I have two day-planners that I am working out of right now… because 2010 has January 2011 which I was using until I got my 2011 calendar and while it seems as easy as just copying a few appointments down in the new one and shelving the old one… I can’t seem to let go of it just yet..

I also have found that I have a running to do list that is getting longer and more neglected by the day as priorities keep shifting things like an oil change and wash for my car lower and lower on the list… I have three new fitness magazines I can’t seem to find time for and am still disputing a charge from a company that I used through a popular on-line website that won’t refund my money for an item I returned to them more than a month ago…

I refuse to let businesses keep my money - or at least if they do I don’t make it easy for them… it took me 6 or 7 phone calls to get my 24.95 for the flu shot I got back in October that was supposed to be covered as preventive through my health insurance… after 3 or 4 explanation of benefits and one partial reimbursement… I finally received a check for the rest of what I was owed… 

The key to my success with the flu shot was detailed documentation of every phone call.. who I talked to and a “confirmation” number for the discussion we had… a lot of companies code the calls we make to them I have found… so when I call again and someone acts like they have no idea what I am talking about I give them the name of the person I spoke with.. the date and the number they need to look it up… with the returned item I kept an e-mail file with all of the back and forth messages with some less than brilliant representative who kept playing dumb about whether my item had been returned… I sent it back through USPS with a tracking number… when I explained that I had confirmation they had received the item in Georgia and that it wasn’t my problem they couldn’t find it…. the tone changed a bit…

Bottom line… document things and look out for yourself as a consumer because no one else has time to… and will be less helpful if you haven’t taken the time to make it a priority…. with that in mind I may be carrying around 2 day-planners for the next 2 months… hopefully not…