Hi Perna! Thank you so much for your reply! I was beginning to think that no one was going to reply and that perhaps I made a post that was too long and too detailed.

You are right that I do have a lot invested in that restaurant (personally and financially). I moved on because I was offered a full-time position in a financial firm making a lot more money. I used my first paycheck to pay off credit cards, car insurance, and some bills (parking and medical) from when I was unemployed from October 2012 - January 2013 (when I started job in restaurant). Hence, why I only had $12.29 available in checking account on Thursday, but decided it was ok to go out and spend the remaining amount (however, my direct deposit for second paycheck of new job came through yesterday, which was Friday). I do believe that in hindsight it was best to not pay off so much at once and to keep some money saved for an instance such as this - which is what I'm doing this paycheck. After this paycheck, I will actually be able to save almost a few hundred a month (I've already worked out a budget with a financial adviser).

As for spending $200 a month eating out in one place; I only eat one meal per day and then eat snacks (that I bought at grocery store - like a can of storebrand Spaghettio's for $0.79) for the remainder of day. I usually get the specials, so the meal price is no more than $6 and $5.

As for who's issue it is - it is indeed my issue. However, I checked my bank account balance online at 12:00 PM and then left to eat. The card got declined at 12:30ish, and I went to the ATM and got the printout of having only $4.50 available. I had not spent any money between then - and when I got back to work and checked online again it showed the $12.29 available balance. All of my recent transactions were accounted for. On Friday, you see that I got my direct deposit added onto the $12.29. There were no transactions between then; the next transaction was an ATM withdrawal to get the money that I owed the restaurant. I talked to the bank, and they do not know what went on. They said I wasn't showing any pending transactions - although they are wondering if a hold was placed on account from a recent transaction (even though it showed the exact amount of purchase being debited).

I also eat at this restaurant so much because it's diagonal from my house by two blocks (I live in the city). I've got to know the other frequent customers that go there everyday; we frequently eat with each other.

As for causing problems for others; that wasn't my intention. I was upset by what manager said, and when I went to go back and tell her that the whole thing was embarrassing (they know where I live, I go there everyday, they have my personal information and drivers license copy since I used to work there) - she made things worse for me by trying to make me laugh by asking if she needed to check to see if the bill was counterfeit!

I don't think the GM can really do anything other than apologize and make me feel heard - and I don't want to add fuel to the fire by GM talking to them about it.

Thank you for giving me an outside view of things Perna!