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Home > So I was doing my taxes....

So I was doing my taxes....

April 15th, 2013 at 06:30 pm

I actually had my federal done, and was just planning to finish up the state form, when my computer presented me with the black screen of death!

Ugh!!!

I completed the state tax by hand, and I do have the two checks sitting here on my desk waiting to be mailed.

But the laptop was a goner. I've had it for three years and it's given me nothing but trouble. I had the motherboard replaced once. I wasn't going to do it again. So I went to Best Buy ready to shell out the cash for a new one, and boy, did I!

About $1080 later I have a new Sony laptop (will never buy HP again!) The base price was $799, but after adding on the Microsoft Office, the tech support, saving my files from the dead machine, and so forth, it crossed the $1000 mark.

As I told a co-worker, it's not even any fun to spend money this way. It's not exciting to get a new computer -- in fact, it's a little annoying, because now I have to learn Windows 8. Anyway, I hope this one lasts a while.

The stars are not aligned for me, because I also learned today that I had a past-due bill on my Citi card -- which I never use. I got it just for the rewards and I should have canceled it. Apparently, I charged my Ancestry.com subscription on it last year when I was trying to boost my spending to the required minimum -- and they charged it again this year for the renewal. I got the renewal notice email from them, but didn't pay attention to what card was being charged -- I just assumed it was my Discover card, the one I use most often. Well, somehow I ALSO missed the notification from Citi that I had a bill -- so my subscription has cost me $20+ more than it should have. ($177) I'm so bummed.

My other spending hardly amounts to anything in comparison -- $42 for groceries, $3 for birthday cards, $3 for breakfast this morning, $4.50 for laundry.

I will say I am happy that I have savings to cover this.

9 Responses to “So I was doing my taxes....”

  1. creditcardfree Says:
    1366048915

    Ugh. What timing! Sorry for your misadventures.

  2. patientsaver.com Says:
    1366051642

    Oh, that sounds so much like what i just went thru, except for a desktop. I had read rather negative remarks from people about the difficulty of learning Windows 8 so"built" my new computer I stuck with windows 7.

    I had been thinking how nice it would be to have a laptop I could use while enjoying my sunroom this summer (my desktop is upstairs) but since I do watch a lot of movies on it, i didn't think a laptop would have enough oomph. I spent about $800.

    I have my new monitor and speakers but am waiting for delivery of the computer itself.

  3. snafu Says:
    1366053623

    Oh my, what a dreadful combination of factors. Please let us know about your experiences with W 8. I've hesitated since so many people say such horrid things about the program.

  4. CB in the City Says:
    1366055049

    So far, with very limited exposure, I'm not a fan of Windows 8. It seems to have been designed to mimic the smartphone -- but since I have never had one, it's only confusing to me. Really finding it hard to navigate. Also, it has a touchscreen, which means if I have it hooked up to the monitor and keyboard, I have to keep opening it up to navigate. Really annoying. I'll let you know if things get better.

  5. ThriftoRama Says:
    1366057850

    Gah! I'm sorry!

  6. starfishy Says:
    1366061400

    ugh - what a pain! can you also hook a mouse up to the laptop when you are using the monitor and keyboard so that you don't have to use the touchscreen or is that not an option? good luck with the new technology!

  7. Xtreme Thunder Says:
    1366071166

    Did you compare the price at Best Buy with an online site such as newegg.com? I have found that purchasing at Best Buy is usually more expensive than getting the same item online shipped (most times free shipping). I usually go to Best Buy for the hands on, then I can usually find a same manufacturer on newegg.com with upgraded specs for less. Although, sometimes you just need something right away!

    I have a Sony laptop with Windows Vista purchased in 2006, still runs great, but fell off the bed a year and half ago and snapped 8 keys off and way too expensive to fix, hence the Apple IPad purchases a year ago. There are times I still need the Windows based OS so I still use it with the on screen keyboard!

  8. My English Castle Says:
    1366117227

    If it's any consolation, I got used to Windows 8 very quickly. I spent three days hating it, but now it seems natural. But I do use a mouse. Right in the middle of taxes is awfulness.

  9. CB in the City Says:
    1366141915

    Xtreme, I was in a hurry, so did not compare prices, nor did I want to wait for something to be shipped. I know I probably didn't get the best deal in the world, but I did feel the staff was very helpful.

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