hour. In the meantime, I called the 1-800 # and explained my problem to the representative. The representative (Melissa) in turn called the branch and was told the same information. Basically a wait and see. The representative callously told me “not to worry” as I was becoming hysterical. I admit, I was upset. Waiting five to ten business days would not feed my children or get me to work. I hung up the phone and was called back within the hour by the branch. I was told a
“track” was put on my case and could take five to ten days. The teller had mentioned that my branch manager had denied giving me a temporary overdraft until this was resolved due to the fact that “I hadn’t had many ABM deposits”. I started to cry. The teller said she didn’t know what to say. Waiting two weeks for my money was unacceptable. I called the branch manager and left a message asking her to please call me back urgently. I waited fifteen minutes and called again and left another message.

I called the 1-800 # and explained my problem. I asked for the district manager. I insisted the surveillance be pulled. The gentleman that answered my call was very helpful-the most helpful genuine person I had dealt with that day and I told him so. He contacted the branch and was able to get the manager on the phone. Apparently she had been dealing with customers when I had called. She (Carmella), said she would call head office in Toronto to see if they were able to track down my “empty” envelope. I guess it was not only police that were able to view the surveillance. Within fifteen minutes they had located my money. This was now after five pm. I was offered 300 air miles for my trouble.

In total, six hours of my day was wasted trying to figure out someone else’s (essentially BMO’s) mistake. I was labelled a thief. I had not even been given a courtesy call. Just had my account frozen.
There is something wrong with this system. I know I am just a “little guy” with no money but I have been a loyal customer for several years. Pay bank fees like anyone else.

I am writing this in hopes somebody will read it and hopefully not do this to someone else.

I am writing this to let you know why I am taking my business elsewhere.

Sincerely,
Patricia (former customer).

Please forward this to your superiors

ouch. That sounds like one heck of a day. I also do not like when cards are frozen without warning or a phone call. All I can do is shake my head at the whole thing. I know that I prefer to do major deposits in person in the bank instead of the ATM, but I also know that this is not always a feasible option.

[Frugalbigmama]

What a crappy day Casey. I heard a story like that years ago and from that point on would never deposit cash at the ATM.

[Frugalbigmama]

I think hotdogs are disgusting and rarely let my kids eat them but there is something about a bbq'd hotdog in the summer that just smells and tastes so good! So I do buy them for the summer and let my kids have them when they have friends over and I need something simple to make a bunch of kids. But wow has the price gone up. I am not paying $4.49 for a pack of crap wieners. The last few weeks I have been offered pc plus points on them and was able to price match to make it a deal so I did so again today. Top dog on for $1.77 at WM and I received 600 pc plus points for each one. So I bought 4 and will wrap up and put in the freezer. So on nice weekends I can check the reduced bread rack and make a cheap lunch for the kids and their friends

[jasperandchar]

I've been up with LO for the last 1.5hrs and there is no end in sight. I had him asleep in his crib again until he heard our bedroom door creak when I went to lay down.

LO was up for 2.5hrs last night (1:00-3:30am). This is getting ridiculous. Dh and I both need more sleep. It wouldn't be quite so bad if he was just awake, but he's cranky and crying and awake. So even when one person is up with him LO usually gets the other adult up anyway. I'm really not sure what to do. I had told dh that I wanted to try sleep training LO at Christmas time, but dh didn't want to. Christmas because he had some weekdays off and I am a teacher, so I wouldn't be working. We didn't travel this Christmas either. I'm hoping you will all be nice to me...helpful suggestions please?

I would cut out his afternoon naps and it sounds like he is very sensitive to noise which I think is part of the problem. If he is not sick I'm sorry to say after a diaper change, I would put him back in his crib, he will fall back asleep it might take a while for him to realize nobobdy's coming to get him but I did it with mine, kids are smart, (don't mean to sound like a bad mom) but it works.

[jasperandchar]

All kinds of stress here- rather than explain I will share my letter of complaint:

this is things you see in movies or hear on the news, oh my goodness so sorry for all this bullsh*t yes saying it as it needs to be said.

300 airmiles are they off their rocker...morons but so pleased that you took names and have a paper trail given the stress that you were under, smart lady but seriously what bullsh*t saying it again

If you are willing to stay which I personally wouldn't I would demand free banking fees on your accounts forever and get it in writing and be grandfather claused in and I would also demand a reduction in my mortgage rate as it's the least they can do to keep you as a customer stupid banks.

[jasperandchar]

I think hotdogs are disgusting and rarely let my kids eat them but there is something about a bbq'd hotdog in the summer that just smells and tastes so good! So I do buy them for the summer and let my kids have them when they have friends over and I need something simple to make a bunch of kids. But wow has the price gone up. I am not paying $4.49 for a pack of crap wieners. The last few weeks I have been offered pc plus points on them and was able to price match to make it a deal so I did so again today. Top dog on for $1.77 at WM and I received 600 pc plus points for each one. So I bought 4 and will wrap up and put in the freezer. So on nice weekends I can check the reduced bread rack and make a cheap lunch for the kids and their friends

I enjoy a hotdog now and then but drool over them in the summer over a bbq or better yet a open fire and yes what used to be a cheap supper is no longer the case, crazy prices they are plus the price of the buns

[lizzie bargain]

Angela, Is it possible your LO is waking up to nurse? Most 17 month olds don't have a physiological need to eat through the night but they might like the comfort? Also during the day and evening is he able to fall asleep on his own without nursing? If he wakes half of the nights then you may have to let him get himself back to sleep unless you know he is sick-I know it sounds like tough love but eventually he will need to sleep through especially if you are both working-send Dad in at night( no boob) and start the tough love on a weekend. When I returned to work when my eldest was 11 months old I just decided to end the night nursing for my own health and sanity-I needed my sleep and felt I couldn't be a very good mother at the end of the work day if I was exhausted . Short term pain( possible crying) for long term gain-not having a tired, cranky Mum. I did leave several soothers in the crib so if she needed to suck something to fall back to sleep she could. If you do decide to sleep train him be prepared that it will likely get worse before it gets better. Currently his behaviour is being rewarded by nursing, rocking or parents company but at some point you just have to decide there is no attention from Mum and Dad from 8-6 or whatever hours you decide unless he is ill. Just my opinion and what I did and you will of course decide for yourself. Good luck.

[jasperandchar]

Still looking for names for the March frugal chatter thread so far only me and LuvToUseCoupons have put a name in the hat so please post a name suggestion if you would like too, I would like to start voting tomorrow late am and have new March thread up on Feb. 28th so that I'm not tardy and into March lol

March Frugal Madness!
Marching on with Saving the sequel

[Angela273]

Angela, Is it possible your LO is waking up to nurse? Most 17 month olds don't have a physiological need to eat through the night but they might like the comfort? Also during the day and evening is he able to fall asleep on his own without nursing? If he wakes half of the nights then you may have to let him get himself back to sleep unless you know he is sick-I know it sounds like tough love but eventually he will need to sleep through especially if you are both working-send Dad in at night( no boob) and start the tough love on a weekend. When I returned to work when my eldest was 11 months old I just decided to end the night nursing for my own health and sanity-I needed my sleep and felt I couldn't be a very good mother at the end of the work day if I was exhausted . Short term pain( possible crying) for long term gain-not having a tired, cranky Mum. I did leave several soothers in the crib so if she needed to suck something to fall back to sleep she could. If you do decide to sleep train him be prepared that it will likely get worse before it gets better. Currently his behaviour is being rewarded by nursing, rocking or parents company but at some point you just have to decide there is no attention from Mum and Dad from 8-6 or whatever hours you decide unless he is ill. Just my opinion and what I did and you will of course decide for yourself. Good luck.

My husband does take some night shifts (or part of a night). If LO needs food my dh will put him in his high chair and feed him and give him milk or water. Yes, I somewhat agree. Dh and I have to talk about it and be on the same page. My neighbour said that she has a fan in her kids rooms to provide white noise and help the child not be disturbed by different noises. I just weighed our son this morning on a proper baby scale. He weights 21lbs 10oz (buck naked). Not much fat on our child. He nurses twice a day. To go to bed for the night and often once during the middle of the night. He falls to sleep during the day when he is tired enough. He is a cuddly boy and still likes to fall to sleep in our arms (even without a boob). We have never given him a soother and he always refused a bottle.

[lizzie bargain]

Yes Angela you are right, you and DH need to be on the same page. It does seem that LO wants to be with you and cuddle to sleep. I expect if you stop cuddling him to sleep and feeding him during the night the problem will disappear in a few nights. Give him lots of extra cuddles during the daytime when you are home but change the sleep routine perhaps to include bath, one story/snuggle on your knee and a quick hug before putting him in the crib and walking out. I expect if he is not eating at night he might eat a bit better during the day-if you still want to nurse him twice a day could you change those times to breakfast and supper and give him a food snack before bedtime-this way nursing is no longer associated with sleep and eating happens during the daytime. I believe a healthy 17 month old should easily be able to go 10-12 hours at night without food or drink( and he sounds like a healthy weight for his age). Tell your DH there is absolutely no way my friend with toddler triplets would get her boys out of the crib at night to put them in the high chair because they needed to eat!! She and her DH would be doomed and up all night every night running a short order diner-they are expected to eat during the day and sleep at night and only get nightime attention if they are sick. I wish you luck because I know it is hard to hear your little one cry but there is a difference between need and want at 2 a.m. and hopefully the 3 of you can reach some agreement on that.

[Granger]

I've been up with LO for the last 1.5hrs and there is no end in sight. I had him asleep in his crib again until he heard our bedroom door creak when I went to lay down.

LO was up for 2.5hrs last night (1:00-3:30am). This is getting ridiculous. Dh and I both need more sleep. It wouldn't be quite so bad if he was just awake, but he's cranky and crying and awake. So even when one person is up with him LO usually gets the other adult up anyway. I'm really not sure what to do. I had told dh that I wanted to try sleep training LO at Christmas time, but dh didn't want to. Christmas because he had some weekdays off and I am a teacher, so I wouldn't be working. We didn't travel this Christmas either. I'm hoping you will all be nice to me...helpful suggestions please?

Angela, Is it possible your LO is waking up to nurse? Most 17 month olds don't have a physiological need to eat through the night but they might like the comfort? Also during the day and evening is he able to fall asleep on his own without nursing? If he wakes half of the nights then you may have to let him get himself back to sleep unless you know he is sick-I know it sounds like tough love but eventually he will need to sleep through especially if you are both working-send Dad in at night( no boob) and start the tough love on a weekend. When I returned to work when my eldest was 11 months old I just decided to end the night nursing for my own health and sanity-I needed my sleep and felt I couldn't be a very good mother at the end of the work day if I was exhausted . Short term pain( possible crying) for long term gain-not having a tired, cranky Mum. I did leave several soothers in the crib so if she needed to suck something to fall back to sleep she could. If you do decide to sleep train him be prepared that it will likely get worse before it gets better. Currently his behaviour is being rewarded by nursing, rocking or parents company but at some point you just have to decide there is no attention from Mum and Dad from 8-6 or whatever hours you decide unless he is ill. Just my opinion and what I did and you will of course decide for yourself. Good luck.

This worked for me.

>>>For sale sign on our lawn. Everyone feeling better. Off to put the kids to bed and then clean clean clean in hopes of showings tomorrow for the eager beavers.

[MrsSunshine]

on Angela. i don't miss that stage. hope you find some peace with the little one.
so busy here. i have one more project to finish. will work on it tomorrow.
going to clean kitchen, make cupcakes and icing. work on some laundry and try to clean up a little and then relax. im really hoping to sleep in tomorrow.
last day to get everything done.

[Shwa Girl]

Cheap kitchen magic