Overheard at Work

[Freedomin5]

Coworker and I were having a discussion about how to prevent our kids from becoming super self-absorbed entitled teenagers who feel that the world (and their parents) owe them.

CW: My kid was mad at me because I got him an iPhone 6s and not the new iphoneX. Apparently everyone in his class has the iphoneX. It’s also super unfair to him that he doesn’t get an allowance when everyone else gets at least $100 per week.
Me: He really needs to learn to be grateful for what he has. He needs to cultivate an attitude of appreciation. I mean, you guys live in one of the richest neighborhoods in town; it’s not like he’s destitute.
CW: Yes! So what do you think I should do? I need suggestions!
Me: Well, maybe find some way to let him see how blessed he is, that not everyone is able to live the way he does or has the opportunities he has. So maybe have him volunteer in a rural/inner city program this summer. But you have to do it as a family. You can’t just dump him in the middle of nowhere. Otherwise it’s not fair. And also, if you just make him do it and don’t participate yourself, he will see that you don’t really hold yourself to the same values.
CW: That’s such a good idea! He totally needs to remember how blessed he is. And volunteering would look good on his college apps! But we can’t this summer because we are going to Bali for two weeks and then to our summer house in Greece. I’ll just tell him he needs to be grateful for what he has.

Me: (face, meet palm)

It gets worse. I initially cut it out for brevity.

I live in Shanghai, and these kids are expat kids or superwealthy Chinese kids. USD$100/week is actually considered "reasonable". A totally non-scientific survey conducted last year by one of the expat magazines found that 20% of expat highschool students have Amex Black cards (I think that's what they're called, the ones with No Credit Limit. Obviously, I've never had one so I may be wrong about the name of the card). Unfortunately, pretty much all the kids in his class have either the X or the 8, though to be fair, I know at least 3 of the kids who recently jumped from the 5s to the X (meaning that their parents didn't rush out to get them the latest and greatest iPhone as soon as it came out).

And because great minds think alike (the minds of the people on this forum), I did suggest that the kid volunteer throughout the school year. The response: "He can't because he has rugby on Monday, tennis on Tuesday, extra tutoring on Wednesdays and Fridays, violin on Thursday, and needs his weekends to catch up on homework. Besides all those volunteer places are in dangerous areas of town, and I wouldn't feel comfortable letting him take the bus/subway there by himself, and our driver doesn't work on the weekends."

Yeah, I don't think I can help you.

(Though I like the idea of getting an iPhone 5. I have an old refurbished 5s with 8GB that dies after 8 hours. I should offer to trade my 5s for his 6s.)

[LennStar]

CW: My kid was mad at me because I got him an iPhone 6s and not the new iphoneX. Apparently everyone in his class has the iphoneX. It’s also super unfair to him that he doesn’t get an allowance when everyone else gets at least $100 per week.
Me: He really needs to learn to be grateful for what he has. He needs to cultivate an attitude of appreciation. I mean, you guys live in one of the richest neighborhoods in town; it’s not like he’s destitute.

You see 90% reasons for "Needs" here. It is shown that from a certain amount of income, happiness does not increase (in fact it may go down).
BUT that amount is not a solid, objective number. It depends on the neighborhood you are in. COMPARING makes you miserable.

(Of course we are talking about "rich" countries here. If you hunger it does not make much of a difference if your neighbor is even more hungry.)

[bostonjim]

If my kid ever whines to me that he needs an allowance, I plan on playing this clip for him:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0f6l1QljpMo

[DutchGirl]

Talking at work about that one time when our paycheck was two days late.

CW1: My co-workers were complaining about not being able to pay their rent. Well, in my opinion, if you haven't saved up 1000 euros somewhere in a savings account so that you can still pay your rent when your paycheck is late, that's on you. (Yeah, hurray for CW1!)
CW2: Well, but you can't grow rich. Not with the salaries we earn at our company!

I ... kept silent.

[Potatotoe]

Overheard my boss (who is owner of the company) exclaim while she was looking up "how much should I save to start a business" that it was impossible for someone to save 100k. Impossible for her maybe. Here is just a sample of other things she has said/done.

"I bought a boat over the weekend. I used my son's graduation money. Oops."
Bought a brand new F-250. She literally lives 5 minutes from work.
Bought a coworker hundreds of dollars worth of baby stuff for her baby shower and said "I have an online shopping problem".
Gets her hair done every other month.
She is up to her eyeballs in student loan debt since she kept changing careers. Apparently she owes 30k just from one year of vet school and she has had several careers since then.
The building we work in gets more furniture and just stuff in it every week. So much clutter.
Goes on vacation every holiday and on her birthday.

[facepalm]

Error page 404 found

I see what you did there.

[DarkandStormy]

CW #1: Hmm, kids are getting a bit older (3 and 7 I think).  We should be saving more in their 529 plans for college.
CW #2: Oh, how much are you saving?
CW #1: $50 a month, $25/kid.

Also CW #1: Yeah, I only do 6% into my 401(k).  Just can't afford more.
Also CW #1: Yeah, after the recent promotion I'm going to be over the IRA income limits.
Also CW #1: Excited for this weekend.  Bought a new boat and we'll finally be able to get out on the lake this weekend.  Hang out at the lake house (that he recently bought as well).

Me = :facepalm:

[FindingFI]

I want an EV car and have my employer refill that for for free. I've seen a coworker to recharges their car at work with a 120V cord. I don't know if our employer has noticed or not though.

My boyfriend charges his EV at work just like this and his employer is totally onboard!  They even marked the parking spot near the outlet just for him since it's the only one the charging cord reaches.  In the summer months, the range of the car is just about equal to his commute and it fully charges during the work day, so he basically gets free "gas".

[Goldielocks]

$100/week?  Gee, I wish I (as an adult) had that much free cash to spend on whatever.

Back on topic, I was on a business trip this weekend with several coworkers.  We rented a Nissan Armada (the biggest SUV they make) to haul us to/from a trade show.  After a few days riding in it, I came to the conclusion that this vehicle is a complete joke compared to a minivan.  Why?

• It starts at $46k, compared to $30k for a Honda Odyssey
• It gets 19MPG highway compared to 28
• The cargo area is basically non-existent.  There's maybe 12" between the liftgate and the rear seats.  For comparison, our family also went on a road trip this weekend in our minivan.  We brought three suitcases (from large to carry-on size), a duffel, four backpacks, and seven pillows and blankets, and still had room for a massive king-size comforter and several pillows in the back, without obstructing the rear window.
• Despite the massive footprint, the rear seats are no more comfortable than those in our minivan. (no more leg room or head height)

Pros for this vehicle?  Well, it has more ground clearance (9.5" vs 4.5") and higher towing capability (8,500 lbs vs 3,500).  That's about it.

I saw one in the showroom when they first came out.  As the owner of an older Dodge Grand Caravan, I did not get it.   The armada is the most expensive vehicle of its class (that year).
BUT -- I figured out who it is for:

Older owners who have a large trailer-able (just) boat and like to go fishing with 4 other large male friends, and want to show off their success.

Drive 6 hours in luxury, but don't go into any backwoods.  Only the boat ramp access may require some off road / good gravel road and traction.  The vehicle is parked on pavement during the trip.  Stay on the boat, or at a hotel /motel nearby.   Everyone is 55 yrs + and liking comfort over "getting there".

[zachaloo]

Lurker on the thread for a few months and slowly working my way through the whole thing. I just got through the foam about gun laws. God y'all can get so distracted sometimes.

I've got some stuff here.

CW has been an employee for the local government over 30 years. She has had the option of full retirement for a couple of years now, but for whatever reason she hasn't. That reason is becoming more obvious. Now she is being "forced" to retire.

Turns out CW has been missing quite a few mortgage payments and the only way she can make up for it is to retire early and cash out a large portion of her pension/retirement savings NOW. By retiring ASAP instead of at the end of the year she stands to lose $20k in retirement that she would otherwise receive, on top of whatever mortgage payments she has to make up for.

I feel bad, but she dug this hole herself. She does very little work during the day and instead talks on her phone, shops online, and buys fast food for breakfast or lunch every day. She is also constantly borrowing money from people and not repaying them. She has actually been warned a couple of times by our boss not to ask co-workers for money. It's gotten that bad.

I'm not sure if a decision has been made for her to retire, but it looks bleak no matter how you slice it.

CW2 has been informing me all about CW1 drama, but she has issues herself. CW2 is having trouble understanding how it benefits CW1 to retire now instead of continuing to work and pay down her debts. I suggested doing an early withdrawal, but CW1 retirement plan may not allow that. CW2 says she did a 401k withdrawal in the 80s to dig a pool in their yard, and shortly after the withdrawal, the company she worked for went out of business so she had to pay all of the 401k loan back immediately. CW2 said, "Who could plan for that?!" I just shook my head and shrugged. I'm 24 and everyone else in my office is more than twice my age, so they would not listen to any financial advice that I would have to offer.

[Greenback Reproduction Specialist]

Crazy cat guy on the phone talking about his relationship living in an apartment while waiting to get into a house.

"At one point our family growing up had over 20 cats….. (talking about his relationship and his cat vs her dog)It may not look like much but that cat will rip the dogs eye out pretty fast…. Yea there ferocious."

[JetBlast]

How about an overheard at the credit union at which my mother volunteers on supervisory committee? (So kinda her workplace)

Chatting with one of the loan officers and they told me they recently had a couple take out a new car loan of $15,000 on a $35,000 vehicle. They then requested to purchase gap insurance. The loan officer tried to talk them out of it, explaining that there was no chance the vehicle would be worth less than the loan amount if they were involved in an accident during the loan. The customers insisted on gap insurance because “that’s what we’ve always done.”

[Hirondelle]

How about an overheard at the credit union at which my mother volunteers on supervisory committee? (So kinda her workplace)

Chatting with one of the loan officers and they told me they recently had a couple take out a new car loan of $15,000 on a $35,000 vehicle. They then requested to purchase gap insurance. The loan officer tried to talk them out of it, explaining that there was no chance the vehicle would be worth less than the loan amount if they were involved in an accident during the loan. The customers insisted on gap insurance because “that’s what we’ve always done.”

Such an excellent way of decision making. Just do what you've always done and everything will be fine.

[Sibley]

Crazy cat guy on the phone talking about his relationship living in an apartment while waiting to get into a house.

"At one point our family growing up had over 20 cats….. (talking about his relationship and his cat vs her dog)It may not look like much but that cat will rip the dogs eye out pretty fast…. Yea there ferocious."

I HATE animal hoarders. It's horrible for the animals. That poor dog (and I'm a cat person).

[Slee_stack]

At a recent company-wide meeting, our General Manager made a comment that [looking around the parking lot, it is obvious that we all have been fortunate to work here and we should be optimistic for continued success].

I know what he meant, but from a mustachian perspective, it was so blatently clueless.

Our lot is filled with newer trucks and cars.  I don't doubt some truly can afford them, but I know most of these are really huge ball-and-chains to the employees that may never be able to afford to stop working.

It was completely un-motivational to me when I heard this.  Most of the herd just nodded in agreement though.  Work to spend!  Work to spend!

[Linea_Norway]

At a recent company-wide meeting, our General Manager made a comment that [looking around the parking lot, it is obvious that we all have been fortunate to work here and we should be optimistic for continued success].

I know what he meant, but from a mustachian perspective, it was so blatently clueless.

Our lot is filled with newer trucks and cars.  I don't doubt some truly can afford them, but I know most of these are really huge ball-and-chains to the employees that may never be able to afford to stop working.

It was completely un-motivational to me when I heard this.  Most of the herd just nodded in agreement though.  Work to spend!  Work to spend!

At my job today I saw to fancy convertibles parked beside each other. In Norway a convertible is typically your extra car, not your normal car. In the winter the parking lot contsins a LOT of Teslas.

But I work at a place where a group of people have a pretty high income, being specialists and working weekends, night shifts, Christmas ect. Maybe they can afford those cars.

[MgoSam]

It was completely un-motivational to me when I heard this.  Most of the herd just nodded in agreement though.  Work to spend!  Work to spend!

That seems to be a winning mantra for management to preach to the workers. From their perspective it's not bad advice, I mean the more their workers owe the less they'll complain about the hours.

[Linea_Norway]

My colleague: My children are still talking about that vacation in Norway, many years ago. Probably because we went camping that time. The kids like the things that we do when we go to Spain: being at the beach, hiring water scooters, visiting amusement parks. But it is the vacations in the homeland, fishing etc that create their memories...

[Just Joe]

I want an EV car and have my employer refill that for for free. I've seen a coworker to recharges their car at work with a 120V cord. I don't know if our employer has noticed or not though.

My boyfriend charges his EV at work just like this and his employer is totally onboard!  They even marked the parking spot near the outlet just for him since it's the only one the charging cord reaches.  In the summer months, the range of the car is just about equal to his commute and it fully charges during the work day, so he basically gets free "gas".

I used a Kill-A-Watt meter when I charged my battery last. Looks like it costs a nickel to charge my bike up and to ride 40 miles or so.

[Imma]

Coworker and I were talking about my grandparents when they were young adults, because they lived across the street from his family back then.

"They must have had such an easy life back them, they had all this time to cycle everywhere and clean their homes so thoroughly. Life is so busy these days we need all these gadgets and two cars per family".


We are talking about people living in a very small home, who didn't have hot water or indoor plumbing and had to wash all their clothes by hand. They were burning coal and wood so they had to clean their home all day every day. They were lucky enough to only have two sets of clothing each so they only spent 1 whole day a week doing laundry. They stayed fit and healthy doing all this work so they could easily bike to see relatives on Sundays. Definitely not because they could not afford a bus ticket.

My coworker is always complaining about his busy life and I just don't know what to say anymore. Historically life has never been as easy as it is now. The Roman Emperors probably had a less luxurious life than I do on 10k a year. If he would cut out half of his spending he'd only have to work half as much.

[ducky19]

Coworker who has been making ~$130k+ year base salary (not counting bonuses) consistently for years just shared that he bought a brand new F250 Super Duty diesel crew cab, because his old truck (only a couple of years old) couldn't haul a fifth wheel (which they will also be buying new - you know, now that he has the truck to haul it). Same coworker was lamenting just last week how his entire bonus went toward the mortgage on the family farm, because they still owe over $1mil on it, and how one bad year could mean the difference between keeping or losing it. But hey, I guess they'll at least have a place to live...

smh

[zachaloo]

CW was talking about her grown kids and their cars.

Her DIL leases a Mercedes car and yesterday had a tire blowout after driving through a pothole. Apparently, these cars don't come with a spare tire nor can you get a matching tire from anywhere other than a dealership. So instead of changing a flat like a normal person, the car had to be towed to a dealership. She said it was especially annoying because the tow + new tire is just a waste because they're trading it in to lease a newer Mercedes car in just a couple of days...

In the same conversation, she also mentioned how "economical" it was to lease cars because "that way you are paying low and getting a nice new car every couple of years." She followed this up with a story about how she leased a car earlier in her life and wound up upside down on it after she went over the mileage because she drove her boys around for baseball.

Same CW wants to trade in her paid-off SUV because the traction control light comes on sometimes and is afraid if she waits too long it won't be worth enough to make a good down payment on another oversized/unnecessary SUV...

[dreadmoose]

Finally caught up to this thread... only a solid year of reading through buckets of foam.

On topic:

Had a work lunch with a subcontractor that was startled I walked from our building (4 city blocks). Conversation started out alright until he found out I invested solely in 4 index funds matching global equity markets. He proceeded to tell me about how he lost all of his savings when he was 45 with some bad picks and had to sell really low. So now he's decided with his wife that there is no point in investing anymore. He stressed how if he'd saved the money in a savings account instead he'd have north of 6 figures now, though I didn't know how to break to him that that wouldn't really get him FI.

Oh, and he ended the conversation by bringing up his friend that was waiting for legislation to kick in in Canada and start up a front-end store selling our newest vice come August. How for only $5000 he could cut me in..

[jordanread]

Finally caught up to this thread... only a solid year of reading through buckets of foam.

You will forever regret posting here, FYI.

[RWD]

Finally caught up to this thread... only a solid year of reading through buckets of foam.

I won't believe you until you tell me what color a black box is.

[dreadmoose]

I won't believe you until you tell me what color a black box is.

PTSD of reading through that section has me seeing nothing but orange..

[RWD]

I won't believe you until you tell me what color a black box is.

PTSD of reading through that section has me seeing nothing but orange..

Alright, you pass. :)

[esq]

Not at my work, but my friend's work. She has a lovely active life where she does part time in home pet care.  A client, very sick from Type 2 diabetes (neuropathy is so bad when he was in the hospital his spleen ruptured and because he couldn't feel anything, they only found out because of a sudden spiking fever), whose wife is a receptionist who brings home fast food several times per week, lives very precariously on a limited pension. Last week they had just bought a brand new SUV.

My friend: "Why? Your other one was only 3 years old."
Her client: "I know, but it needed new brakes and tires, and we couldn't afford those things."
My friend: "?????"
Her client: "Yes, we've been buying new vehicles from the same dealer every 3 years for the last 15 years. As long as the payment after trade-in stays under $500, we're good to go. This time it went just over $500, but the car is so nice, we're ok with it."

After more conversation, and her politely sharing how she pays her cc's off every month, eats mostly at home, etc, he told her they are so far deeply in debt, there's no point in trying to dig themselves out, so they'll continue on with their vacations, eating out, etc.

What amazes me just as much as this oblivious mindset, is that there are credit card companies that extend people like this continued credit. I can't imagine this ending well.

[Freedomin5]

I’m not usually shocked by things, but this one made my jaw hit the floor.

Coworker: I’m so broke. I had to ask my parents for money to cover rent.
Me: Why? I thought you got a monthly allowance from your parents (this is on top of her salary).
Coworker: Well, I wasn’t broke before last week.
Me: What happened last week?
Coworker: We went clubbing.
Me: Just out of curiosity, how much did you spend? I heard that drinks can be expensive.
Coworker: $3000.
Me: (dumbfounded) What the heck were you drinking that costs that much?!?!

The average local salary where I live is $1000/month. She just spent five months of an average local person’s salary on drinks. My rent is $1200 per month. She spent 2.5 months rent on drinks, in one night.

Apparently, there are drinks packages that you can buy. $5000 for five bottles of Dom Perignon (sp?) plus one bottle free. Or $20K for 20 bottles plus five free. She apparently went for the frugal package — 3 bottles for $3000.

Way too rich for my taste. I’ve been here for six years and didn’t even know that existed. And here I was bemoaning my $30 brunch buffet at the Shangri-La (which was delicious, btw).

[fell-like-rain]

I’m not usually shocked by things, but this one made my jaw hit the floor.

Coworker: I’m so broke. I had to ask my parents for money to cover rent.
Me: Why? I thought you got a monthly allowance from your parents (this is on top of her salary).
Coworker: Well, I wasn’t broke before last week.
Me: What happened last week?
Coworker: We went clubbing.
Me: Just out of curiosity, how much did you spend? I heard that drinks can be expensive.
Coworker: $3000.
Me: (dumbfounded) What the heck were you drinking that costs that much?!?!

The average local salary where I live is $1000/month. She just spent five months of an average local person’s salary on drinks. My rent is $1200 per month. She spent 2.5 months rent on drinks, in one night.

Apparently, there are drinks packages that you can buy. $5000 for five bottles of Dom Perignon (sp?) plus one bottle free. Or $20K for 20 bottles plus five free. She apparently went for the frugal package — 3 bottles for $3000.

Way too rich for my taste. I’ve been here for six years and didn’t even know that existed. And here I was bemoaning my $30 brunch buffet at the Shangri-La (which was delicious, btw).

That's truly appalling. Though it does give me an idea for a side business... put Dom Perignon labels on cheap champagne, and sell it at the clubs for $500 apiece, as I doubt anyone can taste the difference.

Though if we're talking about people who spend that much on drinks, maybe I should charge $1500 a bottle so they'll think it's the super-premium stuff...

[Dollar Slice]

Coworker: We went clubbing.
Me: Just out of curiosity, how much did you spend? I heard that drinks can be expensive.
Coworker: $3000.

Aaaaaaaaaah! That's INSANE.

I find it so baffling that people seek out opportunities to spend money so stupidly. I mean, it's not like you can just walk in off the street to some random bar and order that. You have to really make an effort.

[Just Joe]

What is WRONG with people?

"I'm poor or broke. Let's make this WAY, way worse with celebrity style spending... Hey social media: look at me!!!"

[Davnasty]

I’m not usually shocked by things, but this one made my jaw hit the floor.

Coworker: I’m so broke. I had to ask my parents for money to cover rent.
Me: Why? I thought you got a monthly allowance from your parents (this is on top of her salary).
Coworker: Well, I wasn’t broke before last week.
Me: What happened last week?
Coworker: We went clubbing.
Me: Just out of curiosity, how much did you spend? I heard that drinks can be expensive.
Coworker: $3000.
Me: (dumbfounded) What the heck were you drinking that costs that much?!?!

The average local salary where I live is $1000/month. She just spent five months of an average local person’s salary on drinks. My rent is $1200 per month. She spent 2.5 months rent on drinks, in one night.

Apparently, there are drinks packages that you can buy. $5000 for five bottles of Dom Perignon (sp?) plus one bottle free. Or $20K for 20 bottles plus five free. She apparently went for the frugal package — 3 bottles for $3000.

Way too rich for my taste. I’ve been here for six years and didn’t even know that existed. And here I was bemoaning my $30 brunch buffet at the Shangri-La (which was delicious, btw).

The retail price of that wine is $150-200, unless it was some special edition which I doubt. Not that it really matters because they could've been served a $20 bottle and she wouldn't have known the difference, especially after the first bottle.

$30 for brunch! Alright, big spender. I hope you made that brunch into a brunchner.

[Dragonswan]

I’m not usually shocked by things, but this one made my jaw hit the floor.

Coworker: I’m so broke. I had to ask my parents for money to cover rent.
Me: Why? I thought you got a monthly allowance from your parents (this is on top of her salary).
Coworker: Well, I wasn’t broke before last week.
Me: What happened last week?
Coworker: We went clubbing.
Me: Just out of curiosity, how much did you spend? I heard that drinks can be expensive.
Coworker: $3000.
Me: (dumbfounded) What the heck were you drinking that costs that much?!?!

The average local salary where I live is $1000/month. She just spent five months of an average local person’s salary on drinks. My rent is $1200 per month. She spent 2.5 months rent on drinks, in one night.

Apparently, there are drinks packages that you can buy. $5000 for five bottles of Dom Perignon (sp?) plus one bottle free. Or $20K for 20 bottles plus five free. She apparently went for the frugal package — 3 bottles for $3000.

Way too rich for my taste. I’ve been here for six years and didn’t even know that existed. And here I was bemoaning my $30 brunch buffet at the Shangri-La (which was delicious, btw).

WOW!  Even I, who thinks flying business class for vacation is an acceptable use of softly earned money, pass judgement on this.  If your income (however derived) is under a million dollars a year, you can't afford this.  The absolute stupidity of spending your rent money for this boggles the mind.  Let us have a moment of silence to mourn the fact that she will NEVER retire on her own merits (she can if she inherits or marries one of the rich dudes at the club).

[ingrownstudentloans]

or marries one of the rich dudes at the club

Which would make her $3,000 "investment" worthwhile...different strokes for different folks I guess. 

[MgoSam]

Coworker: I’m so broke. I had to ask my parents for money to cover rent.

The average local salary where I live is $1000/month. She just spent five months of an average local person’s salary on drinks. My rent is $1200 per month. She spent 2.5 months rent on drinks, in one night.

Did she tell her parents where her money went?

Man, and I was feeling bad that last week I ended up going out for drinks 4 days in a row.

Wednesday- purely my choice to go to happy hour
Thursday- group obligation
Friday- drinks with friends, tried to move it to my place or one of theirs but they wanted to go out
Saturday- my gym hosted local fighters and many teammates competed. We went out afterwards, definitely didn't mind this (also happened to my cheapest night as the food and alcohol choices at the place are terrible).

From 4 nights of drinking and eating out at bars I spend a total of $80.

[Kierun]

That's truly appalling. Though it does give me an idea for a side business... put Dom Perignon labels on cheap champagne, and sell it at the clubs for $500 apiece, as I doubt anyone can taste the difference.

Except that would be illegal and unethical if you care about those sorts of things

[zolotiyeruki]

That's truly appalling. Though it does give me an idea for a side business... put Dom Perignon labels on cheap champagne, and sell it at the clubs for $500 apiece, as I doubt anyone can taste the difference.

Except that would be illegal and unethical if you care about those sorts of things

What if you refunded part of the difference afterward, as a "look, I actually saved you money!" gesture?

[Kierun]

That's truly appalling. Though it does give me an idea for a side business... put Dom Perignon labels on cheap champagne, and sell it at the clubs for $500 apiece, as I doubt anyone can taste the difference.

Except that would be illegal and unethical if you care about those sorts of things

What if you refunded part of the difference afterward, as a "look, I actually saved you money!" gesture?

Still illegal but more ethical?

[Just Joe]

Just typo the name or change a few details of the logo. ;)

[markbike528CBX]

Just typo the name or change a few details of the logo. ;)

Dum Perignon  (Private Label Reserve)  <--- no copyright implied or intended, use at your own risk.

[NoraLenderbee]

"Don Periwig"
"Krustal"

[TheGrimSqueaker]

Veuve Click-out

[Freedomin5]

I'm in China. You could totally get away with serving bottles of Dum Pregnant and Were Quacko. Actually, based on what I see on Taobao (Chinese eBay), some people don't even change the labels -- $35 LV bag, anyone? ;)

[Linea_Norway]

My young coworker, who I thought was very frugal: "I am saving 5% of my income into an index fund, as my additional pension."

This is good, of course, but it is not an impressive %. I kept quiet and didn't mention my 75%.

[elliha]

My spendy pants co-worker wants a Chanel-belt. Why? Can't you use a regular belt or is your waist really that special? Do you regularly flush money down the toilet? (please don't tell me if you do)

She also cannot ride her bike to work because it is not far away enough. She goes on 50 km rides during the weekend as exercise which I think is fine but why would you not get any benefit from riding 18 km x2 a day? Even if she would only go twice a week she would double the time she spends cycling a week on her expensive bike. She also refuses to use their bike trolley so she cannot go on rides with her son. Sure, it is not as fun riding when you use a trolley (I know since I use one almost daily) but why not do it just to spend time with your son and not count it as exercise? Well, what do I know with my old 7 speed bike and 10 year old double bike trolley... I just don't get why they got a fancy super light new bike trolley if it is just going to be used by her husband occasionally.

[CptCool]

My young coworker, who I thought was very frugal: "I am saving 5% of my income into an index fund, as my additional pension."

This is good, of course, but it is not an impressive %. I kept quiet and didn't mention my 75%.

Don't keep quiet - give your coworker some praise & encouragement! No need to tout your 75%, but that coworker is taking their first steps which is always the hardest part. Encourage them to keep going!

[Hirondelle]

My young coworker, who I thought was very frugal: "I am saving 5% of my income into an index fund, as my additional pension."

This is good, of course, but it is not an impressive %. I kept quiet and didn't mention my 75%.

Don't keep quiet - give your coworker some praise & encouragement! No need to tout your 75%, but that coworker is taking their first steps which is always the hardest part. Encourage them to keep going!

This doesn't have to mean that's she's spending the full other 95%. Maybe she's saving it up in a savings account or for a house down-payment.

[talltexan]

75% is pretty remarkable, good job! But real people will think you're a freak if you share that kind of savings-rate with them (they won't realize it includes payments towards mortgage principal).

[Dragonswan]

My spendy pants co-worker wants a Chanel-belt. Why? Can't you use a regular belt or is your waist really that special? Do you regularly flush money down the toilet? (please don't tell me if you do)

Have you seen her waist?  Of course it's that special and deserves the best credit can buy!