Overheard at Work

[Chris22]

A coworker said to me the other day that she and her husband spent over $1,000 on food at their house entertaining friends over the holidays.  I laughed and told her I spent $0.

You didn't eat?  Or you went somewhere else?  Grow/slaughter your own?  How does one spend $0 on food?

I read that as $0 on food entertaining friends.  Not $0 on food at all.

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

We spent about $300 because we hosted Christmas Eve for 12 people.  The way it works in our family is the two daughters (my wife being one) take turns hosting (and paying for) Christmas Eve, and the parents host (and pay for) Christmas Day dinner.  The expense gets spread around and shared.  We actually got off cheap this year due to the number of pregnant women in attendance, so the wine consumption was way down.  ;)

[iowajes]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

[Chris22]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.

I'm not even Italian and I know that's heresy. 

[mtn]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

Well, I mean, I guess if you don't like the people that's alright...

[BDWW]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.

I'm not even Italian and I know that's heresy.

+1

[njmoney]

Yes, we ate food during the holidays.  We didn't spend any money on food for entertaining people at our house.  Spent most of the holidays visiting our families and friends vs. entertaining at our home. 

[kms]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

[Chris22]

Yes, we ate food during the holidays.  We didn't spend any money on food for entertaining people at our house.  Spent most of the holidays visiting our families and friends vs. entertaining at our home.

So you let someone else spend money entertaining you.  Got it.

[iowajes]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

You know what, it is shocking news for some people.
We've started planning game nights to occur AFTER dinner instead of before it.  Our friends thought that was just the best idea ever, as now no one is on the hook for a big meal like they used to be.

[4alpacas]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

You know what, it is shocking news for some people.
We've started planning game nights to occur AFTER dinner instead of before it.  Our friends thought that was just the best idea ever, as now no one is on the hook for a big meal like they used to be.

Do you not put out snacks? 

My DH thinks I'm crazy and over prepare for guests.  However, I can't just have someone over without offering food (or a drink).  We are having people over this weekend in the afternoon (post-lunch), and I already have a list of food and drinks to prepare. 

[iowajes]

No, we don't eat while we play- gets the games messy. 
We used to meet up, play a game, eat, then play many more games. 

Now we just do the many more games steps.  People BYOB, so I don't offer drinks, just glasses. It's the same when we go to other houses in the group.

[bigalsmith101]

She did follow it up with "You're a role model in that regard, it's something that's impressed me about you for a while." So that was awesome.

I recognised your username , I remember  your travel stories on the hubb, or was it advrider..?

Both :) We're home now, and hammering our way towards an early retirement!

[frugalparagon]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

Technically legal. But when I have been on the receiving end of this, I felt rather underwelcomed. I mean, I could really have gone for a cup of tea or something.

[dragoncar]

I think at my office that we even have a machine that can provide sparkling cold water for free. I still don't use it because I also prefer still water. My only requirement is that it should be cold. But the machine at work can also do that. At home I just fill my glass from the tap.

Our New York office has spigots that can do still or sparkling, but us Iowa peons only can still water.

I unsuccessfully lobbied to install a frozen yogurt machine in our break room.

[Metric Mouse]

Yes, we ate food during the holidays.  We didn't spend any money on food for entertaining people at our house.  Spent most of the holidays visiting our families and friends vs. entertaining at our home.

So you let someone else spend money entertaining you.  Got it.

Isn't that what friends and family are for?

[Warlord1986]

I've been at the new job for two weeks. Both new co-workers eat out regularly. My supervisor buys breakfast every day.

[TomTX]

Jeep people are crazy / impressive. It is common to see a $30k jeep with $30k of upgrades.

We're talking a full mudding / water setup: upgrades to the entire driveline (sealing, stronger axles, a differently behaving [and often electronically controlled] differential, huge mud tires, etc); anti-rollover bars, snorkels, high output alternators to feed all sorts of lights and winches and other electronics, yada yada.

Most of these are pavement princesses that are occasionally used to ford six inches of water, which the fucker would be able to do bone stock anyways.

They'll do twice that bone stock. I don't even think it's a reflection of any wisdom failure that I know that firsthand.


I do not get the tricking out of Jeeps. It's definitely not about performance.

I've done 12" of water in a bone stock Saturn SL1. Turns out it had good seals.

Non-moving water. Still not recommended.

[Dollar Slice]

I've done 12" of water in a bone stock Saturn SL1. Turns out it had good seals.

Just came from a thread which was talking about making homemade stock in Instant Pots and got kind of confused which I switched to the next tab. "Sure, my Instant Pot has a good seal when I'm making stock from bones and water, but where does Saturn come into this?"

[Playing with Fire UK]

I've been at the new job for two weeks. Both new co-workers eat out regularly. My supervisor buys breakfast every day.

Excellent, the potential for additional Wall fodder pleases me.

[iowajes]

Technically legal. But when I have been on the receiving end of this, I felt rather underwelcomed. I mean, I could really have gone for a cup of tea or something.

I'd be happy to offer you a glass of water. That's all I have to drink at my house. I could squeeze in a bit of an orange if you really want some flavor.
 Hence game nights being BYO if you want something else.

[Linda_Norway]

Yes, we ate food during the holidays.  We didn't spend any money on food for entertaining people at our house.  Spent most of the holidays visiting our families and friends vs. entertaining at our home.

So you let someone else spend money entertaining you.  Got it.

Isn't that what friends and family are for?

I was actually kind during the last holidays visiting family. I shopped food and cooked twice at my FIL's house. The poor man is now living on his own and not so inspired making food every day. I also drove our car, spending our fuel once with my mother when visiting my brother. I guess I considered myself a safer driver.

[Kitsune]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

Technically legal. But when I have been on the receiving end of this, I felt rather underwelcomed. I mean, I could really have gone for a cup of tea or something.

I kind of feel like offering refreshments is a basic 'welcome to my house' courtesy.

But, y'know. Refreshments can be anything from caviar and champagne to iced tea and popcorn, I'm not fussed. I'm incapable of letting people come over without offering SOMETHING though.

Winter, or during holidays, you're likely to get an open cookie tin and an offer of hot tea or coffee. Summer, you're likely to get popcorn or fresh fruit or iced tea. None of it fantastically pricy, but I kinda feel the gesture matters.

It's also possible to welcome people for meals for not huge amounts - we had my family over for New Years. 2 courses of the 3-course meal, 9 people + child, total cost of 22$ plus the dessert my sister made. (Starter: arugula salad with pears, blackberries, and goat cheese, with white balsamic vinaigrette. Main: roasted vegetables and roasted pork loin with garlic and rosemary. And then we had leftover meat and roasted vegetables for 3 meals for the 2 of us, because we cooked the WHOLE pork loin) You do have to spend SOMETHING - like, it's not a 0$ deal - but it doesn't have to be expensive. Yay sales and cooking skills.

And then those people invite US over for dinner and that doesn't cost us anything, so I have to say it MORE than evens out in the end (since they cook way more extravagantly and don't sales-shop...) but I'd feel like a mooch if it only ever went one way.

[iowajes]

We never had people over during the holidays- we went to someone's house for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Both times we brought the side dishes and desserts we were asked to bring.  In both cases, making those cost no more than making our own dinner- so we were good guests without spending extra money.

[mm1970]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

You know what, it is shocking news for some people.
We've started planning game nights to occur AFTER dinner instead of before it.  Our friends thought that was just the best idea ever, as now no one is on the hook for a big meal like they used to be.

This is so key. We used to have a lot of dinner parties.  Or just a lot of times we'd have friends over for dinner.  It was fun, but it was predominantly before we had kids, and certainly before the second kid, and a lot of it before I got frugal.

So. For about a year or so, my husband has been wanting to have people over for dinner and fun.  He's mentioned it many times.  I've told  him "fine, but you have to do the planning and the cooking".  I hate to be that way.  But honestly, I have a full time job.  Two kids (10 and 4), and I do the bulk of the cooking/ grocery shopping/ meal planning for our family.  I like doing it, mostly - but it is a chore nonetheless.  And I feel like I think about food ALL THE TIME:

What is on sale this week, and where?
What to do with the produce in our box.
Oh crap I clicked the wrong button, we aren't getting a box.
What to cook on the weekend so we can have leftovers.
What can we pack for our lunches, and pack for the 4 year old's lunch.
What to take to the Sunday brunch potluck
How to make sure we have enough fruits and vegetables, because it's not only just eating, but it's eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight, esp in our late 40s.
Oh, we are running out of milk.
Dang it's Thursday and we are out of vegetables AGAIN.  So time to use my lunch break to pick up the stuff.

I'm sorry.  Brain is full.  You want to invite people over, have at it.

I have other social outlets that he does not.  It's important to him.  I'm tired.

[MgoSam]

It's also possible to welcome people for meals for not huge amounts - we had my family over for New Years. 2 courses of the 3-course meal, 9 people + child, total cost of 22$ plus the dessert my sister made. (Starter: arugula salad with pears, blackberries, and goat cheese, with white balsamic vinaigrette. Main: roasted vegetables and roasted pork loin with garlic and rosemary. And then we had leftover meat and roasted vegetables for 3 meals for the 2 of us, because we cooked the WHOLE pork loin) You do have to spend SOMETHING - like, it's not a 0$ deal - but it doesn't have to be expensive. Yay sales and cooking skills.

That sounds absolutely delicious, great job. How were you able to get a whole loin (plus everything else) for $22?

[Kitsune]

It's also possible to welcome people for meals for not huge amounts - we had my family over for New Years. 2 courses of the 3-course meal, 9 people + child, total cost of 22$ plus the dessert my sister made. (Starter: arugula salad with pears, blackberries, and goat cheese, with white balsamic vinaigrette. Main: roasted vegetables and roasted pork loin with garlic and rosemary. And then we had leftover meat and roasted vegetables for 3 meals for the 2 of us, because we cooked the WHOLE pork loin) You do have to spend SOMETHING - like, it's not a 0$ deal - but it doesn't have to be expensive. Yay sales and cooking skills.

That sounds absolutely delicious, great job. How were you able to get a whole loin (plus everything else) for $22?

Whole loin at Costco: 14$. Roasted veggies were potatoes (bought on sale 2 weeks before, 2$/10lb, and we used less than half that bag. Half bag of carrots (2$/5lb), and some random root veg on sale at 50c/lb (I think we had a turnip and a rutabaga?) add some onions and garlic and olive oil and salt and pepper (staples bought in bulk at Costco or the restaurant supply store... negligible cost) and there's your main meal.

For the appetizer: Pears were on sale at 50c/lb, blackberries were 99c for the container on sale, and arugula was 2$ on sale for the package and we had some left over from another dinner so count 1$ for that (original plan had been soup, but..  sales happened and seemed worth taking advantage of). Goat cheese was a half-pack of on-sale Kirkland brand goat cheese left over from a previous party's cheese plate (8$ full price, 5$ on sale, so 2.50 for the appetizer). Homemade vinaigrette from pantry staples...

Like, obviously this relies on sales lining up, but the original plan had been a cream of carrot soup as an appetizer. When luxurious ingredients show up at those prices, you pay attention and improvise accordingly. ;)

[dragoncar]

Lol we served Costco pork loon to our guest too! 

[MandalayVA]

Lol we served Costco pork loon to our guest too!

I know this was a typo but it didn't make it any less hilarious.  I'm very easily amused.  :D

[dragoncar]

Lol we served Costco pork loon to our guest too!

I know this was a typo but it didn't make it any less hilarious.  I'm very easily amused.  :D

What?  It was with a side of peas and parrots.

[BuffaloStache]

Lol we served Costco pork loon to our guest too!

I know this was a typo but it didn't make it any less hilarious.  I'm very easily amused.  :D

What?  It was with a side of peas and parrots.

Pork Loon is one of my favorite cuts of pork :-P

[PMG]

Lol we served Costco pork loon to our guest too!

I know this was a typo but it didn't make it any less hilarious.  I'm very easily amused.  :D

What?  It was with a side of peas and parrots.

Pork Loon is one of my favorite cuts of pork :-P

I find it tastes a little funny.

[JAYSLOL]

Lol we served Costco pork loon to our guest too!

I know this was a typo but it didn't make it any less hilarious.  I'm very easily amused.  :D

What?  It was with a side of peas and parrots.

Pork Loon is one of my favorite cuts of pork :-P

I find it tastes a little funny.

Nothing beats some Beef Turkey though

[Taran Wanderer]

Another from the unmustachian woman who in our finance department.

She's in her fifties. She is our treasurer and reports to the CFO. Her husband is a skilled auto mechanic.  She and her husband both work, and they have a large house in a nice rural area with a large shop building with its own auto lift.  Her husband recently fell on some ice and tore up his shoulder, requiring surgery.

"I'm so glad I bought disability insurance because we need both our salaries to live in this house, and husband is going to be off work for 5 months for pre-surgery sinus infection recovery and post-surgery shoulder recovery.  I mean, we could live in smaller house, but we have these four big dogs, and besides, we really like living here.  And, oh, I'm going Florida in February for a week because I need some time away with my sister!"

I don't think they have kids - she only talks about the dogs - they make probably $150k to $200k per year (combined), and yet in their fifties, they can't get by on one salary for a few months while her husband is off work.  And she works in our Finance departmen.  Now maybe they are maxing their retirements and other investments and she just doesn't want to pull money from somewhere else, but I doubt it. It's sad.

[Playing with Fire UK]

Another from the unmustachian woman who in our finance department.

She's in her fifties. She is our treasurer and reports to the CFO. Her husband is a skilled auto mechanic.  She and her husband both work, and they have a large house in a nice rural area with a large shop building with its own auto lift.  Her husband recently fell on some ice and tore up his shoulder, requiring surgery.

"I'm so glad I bought disability insurance because we need both our salaries to live in this house, and husband is going to be off work for 5 months for pre-surgery sinus infection recovery and post-surgery shoulder recovery.  I mean, we could live in smaller house, but we have these four big dogs, and besides, we really like living here.  And, oh, I'm going Florida in February for a week because I need some time away with my sister!"

I don't think they have kids - she only talks about the dogs - they make probably $150k to $200k per year (combined), and yet in their fifties, they can't get by on one salary for a few months while her husband is off work.  And she works in our Finance departmen.  Now maybe they are maxing their retirements and other investments and she just doesn't want to pull money from somewhere else, but I doubt it. It's sad.

I hope this is a wake up call if the situation is as you suspect. The fact that she is seemingly unwilling to make modest changes because 'we like living here' and 'I need some time away with my sister' makes me think that there is little thought towards experiencing some mild inconvenience to save some serious money.

I'm pleased that they have disability insurance. It sounds like it is right for them.

[jslasher88]

My co-workers are always complaining about being broke. Not surprisingly, I notice the following behavior on a daily basis

• Rolling in every morning with the largest size Starbucks drink + breakfasts
• Ordering out for lunch every day at $12-15
• Ordering take-out for dinner on the way home
• DRIVING to the plaza opposite our office, which is 150 yards away, to go shopping. This is done in heavily financed SUVs and trucks which are often warmed up with remote starters for 10 minutes prior to this 8-second journey across the parking lot

[MichaelB]

...which are often warmed up with remote starters for 10 minutes prior to this 8-second journey across the parking lot

Well yeah, the car's not going to warm up in 8 seconds. Are they supposed to be cold during the whole drive? Next you'll be saying they should just walk! Which is really quite hard with the joint inflammation from that tasty restaurant food.

[cheapass]

I don't think they have kids - she only talks about the dogs - they make probably $150k to $200k per year (combined), and yet in their fifties, they can't get by on one salary for a few months while her husband is off work.  And she works in our Finance department.

I'm always perplexed at how many people in finance/accounting/business don't have their shit together, at all, when it comes to personal finance. I mean, of all the people who should understand basic concepts like budgeting, opportunity cost and compound interest, THESE are the ones who should have those ideas so well engrained in their minds right? What the fuck! How does someone spend decades optimizing finances for a business and not give a second thought to their own hemorrhaging of money at home??

[MrMoogle]

I don't think they have kids - she only talks about the dogs - they make probably $150k to $200k per year (combined), and yet in their fifties, they can't get by on one salary for a few months while her husband is off work.  And she works in our Finance department.

I'm always perplexed at how many people in finance/accounting/business don't have their shit together, at all, when it comes to personal finance. I mean, of all the people who should understand basic concepts like budgeting, opportunity cost and compound interest, THESE are the ones who should have those ideas so well engrained in their minds right? What the fuck! How does someone spend decades optimizing finances for a business and not give a second thought to their own hemorrhaging of money at home??

It's easy.  Business finance and personal finance aren't very compatible.  In business, many times it makes sense to borrow money instead of save it, since you can use it to make more money than the interest.  That doesn't usually work in personal (except possibly for education and a home).

[Playing with Fire UK]

I don't think they have kids - she only talks about the dogs - they make probably $150k to $200k per year (combined), and yet in their fifties, they can't get by on one salary for a few months while her husband is off work.  And she works in our Finance department.

I'm always perplexed at how many people in finance/accounting/business don't have their shit together, at all, when it comes to personal finance. I mean, of all the people who should understand basic concepts like budgeting, opportunity cost and compound interest, THESE are the ones who should have those ideas so well engrained in their minds right? What the fuck! How does someone spend decades optimizing finances for a business and not give a second thought to their own hemorrhaging of money at home??

It's easy.  Business finance and personal finance aren't very compatible.  In business, many times it makes sense to borrow money instead of save it, since you can use it to make more money than the interest.  That doesn't usually work in personal (except possibly for education and a home).

Agreed there are differences, but I fail to see how someone with the attitude/capacity/work ethic to understand business finance cannot learn about personal finance. And these folks are everywhere.

[solon]

Here's the big difference, and the reason why people good at business finance aren't necessarily good at personal finance.

Business finance is mainly a science - classifying, experimenting, observing. It's an engineering problem, like solving a puzzle. But it doesn't affect the person doing it.

Personal finance is mainly about behavior modification. Everything I do in personal finance requires me to change something that matters to me. It's the same reason people have a hard time dieting or quitting smoking.

[AMandM]

How does someone spend decades optimizing finances for a business and not give a second thought to their own hemorrhaging of money at home??

Don't be too quick to assume that they are successfully optimizing the business's finances!

[Uturn]

How does someone spend decades optimizing finances for a business and not give a second thought to their own hemorrhaging of money at home??

My ex was like this.  She found a niche going into Mom and Pop businesses, fixing their books and optimizing the general running of the business.  She has turned around many businesses that were close to closing, mostly because people open up a shop knowing how to do something but not knowing how to run a business.  She could whip their finances into shape in no time, but personal finance just eluded her. 

Maybe it's the cobbler's kids have no shoes paradox.  I know my home IT stuff is pretty abysmal, but work stuff runs very smooth.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Here's the big difference, and the reason why people good at business finance aren't necessarily good at personal finance.

Business finance is mainly a science - classifying, experimenting, observing. It's an engineering problem, like solving a puzzle. But it doesn't affect the person doing it.

Personal finance is mainly about behavior modification. Everything I do in personal finance requires me to change something that matters to me. It's the same reason people have a hard time dieting or quitting smoking.

Holy crap. That's profound.

[marty998]

Here's the big difference, and the reason why people good at business finance aren't necessarily good at personal finance.

Business finance is mainly a science - classifying, experimenting, observing. It's an engineering problem, like solving a puzzle. But it doesn't affect the person doing it.

Personal finance is mainly about behavior modification. Everything I do in personal finance requires me to change something that matters to me. It's the same reason people have a hard time dieting or quitting smoking.

Holy crap. That's profound.

You will find that the accountants are not really the ones in charge of the money. Sure we keep track of it, record it, manage cash flow, ensure the bills are paid and advise the various department heads what is going on. But ultimately each divisional head is allocated their own budgets to use for the laundry list of items and staff they need.

The overall envelope of money available should be advised by the Finance team and then set by the Board at such a level that the company earns an acceptable rate of return, however, don't go around believing the accountants are at fault when the CEO and his or her other executives start over spending.

Having said all that, I agree with the engineering puzzle analogy. But I've always thought assembling  a set of financials is an art, not a science :)

[Stash Engineer]

Here's the big difference, and the reason why people good at business finance aren't necessarily good at personal finance.

Business finance is mainly a science - classifying, experimenting, observing. It's an engineering problem, like solving a puzzle. But it doesn't affect the person doing it.

Personal finance is mainly about behavior modification. Everything I do in personal finance requires me to change something that matters to me. It's the same reason people have a hard time dieting or quitting smoking.

Excellent observation!

I can finally contribute to this thread!  I have a new co-worker that I thought was a closet-mustachian (based on the beater car he drives and the 1-bedroom apt he lives in) and was hoping to finally have someone to talk to about mustachian principles, even if we didn't call it that.  He's single and probably in his late 40's/early 50's.  I was about 99% sure that he is FI and just working to prevent boredom.  Well, he just announced that he bought a brand new car AND a 3200sqft house for just under $400k!  :o  He may still be FI, but certainly isn't mustachian. :/

[dragoncar]

Here's the big difference, and the reason why people good at business finance aren't necessarily good at personal finance.

Business finance is mainly a science - classifying, experimenting, observing. It's an engineering problem, like solving a puzzle. But it doesn't affect the person doing it.

Personal finance is mainly about behavior modification. Everything I do in personal finance requires me to change something that matters to me. It's the same reason people have a hard time dieting or quitting smoking.

Excellent observation!

I can finally contribute to this thread!  I have a new co-worker that I thought was a closet-mustachian (based on the beater car he drives and the 1-bedroom apt he lives in) and was hoping to finally have someone to talk to about mustachian principles, even if we didn't call it that.  He's single and probably in his late 40's/early 50's.  I was about 99% sure that he is FI and just working to prevent boredom.  Well, he just announced that he bought a brand new car AND a 3200sqft house for just under $400k!  :o  He may still be FI, but certainly isn't mustachian. :/

I wonder how many weight loss coaches are fat.  I'm sure some are, if they are famous.  I'm imagining like a boxing coach though.  You can certainly provide information and motivation without applying the principles to yourself

[BDWW]

Here's the big difference, and the reason why people good at business finance aren't necessarily good at personal finance.

Business finance is mainly a science - classifying, experimenting, observing. It's an engineering problem, like solving a puzzle. But it doesn't affect the person doing it.

Personal finance is mainly about behavior modification. Everything I do in personal finance requires me to change something that matters to me. It's the same reason people have a hard time dieting or quitting smoking.

Excellent observation!

I can finally contribute to this thread!  I have a new co-worker that I thought was a closet-mustachian (based on the beater car he drives and the 1-bedroom apt he lives in) and was hoping to finally have someone to talk to about mustachian principles, even if we didn't call it that.  He's single and probably in his late 40's/early 50's.  I was about 99% sure that he is FI and just working to prevent boredom.  Well, he just announced that he bought a brand new car AND a 3200sqft house for just under $400k!  :o  He may still be FI, but certainly isn't mustachian. :/

I wonder how many weight loss coaches are fat.  I'm sure some are, if they are famous.  I'm imagining like a boxing coach though.  You can certainly provide information and motivation without applying the principles to yourself

I've always thought it a bit ironic when I saw Sigi Schmid on the sidelines at sounders games. By all accounts a great coach, but more than a bit overweight. Coaching soccer players, who are among the most in shape of all athletes.

[FrugalFisherman10]

Is it possible that an iPad or tablet is available from work? Per the original conversation it appears that the employee is assuming that FrugalFisherman10 also has an iPad. I know that I wouldn't assume that everyone within the office has one or would even ask specifically about an iPad unless I was fairly certain that it was commonplace.

I guess I was also projecting my own assumptions. Lots of people at my office work remotely on their Ipads, but our company doesn't issue them.  Because the Ipad is so commonplace it is not at all uncommon to ask someone specifically about an issue with them.  We use PCs at work though, and everyone has a laptop to take home. But not everyone likes using those and prefer their own device. As long as it is registered and has the security app on it, we can use them.  (The vast majority of people use Iphones as their BYOD, but you certainly don't have to. As long as your phone is running the version of the software required by security, you can use anything.  I've had many people ask me Iphone questions, which I can sometimes answer, but I just have a cheap Android. When I had to upgrade due to my operating system out of date the phones they suggested were all in the $500-$600 range; but I found one for $50.)

The iPad is not work-issued.
This guy has proven to be fairly aloof in other regards too...he's new to having us as a client, and I'm new to the company as well, so I feel for him a bit in terms of not knowing how things work, culture, who to talk to, etc.
Sucks for him too because my coworker on the first day this new consultant shows up says under his breath to the rest of us "man, Piss on those consultant guys! Ugh! lousy!"
Being a former consultant myself,  I had never actually seen/heard this mentality towards us (although I was certain it existed somewhere/sometimes). So the dude is fighting an uphill battle from the get go.

On Fridays, someone brings in breakfast for members of the "breakfast club" list. (You get to eat some only if you're on the list.)
So then the coworker that said he didn't like consultants breakfast day comes around, and he brings in donuts. About an hour into the morning I hear the consultant walk behind us, grab a donut and say "oh man, you guys have donuts on Fridays?!"

 ...
Smh

(SENT from my FREAKING smartphone man I'm a hypocrite look at me spending all this money I watch it go down the drain as I piss away just like my COWORKER PISSES ON CONSULTANTS)

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Edited to add: Apologies iowajes..I quoted the above response wrong, but I realize you were the one defending me, not attacking me. Thanks

[Maverick44]

Had a coworker tell me about her new truck that she had to have. There are so many bad decisions involved in this story, it was hard to hear. Here's the quick gist over several days of stories that I was told:
   - She knowingly bought a used truck with $6,000+ negative equity in it.
   - When it was in the shop for work, Dodge gave her a 2017 decked out truck for her loaner. She fell for that trick and decided she NEEDED a brand new decked out truck.
   - Goes to the dealer and negotiates them from $50,000 to a 3 year lease for $450/month and then buying the car through financing for $22,000 after the lease is up.
   - Proudly reiterated the salesman saying "You're in a used truck for $350/month when you could be in a new truck for $450/month!"
   - She does absolutely 0 hauling or outdoor work of any kind, but mentioned that she feels safe now in her big, comfortable, luxurious truck (read: giant, gas guzzling, expensive clown mobile).
   - She traded in the old truck to get this deal, which the plus side is that they ate the negative equity, but she thinks that she got a $50K truck for $38K when she really got a $50K truck for $38K + the $11K that the trade in was worth + the interest...

*face palm*

[slugline]

   - She knowingly bought a used truck with $6,000+ negative equity in it.

Is this another way of saying she paid $6000+ more than similar trucks being offered for sale? Because I didn't think someone would literally assume someone else's upside-down loan.