"It's only......"

[mires]

I'm a plumber so naturally I spend a lot of time in my work van with a "helper". Guy makes $5 per hour less than me yet eats out every single day for lunch. I bring my lunch and heat it in a 12v portable stove making sure that my meals never come to more than $1.25. I try to help the guy out giving him money tips and try to convince him to stop eating out so much but he just won't listen. Every day, I take him to some fast food joint so he can run in and get his food. He always says it's "only $7" or it's "only $10" like that's not a lot of money for a guy that only makes $10 per hour! It doesn't stop at just lunch either. Every time we stop for gas he goes in for candy, soda etc. I added it up last week without him knowing and on Friday told him the grand total of what he had spent that week. $63!!! Now this is for one person for one meal of the day plus snacks. His wife is off doing exactly the same thing. Funny thing is we get paid every 2 weeks and at the end of every pay period right before pay day I'll ask him where he wants me to take him to eat that day and his response...." somewhere I can eat for less than $4." The guy literally gets down to single digits in his bank account right before pay day yet I can't talk any sense into him! Funny how he is always the one pissing and moaning about how he needs a raise. I try to tell the guy he can give himself a hefty raise but he looks at me like he has no clue what I'm talking about.

Sorry for the rant. It just really pains me to see people be this way with their money and do it week after week after week never learning a lesson.

[bigalsmith101]

Hold the mic. Where do you live that a plumber only makes $15/hr?

As I was riding my bike home from work, my coworker shouted after me, "See you at Madison's for happy hour!" (Local bar). I shouted back, "No way! How do you think I save my money!?" He yells, "What, by not living?!?" And I yelled back, "Exactly!", as I rolled down the hill on my pedal powered machine, while thinking about his $400/mo car payment financed at 29% because he has shitty credit because the only thing he can focus on is how he's going to spend the money he doesn't have.

[mires]

Hold the mic. Where do you live that a plumber only makes $15/hr?

As I was riding my bike home from work, my coworker shouted after me, "See you at Madison's for happy hour!" (Local bar). I shouted back, "No way! How do you think I save my money!?" He yells, "What, by not living?!?" And I yelled back, "Exactly!", as I rolled down the hill on my pedal powered machine, while thinking about his $400/mo car payment financed at 29% because he has shitty credit because the only thing he can focus on is how he's going to spend the money he doesn't have.

The midwest but $15/hr. is my base pay before commission.

[bigalsmith101]

Are you a journey man plumber? Come out to the Pacific North West, companies will start you at $30/hr without hesitation!

Back on topic. My coworker also goes out to lunch each and every day, to the tune of at least $10 and often $15. She spends roughly $70/week on just lunch. For comparison, my wife and I budget $75/wk for all of our meals combined.

[mires]

Are you a journey man plumber? Come out to the Pacific North West, companies will start you at $30/hr without hesitation!

Back on topic. My coworker also goes out to lunch each and every day, to the tune of at least $10 and often $15. She spends roughly $70/week on just lunch. For comparison, my wife and I budget $75/wk for all of our meals combined.

I'm not a licensed Journeyman yet, no. I'm technically still an apprentice with 3 years under my belt. Most people call us "techs" but I hate the term for some reason.

Isn't it nuts that they can spend that kind of money? My girlfriend and I spend about what you 2 do for the week. I enjoy eating out but even when it tastes great, I regret having done it every time. It's just not worth the money. Not to mention the effects on your health.

[Mr. Green]

I'm a plumber so naturally I spend a lot of time in my work van with a "helper". Guy makes $5 per hour less than me yet eats out every single day for lunch. I bring my lunch and heat it in a 12v portable stove making sure that my meals never come to more than $1.25. I try to help the guy out giving him money tips and try to convince him to stop eating out so much but he just won't listen. Every day, I take him to some fast food joint so he can run in and get his food. He always says it's "only $7" or it's "only $10" like that's not a lot of money for a guy that only makes $10 per hour! It doesn't stop at just lunch either. Every time we stop for gas he goes in for candy, soda etc. I added it up last week without him knowing and on Friday told him the grand total of what he had spent that week. $63!!! Now this is for one person for one meal of the day plus snacks. His wife is off doing exactly the same thing. Funny thing is we get paid every 2 weeks and at the end of every pay period right before pay day I'll ask him where he wants me to take him to eat that day and his response...." somewhere I can eat for less than $4." The guy literally gets down to single digits in his bank account right before pay day yet I can't talk any sense into him! Funny how he is always the one pissing and moaning about how he needs a raise. I try to tell the guy he can give himself a hefty raise but he looks at me like he has no clue what I'm talking about.

Sorry for the rant. It just really pains me to see people be this way with their money and do it week after week after week never learning a lesson.

I've always been amazed at how someone can have blinders on to something like this when the pain of that decision making repeatedly hits every two weeks. It almost makes me think that it's just like a drug addiction where the person can't help themselves. Why does this happen to so many people for something that is as simple as eating out at work? It literally doesn't compute for me and I'm fascinated that people essentially volunteer to put themselves in this position.

[Making Cookies]

Everyone needs a coworker or four like this to remind them why they save money...

Mine eats fast food every day and won't eat leftovers according to his wife who "outed" him one day during a workplace visit.

I have heard people complain that they can't afford a better car or to payoff debt but can't connect the dots between their spending (breakfast, lunch, Starbucks) and the $250 they could be pocketing each month.

[Fishindude]

Hey, if everyone did there own plumbing work to save money, you wouldn't have a job.
If everyone fixed their own lunch every day, restaurant workers wouldn't have jobs.   This dude is good for the economy.

[katesilvergirl]

A friend of mine recently asked a group of us whether she should buy a $200 bag to use as a commuting bag (in DC this means it should hold a computer, a lunch, and workout clothes/shoes). I said "no" immediately without thinking, then clammed up because I realized I was being judgmental and should see what the others said. It was only a matter of time until someone said "it's only $200."

Yeah, it is only $200, and she probably will use that bag a lot. But it wasn't leather and would probably fall apart relatively quickly, so why not buy a much cheaper bag that will last just as long?

(In the end, another friend convinced her that it wouldn't actually fit everything she needed, so I think she decided not to get it.)

At some point, though, for me, it becomes a matter of principle and that makes me even more impatient with these people. If it's "only $200" then it will soon be "only $30,000" for a new car and then "only $500,000" for a house. This mindset can be a slippery slope. But I think I'm the only one who thinks this. :(

[Making Cookies]

Hey, if everyone did there own plumbing work to save money, you wouldn't have a job.
If everyone fixed their own lunch every day, restaurant workers wouldn't have jobs.   This dude is good for the economy.

Good point. Still dislike watching coworker(s) struggle b/c they are good people who are typically poor with money.

[mm1970]

A friend of mine recently asked a group of us whether she should buy a $200 bag to use as a commuting bag (in DC this means it should hold a computer, a lunch, and workout clothes/shoes). I said "no" immediately without thinking, then clammed up because I realized I was being judgmental and should see what the others said. It was only a matter of time until someone said "it's only $200."

Yeah, it is only $200, and she probably will use that bag a lot. But it wasn't leather and would probably fall apart relatively quickly, so why not buy a much cheaper bag that will last just as long?

(In the end, another friend convinced her that it wouldn't actually fit everything she needed, so I think she decided not to get it.)

At some point, though, for me, it becomes a matter of principle and that makes me even more impatient with these people. If it's "only $200" then it will soon be "only $30,000" for a new car and then "only $500,000" for a house. This mindset can be a slippery slope. But I think I'm the only one who thinks this. :(

If it fit everything and came with a lifetime guarantee, I'd consider it.

[mm1970]

We don't eat out often, but sometimes, it happens - travel, out with friends, whatever.

When my kids were younger, they were happy to eat bits and pieces of our meals. Then they got older.

So now, my 10 year old wants an adult meal (though he rarely finishes it).  The four year old is not content to eat someone else's food either.

So, on the rare occasion that we eat out, I often do this: I don't order food.  I eat what is left from the kids' food.  Recently on a trip, this meant I had half a grilled cheese sandwich, 1/3 slice of pizza, and a couple of samosas.

I just have to teach the 10 year old to not eat around the outside of the burger.  I think I should just cut it in half from the start.  (We got the stomach flu 3x last winter, so I am not "finishing my kid's food" anymore, unless I can cut off the bitten part.)

[MightyMauler]

A friend of mine recently asked a group of us whether she should buy a $200 bag to use as a commuting bag (in DC this means it should hold a computer, a lunch, and workout clothes/shoes). I said "no" immediately without thinking, then clammed up because I realized I was being judgmental and should see what the others said. It was only a matter of time until someone said "it's only $200."

Yeah, it is only $200, and she probably will use that bag a lot. But it wasn't leather and would probably fall apart relatively quickly, so why not buy a much cheaper bag that will last just as long?

(In the end, another friend convinced her that it wouldn't actually fit everything she needed, so I think she decided not to get it.)

At some point, though, for me, it becomes a matter of principle and that makes me even more impatient with these people. If it's "only $200" then it will soon be "only $30,000" for a new car and then "only $500,000" for a house. This mindset can be a slippery slope. But I think I'm the only one who thinks this. :(

Yes!  I think this mentality can ensnare almost anyone at some point, with some little (or big) purchase. Especially when it’s something you want so you’re looking to justify it.  People do it with car and home purchases all the time too.  You get what you want and it’s only $50 more per month? What a deal!  Nevermind that it’s $50 more for the next 30 years with interest.

[steviesterno]

i think we're wired to think about short term rather than long term. It's probably why so many people are heavy. Yes I know this is bad for me, but being fat later is later, and I'm hungry now!

same thing with money. I used to do the same thing almost. Once i had my bills covered for the month, I spent the rest. why not? I'll just get paid later anyway ?


I'm better now.



but it's crazy to see my co-workers (who make $7 an hour) spend $14 on lunch. that's working all morning to pay for lunch!!!

[katesilvergirl]

If it fit everything and came with a lifetime guarantee, I'd consider it.
[/quote]

I would too! But it didn't....  :(

[MgoSam]

I had half a grilled cheese sandwich, 1/3 slice of pizza, and a couple of samosas.

Was this in one sitting? Cause if it was, that's one interested restaurant that would serve samosas along with pizza.

[MyCircus, MyMonkeys]

"It's only...." is the bane of my existence. 

Its been incredibly hard to convince DH that it is smarter to purchase a $5-10k car than a brand new $40k car.  His excuses to date: but we'll keep it till it dies, we need to know the maintenance history, its safer, his work offers pretty good discounts through car dealers, we can afford it, you won't find what you want in a used car, etc.

He just doesn't understand finance.  Lately, he wants an FJ, I think because he uses material items to judge his personal success (IMO, this comes from his financially insecure upbringing).

[I'm a red panda]

If it fit everything and came with a lifetime guarantee, I'd consider it.

The problem is for most people it would need to be "I guarantee you won't decide you want another bag in this lifetime"  because for most people they'll get another "only $200" bag in 2 years when they get tired of this style.

[BTDretire]

My wife and I ate free today.
The kids got her the Chick-fil-a calendar,
so once a month she gets something free.
Today while she was picking that up, apparently they
were switching over from breakfast to lunch, so they gave away
several breakfast items.
 Wasn't what I like but I ate it.

[BTDretire]

I'm a plumber so naturally I spend a lot of time in my work van with a "helper". Guy makes $5 per hour less than me yet eats out every single day for lunch. I bring my lunch and heat it in a 12v portable stove making sure that my meals never come to more than $1.25. I try to help the guy out giving him money tips and try to convince him to stop eating out so much but he just won't listen. Every day, I take him to some fast food joint so he can run in and get his food. He always says it's "only $7" or it's "only $10" like that's not a lot of money for a guy that only makes $10 per hour! It doesn't stop at just lunch either. Every time we stop for gas he goes in for candy, soda etc. I added it up last week without him knowing and on Friday told him the grand total of what he had spent that week. $63!!! Now this is for one person for one meal of the day plus snacks. His wife is off doing exactly the same thing. Funny thing is we get paid every 2 weeks and at the end of every pay period right before pay day I'll ask him where he wants me to take him to eat that day and his response...." somewhere I can eat for less than $4." The guy literally gets down to single digits in his bank account right before pay day yet I can't talk any sense into him! Funny how he is always the one pissing and moaning about how he needs a raise. I try to tell the guy he can give himself a hefty raise but he looks at me like he has no clue what I'm talking about.

Sorry for the rant. It just really pains me to see people be this way with their money and do it week after week after week never learning a lesson.

Do you ever see his wife? This might be a great life lesson for them;
Keep that spending tally for a month or two. Or maybe you know enough $63 a week, but that didn't count Saturday and Sunday.
Then have a get together with him and his wife and ask if she eats out like her husband.
If yes, pull out 5 -$100 bills and 4- $1 bills, and point out you would have this if you would bring your own lunch and water.
  If you can pull it off, look in this pocket, here's 60-$100 and 1-$50, $6,050, that's what you could save in one year. Fan it out for effect.
 You might change two lives.
And then tell them about MMM.
Put a sign in your truck,
You don't need to live paycheck to paycheck.
Oh well, that's my fantasy.

[mires]

Hey, if everyone did there own plumbing work to save money, you wouldn't have a job.
If everyone fixed their own lunch every day, restaurant workers wouldn't have jobs.   This dude is good for the economy.

Actually people attempting to do their own plumbing work is a lot of the reason I have a job lol. I get what you're saying though.

 

i think we're wired to think about short term rather than long term. It's probably why so many people are heavy. Yes I know this is bad for me, but being fat later is later, and I'm hungry now!

same thing with money. I used to do the same thing almost. Once i had my bills covered for the month, I spent the rest. why not? I'll just get paid later anyway ?


I'm better now.



but it's crazy to see my co-workers (who make $7 an hour) spend $14 on lunch. that's working all morning to pay for lunch!!!

I too feel that this is the biggest problem.

[mires]

Do you ever see his wife? This might be a great life lesson for them;
Keep that spending tally for a month or two. Or maybe you know enough $63 a week, but that didn't count Saturday and Sunday.
Then have a get together with him and his wife and ask if she eats out like her husband.
If yes, pull out 5 -$100 bills and 4- $1 bills, and point out you would have this if you would bring your own lunch and water.
  If you can pull it off, look in this pocket, here's 60-$100 and 1-$50, $6,050, that's what you could save in one year. Fan it out for effect.
 You might change two lives.
And then tell them about MMM.
Put a sign in your truck,
You don't need to live paycheck to paycheck.
Oh well, that's my fantasy.

Yeah, I would love to do this. I think some people need to SEE it to understand it. Probably one of his problems. Puts everything on a debit card. They have been this way for years though. My boss is personal friends with his family and has told me he has tried to talk some sense into him several times over the years. Bad habits are hard to break I suppose.

[SeaEhm]

Interesting that the guy in OP's story spend 1/5 of his income on lunch and snacks.

One whole 8 hour day is dedicated to meaningless stuff like candy, soda, and 5 meals. 

I wonder how he spends the remaining 4/5 being that candy, soda, and lunch should take up a very small percentage of take home, not 20%!

[mires]

Interesting that the guy in OP's story spend 1/5 of his income on lunch and snacks.

One whole 8 hour day is dedicated to meaningless stuff like candy, soda, and 5 meals. 

I wonder how he spends the remaining 4/5 being that candy, soda, and lunch should take up a very small percentage of take home, not 20%!

Netflix, Hulu, movies at the theater, drums , Samsung cell phone the size of a laptop, tablet, keyboard for tablet etc etc. These are just a few of the things I hear him talk about on a regular basis.

[steviesterno]

"It's only...." is the bane of my existence. 

Its been incredibly hard to convince DH that it is smarter to purchase a $5-10k car than a brand new $40k car.  His excuses to date: but we'll keep it till it dies, we need to know the maintenance history, its safer, his work offers pretty good discounts through car dealers, we can afford it, you won't find what you want in a used car, etc.

He just doesn't understand finance.  Lately, he wants an FJ, I think because he uses material items to judge his personal success (IMO, this comes from his financially insecure upbringing).

well let him know if he's looking for an FJ that there has been nothing changed between the 2008 and the 2016 Fjs besides side window visors. Nothing. Same engine, same power train, etc. and he WONT find what he wants in a new one because they have been discontinued in america. Check out FJ cruiser Forums, they sell used for 10-15k with 100k miles and the motors will easily do 300k miles.

[Villanelle]

This guy clearly isn't interested, so maybe it's time to stop openly judging his lifestyle unless and until he expresses interest in learning more and getting your thoughts and help.  If someone quietly added up how much money I was spending (or how many calories I was consuming, or how many hours I was wasting, or how many sins I was committing, or...) and threw it in my face unprompted, I would think they were a sanctimonious prick who needed to mind their own business. 

[nobody123]

This guy clearly isn't interested, so maybe it's time to stop openly judging his lifestyle unless and until he expresses interest in learning more and getting your thoughts and help.  If someone quietly added up how much money I was spending (or how many calories I was consuming, or how many hours I was wasting, or how many sins I was committing, or...) and threw it in my face unprompted, I would think they were a sanctimonious prick who needed to mind their own business.

+1.  Unless you have to pay a person's bills when they can't, mind your own business unless they ask for your opinion.  It's fine to use his waste as motivation to keep on your path to FI, but it's not like he's a criminal because he chooses to use his money in the manner you disagree with.

[boyerbt]

I added it up last week without him knowing and on Friday told him the grand total of what he had spent that week. $63!!!

What did he say when you told him? Was he surprised at all?

[mm1970]

I had half a grilled cheese sandwich, 1/3 slice of pizza, and a couple of samosas.

Was this in one sitting? Cause if it was, that's one interested restaurant that would serve samosas along with pizza.

Yes!  It was a science museum with a cafeteria with different food options...sushi, Indian, pizza, burgers, sandwiches, salads...

[Tjat]

Hold the mic. Where do you live that a plumber only makes $15/hr?

As I was riding my bike home from work, my coworker shouted after me, "See you at Madison's for happy hour!" (Local bar). I shouted back, "No way! How do you think I save my money!?" He yells, "What, by not living?!?" And I yelled back, "Exactly!", as I rolled down the hill on my pedal powered machine, while thinking about his $400/mo car payment financed at 29% because he has shitty credit because the only thing he can focus on is how he's going to spend the money he doesn't have.

There's probably a compromise here. Not every happy hour is a booze filled appetizer feast where you walk out $100 in the hole. Nothing wrong to network with co-workers while you nurse a beer or soft drink and decline the food.

[Kaydedid]

My husband works in the trades too, and the majority of his coworkers had a similar mentality.  Most of them also ate large quantities of unhealthy food and had a myriad of poor-diet-related health issues too.  It was kind of a cultural thing, where veggies and saving were mocked as a feminine thing to do, as opposed to short-sighted and risky behaviors.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[MgoSam]

Hold the mic. Where do you live that a plumber only makes $15/hr?

As I was riding my bike home from work, my coworker shouted after me, "See you at Madison's for happy hour!" (Local bar). I shouted back, "No way! How do you think I save my money!?" He yells, "What, by not living?!?" And I yelled back, "Exactly!", as I rolled down the hill on my pedal powered machine, while thinking about his $400/mo car payment financed at 29% because he has shitty credit because the only thing he can focus on is how he's going to spend the money he doesn't have.

There's probably a compromise here. Not every happy hour is a booze filled appetizer feast where you walk out $100 in the hole. Nothing wrong to network with co-workers while you nurse a beer or soft drink and decline the food.

Yup, I've lost count of the events where I've just drank water or a soft drink. Rarely does anyone comment.

[jinga nation]

My husband works in the trades too, and the majority of his coworkers had a similar mentality.  Most of them also ate large quantities of unhealthy food and had a myriad of poor-diet-related health issues too.  It was kind of a cultural thing, where veggies and saving were mocked as a feminine thing to do, as opposed to short-sighted and risky behaviors.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Funny! I get mocked once a week when my wife fixes me a huge salad with edamame, spinach, and walnuts as my protein sources. Other days I eat curry and rice (leftovers) or a salad&sandwich. But salad day, I get weird comments from one co-worker on how that doesn't help my health, to, what you can't afford to eat out (FWIW, that salad would easily cost $10-12 if purchased).
My standard response is: I eat healthy and work out a few times a week and save so that I can FIRE. Meanwhile you go ahead and eat out everyday with high sodium intake, eat your 2 Snickers bars before your crossfit workout (he's into workout and diet fads), and you'll be working till 67 only because YOU WILL NEED INSURANCE for your medications, especially for your friend DIABEETUS who's coming to stay for a long long time. (If Mustachians see this guy, they will say with p>0.8 that this man will have long-term health complications.)
This guy spends at least $10-15 a day on junk food and lunch, and constantly asking me about how to buy rental properties. I've told him that his spending and investing doesn't jive together, but fool don't get the gist.

[Making Cookies]

I had a coworker once that would preach to us about sodium and fat intake and then eat drive thru food most days. Have current coworkers who eat fast food every day.

What's wrong with bringing something from home like a sandwich or leftovers? I suspect that in at least one situation there aren't leftovers b/c there wasn't dinner at home. I suspect they and their's eat out alot...

[Giro]

"It's only...." is the bane of my existence. 

Its been incredibly hard to convince DH that it is smarter to purchase a $5-10k car than a brand new $40k car.  His excuses to date: but we'll keep it till it dies, we need to know the maintenance history, its safer, his work offers pretty good discounts through car dealers, we can afford it, you won't find what you want in a used car, etc.

He just doesn't understand finance.  Lately, he wants an FJ, I think because he uses material items to judge his personal success (IMO, this comes from his financially insecure upbringing).

I grew up below poverty line.  We often had no electricity and sometimes no food.  This is why I want financial security.  Financial security does not come from material possessions...it comes from stacks of cash.  Get him thinking in that way.  Show him account balances and jars of cash if you need to.

[infogoon]

I had a coworker once that would preach to us about sodium and fat intake and then eat drive thru food most days. Have current coworkers who eat fast food every day.

I have never in my life received unsolicited diet or health advice from someone who was actually fit and healthy.

[lightmyfire]

This was really tricky for me when I started my new job, where I was told on my first day that "we all go out to lunch together most days." So obviously restaurant lunching is part of the culture here, and I didn't want to immediately be seen as antisocial or cheap or whatever. I've compromised by joining them one day a week, and I try to keep it to a bowl of soup or a la carte. They consistently order multiple sides and dessert. I will add that we work at an art museum, where no one's raking in big bucks except for our director (who's too busy to join these lunches, or else he's a frugal genius!). My one coworker who always orders the most food also makes the least salary - about half what I make. I don't get it. Why spend your whole salary on a very forgettable meal (at the SAME restaurants, week after week)? I just keep snacks from the Dollar Tree in my desk drawer and bring my lunch, which is usually tastier than what I eat when I'm out.

[MrMoogle]

This guy clearly isn't interested, so maybe it's time to stop openly judging his lifestyle unless and until he expresses interest in learning more and getting your thoughts and help.  If someone quietly added up how much money I was spending (or how many calories I was consuming, or how many hours I was wasting, or how many sins I was committing, or...) and threw it in my face unprompted, I would think they were a sanctimonious prick who needed to mind their own business.

If he's complaining about not having money to you, I feel like you're allowed to comment on it. 

[stoaX]

If it fit everything and came with a lifetime guarantee, I'd consider it.

The problem is for most people it would need to be "I guarantee you won't decide you want another bag in this lifetime"  because for most people they'll get another "only $200" bag in 2 years when they get tired of this style.

Well said.   

And I still can't fathom spending $200 on a commuter bag - I see new one's on Amazon for $40.  Personally, I would try to see if a laptop bag worked, or perhaps my $1 trader Joe cloth shopping bag could be pressed into service...

[TexasRunner]

I had a coworker once that would preach to us about sodium and fat intake and then eat drive thru food most days. Have current coworkers who eat fast food every day.

I have never in my life received unsolicited diet or health advice from someone who was actually fit and healthy.

LOL!  There is much truth in this comment...  :)

[LadyStache in Baja]

This is my employees.  They give their kids spending money to buy crappy snacks at school instead of packing them a lunch.  Fancy phone, eat lots of crappy food and soda.  Ask for loans all the time.  I used to loan them money (just like $10 or $20 bucks at a time) and then take it out of their paycheck, but I finally put my foot down and said I'm not doing it anymore.


So frustrating to watch them suck at finances.  When they complain about not having enough money, I try to tell them how to make their own lemonade, or how rice and beans are cheap, but they just don't care.  I invited their kids to the park one day and they gave them money to buy chips.  Why do you need to be eating chips while you're playing on a park? 

When confronted about this, the mother said that she grew up poor and didn't get to have what the other kids had and she wants to provide those things for her kids.  And I said, No, you have to teach them how to save money so they can get ahead.  Not happening.

It's hard because we work so closely together, but I just have to let go and not listen to the whining.

To the OP, you'll just frustrate yourself more if you try to change them.  Let it go and do your thing.

[Hunny156]

As I was reading this post, my co-worker was commenting about how she eats out of the vending machines every day for lunch.  I told her that since I started here, I've managed to avoid the vending machines the entire time, so now it's just a competition to keep the streak going.  She then told me that since we moved into our current building (2 mo ago), last week was the first time she actually went to the cafe (in the building next door).  I happen to know that's not true, but no point in making her fell bad.  I kept to myself that the only times I've ever eaten at the cafe (2x), were when someone else was treating!

My lovely co-worker drives a BMW convertible, had plastic surgery last year to take care of excess weight & her gut, and keeps postponing buying a house "again" every year when she renews her lease.  I know she easily makes more than I, and I'm not complaining one bit about my comp plan, it's generous and I'm maximizing it to achieve FI faster.

She too, will never get the correlation between eating out at work and why they can't be homeowners again...

[BTDretire]

This guy clearly isn't interested, so maybe it's time to stop openly judging his lifestyle unless and until he expresses interest in learning more and getting your thoughts and help.  If someone quietly added up how much money I was spending (or how many calories I was consuming, or how many hours I was wasting, or how many sins I was committing, or...) and threw it in my face unprompted, I would think they were a sanctimonious prick who needed to mind their own business.

+1.  Unless you have to pay a person's bills when they can't, mind your own business unless they ask for your opinion.  It's fine to use his waste as motivation to keep on your path to FI, but it's not like he's a criminal because he chooses to use his money in the manner you disagree with.

  The problem is the helper doesn't know what he doesn't know!

The guy literally gets down to single digits in his bank account right before pay day yet I can't talk any sense into him!
Funny how he is always the one pissing and moaning about how he needs a raise.

The helper hasn't put 1+1 together yet.

[UbermomsHubby]

For my own "it's only" moments, I multiply the want by the recurring expense, such as "it's only $15 a month" means that it is actually $180 a year.  For me, this helps give me more perspective to determine if it really is worth it.

[sunshine]

Hey, if everyone did there own plumbing work to save money, you wouldn't have a job.
If everyone fixed their own lunch every day, restaurant workers wouldn't have jobs.   This dude is good for the economy.

Good point. Still dislike watching coworker(s) struggle b/c they are good people who are typically poor with money.

I hate to see people struggle with this also. One of my adult children does this. I figure one day the light will be seen. I also did it when I was young and eventually learned better.

[cheapass]

For my own "it's only" moments, I multiply the want by the recurring expense, such as "it's only $15 a month" means that it is actually $180 a year.  For me, this helps give me more perspective to determine if it really is worth it.

I like to multiply a monthly expense by 177 to calculate the inflation-adjusted opportunity cost over 10 years.

HOLY SHIT that $100 a month cable plan was costing me $18K every 10 years!

Factors for 15 and 20 years are ~350 and 530.

[MgoSam]

For my own "it's only" moments, I multiply the want by the recurring expense, such as "it's only $15 a month" means that it is actually $180 a year.  For me, this helps give me more perspective to determine if it really is worth it.

I like to multiply a monthly expense by 177 to calculate the inflation-adjusted opportunity cost over 10 years.

HOLY SHIT that $100 a month cable plan was costing me $18K every 10 years!

Factors for 15 and 20 years are ~350 and 530.

Yup! Up until a few weeks ago I was getting HBO for free. When I signed up for Comcast internet service I checked HBOGo and somehow it worked, thought HBO was never on my bill. I figured I wasn't going to say anything. The guy I used to live with also retained HBO after his free trial of it ended (got 3 months free when he got Comcast, but the service continued). Apparently they finally wised up.

My friend decided to pay $15/month for it, I used the same reasoning as Ubermoms and realized it would cost me $2655 over 10 years, not worth it! I may temporarily get an HBO account once GoT returns sometime in 2017/18.

[WerKater]

For my own "it's only" moments, I multiply the want by the recurring expense, such as "it's only $15 a month" means that it is actually $180 a year.  For me, this helps give me more perspective to determine if it really is worth it.

I like to multiply a monthly expense by 177 to calculate the inflation-adjusted opportunity cost over 10 years.

HOLY SHIT that $100 a month cable plan was costing me $18K every 10 years!

Factors for 15 and 20 years are ~350 and 530.

Also, using the 4% rule, 100$ per month means you need an additional 30k$ in your stash. Expensive TV.

[Enigma]

My parents immediately get mad when you start a phrase with "It's only".  Just by starting out with those words I could almost be certain I would not get what I was asking for.  Somehow they started their responses and rants with "It's only" to make their point.

"It's only" 5 dollars...  yeah "It's only" 5 dollars until it is going.