Overheard at Work

[honeybbq]

One co-worker purchased bar stools 18 months ago and is now replacing them because they aren't the right 'style'. They cost $600 new and now can't find a buyer at $80.

This is the most crazy thing about owning a home, imo. I am looking for patio furniture and it's insane how much things cost. I'm more willing to put folding chairs until I find the right price, I'm not going to pay full retail just so it looks cool. Price and comfort are the only things I care about when it comes to furniture. I was lucky in that my parents had a porch full of couches that were just collecting dust that they were happy to donate to me, and that my former roommate had a perfectly good wood dinner table that he was going to sell and that he just gave me as a "house warming present."

You might think that since I saved the cost of couches, recliner, and dinner table/chairs, that I might splurge on a coffee table and patio furniture..think again :-)!

We found ours at Lowes or Home Depot at the end of season clearance sale. It was very reasonable.

[MgoSam]

One co-worker purchased bar stools 18 months ago and is now replacing them because they aren't the right 'style'. They cost $600 new and now can't find a buyer at $80.

This is the most crazy thing about owning a home, imo. I am looking for patio furniture and it's insane how much things cost. I'm more willing to put folding chairs until I find the right price, I'm not going to pay full retail just so it looks cool. Price and comfort are the only things I care about when it comes to furniture. I was lucky in that my parents had a porch full of couches that were just collecting dust that they were happy to donate to me, and that my former roommate had a perfectly good wood dinner table that he was going to sell and that he just gave me as a "house warming present."

You might think that since I saved the cost of couches, recliner, and dinner table/chairs, that I might splurge on a coffee table and patio furniture..think again :-)!

We found ours at Lowes or Home Depot at the end of season clearance sale. It was very reasonable.

Any recommendations? It's starting to get chilly so I plan to go on Sunday to take a look at what's available. I have a screened in 3 season porch. It won't be usable in winter due to it being cold and snowy, but I would like a few comfortable chairs for lounging and a table for consuming some food.

[Gundy]

A few years ago one of my co-workers invited me to his parent's house for his 30th birthday celebration.

His parent's house was massive. It had 8 bedrooms and situated with a great view of the river. It had a separate suite for his grandmother that also included her own kitchen and living area plus another bedroom. I constantly marveled at the top of the line furnishings and appliances that decorated the home.

The party was catered and featured a live violinist. They probably had 20+ non-family including myself spend the night. The next morning, while eating a catered breakfast on china I had a conversation with my friend's mom. She asked about my parents and I told her that they were both retired to part time jobs but travel most of the year. She sighed, and told me "I wish I could afford to retire."

[dragoncar]

One co-worker purchased bar stools 18 months ago and is now replacing them because they aren't the right 'style'. They cost $600 new and now can't find a buyer at $80.

This is the most crazy thing about owning a home, imo. I am looking for patio furniture and it's insane how much things cost. I'm more willing to put folding chairs until I find the right price, I'm not going to pay full retail just so it looks cool. Price and comfort are the only things I care about when it comes to furniture. I was lucky in that my parents had a porch full of couches that were just collecting dust that they were happy to donate to me, and that my former roommate had a perfectly good wood dinner table that he was going to sell and that he just gave me as a "house warming present."

You might think that since I saved the cost of couches, recliner, and dinner table/chairs, that I might splurge on a coffee table and patio furniture..think again :-)!

We found ours at Lowes or Home Depot at the end of season clearance sale. It was very reasonable.

Same here.. Good deals available if you are willing to wait and troll each store online (different stores will have different sales depending on stock).  The stuff I ended up ordering were floor models so I negotiated an even steeper discount due to scratches (but come on its outdoor furniture so it's gonna get beat up within 1 season).  The manager has a lot of discretion and at that point just wants it out of the stkte

[cloudsail]

A few years ago one of my co-workers invited me to his parent's house for his 30th birthday celebration.

His parent's house was massive. It had 8 bedrooms and situated with a great view of the river. It had a separate suite for his grandmother that also included her own kitchen and living area plus another bedroom. I constantly marveled at the top of the line furnishings and appliances that decorated the home.

The party was catered and featured a live violinist. They probably had 20+ non-family including myself spend the night. The next morning, while eating a catered breakfast on china I had a conversation with my friend's mom. She asked about my parents and I told her that they were both retired to part time jobs but travel most of the year. She sighed, and told me "I wish I could afford to retire."

*picks jaw up from floor*

[Reynold]

I am a prof and never adopt a new edition until it at least one year old so students can buy it used. If it's brand new, they do not have any options and have to pay $120-150 for the new text. When I do this, I get some serious resistance from the bookstore. They call me like 3 times before the order is filled. "Don't you know there is a new edition? Would you like us to order the new edition? I can't guarantee that I can get enough copies of the old textbook to the bookstore and some students might not be able to get a book." My response, is "Yes, I know there is a new edition. No do I not want the new edition. Students know how to order books on-line."

I taught first year Physics for a year recently at a Community College, and was asked by a couple of students on the first day of class if they would need the book during the first week.  That puzzled me, until I found out the bookstore wouldn't tell them what book was needed until the day before class, and they wanted to order it for $17 on Amazon instead of $80 from the bookstore.  I told them that was a great idea, and they wouldn't need it that soon.  I remembered way back when in Engineering school used textbooks were hard to come by, most people kept them as references, so I felt badly for them. 

On topic, at work our receptionist had to buy a new washing machine, and spent about $1000.  The thing never really worked right, and after multiple visits from a service person, she bought another, more reliable "old style" top loader, from another place, which has worked fine.  I suggested she fight to get the company to take the first one back, which the service guy also recommended, but she just finds it "too stressful" and won't bother.  I then suggested she have the girlfriend of a son, who apparently doesn't mind that kind of thing, do the arguing for a commission, but she didn't want to bother them either.  She is, however, trying to look for another part time job to supplement the receptionist thing, because she needs the income, and isn't too many years away from retirement. . . 

[MgoSam]

I am a prof and never adopt a new edition until it at least one year old so students can buy it used. If it's brand new, they do not have any options and have to pay $120-150 for the new text. When I do this, I get some serious resistance from the bookstore. They call me like 3 times before the order is filled. "Don't you know there is a new edition? Would you like us to order the new edition? I can't guarantee that I can get enough copies of the old textbook to the bookstore and some students might not be able to get a book." My response, is "Yes, I know there is a new edition. No do I not want the new edition. Students know how to order books on-line."

I taught first year Physics for a year recently at a Community College, and was asked by a couple of students on the first day of class if they would need the book during the first week.  That puzzled me, until I found out the bookstore wouldn't tell them what book was needed until the day before class, and they wanted to order it for $17 on Amazon instead of $80 from the bookstore.  I told them that was a great idea, and they wouldn't need it that soon.  I remembered way back when in Engineering school used textbooks were hard to come by, most people kept them as references, so I felt badly for them. 

On topic, at work our receptionist had to buy a new washing machine, and spent about $1000.  The thing never really worked right, and after multiple visits from a service person, she bought another, more reliable "old style" top loader, from another place, which has worked fine.  I suggested she fight to get the company to take the first one back, which the service guy also recommended, but she just finds it "too stressful" and won't bother.  I then suggested she have the girlfriend of a son, who apparently doesn't mind that kind of thing, do the arguing for a commission, but she didn't want to bother them either.  She is, however, trying to look for another part time job to supplement the receptionist thing, because she needs the income, and isn't too many years away from retirement. . .

Seriously this type of thing pisses of me off. I nearly fired our last receptionist because she would sit at her computer and not do things like this. Ok, fine, you are a receptionist largely because you don't have any initiative, I get that. But when I tell you to do something like this and you don't...because why? If you don't have a good reason, then you're fortunate you weren't axed for it. Once we got an invoice for boxes that included sales tax. As a wholesaler we don't need to pay taxes (as we are reselling them), but I was gone that week and I found out when I got back that she went ahead and paid it, because it was too much of a bother to call up the company and give them our tax ID because it was only "30 dollars" and that it was too late to try to get a refund. "Ok, in that case you won't mind if I take that $30 from your paycheck cause it's only 30 dollars." Of course, ten minutes later she came to me and said that she called the company and they were issuing a refund.

[FatCat]

Seriously this type of thing pisses of me off. I nearly fired our last receptionist because she would sit at her computer and not do things like this. Ok, fine, you are a receptionist largely because you don't have any initiative, I get that. But when I tell you to do something like this and you don't...because why? If you don't have a good reason, then you're fortunate you weren't axed for it. Once we got an invoice for boxes that included sales tax. As a wholesaler we don't need to pay taxes (as we are reselling them), but I was gone that week and I found out when I got back that she went ahead and paid it, because it was too much of a bother to call up the company and give them our tax ID because it was only "30 dollars" and that it was too late to try to get a refund. "Ok, in that case you won't mind if I take that $30 from your paycheck cause it's only 30 dollars." Of course, ten minutes later she came to me and said that she called the company and they were issuing a refund.

I like how $30 isn't worth the effort when it's not her money. I hate it when people treat someone else's money like it's nothing.

[zolotiyeruki]

A customer's credit card somehow got charged three times, for $10 each time.  She emails our customer service folks in a panic, because apparently she is in a very bad financial situation.  We happily refunded the two erroneous charges, but c'mon, woman, are you really only $20 away from bankruptcy?

[alewpanda]

I am looking for patio furniture and it's insane how much things cost. I'm more willing to put folding chairs until I find the right price, I'm not going to pay full retail just so it looks cool.

I inherited my grandparents' patio furniture. Its made of plain steel materials like square steel stock, round steel rod, and steel mesh. There was once a patio table and four chairs in the set as I recall but they were sold in a garage sale along the way I guess as they downsized.

This furniture is from the 1970s and lasts forever - at least until your ten year old boy starts using it for vaulting. Even so a quick zap with our MIG welder mended it without a hint of a repair.

Needs a paint job next year. Original paint since the 1970s!

(I'm a buy it once kind of guy. Don't mind change occasionally but I don't like the expense of the buy and replace cycle that cheap things from discount stores leads to.)

The cheapest patio furniture?  Trash picked or a wooden picnic table.  We have a wooden picnic table on our deck.  It seats 6 easily, is compact, never blows away or over in the storm, and has aged to a nice grayed color that we plan to seal before winter. 

[vern]

I remember there was a stand-up comedian in the eighties who used to say...

"If you're a business major and you buy the textbook, you should fail the class right there."

[mlejw6]

Seen at work:
Someone brought a couple boxes of Duck Donuts into the office.  I guess they are the new trendy unhealthy snack. I thought, Gee, I didn't know there was a Duck Donuts near here. I googled them, and found out that, no, there is not a Duck Donuts near here. The closest one is 11.5 miles away.

Granted, I know for a fact that people commute much farther than 11.5 miles to get here. But, that's a long way for fattening fried dough to travel. Not to mention, there are two places across the street at which to buy said fattening fried dough. But, they are not trendy enough apparently.

[hudsoncat]

This is not about any individual co-worker, but just blows my mind a little.

Where I work they will start automatically put 12% of your salary into a retirement account for you after two years of employment. No match on your end, no hassle, just 12% into an account.  It is an amazing perk. After two years of work, HR will send you information to select between the various 403b company options and the paperwork to open your account. It's fast, it's easy, it's free money!

I popped in to HR recently to ask a question and in the course of our discussion, the HR rep mentioned that some (she estimated about 10%) of the employees who are eligible just never fill out the paperwork for the retirement plan and several take months to do so. WHAT?! 

That perk is the main reason I still work here. I was grandfathered in when it was still 15%. I can't imagine just not filling out paperwork that essentially gives you a 12% (or in my case 15%) pay raise.

[MgoSam]

Seen at work:
Someone brought a couple boxes of Duck Donuts into the office.  I guess they are the new trendy unhealthy snack. I thought, Gee, I didn't know there was a Duck Donuts near here. I googled them, and found out that, no, there is not a Duck Donuts near here. The closest one is 11.5 miles away.

Granted, I know for a fact that people commute much farther than 11.5 miles to get here. But, that's a long way for fattening fried dough to travel. Not to mention, there are two places across the street at which to buy said fattening fried dough. But, they are not trendy enough apparently.

I don't get why that is posted here. Someone brought in donuts to work as a gift to you and to his/her co-workers. Eat them or don't.

[MgoSam]

That perk is the main reason I still work here. I was grandfathered in when it was still 15%. I can't imagine just not filling out paperwork that essentially gives you a 12% (or in my case 15%) pay raise.

Crazy. I mean, lets' just imagine that paperwork takes at most an hour to do. 15% of let's assume a $40,000 salary means $6000. They would jeapordize this over an hour of paperwork? That's way more than M&A lawyers can currently dream of billing at.

[mtn]

Seen at work:
Someone brought a couple boxes of Duck Donuts into the office.  I guess they are the new trendy unhealthy snack. I thought, Gee, I didn't know there was a Duck Donuts near here. I googled them, and found out that, no, there is not a Duck Donuts near here. The closest one is 11.5 miles away.

Granted, I know for a fact that people commute much farther than 11.5 miles to get here. But, that's a long way for fattening fried dough to travel. Not to mention, there are two places across the street at which to buy said fattening fried dough. But, they are not trendy enough apparently.

I don't get why that is posted here. Someone brought in donuts to work as a gift to you and to his/her co-workers. Eat them or don't.

Agreed--Is Duck Donuts really Dunkin Donuts though? Because they're only good for coffee. Their donuts are horrible.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Seen at work:
Someone brought a couple boxes of Duck Donuts into the office.  I guess they are the new trendy unhealthy snack. I thought, Gee, I didn't know there was a Duck Donuts near here. I googled them, and found out that, no, there is not a Duck Donuts near here. The closest one is 11.5 miles away.

Granted, I know for a fact that people commute much farther than 11.5 miles to get here. But, that's a long way for fattening fried dough to travel. Not to mention, there are two places across the street at which to buy said fattening fried dough. But, they are not trendy enough apparently.

I don't get why that is posted here. Someone brought in donuts to work as a gift to you and to his/her co-workers. Eat them or don't.

Agreed--Is Duck Donuts really Dunkin Donuts though? Because they're only good for coffee. Their donuts are horrible.

Here in New Mexico they could just as easily be "drug" themed donuts based on a TV show called "Breaking Bad", which was apparently pretty popular especially since it presented a fairly accurate glimpse of life in this area. Anyway, several donut shops started making blue methamphetamine themed donuts and they're still selling well. You can't get the joke aspect from a mainstream franchise donut place, and if some co-worker has a specialty donut place close to home, maybe Duck Donuts aren't that impractical for a special occasion.

I, personally, would eat the free Duck Donut.

[mlejw6]

Seen at work:
Someone brought a couple boxes of Duck Donuts into the office.  I guess they are the new trendy unhealthy snack. I thought, Gee, I didn't know there was a Duck Donuts near here. I googled them, and found out that, no, there is not a Duck Donuts near here. The closest one is 11.5 miles away.

Granted, I know for a fact that people commute much farther than 11.5 miles to get here. But, that's a long way for fattening fried dough to travel. Not to mention, there are two places across the street at which to buy said fattening fried dough. But, they are not trendy enough apparently.

I don't get why that is posted here. Someone brought in donuts to work as a gift to you and to his/her co-workers. Eat them or don't.

It was not a complaint about the free food. I certainly enjoy free food as much as anyone. It was the distance traveled that was crazy.

[mlejw6]

Agreed--Is Duck Donuts really Dunkin Donuts though? Because they're only good for coffee. Their donuts are horrible.

https://duckdonuts.com/

[Kitsunegari]

Later he mentioned his partner is getting pissy about him not having work yet. "Its a bit of a strain, but you know, I wash the floors and dishes, so I think its fair enough. I mean, he knew I was out of work when we bought the house - its just taking longer than I thought to find something. We'll work out the extra debts when I find a job."

I hate this kind of talk. If you're unemployed and not caring for a child/elderly or seriously ill, you better do ALL the housework/shopping/cooking, or at least the vast majority of it.

[I'm a red panda]

It was not a complaint about the free food. I certainly enjoy free food as much as anyone. It was the distance traveled that was crazy.

Did the person actually go 11 miles out of their way to get them though? (Since there are donuts across the street?)

Or is the place next door to their house/daycare- and totally on the way?  Without that information, distance traveled cannot be judged as crazy.

Just appreciate the free food.

[mm1970]

This is not about any individual co-worker, but just blows my mind a little.

Where I work they will start automatically put 12% of your salary into a retirement account for you after two years of employment. No match on your end, no hassle, just 12% into an account.  It is an amazing perk. After two years of work, HR will send you information to select between the various 403b company options and the paperwork to open your account. It's fast, it's easy, it's free money!

I popped in to HR recently to ask a question and in the course of our discussion, the HR rep mentioned that some (she estimated about 10%) of the employees who are eligible just never fill out the paperwork for the retirement plan and several take months to do so. WHAT?! 

That perk is the main reason I still work here. I was grandfathered in when it was still 15%. I can't imagine just not filling out paperwork that essentially gives you a 12% (or in my case 15%) pay raise.

crazy.  My husband's company does the same, but on day 1.  And occasionally the younger guys will grumble about it (they'd rather have higher salaries).  Trust me bud, when you are in your 40's with a half a mil in  your 401k, you'll be happy.

[katstache92]

Co-worker: As far as TVs go, I really believe you should just spend whatever makes you happy.  I have never yet heard someone say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much on my TV."

This was in the middle of a discussion about a 65inch 4k curved tv vs. the 55inch version.

[runningthroughFIRE]

Co-worker: As far as TVs go, I really believe you should just spend whatever makes you happy.  I have never yet heard someone say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much on my TV."

This was in the middle of a discussion about a 65inch 4k curved tv vs. the 55inch version.

I don't think the curved TVs are even all that nice.  It cuts down on the number of people you can invite over to watch a movie with you, since you can't fan out as much and still see the TV.  I don't own a TV at all, so maybe I'm mistaken, but that's my $0.02.

[ajonesin]

Today a coworker expressed his excitement at being moved to a different store location within the company. He explained that he currently drives 100 MILES EACH WAY from home to work. This feat takes an hour and twenty minutes each way, and requires three tanks of gas per week, which he pumps into his new truck.

[zephyr911]

Seriously this type of thing pisses of me off. I nearly fired our last receptionist because she would sit at her computer and not do things like this. Ok, fine, you are a receptionist largely because you don't have any initiative, I get that. But when I tell you to do something like this and you don't...because why? If you don't have a good reason, then you're fortunate you weren't axed for it. Once we got an invoice for boxes that included sales tax. As a wholesaler we don't need to pay taxes (as we are reselling them), but I was gone that week and I found out when I got back that she went ahead and paid it, because it was too much of a bother to call up the company and give them our tax ID because it was only "30 dollars" and that it was too late to try to get a refund. "Ok, in that case you won't mind if I take that $30 from your paycheck cause it's only 30 dollars." Of course, ten minutes later she came to me and said that she called the company and they were issuing a refund.

It pisses me off to no end too, and I have seen so damn much of it in the DoD environment that the challenge is not recalling an example but picking from so many.
For an organization full of people who rail against socialism, it is amazing how many of them piss away tax dollars like nobody's paying for it.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Gobsmacked - so he's out of work, living off his partner, and then he goes to buy his food at an expensive butcher and pays a premium on top of the premium price for custom cutting. Later he mentioned his partner is getting pissy about him not having work yet. "Its a bit of a strain, but you know, I wash the floors and dishes, so I think its fair enough. I mean, he knew I was out of work when we bought the house - its just taking longer than I thought to find something. We'll work out the extra debts when I find a job."

Washing the floors and dishes couldn't possibly take more than an hour a day, unless they throw dinner parties for eight every night or scrub their floors with a toothbrush.

I'd be cynically curious as to how much of a "we" was involved in buying the house, and whose name(s) is/are on the dotted line for the mortgage payments.

[nobodyspecial]

I don't think the curved TVs are even all that nice.  It cuts down on the number of people you can invite over to watch a movie with you, since you can't fan out as much and still see the TV. 

I think you are supposed to buy a set for each person - sharing TV is obviously piracy.

[BDWW]

A customer's credit card somehow got charged three times, for $10 each time.  She emails our customer service folks in a panic, because apparently she is in a very bad financial situation.  We happily refunded the two erroneous charges, but c'mon, woman, are you really only $20 away from bankruptcy?

I was amazed after talking to our accounting department once. People regularly call in to complain that they can't use there card because we haven't released a transaction yet. They get batched out nightly via the credit card company, so if we issue a refund, or cancel a transaction, you can't use the funds for a day. SOP as far as I'm aware, but I was amazed at the complaints of people who were apparently incensed about not being able to use the last $50 dollars of credit due to being that close to their limit.

[Playing with Fire UK]

Gobsmacked - so he's out of work, living off his partner, and then he goes to buy his food at an expensive butcher and pays a premium on top of the premium price for custom cutting. Later he mentioned his partner is getting pissy about him not having work yet. "Its a bit of a strain, but you know, I wash the floors and dishes, so I think its fair enough. I mean, he knew I was out of work when we bought the house - its just taking longer than I thought to find something. We'll work out the extra debts when I find a job."

Washing the floors and dishes couldn't possibly take more than an hour a day, unless they throw dinner parties for eight every night or scrub their floors with a toothbrush.

I'd be cynically curious as to how much of a "we" was involved in buying the house, and whose name(s) is/are on the dotted line for the mortgage payments.

Agreed, I feel sorry for the partner. Actively looking for work and/or doing everything you can to keep a home ticking over and saving money is hard work and I'd have no problem supporting a partner in this situation. Lazing around watching Netflix and waiting for the universe to grant you the perfect job while spending SO's money like water is disrespecting their time and effort. I'd be kicking CW to the kerb, even if they were hot.

[steviesterno]

I had a co worker bragging to me a little while back about how transferring her cc debt to a higher interest card enabled her to invest the payment difference in a time share. And by buying her mercedes new she was able to get them down to only 5% for 7 years, helping pay off the BMW she was upside-down on....
she visits foreign destinations at least 3 times a year for all inclusive resorts and Also rents a 1 bedroom apartment in a bad neighborhood.

That was almost the worst financial advice I ever heard. She tried to get me to buy a timeshare so she could get some pyramid scheme bonus whatever, and I just smiled and said thanks for the info. That mercedes is more sparkly than my old truck sitting for 12 hours in the parking lot though

[I'm a red panda]

"My (can't recall the vehicle type) is in the shop so I have a loaner car today. God- I can barely get in and out of a car anymore since I'm so used to my SUV. I can't believe what a pain it is."

Edit: Apparently this will be the topic of conversation all day. She is on her THIRD person of how hard it is to get out of a car, and how can anyone own a car when you could buy an SUV?

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

I had a co worker bragging to me a little while back about how transferring her cc debt to a higher interest card enabled her to invest the payment difference in a time share. And by buying her mercedes new she was able to get them down to only 5% for 7 years, helping pay off the BMW she was upside-down on....

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

[maco]

"My (can't recall the vehicle type) is in the shop so I have a loaner car today. God- I can barely get in and out of a car anymore since I'm so used to my SUV. I can't believe what a pain it is."

Edit: Apparently this will be the topic of conversation all day. She is on her THIRD person of how hard it is to get out of a car, and how can anyone own a car when you could buy an SUV?

Vehicle height is actually a legit problem for arthritis sufferers. That's why the toilets in accessible bathrooms are several inches taller than other ones. Climbing down into a car is harder on the knees/hips than getting into a seat that's at or slightly above standing-butt-height.

[mrmiyagi]

Seen at work:
Someone brought a couple boxes of Duck Donuts into the office.  I guess they are the new trendy unhealthy snack. I thought, Gee, I didn't know there was a Duck Donuts near here. I googled them, and found out that, no, there is not a Duck Donuts near here. The closest one is 11.5 miles away.

Granted, I know for a fact that people commute much farther than 11.5 miles to get here. But, that's a long way for fattening fried dough to travel. Not to mention, there are two places across the street at which to buy said fattening fried dough. But, they are not trendy enough apparently.

I don't get why that is posted here. Someone brought in donuts to work as a gift to you and to his/her co-workers. Eat them or don't.

Agreed. Why mock a co-worker who did something nice for the office?

[mtn]

"My (can't recall the vehicle type) is in the shop so I have a loaner car today. God- I can barely get in and out of a car anymore since I'm so used to my SUV. I can't believe what a pain it is."

Edit: Apparently this will be the topic of conversation all day. She is on her THIRD person of how hard it is to get out of a car, and how can anyone own a car when you could buy an SUV?

Vehicle height is actually a legit problem for arthritis sufferers. That's why the toilets in accessible bathrooms are several inches taller than other ones. Climbing down into a car is harder on the knees/hips than getting into a seat that's at or slightly above standing-butt-height.

I understand that completely.

It still drives me nuts every time my MIL talks about my car choices (Miata, small BMW's, maybe a Toybaru next) as if they're horrible. I personally think her Lexus Camry is horrible, but it is safe reliable and she likes it--so I'm not saying anything.

[mm1970]

Yesterday at a going away lunch for a great young guy (smart, hard worker, going to a different company with a HUGE raise):

"Nice that you can join us, is this lunch actually in your budget?"
 
Ha. Ha.

You know, by bringing lunch every day, I can enjoy a delicious lunch to send off one of the best guys who ever worked for me (probably THE best, really).  I can afford the $14 without sweating it. But thanks.

[vivophoenix]

Yesterday at a going away lunch for a great young guy (smart, hard worker, going to a different company with a HUGE raise):

"Nice that you can join us, is this lunch actually in your budget?"
 
Ha. Ha.

You know, by bringing lunch every day, I can enjoy a delicious lunch to send off one of the best guys who ever worked for me (probably THE best, really).  I can afford the $14 without sweating it. But thanks.

well if you use a budget in reference to previous lunches you turned down, dont be surprised if it returns to haunt you.

[I'm a red panda]

"My (can't recall the vehicle type) is in the shop so I have a loaner car today. God- I can barely get in and out of a car anymore since I'm so used to my SUV. I can't believe what a pain it is."

Edit: Apparently this will be the topic of conversation all day. She is on her THIRD person of how hard it is to get out of a car, and how can anyone own a car when you could buy an SUV?

Vehicle height is actually a legit problem for arthritis sufferers. That's why the toilets in accessible bathrooms are several inches taller than other ones. Climbing down into a car is harder on the knees/hips than getting into a seat that's at or slightly above standing-butt-height.

She doesn't have these issues.

[Disposaleer]

Seen at work:
Someone brought a couple boxes of Duck Donuts into the office.  I guess they are the new trendy unhealthy snack. I thought, Gee, I didn't know there was a Duck Donuts near here. I googled them, and found out that, no, there is not a Duck Donuts near here. The closest one is 11.5 miles away.

Granted, I know for a fact that people commute much farther than 11.5 miles to get here. But, that's a long way for fattening fried dough to travel. Not to mention, there are two places across the street at which to buy said fattening fried dough. But, they are not trendy enough apparently.

I occasionally bring Duck Donuts to work, or get them as a treat on a Saturday morning. They are a local-ish brand, and I like the cake type donuts over the bread type. They are definitely pricey though.

[HairyUpperLip]

lol - yeah, I'm struggling to understand what's so bad about a coworker bringing in donuts?

I've brought in donuts for my peers before and I'm just a contributor. Nobody special or important.

I spent some money on them, nothing crazy, but honestly it was worth it to see my normally miserable coworkers with a smile for a change.

I used to walk to work, so I actually had to drive a few miles to the donut shop and back. I even had to wake up a little earlier than usual to accomplish it and get the donuts while the selection was good. Small local donut shop type of business.

[Avidconsumer]

Co-worker: As far as TVs go, I really believe you should just spend whatever makes you happy.  I have never yet heard someone say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much on my TV."

This was in the middle of a discussion about a 65inch 4k curved tv vs. the 55inch version.

I don't think the curved TVs are even all that nice.  It cuts down on the number of people you can invite over to watch a movie with you, since you can't fan out as much and still see the TV.  I don't own a TV at all, so maybe I'm mistaken, but that's my $0.02.

I think the curved TV actually makes it easier to see from the sides and that's the whole point of it being curved.

[ash7962]

lol - yeah, I'm struggling to understand what's so bad about a coworker bringing in donuts?

I've brought in donuts for my peers before and I'm just a contributor. Nobody special or important.

I spent some money on them, nothing crazy, but honestly it was worth it to see my normally miserable coworkers with a smile for a change.

I used to walk to work, so I actually had to drive a few miles to the donut shop and back. I even had to wake up a little earlier than usual to accomplish it and get the donuts while the selection was good. Small local donut shop type of business.

I think the OP had less of a problem with buying the doughnuts, and more of an issue with how far their coworker drove to get the doughnuts especially considering there are closer options.

[fattest_foot]

One of my coworkers is a big Dave Ramsey fan (and apparently knows about MMM; he occasionally asks me about how my "mustachio" is going), so much so that apparently he and his wife took over teaching a seminar about it locally.

I guess he must have posted something on Facebook about getting rid of all his debt. This morning he was talking to another coworker about it, and how the first step is to order all your debts and start paying them off from lowest to highest. His example was $1000 as the lowest, etc.

The conversation ended with the second coworker saying how great it was that he got rid of all his debt and how awesome that'd feel, and concluded with "Now, where will I find $1000?"

[Apples]

One of my coworkers is a big Dave Ramsey fan (and apparently knows about MMM; he occasionally asks me about how my "mustachio" is going), so much so that apparently he and his wife took over teaching a seminar about it locally.

I guess he must have posted something on Facebook about getting rid of all his debt. This morning he was talking to another coworker about it, and how the first step is to order all your debts and start paying them off from lowest to highest. His example was $1000 as the lowest, etc.

The conversation ended with the second coworker saying how great it was that he got rid of all his debt and how awesome that'd feel, and concluded with "Now, where will I find $1000?"

That's the kind of person the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps are perfect for haha.

[mm1970]

Yesterday at a going away lunch for a great young guy (smart, hard worker, going to a different company with a HUGE raise):

"Nice that you can join us, is this lunch actually in your budget?"
 
Ha. Ha.

You know, by bringing lunch every day, I can enjoy a delicious lunch to send off one of the best guys who ever worked for me (probably THE best, really).  I can afford the $14 without sweating it. But thanks.

well if you use a budget in reference to previous lunches you turned down, dont be surprised if it returns to haunt you.

I wouldn't say that I "turn down" lunches out due to budget.

But I bring my lunch every day.  One day, sitting at the table someone asked about it.  Now, my coworkers are engineers.  So, some are frugal, some are not.  Most bring lunch at least SOME of the time, but a lot of them go through phases where they eat out every day.  I pointed out that by packing lunch for myself and my husband every day, in 5 years it equals a new car of savings.  (A Civic maybe.)  And since I'd JUST bought a new Civic (when my prior car was totaled in an accident), it was a timely discussion.

So I've always been reasonably happy to eat out for special occasions - a going away lunch, or if a former coworker is in town for the day, or a networking lunch.  But I don't ever eat out "just because I don't feel like packing a lunch."

Of course the same guy who teased me for my "budget" doesn't have a $320 a week daycare bill like I do.  His time will come.

[vivophoenix]

Yesterday at a going away lunch for a great young guy (smart, hard worker, going to a different company with a HUGE raise):

"Nice that you can join us, is this lunch actually in your budget?"
 
Ha. Ha.

You know, by bringing lunch every day, I can enjoy a delicious lunch to send off one of the best guys who ever worked for me (probably THE best, really).  I can afford the $14 without sweating it. But thanks.

well if you use a budget in reference to previous lunches you turned down, dont be surprised if it returns to haunt you.

I wouldn't say that I "turn down" lunches out due to budget.

But I bring my lunch every day.  One day, sitting at the table someone asked about it.  Now, my coworkers are engineers.  So, some are frugal, some are not.  Most bring lunch at least SOME of the time, but a lot of them go through phases where they eat out every day.  I pointed out that by packing lunch for myself and my husband every day, in 5 years it equals a new car of savings.  (A Civic maybe.)  And since I'd JUST bought a new Civic (when my prior car was totaled in an accident), it was a timely discussion.

So I've always been reasonably happy to eat out for special occasions - a going away lunch, or if a former coworker is in town for the day, or a networking lunch.  But I don't ever eat out "just because I don't feel like packing a lunch."

Of course the same guy who teased me for my "budget" doesn't have a $320 a week daycare bill like I do.  His time will come.

im not judging.

but either way you made a connection between your financial circumstances and your bringing in lunch. and not in a casual manner. you used figures based upon  5 years  extrapolation. let's be honest most people don't share that information often with coworkers.

so i think its no surprise that you were teased a little.

[Beaker]

Co-worker: As far as TVs go, I really believe you should just spend whatever makes you happy.  I have never yet heard someone say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much on my TV."

This was in the middle of a discussion about a 65inch 4k curved tv vs. the 55inch version.

I don't think the curved TVs are even all that nice.  It cuts down on the number of people you can invite over to watch a movie with you, since you can't fan out as much and still see the TV.  I don't own a TV at all, so maybe I'm mistaken, but that's my $0.02.

I think the curved TV actually makes it easier to see from the sides and that's the whole point of it being curved.

I was curious about all the talk so I checked out ArsTechnica's take. The curve actually makes it harder to see if you're sitting off to the sides. It's arguably better if you're sitting in the middle.

[MgoSam]

Co-worker: As far as TVs go, I really believe you should just spend whatever makes you happy.  I have never yet heard someone say, "I wish I hadn't spent so much on my TV."

This was in the middle of a discussion about a 65inch 4k curved tv vs. the 55inch version.

I don't think the curved TVs are even all that nice.  It cuts down on the number of people you can invite over to watch a movie with you, since you can't fan out as much and still see the TV.  I don't own a TV at all, so maybe I'm mistaken, but that's my $0.02.

I think the curved TV actually makes it easier to see from the sides and that's the whole point of it being curved.

I was curious about all the talk so I checked out ArsTechnica's take. The curve actually makes it harder to see if you're sitting off to the sides. It's arguably better if you're sitting in the middle.

Yeah that's what I've heard. Curved TV's as they currently are, are great if you are sitting in that sweet spot, but otherwise largely not worth the additional costs. That said, as costs go down and technology and research go up, it's possible that they will make sense in the future.

[geekette]

"My (can't recall the vehicle type) is in the shop so I have a loaner car today. God- I can barely get in and out of a car anymore since I'm so used to my SUV. I can't believe what a pain it is."

Edit: Apparently this will be the topic of conversation all day. She is on her THIRD person of how hard it is to get out of a car, and how can anyone own a car when you could buy an SUV?

I don't have an SUV, but I really do appreciate the height of my "crossover" (HHR).