Overheard at Work

[Daisy]

Today I was chatting with a (much older) coworker. 

She said, idly:  "Did you ever think about how much you would save, if, right away on your first job you actually saved money in your 401K?"

Me:  *long pause* "......Yes....."

Coworker:  "No, I mean seriously; like, not just up to the employer match, but to actually like, max it out to whatever the maximum is?" 

Me:  *longer pause* "......Yesss......"

In my head I was thinking, 'Aieeeeee!!  What, you think you have to stop saving money once you get to the maximum?  And you DON'T KNOW what the 401K limit is?' 

This woman is probably ~60, complains INCESSANTLY about working and the environment at our company,  and has no one in her life except her dog.  I've been (and still am) wondering what in the world she spends her money on that she isn't retired already...

I had a similar conversation with a coworker recently. I think she's mid 40s like me or maybe early 50s? She's unmarried and has a lot of cats, I've gathered. We were talking about potential layoffs at work. I mentioned that's what triggered me to downsize my house and look at cutting my expenses further. She then started thinking aloud and thought she should pay off some of her credit card debt. Then she said "I have the money to pay off the credit card debt, but then I'd be poor". I didn't know what to say after that...

[Gin1984]

On a call at work today with some people in the Northeast.  They were extremely happy they were now allowed to telecommute, especially the guy who was commuting 73 miles each way. 

I worked in that office for a few years and knew quite a few people who commuted in from the next state over (at least an hour away, sometimes 1.5 hours away).  They wanted a bigger house and lower property taxes.

I've spent almost my entire internship wondering why 2 coworkers drive 75 minutes every day. They do get paid half mileage, but still. 2.5 hours of the day lost on driving. They were moved to this office over 5 years ago.

They could live where I do and only drive 25 minutes and probably have an identical or lower housing cost, plus good schools for the kiddies.

My husband is going to commute so I can finish my PhD.  It was the closest university with a PI and research he liked.  It sucks but as soon as I finish the money will stop being wasted.

[Zikoris]

I don't think fighting is the problem.  It's fighting and then holding long grudges and resentment.

Maybe it doesn't bother other people. For me, fighting a lot would mean we have pretty fundamental differences, which would make me wonder why I was with the person. I'm not a fighting sort of person AT ALL, so it would be very difficult to resolve issues with someone if that was how they dealt with conflicts.

Two people who both liked to fight would probably get along very well, come to think of it.

[Melody]

$12,000 a year private school fees.... for a 6 year old?????!!! And she has two kids.... in today's dollars she will spend at least $288K educating them (in reality actually a lot more as high school fees tend to run a lot higher than lower school fees)...
In comparison a house in the "best" school zone could be purchased for $600-$800K (i.e. $100-$300K more than an average house, with the advantage that the best school zones are close to work, the beach and public transit and have low crime so it would be a better place to live anyway)... I know where I'd be putting my money and it wouldn't be the private school.

Haha that's my strategy if I decide I need my kids to be in a high performing school... move to a high performing suburb, put them in the local public school and enjoy all the benefits of living in that suburb.

Speaking of private schools, they've been a topic of discussion in the workplace lately and apparently high schools in Perth cost $10-15k for a Catholic school and $20-25k for Anglican, non-religious etc. Jeepers. I wonder how many kids would rather be sent to a public school and NOT have their parents in massive amounts of debt.

Yup. I mean is it really going to make that much of a difference... when plenty of publics are in the top 20 (Shenton, Willeton and Mt Lawley all spring to mind) why would you? It's also not like said co worker will be sending her kid to a top 20 anyway... (Just a Catholic School). I actually pointed this out to her (politely, I was like, "lots of public schools made the top 20 list, maybe you can check some of them out") and the response was priceless - "We're private school people" (in other words... it's not about the quality of the education!)

[mm1970]

I heard two good ones today at the company picnic. By good I mean surprisingly Mustachian. I guess it helps that I work with engineers.

CW1 accepted a severance package last year but they asked her to stay on until mid-year this year to finish a project. She's about to leave in a month. She shared that she's 46 and it's time for a break. She has plans to see her daughter off to college, teach dance classes, etc. She and her husband have been conservative with their finances their whole lives. She stated she's done everything right and by the book up until now and she's just going to enjoy this time. I could have said the same exact words! Unfortunately, she's not ready for ER yet.

CW2 and I were talking about potential upcoming severance packages and he's all ready to accept it as I am. He wants to slow travel to Europe with his wife and parents. He is also mid-40s.

They both mentioned that we are in our 40s and are tired of doing the same thing. So it looks like being financially prepared gives you options in life. I was very impressed!

We just had layoffs.  Sadly, those of us who wanted the package were not laid off.

[LucyBIT]

I don't think fighting is the problem.  It's fighting and then holding long grudges and resentment.

Maybe it doesn't bother other people. For me, fighting a lot would mean we have pretty fundamental differences, which would make me wonder why I was with the person. I'm not a fighting sort of person AT ALL, so it would be very difficult to resolve issues with someone if that was how they dealt with conflicts.

Two people who both liked to fight would probably get along very well, come to think of it.

All depends on the people involved, I think. My fiance says he never had a single fight with his ex, and they were together for five years, and even then he saw it as a red flag.

We fight when we need to, but that's how we work out differences of opinion. If you're not a fighting person, presumably you're still working things out somehow, it's just not in such a way that fits most definitions of fighting. Fighting has actually been good for my fiance; with his ex, it wasn't that he wasn't a fighter, it was that they both avoided confrontation at all costs, any kind of confrontation that might lead to any kind of conflict. Engaging in some level of fighting has helped him be ok with confronting me when I'm being an asshole, instead of just swallowing everything and burping out resentment.

[Daisy]

I heard two good ones today at the company picnic. By good I mean surprisingly Mustachian. I guess it helps that I work with engineers.

CW1 accepted a severance package last year but they asked her to stay on until mid-year this year to finish a project. She's about to leave in a month. She shared that she's 46 and it's time for a break. She has plans to see her daughter off to college, teach dance classes, etc. She and her husband have been conservative with their finances their whole lives. She stated she's done everything right and by the book up until now and she's just going to enjoy this time. I could have said the same exact words! Unfortunately, she's not ready for ER yet.

CW2 and I were talking about potential upcoming severance packages and he's all ready to accept it as I am. He wants to slow travel to Europe with his wife and parents. He is also mid-40s.

They both mentioned that we are in our 40s and are tired of doing the same thing. So it looks like being financially prepared gives you options in life. I was very impressed!

We just had layoffs.  Sadly, those of us who wanted the package were not laid off.

An MMM-style tragedy, indeed.

[warfreak2]

I was at a marriage workshop thingy (it was pretty cool, and my fiancé liked it too!) with a bunch of other couples. In chatting with one of the women there, she decided to give me some advice: "Money is the root of all evil. All your fights will be about money. Cause if you think about it, when will you ever stop wanting to buy things?"

A common misquote; it's actually "love of money" which is supposed* to be the root of all evil. Fighting about money could be a sign that they value it too highly.

*In the Bible, of all places. One has to wonder what Satan's salary as CEO of Hell is. Anyway, we can probably agree that there's plenty of evil which isn't motivated by money, so let's dispense with the philosophy.

[FIPurpose]

I was at a marriage workshop thingy (it was pretty cool, and my fiancé liked it too!) with a bunch of other couples. In chatting with one of the women there, she decided to give me some advice: "Money is the root of all evil. All your fights will be about money. Cause if you think about it, when will you ever stop wanting to buy things?"

A common misquote; it's actually "love of money" which is supposed* to be the root of all evil. Fighting about money could be a sign that they value it too highly.

*In the Bible, of all places. One has to wonder what Satan's salary as CEO of Hell is. Anyway, we can probably agree that there's plenty of evil which isn't motivated by money, so let's dispense with the philosophy.

Looks like it's really only the KJV that uses the phrase 'all evil'. Most other translations use: 'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.' Would look deeper into the translation differences if I had the time. Hmm maybe a good weekend project.

[Quark]

Mine says, "Money is the root of all sorts of injurious things." :D

[BFGirl]

Just got a big (20k ) raise, and in my new department on the first day I overheard my fellow workers:

"Blah, blah, blah, yeah and I want the new X designer bag"
"Yeah I'm going to get the X designer bag too, etc"
"(laughing) yeah we just have to wait until next payday because I'm so broke!"

Um. WHAT IS HAPPENING? For all the shit I read about my horrible generation (I'm 26) I mostly hear this kind of talk from people over the ages of 35-40 in my office. They spend $6000 on a handbag they don't bat an eye, lunch out everyday, don't bat an eye, I bring my own coffee in a jar to work or mention not having cable and they all scream HIPSTER!!!! Yeah, I'm not a hipster, I'm aware of the results of stupid spending. By the way, since when did using recycled bags and making things from scratch mean hipster? My 90 year old grandma does that so I guess she must be a hipster too.

Well young people doing things old people do is typical hipster.  Like spinning your own yarn:

Ok.  I know this post is old, but this is awesome.  This is my side business!

[Quark]

Our work is moving to a new location. I said I was going to move into the onsite apartments and ride my bike 1/4 mi to work.

CW1 says: I could never live in an apartment again, I have too much stuff!
Me: Maybe you could downsize?
CW2: No, don't you see, he loves his stuff!

CW1 then proceeds to talk about the 4000sq ft house he just got and how he had to fill up all the extra space with new stuff! And how him and his wife don't use all the space, its just for guests!

[Melody]

This whole hipster thing is fantastic...
Now I'm cool and don't have to cop flak for my MMM behaviors anymore ;-)

[Anatidae V]

This whole hipster thing is fantastic...
Now I'm cool and don't have to cop flak for my MMM behaviors anymore ;-)

I had hipsters explained to me after picking up a copy of Frankie's (http://www.frankie.com.au). I got all excited by it - look people like me! (Except this stuff isn't quite practical and that costs too much)... Oh, these people don't actually like it, only ironically? Well at least I can blend in if I curb my enthusiasm...

[Zikoris]

I live in Vancouver, which is one of the hipster capitals of the world. About two years ago people stopped calling me weird and started calling me hipster. Apparently it's getting worse - I'm now at the extreme end of hipster, the kind that makes people roll their eyes. I haven't actually changed any of my behaviour over the years (maybe learned a few more DIY things than before), so it's interesting seeing the perception change.

[HappierAtHome]

This whole hipster thing is fantastic...
Now I'm cool and don't have to cop flak for my MMM behaviors anymore ;-)

I had hipsters explained to me after picking up a copy of Frankie's (http://www.frankie.com.au). I got all excited by it - look people like me! (Except this stuff isn't quite practical and that costs too much)... Oh, these people don't actually like it, only ironically? Well at least I can blend in if I curb my enthusiasm...

Maybe it's just the people I know, but they do sincerely like the frankie / hipster lifestyle, not just ironically. So some of my friends have a crochet circle with me, and they talk about attempting to cook sponge cakes, and wear frilly aprons. My kind of people. I always knew if I waited long enough the 1950s housewife ideal would come back into fashion...

Back on topic:

"It looks like I will have paid off my credit card debt from my last holiday sometime in the next six months, so that means I can start planning my next holiday!"

[nikki]

My downstairs neighbor and cubicle neighbor extended an invitation to use his dry cleaner. Apparently the dry cleaner picks up and delivers ~40,000w ($39.06 USD) worth of dry cleaning a month from him, and would be happy to collect more in our building. Uh... no. I don't have anything that needs dry cleaning.

Am I just crazy? Is $40 a month on dry cleaning normal?

He also has a cleaning lady for his 275 sq ft apartment, which I still don't understand.

Our lifestyle isn't the type that demands outsourcing these jobs, in my opinion.

[Travis]

We were discussing automatic bill payments and one of my subordinates mentioned that he has everything but his cell phone bill on auto because "they take the money three days before the 1st so I have to wait until payday."  I know he's not living paycheck to paycheck since he recently had a $2000 truck repair bill without his hair catching fire, but that comment seemed out of place.

[johnintaiwan]

My downstairs neighbor and cubicle neighbor extended an invitation to use his dry cleaner. Apparently the dry cleaner picks up and delivers ~40,000w ($39.06 USD) worth of dry cleaning a month from him, and would be happy to collect more in our building. Uh... no. I don't have anything that needs dry cleaning.

Am I just crazy? Is $40 a month on dry cleaning normal?

He also has a cleaning lady for his 275 sq ft apartment, which I still don't understand.

Our lifestyle isn't the type that demands outsourcing these jobs, in my opinion.

I think we have a similar lifestyle over here. no need to outsource if you only have to work 20-30 hrs a week

[Joggernot]

My downstairs neighbor and cubicle neighbor extended an invitation to use his dry cleaner. Apparently the dry cleaner picks up and delivers ~40,000w ($39.06 USD) worth of dry cleaning a month from him, and would be happy to collect more in our building. Uh... no. I don't have anything that needs dry cleaning.

Am I just crazy? Is $40 a month on dry cleaning normal?

He also has a cleaning lady for his 275 sq ft apartment, which I still don't understand.

Our lifestyle isn't the type that demands outsourcing these jobs, in my opinion.

I make sure all clothes I buy can be washed, not dry cleaned.  Clothes that need dry cleaning, aren't needed by a Mustachian.

[CommonCents]

My downstairs neighbor and cubicle neighbor extended an invitation to use his dry cleaner. Apparently the dry cleaner picks up and delivers ~40,000w ($39.06 USD) worth of dry cleaning a month from him, and would be happy to collect more in our building. Uh... no. I don't have anything that needs dry cleaning.

Am I just crazy? Is $40 a month on dry cleaning normal?

He also has a cleaning lady for his 275 sq ft apartment, which I still don't understand.

Our lifestyle isn't the type that demands outsourcing these jobs, in my opinion.

I make sure all clothes I buy can be washed, not dry cleaned.  Clothes that need dry cleaning, aren't needed by a Mustachian.

That's not really true - there are some jobs that require the type of clothing that has to be dry cleaned.  Finance comes to mind.  I don't happen to have a job like that myself because I can generally get away with using dryel most of the time and only taking stuff in every - let's be honest, 6-12 months (trending more to 12) or so - to be dry cleaned.  I'm a lawyer, but for the state - a partner at a law firm might need it though.  But some really can't get away with using dryel and need the type of clothes that are dry clean only.

Is it a $40 fee to pick up dry cleaning?  Or is it that they will pick up dry cleaning once a month, and clean it for you, charging a minimum of $40 (so if you have $60 worth of stuff you pay $60 and if you have $30 worth of stuff you pay $40)?  The former is not mustachian, as you well know.  The latter, if you regularly require dry cleaning upwards of $40 a month could be.

[galliver]

We were discussing automatic bill payments and one of my subordinates mentioned that he has everything but his cell phone bill on auto because "they take the money three days before the 1st so I have to wait until payday."  I know he's not living paycheck to paycheck since he recently had a $2000 truck repair bill without his hair catching fire, but that comment seemed out of place.

Maybe he just doesn't want to leave money sitting in checking all month (or two weeks) to pay that bill at the end of the month? I don't put anything on auto because I like the sense of control and have never forgotten; granted, I only have 4 payments to make.

[jimmymango]

I make sure all clothes I buy can be washed, not dry cleaned.  Clothes that need dry cleaning, aren't needed by a Mustachian.

Cringe.

Surely dry cleaning a suit or dress 1-2 times per year, and any associated events at which said clothing might be worn, is incompatible with FI!

[RetiredAt63]

Oooh, double treadle, you should be BFLGirl, not BFGirl   ;-)

Well young people doing things old people do is typical hipster.  Like spinning your own yarn:

Ok.  I know this post is old, but this is awesome.  This is my side business!
[/quote]

[aclarridge]

My downstairs neighbor and cubicle neighbor extended an invitation to use his dry cleaner. Apparently the dry cleaner picks up and delivers ~40,000w ($39.06 USD) worth of dry cleaning a month from him, and would be happy to collect more in our building. Uh... no. I don't have anything that needs dry cleaning.

Am I just crazy? Is $40 a month on dry cleaning normal?

He also has a cleaning lady for his 275 sq ft apartment, which I still don't understand.

Our lifestyle isn't the type that demands outsourcing these jobs, in my opinion.

I make sure all clothes I buy can be washed, not dry cleaned.  Clothes that need dry cleaning, aren't needed by a Mustachian.

Do you wear a suit to work?

[Joggernot]

Now retired, so no suits.  Wore suits that had to be dry cleaned when I worked in DC and well before MMM days.  After that I moved to things that could be washed.

[infogoon]

Every once in a while, usually when I'm watching Mad Men or something, I think it would be awesome to have a job where I wear a suit every day. I look pretty dapper in one, if I do say so myself.

Then I remember how much I hated wearing a jacket and tie in high school and realize that I would quit almost immediately.

[Fireman]

All my uniforms are provided at no cost and are replaced as necessary.  My class A uniform is basically a suit and I typically have it dry cleaned once a year.  I also have a couple regular suits and other nice clothes that I periodically have dry cleaned.  This isn't something I mind outsourcing because the end result looks much better than when I do it.

Every once in a while, usually when I'm watching Mad Men or something, I think it would be awesome to have a job where I wear a suit every day. I look pretty dapper in one, if I do say so myself.

+1  My show is actually called "Suits" and while I watch, I imagine being all suave and debonair wearing a suit every day.

Maybe he just doesn't want to leave money sitting in checking all month (or two weeks) to pay that bill at the end of the month? I don't put anything on auto because I like the sense of control and have never forgotten; granted, I only have 4 payments to make.

I don't have any of my checking account bills on auto as I also enjoy the control.  I do, however, have several bills that can be charged to a credit card with no surcharge.  These automatically go to my 1.5% card and then it's aggregated into one place that I pay at the end of the month.

[HairyUpperLip]

I enjoy wearing suits. I love the look and fit.

Mondays - I wear jeans and a button up for work
Rest of the week, it's pajamas or jeans and a t shirt.

I don't like being obligated to wear a suit, but I love to wear them outside of the workplace.

[GuitarStv]

There is some surprising love of wearing suits in here for a site dedicated to eschewing material trappings and escaping from the workforce.

FWIW I don't even like wearing pants.  I plan to spend my first few years of FI wandering around in my underwear, not looking dapper but being happy.

[jordanread]

I don't even like wearing pants.  I plan to spend my first few years of FI wandering around in my underwear, not looking dapper but being happy.

LOL. I believe that pants restrict creativity and fun.

[Russ]

I don't even like wearing pants.  I plan to spend my first few years of FI wandering around in my underwear, not looking dapper but being happy.

LOL. I believe that pants restrict creativity and fun.

fight the pantriarchy

[Target2018]

CW: They were going to shut off my cell phone for non-payment so I went down there and took care of it and look I even upgraded to a smart phone
Me:  How much did that set you back?
CW: $545
Me:  Where on earth did you come up with the money? (she never has any money - always behind on payments, etc.)
CW: I wrote a check
Me: But you never have that kind of money in your checking account
CW: It was one of those credit card checks

Me (to myself): Only 47 more months and you are out of here.

[horsepoor]

There is some surprising love of wearing suits in here for a site dedicated to eschewing material trappings and escaping from the workforce.

FWIW I don't even like wearing pants.  I plan to spend my first few years of FI wandering around in my underwear, not looking dapper but being happy.

More diaper than dapper.  Hey, why even the underwear?

I don't see the same surprise that female members here enjoy dressing nicely, whether they need to for work or not.  Don't see why dudes can't enjoy dressing up and looking good.  Just nice to have the freedom not to have to do it every day.  Maybe I'm shallow, but I get a little boost from getting dressed up and wearing my nice clothes for a special occasion.  It got kind of depressing when I went through a stretch where I never had a reason to wear anything nicer than jeans and a sweatshirt.

[Wolf_Stache]

CW: They were going to shut off my cell phone for non-payment so I went down there and took care of it and look I even upgraded to a smart phone
Me:  How much did that set you back?
CW: $545
Me:  Where on earth did you come up with the money? (she never has any money - always behind on payments, etc.)
CW: I wrote a check
Me: But you never have that kind of money in your checking account
CW: It was one of those credit card checks

Me (to myself): Only 47 more months and you are out of here.

OMG! I've only used a credit card check once, it was a few weeks ago, and it was because I had to put a downpayment on an apartment, but my ex had cleaned my accessible accounts out, and I was waiting for money to transfer. But I only did it because I HAD the money - it was just in transfer limbo. In fact yesterday I went in and paid my credit card bill in full to avoid the crazy interest rate on that stupid check.

But people seriously use those things?! I'm a bit horrified.

Makes me glad I work for a small company with a bunch of (mostly) frugal people. The owner of the company makes over $1M a year (I work in accounting, so I know this for a fact) drives a 20 year old car and lives in a little tiny fixer upper house.

[jordanread]

fight the pantriarchy

I will definitely be using that in a sentence today.

[warfreak2]

I don't see the same surprise that female members here enjoy dressing nicely, whether they need to for work or not.  Don't see why dudes can't enjoy dressing up and looking good.  Just nice to have the freedom not to have to do it every day.  Maybe I'm shallow, but I get a little boost from getting dressed up and wearing my nice clothes for a special occasion.  It got kind of depressing when I went through a stretch where I never had a reason to wear anything nicer than jeans and a sweatshirt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiweaZQ8g5U

[GuitarStv]

I don't even like wearing pants.  I plan to spend my first few years of FI wandering around in my underwear, not looking dapper but being happy.

LOL. I believe that pants restrict creativity and fun.

fight the pantriarchy

ROFL

[GuitarStv]

There is some surprising love of wearing suits in here for a site dedicated to eschewing material trappings and escaping from the workforce.

FWIW I don't even like wearing pants.  I plan to spend my first few years of FI wandering around in my underwear, not looking dapper but being happy.

More diaper than dapper.  Hey, why even the underwear?

I don't see the same surprise that female members here enjoy dressing nicely, whether they need to for work or not.  Don't see why dudes can't enjoy dressing up and looking good.  Just nice to have the freedom not to have to do it every day.  Maybe I'm shallow, but I get a little boost from getting dressed up and wearing my nice clothes for a special occasion.  It got kind of depressing when I went through a stretch where I never had a reason to wear anything nicer than jeans and a sweatshirt.

I look better naked, so don't get depressed for lack of fancy clothes.

Plus, as a hirsute man it's like I'm wearing pants all the time anyway!

[Zamboni]

The production number aspect of that video is appropriate on so many levels . . .

[Ascotillion]

Had a nice one today in class with a fellow student:

Him: There's a great trick I found with phone contracts, actually. If you call up the provider on the 23rd month to reset your contract and upgrade your phone, they'll usually give you the last month free, since they've made their money off you. You get a whole month free, plus you can sell your old phone! You can really get one over the phone providers.
Me: Wouldn't a better way to get one over them to be just to stick with your old phone?
Him: Yeah, but then you wouldn't get a new phone!
Someone else: Do you really need to upgrade from an iPhone 4S to a 5S?
Me: Yeah, I'm rocking this iPhone 3GS still, on a prepaid plan AND I got it free second-hand.
Him: Well, it's like a fashion statement. Like the reason I buy fancy clothes.
(I put my phone away in my Target jeans and adjust my op-shop shirt)

The cheapest price for the smallest iPhone 5S on Telstra's network is $77 a month, for 23 months: $1,771. That's so much money wasted, and he thinks he's saving because everybody else is paying $1,848!

[Thespoof]

I have a friend that just received a $3500 tax bill. He has no money to pay for it. His girlfriend put it on her credit card because she has no money. These same two are heading to Vegas in a couple weeks for a weekend getaway - I declined to join. Jaw dropped, I just shake my head.

[Davids]

I have a friend that just received a $3500 tax bill. He has no money to pay for it. His girlfriend put it on her credit card because she has no money. These same two are heading to Vegas in a couple weeks for a weekend getaway - I declined to join. Jaw dropped, I just shake my head.

I look forward to hearing your update in a couple weeks when they come back about how much they spent and lost.

[greenmimama]

Had a nice one today in class with a fellow student:

Him: There's a great trick I found with phone contracts, actually. If you call up the provider on the 23rd month to reset your contract and upgrade your phone, they'll usually give you the last month free, since they've made their money off you. You get a whole month free, plus you can sell your old phone! You can really get one over the phone providers.
Me: Wouldn't a better way to get one over them to be just to stick with your old phone?
Him: Yeah, but then you wouldn't get a new phone!
Someone else: Do you really need to upgrade from an iPhone 4S to a 5S?
Me: Yeah, I'm rocking this iPhone 3GS still, on a prepaid plan AND I got it free second-hand.
Him: Well, it's like a fashion statement. Like the reason I buy fancy clothes.
(I put my phone away in my Target jeans and adjust my op-shop shirt)

The cheapest price for the smallest iPhone 5S on Telstra's network is $77 a month, for 23 months: $1,771. That's so much money wasted, and he thinks he's saving because everybody else is paying $1,848!

I need a sarcasm font: Boy he is really sticking it to the man!

[jimmymango]

Have to post here because the conversation I just had is so idiotic and the other person just doesn't want to hear what I have to say (I mentioned this individual in a previous post many pages ago).

I receive this message from her this morning: "I had a breakdown last night. I need to hear about this job already because I'm trying to plan my life and I'm going to be broke pretty soon. It wasn't pretty." Sounds innocent enough, right? But the reason she's going to be broke soon is because she's living in a 2 bedroom apartment (alone) that she can't afford. She had a chance to move this winter, but opted to renew the lease and not find a roommate. She actually would have gone broke already, but got a cash gift from her grandmother that has allowed her to stay in the apartment until now.

There is a lot going on in her life right now and it's been a rough few years for her, but it's no excuse for idiotic, financially ruinous behavior. This is the second time I've tried to talk her out of that damn apartment and the associated depletion of her bank account, but her response is basically "I'll figure something out." Oy vey.

Ok. Rant over. Glad I could post here since my friend doesn't want to hear it.

[Fireman]

Had a nice one today in class with a fellow student:

Him: There's a great trick I found with phone contracts, actually. If you call up the provider on the 23rd month to reset your contract and upgrade your phone, they'll usually give you the last month free, since they've made their money off you. You get a whole month free, plus you can sell your old phone! You can really get one over the phone providers.
Me: Wouldn't a better way to get one over them to be just to stick with your old phone?
Him: Yeah, but then you wouldn't get a new phone!
Someone else: Do you really need to upgrade from an iPhone 4S to a 5S?
Me: Yeah, I'm rocking this iPhone 3GS still, on a prepaid plan AND I got it free second-hand.
Him: Well, it's like a fashion statement. Like the reason I buy fancy clothes.
(I put my phone away in my Target jeans and adjust my op-shop shirt)

The cheapest price for the smallest iPhone 5S on Telstra's network is $77 a month, for 23 months: $1,771. That's so much money wasted, and he thinks he's saving because everybody else is paying $1,848!

Just curious here, since you're in Australia I thought i'd get some clarification.  Does $77/month include service or is that just to buy the phone...I really hope it includes the service!

[CommonCents]

[quote author=jimmymango link=topic=2540.msg290678#msg290678 But the reason she's going to be broke soon is because she's living in a 2 bedroom apartment (alone) that she can't afford.
[/quote]

Sadly, not uncommon.  Many years ago, I had a coworker with this issue who wouldn't downscale from her 2-bed apt or take in a roommate for a bit.  Always paid her rent on the 5th because her landlord would let that slide.  Didn't have the money on the 1st.  Owned a car that cost her tons of money to keep running.
She was in her 50s with no retirement savings.
I was 22-24 at the time, with some Roth IRA savings, living with roommates and no car because I took public transit.
I never understood how she thought she'd eventually retire.

[agent_clone]

Had a nice one today in class with a fellow student:

Him: There's a great trick I found with phone contracts, actually. If you call up the provider on the 23rd month to reset your contract and upgrade your phone, they'll usually give you the last month free, since they've made their money off you. You get a whole month free, plus you can sell your old phone! You can really get one over the phone providers.
Me: Wouldn't a better way to get one over them to be just to stick with your old phone?
Him: Yeah, but then you wouldn't get a new phone!
Someone else: Do you really need to upgrade from an iPhone 4S to a 5S?
Me: Yeah, I'm rocking this iPhone 3GS still, on a prepaid plan AND I got it free second-hand.
Him: Well, it's like a fashion statement. Like the reason I buy fancy clothes.
(I put my phone away in my Target jeans and adjust my op-shop shirt)

The cheapest price for the smallest iPhone 5S on Telstra's network is $77 a month, for 23 months: $1,771. That's so much money wasted, and he thinks he's saving because everybody else is paying $1,848!

Just curious here, since you're in Australia I thought i'd get some clarification.  Does $77/month include service or is that just to buy the phone...I really hope it includes the service!

It includes the service.  Telstra is also not the cheapest provider for the iPhone (Or in general the cheapest provider particularly if you don't use your phone much, it does tend to have the best coverage though).  It looks like you can get one for $54 a month with Virgin Mobile, and $65 a month with Optus.

Telstra
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/mobiles-on-a-plan/iphone-5s/index.htm

Virgin Mobile
http://www.virginmobile.com.au/Shop/ProductDetails/13272/5S-Space-Grey-16GB

Optus
http://www.optus.com.au/shop/mobilephones/iphone/iphone5s

There are probably other perhaps cheaper plans out there.  But I can't be bothered finding them.

[Dr. Doom]

Today.
Chatting it up with a male coworker.  He's 36, bought his first house two years ago, has a wife, a one year old and a few pets.  Not rich, he audibly complains about payments and that sort of thing.  40 mile commute each way to work. 

Him:  What kind of siding do you like on houses?
Me:   Uhh... the kind of siding they come with?  I'm more worried about insulation and air sealing.
Him:  No but seriously, don't you have a problem with Vinyl?  It looks so plastic-y and cheap.  That's what I have.
Me:  I look at the exterior of my house for perhaps thirty seconds every day, it doesn't matter much.
Him:  Not me, when I come home from work, I want to feel like I'm looking at a home I'm proud of.  I think I'm going to convert it to wood shingles.
Me:  How much will that run you?
Him:   Maybe twenty.
Me:  Thousand???
Him:  Yeah, not bad, huh.

He mistook the incredulity in my voice for shock the price was so "affordable."

[dragoncar]

Today.
Chatting it up with a male coworker.  He's 36, bought his first house two years ago, has a wife, a one year old and a few pets.  Not rich, he audibly complains about payments and that sort of thing.  40 mile commute each way to work. 

Him:  What kind of siding do you like on houses?
Me:   Uhh... the kind of siding they come with?  I'm more worried about insulation and air sealing.
Him:  No but seriously, don't you have a problem with Vinyl?  It looks so plastic-y and cheap.  That's what I have.
Me:  I look at the exterior of my house for perhaps thirty seconds every day, it doesn't matter much.
Him:  Not me, when I come home from work, I want to feel like I'm looking at a home I'm proud of.  I think I'm going to convert it to wood shingles.
Me:  How much will that run you?
Him:   Maybe twenty.
Me:  Thousand???
Him:  Yeah, not bad, huh.

He mistook the incredulity in my voice for shock the price was so "affordable."

MILLION???