Windfall
On Saturday, I got an unexpected check from my previous employer. I thought they had paid me everything they were going to pay me, but I was wrong. So now I have to decide what to do with the extra money.
I know the usual advice when you get some unexpected money is “don’t spend it all in one place.” However, in this particular case, I don’t think that advice really applies. I really have no idea how I would go about spending $0.01 in more than one place.
Yes, you read that right. They mailed me a check for one penny. Now, since it’s possible to buy paper in bulk at less than a penny per sheet, the check is, in fact, worth more than the paper it’s printed on. Barely. But then there’s the envelope — and postage. They spent at least $0.40 to send me $0.01.
I don\’t know that I would call that a windfall. Maybe a tease? Or better yet, a breathfall, or breezefall. Don\’t forget the time it took someone to approve the check, you\’re way over $0.40 then. And you probably blogged for $3.00 worth of time about it. That\’s an expensive cent.
Frame it.
It\’s not worth the gas to take it to the bank. The signing of your name will be less per word than any semi-semi-small press mag. And the point\’s already been made about the blog…
It\’s kind of like celery, that burns more calories in the chewing than it actually contains.
That\’s a celery check you have right there, mister.
Man, some people have all the luck… ;)