Overheard at Work

[sol]

Are we going to start blaming parents for mental retardation and autism too?

Don't be ridiculous.  Everyone knows that autism is caused by vaccinations.

[skyrefuge]

I used that example because an earlier poster made a derogatory comment about their parents, another poster assumed it was wrong of that person to do so.

LOL, no. An earlier poster made a derogatory comment about commercials, and then another poster made a joke that relied on the ambiguity of English sentence structure for its humor. No bad parents (or commentary thereon) were ever involved.

So now we can stop talking about kiddie-touchers and get back to things overheard at work!

[otherbarry]

Man you guys talk about some weird things at work.

[lithy]

Mandating backup cameras has the same slight positive consequence of saving a few lives without any of the negative consequences. 

Except for continuing the ever increasing creep of mandatory technology into a tool that some people use for simple transportation and further pricing vehicle ownership out of the reach of median income earners in the western world. 

And to be clear, Tesla's lobbying to allow cameras in place of mirrors is not to require all cars to have cameras, but to allow some consumers to choose cameras instead of optical mirrors.  They're asking for more consumer freedom (you libertarians) and less regulation.

Do you see how advocating for consumer CHOICE is different than implementing manufacturing mandates?

Seat belts were going to happen without government intervention.  Not to mention at least one state still has it right regarding grown ass adults making their own decisions about whether or not they should wear a seatbelt.

That's ok, soon we won't be able to buy a self-driven car anyway.  Only at that point, they'll probably tell you that you can't just buy an old one either since you aren't to be trusted to operate a motor vehicle.

[Goldielocks]

Back to things overheard at Work!

This one is not from work, but my MIL.  After all the used car threads, I need to share.

Her:  Are you still worried about needing to replace your (suddenly broken down) car? (about 2 months after the car broke down)
Me:  No!  It was really fortunate, my bonus this year was higher than expected and with this year's income tax return, we were able to pay cash.
Her: An income tax return that large is just not possible!
Me:  Well, we don't get employer sponsored pension like you used to, so our RRSP limit (aka 401k)... is quite large.

Her:  Must have been some bonus....   
Me:  I am very happy with it, but it wasn't exceptional....  (random change of topic to stop talking money..  she thinks we make way more than we do simply because we don't ask her for money)

ARGH.   She does not get it because she just helped my SIL (her daughter) buy a 60k new Honda Oddessy..

  She just can't imagine a car costing so "little" as $12k....   

[gimp]

Seat belts were going to happen without government intervention.

Don't be thick. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unsafe_at_Any_Speed. Nader's a joke now but he did a lot of good back in the day.

[Daisy]

But why would I want to contribute to the over-use of rare earth metals in screens and cameras in every car? That doesn't sound very green. Let's say the cost is that low and that's all they will charge for it. Will it stay that low? What if the rare earth metal situation gets worse? I'd rather those materials be used in cameras such as surgeries where they would be of more use.

Sarcasm I hope?  Without doing the math I have to think that the net r.e.m. usage of this is very small relative to total usage.  I am all for hugging a tree but lets have some perspective.  If I am wrong please explain. Yes a tree saved is a tree earned, but really this would seem much less than round off error.

This comment wasn't meant to be sarcasm. My previous comment about the small car/big car discrepency being dangerous was actually meant more on the sarcasm side...although seriously, I have had a lot of close calls in parking lots trying to back out while parked next to a behemoth of a gas guzzler. So, honestly, that suggestion I think will do more to increase car backing-up securities. Any other small car drivers with me?

And, yes, I can be that green. I have been made fun of more than once for being against single-use items that I think contribute to environmental waste.

And that was my point with the original comment way back when my co-worker (this did start as an overheard at work comment by me) couldn't understand why I would oppose it. Can't you respect my opinion? I'm not trying to ban backup cameras in cars, but I want to choose if I contribute to this environmental waste or not...thank you.

Well I am done talking about this topic. Carry on with the hilarious overheard at work stories. ;-)

[Christof]

And the comparison to shower or biking deaths isn't valid.  Showering and biking are going to happen Anyway, they are unstoppable.  Banning them would have severe negative consequences to accompany the slight positive consequence of saving a few lives.  Mandating backup cameras has the same slight positive consequence of saving a few lives without any of the negative consequences.  We don't all suddenly get fat and stinky when new cars have cameras.  It's a net positive decision, unlike banning biking or showering.

You are completely missing the point...

I argued that it is bad manner to pretend a poster is killing a child or should somehow kill their own child when merely pointing out that 65 death saved is a low number compared to the total population.  My examples are random activities that cause a higher number of deaths every year. I wasn't arguing against these cameras, because I frankly don't care.

$140 is what the ministry of transportation estimated as the extra cost due to this regulation, not $5. That is over two billions, most of which will be financed by credit. If you in the US decide to spend this amount of money, cool. My shares will benefit and I get cheaper cameras out of this while the inital cost is covered by US car buyers.

[Travis]

I guess I should probably contribute to my unit's fund then. :/ No one's ever hit me up and I'm not the type of person to volunteer that money. Especially when there's a $25 hail and farewell about once a month.

I did have to pay about $100 for my plaque when I left the line battery and never even got one, so...

Gotta love Hail and Farewells. Thankfully I've only had to attend two in my unit and they were six months apart, but I've known units to hold them every month.  The first one was at a high-end pizza joint where everybody ended up with at least a $20 bill.  The second was at a Chinese buffet where the tab was $15 per person, but it's still annoying to have these events where you're pretty much compelled to show up and pay those prices.

[CommonCents]

Goldie, why not just tell her you bought a car that cost 1/5th of the amount she spent on her daughter's car?  Keeping that information to yourself probably perpetuates the idea you make lots more than you do.

So I feel left out by all of the stories, so I'm going to share one from my old workplace, a large law firm.

Retirement guy presents a talk and strongly encourages all of us to contribute the max to our 401ks.
Lawyer: But how can we afford to do so?!  I have private school for two kids, car payments, etc....

Keep in mind this woman earned $250K herself, and I understood had free housing (on a private campus) due to her husband's teaching job.  I worked with this lawyer, she was very smart and down-to earth, but I was appalled she wasn't in this regard.  Even in my pre-MMM days though, I was reasonably on spending and couldn't understand how she could let that sum go through her fingers without catching and keeping any of it.  It probably was due to things such as her asking me how I enjoyed the ride in the Partner's car (I am not a car person - I had no idea it was a particularly "fancy" car), and telling me she plans to buy one after she paid off her law school loans.

[Zikoris]

Adding another "Overheard at work", this time from my boyfriend.

We just got back from a fabulous "fancy backpacking" (carrying all our stuff in backpacks rather than suitcases, but renting private apartments rather than hostels) trip to Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, and Paris. We travel frequently, but don't spend that much since we rent cheap apartments with kitchens and cook, plan trips around sales, don't have luggage, don't buy stuff, etc.

Yesterday he was telling one of his co-workers about it, and they asked, "So, are you broke now?", and he was like "Um... no...". I guess the norm is to come back from travelling penniless? It was kind of funny because the conversation happened on the same day our net worth finally crossed the $100,000 barrier.

[thd7t]

Adding another "Overheard at work", this time from my boyfriend.

We just got back from a fabulous "fancy backpacking" (carrying all our stuff in backpacks rather than suitcases, but renting private apartments rather than hostels) trip to Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, and Paris. We travel frequently, but don't spend that much since we rent cheap apartments with kitchens and cook, plan trips around sales, don't have luggage, don't buy stuff, etc.

Yesterday he was telling one of his co-workers about it, and they asked, "So, are you broke now?", and he was like "Um... no...". I guess the norm is to come back from travelling penniless? It was kind of funny because the conversation happened on the same day our net worth finally crossed the $100,000 barrier.

Maybe they have an association between "backpacking" and "penniless".  It fits all kinds of stereotypes that make people more comfortable with you having an awesome European vacation

[Christof]

We just got back from a fabulous "fancy backpacking" (carrying all our stuff in backpacks rather than suitcases, but renting private apartments rather than hostels) trip to Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, and Paris. We travel frequently, but don't spend that much since we rent cheap apartments with kitchens and cook, plan trips around sales, don't have luggage, don't buy stuff, etc.

Geez... We do have electrical power and washing machines here in Europe. Our kitchens have everything you need to cook and eat, even plates, imaging this!

[PilotsWife]

We just got back from a fabulous "fancy backpacking" (carrying all our stuff in backpacks rather than suitcases, but renting private apartments rather than hostels) trip to Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, and Paris. We travel frequently, but don't spend that much since we rent cheap apartments with kitchens and cook, plan trips around sales, don't have luggage, don't buy stuff, etc.

Geez... We do have electrical power and washing machines here in Europe. Our kitchens have everything you need to cook and eat, even plates, imaging this!

Wut?! Europe is wired with electricity nowadays? THIS IS BRAND NEW INFORMATION!

Re: your earlier comment about non-rapists making it onto the registered offender list, many states have laws where relationships between people 1-3 years apart in age aren't illegal even if one person is underage. So, if I was 16 & sleeping with an 18 year old, it would be legal in many states. I'm sure that the vast majority of those on the registered offender list deserve to be on it.

[Davids]

We just got back from a fabulous "fancy backpacking" (carrying all our stuff in backpacks rather than suitcases, but renting private apartments rather than hostels) trip to Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, and Paris. We travel frequently, but don't spend that much since we rent cheap apartments with kitchens and cook, plan trips around sales, don't have luggage, don't buy stuff, etc.

Geez... We do have electrical power and washing machines here in Europe. Our kitchens have everything you need to cook and eat, even plates, imaging this!

Is it antimustachian if you really have to go to the bathroom to pay 0.5 EUR?

[agent_clone]

We just got back from a fabulous "fancy backpacking" (carrying all our stuff in backpacks rather than suitcases, but renting private apartments rather than hostels) trip to Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, and Paris. We travel frequently, but don't spend that much since we rent cheap apartments with kitchens and cook, plan trips around sales, don't have luggage, don't buy stuff, etc.

Geez... We do have electrical power and washing machines here in Europe. Our kitchens have everything you need to cook and eat, even plates, imaging this!

From what I hear it depends on where in Europe you are talking about.  For example smaller poorer villages in say Greece may not have electricity.  I think an ex-workmate said some of his relatives in Greece didn't have electricity (they certainly didn't have airconditioning as the conversation was about how they keep cool in summer with water in a pot and rotating the household sticking their feet in there).

[Zikoris]

Is it antimustachian if you really have to go to the bathroom to pay 0.5 EUR?

One of the things about Europe that irritates us the most. We've gotten better at it over the years, and now typically only end up paying two or three times a trip in genuine emergencies. We've been known to dig through the trash cans in McDonalds to find the bathroom code on receipts, or just walk in if there's no code (note - don't try this in Guatemala, where they have heavily armed guards posted outside the bathrooms). In Paris, the Japanese cultural center is right next to the Eiffel tower and has free bathrooms, if you want to go through a scanner and pretend to look at art for a bit. Zurich was nice though - public toilets everywhere that only have a suggested donation amount, but let you in free (and look like some sort of engineering marvel when they flush, like a combination of a roller coaster and a vortex).

[Albert]

Are there actually public toilets in big American cities (other than airports and railway stations)? I've traveled quite a bit there, but can't really remember…

[greenmimama]

Back to things overheard at Work!

This one is not from work, but my MIL.  After all the used car threads, I need to share.

Her:  Are you still worried about needing to replace your (suddenly broken down) car? (about 2 months after the car broke down)
Me:  No!  It was really fortunate, my bonus this year was higher than expected and with this year's income tax return, we were able to pay cash.
Her: An income tax return that large is just not possible!
Me:  Well, we don't get employer sponsored pension like you used to, so our RRSP limit (aka 401k)... is quite large.

Her:  Must have been some bonus....   
Me:  I am very happy with it, but it wasn't exceptional....  (random change of topic to stop talking money..  she thinks we make way more than we do simply because we don't ask her for money)

ARGH.   She does not get it because she just helped my SIL (her daughter) buy a 60k new Honda Oddessy..

  She just can't imagine a car costing so "little" as $12k....

She Helped her daughter buy a 60k mini van? Their is so much wrong with that statement I can't even begin.

[Zikoris]

Are there actually public toilets in big American cities (other than airports and railway stations)? I've traveled quite a bit there, but can't really remember…

Yes, they're very common - any sort of mall or large store will have them in abundance, as well as gas stations, parks, beaches, and any sort of public venues or events.

[Latwell]

I got 3 invitations for work Xmas parties, all >$100 a head, the most expensive one $160 a head.  Included are staff who make under 40K a year. Holy guacamole!
Guess who's being a party pooper? Man, I'm saving like nearly $500 by not going.

Why do managers think employees want to spend that kind of money to eat badly prepared food with people they usually have nothing in common with other than work?

This happens A LOT being a military officer as well. You're "expected" to attend military balls and other social functions that often cost $50 or more. You're also hit up for things like "cup and flower funds." The last unit I was in made me put up $200 for that fund and I never received anything out of that fund. What a waste.

I work for a tiny company (9 employees in busy season). For some reason, my coworkers (primarily my manager) don't care about birthdays. No one knows anyone else's birthday, yet they've worked together for 10+ years. This isn't a big deal. In fact, in glad they don't make a big deal about everyone's birthday because it means spending less money and no awkward birthday work celebrations.

However, the manager and senior coworker always celebrate secretary's day. I pointed out this year that it is odd they celebrate that day. The secretary is the owner's wife during our busy time of ear only. The rest of the year they pay some young person to answer our office phone probably 3 times a day and get the mail from the mailbox. Anyway, I can understand them trying to suck up to the wife of the boss, but they get such expensive nonsense for it and then they expect the lower level employees to contribute to it. Normally, I wouldn't have a problem contributing but they don't even ask our opinion on what to give. They give the same exact gift every year. Then I find out that they do the same thing for Christmas but the present is for the owner and the wife. Again, the present is expensive and way more than I would ever want to contribute.

In the eyes of my coworkers, I'm probably just a stingy a-hole. Lol

[Goldielocks]

We just got back from a fabulous "fancy backpacking" (carrying all our stuff in backpacks rather than suitcases, but renting private apartments rather than hostels) trip to Budapest, Vienna, Zurich, and Paris. We travel frequently, but don't spend that much since we rent cheap apartments with kitchens and cook, plan trips around sales, don't have luggage, don't buy stuff, etc.

Geez... We do have electrical power and washing machines here in Europe. Our kitchens have everything you need to cook and eat, even plates, imaging this!

Is it antimustachian if you really have to go to the bathroom to pay 0.5 EUR?

Value for money is always MMM.  Using a toilet when you need one is very high value in my book.  :-)

[Nords]

Is it antimustachian if you really have to go to the bathroom to pay 0.5 EUR?

One of the things about Europe that irritates us the most. We've gotten better at it over the years, and now typically only end up paying two or three times a trip in genuine emergencies. We've been known to dig through the trash cans in McDonalds to find the bathroom code on receipts, or just walk in if there's no code (note - don't try this in Guatemala, where they have heavily armed guards posted outside the bathrooms). In Paris, the Japanese cultural center is right next to the Eiffel tower and has free bathrooms, if you want to go through a scanner and pretend to look at art for a bit. Zurich was nice though - public toilets everywhere that only have a suggested donation amount, but let you in free (and look like some sort of engineering marvel when they flush, like a combination of a roller coaster and a vortex).

I guess it means that you're literally just pissing away your money...

[Christof]

Is it antimustachian if you really have to go to the bathroom to pay 0.5 EUR?

In Germany these paid bathrooms are usually in touristy places, so another reason to avoid them.... Malls have free bathrooms as well as department stores. Museums, gas stations, public buildings and all big chain hotels have free publically accessible bathrooms, too. Finally, you could also get a free Regus Gold Card through one of the many offers and visit the Business Lounge in any of their office buildings that are in every major city in the US and Europe. Free bath room, and free refill in form of coffee, tea and water.

The most expensive bathroom I ever encountered was in Northern Germany in what looked like a temporary washroom in a trailer. They charged 1 Euro ten years ago.

[Latwell]

Are there actually public toilets in big American cities (other than airports and railway stations)? I've traveled quite a bit there, but can't really remember…

Yes, they're very common - any sort of mall or large store will have them in abundance, as well as gas stations, parks, beaches, and any sort of public venues or events.

Or you can go into any one of the gazillion fast food places in American.

[eyePod]

Apparently, the local credit union (they have an office on site) recommends no less than a 45% total debt-to-income ratio for people buying mortgages.

Which is pretty mindblowing if you are at that percentage, not going to lie. I didn't dare ask pre/post tax income vs debt, though the slides made it seem like pretax.

Do they mean that your cash flow per month should be about half going to mortgage? That's crazy. We're at ~33% post tax but putting away a good amount (13%) to 401k pre-tax, so I can get that # a lot higher. And then you think about the house being included with car payments and whatever else payments. Just amazing to have that level of stress attached to you having a paycheck.

[AlanStache]

And then you think about the house being included with car payments and whatever else payments. Just amazing to have that level of stress attached to you having a paycheck.

Yep that stress makes up about 1/4 of the new stories in this thread.  Removable of that stress is a huge draw for me here, and ER is a really nice side effect!  Have seen to many people that make ok money or better get stressed and upset from a modest unexpected expense, is no way to live.

[Kansaslover5]

The only thing that made me a little sad is that he said he didn't want to get married or have children since it would derail his financial plans. I just nodded sympathetically, but damn dude, you really can have both! But I can see how someone would think that, looking at the world around them. For the record, I don't want kids myself, but I would still feel that way if I had all the money in the world.

Tell him that some women (assuming he is a breeder) pull their own weight and might even accelerate FIRE.

He alluded to getting burned pretty bad in some past relationships. If I knew any mustachian single women, I would set him up in a heartbeat, he seems like a really nice guy! But alas, I have an excess supply of nice, single guy friends, and a dearth of female ones.

That being said, I should totally tell him about this website, and the "singles" section!

I'm in the same boat as your friend and I agree with him at this point in my life.

[Mike2]

Two stories.  First is the lady who complains she can't put food on the table for her kids but takes at least one girls weekend a month to the local lake resort and second is the lady who is going to cash out her 401k to buy her spoiled daughter a car.  Great decisions all around.

[AlmostIndependent]

the lady who is going to cash out her 401k to buy her spoiled daughter a car

Awesome. I don't understand how people like this make it through life.

[Mike2]

the lady who is going to cash out her 401k to buy her spoiled daughter a car

Awesome. I don't understand how people like this make it through life.

Agreed.  She is a good friend so I told her she was being a fool for doing that but to no avail.

[viper155]

the lady who is going to cash out her 401k to buy her spoiled daughter a car

Awesome. I don't understand how people like this make it through life.

I do....those of us who "do" have our wealth redistributed to those who "won't" by politicians I certainly didn't vote for.

[Vorpal]

I do....those of us who "do" have our wealth redistributed to those who "won't" by politicians I certainly didn't vote for.

Just stop. Not what this thread is for.

[Cheddar Stacker]

CW:

Why did the alterations on my dress cost $50 when the alterations on my husbands new suit were only $30? I guess it doesn't matter anyway since we receive $100 alterations credit at Nordstrom's every year so we're not really paying for the alterations anyway.

Me: Huh? Stunned. No response at all.

[Zoot]

Overheard as I went to retrieve my lunch from the fridge in the breakroom of a company from which I semi-FIRE'd a few months ago (I'm back to help out with a big project as a contractor for a few months):

"...unless you just want to work for personal fulfillment and not worry about the money you get from it.  But NOBODY could EVER do THAT."

I got my lunch and kept my mouth shut. :)

zt

[nawhite]

CW:

Why did the alterations on my dress cost $50 when the alterations on my husbands new suit were only $30? I guess it doesn't matter anyway since we receive $100 alterations credit at Nordstrom's every year so we're not really paying for the alterations anyway.

Me: Huh? Stunned. No response at all.

I have to say, getting alterations to clothing from a thrift shop is actually a pretty great way to go in my opinion (granted this is very different than buying clothes from Nordstoms and getting those altered). A $5 button down shirt from Goodwill and a $15 tailoring turns it into a shirt that looks like it is worth $100.

Tailoring (at your local neighborhood tailor) is a very cheap way to make just about any article of clothing look way better on you.

[MrsPotts]

Coworker is very stressed and bored and deserves a break so she is going to move in with her 21 year old daughter in Vegas and live there for a year on her credit cards so she can party and meet a rich sugar daddy. 

[Goldielocks]

Coworker is very stressed and bored and deserves a break so she is going to move in with her 21 year old daughter in Vegas and live there for a year on her credit cards so she can party and meet a rich sugar daddy.

What do rich sugar daddies in Vegas look like?

[EricL]

Coworker is very stressed and bored and deserves a break so she is going to move in with her 21 year old daughter in Vegas and live there for a year on her credit cards so she can party and meet a rich sugar daddy.

What do rich sugar daddies in Vegas look like?

Let's just say the qualities relied upon for meeting women they lean most heavily on are being rich sugar daddies. 

And Vegas on credit cards?  For a year?  That's nuts.

[AlmostIndependent]

This has long been one of my favorite threads on the forum. Out of curiosity/boredom I went back and started reading the very beginning of the thread. This, Reply #2, is one of my favorite posts thus far.

I once made a "...but I'll be retired by then" comment to an acquaintance at work (during a discussion about the far future).  His bushy, bushy eyebrows shot up into his even bushier hair and he asked, "Really?  Are you independently wealthy or something?"

No, dumbass, but I have a $100k+/year job and I do math for a living.  And so do you.  Why are you not retired yet?

I want to say things like this at work so bad. It warms the cockles of my heart to know that there are people out there who feel the same way I do when it comes to less-than-genius co-workers.

I guess what I'm trying to say is; thank you fellow mustachians, you make my life much easier.

[horsepoor]

Today I overheard my co-worker saying on the phone that she is eligible to retire in 3 years, but who can afford that with our crappy 30% pension?  Then she said, "well, I guess we get that gap-pay until Social Security kicks in, but still, I'll have to keep working."  We're Federal employees, so she should have been paying into TSP for the last few decades as well.  For anyone who doesn't know, we actually get a pretty good benefit to fill the gap between retirement age (57) and Social Security eligibility too.  Her husband just retired with a great pension, but she recently financed a $30K car, goes out to eat all the time, has been on a ton of trips this year (Alaska, Prague, Costa Rica), and has a huge cell phone plan and pays for stuff like pesticide and lawn services.

[dude]

Today I overheard my co-worker saying on the phone that she is eligible to retire in 3 years, but who can afford that with our crappy 30% pension?  Then she said, "well, I guess we get that gap-pay until Social Security kicks in, but still, I'll have to keep working."  We're Federal employees, so she should have been paying into TSP for the last few decades as well.  For anyone who doesn't know, we actually get a pretty good benefit to fill the gap between retirement age (57) and Social Security eligibility too.  Her husband just retired with a great pension, but she recently financed a $30K car, goes out to eat all the time, has been on a ton of trips this year (Alaska, Prague, Costa Rica), and has a huge cell phone plan and pays for stuff like pesticide and lawn services.

Yeah, "crappy 30% pension" which will likely cover 50% or more of her pre-retirement expenses.  And of course, would have covered significantly more than that had one of her expenses been a $17,500 annual contribution to her TSP!  In my case, I've calculated that my pension + FERS Supp will cover 82% of my pre-retirement expenses.  This co-worker needs to be face-punched for frittering away what is quite possibly the best retirement scheme in the entire western world -- FERS.

[enigmaT120]

Today I overheard my co-worker saying on the phone that she is eligible to retire in 3 years, but who can afford that with our crappy 30% pension?  Then she said, "well, I guess we get that gap-pay until Social Security kicks in, but still, I'll have to keep working."  We're Federal employees, so she should have been paying into TSP for the last few decades as well.  For anyone who doesn't know, we actually get a pretty good benefit to fill the gap between retirement age (57) and Social Security eligibility too.  Her husband just retired with a great pension, but she recently financed a $30K car, goes out to eat all the time, has been on a ton of trips this year (Alaska, Prague, Costa Rica), and has a huge cell phone plan and pays for stuff like pesticide and lawn services.

I do hope they don't yank that gap-pay out from under our feet in the next 5 years.  If not I don't expect to start pulling from the TSP until 591/2 or maybe even 62 when the gap-pay stops. 

[Joggernot]

Coworker is very stressed and bored and deserves a break so she is going to move in with her 21 year old daughter in Vegas and live there for a year on her credit cards so she can party and meet a rich sugar daddy.

What do rich sugar daddies in Vegas look like?

Elvis

(sorry, couldn't resist; the force is strong)

[galaxie]

This has long been one of my favorite threads on the forum. Out of curiosity/boredom I went back and started reading the very beginning of the thread. This, Reply #2, is one of my favorite posts thus far.

I once made a "...but I'll be retired by then" comment to an acquaintance at work (during a discussion about the far future).  His bushy, bushy eyebrows shot up into his even bushier hair and he asked, "Really?  Are you independently wealthy or something?"

No, dumbass, but I have a $100k+/year job and I do math for a living.  And so do you.  Why are you not retired yet?

I want to say things like this at work so bad. It warms the cockles of my heart to know that there are people out there who feel the same way I do when it comes to less-than-genius co-workers.

I guess what I'm trying to say is; thank you fellow mustachians, you make my life much easier.

Aw, shucks!  I am glad it cheered you up. 

It's funny, because I just mentioned this to a work friend the other day: "Why are there so many old-timers here?  We have great retirement benefits, and everyone does math for a living.  They could all retire!"  She is new here, and I think I convinced her to max out her 401k contribution.

I, on the other hand, am leaving  for my lower-paying dream job because of MMM.  High fives all around!

[EricL]

Coworker is very stressed and bored and deserves a break so she is going to move in with her 21 year old daughter in Vegas and live there for a year on her credit cards so she can party and meet a rich sugar daddy.

What do rich sugar daddies in Vegas look like?

Elvis

(sorry, couldn't resist; the force is strong)

Yeah, Vegas Elvis if he hadn't died - older, fatter, more wrinkled, bald.  Lots of dough though.

[Threshkin]

Coworker is very stressed and bored and deserves a break so she is going to move in with her 21 year old daughter in Vegas and live there for a year on her credit cards so she can party and meet a rich sugar daddy.

What do rich sugar daddies in Vegas look like?

Elvis

(sorry, couldn't resist; the force is strong)

Yeah, Vegas Elvis if he hadn't died - older, fatter, more wrinkled, bald.  Lots of dough though.

Elvis is dead?

[AlmostIndependent]

This has long been one of my favorite threads on the forum. Out of curiosity/boredom I went back and started reading the very beginning of the thread. This, Reply #2, is one of my favorite posts thus far.

I once made a "...but I'll be retired by then" comment to an acquaintance at work (during a discussion about the far future).  His bushy, bushy eyebrows shot up into his even bushier hair and he asked, "Really?  Are you independently wealthy or something?"

No, dumbass, but I have a $100k+/year job and I do math for a living.  And so do you.  Why are you not retired yet?

I want to say things like this at work so bad. It warms the cockles of my heart to know that there are people out there who feel the same way I do when it comes to less-than-genius co-workers.

I guess what I'm trying to say is; thank you fellow mustachians, you make my life much easier.

Aw, shucks!  I am glad it cheered you up. 

It's funny, because I just mentioned this to a work friend the other day: "Why are there so many old-timers here?  We have great retirement benefits, and everyone does math for a living.  They could all retire!"  She is new here, and I think I convinced her to max out her 401k contribution.

I, on the other hand, am leaving  for my lower-paying dream job because of MMM.  High fives all around!

I too am preparing to take a lower paying dream job. I am so freaking excited I can't sit still when I think about it.

[MikeBear]

Coworker is very stressed and bored and deserves a break so she is going to move in with her 21 year old daughter in Vegas and live there for a year on her credit cards so she can party and meet a rich sugar daddy.

What do rich sugar daddies in Vegas look like?

Elvis

(sorry, couldn't resist; the force is strong)

Yeah, Vegas Elvis if he hadn't died - older, fatter, more wrinkled, bald.  Lots of dough though.

Elvis is dead?

He sure is, I saw his skeleton in Robocop 2. lol

[rocksinmyhead]

This has long been one of my favorite threads on the forum. Out of curiosity/boredom I went back and started reading the very beginning of the thread. This, Reply #2, is one of my favorite posts thus far.

I once made a "...but I'll be retired by then" comment to an acquaintance at work (during a discussion about the far future).  His bushy, bushy eyebrows shot up into his even bushier hair and he asked, "Really?  Are you independently wealthy or something?"

No, dumbass, but I have a $100k+/year job and I do math for a living.  And so do you.  Why are you not retired yet?

I want to say things like this at work so bad. It warms the cockles of my heart to know that there are people out there who feel the same way I do when it comes to less-than-genius co-workers.

I guess what I'm trying to say is; thank you fellow mustachians, you make my life much easier.

Aw, shucks!  I am glad it cheered you up. 

It's funny, because I just mentioned this to a work friend the other day: "Why are there so many old-timers here?  We have great retirement benefits, and everyone does math for a living.  They could all retire!"  She is new here, and I think I convinced her to max out her 401k contribution.

I, on the other hand, am leaving  for my lower-paying dream job because of MMM.  High fives all around!

I too am preparing to take a lower paying dream job. I am so freaking excited I can't sit still when I think about it.

congrats!!!! this is my goal too, instead of ER (well maybe slightly early but not like MMM early), so y'all are very inspirational!! :)