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Navigating Online Expenses: The Power of a Company Debit Card
The Importance of Having a Company Debit Card for Online Expenses In the ever-evolving landscape of business, managing online expenses efficiently is crucial. One powerful tool that can streamline this process is a company debit card. In this article, we’ll delve into the significance of having a dedicated company debit card for handling online expenses. Enhancing Financial Management 1. Secure…

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#accounting integration#Adaptability#budget control#business success#company debit card#creative freedom#creative problem-solving#customer-centric#expense reporting#Financial management#fraud prevention#Innovation#innovative approaches#online expenses#real-time tracking#Resilience#risk mitigation#Security#thinking outside the box#unconventional ideas
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im gonna be so real wishmaker made me try so hard to imagine adriens future career but i cant do it. when i imagine adriens future i cannot imagine his career AT ALL. but also i think he has a source of income outside of marinette just for the feeling of independence. because financial dependence would probably be bad for his mindset after the 15 yrs of gabriel. so i cant imagine him as a stay at home husband either.
so my brain just sees him doing random jobs that he quits whenever he wants bc he lives with marinette in a little apartment over her boutique. like every week he somehow changes jobs and no one understands how. nino goes to the mcdonalds across the street from his house on monday and adrien takes his order. then he facetimes adrien on wednesday and he's in peru because hes got a job as a flight attendant. saturday, alya mentions that she had to report on a play being thrown by a local theater troupe and did you know adriens in it? and sometimes he just quits for awhile and does marinettes bookkeeping and occasionally models for her when he wants to. does some community center classes such as cooking, arts, etc. volunteers at the cat shelter. and is also a superhero i guess. chat noir does door dash.
#cal.ibrations#miraculous ladybug#um i usually dont imagine adrien keeping any of the money from the agreste company bc i always imagined hawkmoths identity wld be public#so i imagine a lot of that would probably be seized by the state tbfh like sorry but it was used to fund magical terrorism#so like i imagine usually he has enough for his childhood n young adult years n stuff but like entire life? nah. job is necessary 👍#or he steals felixs identity and uses his debit card tbh kind of deserved.
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pray that my bank and squenix's ongoing Fuck Your Visa problems dont screw me tomorrow
#personal#aaaaaaaaaa#cant even dl the torrent i was ripping bc of [COMPANY REDACTED FOR PUBLIC FACING POST]'s file sizes#I WANTED TO MESS AROUND IN BLENDER AND THE PROGRAM I USE HASNT BEEN UPDATED TO WORK W THE SHIT I GOT YET#i wasnt hit with the visa debit card denial at all until literally just tonight when i tried to reactivate my account
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Best Student Credit Cards In Australia 2024
University is an exciting adventure, but it can also be a financial tightrope walk. Between textbooks, rent, study supplies, and that epic weekend trip to Byron Bay, managing your cash flow can feel like an impossible feat. Enter the world of Student Credit Cards! This handy guide dives deep into everything you need to know about these cards, from navigating the application process to using them…

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#annual fees#balance in full#best credit card for international students in australia#best credit card for students australia#best credit card for students in australia#best credit cards for college students#best credit cards for students#best student credit cards#building your credit#cards for students#cc for students#credit card application#credit card companies#credit card for international students#credit card for international students australia#credit card for student visa australia#credit card for students#credit card for students australia#credit card issuers#credit cards are designed#credit cards for f1 students#credit cards in australia#credit limit#credit report#debit card#due dates#earn rewards#foreign transaction fees#frequently asked question#good credit cards for students
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kinda hate how bad rep mhy games are even compared to similar gachas bc like. the stories are good. the story is fucking good. and theyre fun
#keter.txt#smth abt singling out a cn company feels :/ to me#i really hope im reading too into it but like#i would like to be able to be autistic abt these games without having to be like yes i know its a gacha#IM AN ADULT WHO CAN MODERATE THEIR SPENDING AND I ONLY HAVE A DEBIT CARD#tis frustrating
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Offshore Company Registrations with Bank Account?
In today's globalized economy, businesses are increasingly looking beyond domestic borders to "optimize their operations", reduce costs, and gain access to international markets. One strategy that has gained popularity among entrepreneurs and investors is the establishment of offshore companies. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the concept of "offshore company registrations", their benefits, considerations, and the process of setting up an offshore company with a bank account.
Understanding Offshore Companies
Definition and characteristics of offshore companies
"Offshore companies are entities registered" in a jurisdiction different from where they conduct their primary business activities or where their owners reside. These companies often enjoy favorable tax treatment, regulatory advantages, and enhanced privacy compared to domestic entities.
Reasons why businesses choose to register offshore Businesses may opt for "offshore company registrations" for various reasons, including tax optimization, asset protection, confidentiality, access to global markets, and simplified regulatory requirements.
Legal and financial implications of offshore company registration While offshore companies offer several benefits, they also come with legal and financial considerations. It's crucial to understand the regulatory environment, tax implications, and compliance requirements associated with offshore operations.
Benefits of Offshore Company Registrations
Tax advantages Offshore companies often benefit from low or zero corporate tax rates, allowing businesses to minimize their tax liabilities and retain more profits.
Asset protection By holding assets offshore, businesses can shield them from potential legal claims, creditors, or other financial risks.
Privacy and confidentiality Offshore jurisdictions typically offer strict confidentiality laws, ensuring the privacy of company ownership and financial information.
Access to global markets Offshore companies can facilitate international trade and investment by providing a platform to conduct business across borders more efficiently.
Simplified regulatory requirements Some offshore jurisdictions have lenient regulatory frameworks, reducing administrative burdens and compliance costs for businesses.
Considerations Before Registering an Offshore Company
Jurisdiction selection Choosing the right jurisdiction is critical, as it determines the regulatory environment, tax implications, and overall suitability for the business's objectives.
Legal requirements and regulations Businesses must comply with the legal and regulatory requirements of both the offshore jurisdiction and their home country to avoid legal issues and potential penalties.
Banking and financial considerations Access to banking services is essential for offshore companies. However, some jurisdictions may have restrictions or challenges in opening and maintaining bank accounts.
Costs involved in setting up and maintaining an offshore company While "offshore company registrations" offer potential cost savings, businesses should consider the upfront and ongoing expenses associated with incorporation, administration, and compliance.
Risks and challenges associated with offshore operations Offshore companies may face risks such as regulatory changes, political instability, reputational damage, and increased scrutiny from tax authorities.
Steps to Register an Offshore Company with Bank Account
Conducting thorough research Before proceeding with offshore company registration, businesses should conduct comprehensive research on potential jurisdictions, legal requirements, and service providers.
Choosing the right jurisdiction Selecting a jurisdiction that aligns with the business's objectives, preferences, and industry requirements is crucial for successful offshore operations.
Hiring professional services Engaging legal, financial, and other professional services is advisable to navigate the complexities of "offshore company registrations" and ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Preparing and submitting necessary documents Businesses must gather and submit the required documents, such as identification proofs, business plans, and incorporation forms, to the offshore jurisdiction's authorities.
Opening a bank account for the offshore company Securing banking services is an integral part of "offshore company registrations in UK". Businesses should approach reputable banks in the chosen jurisdiction and fulfill their account opening requirements.
Compliance with ongoing regulatory requirements Once the "offshore company" is registered and the bank account is opened, it's essential to maintain compliance with ongoing regulatory requirements, including filing annual reports, tax returns, and other obligations.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Regulatory compliance issues Navigating complex regulatory frameworks and staying compliant with evolving laws and "regulations can be challenging for offshore companies". Seeking professional advice and regular updates on regulatory changes is essential.
Banking restrictions and challenges Some offshore jurisdictions may "face banking restrictions" or challenges due to regulatory scrutiny or international sanctions. Exploring alternative banking options or engaging specialized banking services can help overcome these challenges.
Tax implications and controversies Offshore companies may face scrutiny and controversies related to tax avoidance or evasion. Maintaining accurate records, adhering to tax laws, and seeking tax advice from experts can mitigate tax-related risks.
Reputation risks associated with offshore entities Offshore companies often face stigma and negative perceptions due to associations with tax evasion, money laundering, or illicit activities. Maintaining transparency, ethical business practices, and good corporate governance can help mitigate reputational risks.
#Offshore Company Registration#Offshore payment processors#Offshore high risk payment gateway#Offshore payment gateway high risk#Offshore online payment processing#Offshore payment service provider#Offshore merchant payment services#Offshore bitcoin debit card#Offshore Company#Offshore companies#Offshore company in UK#Offshore company in USA#Offshore company Registration in UK#Offshore company Registration in USA#Offshore company formation#Offshore incorporation services
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it's honestly nuts to me that critical infrastructure literally everywhere went down because everyone is dependent on windows and instead of questioning whether we should be letting one single company handle literally the vast majority of global technological infrastructure, we're pointing and laughing at a subcontracted company for pushing a bad update and potentially ruining themselves
like yall linux has been here for decades. it's stable. the bank I used to work for is having zero outage on their critical systems because they had the foresight to migrate away from windows-only infrastructure years ago whereas some other institutions literally cannot process debit card transactions right now.
global windows dependence is a massive risk and this WILL happen again if something isn't done to address it. one company should not be able to brick our global infrastructure.
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Credit Card Terminal Services
#Credit Card Terminal Services#credit card terminal#credit card processing#accept credit cards#merchant services#wireless credit card terminal#virtual terminal credit card processing#credit cards#credit card services#credit card#credit card machine#credit card terminals#credit card terminal companies#payment terminal#pax s300 credit card terminal#square terminal#debit and credit cards#orlando merchant services#virtual terminal#top credit card processing orlando
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So Imagine...
Just a little blurb. Simon solves something by bringing Johnny around.

Simon Riley having to be a total gentleman when around you while home. Watching his mother being mistreated most of her life causing him to make the conscious decision to be better.
Simon Riley walking on the outside of the sidewalk, hand and arm wrapped around your back to keep you safe. Walking a little faster to beat you to any doors that need opened in your path. Thinking you're going to carry any of those groceries he just paid for inside? Yeah right. While on that thought, you keep your pretty shiny debit card in that condition. Don't even worry about sliding it because Simon's already paid for whatever it is you were going to purchase.
So imagine the conversation when he comes to bed, and you are slyly smiling, pulling the covers up to your chin- all because you are laying on the side he was so possessive of.
Reaching underneath you, he grabs the blanket you are on top of, rolling you to the otherside of the bed.
"Come on, Si! Let me lay on your side! I wanna stick my leg out."
Simple, and articulate, he answers with a, "No."
"Whyyy?" You whined and pouted getting under the covers on your side snuggling into a pillow.
"Closer to the door if someone breaks in."
You blinked at him, realizing he was worried about your safety at all times.... But instead of being thankful about it, you smarted back.
"I lay next to a window. You think someone can't come in from there?" Sly smile returning, voice coy in nature. All you were trying to do was be cheeky, still trying to get your way.
He hadn't thought about that... No worries he will come up with a solution.
"Still no, love. Go to sleep, we have company in the morning."
The next day, you welcomed and greeted Simon's long time best friend. Soap, Johnny Mactavish.
The day was full of laughs, stories, and food.
But you see, it was also full of surprises. The guest room had been made up the day before by you just for Johnny. When you found his bag in your room, you brushed it off and he just picked the wrong room. No worries.
So imagine... Night had settled into your bones. Tired and weary, you all headed up stairs to the sleep quarters. Johnny not too far off the entire time. Finally, it had been clocked onto your radar as strange. Every turn, he was not far off. Noticing the excited gleam and shimmer in his eye.
You see, you had failed to hear about their conversation earlier. Simon expressing to Johnny how you pointed out the open window next to your shared bed. How could the love of his life be so exposed to a threat?? Don't stress it though. Who better to fix that thought then the person who does that out in the field for Ghost? Only difference Johnny was now doing it for you, instead of Simon.
So imagine the look of confusion as you faced Simon when Johnny followed you into your bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
"Simon?" Your quiet voice called out to him looking for an answer.
"Still worried about that window, love?" Simon asked backing you up to the bed.
Two unknown arms feeling foreign to you wrapped around your waist, tucking you closer to him. Turning as best you could, you saw Johnny.
He laid closest to the window, Simon closer to the door, and you sandwiched in the middle. No safer place you could be... After they were done with you of course.
Simon Ghost Riley Masterlist
#cod mw2#call of duty mw2#call of duty#ghost mw2#simon riley#simon ghost riley#ghost x reader#ghost#simon riley x you#ghoap#ghoap x reader#ghoap x you#ghoap fic#simon riley call of duty#simon smut#simon#simon ghost riley x reader#simon ghost riley smut#simon ghost x reader#simon ghost x you#simon ghost smut#simon ghost fluff#simon ghost riley x john soap mactavish#soap mw2#soap x reader#soapghost#john soap mactavish#soap cod#johnny mactavish#johnny mactavish x reader
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My state’s insurance being like “we see you are getting home nurses visits every week”
Me: “uh, yeah. Why?”
The insurance: “you know how we said we were the type that covers disability?”
Me, suspicious: “yeah”
The insurance: “well we don’t cover people with that much disability. Your severity has been changed so you get this new other state insurance that is for more disabled people! Don’t worry, they cover your doctors and nurse visits”
Me: “okay, cool. What about my dentist and eye doctor?”
New insurance: …
Me: “you fucking bastard whores! You covered them on my old one, I need to get my wisdom teeth removed now! What are you going to do with that?!”
My insurance: “we’ll just have to see what happens”
Me: “you fucking shitty ass bastards! Fuck you!”
#emma posts#I’m just glad my favorite glasses brand is relatively cheap#and by cheap I mean about 400$ give or take#it’s a Japanese brand and it’s the only one that has comfortably fit my big ass head#I’m probably going to have to get my teeth taken out while conscious#they’ll numb me but if my insurance doesn’t cover it I’d have to pay an extra 1000$ to get knocked out#I know insurance companies like to give disabled people less coverage because we cost more#but the “medium disabled’ state insurance covered way more#I’m just glad everything else is handled by the same doctor office hospital chain#or whatever those are called#fuck my eyes and teeth I guess#still going to need to handle those things#and my debit card has been a pain in the ass because my bank switched partners#old one was like’just set us up and use your old pin’#new one is like ‘oh. you want a specific PIN number? beg for it’
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Fire & Desire - Matt Sturniolo Part 9



Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10
Pairing: Y/n x Matt Sturniolo
Summary: Y/n has always clashed with Matt. Despite working for Chris’s clothing brand and being close with Nick, her relationship with Matt has always been tense at best. While being forced to be around each other more, their animosity turns into something deeper. Can they overcome their differences, or will their fiery emotions tear them apart?
Warnings: MDNI, angst, tension, mentions of drinking and being hungover
I glance at the bouquet one last time, the petals now frayed with bits of trash throughout it. With a sigh, I place it gently back in the bin. Keeping it would feel.. strange. Too much. But the card.. that’s something I can’t seem to leave behind. I place it back in the envelope and slip it into my pocket before picking up the box I’d left on the floor and putting it in the trash before heading back inside.
My mind is elsewhere as I make my way to Chris’s room. I knew I needed to get the company card to get Chris a new phone, I’ll have to order it today to make sure its here before he heads to Hawaii.
I push open the door and see Nate falling asleep in Chris' bed. He looks up as I step inside.
“Hey” I whisper, leaning against the doorframe. “I’m looking for the company card. Have you seen it? He usually keeps it on the desk”
Nate furrows his brows and shakes his head. “I haven’t seen it. You’re right though they all usually leave their things on their desk, I didn't see it though.”
“Exactly” I mutter, scanning the desk for any signs of the card. Nothing.
“Maybe it’s in Matt’s room” Nate suggests with a shrug, trying to go back to the sleep I just brought him out of.
I exhale sharply, already feeling the tension creeping in. “Of course it is” I mumble, more to myself than to him. “Thanks, Nate.”
Leaving Chris’s room, I climb the stairs, my footsteps heavier now. The closer I get to Matt’s room, the more I debate what to do. It’s not like I haven’t been in there before, but I still feel like I'm intruding, it was.. complicated.
I stop in front of his door, my hand hesitating on the handle. Taking a breath, I tell myself to stop overthinking. It’s just a debit card. Get in, grab it, and get out.
I push open Matt’s door cautiously, the slight creak of the hinges sounding louder than it should in the stillness. I make my way over to his desk in the corner of the room and scan over it. No card there either. Where could Chris have put this?
My eyes wander around his room. Then I notice it. Perched on his bedside locker, standing upright and slightly tilted as if placed deliberately, is the thank you card I gave him.
It oddly makes my heart skip a beat.
He kept it? Not only that, but he put it on display? I stare at the card, feeling a mix of emotions swirl in my chest. It must mean something to him, right? I gave it to him on a whim, thinking he’d either forget about it or toss it in the trash without a second thought. But here it is, sitting there like it’s important.
Next to the card is a silver metallic bag. It catches the light, sleek and reflective, and my curiosity flares. A gift bag? Then I notice other memorabilia and cards.. Maybe that’s just where he keeps things people give him? For a moment, I picture him tossing everything he’s been handed into one spot without a second glance. The realization makes me pause, a wave of doubt creeping in. What am I still doing in here? I shouldn’t be snooping around, especially not in Matt’s room. It feels invasive, like I’ve crossed an invisible line, yet I can’t seem to stop myself.
My gaze flicks back to the thank you card, and for a brief second, I remember those rare moments when Matt wasn’t a complete asshole, when he’d let his guard down and show an ounce of kindness. Those glimpses of him were few and far between, but real. It made me curious if there was more to him, buried beneath the layers of anger and arrogance.
I clutch the envelope from the flowers in my hand tightly, feeling its edges dig into my palm. It suddenly feels heavy, like it’s holding more meaning than it should. What does it all mean? I shake my head, snapping myself out of it. This is too much. Too personal. I need to leave before I lose myself in this train of thought. I turn on my heel, heading back to the door, but my feet feel heavier with every step, like I’m leaving something unresolved behind.
I sit on the couch in the living room, I put the small envelope in my pocket and take out my phone. My thoughts spiral as I decide to scroll through the thread of messages Matt and I exchanged earlier. Did I really want to text him for answers? Our last messages to each other were.. tense, to say the least. His frosty replies and my final comment about it being the “last time” we’d texted each other still lingered in the back of my mind.
Why am I even considering this?
Wait, I actually need to text him again. My mind is getting so caught up in hidden meanings I’m forgetting what I actually have to do. Chris wasn’t reachable, and Matt was the closest connection I had. I sighed, composing myself as I typed out a message:
"Can you tell Chris the business card isn’t in his room?"
I hit send and waited, the seconds feeling like minutes. A response popped up almost immediately:
Matt: "Thought you weren’t going to text me again."
I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they’d get stuck. Of course, he couldn’t resist. I typed back, my fingers moving quickly:
"I don’t have a choice when you’re my communication with Chris."
I pull out the envelope from my pocket to read the card again, the words on it now etched in my mind. Y/n, I’m sorry for last night. I went too far, and you didn’t deserve that. The difference between his words to me at times was crazy. There’s something about the simplicity of the note, paired with the effort it must’ve taken to even organise it, that makes me pause. I wanted to bring it up to him. What had changed between the moment he decided to buy those flowers and when they ended up in the trash?
Maybe it was an accident? The thought feels washy, but I cling to it.
Before I can second guess myself, I snap a picture of the card, my hand shaking just enough to blur the first attempt. I steady myself, retake it, and attach the image to a new message. My fingers hesitate on the keyboard, then type:
"Apology accepted."
I press send before I can change my mind. The message bubbles with the photo of the card and those two simple words feel heavy in my chest as I sit back and wait for a response. My phone remains silent, the screen mocking me with its lack of activity.
It’s in that quiet moment that Nick’s voice cuts through my thoughts, yelling my name from somewhere upstairs.
I sigh, putting my phone in my pocket. Whatever Matt’s response might be, it will have to wait.
I hear Nick shouting my name from his room, his voice brimming with excitement. “Y/n! Come here! I’ve good news!”
Curious, I quicken my pace and climb up the stairs and into his room. He’s sitting on his bed, laptop in lap, grinning like a kid with a secret he can’t wait to spill. His enthusiasm is contagious, but I still raise an eyebrow. “What’s going on?” I ask, crossing my arms with a small smile.
“I’ve got a surprise for you.”
I laugh, already skeptical. “What kind of surprise?”
“A fun one!” he teases, leaning back dramatically.
“Okay, spill it, Nick.”
“You’re coming to Hawaii with us!”
I blink at him, waiting for the punchline, but it doesn’t come. “What?” I finally manage to say, my voice in disbelief.
“You heard me” he says, beaming. “I just bought a plane ticket for you. You’re staying in the same villa with us. It’s all set.”
For a moment, I just stare at him, trying to figure out if he’s pulling some elaborate prank. “Are you serious?”
“Dead” he replies, his grin never faltering. “You deserve this.”
I laugh nervously, shaking my head. “Nick, you’re messing with me. There’s no way.”
“I’m not messing with you!” he insists, raising his hands in mock surrender. “I booked it already. Ask Chris if you don’t believe me. I brought it up to him the same day he invited Nate and he immediately agreed.”
The sincerity in his voice starts to sink in, and my disbelief slowly gives way to shock. “Wait.. you and Chris talked about this?”
“Yeah” Nick says, his tone softening. “Look, we both know you’ve been through a lot lately. Between the apartment, Ethan.. well, life in general, you deserve a break. You’ve been working so hard for Chris too, so we figured, why not?”
I take a step back, the weight of his words hitting me. “Nick, that’s.. that’s so nice of you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“I know I didn’t have to” he says, shrugging like it’s no big deal. “But I wanted to. You need this, Y/n. And honestly, it wouldn’t feel right going without you.”
I feel a lump forming in my throat, a mix of gratitude and shock making it hard to speak. “I don’t even know what to say. Thank you, Nick. Seriously.”
“Don’t thank me yet!” he says with a laugh. “Wait until we’re sipping cocktails on the beach.”
I laugh with him, shaking my head in disbelief. I take a deep breath, trying to process everything. A trip to Hawaii? It feels surreal, and the fact that they thought of me, that they wanted to include me, it’s overwhelming in the best way. I just wasn't sure everyone on the trip feels that way.
“Okay, okay. But, uh.. I’m going to need clothes. And a bigger suitcase, considering I don’t have much anymore. I’m practically down to my last jumper already.”
Nick smirks, getting up from his bed and walking to his closet. “I was hoping you’d say that. Shopping trip tomorrow? My treat.”
“Nick, you really don’t have to do that-”
He cuts me off, holding up a hand as he pulls a jumper out from his closet. “Oh, I absolutely do. You’re going to Hawaii with me, and there’s no way I’m letting you go with just whatever’s left from the wreckage of Hurricane Ethan. You need new outfits, bikinis, something cute for dinners, sandals, sunglasses. Everything. Also, take this for the minute so you have an extra jumper.” He says, passing me a yellow Ralph Lauren jumper.
I blink at him, both surprised and slightly overwhelmed by his enthusiasm. “Nick, I can’t let you spend all that money on me.”
“You’re not ‘letting’ me do anything” he says, rolling his eyes. “I’ve already decided. Besides, think of it as a business expense.” Giving me a smirk.
I narrow my eyes at him. “A business expense?”
“Yeah! You’re part of the Fresh Love family, right? Consider it an investment. Plus I have the company card right now” He winks, clearly proud of his reasoning.
My mouth drops. “Oh my god you had it all this time!” I laugh.
“Yeah I ordered Chris a new phone too, he should be grateful.” He says raising his eyebrows. “And let’s be real, you deserve it. You’ve been working nonstop for weeks, and I don’t think you’ve treated yourself to anything in forever. So tomorrow, we’re hitting the mall. Clothes, a suitcase, anything else you need, we’re getting it.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Okay, fine. But promise me you won’t go overboard.”
“We’ll see” he says with a mischievous grin. “Tomorrow, 11am. Be ready.”
I sigh, knowing there’s no point arguing further, but deep down, I’m touched by his thoughtfulness. “Alright, deal. But only because you’re so annoyingly persistent.”
“You love it” he teases, as I walk out of his room. I sit on the edge of my bed, yellow jumper in hand, shaking my head. Nick could be over the top sometimes, but moments like this reminded me why he was one of my closest friends. I placed the jumper on my bed and smoothed it out, the vibrant yellow popped against the neutral tones of my duvet. It wasn’t my usual style, but it felt cozy, and I couldn’t deny I needed it.
As I set it down, the faint scent wafted up again, warm and slightly spicy. It made me pause. For some reason, it gave me the strangest sense of deja vu, but I dismissed it just as quickly.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking my train of thought. Hopeful, I took it out, but it wasn’t a notification from Matt. I opened our thread anyway, checking to see if he’d responded and I’d missed it.
Read.
The message I sent, sat there unanswered. It was petty of me to even care, but I couldn’t help it. He’d gone to the effort of sending flowers and attaching a note, yet he couldn’t bother to say anything back?
I tossed my phone onto the bed with a sigh, the screen still glaring at me with his name.
Whatever. I don't know why I bothered with Matt at all. I wasn’t going to let his silence ruin my mood after the news Nick gave me.
I picked up the jumper again, pressing it against my chest. It was soft, comforting even. I folded it carefully and placed it in the top drawer of my dresser, smiling faintly at the thought of having something new to wear tomorrow, well, new to me, anyway.
Matt's POV
After Chris ended the call with Y/n, I felt like absolute trash. The hangover was kicking my ass, my head pounding every time I moved. Christina and Rachel had left a couple of hours ago, thankfully leaving Chris and I to just sit and recover in peace.
We were sprawled out in the living room, the TV playing some random movie in the background. Chris was trying to nap, meanwhile, I was doing my best to ignore the lingering pit in my stomach from last night’s events.
My phone buzzed on the armrest next to me. I lazily picked it up and saw a text from Y/n.
Y/n: "Can you tell Chris the business card isn’t in his room."
I sighed and looked over at Chris, who was dozing on the couch. “Hey, Y/n says the business card isn’t in your room.”
Chris perked up slightly, scratching his head. “Shit.. maybe it is in my wallet” he mumbled, checking his back pocket.
I turned back to my phone, typing a short reply.
"Thought you weren’t going to text me again."
The message delivered, and I leaned back into the couch, not expecting much more. My phone dinged almost instantly, though, and I glanced down.
Y/n: "I don’t have a choice when you’re my communication with Chris."
She had got me with that one. But then another message popped up, and this one made me sit up straight.
"Also, I found these."
It was followed by a picture of the card I’d attached to the flowers I sent, sitting in her hand.
"Apology accepted."
My face burned instantly. Embarrassment clawed its way up my chest and settled in my cheeks. Fuck. I can’t believe she found them. I hadn’t even planned to explain myself, it was impulsive, throwing them out, but it also was something I thought she’d ignore or pass off without a second glance. And yet here she was, calling me out on it.
Chris looked over, raising an eyebrow at my sudden movement. “What’s up with you?”
“Nothing” I muttered, trying to compose myself.
I stared at her text for a moment, my mind racing. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, typing out a response.
"Thought Nate could get you some instead."
I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the send button. Debating on whether ot not to press send.
a/n: sorry this took so long to put out, i was super busy and now im sick soooo hopefully i get over it quickly and part 10 is out soon, this is also kinda short n kinda shit so apologiesssss
taglist : @mattybearnard @sturn-33 @ncm9696 @yourfavsturniologirl @crazy4jewel @sodakid1234 @stupendoustreewinner @lovealwayssturniolos @matthewsturniolosss @m4ttsmunch @loveexxx @ilusa @starkeyszn @wonnieeluvvr @dylnblue @valxrieq @maggot3647 @cigarettecemetary @ribread03 @chrisstvrns @bandasaruswrx @noplaceissafeanymore @amexiass @witchofthehour @mattssgf @jetaimevous @v33angel @ivysturnss @urmom69lol @ashlishes @watercolorskyy @sturnioloshottiekay @amelia-sturniolo3 @imjusthereforthesturniolosmut @pvssychicken @alizestvrnss @chrisstxrnsaxe @sophand4n4 @vickytaa @marrykisskilled @bxtchboy69 @yourfavsturniologirl @julisturn @sydneyylainn @sophia-77n @trevorsgodmother @sturnslutz @yourmother29 @girl24cherry @astronea @pinkdyit
#snowy speaks#fire & desire#snowys sturniolo series#snowys series#matt sturniolo#matt sturniolo x reader#matthew sturniolo#sturniolo triplets#chris sturniolo#the sturniolo triplets#nicolas sturniolo#christopher sturniolo#nick sturniolo#enemies to lovers#matt sturniolo fanfic
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Shopping date
Dark! Wanda Maximoff x reader
Minors dni!! Masterlist°•☆
Summary- how could you be so silly as to lose your cards?
Warnings- manipulation, dark! Wanda, obsessive Wanda, unhealthy obsession, potential Stockholm syndrome?, not proofread!!, coercion, gaslighted, darkthemes, I'd say some parts contain a little fluff
Wordcount - 1.8k
A/n-this is my first side part for craving you!!! This has little link to main series so can be read separately if you want but I would recommend reading all of it!! Inspired by a comment by @mrsmothermaximoff

You'd been meaning to pay Wanda back for something, anything really. Despite how casual she acted about you just living with her rent free and essentially doing nothing of any great contribution all day you still felt this nagging shameful feeling that tugged at your chest everyday, everytime she paid for you at a restaurant, bought you something she thought looked cute or let you borrow her clothes when yours seemed to go missing.
You felt awful.
Watching her pay for you and provide for you. Your whole life you'd never relied on anyone for anything. Never felt like you'd owed anyone anything. Rarely ever been in any kind of debt but now you owed Wanda everything. But she was so unwilling to ever let you pay her back, always insisting things were no trouble for her, of course they weren't have you seen that woman's paycheck? Telling you to save your money for better things. Making sure you never had to lift a finger for anything you desired.
This was different though. When you first moved in you'd practically begged Wanda to let you atleast pay for groceries and how she couldn't resist how you looked when you begged. So reluctantly, and with a backup plan, she agreed to let you do the weekly grocery shop and pay with your own money. Which for some stupid reason you'd been very responsible with and had a large amount in savings which could easily buy the two of you groceries for a few years.
Wanda did not want to wait a few years for you to come to the end of the money you had saved before gaining a little more power over you. She wanted it now. And Wanda gets what Wanda wants even when she has to play dirty, which she did often.
A rough plan she had concocted the day you'd practically forced her to let you pay for things was to get rid of your debit card in some way. It couldn't be too obvious but she still had to be your Knight in shining armour and save the day for you when you couldn't pay. She couldn't bare the thought of you embarrassedly leaving the shops after not having a way to pay, no she didn't want that for you. She wanted to swoop in and offer to pay.
Around two months maybe three had passed since you started buying groceries. You'd made a set schedule of it by now, you went Friday mornings around 10:30am when the shops were quiet so you could buy your groceries in peace without worrying about running over someone's child with your trolley. Occasionally Wanda came with you but not all that often. You assumed as ceo of her own company she'd have better things to do than go round the supermarket and also partly that she wasn't interested by it, that she didn't actually ever care what you bought as long as you liked it.
Wanda awoke early this particular Friday about 5:00am sharp and was careful as she got off the bed not to wake you, though she doubted she would, you were the heaviest sleeper she'd ever met. It was lucky she was looking out for you then, without her God knows what could happen to you while you were asleep. Before leaving the room she took a quick picture of your sleeping body, head firmly in the pillow and legs wrapped around the duvet half in and half out of it. How cute. She thought as she left gazing at the picture.
Once downstairs she located your handbag, a stylish one she'd gifted you when you worked in the office. Wanda took note of how tatty it was now. Scuffed and marked up. Definitely time to get you a new bag, she can't have her darling going out looking rough. Your bag was always fairly empty so she had no trouble finding your purse in it. Upon opening the purse Wanda took out any large bills and both your debit and credit card from within before closing up your purse and placing your bag back where it was originally sat.
Now the money was easy. Crisp paper bills burnt quickly in her ornate fireplace and brought warmth to the somewhat cold living room, you'd appreciate this warmth when you eventually woke up. Wanda knew this after all she knew everything about you.
The cards were a little tricker that the notes but nothing she couldn't handle as she quickly had another idea. Cutting up your card into tiny minced up indistinguishable pieces and then tossing them in a bin outside that you'd never look in. Wanda was left feeling... proud of her work. She felt like this was well a complished and you'd never be any the wiser. Not that you'd ever dream of accusing Wanda anyway, she was your saviour after all. Your were too clueless to ever once look past her charismatic facade. Too stupid, naive, gullible, dumb.
You woke up to an empty and cold bed a few hours later. Waking up alone always made you feel so awful but you could never guess why. It's not like you and Wanda were dating.. we're you? You brushed the thoughts away, she's just being kind she'd never think of someone like you like that, you tell yourself as you stretch and make the bed.
Later in the morning, you and Wanda were both being chauffeured to the supermarket. Whenever Wanda wasn't around to drive you or couldn't be bothered to drive she'd have you driven around by a private chauffeur who you knew little about. When you asked Wanda she only gave you vague answers saying the chauffeur called herself N and that was all you needed to know apparently.When you drove with N the car was always ominously quiet Wanda occasionally speaking in what felt like code to her and occasionally asking simple questions about how you felt.
Thankfully the supermarket was only a couple of miles away so the drive was over quicker than most.
When Wanda went shopping with you it was quite a different experience to shopping alone. She'd walk ahead of you almost protectively into the supermarket and then would make sure the entire trip round she was by your side at all times, leaving no room for you to sidle off or get lost. Despite what could be described as a dominant presence she never stopped you putting whatever you wanted in the trolley. If you believe the two of you needed that much dry spaghetti or fizzy sodas who was she to argue. I mean it was your money so she reasoned to have little to no input even if she despised some things you added to the trolley. She'd only really comment if you were going to hit something with your trolley, you were lucky you had someone to look out for your clumsiness, or if she also liked something you were putting in the trolley. Other than that she engaged in simple talk with you, she found your small world of excitements and thoughts cute. After all she had curated that small world.
Today was no different. If something was off, which it was. You'd be none the wiser as Wanda kept exactly to her act as she always did. Talking to you about favourite crisp flavours, laughing at your rant about creepy food mascots and helping you guide the trolley. Going round the shops together you felt some sense of domestic bliss even of you kept telling yourself you weren't dating Wanda it definitely felt that way and looked that way. The way her hand would occasionally glide across your back. Her lingering gazes. To anyone not so oblivious they would have thought you two had been dating for months.
Getting to the checkouts you placed your items in your own specific order on the conveyer belt. Wanda deciding to help out with the heavier things, she didn't want you to strain yourself for no reason. All was normal as it would be.
"Cash or card?" You were awoken from your daze of frantically bagging when the cashier spoke suddenly. Opening your purse it felt a little lighter than it should do usually.
"Cash." You responded while looking down into your purse. There was no cash. But you were so sure you'd taken cash out last week at the bank. Still the empty purse stared back.
"You alright darling?" Wanda's voice broke the panic building in you as you looked up at her calm smile while feeling instantly reassured. You nodded in response, a small but firm smile planted on your face as you spoke again.
"Uh.. can I pay card actually." The cashier smiled and nodded before pulling out a card machine. You sifted throught many a gift and reward card sitting in your purse many times awkwardly as a queue began to form before realising your cards weren't there. Your cards were gone. Gone. And you were none the wiser to where.
Your breathing began to pick up as you made eye contact with impatient customers behind as your braced yourself to have to put everything back. "I-..uh- I."
Wanda had been watching your small meltdown confidently until she heard your voice break. The moment she knew it was her time to save you, again.
"Don't worry I've got it." Before you could object she'd swiped her card across the scanner and begun picking up the bags for you and leading your slightly shaking figure away from the tills.
"Come on sweetie. What was going on back there?" She murmured in a tone so sweet you could've got diabetes. Before she could continue speaking you wrapped yourself around her arm. As if it was ab instinct more than a choice. "Oh.. it's okay darling we all make mistakes. I'm sure you'll find your money. You probably just misplaced it. Your such a klutz sometimes detka." You just dumbly nodded as she pulled you into the back of the car staying completely wrapped around her the whole way home, still shaken from the store.
Your cards and cash never did show up and at somepoint you gave up looking. It was clear for whatever reason they were gone and you weren't going to find them. Wanda gave you her card to keep buying the groceries on.. for now, I mean we can't have some klutz who loses her own money handling the ceos cards and shopping.. it'd be better if you stayed home. But Wanda wouldn't push it on you all at once, she knew you needed time yo adjust to using her money all the time. To being reliant on someone. To being reliant on her.
Taglist: @stayevildarling @reginassweetheart @alexawynters @your-my-mission @witchmaximoff @imjustvibingsworld @mrsmothermaximoff
#wanda x reader#wanda maximoff#lemonade talks☆•#wanda#wanda maximoff x female reader#wanda x you#wanda marvel#marvel#wanda x fem!reader#wanda maximoff x reader#wanda maximov#wandavision#wanda mcu#wanda x y/n#wanda maxmoff x y/n#wanda maximommy#dark!wanda maximoff#dark!wanda#dark!fic
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ੈ✩ — 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐏𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 𝐊𝐈𝐃𝐒. (BLURB) | LEE HEESEUNG



୨୧ pairing — older brother's best friend!lee heeseung x park!fem!reader
୨୧ synopsis — living under the protective eyes of your older brother, park sunghoon, he thinks he knows you the best. but litte does he know that heeseung knows you love your sour patch kids more than you love his usual swedish fish. (inspired by the summer i turned pretty scene where conrad knows belly's taste of candies more than jeremiah)
୨୧ genre — non!idol au, you're 20 and hee is 22, you and hee are dating but sunghoon doesn't know, sort of childhood friends to lovers?
୨୧ warnings — cursing, forbidden (ish) romance, cute fluff where heeseung knows you best, backstreet dating behind sunghoon's back, heeseung and sunghoon having a little quarrel, possesive/sassy-ish hee
୨୧ word count — 562 words, 3148 characters (sort of proofread?)
୨୧ author's note — first blurb and i lowkey wrote this on my phone during english class.. had to get this out of my system cause i absolutely loved this scene in tsitp. plus i felt like i needed to write something since i won't be releasing "it's a crisis"'s full fic anytime soon since i'm busy with exams coming up :(
𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐆𝐇𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐊 𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓.
the car comes to a stop under the gas station’s bright led light. sunghoon takes off his seatbelt as he grabs his wallet in his pocket, before exiting the car, leaving you and heeseung alone.
you could feel the tension between you and heeseung. the heavy rain outside making it seem louder. he was slumped over in the backseat with his phone in his hand, the bright light illuminating his features.
when did he become so handsome?
sunghoon opens the driver’s side’s door, “we’re two hours away from home, gas is filling up and i’m gonna get some snacks. you want any y/n?”
“i’m down with anything, honestly.” you respond.
as sunghoon is about to close the door, heeseung takes off his seatbelt, whispering a “i’ll come with.” before closing the car door.
the mini market’s door rings a slight ding! as sunghoon pushes the door open. the constant buzzing of the refrigerator and the broken acs filled the room. the two split up searching for bare necessities like snacks and water to keep them company on the way home.
as a couple minutes passed, the two found each other again at the cash register, dropping the things at checkout.
in sunghoon’s hands was a bag of swedish fish, meanwhile in heeseung’s was a bag of sour patch kids.
“don’t waste your money bud, she likes these better.” heeseung snickered, a smirk on his face.
sunghoon lets out a sigh, “they’re practically the same.” he defends himself.
“not to y/n. she thinks swedish fish tastes like candles. she likes sour.”
“why do you even care, hee?” he asks him. “she’s my sister, i know her.”
heeseung licks his lips as he lets out a small laugh, “i don’t.”
“that’s bullshit.” sunghoon scoffs.
“you still want these?” the cashier asks the two, pointing at the swedish fish.
“yes yes, of course.” sunghoon answers.
“i tried to warn him.” heeseung laughs at his best friend.
“why are you acting lik—like this?!” sunghoon asks, a slight bit of anger heard through his voice.
“relax, you big fucking baby. i’m just messing with ya man.” heeseung chuckles, giving his best friend a pat on the back.
with a glare, sunghoon taps his debit card at the scanner, paying for their snacks, picking up the plastic bag and murmuring a small thank you, to the cashier, before they rush out back into their car in the pouring rain.
as the two car doors slam, you take the plastic bag from sunghoon’s hands, diving in.
“what did you get?” you ask the two, ruffling the inside of the bag.
“ooh! sour patch, my favorite!” you glimmer, opening the package as you dive into the sour goodness. but you didn’t miss the bag of swedish fish in sunghoon’s hands.
“oh! i could, um, eat this swedish fish… after?”
sunghoon opened the bag before he responded with a “no, no it’s okay. i got them for me.” as he popped a little fish in his mouth, chewing with disappointment.
“okay.”
sunghoon’s brows furrowed, knowing damn well that his best friend was right.
even from the backseat, he could feel heeseung shooting him a look that was screaming i told you so! before he put the car into ignition.
as sunghoon pressed the gas and started driving into the dark rainy night, his sister chewing on her sour patch kids, he heard heeseung letting out small whisper right in his ear.
“you see? my girl knows her sour patch kids.”
taglist; @ariadores
back to my masterlist?
© 𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐇𝐄𝐄, est. 2024 | do not plagiarize, modify, translate, or repost my works on any platforms.
#allforhee#allforhee-writes#enhypen x reader#enhypen#lee heeseung x reader#enhypen fic#enhypen imagines#heeseung x reader#lee heeseung#lee heeseung imagines#lee heeseung fluff#enhypen fluff#lee heeseung oneshots#lee heeseung au#lee heeseung blurbs#enhypen blurbs#enhypen aus#enhypen au#sunghoon#park sunghoon#park sunghoon x reader#enha#enha x reader#enha fluff#heeseung fluff#enhypen angst#the summer i turned pretty#enhypen blurb#enhypen fanfiction#lee heeseung fanfiction
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lord powerfultenderness, I don't know how to fully picture it but can we have neighbor könig doing grocery shopping with y/n? Please!~
I swear I saw a post somewhere that said König probably makes bank. And Sugar Daddy König hc born/accepted. This man will spoil you if you give him the chance (and then idk wreck you later?)
Either you were oblivious to the looks strangers gave you, to the way women quickly turned around and went down different aisles, or you didn’t care. It was, in fact, the latter. This big menacing looking guy beside you practically cleared a path wherever you wanted. Busy aisles you’d normally have to do trick maneuvers with your cart? Cleared out when he looked at other shoppers. It was amazing, really.
You stopped and looked up at the shelf, the item you wanted on the very top and if you stretched out…you still couldn’t reach it. Even before you could pout and try again, König reached over and plucked the box of snacks off the shelf and dropped in the basket.
Maybe it was the way his eyes crinkled a bit, but you could tell he was smiling at you. “Those are car snacks.”
“Car snacks?”
You nodded and continued to push the cart down the aisle. You’d deviated from your shopping list so much that you were now just going up and down aisles to see if there was anything you needed.
“You know, snacks you keep in the car for emergencies. Like, getting stuck in traffic, or on the side of the road while waiting for a tow truck…or lost…”
“How often do you get lost?” He laughed, shoulders shaking as he tried to keep his laugh at a reasonable indoor level.
“It was just the one time! My GPS wasn’t working!” It wasn’t your fault downtown was an impossible maze!
“What did you do?”
“I had a snack and figured it out.” You gave up and went home, but he didn’t need to know that.
Though he could probably guess with the way he was side eyeing you. You knocked your hip into his side (and he didn’t budge at all!) “What do you say to pasta for dinner?”
He titled his head, “you’re making dinner for me?”
“Yea, I want to do something nice for you for helping me out.”
König beamed at you, though you couldn’t see behind his mask and you were currently looking at one of the shelves. “I will eat whatever you cook.”
You laughed, it sounded so weird when he said it like that. “Alright, pasta it is.”
On the way to the checkout, you happened upon a display of clothing, mostly blouses and tee shirts, but some printed leggings as well. “Ooh, that’s cute.” You stopped and picked up a strappy sundress printed with your favorite flowers. “And my size!” You cheered to yourself as you looked at the tag. You flipped it over to check the price tag then set the dress back on the rack. “Pssh, not that cute.”
You looked at him just as he turned away from the dress you liked. “Hey, can you wait in line while I run and get my prescription?”
He nodded and took over pushing the cart as you handed him your debit card, “just in case it takes too long.”
It was a good thing you handed him your card too! There was a bit of wait while your prescription was transferred to the new in store pharmacy. You half debated whether or not you should just leave to pick it up another day, but you already missed a day and didn’t want to throw off the effects.
By the time you had your medication, König was waiting for you out front. “Sorry about that!”
He shook his head, “no problem.” And handed you the receipt and your card back.
You giggled as he loaded the bags in almost one scoop into the back of his truck. Your car was currently in the shop and he very quickly offered to help you out in the meantime.
“Thank you so much!” You smiled at him once all of the groceries were sitting on your counter.
“Anytime.” He answered simply.
“Still up for dinner tonight?”
He nodded, “of course.”
The little short answers, no hearty laugh included, were weird. But maybe he just had enough company for a few hours. “Alright, I’ll pop over later then?”
“Goodbye.” He nodded again and quickly left you alone.
Weird…
Whatever. Maybe he’ll feel better once he…oh!
You pulled out one of the very dresses you thought was cute, but too expensive, from one of the bags. König’s doing? You checked the receipt and it wasn’t listed. He…bought it himself? And hid it from you? Suddenly the way he was acting nervous before he left made sense.
-
König’s stomach flipped and his face burned when he opened the door later that night. You were standing in front of him wearing the dress he bought. “You look like an angel.”
You smiled and spun around, the dress flaring cutely as you did so. “I can’t believe you bought this! Thank you so much! But, let me repay you?”
“No. Have dinner with me?”
You giggled, you were already having dinner with him! “You sneaky man! Come on, let’s go!” You then grabbed one of his hands and started to pull him out and towards your flat.
“Wait. Let me lock up.” He fished his keys out of his pocket and locked the door with one hand, refusing to pull out of your touch.
“Oh. right!”
“You didn’t lock up, did you?”
“What! It’s just right there!”
König was laughing again as he followed you to your home, a dopey smile you couldn’t see lighting his eyes
[More neighbor König]
#anonymous#könig x reader#konig x reader#neighbor!könig#könig x fem reader#blurb#her prescription was birth control loloolll you cant be running out of that with him around#and idk the stores around here have clothing/electronic/toy sections so i hope this doesn't sound too weird
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Fintech bullies stole your kid’s lunch money

I'm coming to DEFCON! On Aug 9, I'm emceeing the EFF POKER TOURNAMENT (noon at the Horseshoe Poker Room), and appearing on the BRICKED AND ABANDONED panel (5PM, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01). On Aug 10, I'm giving a keynote called "DISENSHITTIFY OR DIE! How hackers can seize the means of computation and build a new, good internet that is hardened against our asshole bosses' insatiable horniness for enshittification" (noon, LVCC - L1 - HW1–11–01).
Three companies control the market for school lunch payments. They take as much as 60 cents out of every dollar poor kids' parents put into the system to the tune of $100m/year. They're literally stealing poor kids' lunch money.
In its latest report, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau describes this scam in eye-watering, blood-boiling detail:
https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_costs-of-electronic-payment-in-k-12-schools-issue-spotlight_2024-07.pdf
The report samples 16.7m K-12 students in 25k schools. It finds that schools are racing to go cashless, with 87% contracting with payment processors to handle cafeteria transactions. Three processors dominate the sector: Myschoolbucks, Schoolcafé, and Linq Connect.
These aren't credit card processors (most students don't have credit cards). Instead, they let kids set up an account, like a prison commissary account, that their families load up with cash. And, as with prison commissary accounts, every time a loved one adds cash to the account, the processor takes a giant whack out of them with junk fees:
https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/14/minnesota-nice/#shitty-technology-adoption-curve
If you're the parent of a kid who is eligible for a reduced-price lunch (that is, if you are poor), then about 60% of the money you put into your kid's account is gobbled up by these payment processors in service charges.
It's expensive to be poor, and this is no exception. If your kid doesn't qualify for the lunch subsidy, you're only paying about 8% in service charges (which is still triple the rate charged by credit card companies for payment processing).
The disparity is down to how these charges are calculated. The payment processors charge a flat fee for every top-up, and poor families can't afford to minimize these fees by making a single payment at the start of the year or semester. Instead, they pay small sums every payday, meaning they pay the fee twice per month (or even more frequently).
Not only is the sector concentrated into three companies, neither school districts nor parents have any meaningful way to shop around. For school districts, payment processing is usually bundled in with other school services, like student data management and HR data handling. For parents, there's no way to choose a different payment processor – you have to go with the one the school district has chosen.
This is all illegal. The USDA – which provides and regulates – the reduced cost lunch program, bans schools from charging fees to receive its meals. Under USDA regs, schools must allow kids to pay cash, or to top up their accounts with cash at the school, without any fees. The USDA has repeatedly (2014, 2017) published these rules.
Despite this, many schools refuse to handle cash, citing safety and security, and even when schools do accept cash or checks, they often fail to advertise this fact.
The USDA also requires schools to publish the fees charged by processors, but most of the districts in the study violate this requirement. Where schools do publish fees, we see a per-transaction charge of up to $3.25 for an ACH transfer that costs $0.26-0.50, or 4.58% for a debit/credit-card transaction that costs 1.5%. On top of this, many payment processors charge a one-time fee to enroll a student in the program and "convenience fees" to transfer funds between siblings' accounts. They also set maximum fees that make it hard to avoid paying multiple charges through the year.
These are classic junk fees. As Matt Stoller puts it: "'Convenience fees' that aren't convenient and 'service fees' without any service." Another way in which these fit the definition of junk fees: they are calculated at the end of the transaction, and not advertised up front.
Like all junk fee companies, school payment processors make it extremely hard to cancel an automatic recurring payment, and have innumerable hurdles to getting a refund, which takes an age to arrive.
Now, there are many agencies that could have compiled this report (the USDA, for one), and it could just as easily have come from an academic or a journalist. But it didn't – it came from the CFPB, and that matters, because the CFPB has the means, motive and opportunity to do something about this.
The CFPB has emerged as a powerhouse of a regulator, doing things that materially and profoundly benefit average Americans. During the lockdowns, they were the ones who took on scumbag landlords who violated the ban on evictions:
https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/20/euthanize-rentier-enablers/#cfpb
They went after "Earned Wage Access" programs where your boss colludes with payday lenders to trap you in debt at 300% APR:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/01/usury/#tech-exceptionalism
They are forcing the banks to let you move your account (along with all your payment history, stored payees, automatic payments, etc) with one click – and they're standing up a site that will analyze your account data and tell you which bank will give you the best deal:
https://pluralistic.net/2023/10/21/let-my-dollars-go/#personal-financial-data-rights
They're going after "buy now, pay later" companies that flout borrower protection rules, making a rogues' gallery of repeat corporate criminals, banning fine-print gotcha clauses, and they're doing it all in the wake of a 7-2 Supreme Court decision that affirmed their power to do so:
https://pluralistic.net/2024/06/10/getting-things-done/#deliverism
The CFPB can – and will – do something to protect America's poorest parents from having $100m of their kids' lunch money stolen by three giant fintech companies. But whether they'll continue to do so under a Kamala Harris administration is an open question. While Harris has repeatedly talked up the ways that Biden's CFPB, the DOJ Antitrust Division, and FTC have gone after corporate abuses, some of her largest donors are demanding that her administration fire the heads of these agencies and crush their agenda:
https://prospect.org/power/2024-07-26-corporate-wishcasting-attack-lina-khan/
Tens of millions of dollars have been donated to Harris' campaign and PACs that support her by billionaires like Reid Hoffman, who says that FTC Chair Lina Khan is "waging war on American business":
https://prospect.org/power/2024-07-26-corporate-wishcasting-attack-lina-khan/
Some of the richest Democrat donors told the Financial Times that their donations were contingent on Harris firing Khan and that they'd been assured this would happen:
https://archive.is/k7tUY
This would be a disaster – for America, and for Harris's election prospects – and one hopes that Harris and her advisors know it. Writing in his "How Things Work" newsletter today, Hamilton Nolan makes the case that labor unions should publicly declare that they support the FTC, the CFPB and the DOJ's antitrust efforts:
https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/unions-and-antitrust-are-peanut-butter
Don’t want huge companies and their idiot billionaire bosses to run the world? Break them up, and unionize them. It’s the best program we have.
Perhaps you've heard that antitrust is anti-worker. It's true that antitrust law has been used to attack labor organizing, but that has always been in spite of the letter of the law. Indeed, the legislative history of US antitrust law is Congress repeatedly passing law after law explaining that antitrust "aims at dollars, not men":
https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men
The Democrats need to be more than The Party of Not Trump. To succeed – as a party and as a force for a future for Americans – they have to be the party that defends us – workers, parents, kids and retirees alike – from corporate predation.
Support me this summer on the Clarion Write-A-Thon and help raise money for the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop!
If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/26/taanstafl/#stay-hungry
Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg
CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
#pluralistic#fintech#ed-tech#finance#usury#payment processing#chokepoints#corruption#monopoly#cfpb#consumer finance protection bureau
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