Author Topic: My neighbor  (Read 15856 times)

Rich M

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My neighbor
« on: April 24, 2012, 11:59:57 PM »
It's the typical story for a Mustachian for sure.

And of course, I am biased since I am telling the story....

...but it goes like this.

My neighbor is a cool guy, late forties, currently unemployed and finalizing his divorce.

He bought the house in the peak, he lost his job and his marriage collapsed.

Now with his wife gone, he said t me a year ago, that I might see the home on the market.

But every weekend he is out working on his SUV like a teenager.  Adding a grill.  Or whatever.  Last week it was a new high flow muffler, which required a purchase of a new compressor to run a grinder to get the muffler off.

I stand in awe wondering how can an unemployed person do this while I live a life like I'm broke.

I'm not complaining but it's crazy that he can do that.  Either there is a bigger bomb coming or he has family money that is undercover.

Parizade

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2012, 05:43:33 AM »
My guess would be he keeps getting new credit cards, then maxes each one out while telling himself, "but I DESERVE a new grill on my SUV."

Then he pays the minimum on each card out of his unemployment/severance and hits up his family and friends for food money.


AdrianM

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2012, 06:12:14 AM »
He is spending as much as he can to deny his ex-wife the money.

When the divorce is finalized all the debts will have to be cleared, jointly.


menorman

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2012, 04:03:29 PM »
He is spending as much as he can to deny his ex-wife the money.

When the divorce is finalized all the debts will have to be cleared, jointly.
Hmm, not bad logic at all. Also, depending on what his job was before unemployment, he might be eligible for quite a pretty penny in unemployment payments since there's no cap.

AJ

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2012, 04:12:31 PM »
He is spending as much as he can to deny his ex-wife the money.

When the divorce is finalized all the debts will have to be cleared, jointly.
Hmm, not bad logic at all. Also, depending on what his job was before unemployment, he might be eligible for quite a pretty penny in unemployment payments since there's no cap.

Which state doesn't cap unemployment benefits?

menorman

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2012, 08:41:35 PM »
He is spending as much as he can to deny his ex-wife the money.

When the divorce is finalized all the debts will have to be cleared, jointly.
Hmm, not bad logic at all. Also, depending on what his job was before unemployment, he might be eligible for quite a pretty penny in unemployment payments since there's no cap.

Which state doesn't cap unemployment benefits?

I'm not sure, but I know the federal government doesn't. For the last couple years, an article would pop up every few months about some person or another collecting seven-figure unemployment checks (annual sum, not each check!) and the comment sections would be full of people up in arms about the rich screwing the poor yet again. But seeing that there's no income cap on unemployment insurance like there is for Social Security/Medicare, then unemployment benefits apply as equally to all whether they were making $20k or $2mn before they were laid off.

mugwump

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #6 on: May 03, 2012, 08:52:23 AM »
He may be living in the SUV before long.  This way he can afford to camp out in a higher-end neighborhood! ;-)

AJ

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #7 on: May 03, 2012, 10:01:41 AM »
I'm not sure, but I know the federal government doesn't. For the last couple years, an article would pop up every few months about some person or another collecting seven-figure unemployment checks (annual sum, not each check!) and the comment sections would be full of people up in arms about the rich screwing the poor yet again. But seeing that there's no income cap on unemployment insurance like there is for Social Security/Medicare, then unemployment benefits apply as equally to all whether they were making $20k or $2mn before they were laid off.

There may be no income cap, but to my knowledge every state has a maximum benefit amount, including DC. See: http://www.ineedajobnow.net/maximum-weekly-unemployment-benefits-by-state/

Mass. has the highest with $900 a week, which is pretty high, but not unlimited. Most states look to be between $350 and $550 a week. Hardly living it up. The federal government doesn't need to cap it, the states do.

Rich M

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #8 on: August 01, 2012, 10:12:24 PM »
Update.

I pulled my rarely driven dirty truck out of the garage while my neighbor was outside.

He approached me with this comment

"You might consider spending $20 bucks once in a month at the 'local car wash' to get it clean.  A clean truck will change your whole attitude about how you take care of your vehicle!"

Wow.

Just think, I can spend $240 a year to make my neighbor happy to see my truck clean to his expectations.

The prudent thing for me would be to get rid of it.



Jamesqf

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2012, 12:24:51 PM »
"You might consider spending $20 bucks once in a month at the 'local car wash' to get it clean.  A clean truck will change your whole attitude about how you take care of your vehicle!"

It's all attitude.  Now my attitude is that if it bothers you to fill the bed up with a load of horse manure, you have no business driving a truck.

Rich M

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #10 on: August 13, 2012, 09:58:53 PM »
"You might consider spending $20 bucks once in a month at the 'local car wash' to get it clean.  A clean truck will change your whole attitude about how you take care of your vehicle!"

It's all attitude.  Now my attitude is that if it bothers you to fill the bed up with a load of horse manure, you have no business driving a truck.

You have it wrong....It's I have no business having a "vehicle" that I never drive.

Guilty as charged.

galaxie

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #11 on: August 14, 2012, 07:45:59 AM »
Does your neighbor's house not have a spigot on the outside to which he can attach a hose?  Who even goes to the car wash?

velocistar237

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #12 on: August 14, 2012, 08:35:50 AM »
My house doesn't have a spigot. I'm waiting for a good midday rain so I can go out and wipe my car down with a rag. I'm not sure what I'll do in the winter.

yolfer

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #13 on: August 15, 2012, 03:59:30 PM »
Speaking of antimustachian neighbors. My neighbors have 5 vehicles between the two of them. I love to watch them play "musical chairs" with their cars when they get home, or need a specific car. They do their own maintenance, which is mustachian, but for 4 cars and a motorcycle they are literally fixing or changing something every weekend. I feel bad for them, but then I think they probably feel bad for me when they look in my family's driveway and see the scooter and 1 neglected car and think "why does he bike to work, he's got a perfectly good car?".

Rich M

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #14 on: August 15, 2012, 10:57:13 PM »
Does your neighbor's house not have a spigot on the outside to which he can attach a hose?  Who even goes to the car wash?

Oh yeah. He uses that spigot all the time to powerwash his truck too--and his motorcycle. with his cool power washer. 

I think he washes his stuff once a week with the power washer, and every month at the local gig where they wax and shine it.








MMM

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #15 on: August 30, 2012, 11:47:14 AM »
MAN.. that's another great comedy in our society that would make a nice article: Secret Photos from the Car Wash.

Washing and waxing a truck seems like a ridiculous thing to do. Like polishing your gardening boots, or waxing a wheelbarrow. It should be embarrassing to be seen in a clean truck!

And the concept of a car wash is also a nice thing too..

First of all, if you don't have access to a garden hose spigot anywhere in your life, you are probably not wealthy enough to own a car, or you live in a dense urban area where you don't need a car!

Secondly, I've never found that my own cars NEED washing. It rains occasionally, and the car gets washed if you happen to be driving at that time. Done! I probably do an actual wash once a year just to make a family roadtrip feel special, or to impress the inlaws  when we pick them up at the airport or something.

Posthumane

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #16 on: August 30, 2012, 12:53:46 PM »
I almost never wash any of my vehicles (although I admit that I have way too many by mustachian standards, even if they are all old and cheap). About the only thing I tend to do is wash the windshield and headlights when they need it, as those can make quite a difference in night driving. I had been half-joking with people that my old Escort had Mexican dust on it still from a road trip I took down there about several years before.

That being said, if you live in an area where they salt roads in the winter, washing off the salt occasionally does reduce corrosion. I agree with you MMM about the clean truck thing though - if you can't stand to have some mud (and dents and scratches) covering your truck you really shouldn't have one, they are meant to be *utility* vehicles.

mindaugas

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #17 on: August 30, 2012, 01:04:22 PM »
i wonder how many mustachians wash their bikes more than their cars?

gooki

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #18 on: August 30, 2012, 02:47:21 PM »
It's once a year for me (both cars and bikes).

MsSindy

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #19 on: September 13, 2012, 03:19:53 PM »
I actually enjoy washing my car - 2001 Bright Yellow Ford Focus - When people get in, I almost always get comments like, 'wow, it's like brand new' - uh, yeah that's because I take care of it (and don't eat fast food in it - I'm always amazed at the crap growing in people's cars).  I think it is very relaxing on a Saturday morning to wash the car - the sun is shining and some tunes going, dog hanging out beside me, my husband asking if I'll do the car wash scene from Cool Hand Luke.... oh, wait, I digress.

SwordGuy

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #20 on: December 05, 2012, 07:02:50 PM »
I think it is very relaxing on a Saturday morning to wash the car - the sun is shining and some tunes going, dog hanging out beside me, my husband asking if I'll do the car wash scene from Cool Hand Luke.... oh, wait, I digress.
I had something funny to add to this earlier, but your comment totally derailed my train of thought.

SwordGuy

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #21 on: December 05, 2012, 07:09:05 PM »
"You might consider spending $20 bucks once in a month at the 'local car wash' to get it clean.  A clean truck will change your whole attitude about how you take care of your vehicle!"

How about, "Thanks!  You're my Go-To Guy if I ever develop BCSD Syndrome!"

Remember, a gentleman never offends anyone - by accident.

Nords

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #22 on: December 05, 2012, 08:58:35 PM »
I almost never wash any of my vehicles (although I admit that I have way too many by mustachian standards, even if they are all old and cheap).
A parent with children living at home should never have to wash a vehicle... or change the oil... or mow a lawn... or clean a window...

Milkman666

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #23 on: December 06, 2012, 08:36:39 AM »
A parent with children living at home should never have to wash a vehicle... or change the oil... or mow a lawn... or clean a window...

Last time I made my kids do regular maintenance on my car, the 4 year old added apple juice to the engine, and the 18 month old totally screwed up the brake job.

swiper

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #24 on: December 06, 2012, 10:15:11 AM »
As this has turned into a "car wash" thread ;)

I do wash mine at a car wash once a year. I do this in the spring to get salt and winter yuck off the underside (under body spray).

noob515

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Re: My neighbor
« Reply #25 on: December 10, 2012, 01:52:44 PM »
I'm surprised that the neighbor is still the neighbor.  The original post was quite some time ago, so if I wonder if he's found a job, or somehow all his excessive spending hasn't caught up to him yet? 

And just for the car wash trend, if you REALLY want to wash your car (like when I lived in an apartment and there was no spigot), it's $3.  Definitely less than $10, even for the undercarriage wash that will help with salt corrosion.