oh wow. (((hugz)))

my family went through this with a broken refrigerator when i was younger. had to cook and eat everything in the same night, or risk eating food that potentially has spoiled overnight. its funny because i have lower standards about "old" food because of this, ie. throwing out milk past the expiration, keeping bread/cheese longer, preserving meat, etc.

I lived without a stove for 3 months when I first moved into an apartment years back. I used an electric grill and a microwave to cook everything. If you don't have one, maybe someone has one you can borrow?

^^Yeah, maybe cook at a friend's house and then bring the leftovers home? That way, you could just microwave for a few days.

My aunt taught me this inexpensive recipe...oriental-style ramen with a boiled egg and baby bok choy (or chopped green onion, whichever you prefer). Put it in a bowl with chopsticks and you'd think it came from a restaurant. :)

WTF? It doesn't have a Visa or Mastercard logo?

If it didn't swipe, they should have been able to type the number in. If that didn't work, they could have called the company that handles their card transactions to force it through.

One thing a lot of cashiers don't realize is that when using those cards, if the purchase amount is over the value of the card, they have to put in the dollar amount, or the card will be declined. Also, I would recommend using it at a place that you won't return items-like the grocery store or for gas. I paid part of a tuition bill online with one I received. The reason is that if you do a return, a lot of registers will automatically recredit the card and if you don't have it anymore, your pretty much SOL.

Sometimes you can get a pin for those cards and get cash.

I have lost my ATM card/debit VISA. My checking account was NOT emptied over the weekend, thank goodness and there is a block on it now, but now I have to try to figure out A) How to get cash from the bank when I'm working the hours they are open and B) How to use cash ;) On the plus side, my gas will be cheaper for the next 5-10 business days since I have to use cash to pay for it.

ETA: Shall I note that 5-10 business days includes the Thanksgiving holiday AND Black Friday. Ugh!

On the other plus side, my dad decided to send me a check to cover the deposit for my daughter's band trip to Chicago. Thank you Dad!!!!!

If only I could deposit it without an ATM card. <sigh>

Exactly what I was going to say. When I worked in retail, people would get so pissy when I would tell them I needed to know the exact dollar amount on the card, because really, who keeps track? Or even know they have to, considering regular giftcards don't work like that.