Another Chapter in the Story of Mrs. Anti-Mustachian (MAM)...
It was previously mentioned that MAM and her husband "bought" (read: financed) a new gas guzzling SUV recently. Unfortunately there is so much more to the story than meets the eye with this one. You read through the pages and threads of the Antimustachian Wall of Shame and you will see countless examples of the poor choices people make regarding vehicle purchases. I've only read through 40 some odd pages through this Overhead at Work thread, but I am confident this is the worst one of its kind in all that has been posted thus far. MAM has taken things to a whole different level. Here is what MAM has done... and what she plans to do.
As stated earlier, MAM and her husband spent $38,000 to purchase a gas guzzling, bed pan and catheter-included, SUV. MAM told me her husband was more hesitant in making large purchases than herself. (yep, another way she talks down on her husband. Because, of course, how she makes purchases is the right way to do it. Queue Eye Roll.) This time around, it was her trying to convince her husband that a new vehicle was necessary. She had already been to the dealership and found two vehicles that seemed to tickle her fancy. No question she would have purchased the one she wanted without her husband there if she could. But alas, he was a necessary part of the process as someone that would sign papers for the financing needed for the purchase. She expressed frustration: "In the past, they went to the dealership one day, signed the appropriate paperwork, and drove away with the vehicle they wanted that same day. Why is he dragging his feet in buying a vehicle this time?! You know we need another vehicle. Our van runs but it makes all sorts of noises and there are warning lights blinking on the dash. Even though the mechanic that looked at it said that the warning light doesn't make the van unsafe and the van is still operable, we need a new vehicle." So within a week of her telling me this, she arrives at work one day ecstatically excited. The previous evening her and her husband went to the dealership and decided on a vehicle. They "splurged" on the vehicle that cost an extra $1500 because it was a Sparkling Diamond color (or some ridiculous color name like it). Yep, fantastic deal she tells me, because it is 0% financing for 8 years. That is less than $200 biweekly she goes on to say. My response was a goofy smile, mandible of jaw on the floor, and I stammered out a "w. w.. wwwow. That is great. Good for you." Queue my Forehead hitting the Wall once again...
And this is where it gets worse. Within the first week of getting the vehicle, she is talking about plans she has for her and her family. She thinks that her current purchase is so good, that she is going to "sell" their SUV to her daughter (16 years old, just got her driver's license) in a couple of years. That way, her and her husband can get a new vehicle again at that point, and her daughter won't have to worry about driving an old, cheap car. Yep, her daughter is still in school, works a minimum wage job, and her mom is going to give her a real life education on how to make financing payments - on a car. Considering the vehicle she bought, the very little maintenance they do on their vehicles, the amount of (needless) driving they would put on that vehicle in a couple of years, even the fact she smokes in the vehicle all the time, there is no doubt she will "sell" the vehicle to her daughter for more than it is worth - she says "for whatever remains on the financing of the car, is what I would sell it for."
No, don't teach you child about making responsible financial choices. No, rather, teach them the ways of anti-mustachianism in very real terms and make them learn hard life lessons instead - if they learn them at all.
I've got a very young family and just typing this out, makes my stomach queezy and I'm way too worked up for my good. Time to walk home, get some fresh air, and calm down ("keepin' calm and stachin' on!)