Do not cash checks you don’t have.
My former boss ended his time at my company on a salty note. He gave his final two week notice at the end of our fiscal year but before year-end bonuses were handed out. He defended his right to be paid, however since he is no longer employed when the $$ hits our bank accounts he was denied. I’m pretty sure he lost a significant amount of his expected income because he didn’t stick it out for another full month. That’ll add salt to any diet for sure.
Pro tip: If you’re going to quit and its close to bonus time—WAIT IT OUT.
There are two moments in recent years where I have mentally allocated funds from sources that never came to fruition. I am currently in the middle of one of those moments.
FUN FACT THAT IS NOT FUN: Engagement rings have a ridiculous resale value of roughly 20% of the original retail cost or current insurance appraisal.
20%, at most. If they even want your ring… maybe they don’t. Maybe its not even worth their time.
A handful of people warned me that I wouldn’t receive the full value of my engagement ring in cash. I get it—they wanted to set expectations. Ok, I at least expected half… it’s fine jewelry for God’s sake. There has to be a market for shit like this. RIGHT?
Nah. Wrong. Wrong as fuck.
I took it to a jeweler, he offered me $180 for my diamonds set in platinum. There’s costume jewelry sold at Nordstrom that costs more than that. Every other potential jewelry buyer I’ve approached has politely declined, it wasn’t even worth an offer. FYI, it appraised for $4050.
I can’t tell if I’m more upset that everyone is telling me my former beloved engagement ring isn’t worth monetary value or that I have to fund my dog out of my own pocket. It’s both—OBVIOUSLY.
I know what you’re thinking… if I am willing to pay for a dog I should be able to fund this from the bottom of my heart and wallet. But I’m me. (I'm me. TIMES THREE. *bonus points if you got that reference*) I logically thought this through and budgeted my money while simultaneously expecting $1500 free. THE FUNDING WAS MENTALLY ALLOCATED ALREADY.
The idea behind trading in my ring for something to love was genius. It was supposed to be fucking symbolic. Now I’m upset because I feel like I just got handed two "L's."
A reminder “L” for marriage. A new “L” for the bank account.
The other time I mentally used money I never had was when I could taste a $3k referral bonus check, but the woman I referred refused the position offered to her. She had it, dude—and I would’ve had at least 60% of that check.
Pro tip: Only count/spend money you actually have.
P.S. I'll be happy to pay for the dog (once a breeder finally confirms with me), a confirmation alone would lift my spirits. However I was just mentally prepared and felt somewhat entitled to getting it for free.