Overheard at Work

[windawake]

It's nuts to think it's safer to ride in a stranger's car than to walk home in the cold/rain. That's what coats and umbrellas are for!

[trailrated]

I am a manager at a construction company at 26 and an employee in his mid 40s came in telling us a year ago how excited he was for getting a great finance deal on a new bed for $3,000 over 3 years.

He came in very upset last week and we asked him what was wrong. The fine print in the paperwork said there would not be interest tacked on if $1,000 was paid in the first year. He did not realize he had to make up for the "1st month free" payment he never made to hit the $1,000 and because of this he was ~$80 short and 20% interest per year was tacked on to the $2,000 in remaining payments.

[kt]

I am a manager at a construction company at 26 and an employee in his mid 40s came in telling us a year ago how excited he was for getting a great finance deal on a new bed for $3,000 over 3 years.

He came in very upset last week and we asked him what was wrong. The fine print in the paperwork said there would not be interest tacked on if $1,000 was paid in the first year. He did not realize he had to make up for the "1st month free" payment he never made to hit the $1,000 and because of this he was ~$80 short and 20% interest per year was tacked on to the $2,000 in remaining payments.

ouch!

[Le0]

I am a manager at a construction company at 26 and an employee in his mid 40s came in telling us a year ago how excited he was for getting a great finance deal on a new bed for $3,000 over 3 years.

He came in very upset last week and we asked him what was wrong. The fine print in the paperwork said there would not be interest tacked on if $1,000 was paid in the first year. He did not realize he had to make up for the "1st month free" payment he never made to hit the $1,000 and because of this he was ~$80 short and 20% interest per year was tacked on to the $2,000 in remaining payments.

I know that in some situation when you do the math, financing is a great way to go. However recently my opinion on financing is, never do it.

J. Money from budgets are sexy posted a quote recenlty, something like "Never beg for something that you can earn" I think it kind of applies to financing. Never finance something you could pay cash. ( I know there are exceptions to this rule) If more people planned their lives with this in mind, there would be less 'ouch' situations.

ouch!

[warfreak2]

a new bed for $3,000

OUCH!

[CommonCents]

This one can't compete with many of the entries on this thread but it amuses me.

Mrs. A and I recently relocated. She's home with Lil' A, and we're still carrying the mortgage and maintenance on our old apartment (it's almost off the books!).

We regularly end up in the following conversation;

Friend: So wait, you're on one income?
Us: Yes
F: You're paying rent?
U: Yes
F: And a mortgage?
U: Yes
F: How does that work?
U: See how you're eating in our home and not in a restaurant? Stuff like that.
F: Are you guys OK?
U: Um, yeah.
F: No really, you need to tell me if you're not ok.

It just amuses/frustrates that most people are totally bewildered by the fact that we can pay our bills. Or that we, you know, had savings so we could could bridge a few months (or years) like this if we need to.

We had the same thing.  Bought a house but waited to put the condo on the market (both to make the move easier, and to put it on in the spring rather than during the holidays and appear desperate).  My coworkers were really concerned about our "carrying costs".  We had an apartment with no mortgage, so carrying costs were low (condo fee, $8 in gas, ~$12 in electricity), but it was just easier to agree that yes I'd be happy once it sold and I no longer had them.

[going2ER]

My coworker, in a well paid job, was commenting that she had to get her 3 children new wardrobes for the summer and no idea how she would pay for it. This is while she normally purchases several coffees a day plus lunch and will only wear name brands. She also picks up supper multiple times per week.

My 10 year old son will likely need all new pants and shorts for the summer, his tshirts will still fit, but I tend to ask around from people that have older boys and are looking to clean out their closets, works great for both of us :)

[Wolf_Stache]

Coworker (who has a 40 mile commute each way, 80 miles round trip): My husband and I figured out last night that it costs me one month of salary to pay for the gas to drive to work.

me: Crazy!

Coworker: Thats not too bad actually.

Me: but, thinking...1/12 of your money is going to gas, not to mention the wear and tear on your car.....

[galliver]

I walked to and from school since I started school. I walked with my siblings when I was kindergarten to 2nd grade, and after that I was on my own. Are kids really that delicate these days, or are parents these days insane? I tend to believe the latter. When I was a kid it would have been mortifying to be seen with your parents walking you to school after age 9.

I remember walking with kids who lived nearby for most of my school career excluding 3rd grade when my mom picked me up (edit: on foot) and 11-12th when I lived too far from school (I moved before junior year) and was bused instead. Sometimes got a ride for extenuating circumstances(which did not include cold or rain, that's what coats are for!), but it was rare. On the other hand, my mom or I picked up my sisters (on foot) through 6th grade or so. When I asked her about it, she explained that there were no kids living near us that walked from school--the nearest was probably halfway to the school from us--and that's what made her uncomfortable. I imagine it's true for a lot of parents; it's one thing when kids play alone outside with other kids and another when they're actually completely alone.

On the other hand, it was while walking her back from 6th grade that I explained trigonometry to my sister, and now she's at MIT, so it probably didn't hurt to keep her company. And walking places in the neighborhood is definitely a good experience. Otherwise people grow up and don't realize their feet can be a form of transportation.

[Twenty4Me]

My sister and I walked home for many years, and I actually have one of the funniest memories from one such day. It happened that on that day, they had decided to retar one of the roads that we had to cross. If you've ever heard about Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby, you'll know that tar is sticky. Well, my young self figured that if you ran fast enough, you wouldn't get stuck. LOL!!

Let's just say that I got 4 steps in before I was without shoes and without 1 sock!

My sister, of course, had stayed on the sidewalk first to see if my theory was right. We decided that it might be best to try and find a spot without any fresh tar to cross at, hehe.

[Insanity]

I road my bike to an from school in 5th grade if I didn't want to take the bus.  High school and middle school I had to bus, too far and too many major intersections.

Our daughter is about 2 blocks from her elementary school.  We'll be walking her until she gets old enough to walk herself.  And she'll actually be able to walk her little brother there as well for at least 2 years :)

[BlueHouse]

I walked to and from school since I started school. I walked with my siblings when I was kindergarten to 2nd grade, and after that I was on my own. Are kids really that delicate these days, or are parents these days insane? I tend to believe the latter. When I was a kid it would have been mortifying to be seen with your parents walking you to school after age 9.

When I was a kid walking to/from school, walking was the norm and there were more SAHMs so doors were open during those hours.  When I was in 6th grade, I started cutting the corner (alone) on a block to make my trip faster and walked on a street with few houses (out of eyesight of anyone for a good part of that walk).  One time some gross dude pulled up in a car and tried to convince me to go to the store with him to try on pantyhose to "make sure to get the right size for his wife".  If he had been just slightly more aggressive, he could have taken me.  Still gives me shivers every time I think about it.    I would only let a kid walk to school if there were plenty of others walking and plenty of neighbors within hearing distance. 

[CommonCents]

I serve on a non-profit board.  I was talking to the Executive Director today, and he said that one of the employees had looked into getting a service to automatically replace whatever cleaning supplies we had used the prior week, rather than have to calculate and put in the order himself every week.  (No space to store more than a week's worth at a time).  Well, apparently he showed the salesperson the supply closet and they talked logistics of refiling that particular closet.  Two bills later for approximately $400 and no product visible in the supply closet, he finds out that the salesperson agreed to fill up the closet...but the actual delivery person goes to the bathrooms, takes the items there and replaces with new ones.  So if the soap is 3/4ths full, he'll pull it out and dump it and put a fresh one in.  Ugh.

[Squirrel away]

If you've ever heard about Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby,

That takes me back.:)

[johnintaiwan]

Me: you are in a little late today.

CW: yeah I had to go to Tainan City (about 15-20km out of his way)

Me: What for?

CW: There is a self service gas station there so I save 0.8 nt/L. I save 3 nt (0.10 USD) every time I fill up my scooter.

(he also had 2 cups of starbucks)

CW: yeah I had to buy 2 because if you buy 2 you can get a sticker. If you get 40 stickers you can get a collectible pen.

[MamaStache]

One time some gross dude pulled up in a car and tried to convince me to go to the store with him to try on pantyhose to "make sure to get the right size for his wife".  If he had been just slightly more aggressive, he could have taken me.  Still gives me shivers every time I think about it.

And that is the exact type of story that gives me doubts about letting my child(ren) walk (on their own or with a friend).   So glad nothing bad happened, BlueHouse! 

[Elaine]

Sweet and simple overheard today, it was a co-worker talking on the phone so I only heard her side (paraphrased):

"No. I can't do anything tonight I'm broke. I'm so mad my paycheck won't go through for another day, I really wanted to go shopping, I guess I'll wait until next week."

[galliver]

One time some gross dude pulled up in a car and tried to convince me to go to the store with him to try on pantyhose to "make sure to get the right size for his wife".  If he had been just slightly more aggressive, he could have taken me.  Still gives me shivers every time I think about it.

And that is the exact type of story that gives me doubts about letting my child(ren) walk (on their own or with a friend).   So glad nothing bad happened, BlueHouse!

I think that's a super creepy story, but I think it's important to remember that stranger kidnappings are very uncommon (and more so now than "in the good ole days" people talk about), and that the independence is really, really good for kid(s) (http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/03/hey-parents-leave-those-kids-alone/358631/). There are, of course, reasonable precautions like being with other people (even other kids), and being in view of the public (not taking out-of-sight shortcuts as kids like to do). And not getting into cars with strangers.

[ketchup]

A coworker just complained about a routine vet bill for his dog and talked about the racing stripes he's putting on his new fancy car in practically the same sentence.  I was pretty blown away.

[BlueHouse]

Dad taught us to fight and gave me a knife and pepper spray at ages I had good enough judgement and coordination. There were gangs and pervs in my neighborhood. I knew to steer clear. I thought it was weird that kids would get talked into a stranger's van since I knew there weren't many reasons for most adults to want to talk to me. I remember saying "screw you!" to a man that whistled at me. I was raised a little bit like Hit Girl.

That's funny!  I was taught to respect elders and authorities and even when I knew something didn't feel right, I never said so.  It took a long time to figure out that I was allowed to have an opinion and express it and that I could even say "no".   I think it's just lucky that I wasn't abused, because I never would have told anyone (shame and guilt were important factors in my catholic upbringing) And no, I wasn't raised in the 1880s.  But I think this type of thinking was quite common and may still be to some extent.  I still internalize quite a bit and envy those people who can externalize so well.   I know a lot of people who still won't question their doctors. 

[KatieSSS]

Just overheard at work:

CW: I decided I didn't want to ship off this $400 watch to get fixed!

$400 watch! WHY?!

[Gremlin]

a new bed for $3,000

OUCH!

My wife and I bought a new bed a few years back.  We decided to buy the most comfortable bed we could possibly afford and, without a doubt, it is the best money we've spent.  It wasn't the most expensive of the ones we'd looked at but it was a very expensive purchase given how value conscious we usually are.

The difference between the quality of sleep we had before and after was far more tangible than I ever thought possible and we both found that we were more energised and physically active as a result which gave rise to a much improved general well being.

I absolutely wouldn't advocate spending $3,000 on a bed if one a fraction of that gives you the same quality of sleep but for Mrs Gremlin and I the difference in general well being between sleeping on a cheap mattress and the "right" one for us was profound (and we've now got three dollars a week going into our "mattress fund" to replace this one when the time comes).

[skunkfunk]

a new bed for $3,000

OUCH!

My wife and I bought a new bed a few years back.  We decided to buy the most comfortable bed we could possibly afford and, without a doubt, it is the best money we've spent.  It wasn't the most expensive of the ones we'd looked at but it was a very expensive purchase given how value conscious we usually are.

The difference between the quality of sleep we had before and after was far more tangible than I ever thought possible and we both found that we were more energised and physically active as a result which gave rise to a much improved general well being.

I absolutely wouldn't advocate spending $3,000 on a bed if one a fraction of that gives you the same quality of sleep but for Mrs Gremlin and I the difference in general well being between sleeping on a cheap mattress and the "right" one for us was profound (and we've now got three dollars a week going into our "mattress fund" to replace this one when the time comes).

I hope you didn't pay retail. I think you can get returned or out of date mattresses for a significant discount. Unless I've been duped!

Now I'm going to be worried that I overpaid for my bed and mattress the rest of the day.

[CommonCents]

Depends on the state.  My state it's actually illegal to sell a used mattress - that's why they would have charged us a $250 restocking fee if we had returned ours (because they'd have to throw it out).

[trailrated]

a new bed for $3,000

OUCH!

My wife and I bought a new bed a few years back.  We decided to buy the most comfortable bed we could possibly afford and, without a doubt, it is the best money we've spent.  It wasn't the most expensive of the ones we'd looked at but it was a very expensive purchase given how value conscious we usually are.

The difference between the quality of sleep we had before and after was far more tangible than I ever thought possible and we both found that we were more energised and physically active as a result which gave rise to a much improved general well being.

I absolutely wouldn't advocate spending $3,000 on a bed if one a fraction of that gives you the same quality of sleep but for Mrs Gremlin and I the difference in general well being between sleeping on a cheap mattress and the "right" one for us was profound (and we've now got three dollars a week going into our "mattress fund" to replace this one when the time comes).

I hope you didn't pay retail. I think you can get returned or out of date mattresses for a significant discount. Unless I've been duped!

Now I'm going to be worried that I overpaid for my bed and mattress the rest of the day.

While I agree having a great mattress can be beneficial, spending $3,000 on it seems insane with payments over 3 years while you are already living paycheck to paycheck. If you are in a situation to afford it I have no problem with a purchase like that.

[Threshkin]

Dad taught us to fight and gave me a knife and pepper spray at ages I had good enough judgement and coordination. There were gangs and pervs in my neighborhood. I knew to steer clear. I thought it was weird that kids would get talked into a stranger's van since I knew there weren't many reasons for most adults to want to talk to me. I remember saying "screw you!" to a man that whistled at me. I was raised a little bit like Hit Girl.

Unfortunately those items will now get you suspended or expelled from school.  You would be lucky to avoid getting a criminal record if you were caught carrying them.  Sigh....

[dragoncar]

a new bed for $3,000

OUCH!

My wife and I bought a new bed a few years back.  We decided to buy the most comfortable bed we could possibly afford and, without a doubt, it is the best money we've spent.  It wasn't the most expensive of the ones we'd looked at but it was a very expensive purchase given how value conscious we usually are.

The difference between the quality of sleep we had before and after was far more tangible than I ever thought possible and we both found that we were more energised and physically active as a result which gave rise to a much improved general well being.

I absolutely wouldn't advocate spending $3,000 on a bed if one a fraction of that gives you the same quality of sleep but for Mrs Gremlin and I the difference in general well being between sleeping on a cheap mattress and the "right" one for us was profound (and we've now got three dollars a week going into our "mattress fund" to replace this one when the time comes).

I hope you didn't pay retail. I think you can get returned or out of date mattresses for a significant discount. Unless I've been duped!

Now I'm going to be worried that I overpaid for my bed and mattress the rest of the day.

I'd absolutely be willing to pay $3k or more for a bed that gave me better rest, with good longevity.  My problem is that there's no good way to tell in advance whether the $3k bed will give me better sleep, or quantify how much better.  You can weed out the ones that are immediately uncomfortable, though.

[Albert]

I can sleep well on pretty much any mattress so I wouldn't spend large amounts on one, but I can understand that some people are more sensitive and then it makes sense. Good sleep is more important than few extra $ in the bank.

[ichangedmyname]

Those sort of juice cleanses usually run at least $50/day. I don't get it either.

For $50/day cleanses, one might as well use a good scotch.

This is much cheaper and very effective. p.s. read the reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Haribo-Gummi-Bears-Sugar-Free/dp/B000EVQWKC

[ginastarke]

About the Gummi Bears: They're also an incredibly effective booby trap for people that won't stay out of or contribute to a common snack drawer. My morning shift team got sick of the night shift team raiding our supplies. One bag of those, and it never happened again. 

[DoctorOctagon]

Boss #1 (director at our nonprofit plus teaching position at a university, easily makes 100k+ annually) talking to Boss #2 (director at two nonprofits, very busy, makes 120k+ annually) about how tight money is.  #1 isn't saving at all for retirement, #2 is saving about 10% annual income for retirement, both are worried about their respective futures.  During conversation #1 talks about how she is spending $500/month for phone data plans for her family's iphones and just helped her daughter "buy" (get into debt on) a $300k house... not to mention her daily driver, a huge SUV that averages 8 MPG city.... #2 has spent over $10k on every tech gadget known to mankind and just made genuinely horrid investments - bought an overpriced condo at the very top of the real estate boom in 2007, and continues to invest in volatile micro caps ("yeah, it's gone down 50% but it will go up when company XYZ buys it out!!).  I try not to be the snoopy employee but I can hear every word people say - sound carries too well in our workplace...  Both bosses live month to month excluding their limited "investments" (liabilities?).

[countdown]

Coworker just spent $300 shipping 10 boxes of thin mints to friend in Germany. Sweet (pun intended) but REALLY???

[ScienceSexSavings]

It occured to me today that in my 7 months in my current lab, I've never seen my supervisor eat any kind of homemade food. The only thing I've seen her with that even came from outside of the building was some sushi.

[tariskat]

I was out last night for a social night with a dozen other grad students in our department.  My buddy is mostly quitting school so he can go work full time starting May; when I asked why, he said it's because he can't afford school anymore.  He saved up for 4 years before coming back to school; he interns every summer for real-person wages; and he says he is in the red by May every year. 

For the same exact program and wages, I am contributing to my IRA and paying off my undergrad student loans.

I suggested (perhaps not nicely) that his 1 bedroom apartment, nice car with insurance, constant purchase of new clothes, and ridiculous grocery spending were all part of the problem.  He disagreed that he could do without any of it or cut back any more.  Then when I went home, him and 2 others went downtown to go clubbing at all the places he knows.

[Half-Borg]

Those sort of juice cleanses usually run at least $50/day. I don't get it either.

For $50/day cleanses, one might as well use a good scotch.

This is much cheaper and very effective. p.s. read the reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Haribo-Gummi-Bears-Sugar-Free/dp/B000EVQWKC

Damn you! I can not stop laughing :D Bad thing is, I'm at work!

[Nudelkopf]

It occured to me today that in my 7 months in my current lab, I've never seen my supervisor eat any kind of homemade food. The only thing I've seen her with that even came from outside of the building was some sushi.

I used to do maths with a guy who ate out for ever meal. He didn't even own a single piece of crockery or cutlery!

[FIREman2036]

At my old job i was moving from a day rate to staff contract so would be receiving a 5% match on my pension. I ask a couple of the other younger people there who had been staff for a few years how the pension worked and they told me they had never joined. Apparently they couldn't afford to 'lose' the 5% out their salary as they would be struggling by the end of the month. These people earned around GBP24,000 ($36,000) per year and lived with their parents! Funnily enough one was a cost controller on my multi-million dollar project.

At this same job almost nobody entered the employee stock purchase plan which offered stock at 15% discount and could be sold every 4 months (also stock was on the up). Again they claimed they couldn't afford to 'lose the money' out their salary. These were people earning between $40-100,000

[Zamboni]

I would NEVER let my child get into a cab without me. That's insanity.

Yes, that is getting into a car with a stranger.  I take cabs a lot for business travel and I just typed up a long bit about a particularly scary experience I had, but I don't want to divert the thread too much.  Suffice it to say that there are child locks on the rear doors of a lot of cabs, so you can't get out even if you realize you are in trouble.

[mgarl10024]

At my old job i was moving from a day rate to staff contract so would be receiving a 5% match on my pension. I ask a couple of the other younger people there who had been staff for a few years how the pension worked and they told me they had never joined. Apparently they couldn't afford to 'lose' the 5% out their salary as they would be struggling by the end of the month. These people earned around GBP24,000 ($36,000) per year and lived with their parents!

I've seen this too.  A manager of another team was on £40,000+ ($66,000+) and didn't join the pension scheme or the sharesave scheme as they couldn't afford it.  Amazes me that for relatively minor sacrifices now you could be significantly better off in the future, and yet this isn't seen as doable.

[FunkyStickman]

Just heard this:

Guy: "Hey, come see this!"
Girl: "Oh my god! It's huge! It's so brown and hairy... "


.

They were talking about a spider. O_o

[nawhite]

Just heard this:

Guy: "Hey, come see this!"
Girl: "Oh my god! It's huge! It's so brown and hairy... "


.

They were talking about a spider. O_o

Best quote of this thread!

[greenmimama]

It occured to me today that in my 7 months in my current lab, I've never seen my supervisor eat any kind of homemade food. The only thing I've seen her with that even came from outside of the building was some sushi.

I used to do maths with a guy who ate out for ever meal. He didn't even own a single piece of crockery or cutlery!

I watched an episode of Oprah probably at least 5 years ago, where a family of 4 ate out every single meal, their kitchen was not really furnished, or used ever, and they spent $29k in a year on take out and fast food, each meal they would even go to 3 drive throughs to get each family member what they wanted.
I can't even wrap my head around that.

[geekette]

I know two families who don't like "house food" - they just eat out.

[infogoon]

One of my old coworkers ate every meal out. He told me once that he didn't even know if his oven worked; he'd been in the house for five or ten years at that point. He only knew the stove worked because he boiled water on it to clear a clogged drain one time.

[homehandymum]

I've seen this too.  A manager of another team was on £40,000+ ($66,000+) and didn't join the pension scheme or the sharesave scheme as they couldn't afford it.  Amazes me that for relatively minor sacrifices now you could be significantly better off in the future, and yet this isn't seen as doable.

I made this mistake myself.  When I first started work, I was a temp employee, so not entitled to the employer match in the superannuation scheme.  I read the paperwork and decided it wasn't worth contributing at that point - I'd be better off paying off my student loan. 

2 years later when I changed to a permanent position with the same employer, I didn't get the full HR induction seminar because I wasn't a new employee, and when asked about the superann scheme, all I remembered was that I had decided it wasn't the best choice.  It completely passed me by that I would now be getting an employer match, that would equate to a 100% return.  It wasn't until after I'd left the job to be a SAHM that it occurred to me that I'd given up a couple of years of employer-matched retirement savings.  doh!

[skunkfunk]

I've seen this too.  A manager of another team was on £40,000+ ($66,000+) and didn't join the pension scheme or the sharesave scheme as they couldn't afford it.  Amazes me that for relatively minor sacrifices now you could be significantly better off in the future, and yet this isn't seen as doable.

I made this mistake myself.  When I first started work, I was a temp employee, so not entitled to the employer match in the superannuation scheme.  I read the paperwork and decided it wasn't worth contributing at that point - I'd be better off paying off my student loan. 

2 years later when I changed to a permanent position with the same employer, I didn't get the full HR induction seminar because I wasn't a new employee, and when asked about the superann scheme, all I remembered was that I had decided it wasn't the best choice.  It completely passed me by that I would now be getting an employer match, that would equate to a 100% return.  It wasn't until after I'd left the job to be a SAHM that it occurred to me that I'd given up a couple of years of employer-matched retirement savings.  doh!

Are you certain that there was not a long vesting period that would have taken that match away from you when you quit?

[Eric]

I know two families who don't like "house food" - they just eat out.

Sounds healthy!

[homehandymum]

I've seen this too.  A manager of another team was on £40,000+ ($66,000+) and didn't join the pension scheme or the sharesave scheme as they couldn't afford it.  Amazes me that for relatively minor sacrifices now you could be significantly better off in the future, and yet this isn't seen as doable.

I made this mistake myself.  When I first started work, I was a temp employee, so not entitled to the employer match in the superannuation scheme.  I read the paperwork and decided it wasn't worth contributing at that point - I'd be better off paying off my student loan. 

2 years later when I changed to a permanent position with the same employer, I didn't get the full HR induction seminar because I wasn't a new employee, and when asked about the superann scheme, all I remembered was that I had decided it wasn't the best choice.  It completely passed me by that I would now be getting an employer match, that would equate to a 100% return.  It wasn't until after I'd left the job to be a SAHM that it occurred to me that I'd given up a couple of years of employer-matched retirement savings.  doh!

Are you certain that there was not a long vesting period that would have taken that match away from you when you quit?

No, not at all sure.  That might well be the case.  It was over a decade ago and can't remember details.  Now that you ask, I recall that they also front-loaded the fees, so that the first 2 years would have been really quite expensive.

So, it still was probably the right choice, given that the savings went into student loan and mortgage repayment instead. 

Thanks for helping me see that :)

[horsepoor]

I know two families who don't like "house food" can't cook worth a shit

Really, 95% of the restaurant food is not as good as what I make at home on a daily basis.  Going out to eat is more about getting a break from cooking and a change of scenery, or something I can't make at home, like wood fired pizza.

[Zamboni]

^Very true.

I did have a colleague (single guy) who ate out every single meal his entire adult life.  He went to the same local cafeteria-style restaurant for dinner every night.  Other than this, though, he was extremely frugal, and when he died (while still working in his 80's) he left a giant pile of money to charities.