It is a beautiful Saturday morning, the sun is out and the skies are blue. The temp is about 57 degrees, which is a bit chilly for a Florida girl!.
House Update: We still have not heard a word from the Short Sale bank. As far as I know we are all set as far a the loan is concerned. Just have to wait and be patient. We do have two families that are very interested in renting our current home. There are a few things to do to get this house ready for rent, but they are minor.
Son Update: Our oldest son is still in jail. He has about 2-3 weeks left on his sentence. His dad I and go to see him every Sunday after church. He is allowed 2 one hour visits each week. Either his girlfriend or his sister are his other visitors. He calls about twice a week. We are able to send him postcards (no letters) during the week, and he likes that. I have to say that we have spent a bucket of money on this jail thing. We put money in his inmate account weekly so he can purchase underwear ( yeah,, they are not issued underwear, they have to buy it), personal care items, or snacks. Well, when we put in 40 dollars, the jail takes its cut which is about 5 dollars per 40 dollar deposit. Then the jail takes automatically takes money out of his inmate account on a daily basis as a payment for him staying there. Yep, he has to pay the jail a daily fee to stay there. Well,... WE have to pay it.
We also put money in his phone account. That is about 30 dollars per week. The the company that runs that operation, they will take out a hefty percentage too. Usually it is another 5 dollars. Then, when J calls, the charges against the phone account are exorbitant. 2.50 for the first minute, and 50 cents a minute after that. He is allowed to talk fifteen minutes.
This whole jail experience is painfully expensive.
I am getting my grocery list together this morning, and I will be paying some bills online. I will update my budget later on this weekend. Right now, I am going to get started on my housework, and finish my coffee. Hope you all have a great weekend!
6 comments:
Lisa: I had no idea about all of those fees in jail - oh my goodness it sounds like the gov't is making a ton of money from crime which is very ironic.
Will your son pay you back or do you not expect that?
Here it's snowing a bit and the wind is really whipping the snow around. I calculate it is about
20F here so your 57 looks pretty good:)
Frankly, I wish our local jail would institute some of these fees. Maybe then they wouldn't be broke and letting (dangerous) inmates out early, or firing deputies (who protect our streets) or begging the taxpayers for more money! Our local inmates get free phone use (limited), free cable, free food (the basics), free heat/air, free linens and uniforms, free gym equipment to use during their exercise time, etc. Frankly, these inmates have better lives than many of the taxpayers who they have victimized! I'm sorry, but I don't feel real sorry for your son (or you, since you are choosing to fund him)... life is expensive. Why should inmates get a free ride? If you break the law then you need to take responsibility and live with the consequences.
Oh, and Jane, the government is not making a ton of money off of these fees. Every time someone breaks the law the government (and we as taxpayers) LOSE money. We have to pay for trials, and appeals, and guards, and upkeep of the jails, and all the rest that goes with the process. Our government would be in much better shape financially if people would NOT break the law. I applaud any fee local officials want to tack on. Gosh I wish our local officials would get a little tougher in our local jail!
Sorry for the vent. I do have sympathy for your situation, Lisa. I am sure you miss your son and worry about him. But it is also important that he learns a lesson. My grandfather was killed by a drunk driver. There is a reason people get punished when they break the law. And if you ignore the first punishment, there is a harsher punishment. It is all meant to protect the public. Doing jail time is not meant to be an easy punishment. I pray your son emerges from this experience positively changed and a stronger person.
I had no idea that you were going to be out of pocket, where I also think that it is down to your Son to find the money for his phone calls etc. As a Mum I know exactly where you are coming from, but I think when he gets home that he should be thinking about paying you back.
Keep strong it wont be long now.
The phone situation in prisons and jails is something most middle-class families never know about--it is a total scam run by the state, and for which they make money because fly-by-night phone companies actually PAY for the privilege of overcharging inmates and their families for phone use. No one is very sympathetic about this because they've never experienced relatives in jail or prison. But it's the families who usually pay (as you are) and often, these families are poor.
However, as for the daily fees for being jailed--these are your son's problem, not yours. I understand paying for his phone, but frankly he can go without underwear. And when he gets out, the state can try to collect their 'rent.' It shouldn't be you fronting those costs.
I can't even imagine how difficult this must be for you. Just having your son in jail is enough, but then to have to pay for all those fees? I'm glad there are only a few weeks left. Don't forget to take care of yourself...
Sending *hugs*
Frankly, I wish our local jail would institute some of these fees. Maybe then they wouldn't be broke and letting (dangerous) inmates out early, or firing deputies (who protect our streets) or begging the taxpayers for more money! Our local inmates get free phone use (limited), free cable, free food (the basics), free heat/air, free linens and uniforms, free gym equipment to use during their exercise time, etc. Frankly, these inmates have better lives than many of the taxpayers who they have victimized! I'm sorry, but I don't feel real sorry for your son (or you, since you are choosing to fund him)... life is expensive. Why should inmates get a free ride? If you break the law then you need to take responsibility and live with the consequences.
Oh, and Jane, the government is not making a ton of money off of these fees. Every time someone breaks the law the government (and we as taxpayers) LOSE money. We have to pay for trials, and appeals, and guards, and upkeep of the jails, and all the rest that goes with the process. Our government would be in much better shape financially if people would NOT break the law. I applaud any fee local officials want to tack on. Gosh I wish our local officials would get a little tougher in our local jail!
Sorry for the vent. I do have sympathy for your situation, Lisa. I am sure you miss your son and worry about him. But it is also important that he learns a lesson. My grandfather was killed by a drunk driver. There is a reason people get punished when they break the law. And if you ignore the first punishment, there is a harsher punishment. It is all meant to protect the public. Doing jail time is not meant to be an easy punishment. I pray your son emerges from this experience positively changed and a stronger person.
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