Followup to Birthday Rant · 6:31am Nov 19th, 2021
Hey, everyone.
So, I've managed to calm down after all the tragic things that happened to me around the time of my birthday earlier this month. As for my car, I made some phone calls to an auto glass repair shop and our insurance provider. The shop is within our provider's coverage, so I won't have to pay the full out-of-pocket amount... that being said, I still have to pay a deductible. It's not a small amount, but not more than $300. Insurance companies... you pay them through the nose to cover you in case things go wrong, and yet they still screw you over.
Okay... fine. Whatever. I'll pay it. In addition, the only day when I have sufficient time for the technician to come out and do the repair is Wednesday of next week. To sum it up, I'm going to be driving with a cracked windshield for the next week... and it's getting cold where I live. As I'm sure some of you know, glass shrinks when it gets cold, so I can only hope it holds out until the repair. Also, here's hoping no police, state troopers, or county sheriff deputies pull me over and cite me for it (even if they do, as long as I can show a county judge proof that it was repaired, they'll dismiss the citation. But still, that's just more time and another fee to pay).
So, yeah, not the outcome I was hoping for. But at least nothing worse happened. Hopefully, the bad times are behind me for now... it just sucks that it all happened around the time of my 25th birthday. Though, I guess everyone has a bad birthday sooner or later, and this just happened to be mine. Maybe I'll have a chance to make up for it at a future time, with a really-belated-but-proper birthday celebration on my own. My work might hopefully give me some good holiday bonuses (especially since, according to my work schedule, I'll be working on Christmas Day... again! 
) which I could use to treat myself. I mentioned the HTC Vive in my previous post... but honestly, I'm now eying the HP Reverb G2, a high-end but affordable VR headset that many say competes with the Valve Index (not counting the controllers).
But, I guess the long and short of it all is... you learn something. And sometimes, you're forced to learn a hard way. Even with things as bad as they are, someone somewhere surely has it worse. It really makes you not take things in your life for granted when you step back at look at the bigger picture.
And as I now know how important it is to set aside cash for emergencies, I've decided to make some better financial decisions. I'm considering investing in some promising corporations, but due to the unstable state of the US Stock Market, I figured I'd start smaller: using precious metal bullion as a savings tool. Specifically, I'm starting with silver, especially since gold, platinum, palladium, and rhodium are all ridiculously expensive per troy ounce in the US.
Each month when I have spare cash, I'll make a trip to a local bullion shop in my area and purchase some rounds, or even large bars if I'm feeling frisky, and keep them secured in a locked safe I've recently purchased and keep hidden. Plus, silver holds its value, so if the US dollar depreciates to borderline worthlessness, I'll have a safety cushion through the bullion stacking I've started.
I suppose another lesson is the importance of keeping extra money on hand in the event of problems arising, and while I was good with my finances before, now I'm going the extra step to secure my spending power. I would recommend you all do the same: invest wisely and secure your savings!
That's really I'll I have to say at this point. Once I get my windshield replaced, and reclaim my dividend payment through my payroll and spending cuts, I suppose that will be the end of this ordeal. Here's hoping my 26th birthday will turn out better next year.
Thanks for listening, everyone!
Youre welcome, buddy, stay safe! I really hope i did not overwelm you.
And try to see it from the bright side, could be worse. You could have ended with a work Plan like kyle.
Also, i got a funny experience, one of the buses i take has a cracked windshield since a month or so. Isn't fixed since. Is only visible on the inside though
That's tough, I am so sorry you had to go through all that.
I'm always here if you need a friend or a listening ear. ❤
5609008
Yep. And I'll respond to your PM soon; I've just had a lot on my plate with Thanksgiving coming up, and school being piled on the week before break.
You're right about both of those.
Huh, I assume they don't want to shell out the euros to get it fixed? I'm not sure what the traffic laws and ordinances are in Germany regarding visual obstructions, such as windshield cracks, but I'm assuming it will be vanishingly unlikely I'll get a ticket, since law enforcement in our area tends to overlook minor offenses for the most part.
5609015
Yeah, I'm coming to terms with it. Hopefully I can manage to make up for it on my own terms.
I'm really glad about that. The world really needs more people like you.
5609122
okay. sorry, old habit of guilty conscience.
Mhm.
Well, in my home town and workplace, police patrols are rarely seen, plus as its only visible on the inside, i doubt any cop would notice
5609123
Aww, I'm just a simple nerd.