Small Fries

Last weekend, Mr. Sam and I rented a two movies from Red Box and one of our selections didn't play.  This has happened to us before, I would guesstimate at 1 out of 20 movies.  I really like the Red Box system but I have never, until today, figured out how to get a movie credit or a refund.  And, something about not being able to get that $2 or $1 back really rubs me the wrong way.

I have the same aggravations with ATM fees and other small fees.  For a while, Home Depot kept charging us $2 on our 0% Home Depot credit card bill.  I would have to call each month and get them to refund the $2 charge which they could never explain.

So, anyways, the secret to getting a Red Box credit is as follows.
(1)  Google "red box how to get a refund";
(2) Click on the result that is labeled "what's the red box refund policy"
(3) Under the policy, click to talk to customer care and explain problem.

Red Box gave me two movie credits which I thought was reasonable for my request.  

Quick Debt Update

I don't post much about our debt, because there isn't much to say these days.

We don't use credit cards in our day to day life.  But, we do, for our rental properties, occasionally run up the Home Depot credit card, we obtain 0% deals, and then pay it off over time with rental income.  I am happy to report that the $2500, 0% interest, credit card debt incurred in November 2012 has been paid off with proceeds from rent.

Additionally, I was pleased to note that the mortgage balance, for our primary home, is now below $250,000.  The outstanding balance is $248,962.  In two (2) years we have knocked off $25,000 from our principal.  And since our refinance back in September 2012 our progress has accelerated in that so much of what we pay each month goes to principal rather than interest.  The original loan balance was $315,000 and we took the loan out in July 2004.  We refinanced twice, reducing both the term of the loan and the interest rate each time.