Misdirected budget email

[midjd]

I've known for a few years I share a name with a woman who lives in Australia - I get emails from the Canberra public library about past-due books. And apparently I also share a name with someone who lives in Tennessee, which is how I got onto the Occupy Knoxville listserv (I stayed because the infighting was hilarious!)

Anyway, one of the Tennessee me's friends is apparently having budget problems and sent an email listing out all her expenses and asking for suggestions on what to cut.

I am SO tempted to respond! But I know I'd go to hell if I did, and I need to just tell her she has the wrong email address.

Do you ever get emails intended for others? Would you respond to this one?

[swamp]

No, I only get increase your penis size and assorted other spam.

But I also have a very uncommon name.

[midjd]

I emailed Gmail about it and I guess at some point they combined some email accounts with/without periods (firstname.lastname vs. firstnamelastname). It's going on 5 years though, I'm a little surprised to still be getting emails from this person's friends.

But at least this one was mildly interesting! I think she should cut her Comcast bill.

[lurkyloo]

I think you should post the text of the email and let us have at it It's been far too long since we really tore someone to shreds!

[midjd]

I'm afraid the internet gods would smite me!

We have been absent a good old-fashioned budget thread for a while, though. It almost makes me miss you-know-who.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Not the same name, but I am on a roster for some kid's Scout meetings. I just replied to the email informing them that my email was incorrect.

A couple years ago, I got a job offer sent to my email account. Since I am not an accountant, I'm pretty sure it was not meant for me either (despite the nice salary.....dammit!). Again, I replied to the email that they had the incorrect email.

I don't think I could BS my way through an accountant's job......

[Deleted]

There is a mega-hot real estate person in Texas with my email name. I think she probably has a license in Alabama as well. She give seminars that cost a lot as well.

I get thank-yous, fishing expeditions, and everything else.

I love(d) having a really unique last name thanks to my ex. In fact, I have kept it online as my user name. The only problem is that I have to beat my ex to it because we have the same first initial.

My present last name is way too common. There's even another teacher in our school system with the exact same name. Boo! I grew up with an unusual maiden name. I married to a guy with an unusual name. I hate having a last name that is equivalent to the Jones or the Smiths. Its only redeeming quality is that it is almost at the front of the alphabet. I hated being at the end when I was growing up.

[Deleted]

Dec 4, 2012 21:31:22 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

I think you should post the text of the email and let us have at it It's been far too long since we really tore someone to shreds!

This, please

[taz157]

Dec 4, 2012 22:26:11 GMT -5 oped said:

Dec 4, 2012 21:31:22 GMT -5 lurkyloo said:

I think you should post the text of the email and let us have at it It's been far too long since we really tore someone to shreds!

This, please

;D

[Deleted]

Dec 4, 2012 22:52:11 GMT -5 taz157 said:

Dec 4, 2012 22:26:11 GMT -5 oped said:

This, please

;D

[NotSoFair]

Dec 4, 2012 20:49:19 GMT -5 midjd said:

Do you ever get emails intended for others? Would you respond to this one?

Yes, I do get emails intended for another person, a lot of personal emails with family pictures attached, emails from HIS (apparently that email belongs to a guy) daughter's school closing, pot luck dinners, magic shows, resumes and also his hedge fund transaction confirmations. I tried responding a few times, but, it didn't help. Google says that email account belongs to me.

[CarolinaKat]

Dec 4, 2012 21:19:37 GMT -5 midjd said:

I emailed Gmail about it and I guess at some point they combined some email accounts with/without periods (firstname.lastname vs. firstnamelastname). It's going on 5 years though, I'm a little surprised to still be getting emails from this person's friends.

But at least this one was mildly interesting! I think she should cut her Comcast bill.

Post it, let YM have at it, then send her a link to the thread

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2012 8:25:09 GMT -5 CarolinaKat said:

Dec 4, 2012 21:19:37 GMT -5 midjd said:

I emailed Gmail about it and I guess at some point they combined some email accounts with/without periods (firstname.lastname vs. firstnamelastname). It's going on 5 years though, I'm a little surprised to still be getting emails from this person's friends.

But at least this one was mildly interesting! I think she should cut her Comcast bill.

Post it, let YM have at it, then send her a link to the thread

[Deleted]

What kinda Good Samaritan would we be if we did not provide her with any help with her budget?

It was a sign, God sent her to you

[Deleted]

To us!

[Deleted]

"It almost makes me miss you-know-who."

Is she ever coming back? She must be waiting for the dust to settle down from her insensitive comments.

And yes we should definitely help out this poor woman... Post the budget

[swamp]

I thought you know who got permabanned for the comments.

[whoisjohngalt]

Mid, you lead such an exciting life

I don't get any emails, but I've been getting calls for a couple that had my phone number before. I've received calls from their creditors, from her job about change in her schedule, from the dental office to confirm appts. I've got calls about whether husband still wants to be in a hockey league and whether their son will be attending next scout meeting. I've talked to the husband's aunt and his grandmother. I know where they work, where they live and what their hobbies are. I know the name of their children and their age. It's been going on for almost 2 yrs now.....

I live in a small town and live in a next town over, I can't wait to meet them one day.....

[midjd]

All right, here you go. Unfortunately she didn't include income so it's hard to know how she's doing. She seems to be paying bills late, so probably not good.

Budgeted Paid

Mtg 600 588.07
Xcel 88 88+88 Nov & Dec
TMobile 62 62.80
Water 35 37.50 missed this one, it needs to be paid
Comcast 96 165.35
Trash 12 34
Wells Fargo 0 109
Car Ins 0 88.96
Car payment 180 not paid
Meds 100 211

Totals 1173 1436

[Deleted]

Oh I didn't know her ban was permanent. But who knows she could have signed up with a different email and name... I wonder if she was really CM and that's what happened and she had to become the new name....

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Dec 5, 2012 9:25:58 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Mid, you lead such an exciting life

I don't get any emails, but I've been getting calls for a couple that had my phone number before. I've received calls from their creditors, from her job about change in her schedule, from the dental office to confirm appts. I've got calls about whether husband still wants to be in a hockey league and whether their son will be attending next scout meeting. I've talked to the husband's aunt and his grandmother. I know where they work, where they live and what their hobbies are. I know the name of their children and their age. It's been going on for almost 2 yrs now.....

I live in a small town and live in a next town over, I can't wait to meet them one day.....

I had the same problem at my old address. I always felt bad for this one guy who would periodically leave a message on our answering machine asking for a ride to work the next morning. He never left his number, and at the time, we didn't have voicemail or caller id -- just a cheap, minimal features, answering machine. Bet the previous holder of the phone number got lots of cold shoulders and stink eyes at work. ;D

[Deleted]

What is Xcel? she definitely needs to cut comcast. I don't see anything else.

[swamp]

she should probably budget something for food.

[973beachbum]

I don't get anyone's emails but I also get phone calls for someone with my same first initial and last name. The guy is a MD so I have no idea why they don't think his name would be listed with it or Dr in front but nursing homes and hospitals call me and leave urgent messages. I always call back and tell them that I'm B. Bum but not B. Bum, MD and they need to call his actual number to reach him.

If a Dr works with a hospital or nursing home wouldn't they have his actual number listed to get a hold of him? I wouldn't think looking up a Dr's number in the midst of an emergency is very effecient.

[973beachbum]

Dec 5, 2012 9:35:03 GMT -5 swamp said:

she should probably budget something for food.

Gas for the car might come in handy also.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Well, her first problem is that the 'budgeted' only $1100 worth of items, but had $1500 worth of actual bills. I see why she's having problems. Without knowing her income, it's hard to say, but it looks like she has more of an income problem than an outgo problem.

PS: Can you ask her what her income is? Pretty please?

[Deleted]

Dec 5, 2012 9:34:07 GMT -5 @bunnysmom said:

What is Xcel? she definitely needs to cut comcast. I don't see anything else.

Xcel is electric and probably gas too.


Mid, you really need to email her and find out her income. We can't work with just expenses.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I find it interesting what she chose to pay and what she skipped. She paid, for example, the cellphone and the cable bills but not her car payment, water, and electric bills. Maybe it was just a coincidence of timing, but that indicates a bit of a skewed priority. I think it says more about our culture than just this one case, though. It's interesting, nonetheless.

[thyme4change]

oooo - post the details here and we can work out a budget and a plan for the person. I mean, just because they don't post here and have never heard of us, the advice we give will be used just as much as the people who do come here looking for help.

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

I think you nailed it when you called it "the disconnect rotation". That's a perfect term for it! I have kinda done that a little when I was in my 20's. Not as bad as that, but still...