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Michael Cohen’s Days in PrisonIntakeMichael Cohen will self report and surrender to Federal prison on May 6, 2019. Most probably no later than 2 PM. If he misses the deadline, he will be considered a fleeing felon. US Marshals will come after him with a warrant.Most likely, he will step in through the front door of the Federal Correctional Institute in Otisville, New York. FCI Otisville was requested by Cohen’s attorneys and recommended by the Judge in Cohen’s sentencing memorandum.Otisville is a Medium Security Prison with a detention center, and an adjacent Minimum Security Satellite Prison Camp, which is home to about 117 men. The Camp is where Cohen will serve his time.Traditionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) was not bound by Judges’ requests. But typically they would honor a Judge’s recommendation. The First Step Act, signed into law in December of 2018, now actually requires the BOP to assign a convicted felon to a facility within 500 driving miles of home.It is possible that due to his close association with the current President of the United States, and for his safety, the Bureau of Prisons may decide to assign Cohen to another facility rather than Otisville. We shall see.If Cohen ends up at Otisville, from my personal experience, there will probably be many lawyers serving time there. As well as doctors, politicians and business executives. Michael Cohen should have plenty of company and feel right at home. He’s going to be with a lot of people just like him.FCI Otisville meets the needs of a Jewish inmate population, offering Seders in the cafeteria among other accommodations. In general, Low Security Prison Camps are not as restrictive as higher security prisons. But contrary to popular belief, they are by no means “Club Fed”. In the final analysis, it’s a Federal prison.Doors are locked and Cohen doesn’t have the key.Cohen will probably enter through the same door visitors and guests use to enter the prison. He will have to surrender any jewelry and other personal effects, except for a wedding ring, and religious artifacts such as a mezuzot, and for Christians, a chain with a cross. Other religious artifacts, such as kufis, headbands, yarmulkes and other materials will be available for purchase in the prison commissary.But what he can bring in, including money, will be entirely up to the particular prison and intake corrections officer (CO). That will be Cohen’s first encounter with BOP authority and rule. Nothing after this first encounter has to or will make any logical or humanistic sense. It just has to make BOP sense. Or even more restrictively, CO sense.Now, according to the FCI Otisville Inmate Handbook, Cohen is:INTRODUCTION — You are now in the custody and care of Federal Bureau of Prisons staff of the Federal Correctional Institution, Otisville, New York.Once he is escorted from the non-secure waiting room, through the heavy, imposing security door that can only be unlocked by COs behind bullet proof dark glass, his life changes. He moves from the free world, to a world where he has lost the vast majority of his freedoms.Many of the niceties of life, the little things he once enjoyed will be gone for the length of his stay. He may have researched all of this himself, or have been counseled by his white-collar crime specialist attorneys. Or he may have even purchased or been given a copy of The Federal Prison Handbook.Any and all of those sources will give you some idea of what is in store for you. But the fact is, you don’t know what you don’t know, and won’t, until you actually know.The proof is in the serving and living of a jail sentence…The rest of Cohen’s intake will go down like this:Fingerprinting, Photograph/Mug Shot, DNA SwabDisrobing — his clothing and shoes will be returned to a person and address of his choice — in my case my wife received the package with my clothing and shoes. She left the package unopened for 33 and 1/2 months. She could not bear to even look at it.Body search and cavity check. They don’t touch you, but you have to “drop trou’” and spread. A humiliating episode. The first of many.Assignment of ill fitting temporary clothing and shoes, plus bedding, towel and toiletries. He may not actually get any toiletries. They seem to “miraculously” disappear from intake.Otisville winters are cold. So the clothing may be warmer than a thin white t-shirt, skimpy pants and thin-soled sneakers like those issued during my intake. This temporary clothing will be all Cohen gets until the next time the Camp laundry opens, and until he is able to establish a prison account and purchase commissary items.Cohen will receive a cursory orientation and will be referred to or may even be provided a copy of the FCI Otisville Camp Admissions & Orientation Handbook. Click on that link for some interesting reading.After his intake process is completed you will be able to look up Michael Dean Cohen in the BOP Inmate Locator and find his inmate (Register) number, Prison location, age, race, and sex, and that all-important estimated release date. The actual date will be based on a number of factors that will play out during his sentence.You can look him up now, but this is what you will see:Michael Cohen’s BOP Record Locator Search ResultsHow do I know that is his actual record? The last 3 digits of his Register Number are for the Southern District of New York. And the number 86067 is an indication that he is a relatively new assignee. 86,066 have gone before him.Plus he is not in BOP custody yet, and his release date is unknown. Until he self surrenders and is processed, he won’t be in BOP Custody and his release date will remain “unknown”.With respect to his release date, the First Step Act provides for credits an inmate can earn while serving time. These credits can be used for early release to a Half Way House or to Home Confinement. It remains to be seen how this will impact Cohen’s sentence.After processing, Cohen will take his bedding and other things he was given, and will be walked over to the minimum security Camp by the CO where he will be assigned a bunk and left on his own. Now it will be up to him and his new “bunk mates” as to what happens next.Typical Living and Sleeping Accommodations in a Federal Minimum Security Prison CampFirst Afternoon and CountCohen will likely be assigned a bunk before the 4 PM daily count. He will have to learn how to make that bunk bed properly. It varies prison by prison. In the camp where I served the majority of my time the Warden insisted on “hospital corners”. Why? Recall what I said about BOP rules and logic. Just because.Here is more about daily counts from the Otisville Camp Prison Handbook:“Ordinarily, there are five counts during the week, and six counts on weekends and holidays. During the week, counts are held at 12 midnight, 3 AM, and 5 AM, 4 PM, 10 PM. On weekends and holidays, a 10 AM count is added. Notwithstanding this schedule, additional counts may occur at any time.”This is how the BOP determines that every one of the inmates they are responsible for is present and accounted. They count noses as their “fail safe” method ensuring no one has escaped. It is a manual count. No clickers, iPads, handhelds or anything even closely resembling the 20th or 21st century. No writing anything down until the entire count is complete.Yep. The CO goes down the rows of bunks counting, with index finger extended, out loud or under their breath: One, two, three. Sometimes they hold a pencil to point and count with. This is why you can’t talk during the count, lest you confuse the counting CO. It is easy to confuse COs. They are easily distracted and confused.During my stay with the BOP there were many counts that had to be redone in mid-count. Because the CO got confused or lost track. Maybe he or she (yes there are female COs in Male prisons) was thinking about all those inmate toiletries they had squirreled away in their locker and they lost concentration.I saw some recounts as well, after the total count, when the actual numbers didn’t match what was expected. As a result, the whole count had to begin from scratch. Pissed COs, and the inmates are pissed as well.So to provide the right “environment” for the COs you must stand for most of the counts, and remain totally silent. The midnight and 3 AM counts are the exception, since they are taken while you sleep. But your head must be uncovered and visible.What happens if you talk during a count? Besides confusing the CO? It will probably get you a strong warning and may even earn you a “shot”. This a black mark on your record. Shots are tracked by the BOP Prison Counselor.Too many “shots” and you end up in the Special Housing Unit (SHU) which is a much more restrictive area. It is indeed a special place.Too many of those SHU visits and you may end up being transferred to a higher security even more restrictive facility.Understatement: This would be a really bad thing!More on the special’ness of the Special Housing Unit later.Once the 4 PM count is over, Cohen will be able to have his first prison meal at the Camp Cafeteria. It will behoove him to have made some cursory acquaintances by then. Because there are inmate rules and norms, especially kitchen, cafeteria and food related. For instance, where you sit, and who you sit with.These are best learned from other inmates and by first hand careful observation. Not from having inadvertently and unknowingly violated them.Meals and FoodMeals at Otisville are served at the following times:Monday — FridayBreakfast 6:00 am Lunch 11:00 am Dinner 4:15 pmSaturday, Sunday, and HolidaysBreakfast 7:00 am Lunch 11:00 am Dinner 4:15 pmSupposedly the food at the Otisville Camp is “good”.I’ve eaten at 7 different prisons. Federal and State. I’m not a hardened criminal or anything like that. I just got to travel a lot BOP style. Did a lot of undesired travel on “Con Air” with US Marshal escorts toting shotguns and automatic weapons.The US Marshals are no laughing matter…As a result of my travels, I got a chance to sample the fare at many prison facilities. And I also got to eat quite a few bologna sandwiches.I’m not sure what other people’s definition of “good” is. I wouldn’t exactly label any of the Prison food I ate as “good”. Passable is as far as I would go. In some cases, the food is downright inedible.A rare exception was the food at the Strafford County Department of Corrections in Dover, New Hampshire, a privately run prison where I served 4 months. The food was surprisingly good. And plentiful.And the issue with prison food is not just the ingredients. It’s also the way the food is prepared. A few examples of both types of issues…Undersized chicken sold cheaply to the BOP because no other food distribution outlets will accept itBoiled canned collard greens, unseasoned and bitter. Served regularly. To this day I can’t even look at collard greens without gaggingMystery meat. No further comment neededWatery, unsalted canned green beansWatery coffee, often with grounds. In the camp I was in, coffee was made in a big stove top boiler and then siphoned off into plastic dispensersOn the plus side of food, prison breakfast is usually good. Cereal, oatmeal, and eggs on the weekend. Sometimes pancakes.Fruit is always a popular item. Bananas are highly prized, although not always offered on a daily basis. Apples are a regular offering. Oranges are frequent. At one prison where I served time, we had a 4 week run of Peaches that were huge, juicy and outstanding, I thought I was in heaven.And milk. Milk is always available. A good source of protein. I would drink 3 or 4 glasses a day for the protein. Especially important when I began to work out regularly and lose weight.Those inmates that can afford it, supplement cafeteria food with purchases from the commissary. They become Masters of the Microwave and can prepare tasty, if not downright elegant meals. Rice. Beans. Chicken. Salmon. Tuna. Mackerel. Beef.There is a Prison combo microwave meal called “Batch”, which is made up of rice, beans, a protein, such as chicken, beef or fish, and whatever spices can be purchased from the commissary or “borrowed” from the kitchen. It’s tasty.Some inmates make and sell “burritos” from the Batch. Price? One pouch of Tuna or Mackerel. Tuna and Mackerel pouches are prison currency. As are stamps.A haircut is usually one pouch of Tuna or Mackerel. Want your bed made up nice? With those hospital corners? A pouch.By the way, the burritos are awesome!Inmates without the culinary inclination and with the means, may “hire” another inmate to cook for them. Often times these meals made from commissary items are supplemented with contraband items either smuggled in to the prison or stolen from the cafeteria. Onions. Peppers. Chicken. Tomatoes. And the ever popular bananas.Though I was never inclined to hire a prison “Chef”, and could not afford one even if I had been, I’ve tasted meals cooked up by these entrepreneurs. Unbelievably good. Actually, incredible. I had a piece of prisoner made Flan once that rivaled any I’ve had in good Miami restaurants.Once during my time at FCI Miami, an inmate who was a former Chef at a well known Miami restaurant made me a meal to thank me for help I provided him. It was INSANELY good. I couldn’t believe what he had accomplished with just the Microwave. Even the presentation was great.Just to make clear though, I much prefer to dine on excellent food as a free man, at an actual restaurant, and with loved ones…First NightAfter Cohen eats his first BOP provided meal there will be a few hours for recreation, personal hygiene, hobbies, phone calls to family, letters, reading or sending emails, reading scripture, attending classes, listening to music, or engaging in personal reflection before the 10 PM count and lights out.However most likely, he will be too disoriented, unfocused and confused. Plus, his available resources will be severely limited to engage in any meaningful activity.As an example, since a portable radio is required to listen to Camp TVs, he will not have access to one unless someone lends it to him. Possible, but unlikely.He won’t be able to call anyone, including family members for at least several days. No telephone account and codes will have been established for him yet. And he won’t have any money in his account with which to pay for calls. Even if he brought cash with him, it was taken, to be deposited into an account under his name.Feeling altruistic? You can send money to Cohen’s account. He can buy Tuna and Mackerel pouches and get a haircut or have his clothes pressed for visits.Perhaps due to his “celebrity” status, many Camp inmates will seek Cohen out. Just to talk. Size him up. Or exploit and intimidate him. He’s going to be a hero to some, a goat to others, and an anti-Christ to the Trump supporters.He’ll have to eventually reconcile with all of this. Most assuredly, he will. It’s inevitable. Soon the celebrity status fades, and then Cohen will be old news.Tonight though, he is merely trying to make sense of it all. And to survive his first day and night. He is “trying on” this new persona. And slowly learning how to act, talk, adapt, behave. He is slowly processing and defining who THIS version of Michael Cohen is right now, and who he will become in the months to come.When the 10 PM count is over, the lights go out, he lays on that ridiculously thin mattress, and his head hits that BOP-issued poor excuse for a pillow, he will most likely have trouble falling asleep. He will stare at either the ceiling above if assigned the top bunk, or the bunk bottom directly above him.Reality has set in. And In prison, reality is a true and relentless bitch…First Wake UpHas Michael Cohen been an early riser throughout his life? Well, he is now.The day at Otisville Camp begins with a 5 AM count. Rise and shine. Stand at your bunk. Mouth shut. Until the count is over.Establishing a sustainable morning routine is essential. Typically you would want to have one for weekdays, and one for weekends. In my case, on weekdays, I was up, hygiene tasks done, dressed, out the door, and in line at the cafeteria. Not the first in line, but definitely not in the last 3/4 of the line.The weekend would necessitate a slightly different schedule, for reasons I will elaborate below.Breakfast at Otisville Camp starts at 6 AM. If there are bananas or other highly coveted items, you’d best be in line and in the cafeteria before they run out.Stand in line. File in once the doors are open. Walk your tray through the line. Get your breakfast. Sit with your usual crowd. Finish up and get out. Time for a few minutes to get the day together in your head and it’s time for “work”.Cohen’s WorkThe prison work day starts at 7:30 AM. Cohen most likely won’t have a job on his first day at the Otisville Camp. Jobs are assigned by Counselors. A Counselor is a glorified CO. I met very few Counselors that I would actually consider the counseling type. For the most part, in my experience, Counselors were arrogant, rude, ignorant, and mean spirited. But they wield immense power. Don’t piss off a counselor.So Cohen will most probably be given some busy work, such as policing the grounds, until the counselor is able to assign him to a work detail. Typical first work detail assignments for a newbie would be in the camp cafeteria.Entry level cafeteria tasks would include preparing the room for meals, washing trays and dishes, and cleaning up after meals are served. No cooking or meal prep at first. That is left to more experienced kitchen-assigned prisoners. Besides, Cohen doesn’t seem the type to want to cook.Cafeteria duty is not all bad, if the right CO is in charge. You tend to eat more and better than your fellow inmates. Although the early shift typically begins at 4 AM, to get the prep done. And that takes some getting used to.In my case, the FCI Miami Cafeteria CO was sadistic and cruel. And he treated the inmates in accordance with his mean streak. I could not wait to fulfill my cafeteria duty, and then move on to other prison jobs. Maybe Cohen will be lucky and get to skip that whole ordeal.First WeekCohen’s first week will be more of the same as his first day. Except that he will probably get issued his regular prison clothes (a nice Khaki color in Otisville), undergarments, shoes, and standard bed roll consisting of two sheets, 1 pillowcase, 2 towels, and 2 wash cloths.The undergarments leave a lot to be desired. Tin Miami, they were threadbare and stained. With worn out elastic. And plenty of holes. Maybe Otisville will be more fashion-conscious.Cohen will be well advised to purchase a few T-Shirts, underwear, socks and a towel at the Commissary. I could not afford to buy any of these until family and friends were able to put together funds and deposit them in my account.As such, I used the prison issued underwear and towels for about 6 months. This experience molds and shapes you. Especially if you have become accustomed to expensive clothing, custom shirts and suits, silk ties, bespoke shoes and the like.Cohen’s focus for this first week should be to settle in, get his financial account established and funds deposited so he can purchase essentials at the Prison commissary, make phone calls and send emails.He will have to establish phone privileges as well. This means he will have to list and register the numbers he wants to call with the Camp Counselor.Cohen will be allowed 300 calling minutes per month which can be used for either direct or collect calls. Any minutes remaining at the end of the month will not carry over to the next month. Extra minutes are given during months with major holidays.There is a 15 minute maximum per call and you must wait 30 minutes between calls. There is usually a line to use the telephones. After a call, it could be several hours before you can use the phones again. The cutoff is 10 PM every night. So typically, you are going to get one chance at a call per day.All calls are recorded and monitored by Prison administration so Cohen must be careful what he and the people he calls, say to each other. You don’t talk to your lawyer on a regular prison phone. Those calls are made with permission and in the counselor’s office.Cohen must track his phone time carefully. Once he exceeds the monthly 300 minute limit, he can make no more calls until the following month.Do the math…300 minutes per month in a 30 day month is 10 minutes of calling per day. It’s not hard to use up your time quickly, especially at first when separation anxiety sets in and you want to speak to many family members.By the way, each call Cohen makes is announced to the recipient as a call originating from an inmate at a Federal Correctional Facility. The called party must acknowledge and accept that call.If the recipient rejects the call, either by accident or on purpose, the called telephone number is taken off the allowed call list. Getting it re-established in the system will require a trip to the counselor’s office.First MonthBy now, Cohen will be receiving visits from people on his approved visitors list. He will need to place people on his list and request they be approved by the Camp Counselor. There is a limit. As I recall, no more than 12 visitors. The BOP will perform a background check and will vet the requested visitors before approving. This is a hassle for potential visitors.The whole VISITING experience is a big hassle.You’ve got to really want to visit someone who is serving time in a Federal prison to put up with the hoops you must jump through…Cohen will be allocated 12 visit points per month. A weekday visit is one point. weekend or holiday visits are 2 points. He must alternate weekend days, and can have no more than 4 weekend visits at 2 points each for a total of 8 points. That leaves 4 points for weekday visits. Cohen must keep track of this as well.You can’t just show up to visit someone in Federal prison as the mood strikes you…The BOP has no flexibility when it comes to these rules.That first visit will be a big milestone of Cohen’s prison stay to date.These are the FCI Otisville visiting hours. But as mentioned earlier, not both Saturday and Sunday. Prisoners are assigned a day that alternates. One week, it’s Saturday, the next week its Sunday, and so on.Monday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmFriday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmSaturday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmSunday 8:00 am — 2:45 pmHolidays 8:00 am — 2:45 pmIf Cohen is going to be like most inmates I served with, he will make sure to look his best for visits. Well groomed, Hair cut and combed. Clothes clean and pressed. With a small application of prison-approved fragrance oil (no alcohol, naturally).The goal is to put your loved ones at ease when they realize you are taking care of yourself and you exhibit a positive frame of mind.MailNo surprise, there are many rules. As you might well imagine.The most important rule to know — All mail, incoming and outgoing, is opened and read by a CO.This is how they control contraband, illicit photographs, questionable materials, and how they “snoop” on you.Mail is distributed at a daily/nightly mail call.If you are not there, you don’t get your mail until the next mail call. Some COs will relax these rules, and give you mail outside of mail call. Or even let someone collect it for you. I wouldn’t count on that, until you see it consistently practiced.What you can receive is tightly controlled.No surprise, there is an 8 page Bureau of Prisons policy on incoming publications. You can find it HERE . In most cases, certain types of publications, such as books and newspapers, and some magazines, can only be received if they are sent directly from a publisher or distributor.From the policy:At all Bureau institutions, an inmate may receive hardcover publications and newspapers only from the publisher, from a book club, or from a bookstore.The BOP states:Publications determined detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution or that may facilitate criminal activity, or are otherwise prohibited by law, will be excluded from Bureau facilitiesAnd their policy goes on to state:The Warden may not establish an excluded list of publications. This means the Warden shall review the individual publication prior to the rejection of that publication. Rejection of several issues of a subscription publication is not sufficient reason to reject the subscription publication in its entirety.Mail is important in prison, It is a vital way of keeping in touch with loved ones. And an important part of staying connected to what is going on in the outside world, through newspapers, periodicals, and books. And a major factor in staying busy, productive, educated and fulfilled.Suffice to say, Cohen won’t be able to assume he will be able to “legally” receive and read whatever he wants. There will be limits. Just one more in a long list of freedoms lost.Cohen’s “Permanent“ Prison JobMost certainly by this time, Michael Cohen will have landed his full time prison gig. He will be paid anywhere between 0 (yes, zero. Some jobs pay NOTHING) to 40 cents per hour, based on the job and where he is assigned.Although there are a few prisons that have Industry jobs that pay higher.Did you know there is a BOP policy for Inmate Work and Performance Pay? Of course there is.Cohen will most probably change jobs multiple times while serving his sentence. It is pretty common, especially since the first job or two is usually in one of the less desirable work environments.Suffice to say, he won’t be “making ends meet” in the style to which he is accustomed on Federal Inmate prison pay.Medical CarePerhaps I should title this section Lack of Medical Care. Although I found that most of the health care employees that work in the BOP have good hearts and want to do the right thing. The issue is, their hands are tied by policy and a lack of freedom, scarcity of medication, and very few actual treatments they can prescribe and dispense.The psychologists and drug program counselors that I met and worked with, were extremely dedicated and competent. So if Cohen has to address any of these types of issues, and the prison he is eventually sent to is staffed with these people, he will be in competent hands.However some of the doctors I encountered in the BOP are just plain hacks.Cohen should be careful what kinds of diagnoses he receives and remedies he is prescribed by BOP doctors.Run of the mill issues like hypertension and diabetes are dealt with in a pretty straightforward manner. Although I did see some diabetics experiencing wild swings in their blood sugar levels and being rushed out of their cells suffering from hypo or hyperglycemia.And the BOP does a decent job of ensuring that those inmates that suffer from dependency to substances get their daily doses of methadone or whatever other medication they require. These are strictly controlled during “sick call”.If any other serious health issues are experienced by an inmate, they will usually be sent to a local hospital, clinic or specialist. This the rare exception, and is not easy to get accomplished. It usually takes persistence and consistent “noise” on the part of the inmate until the BOP doctor agrees.Some inmates who suffer from chronic conditions that are not treatable in a regular BOP prison medical facility may be transferred to a BOP special medical prison, such as Butner in North Carolina.Butner “is the Bureau’s largest medical complex, which operates a drug treatment program and specializes in oncology and behavioral science.[1]Among its inmates is Bernie Madoff. — from WikipediaButner, NC Federal Medical ComplexAt least at these types of facilities, an inmate can expect a higher level of medical care than they can get at a regular prison.Suffice to say, Cohen should do any and everything in his power to stay healthy and not require medical treatment beyond the more regular types of ailments. He should also look to the commissary for over the counter medications that are allowed for purchase and use to address any specific minor ailments.First YearThe first year tends to crawl by slowly. In Cohen’s case, with less than 3 years to serve, it will seem to move more quickly. Although each missed set of holidays while in prison tend to cause one to experience the slow ticking of the clock.As such, it will behoove Cohen to not “count the days”. Counting days is “counter productive” in prison. Not at all recommended. Your experienced and senior fellow Cons will tell you that immediately if they see you counting.You serve your sentence one day at a time. But you don’t count those days…If Cohen stays busy, occupying his waking hours with interesting and worthwhile activities, time will move briskly for him.Unless…he messes up…The SHUIf Cohen commits any violations, or earns enough “shots” even for minor infractions, he could serve time in the Special Housing Unit. This is a place akin to Solitary Confinement, although you will typically share a confined cell, complete with it’s own toilet and sink, with a fellow inmate.Just think for a brief moment about the logistics of a small, confined cell with a shared toilet which is out in the open and connected to the wash basin.2 Inmate SHU — It is Indeed SPECIAL!Private SHU Accommodations!A stay at the SHU also comes with a resplendent and complementary orange jumpsuit to differentiate Cohen from the regular population.No TV in the SHU. And a very limited supply of well worn paperbacks wheeled by once a week. You must select no more than two books through the pass through in the door.No magazines or newspapers are allowed.And you get a choice once a week between a shower, or recreational time. One or the other.But not both.Recreation time is an hour confined to chain link holding cells with no roof, within a concrete structure. You get to see a piece of sky while pacing back and forth.And the shower? Supervised the whole time by a CO. No privacy.The food is similar but not the same as the regular prison food. Plus it is cold by the time it gets to those in The SHU.I spent 2 weeks in the SHU. Needless to say, not at all an enjoyable experience.If Cohen stays within the rules, he will never experience the friendly confines of the Otisville SHU.He will fall into the rhythm of regular Federal prison life and just do his time.Perhaps he will begin working on that book we all know he is going to write!Fast Forward to the Last YearThat last year is a longish seeming stretch of time. Again, not focusing on time itself is a wise ting to do. If Cohen listens to his more successful fellow felons, in this last year of his sentence, he will intensify efforts towards activities, perhaps even involving himself in a few new ones.A new hobbyLearning a new skill (musical instrument, for example)Taking some additional coursesPicking up some additional books to readStepping up his exercise and physical activitiesPreparing a Life Plan — what to do with the rest of his lifeAs before, the trick is, to fill those days to the brim with stuff to do.Idle hands are the devil’s workshop…Last MonthIf Cohen has kept his nose clean all this time, he is in the home stretch. His good time calculation has reduced his sentence by a certain percentage, and he is not having to serve the entire 3 years. Soon, Prison staff will call him in to the office and provide him with a calculated release date for the halfway house. At this time, they will also tell him what facility he will be assigned to.Now he should be focusing on the following release-related activities:Preparing a plan for the immediate next 6 monthsLining up potential employmentFilling out required formsArranging for personal property to be mailed back — on his dimeDeciding what personal property to leave behind and give away to his inmate buddies — food, clothing, toiletries, headphones, radio, etc.Last DaysIt will be hard to focus as the magical date nears. Again, executing the items on his release To Do list should be his entire focus.Cohen needs to concentrate and keep his eyes focused squarely on the prize —Which is his RELEASE!Last NightI couldn’t sleep the night before my release. Understandable, right?This is probably the night Cohen gives away all his stuff.He will also say all of his goodbyes, and pledge to keep in touch.Except for a few rare exceptions, he most probably won’t.I have kept in touch with a handful of people I met during my time. We were there for each other, and I saw and continue to see them as reformed, contrite and positive people who have turned their lives around. It will be up to Cohen to make the decision as to who is worth keeping in touch with, and who is worth forgetting about forever.Day of ReleaseThe day of release is a whirlwind of activity. Cohen will probably be ready to go even before lights-on in anticipation of his departure from Otisville.He will bathe, and dress in the clothing he will wear to the half way house. Strip his bed and take it to the on duty CO. Empty his locker if he hasn’t already done so, and wait for his name to be called over the PA system, or for a CO to come get him.I distinctively remember how that went for me:“Fiallo. Report to the Main Building for Release.”Sweet music to my ears…Slaps on the back. Shaking of hands, and a short walk to the same place where the original intake was done. As I walked those steps, I never looked back. Cohen will probably do the same.Once in the main facility, the CO performs the following ritual:Form to be signedInstructions for reporting to the halfway house, including how much time you have been given to get thereInventory of anything you are taking with youEscorting to the main entrance by the CO, where it is verified that you are who you are supposed to beThen that massive iron door is opened, and you step outAnd Cohen is finally out…Again, I never looked back, and most probably, neither will Cohen.Whoever is picking him up will meet him in the parking lot where a happy reunion outside the confines of the BOP, will take place. And he is off to the half way house.In my case, I had enough time to first stop home and greet family before the eventual trip to the halfway house.Releases vary from prison to prison. A lot will depend on Cohen’s actual and specific circumstances. But how I described is probably how it will go down.Half Way HouseHalf-Assed House, or Prison Lite, is what I’ve heard these facilities called by the residents.I’m honestly trying to be very objective here.Half Way Houses are designed to facilitate re-entry from the stark reality of prison to the “real” reality of street life.They go by other fancy names as well. Such as Residential Re-entry Facility.An Actual Residential Re-Entry FacilityFrom Wikipedia:In criminology the purpose of a halfway house is generally considered to be that of allowing people to begin the process of reintegration with society, while still providing monitoring and support. This type of living arrangement is often believed to reduce the risk of recidivism or relapse when compared to a straight release directly into society.From the artificial reality of prison life to the real reality of normal life…In reality, the Half Way House is not that much different than prison. In fact, you can argue that it is worse, because in many cases, the people having dominion over you are for the most part, minimum wage employees who can’t get any kind of real law enforcement jobs. And there is little to no real or valuable support and assistance for residents to aid in their re-entry.Some of the workers lord their positions over the residents constantly and treat them like second class citizens. I would submit that this is counterproductive to creating an environment where someone who has served their sentence can successfully re-enter society.That being said, I don’t know how Michael Cohen will fare with his half way house experience. I am sure there are some half way houses in this country that do a great job. In my experience, talking to many inmates and looking at the facts as objectively as possible, many do not.Typical Half Way House Sleeping ArrangementsThis is probably what Cohen will experience:His entire stay will be closely monitored. That, they do a great job atLeaving for work, arriving at work, leaving work to return, and arriving back will be tracked and loggedCohen will not be allowed any stops to and from work, without express written permissionHe will not be allowed to go out to lunch while at work. He will take a lunch packed and provided by the halfway houseCohen’s work supervisor at his first job, will be initially interviewed and will also be periodically asked how Cohen is doingHe will be periodically checked up on at the job by a halfway house employee, in personCohen will have an assigned Half Way House work detail, in addition to his regular day job — kitchen detail, cleaning bathrooms, general cleaning, yard work, etc.He will eat three square meals a day at the Half Way House until he is placed on home confinementCohen will have to get permission and formal approval for any other “excursions”, such as — haircuts, doctor’s visits, trips to the DMV or Social Security Office — the time it will take to get there and back will be calculated and Cohen will be tracked and expected to call in when he arrives, and when he leaves to returnCohen will have to “drop urine” on demand. Even after home confinement, when called, he will have a prescribed amount of time to return and “drop”Cohen will be subjected to breathalyzer tests — usually upon returning. Alcohol is strictly forbidden while under Half Way House jurisdictionCohen will experience random searches for contraband, which is any item or material not allowed in your possession by the Half Way House. His locker will be “tossed” while he is away.Most likely, Cohen will not be allowed to have a cell phone while at the Half Way House. His specific facility may have relaxed this ruleA monthly financial statement will need to be prepared and submitted by Cohen, detailing income and expenses. The Half Way House takes 20% of his gross pay every weekFamily visits will be administered similar to when in prisonCounseling sessions will most likely be prescribed and are mandatoryCohen won’t be allowed to drive unless his license is current and he has a clean record. He will have to show proof of insurance, and that he owns the vehicle, or that the owner has allowed him to use it. The car will be thoroughly inspected, and will undergo random inspections as wellCohen will meet with his probation officer at least once during his Half Way House timeOn the plus side, the food in the halfway house will most probably be good, although not necessarily plentiful. After all, there are many mouths to feed.A Half Way House Food Line — this one was good!Residents BewareAny violations of rules may result in his Half Way House term being violated and he will be returned to prison to serve the remaining time.One Saturday morning, as I was having breakfast at the Half Way House before being released to home confinement, the US Marshals showed up. They took one of the guys at our table back to prison, in handcuffs, to serve out the remainder of his sentence. The Marshals were not happy campers and showed it. They’d much rather be chasing fugitives ala Tommy Lee Jones…His violation? He had stopped on his way back to the Half Way House from work to buy an ice cream cone.They mean business…Home ConfinementSoon after arriving at the Half Way House, Cohen should be doing all he can to receive “home confinement” status. Assuming his family agrees to take him back in the home (not always a slam dunk), this should be Cohen’s primary objective in order to reclaim some semblance of normalcy in his life.Half Way House time sucks. Big time.The quicker you leave, the better off you are.A job is the primary requirement to earn home confinement status. If he has one already lined up before he arrives, then he is “half way” home (excuse the intended pun).The other requirements are:Continue to obey all Half Way House and BOP rules. One needs to remember, even while at a Half Way House, you are still under BOP jurisdiction. You are serving out the last 6 (or less) months of your sentenceStay clean and soberAttend prescribed individual or group counseling sessions if applicableMaintain your work statusInstall a separate land line in your home with no call forwarding, so that the Half Way House can always reach you. And you can’t “fool” them by forwarding that line to wherever you may “unauthorizedly” beReport to the Half Way House immediately when called for any reasonAnswer the separate land line when they call — in my case, they would call at least twice a day, every day, with one at 2 AM every morningPay the Half Way House 20% of your pay once you start a job, for the duration of your termContinue to submit monthly financial statementsDo not associate with anyone having a criminal record. Report any encounter to the Half Way HouseReport any encounter with law enforcementDo not drive a motor vehicle unless you have been authorized to do soRequest written permission for any time to be away from home or work — including haircuts, attending religious ceremonies, or doctor visits. Once granted an excursion, you must abide by the times allotted for the trips. And you must call when you leave, call when you arrive, call again when you are departing for home, and call when you arrive homeAll of these restrictions and requirements continued for me even after I was put on home confinement. For the whole 6 months of my term. It’s possible that rules have changed or have been relaxed by the time Cohen begins his home confinement.Back to the Real worldMichael Cohen was disbarred by the New York state Supreme Court in Manhattan on February 28th. Having lost his law license, he will most probably never get it back and will no longer be able to practice his trade. He could try, but chances are, he will not prevail.I know many disbarred attorneys under similar circumstances, that have tried to get their licenses reinstated. Despite obtaining many letters of support from other attorneys and people in the community, they have not succeeded.Life after a felony conviction is different. Obvious, right? There are many things you most definitely won’t ever be able to do, and others that you can’t do, either temporarily, or until some action is taken to remove the restriction.For example:Voting — some states allow felons to vote, others require a petitionOwning a gun — at the present time, only a Presidential pardon or commutation can restore this Constitutional rightHolding certain offices — I don’t know the specifics of his sentence, but he may not be able to run for, or hold certain offices. The terms of my conviction bar me from ever becoming a Corporate officer or serving as a member of the board for a public companyBeing hired by certain companies — some opportunities will be forever closed to you. Some companies maintain a policy of not employing convicted felons. Period.Some will tell you that a felony conviction does not immediately disqualify you, but the reality is, you get nowhere when you try to seek employment with these companiesRejection by social or community groups, associations, and clubsDisapproval for certain financial transactions or for creditAs he faces these, and encounters other difficulties related to the stigmatization associated with being a convicted felon, he will be serving the other terms of his conviction.Being snubbed by former acquaintances and “friends” is something else Cohen should be prepared for. There are people that were close “friends”, of the fair weather variety, while you were flying high. Now they won’t have anything to do with you. For the most part, Cohen will be better off not having these kinds of people as “friends”.The terms of Cohen’s sentence includes a probationary period where he will have to report weekly to a parole officer, more commonly, a Probation Officer.Missouri Department of Corrections — A PO Meeting With a ParoleeAnd let’s not forget about the $1.39 million in restitution, $500,000 in forfeiture and $100,000 in fines. Those are obligations he must meet, if he hasn't already.By the way, during the time he is BOP custody, Cohen will most assuredly have to make agreed upon restitution payments. These will be taken out of his commissary account.Cohen’s probationary period was set at three years of supervised release. This time will be overseen by Cohen’s assigned US Probation Officer. It is likely that he will have different POs during his supervised release period.He may have community service to perform as well. I was sentenced to 200 hours of community service which took me a year and a half to complete.At the end of the first year, if he has kept all the rules and the Probation Officer has no objections, Cohen could apply for a shorter Probationary Period. There are no guarantees of getting that approved.During the probationary period, Cohen will continue to file financial reports, and must also report any encounter with law enforcement and with other convicted felons. He may also be required to attend prescribed group or individual counseling.To maintain good standing with his “PO” during the entire period, he will have to continue to be gainfully employed.It’s important to note that a violation could land him in jail, potentially to serve out the rest of his probationary period. For example, if Cohen were to lose his job, he would have to find alternative employment rather quickly or risk violating the terms of parole, and ending up in prison again.Cohen should do every and anything he can to stay on the narrow path and on the good side of his PO.Where the Rubber Meets the RoadFor Cohen, this is complete transition time now. The end game.A new life. Unless he forgot all about what earned him a prison sentence in the first place, he will have made or at least begun the transition from high flying huckster lawyer/fixer to convicted felon while serving his sentence.If he didn’t change his ways, his prison stay definitely will afford him the opportunity to keep shucking and jiving, bragging, wheeling and dealing, continuing to be a total asshole, and to actually refine and hone these skills.If he has the right attitude and resolve, the full transition he has to make is from Federal Inmate to regular human being.Is he capable of that?We are all capable. But for numerous reasons, some of us succeed and some of us fail. We continue the same foolhardy mistakes over and over.Groundhog day…Given the high rate of recidivism among Federal Felons (anywhere from 16% to over 80% depending on factors such as age, education and type of crime), some fall again. And they return to the warm, cozy confines of jail.It will be up to Cohen, and Cohen alone which way his life goes, and which path he decides to take.In the end, perhaps now, Michael Cohen will find peace.Finding that peace is totally up to him.Just like it was to me…“It is the bungled crime that brings remorse.”― P.G. WodehouseThis is how Michael Cohen will experience prison…Visit my blog at Enrique Fiallo – Mediumor my web site at The Way - Practical and Simple Life Coaching

BY JULIA KAGANWhat is a Cash AdvanceA cash advance is a short-term loan from a bank or an alternative lender. The term also refers to a service provided by many credit card issuers allowing cardholders to withdraw a certain amount of cash. Cash advances generally feature steep interest rates and/or fees, but they are attractive to borrowers because they also feature fast approval and quick funding.BREAKING DOWN Cash AdvanceTypes of Cash AdvancesThere are a variety of cash advances, but the common denominators among all of them are the stiff interest rates and fees.Credit Card Cash AdvancesThe most popular type of cash advance is borrowing on a line of credit through a credit card. The money can be withdrawn at an ATM or, depending on the credit card company, from a check that is deposited or cashed at a bank. Credit card cash advances typically carry a high-interest rate, even higher than the rate on regular purchases: You’ll pay an average of 24% – about 9% higher than the average APR for purchases. What’s more, the interest begins to accrue immediately; there is no grace period.These cash advances usually include a fee as well, either a flat rate or a percentage of the advanced amount. Additionally, if you use an ATM to access the cash, you often are charged a small usage fee.Along with separate interest rates, credit card cash advances carry a separate balance from credit purchases, but the monthly payment can be applied to both balances. However, if you are only paying the minimum amount due, the card issuer is allowed by federal law to apply it to the balance with the lower interest rate. As that is invariably the rate for purchases, the cash advance balance can sit and accrue interest at that high rate for months.In most cases, credit card cash advances do not qualify for no- or low-interest-rate introductory offers. On the plus side, they are quick and easy to obtain.Merchant Cash AdvancesMerchant cash advances refer to loans received by companies or merchants from banks or alternative lenders. Typically, businesses with less-than-perfect credit use cash advances to finance their activities, and in some cases, these advances are paid for with future credit card receipts or with a portion of the funds the business receives from sales in its online account. Rather than using a business’ credit score, alternative lenders often survey its creditworthiness by looking at multiple data points, including how much money the merchant receives through online accounts such as PayPal.Payday LoansIn consumer lending, the phrase “cash advance” can also refer to payday loans. Issued by special payday lenders, they can range anywhere from $50 to $1,000, but they come with fees (around $15 per $100 borrowed – or even more in some cases) and interest rates exceeding 100%. Rather than taking into account the borrower’s credit score, the lender determines the amount of the loan based on local state regulations and the size of the applicant’s paycheck. If the loan is approved, the lender hands the borrower cash; if the transaction takes place online, the lender makes an electronic deposit to the borrower’s checking or savings account.The loans are extremely short term – they must be paid back on the borrower’s next payday unless he or she wishes to extend the loan, and in that case, additional interest is charged. Unfortunately, many do: More than 80% of all payday loans are rolled over within 30 days of the previous loan, according to a 2016 study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).The process can be quick, if more complex, than securing a credit card cash advance. To obtain a payday loan, you write a postdated check made out to the payday lender for the amount you plan to borrow, including the fees. The lender immediately issues the borrowed amount but waits to cash your check until the payday arrives. Some electronically minded lenders now have borrowers sign an agreement for automatic repayment from their bank accounts. Lenders usually ask that you provide personal identification and proof of income when you apply.Some employers offer payday loans or advances on paychecks as a service to their employees. Terms vary, but often no fees or interest are charged.Do Cash Advances Hurt Your Credit Score?Taking out a cash advance has no direct impact on your credit or credit score, but it can affect it indirectly in various ways.First, if you take the advance using a credit card, it will raise your outstanding balance, which will raise your credit utilization ratio, a measure that credit scoring models use to calculate your score. If you owe $500 on a $1,500 limit card, for example, your credit utilization ratio is 30%. However, if you take out a $300 cash advance on that card, the balance will jump to $800, resulting in a credit utilization of more than 53%. High utilization rates are a big indicator of credit risk; when your ratio exceeds 40%, it can adversely impact your credit score.As noted earlier, a cash advance usually has a high-interest rate. If this affects your ability to pay the monthly charges promptly, that also could affect your credit score. And if the cash advance puts you over the card’s credit limit, your credit score can be dinged. Even after the balance is paid down, your credit report will show the highest balance reported, and other potential lenders will see that you were over the limit at one point, which could hurt your ability to get new credit.Cash Advance Pros and ConsA credit card cash advance could be a reasonable option for someone who has an emergency need for money and limited resources for getting it, especially when that person has a clear and reasonable plan for paying back the money in a short time period. It is, for example, a better option than a payday loan or a car title loan, due to the exorbitant triple-digit interest rates those loans typically carry and the greater payoff flexibility that comes with credit card debt.But cash advances would be a bad idea under these conditions:Just before declaring bankruptcy – New credit card debt does not magically disappear in a bankruptcy. Your creditors and a judge will examine your debts, including the dates and types. Once you know or have a strong inclination that you’ll soon file for bankruptcy, credit card use of any kind may be considered fraudulent. A cash advance immediately prior to filing is very likely to be challenged by the card issuer, and that account may be excluded from the debts that are forgiven in a bankruptcy.To pay a credit card bill – A cash advance is a very expensive way to pay bills, and the risk of falling into revolving debt cannot be ignored. The potential to pay many times the amount of the original advance (in interest charges) is very real. Furthermore, in addition to the higher interest rate, there are those additional fees that everyday credit card purchases are not subject to.To buy something you can’t afford – Going into debt to satisfy a desire is not just financially dangerous; it’s emotionally detrimental. A person who thrives on immediate gratification and the temporary emotional lift of a big purchase will eventually feel regret (and possibly depression, anxiety, stress, and other debilitating emotions) when faced with the debt. The more compulsive the purchase, the more pronounced the regret.The Bottom LineCash advances aren’t alarming when used infrequently, but they are at best short-term solutions to meet emergencies. If they are becoming a habit, or if you find you regularly need a cash advance to make ends meet, then drastic budgeting and spending changes are in order.I guess that it is fair to say that cash advances more risky for the issuer than any other purchase, as can be seen in the answer below, it can cause great loss:Everyone hits an unexpected bill or expense now and then — a car breaks down, an air-conditioner fails during a heat wave, a relative needs medical care.While it may be tempting, one source of emergency cash that should be used sparingly, financial advisers say, is a credit-card cash advance, which is an expensive way to borrow money.“Cash advances are almost always a bad idea,” said Michael Sullivan, a personal financial consultant in Phoenix with Take Charge America, a nonprofit credit counseling agency.The average interest rate for a cash advance on a credit card is nearly 24 percent, compared with an average of about 16 percent for purchases, according to a new analysis by the card comparison site Credit Cards - Compare Credit Card Offers at CreditCards.com.Unlike with purchases, cash advances have no grace period: Interest starts accruing right away, as soon as you borrow the money.And most cards charge an upfront fee for cash advances — typically, either $10 or 5 percent of the advance, whichever is higher.Say you buy a $1,000 item on a credit card with a 15.79 percent interest rate and pay the balance off within 30 days. In this case, you would pay no interest because of the grace period.But a $1,000 cash advance will typically cost you nearly $70, even if you pay the debt down in 30 days (based on an upfront $50 fee, plus $19.73 for 30 days of interest at 23.68 percent).Given the cost, using a card advance makes sense only if the other alternatives — such as a payday loan or car title loan, which can carry triple-digit annual percentage rates — are even worse, said Matt Schulz, the senior industry analyst at Credit Cards - Compare Credit Card Offers at CreditCards.com.Cash advances include withdrawals at A.T.M.s using a credit card. They may also include so-called convenience checks — paper checks mailed to consumers that allow them to draw on their credit card.Using a card to “buy” cash — whether it’s a foreign currency for travel, or casino chips while visiting Las Vegas — is also considered a cash advance by default, Mr. Sullivan said. So it’s wise to make sure you understand the terms of your card to avoid unexpected charges. “You can inadvertently get a cash advance if you’re not careful,” he said.If you do take out a cash advance, Mr. Schulz said, make it a priority to pay off the balance. If you submit only the minimum monthly payment on your card, it will be very difficult to get rid of the costly debt, because most card issuers apply for minimum payments first to lower-rate balances, before applying for any extra payment over the minimum to higher-rate balances.“The quicker you can pay it off, the better,” Mr. Schulz said.For its report, Credit Cards - Compare Credit Card Offers at CreditCards.com analyzed a representative sampling of 100 credit cards from major United States issuers in April. It drew information from the terms-and-conditions documents, publicly available cardholder agreements and phone calls to issuers.The survey found the highest cash advance rate in the First Premier Bank credit card (36 percent), followed by the BP Visa, the Texaco Visa and the Exxon Mobil SmartCard (all about 30 percent), and the Shell Platinum MasterCard (28 percent).Gas and retail cards tend to carry higher rates, Mr. Schulz said, because they are often easier to qualify for, so they are considered riskier.Here are some questions and answers about cash advances:Do cash advances earn rewards points?No. Cash advances generally are not eligible to earn credit card rewards, Mr. Schulz said.Before getting a cash advance, you should have an internal debate with yourself to decide if it is the best thing to do, and if you really want to go through with it. Below, I am going to include some reasons why this may not be the best thing to do.Reasons Why You Should Avoid a Cash AdvanceBy Debra PangestuWhen you’re in a financial bind and in need of quick cash, taking a cash advance on your credit card may sound like a convenient way to get money; but there’s a price to pay for the convenience, and in the long run it is usually in your best interest to avoid a cash advance if possible.What is a Cash Advanceyou have to is walk up to an ATM machine, a financial institution, or use a convenience cheque provided by your credit card company, and you’ll have some cold hard cash in your hands. Your advance will be charged to your credit card almost like a regular credit card purchase, which you’ll pay off when you can.Although a cash advance on your credit card is certainly easy and convenient, there are higher costs that go along with this form of borrowing which can end up costing you a lot more than you bargained for.If you’re considering getting a cash advance in Canada, we’ve outlined some important things you should be aware of, as well as some alternative options worth considering.There’s Almost Always an Upfront Cash Advance FeeWhen you take an advance on your credit card, there’s almost always a cash advance fee you have to pay up front (you can see the cash advance fees that various Canadian credit cards charge here). A lot of consumers often wonder how to avoid cash advance fees, but unfortunately, there’s no way around it (except if you get a low-interest rate card that doesn’t charge cash advance fees, but there aren’t a lot of these). How the convenience fee is calculated depends on your credit card provider; you may either pay a percentage of your transaction (often 1%) or a flat dollar amount (typically $2 or $3.50). If you take money from an ATM that is not part of your bank or credit union’s network, don’t forget that you’ll have to pay an ATM fee on top of the cash advance fee too.Interest Rates Are Higher for Cash AdvancesMany people are under the impression that a cash advance is treated the same way as everyday purchases, but this usually isn’t the case.On top of the cash advance service fee, you’ll also be charged a higher interest rate. Credit card companies often charge higher rates for cash advances than for purchases for two reasons:Cash advances are a credit card convenience service a lot of people are willing to pay more for.Using cash advances can potentially reflect desperation or and greater financial risk for the credit card company.The cash advance interest is sometimes 5% to 8% higher than the normal rate charged for purchases, so if you’re paying 16% interest on your credit card purchases, you could pay up to 24% on your cash advance. Getting dinged 24% just to borrow money is a high price to pay, so before you take out a cash advance, ask yourself whether you’ve exhausted all your other options, which we’ll discuss in a bit.Cash Advances Don’t Have a Grace PeriodCredit card purchases have a grace period in which you’ll have about a month to pay back the money you borrowed interest-free. However, most cash advances don’t have a grace period, and interest will start to accrue the same day you take your advance.So, if someone were to take out an $800 cash advance on a credit card with a 1% cash advance fee and a 24% interest rate, and were to pay the amount back in 10 days, they would be charged $13.26 for borrowing the money (an $8 fee plus $5.26 in interest). This may not seem like a lot, however, borrowing $800 for 10 days for $13.26 works out to a 60% annual interest rate. Ouch!Quick Cash Can Facilitate Harmful Financial BehavioursWhile cash advance fees may be high, they’re not the most dangerous part of cash advances. In the example we just gave, someone may have used the $800 to help cover their rent and didn’t have the money to pay this off until they got their tax refund a year later. In this case, they would end up paying $200 in interest over the year. If things were tight before, it’s not like this person can really afford to give up $200. Being short $200 now can lead to more high-interest borrowing, being short even more money, and result in even more expensive borrowing. You can see here that cash advances can act as a series of dominos that can begin to fall and potentially create a downward spiral that is hard to get out of.A credit card cash advance is a convenient way to gain access to funds, but in reality, this “easy money” is often only a quick fix to an underlying financial problem. Until we can remedy that problem, the borrowing cycle will likely continue, and it can spiral into financial problems in the future.We often turn to cash advances and credit because we don’t know how to budget, how to save money, and how to live within our means. The more accustomed we are to getting cash advances during times we need money – whether it’s to cover the costs of an emergency or to pay rent – the less likely we are to learn how to responsibly manage our finances.Although it may not seem like a big deal to take out a cash advance every now and then, if something unexpected happens – a job loss, an illness, or a major car repair – you can really get caught in an expensive borrowing cycle. As the interest rates and services fees accumulate, you’ll soon find yourself owing more than you can manage and before you know it, you’ll be digging yourself deeper into debt.If you find that you consistently need cash advances to pay your bills and make ends meet each month, this is a big red flag that signals you need some help to work things out and get your finances back on track. This is what our Credit Counsellors help people with every day.Cash Advances Can Unintentionally Trigger Higher Credit Card Interest RatesCredit card companies pay attention to cash advances and some appear to view frequent use of them as a potential sign of financial problems. Many credit card companies are so concerned that they have now cut back their client’s cash advance limits so that many people now have a separate cash advance limit that is lower (often half) of their regular credit limit.Cash Advances Can Unintentionally Trigger Higher Credit Card Interest RatesCredit card companies pay attention to cash advances and some appear to view frequent use of them as a potential sign of financial problems. Many credit card companies are so concerned that they have now cut back their client’s cash advance limits so that many people now have a separate cash advance limit that is lower (often half) of their regular credit limit.Some credit card companies also monitor at what time of the month you make cash withdrawals from your credit card and compare that to when you make the monthly payment on your card. If you make your payment within 72 hours of withdrawing cash from your credit card, they can assume you are using this money to make the card’s minimum payment. This can be interpreted as a sign of financial problems and increased risk to the credit card company. In response, some credit card companies can raise their cardholder’s interest rate to presumably help offset the increased risk.Some Cash Advance AlternativesCash advances are an expensive way to borrow money, and if you’re not careful, you could find yourself paying more than what you bargained for. When you need cash in a pinch, there are other alternatives that may make more financial sense. Here are some to consider:Use your credit card. If you need to pay a bill or make a purchase if it’s possible to put it on your credit card instead. You won’t pay an upfront fee, your interest rate will be lower, and you’ll have your normal 1-month grace period to pay back the balance interest-free. If putting a purchase on your credit card isn’t an option – let’s say you’ve reached your limit – ask a friend or family member if they can put the purchase on their credit card, and commit to paying it off in 30 days or less.Ask for a cash loan from your family or close friends. If credit cards aren’t an option, it may be time to swallow your pride and ask someone you know and trust for a cash money loan. But, it’s also important to keep in mind that money can affect relationships, and if you don’t make good on your promise to pay back the loan on time, that relationship can be damaged.Get a personal loan from a bank or a credit union. The only downside with this is that you’ll need good credit to qualify for an unsecured loan with a reasonable interest rate. If your credit isn’t in great shape or if the bank requires some form of security or collateral that you don’t have, then this won’t be an option.Ask for an advance on your paycheque. If you and your employer have a good relationship, they may be able to give you an advance on your next paycheque, and you’ll simply have to pay back the advance on the following payday. All workplaces vary, so depending on where you work, they may have established policies in place. A smaller business may be able to work something out, but larger employers may have policies and procedures to adhere to. Whatever the case, it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask. But just like borrowing money from your friends or family money, be cautious that you don’t make a habit of it.You could also potentially generate some cash by selling some of your stuff on Craigslist, holding a yard sale, getting a second job, renting out a room in your home, renting out space in your garage, or any number of other creative ways of generating some extra cash. You can start applying as many of these savings tips as possible to free up some cash. To find more money to work within the future, you can also look in all of these places to find more money.If you’ve weighed your options and you believe getting a cash advance is still the best option for you in your current situation, make sure you know what the interest rate is and how much you’ll be paying in fees. It’s also important that you get a cash advance only for the amount you need, and that the card you’re taking the advance on has a low balance. If you use too much of your available credit, this affects your credit utilization which in turn will reduce your credit score. Lastly, it’s imperative that you pay back the cash advance the soonest you can because interest starts to accrue the moment you take out the money.The Bottom Line on Cash AdvancesThere are times when a cash advance may be necessary, like when you’re away on holiday and the pharmacy that sells the medication you need only accepts cash and your bank card won’t work. Cash advances should only be used in emergencies, and they shouldn’t be used on a regular basis. It also shouldn’t be your lifeline when an emergency strikes, because once you get into the cycle of high-interest borrowing, it can be difficult to get back out.If you’re relying on advances to meet your day-to-day expenses, it’s time to take a good look at your finances and start to make changes. The best thing you can do to avoid taking a cash advance is to plan ahead, create a spending plan, find ways to reduce your expenses, possibly look for ways to increase your income, and start setting money aside in an emergency fund. That way, if you find yourself in a tough spot down the road and you need cash quickly, you’ll have a pool of money you can dip into without any penalty or high costs that set your finances back.Knowing how to manage your money well makes a huge difference, and our accredited, non-profit credit counselors can help you get started. They’ll go through your finances with you, and they’ll also help you put together a realistic budget so you can start living within your means and save money so you can avoid a cash advance in the future.<< Back to the Blog main pageSubmitted by RichardI have tried to provide enough information that you would have a lot to unpack, but also find the information that you are looking for. Thanks for your uestion

I did my M.Sc. in Electrical (Power) Engineering 2018–2020 batch. I will give a detailed experience broadly classified as study experience, living experience, money expenses and suggestions to incoming students.In the beginning, I thought why the person specifically highlighted the experience for an ‘Indian’ student and not just any student or any generic international student. But then, perhaps since the education system, lifestyle and cuisine varies from country to country, the answer is expected such that it covers the transition of someone with an Indian background to that of an international one.Study Experience:My background: I did my Bachelors in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from India. In TU Delft, I was in the program - Electrical (Power) Engineering where I chose compulsory courses from both Smart Grids track as well Power Electronics and Machines track. But my final year project was in Power Electronics and Machines track where the thesis was about design, modelling and optimization of machines.Work load: Unlike India, where the semester system (6 months) is followed, a quarterly system is followed (3 months). Considering time interval for exams, results and some holidays, 1 quarter lasts 2.5 months during which you have to study 3–4 courses. Usually lab courses are part of the main course. So overall, I felt that there were too many courses. For instance, a semester system might have 5 main courses. A quarter system for the same duration now has 6 to 8 courses. Some of the courses I felt were too irrelevant for the program. For instance, a course on measurements was mostly about calculating and eliminating noises in micro electronic circuits which is completely irrelevant to power engineering students. Overall, I felt that 15 credits worth of courses (which contributes to 3 months of study time) were totally not useful for my program.Quality of courses: Many of the courses are of high quality. You will end up with remarkably higher skills and knowledge after you finish these coursesStyle of exam: Exams are of the following types (for the courses I undertook or know from another person). In all exams, the faculty member who taught you evaluates the exam. Which means it is not going for ‘external evaluation’ like state public universities in India. Sometimes, teaching assistants also evaluate the exam. But in case of dispute, the final authority rests with your faculty member.Closed book descriptive exam: This is same as the exams held by most colleges in India.Open book descriptive exam: You can take the book with you. But that is for exams with huge design procedure and formulae.Assignment plus written (paper / digital) exam - Some courses have assignments throughout every week or every two weeks that have 20% to 60% weightage with the remaining weightage given to end exams. In digital exam, you have to type instead of writing. Assignments can be group or individual. I personally felt this was the best type of testing. In courses with this of type of assessment, I was able to study systemically and do well.Assignment plus oral exam - Some courses have assignments throughout every week or every two weeks that have 60% to 90% weightage with the remaining weightage given to oral exams. In oral exams, your faculty will ask you questions directly. Sometimes they give you paper to answer in case of equations. This is exactly same as viva exams for labs in India. Usually, I find oral exams harder because unlike written exams, you have no time to think. Any delay that occurs because you were thinking will adversely affect your performance if the faculty thinks so. In one oral exam I attended, the faculty gave time to think and answer and I was able to do well. In another oral exam, it was like rapid fire where I was expected to immediately write and derive expressions and I ended up creating a bad impression. So it totally depends on who is asking and how fast you are expected to respond.MCQ Exams - This is same as entrance exam type in India.Structure of courses: Some courses are organized extremely well. In a given number of hours, you can study systematically, gain enough understanding and pass with good grades. Also some courses are extremely disorganized where you spend hours without any direction. It depends upon who your course instructor is. Your faculty has the authority to organize course, choose the type of assessment and your final grades. Usually I have noticed that when it comes to organization of courses, courses belonging to a track are organized in a similar manner. I mean suppose there is track - ‘X’, if one course is organized well in X, then most other courses in X are also organized well. Similarly, if one course in another track - ‘Y’ is not well organized, then other courses under Y are also not well organized. So perhaps, there is some sort of a head for each track who is responsible for regulating courses, assessment and grading methodologies.The Master Thesis - In my program, the master thesis consists of a long research project worth 45 credits (out of 120 total credits). Note that 37.5% of your entire CGPA depends upon this.Out of the total 120 credits, first year has 60 credits and second year has the remaining 60 credits. If you get less than 30 credits in first year, you may be deported back to India since you are no longer meeting even half the study requirements. In order to start the master thesis, you must not only finish 60 credits but also these 60 credits should include credits from the mandatory courses of the track you selected.The master thesis comprises of a research project you are expected to work ‘independently’. Basically among a broader topic, you are expected to form some research objectives, find ways to achieve that and arrive at the final outcome. You will get 30 minutes of weekly assistance from one supervisor who is a faculty in your department.You can also do your master thesis at a company. Usually I observed that among my classmates, those who took a company project instead of the university research project ended up getting paid for their work (from the company), completed it faster and also received job offers.Often company projects are at different locations and you might have to relocate to that place. Maybe the money for breaking present rental contract and shifting would break even with the internship like salary. But time and job offers appear as pros in case of company thesis. When it comes to quality of research, the university research projects may have a slightly better quality owing to a higher starting level of difficulty. Once again, all this is from a small sample space of 10–15 students I know.2. Living experienceGetting a place to stay - University arranges accommodation for students depending on a first come first serve basis. If you are late to pay fees / not interesting in university arranging your accommodation, you can search for a place yourself. Accommodation are of the following types.a. Studio - You live alone in a tiny apartment -> kitchen and bathroom included. Depending upon your age and rental contract, you may be eligible for rental allowance. This is expensive if you don’t get a rental allowance.b. Shared - You share bathroom or kitchen or both with others. If you are searching alone (without university assistance); when it comes to gender, ‘all male’ and ‘mixed accommodations’ are available a lot. But ‘all female’ apartments are rare to find. I also felt this to be socially unfair. When there are a lot of ‘all male’ apartments, shouldn’t there be ‘all female’ apartments too? Or maybe there aren’t enough girls seeking accommodation.c. Couple - There are options where you can live with a husband or a registered partner.There are many rental scams. So please use only reputed sites when you are looking for an accommodation. Finding accommodation on your own is difficult - especially if you are a single (unmarried) woman searching for an ‘all female’ accommodation. Please make sure that you have someone (relative or friend) to temporarily stay with for a few days or weeks in case you run out of accommodation - either your rental contract is over or you have to shift to another location because of some internship.(I understand that the Netherlands is very egalitarian with high safety standards for women. But also, I presume that most Indian female students are unwilling or not modern enough for a mixed accommodation.)Food - Unless you know to cook, food can be very difficult. When it comes to Indian cuisine - all raw materials from different types to rice to spices can be obtained in Indian/ Pakistani/ Bangladeshi shops or even shops like Albert Heijn here. I personally didn’t find food to be a problem. I cooked Indian food regularly. If you have to eat out urgently and if you are very specific that the food should be vegetarian, most shops have one vegan option. But eating out is expensive. Even fast food is relatively expensive.Lifestyle and comfort- Weather was a problem for me. It was very windy and I found cycling very difficult when wind speeds exceeded 30 kmph. Winters were harsh and cold and I had dry skin problems.The quality of life (except weather) is high. Food is hygienic. Tap water is very good. Roads and public transport are excellent. Winter clothes are affordable here. Please don’t buy them all the way from India.I found most people to be polite. I didn’t face any direct racism in the university or from the general public.Socializing- There may be events in university where you can eat together, meet representative from companies and have a chat with your faculty. Also there are cultural events in college. When it comes to events specific to Indians, Diwali is celebrated as Diya with a venue that uses university facilities. Also, state wise you can form groups and find common rooms in accommodations to celebrate. Example, Malayalis celebrate Onam in the form of Potluck. Socializing is going to be difficult if you are a teetotaler as you will find most Indians who don’t drink alcohol in India drinking it here. But events like Diya don’t serve alcohol.3. Money and expensesHouse rentFor renting a studio the cost varies from €550 to €850 per month. If you have rental allowance, depending upon the breakup of rent, cost can come down by €100 per month or even more. For example, if your studio is €600 per month, then eventually you may end up paying €480 per month. For shared accommodation, the overall rent may range from €450 to €600 per month depending upon the space and quality of accommodation. Couple accommodation costs between €700 and €800 which is €350 to €400 per person.Living expenses: Health insurance and travel charges may totally comes to €60 per month. This is given that you stay close to university and don’t have to travel much. Note that dental insurance is not covered under general health insurance.A single meal at a restaurant may amount to €8 to €10. Fast food costs €3.5 to €6 per meal. Cooking reduces cost per meal to €2 to €3.I cooked most of my meals after buying raw ingredients suitable for Indian cuisine. Weekly, I ate 2 meals outside (like Subway). My total food expense came to €150 per month.Overall, I estimate that the total cost of living in NL for an Indian student (including rent, food, insurance and travel) will amount to €500 (too stringent) to €800 (somewhat lavish). €650 per month was ‘comfortable’ for me. If you live in a medium size independent house, eat out and have parties every weekend, you may end up spending more than €1000 per monthTuition expenses: Tuition fee in Netherlands is relatively highly expensive compared to most other EU countries. For every month of study delay, you have to pay additional fees for the whole month. After your defense, don’t forget to un-enroll. Even if you unenroll of Nov 1st, you will be charged for the whole month of November. Also if you un-enroll on a vacation period, you have to pay for the whole of that period. If you un-enroll on the day summer holidays, you have to unnecessarily pay for three more months! Be extremely careful with this. Green light -> defense -> Unenroll -> Graduate. For graduation, you need not be enrolled.Overall suggestions for future students:Before you join, please make sure that you know some people who took the exact same course and exact same track. It is very important for you to get a guidance on what courses to follow and what track to follow. Your overall CGPA may improve by 1.5 to 2 points just with proper guidance. Sometimes it may even effect your passing chance depending upon the course. For instance, in one of the (bad) courses I took, the final exam was completely MCQ type. The examiner had asked 5 (out of 20) questions (so 25% of total marks) directly from a past exam which he hadn’t uploaded in past year exam section. Those students who knew good contacts (such as immediate seniors) had access to that exam questions along with solutions. They ended up getting above 8 while many just passed or narrowly failed. Now of course, all courses are not like this where past year exam matters. But you need to know which course is good and for that a trustworthy network is needed. Overall please avoid courses with MCQ exams as it just a matter of chance. Written descriptive exams and assignments are more fair.Also please don’t choose a track just because you are interested in it. Suppose you like track X, but it happens to be disorganized then your whole study is ruined.Ideally if you start in September 2021, you are supposed to finish by Aug 2023. Every month after that will cost you more tuition fee. And also, you have the additional task of finding another accommodation. Even though your course gets overs in Aug 2023, your rental contract will end by July 2023. So even if you finish on time, you still may end up searching for another whole month’s period of accommodation. Also short stay accommodations are hard to find. Maybe you have to take a one year contract if you need accommodation from some credible place. Instead, you may go and stay in some friends place if it is for a few weeks or a month. So ideally try to graduate by July. If you want to finish by July, you need your report ready by June. Which means you have to finish your thesis by May. Which implies that the core of your thesis must be completed by April! It takes one month of post processing, one month of writing and more time for your faculty to evaluate.In my batch, I do not know of anyone who graduated by July. Only a few students I know graduated by Aug. Most of my classmates graduated during September to December period. Which means that most of them had a study delay ranging from at least one month to more than three months.When you come here don’t forget to bring a pressure cooker, two spare specs if you wear glasses, calculators of all models (Casio 82, 991-es and 991-ms) and any specific product (say Himalaya shampoo) that you personally need. Different exams specify calculator models and nothing else is allowed. Calculators are very expensive here.Try to work independently without much assistance from faculty or TAs. Before you start any project, please ask a rubric of the evaluation criteria. Sometimes you may not get that. Ask any senior students if they have one. It is extremely important that you have a rubric that states how you will be assessed right from the beginning of the master thesis/project, so that you will know what to do.Finally, remember that every small decision you take is irreversible and will have a huge impact on your wellbeing since you are an international student who is paying a massive amount of fees. Get appropriate feedback and advice from trusted seniors and friends before you make any move.