Overheard at Work

[Linea_Norway]

Today I saw a former co-worker who retired from the government and now works for Ford:

FCW:  Things are great, I get a company car and I get a great deal on leasing 3 Ford vehicles.  So I plan on one for myself and getting my kids each one.  I'm probably going to get my daughter a new Mustang.

NR thinks to self, and you wonder why you needed to get a high paying post government retirement job.

I just talked to a salesman at Ford - he has a brand new vehicle from them too. Said he gets a nice employee discount, but yeah, I'm sure it's still cheaper to drive a used beater.

I friend of mine has a father who owns a good running car company. They could buy a Volvo cross country super big car for a good price. But they still had to take up a big loan on it. I really don't understand the concept of taking up car loans. The price of a car is so easily reduced to what you can actually afford.

[Just Joe]

Overheard at work. Coworker's do-nothing substance abusing son bought a car. She signed for the loan. Never paid her anything for the car. Now the car is 6-7 months behind on payments. She can't afford the car payment due to modest income and bills of her own.

I think I would have encouraged him to buy a used bicycle and deal with it...

[FrugalFisherman10]

Kind of an "overheard at work": Consultant guy in his 40s walks up to my desk and asks "have you used your iPad while working remote? I'm having issues accessing some of the applications through it.."
I respond: "I don't own an iPad"
Woo!  #millenialwithoutanipad

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[JordanOfGilead]

Kind of an "overheard at work": Consultant guy in his 40s walks up to my desk and asks "have you used your iPad while working remote? I'm having issues accessing some of the applications through it.."
I respond: "I don't own an iPad"
Woo!  #millenialwithoutanipad

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

-brags about no ipad-
-is accessing forum from mobile device-

lolol

[I'm a red panda]

Kind of an "overheard at work": Consultant guy in his 40s walks up to my desk and asks "have you used your iPad while working remote? I'm having issues accessing some of the applications through it.."
I respond: "I don't own an iPad"
Woo!  #millenialwithoutanipad

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

-brags about no ipad-
-is accessing forum from mobile device-

lolol

My mobile device (smartphone) cost $50.   Can you get ipads that cheap?  I think that is where the brag is.  For many people who work, it isn't feasible/allowed to not have a smartphone.

(Also a millennial without any sort of tablet.)

[boyerbt]

Kind of an "overheard at work": Consultant guy in his 40s walks up to my desk and asks "have you used your iPad while working remote? I'm having issues accessing some of the applications through it.."
I respond: "I don't own an iPad"
Woo!  #millenialwithoutanipad

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

-brags about no ipad-
-is accessing forum from mobile device-

lolol

My mobile device (smartphone) cost $50.   Can you get ipads that cheap?  I think that is where the brag is.  For many people who work, it isn't feasible/allowed to not have a smartphone.

(Also a millennial without any sort of tablet.)

Is it possible that an iPad or tablet is available from work? Per the original conversation it appears that the employee is assuming that FrugalFisherman10 also has an iPad. I know that I wouldn't assume that everyone within the office has one or would even ask specifically about an iPad unless I was fairly certain that it was commonplace.

[I'm a red panda]

Is it possible that an iPad or tablet is available from work? Per the original conversation it appears that the employee is assuming that FrugalFisherman10 also has an iPad. I know that I wouldn't assume that everyone within the office has one or would even ask specifically about an iPad unless I was fairly certain that it was commonplace.

I guess I was also projecting my own assumptions. Lots of people at my office work remotely on their Ipads, but our company doesn't issue them.  Because the Ipad is so commonplace it is not at all uncommon to ask someone specifically about an issue with them.  We use PCs at work though, and everyone has a laptop to take home. But not everyone likes using those and prefer their own device. As long as it is registered and has the security app on it, we can use them.  (The vast majority of people use Iphones as their BYOD, but you certainly don't have to. As long as your phone is running the version of the software required by security, you can use anything.  I've had many people ask me Iphone questions, which I can sometimes answer, but I just have a cheap Android. When I had to upgrade due to my operating system out of date the phones they suggested were all in the $500-$600 range; but I found one for $50.)

[RidetheRain]

I was hoping she was joking (she wasn't...):

My boss has a very nice office overlooking a public park that has pretty trees etc. So she has her desk facing the window so she can look out whenever she wants. It's a beautiful view. However, this causes her to face away from the door and she doesn't know when people are walking in, waiting outside, etc.

My solution: Turn the desk to face the door and use the view as an excuse to get up off my butt throughout the work day.

Her solution: Purchase motorcycle parts and have a guy (paid for by her!) come in to attach the rear-view mirrors to her desk. After knocking one off because they are awkwardly placed out the side of her desk - she bought new ones and did it again!

To make things worse they look absolutely ridiculous. There was potential for an interesting decor idea, but it really didn't work out at all.

[dragoncar]

I was hoping she was joking (she wasn't...):

My boss has a very nice office overlooking a public park that has pretty trees etc. So she has her desk facing the window so she can look out whenever she wants. It's a beautiful view. However, this causes her to face away from the door and she doesn't know when people are walking in, waiting outside, etc.

My solution: Turn the desk to face the door and use the view as an excuse to get up off my butt throughout the work day.

Her solution: Purchase motorcycle parts and have a guy (paid for by her!) come in to attach the rear-view mirrors to her desk. After knocking one off because they are awkwardly placed out the side of her desk - she bought new ones and did it again!

To make things worse they look absolutely ridiculous. There was potential for an interesting decor idea, but it really didn't work out at all.

That's really cool in my book.  I'd never do that because I don't want people looking at my screen when they walk by my office. 

[kms]

I have another story, this time it's my wife contributing :-)

She's just started a new job and while she does try to bring her own lunch every day occasionally she does go out for lunch with her colleagues solely for the aspect of socializing and getting to know them, which makes sense.

Anyway, she was approached by one of her colleagues yesterday morning and asked whether or not she felt like going out to lunch later that day and how she felt about Sushi. Her response was somewhere along the lines of "Sure why not, I can't afford going out every day but it's been a while so let's do it". To which her colleague apparently responded "Yeah, I can't really afford it either but I checked my bank account on monday and realized I had a little bit of money left in my savings account, so this week I'm eating out every day!"

New twist to that story. Well, maybe not really twist, more like addendum ;)

Yesterday we've learned that abovementioned coworker has a second job, working at Starbucks on the weekends. And apparently she's not the only one, another coworker of my wife's is also serving (making?) coffee on the weekends. And they're making at least 50k from their first job.

If only they'd realize that they might be able to take their weekends off if they brought their lunches from home instead of spending $50-$70 each week...

[MiserlyMiser]

Not "overheard at work," this was said directly to me by a co-worker (who I had previously thought was frugal) when we were discussing Christmas plans:

"There are some really cheap last-minute flights to [somewhere in the Caribbean], my wife and I are thinking of flying down tomorrow and coming back Monday or Tuesday.  And once you get there, you don't have to spend much--the resort is only $500/night!"

[Hedge_87]

I spent about thirty minutes trying to get a couple of the guys to understand the difference between roth and traditional. One guy could not figure out why on their traditional 401k does't show how much taxes will be taken out when he withdrawals it n retirement. the other guy was pissed that the company match couldn't go into his roth. I tried explaining to him that his 100K salary plus what ever his wife makes as a physicians assistant probably has them in a pretty high tax bracket and he would be better off using the traditional anyway. I got "well taxes are just going to keep going up so I'll pay mine now. All them damn liberals."

Atleast they are putting money away I guess.

[Hoglet121]

New colleague at work who I posted about before:

Pretty much everyone in the offce has been extolling the virues of bringing in lunch from home. One day this week he finally brought in sandwiches - and then went out to get something from the cafe because he was still hungry. Today he was back to eating out.

This morning he was putting his bottle of sparkling water in the freezer (??) when I was filling my water bottle from the cooler.

CW: I should really get into the habit of doing that but my water is sparkling.
Me: Yeah well, it's free, so I don't mind just having still water. (I don't really like sparkling water.)
CW: Well, I HOPE that you're not so impoverished that that would be a consideration.
Me: I'm not going to buy something we are provided for free.

[bigalsmith101]

I made a comment today to a coworker that "at least it's not too difficult to max out an IRA, as it's only $5500...."

That was when my coworker interjected, "It's not difficult when you live within your means, like you do. Not everyone does."

She freely admitted that she and her husband intend to get their finances in order as it's a top priority, but that she's "used to the income" and that "it's hard to pull back. I'm just used to a certain level of spending, it's something I need to work on."

Her salary is close to $70k+, her husbands is $100k+. They make a lot of money, and yet admittedly, they spend it all.

She did follow it up with "You're a role model in that regard, it's something that's impressed me about you for a while." So that was awesome.

[MgoSam]

Way to go! Hopefully you can be a role model to her and her husband and guide them to a better financial path.

[Linea_Norway]

Her salary is close to $70k+, her husbands is $100k+. They make a lot of money, and yet admittedly, they spend it all.

She did follow it up with "You're a role model in that regard, it's something that's impressed me about you for a while." So that was awesome.

;-D
Good for you. And maybe she will make the step one day. This kind of lifestyle can be made step by step.

[Panly]

She did follow it up with "You're a role model in that regard, it's something that's impressed me about you for a while." So that was awesome.

I recognised your username , I remember  your travel stories on the hubb, or was it advrider..?

[Playing with Fire UK]

...
CW: I should really get into the habit of doing that but my water is sparkling.
Me: Yeah well, it's free, so I don't mind just having still water. (I don't really like sparkling water.)
CW: Well, I HOPE that you're not so impoverished that that would be a consideration.
Me: I'm not going to buy something we are provided for free.

And this is why the MMM folk will never see eye to eye with the people we mock. The sole consideration is 'what do I want most', not what is most cost effective or what will prevent an extra thousand bottles a year going to landfill.

[Playing with Fire UK]

Her salary is close to $70k+, her husbands is $100k+. They make a lot of money, and yet admittedly, they spend it all.

She did follow it up with "You're a role model in that regard, it's something that's impressed me about you for a while." So that was awesome.

;-D
Good for you. And maybe she will make the step one day. This kind of lifestyle can be made step by step.

Great story, let's hope they start the process.

[auntie_betty]

CW: I should really get into the habit of doing that but my water is sparkling.
Me: Yeah well, it's free, so I don't mind just having still water. (I don't really like sparkling water.)
CW: Well, I HOPE that you're not so impoverished that that would be a consideration.
Me: I'm not going to buy something we are provided for free.

So, leave it a couple of days and then work:
Well, I HOPE that you're not so impoverished that you have to work over 55
into the conversation ;)

[Linea_Norway]

New colleague at work who I posted about before:

<...>

This morning he was putting his bottle of sparkling water in the freezer (??) when I was filling my water bottle from the cooler.

CW: I should really get into the habit of doing that but my water is sparkling.
Me: Yeah well, it's free, so I don't mind just having still water. (I don't really like sparkling water.)
CW: Well, I HOPE that you're not so impoverished that that would be a consideration.
Me: I'm not going to buy something we are provided for free.

I think at my office that we even have a machine that can provide sparkling cold water for free. I still don't use it because I also prefer still water. My only requirement is that it should be cold. But the machine at work can also do that. At home I just fill my glass from the tap.

[Playing with Fire UK]

At home I just fill my glass from the tap.

*Hoglet121's co-worker looks on with pity at your impoverished existence*

[Fomerly known as something]

Today I saw a former co-worker who retired from the government and now works for Ford:

FCW:  Things are great, I get a company car and I get a great deal on leasing 3 Ford vehicles.  So I plan on one for myself and getting my kids each one.  I'm probably going to get my daughter a new Mustang.

NR thinks to self, and you wonder why you needed to get a high paying post government retirement job.

Talked to another friend who works at Ford it's not that great of a deal, said former co-worker is proposing to spend at least $1,000/month on the leases.

[boarder42]

I spent about thirty minutes trying to get a couple of the guys to understand the difference between roth and traditional. One guy could not figure out why on their traditional 401k does't show how much taxes will be taken out when he withdrawals it n retirement. the other guy was pissed that the company match couldn't go into his roth. I tried explaining to him that his 100K salary plus what ever his wife makes as a physicians assistant probably has them in a pretty high tax bracket and he would be better off using the traditional anyway. I got "well taxes are just going to keep going up so I'll pay mine now. All them damn liberals."

Atleast they are putting money away I guess.

if they arent planning to FIRE they could be in an equivalent or higher tax bracket making roth make sense. over Trad plus taxable.

[Kitsune]

At home I just fill my glass from the tap.

*Hoglet121's co-worker looks on with pity at your impoverished existence*

I've had colleagues tell me that they can't believe I let my children drink tap water.

... I can support nestle and their dubious ethics and less-tested water that comes from the same water sources as major cities use. Or I can enjoy the spring water that gushes from my taps. Wtf kind of choice is that.

[I'm a red panda]

I think at my office that we even have a machine that can provide sparkling cold water for free. I still don't use it because I also prefer still water. My only requirement is that it should be cold. But the machine at work can also do that. At home I just fill my glass from the tap.

Our New York office has spigots that can do still or sparkling, but us Iowa peons only can still water. 

[Linea_Norway]

I've had colleagues tell me that they can't believe I let my children drink tap water.

... I can support nestle and their dubious ethics and less-tested water that comes from the same water sources as major cities use. Or I can enjoy the spring water that gushes from my taps. Wtf kind of choice is that.

But when I am abroad in Southern Europe I buy bottled still water. Maybe I am an idiot for that, because I am sure the water is safe to drink, because it is smelling of chlorine like a swimming pool. But I don't like the smell of it. Too much chlorine smell for my taste. For that one week a year in the south, I can afford buying the cheapest brand of bottled water, just because of the smell and taste.

But I do laugh at foreigners visiting the mountains in Norway, bringing expensive water filters to filter clear mountain water.

[Malum Prohibitum]

But I do laugh at foreigners visiting the mountains in Norway, bringing expensive water filters to filter clear mountain water.

  Buddy caught a nasty case of Giardia from a cold stream up in the Colorado Rockies.

[LennStar]

At home I just fill my glass from the tap.

*Hoglet121's co-worker looks on with pity at your impoverished existence*

I've had colleagues tell me that they can't believe I let my children drink tap water.

... I can support nestle and their dubious ethics and less-tested water that comes from the same water sources as major cities use. Or I can enjoy the spring water that gushes from my taps. Wtf kind of choice is that.

Not to mention all the phtalate and other stuff seeping into the water from plastic bottles.
If you want to get cancer, at least do it with somehting thats not for free!

But at least I am not so impoverished that I have to spend extra time to get my drinking water to home, i have someone who brings it to me whenever I want!

[njmoney]

A coworker said to me the other day that she and her husband spent over $1,000 on food at their house entertaining friends over the holidays.  I laughed and told her I spent $0. 

[Chris22]

A coworker said to me the other day that she and her husband spent over $1,000 on food at their house entertaining friends over the holidays.  I laughed and told her I spent $0.

You didn't eat?  Or you went somewhere else?  Grow/slaughter your own?  How does one spend $0 on food?

[Just Joe]

Did alot of bulk shopping in October... ;)

[I'm a red panda]

A coworker said to me the other day that she and her husband spent over $1,000 on food at their house entertaining friends over the holidays.  I laughed and told her I spent $0.

You didn't eat?  Or you went somewhere else?  Grow/slaughter your own?  How does one spend $0 on food?

I read that as $0 on food entertaining friends.  Not $0 on food at all.

[Chris22]

A coworker said to me the other day that she and her husband spent over $1,000 on food at their house entertaining friends over the holidays.  I laughed and told her I spent $0.

You didn't eat?  Or you went somewhere else?  Grow/slaughter your own?  How does one spend $0 on food?

I read that as $0 on food entertaining friends.  Not $0 on food at all.

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

We spent about $300 because we hosted Christmas Eve for 12 people.  The way it works in our family is the two daughters (my wife being one) take turns hosting (and paying for) Christmas Eve, and the parents host (and pay for) Christmas Day dinner.  The expense gets spread around and shared.  We actually got off cheap this year due to the number of pregnant women in attendance, so the wine consumption was way down.  ;)

[I'm a red panda]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

[Chris22]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.

I'm not even Italian and I know that's heresy. 

[mtn]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

Well, I mean, I guess if you don't like the people that's alright...

[BDWW]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.

I'm not even Italian and I know that's heresy.

+1

[njmoney]

Yes, we ate food during the holidays.  We didn't spend any money on food for entertaining people at our house.  Spent most of the holidays visiting our families and friends vs. entertaining at our home. 

[kms]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

[Chris22]

Yes, we ate food during the holidays.  We didn't spend any money on food for entertaining people at our house.  Spent most of the holidays visiting our families and friends vs. entertaining at our home.

So you let someone else spend money entertaining you.  Got it.

[I'm a red panda]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

You know what, it is shocking news for some people.
We've started planning game nights to occur AFTER dinner instead of before it.  Our friends thought that was just the best idea ever, as now no one is on the hook for a big meal like they used to be.

[4alpacas]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

You know what, it is shocking news for some people.
We've started planning game nights to occur AFTER dinner instead of before it.  Our friends thought that was just the best idea ever, as now no one is on the hook for a big meal like they used to be.

Do you not put out snacks? 

My DH thinks I'm crazy and over prepare for guests.  However, I can't just have someone over without offering food (or a drink).  We are having people over this weekend in the afternoon (post-lunch), and I already have a list of food and drinks to prepare. 

[I'm a red panda]

No, we don't eat while we play- gets the games messy. 
We used to meet up, play a game, eat, then play many more games. 

Now we just do the many more games steps.  People BYOB, so I don't offer drinks, just glasses. It's the same when we go to other houses in the group.

[bigalsmith101]

She did follow it up with "You're a role model in that regard, it's something that's impressed me about you for a while." So that was awesome.

I recognised your username , I remember  your travel stories on the hubb, or was it advrider..?

Both :) We're home now, and hammering our way towards an early retirement!

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Well then that just seems sad.  No friends or family to entertain? 

You can have people over without feeding them.  Plan for visits that aren't meal times.

You can? STOP THE PRESSES!

Technically legal. But when I have been on the receiving end of this, I felt rather underwelcomed. I mean, I could really have gone for a cup of tea or something.

[dragoncar]

I think at my office that we even have a machine that can provide sparkling cold water for free. I still don't use it because I also prefer still water. My only requirement is that it should be cold. But the machine at work can also do that. At home I just fill my glass from the tap.

Our New York office has spigots that can do still or sparkling, but us Iowa peons only can still water.

I unsuccessfully lobbied to install a frozen yogurt machine in our break room.

[Metric Mouse]

Yes, we ate food during the holidays.  We didn't spend any money on food for entertaining people at our house.  Spent most of the holidays visiting our families and friends vs. entertaining at our home.

So you let someone else spend money entertaining you.  Got it.

Isn't that what friends and family are for?

[Warlord1986]

I've been at the new job for two weeks. Both new co-workers eat out regularly. My supervisor buys breakfast every day.

[TomTX]

Jeep people are crazy / impressive. It is common to see a $30k jeep with $30k of upgrades.

We're talking a full mudding / water setup: upgrades to the entire driveline (sealing, stronger axles, a differently behaving [and often electronically controlled] differential, huge mud tires, etc); anti-rollover bars, snorkels, high output alternators to feed all sorts of lights and winches and other electronics, yada yada.

Most of these are pavement princesses that are occasionally used to ford six inches of water, which the fucker would be able to do bone stock anyways.

They'll do twice that bone stock. I don't even think it's a reflection of any wisdom failure that I know that firsthand.


I do not get the tricking out of Jeeps. It's definitely not about performance.

I've done 12" of water in a bone stock Saturn SL1. Turns out it had good seals.

Non-moving water. Still not recommended.