Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget Cousin

My original post was suppose to be called "Six Degrees of Hoe Separation," but do to an emergency venting posted needed. I will have to save that for next time. It was going to be on an update about my current sex life, and my unsuccessful attempt to remain abstinent for a little while.

Last night I blogged a little, I made a few comments here and there, and then I wrote my next post. I got tired before I finished, and decide to get to it this morning. Last night though, after I got offline, I decided to read a little mail, while I watch T.V. Most of it was credit card applications, one however, was my Visa credit card bill. I actually got it Saturday or Monday...can't really remember, but I didn't open it. I know when my payments are usually going to be, they always fall on the first 6 or 7 days, of the next month of receiving the bill. Do to this, I don't see a need to rush to open it up. I know some people open their bills as soon as they get it...i.e. my mother.

So I casually open it, and what I see, I can't believe my eyes. I recheck to see if, it's really my bill, and it hits me, that I saw my name on the first page bill, that faces out the envelope. On the first page in big bold letters, at the top, I see the words, that just has the air ripped right out of me....Current New Balance $4339.07 dollars!

Sitting there shocked and stunned, I keep telling myself, that this can't be true. My last bill was only $1200 Dollars, how in the world did it jump over $3000 more dollars. Then I realize, the one of the biggest mistake, that I have ever made, I lent my credit card, to my cousin!

Around the last week on May...I believe it was Memorial day weekend....well anyway, he told me, that he had some money, but he wanted to know if he could borrow one of my credit cards, because he was taking his girlfriend out, for the night, because she had been going through some rough depression, and it was a day, she wanted to get out of the house, and have a little much need fun, out on the town. Now I did know that she had been going through some things, and had a little depression going on. So I reluctantly agreed, as long, as he didn't put to much money on it, and he kept tract of what he spent. After that weekend, I kept mentioning my credit card to him, and his response was always, he didn't have it. He leaves it at home, so he wouldn't be tempted to use it.

Unfortunately, he was a failure at this attempt. I mean this bill dates state, that in less than 20 days, he managed to put $3,000. To me this is crazy. Unless your last name is Hilton, Richie, or Olsen, I don't see how you can run up a credit card like this. Now my cousin , is your typical, champagne taste, but now on beer budget. He is literally the guy who drives a Mercedes, but doesn't have gas to put in it...he is the guy, who buys expensive suits and shoes, but literally doesn't have the money to get all of the dry clean only clothes out of the cleaners. Loves to be a big show. He does okay business wise, but is always crying broke. Now I know why.

So, my shocked and stunned,moves to anger real quick, its about 11 at night, but I start calling his phone like crazy.My voice was actually horse today, because of all the screaming, I was doing. He never picked up, because at 10 his ass is knocked out in bed.

I just kept reading all the different charges. P.F Changs...$80 .... Cheesecake Factory $50...ABC store $70...Fridays $80...Fridays 60....Fridays...%75... I mean this nigga stayed up in some Fridays...BK music $65.... O'Charleys $85...Blockbuster...$30...I mean how many movies did you rent. The list is endless. Gas and food, and a through in of a little entertainment. I mean you can tell his whole day, buy the places he went...Like $10 at a Diner...Breakfast, Friday's $60 at Fridays for lunch...the same day $85 at Outback. Multiple days like that. the few times he went to a McDonald's or KFC, it would be a bill like $11 and $22 at fast food places....When I told my mom, she said, well he sure wasn't eating off the value menu.

I think that's the big thing for me. I would still be angry, but I think I could understand, if it was things he needed. Not one time did I see a large purchase at the super market, just image the groceries he could have bought, with one day of all the restaurant money. Not once did I see a water bill or gas bill payment... The only bill he paid, was his cell phone bill...yes this nigga had me paying $80 for his Intelos bill. The thing is during this whole credit card fiasco, he borrowed cash from me. He running up my credit card, but borrowed money for his electric bill.

I finally got him on the phone at 9 this morning...figuring the shit has finally hit the fan. He had the whole thing about he was getting a paycheck advance, from his boss, for a thousand... and on his next paycheck on the 30th, he would have another $1500 for me. This is probably all true, but I can't help but wonder, then what...what about your rent, and your other bills, that I'm already helping you out every now and then. I asked him point blank, how much more has he put on it, since the last date that was on the bill, he said that was the last date. Not another dime since.

I called the Visa company, afterwards, and the automatic system, said that my current balance, was over $5000 dollars. The strength in my knees just left. I just sat in the chair, and I started to cry. I know what some people may say, because of that, but I did. I know some people have diffeent views as to whether a man should cry or not, butI did..I guess I'm not a real man then. I don't know if i was because this happen from someone I trusted....because he lied.... or because I knew I would never see the money from him...over $600 of the original $1200 was because of things charged for him. Or I don't know if I started to cry, becausee I was going to have to do, what my mom, and my aunt told me to do, which was to report the card stolen, and if he gets locked up, as they told me, so be it.

Every since this has went down last night...I body, just seems so tired, and all I want to do, is sleep. So I'll keep you posted I guess.