Overheard at Work

[frugledoc]

I have two stories:

1) A higher level employee in my organization is single in their late 30's and lives in a $800K, 2,000 sqft condo with $500+ HOA fees.
2) We recently had a single, junior employee move across the country to take on a new job. I tried to convince him about Boston traffic and to live close to work. He decided to live 20 miles away (45 minute commute). Oh well, at least I tried.

No problem living in an 800 k condo if it's within budget.

[horsepoor]

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

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

Yep.  To be fair to her, she doesn't complain about having to work, and her ex husband did screw up their finances.  On the other hand, I just don't see much of any inclination to rein in spending to get expenses in line with what she *could* have coming in at minimum retirement age.  Partly she's bitter that she got talked into switching from CSRS, which does sound like it was a sweeter deal. 

Another fed I know is retiring *this year* and doesn't even know exactly what he'll be getting and is purposely sticking his head in the sand.  He currently lives paycheck-to-paycheck, supports his wife, mother, and to some extent his grown son and his grandkid, yet doesn't know what he'll be getting and doesn't have the cash saved for the gap between stopping work and starting to get the pension payments and whatever else.  I'm not even mustashian and my blood pressure skyrockets every time I hear anything about it.

OTOH, I didn't even know we had a pension benefit for the first several years I was working.  I thought it was just TSP and Social Security.  Now I'm kind of confused about what I'm supposed to do with a 1.8 million + TSP account, much less a ROTH if I work until full retirement age.  I'll have close to a million if I ratchet back to just getting the match.

[LennStar]

Also, I had a coworker openly admit that he spends $800/month on weed. (And by the way lives paycheck to paycheck)

Ahh!! There the saying about smoking your retirement away comes from...

[Miamoo]

Quote from: goldielocks on July 23, 2014, 08:28:41 PM

    Quote from: MrsPotts on July 23, 2014, 07:59:43 PM

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

    What do rich sugar daddies in Vegas look like?

Elvis

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


Or the ever so attractive Wayne Newton - or has he moved on to Branson?  I forget.

[dycker1978]

Well... I just got a doozy.  My co-worker, who is my supervisor, just said told me how broke he was.  I know that he makes at lease 80K a year.  Anyways to the point of my story.

Him and his girlfriend just bought their third house.  They are both in there mid 50's and have been married a few times, so marriage is not in the future for them.  Anyways they just bought the third house, which would be great, if they rented two, but he lives in his house, she and hers, while the spend money to revovate the new house so they can move in, which he has stated will cost about 150000, and he paid over 500000 for this house, because it has his dream garage.

He is leaving on holidays to sturgus for the bike convention.  So he had to spend $6000 getting his $35000 Harley tricked out for the trip, so it looks good, because he just doesnt have enought time to do it(he is a mechinical engineer, so the work would have been something he is capable of).

We were talking this morning in the coffee room, and he casuly mentioned(this actually blew my mind a little) that him and his girl have to buy a new vehicle like a $50000 lexus becuase the driveway at their new house is steep and they may have issues driving the 2013 4x4 for explorer up the drive way... WTF HUH??

During the conversation on the explorer he explained that none of the other 12 cars they had between the two of them would work(12 cars two people what).  He also mentioned that the "spare" tire inventory for the cars was 34 tires.  He was also saying that maybe they should bite the bullett and but a Corvette annivery edition... he found one with less then 50000km for only 125000...

He then complains that he cant figure out why he is so broke, or where all his money is going.... he just stuck his head in my office and asked if I wanted to go for breakfast this morning...OMG.

[Numbers Man]

 ^  You must be a good listener, lol.

[dycker1978]

This has been over several days...  I sit quietly and chuckle to me self.

[boyerbt]

During the conversation on the explorer he explained that none of the other 12 cars they had between the two of them would work(12 cars two people what).  He also mentioned that the "spare" tire inventory for the cars was 34 tires.  He was also saying that maybe they should bite the bullett and but a Corvette annivery edition... he found one with less then 50000km for only 125000...

Can we get a list of the 12 cars? I don't understand how or why anyone would want this many vehicles?

[solon]

This has been over several days...  I sit quietly and chuckle to me self.

I don't know if I could chuckle. This might have risen to the level of requiring an intervention.

[dragoncar]

During the conversation on the explorer he explained that none of the other 12 cars they had between the two of them would work(12 cars two people what).  He also mentioned that the "spare" tire inventory for the cars was 34 tires.  He was also saying that maybe they should bite the bullett and but a Corvette annivery edition... he found one with less then 50000km for only 125000...

Can we get a list of the 12 cars? I don't understand how or why anyone would want this many vehicles?

Hopefully the garage is at the bottom of the steep driveway?

[AlanStache]

During the conversation on the explorer he explained that none of the other 12 cars they had between the two of them would work(12 cars two people what).  He also mentioned that the "spare" tire inventory for the cars was 34 tires.  He was also saying that maybe they should bite the bullett and but a Corvette annivery edition... he found one with less then 50000km for only 125000...

Can we get a list of the 12 cars? I don't understand how or why anyone would want this many vehicles?

Hopefully the garage is at the bottom of the steep driveway?

He may need to hire a guy to build a continuous garage all the way up one side of the driveway.  I hope they are not all titled/insured.

[dycker1978]

I have hears some of them...

He has a:
1986 fiero
1967 GTO
1967 Mecaidies
2013 chev 1/2 tonne
2012 chev 1/2 tonne - this is his 4x4 truck - can drive it all the time because it is too hard on gas
2012 Harley
2000 Harley
1999 Honda gold wing

She has:
2013 explorer
1976 Corvette


I also know that his new place had to have a 3 car attached garage, for their daily commuters(3 commuters and two people) and we live in a small city where you can easily bike anywhere in it in 20-30 minutes and also had to have a 30 x 40 garage in the back.  He was very happy that he could have all of the cars at his place instead of having to store them at his parents and his brothers places.

[dycker1978]

He has them insured and drives them once a month because they just detirate if you dont

[hermoninny]

During the conversation on the explorer he explained that none of the other 12 cars they had between the two of them would work(12 cars two people what).  He also mentioned that the "spare" tire inventory for the cars was 34 tires.  He was also saying that maybe they should bite the bullett and but a Corvette annivery edition... he found one with less then 50000km for only 125000...

Can we get a list of the 12 cars? I don't understand how or why anyone would want this many vehicles?

My husband could easily name 12 cars that he would love to own.  But he's a classic car buff.  In reality, he drives a 20-yr old 4-Runner with 280k miles and *almost* has his 32 Model A road-worthy.  It's not pretty yet, but it will be street legal.

[Lis]

A coworker of mine's recently-turned 18 year old son made some pretty stupid decisions after graduating high school last month (was caught drinking a beer in his parked car at a park a block away from his house), so now they have all sorts of court and legal fees to deal with. She was also complaining how her washer is leaking all over the place, her dishwasher hasn't worked in months, and the door to her minivan won't stay shut. Ouch. But...

- She just bought a $700 trampoline because she doesn't want her other kids to suffer
- Is currently on a week long vacation camping in NC. We don't live anywhere near NC.
- Planning a long weekend getaway in August

Also, she just received a $7,000 cut (granted, before taxes) as part of our company's sort of profit sharing program. No idea where the post tax money went, but given the amount of complaining she's done about the lawyer's fee...

[Ashyukun]

During the conversation on the explorer he explained that none of the other 12 cars they had between the two of them would work(12 cars two people what).  He also mentioned that the "spare" tire inventory for the cars was 34 tires.  He was also saying that maybe they should bite the bullett and but a Corvette annivery edition... he found one with less then 50000km for only 125000...

Can we get a list of the 12 cars? I don't understand how or why anyone would want this many vehicles?

My husband could easily name 12 cars that he would love to own.  But he's a classic car buff.  In reality, he drives a 20-yr old 4-Runner with 280k miles and *almost* has his 32 Model A road-worthy.  It's not pretty yet, but it will be street legal.

Wow. I mean, I'm a car guy and fiddling with cars is my primary hobby (and hopefully eventual main hustle), and we just have 4- all of which are very differently suited. 12 (though I do note 3 of those are motorcycles...) especially TWO nearly identical trucks- is just insane for someone who's not a mega-millionaire

1- Small, efficient sedan (2000 Saturn): Has been my primary vehicle but has sad largely idle for the last few months as I've taken to bike commuting hardcore after our move. If I can continue to commute on the bike year-round will likely be sold as it won't be needed.

2- Small SUV (2008 Mercury Mariner): Wife's car she's had for a few years from before we got together. Somewhat larger than necessary, but the cargo space DOES get used a lot since we regularly scour local thrift stores for furniture for her to refinish and sell.

3- Exotic (1983 DMC-12): Car I'd wanted all my life and is fun through and through, gets driven sparingly but a lot more than people expect.

4- Race car/parts hauler (1979 El Camino): Project car still in work, being primarily built for a budget car building/racing competition but will be kept around for me to use to make salvage yard runs

[LennStar]

OMG, that car clown is AWESOME. They really exist, these people!?!
How about building an underground parking lot? Then its not so steep :D:D:D

(was caught drinking a beer in his parked car at a park a block away from his house),

Where you live its illegal to drink in a parked car? I should think you can do whatever you want in your car. (esp. if you are in the US). Of course, when he is driving after drinking... (here in germany thats mostly defined as "engine running", which is very logical, because then the car could move of its own.)

[Donovan]

(was caught drinking a beer in his parked car at a park a block away from his house),

Where you live its illegal to drink in a parked car? I should think you can do whatever you want in your car. (esp. if you are in the US). Of course, when he is driving after drinking... (here in germany thats mostly defined as "engine running", which is very logical, because then the car could move of its own.)

I'm assuming it was the age of the kid relative to legal drinking age in that area that was the issue more than the parked car.  Not everyone gets to live in Germany :p

[odput]

Wow. I mean, I'm a car guy and fiddling with cars is my primary hobby (and hopefully eventual main hustle), and we just have 4- all of which are very differently suited. 12 (though I do note 3 of those are motorcycles...) especially TWO nearly identical trucks- is just insane for someone who's not a mega-millionaire

That last bit is not necessary

[Lis]

(was caught drinking a beer in his parked car at a park a block away from his house),

Where you live its illegal to drink in a parked car? I should think you can do whatever you want in your car. (esp. if you are in the US). Of course, when he is driving after drinking... (here in germany thats mostly defined as "engine running", which is very logical, because then the car could move of its own.)

I'm assuming it was the age of the kid relative to legal drinking age in that area that was the issue more than the parked car.  Not everyone gets to live in Germany :p

Underage is definitely an issue, as is having an open container inside a car. The laws may be bent when you're tailgating, but he got hit pretty hard.

At least in my state, it's illegal to have any alcohol (closed included) within arms reach of the driver. My friend was pulled over for rolling through a stop sign while driving home from grocery shopping. She had all of her groceries in the front seat, including the (still very closed) six pack she just bought. The cop told her that was illegal, and she technically should have received a ticket for that. Luckily the cop was cool and rolled his eyes about that, but he warned her to put all alcohol in the trunk when transporting it just to be safe.

But we're getting off topic here. Sorry!

edit: I used "technically" three times in two sentences. That's technically pretty dumb of me.

[hermoninny]

12 (though I do note 3 of those are motorcycles...) especially TWO nearly identical trucks- is just insane for someone who's not a mega-millionaire

Precisely why he has two cars instead of 12.  :)

We live near where Jay Leno keeps his garage.  Before he retired, we regularly saw him driving around town in one of his many cars.  My husband dreams of being wealthy enough to be able to justify owning that many cars.  It doesn't mean he ever will (or would, if we did become that wealthy).  Right now he'd settle for a tour of the garage!

Off the top of my head, I know he would love to have (all classic cars, nothing modern):

1. a truck

2. a 50-something Dodge something or other (I pay attention, can you tell?)

3. a vintage Beetle (this one would actually be my car)

4. a station wagon for a family car

5. his model A

6. a muscle car.  I really tune out when he starts talking about these.

So we're at six.  I'm sure he could name more.  But, again, it's not a reality world, just a dream.  It's what he loves.  And it's also his hobby.  He knows his model A inside and out, and has built it from nothing.  He even learned how to weld as part of building it. 

[CommonCents]

While not 12 cars for 2 people, I visited my high school friends recently for a wedding and discovered one of them owns 5 cars.  He's single.  He has: 3 porsche (I understand 2 are old - say ~1940/1950s that he rebuilt), 1 BMW, and 1 truck.  He started off a few sentences with how he hates to admit X because it makes him sound like self-entitled over-privileged etc... 

[otherbarry]

Coworkers were talking about how they spend money and one guy went, "I want the last check I write before I die to bounce."

[sol]

OTOH, I didn't even know we had a pension benefit for the first several years I was working.  I thought it was just TSP and Social Security.  Now I'm kind of confused about what I'm supposed to do with a 1.8 million + TSP account

Keep in mind that the federal pension is only 1% of your salary times your years of service, and is not inflation adjusted between retiring and collecting it.  That means that if you work 10 years in your federal job and retire at 30, they will determine the dollar amount of your pension as 10% of today's salary, and you will get that amount of dollars when you start drawing your pension in 30 more years.  The lack of an inflation adjustment coupled to the rising payout per year that you work means that the pension is a terrible deal for early retirees.  You'd be much better off just having your pension contributions back and investing them in a taxable account.

[Ashyukun]

Precisely why he has two cars instead of 12.  :)

We live near where Jay Leno keeps his garage.  Before he retired, we regularly saw him driving around town in one of his many cars.  My husband dreams of being wealthy enough to be able to justify owning that many cars.  It doesn't mean he ever will (or would, if we did become that wealthy).  Right now he'd settle for a tour of the garage!

Off the top of my head, I know he would love to have (all classic cars, nothing modern):

1. a truck

2. a 50-something Dodge something or other (I pay attention, can you tell?)

3. a vintage Beetle (this one would actually be my car)

4. a station wagon for a family car

5. his model A

6. a muscle car.  I really tune out when he starts talking about these.

So we're at six.  I'm sure he could name more.  But, again, it's not a reality world, just a dream.  It's what he loves.  And it's also his hobby.  He knows his model A inside and out, and has built it from nothing.  He even learned how to weld as part of building it.

Oh, I've definitely got a list of cars I'd love to own too- though likely not all at the same time since we have a hard enough time parking just what we currently have. :P If the Saturn does get sold and the Elky is done I'll likely be on the prowl for a later-production Corvair convertible to restore as a fun summer car since we both miss having a convertible.

My wife once told me when I got to talking about something technical on the cars that when I did that it may as well have sounded the same as the teachers on Charlie Brown that were 'voiced' by trombones because it was about as comprehensible to her. She does enjoy the cars though as well as my being able to work on them and save us money on repairs.

[boyerbt]

Coworkers were talking about how they spend money and one guy went, "I want the last check I write before I die to bounce."

Wow...that is all...

[Numbers Man]

Coworkers were talking about how they spend money and one guy went, "I want the last check I write before I die to bounce."

Wow...that is all...

Hopefully that's not the check to the funeral home.

[hermoninny]

Oh, I've definitely got a list of cars I'd love to own too- though likely not all at the same time since we have a hard enough time parking just what we currently have. :P If the Saturn does get sold and the Elky is done I'll likely be on the prowl for a later-production Corvair convertible to restore as a fun summer car since we both miss having a convertible.

My wife once told me when I got to talking about something technical on the cars that when I did that it may as well have sounded the same as the teachers on Charlie Brown that were 'voiced' by trombones because it was about as comprehensible to her. She does enjoy the cars though as well as my being able to work on them and save us money on repairs.

Yes!  The knowing about cars has helped a lot.  Mostly for my mom, though, which is awesome as she nears retirement without much savings and constantly worries about having to buy a new car.  He's kept her from having expensive A/C repairs by topping up the freon (admittedly learned from his 4-runner and not the model A) and also replaced her door lock mechanism with one he found at a junkyard when she couldn't lock her door. 

And I relate very much to your wife.  He goes into technical detail ALL THE TIME.  I once asked him what he would think if I started going into the technical and mathematical details of my knitting.  He replied that knitting wasn't going to save his life like brakes on the car would.  I told him that may be true, but I didn't need to know precisely HOW the brakes work, just that when I push the brake pedal the car will stop.  I don't think he thought it was as funny as I did!  :)

[okashira]

Coworkers were talking about how they spend money and one guy went, "I want the last check I write before I die to bounce."

I must be the only one who thought this might actually be mustachian.

[Hedge_87]

So I guess I get a face punch for the day, because I went out to eat with coworkers for lunch. I thought it would be nice to have a conversation over lunch but boy was I wrong. It started out with me talking about a house DW and I are looking at buying (we went and looked at it last night and people where curious what we thought). After that one coworker went on a mini rant about why he will never be able to buy a house because
A) who can save up 20%
B) his truck payment alone is $600
C) insurance is $200 a month for the truck
D) gas for the truck is $400 a month

The list went on to include utilities and the cost of food and all the material crap that you HAVE to buy and TAXES. It was the most miserable sob story I've ever had to listen to. I could barely hold the face punches back. I did however offer to help him set up a budget and get him on the right track (with the disclaimer that he would not like my advice).

[GrayGhost]

I did however offer to help him set up a budget and get him on the right track (with the disclaimer that he would not like my advice).

I can appreciate that you wanted to help the man, but giving unsolicited financial advice, or even offering it, may not be good for your social standing or your stress levels. MMM himself has said, IIRC, that he made this website because he wanted a place to say what he normally has to stop himself from saying.

I understand you want to help people, but it's honestly a thankless job that doesn't manifest itself in actual results most of the time, in this case.

[AlanStache]

I did however offer to help him set up a budget and get him on the right track (with the disclaimer that he would not like my advice).

I can appreciate that you wanted to help the man, but giving unsolicited financial advice, or even offering it, may not be good for your social standing or your stress levels. MMM himself has said, IIRC, that he made this website because he wanted a place to say what he normally has to stop himself from saying.

I understand you want to help people, but it's honestly a thankless job that doesn't manifest itself in actual results most of the time, in this case.

^yep but if He With Truck comes back in a day or two and asked for help I would bet against it going bad for the social position especially if kept low key.  HWT taking the advice might be a different story.

[Hedge_87]

I know what you mean GrayGhost. He is just such a good kid I can't watch the downward spiral. I feel strange saying this but I think I am kind of a "role model" in this kids mind. If he does take me up on the offer I'm not going to start throwing face punches right off the bat or anything because I know they wouldn't be received well. 

[horsepoor]

OTOH, I didn't even know we had a pension benefit for the first several years I was working.  I thought it was just TSP and Social Security.  Now I'm kind of confused about what I'm supposed to do with a 1.8 million + TSP account

Keep in mind that the federal pension is only 1% of your salary times your years of service, and is not inflation adjusted between retiring and collecting it.  That means that if you work 10 years in your federal job and retire at 30, they will determine the dollar amount of your pension as 10% of today's salary, and you will get that amount of dollars when you start drawing your pension in 30 more years.  The lack of an inflation adjustment coupled to the rising payout per year that you work means that the pension is a terrible deal for early retirees.  You'd be much better off just having your pension contributions back and investing them in a taxable account.

But no one's retiring early in this scenario.  1.8M is about what I'll have if I work until age 57.5 and max my TSP contribution, at which point I'll have 32 years of service in, so 32% of my high three, then social security at age 62.  With even the minimum contribution for matching, I come up with more than I need if I work until 57.5.  My coworker will have 30 years in, I believe, when she hits age 57, which is her full retirement age.

[Eric]

So I guess I get a face punch for the day, because I went out to eat with coworkers for lunch. I thought it would be nice to have a conversation over lunch but boy was I wrong. It started out with me talking about a house DW and I are looking at buying (we went and looked at it last night and people where curious what we thought). After that one coworker went on a mini rant about why he will never be able to buy a house because
A) who can save up 20%
B) his truck payment alone is $600
C) insurance is $200 a month for the truck
D) gas for the truck is $400 a month

The list went on to include utilities and the cost of food and all the material crap that you HAVE to buy and TAXES. It was the most miserable sob story I've ever had to listen to. I could barely hold the face punches back. I did however offer to help him set up a budget and get him on the right track (with the disclaimer that he would not like my advice).

Wow - his truck is costing him $1200/month (not counting maintenance) = $14400. Some people here live a whole year on that.

Maybe he's always out there Rollin Coal

[BlueHouse]

I did however offer to help him set up a budget and get him on the right track (with the disclaimer that he would not like my advice).

I can appreciate that you wanted to help the man, but giving unsolicited financial advice, or even offering it, may not be good for your social standing or your stress levels. MMM himself has said, IIRC, that he made this website because he wanted a place to say what he normally has to stop himself from saying.

I understand you want to help people, but it's honestly a thankless job that doesn't manifest itself in actual results most of the time, in this case.

Thanks for the advice.

[GrayGhost]

I know what you mean GrayGhost. He is just such a good kid I can't watch the downward spiral. I feel strange saying this but I think I am kind of a "role model" in this kids mind. If he does take me up on the offer I'm not going to start throwing face punches right off the bat or anything because I know they wouldn't be received well.

Well, if this kid really likes you and takes what you say seriously, you could try sitting down with him for a while and showing him some of MMM's math-heavy posts. For me, the most astonishing one was the Shockingly Simple Math to Early Retirement, because it is a simple graph that shows you the results of saving.

And you can also point out that you don't have to give up real luxuries in order to retire early. You can still live in an awesome house, have great food, friends, a car, running water, and other stuff. You can even travel, eat out, and engage in other things like that--just not to excess. You can also point out that the law of diminishing returns very much applies to cars and houses and stuff like that.

I guess a real problem with Mustachianism is that it's so hard to spread. Isn't that strange? It's relatively easy to convince people to vote one way or the other, you just have to employ some flash rhetoric and a few snazzy photos, but if you want them to live happier, safer, more sustainable lives, it's like pulling teeth!

[NoraLenderbee]

We were talking this morning in the coffee room, and he casuly mentioned(this actually blew my mind a little) that him and his girl have to buy a new vehicle like a $50000 lexus becuase the driveway at their new house is steep and they may have issues driving the 2013 4x4 for explorer up the drive way... WTF HUH??

During the conversation on the explorer he explained that none of the other 12 cars they had between the two of them would work(12 cars two people what).  He also mentioned that the "spare" tire inventory for the cars was 34 tires.  He was also saying that maybe they should bite the bullett and but a Corvette annivery edition... he found one with less then 50000km for only 125000...

You win the Internet today. This is incredible.

[Primm]

3- Exotic (1983 DMC-12): Car I'd wanted all my life and is fun through and through, gets driven sparingly but a lot more than people expect.

If you ever want to sell it... :)

[lizfish]

I just want to say how much I love this thread. It's a guilty pleasure because it's surely not right to mock our fellow humans. But man, some of 'em make it really hard not too.

Sadly haven't got any good stories to share, partially because I'm self employed and my clients don't see me enough to divulge much of their financial wisdom. But I live in hope.

Edited for drunk spelling.

[TheNorwegianGuy]

Not from work, but from a gathering of friends last night. One of my friends I have almost not seen the last 6 month because she have worked so much and also earned equally much. So I figured she at this time had saved up a crap load of money, but to my surprise she suddenly blurted out:

"I have a really hard time getting ends to meet. I work and earn very much, but the money just seem to disappear"

We were all kind of shocked, as she lives for free in a family appartment, do not have a car or any other big expenses. But later the answer to this mystery started to emerge as she started talking about all the travelling she have done and things she have bought

- An upcoming (luxury) trip of 10 days where the living expenses (including her boyfriend) alone is at $ 6000 !!!! (I did not know that was even possible). She said they got their plane tickets for free (bonus points) so they could upgrade the hotel budget.
- A brand new TV costing $ 4000
- A new purse costing $ 1000

I was so baffled I just had nothing to ad or say other than: "I can see why your ends are not meeting" But I do offered to take a look at her personal finance to help her out getting an overview and she actually said yes :). Maybe I can give her an awakening

Then she took a taxi home costing her almost $ 100 (Even though the public transport was right next door, goes every 10 minutes and straight home to her and I would not cost her anything as she have a public transport card).

[EricL]

OMG, that car clown is AWESOME. They really exist, these people!?!
How about building an underground parking lot? Then its not so steep :D:D:D

(was caught drinking a beer in his parked car at a park a block away from his house),

Where you live its illegal to drink in a parked car? I should think you can do whatever you want in your car. (esp. if you are in the US). Of course, when he is driving after drinking... (here in germany thats mostly defined as "engine running", which is very logical, because then the car could move of its own.)

Germany's pretty cool about drinking.  (I think one of the reasons they don't have many alcohol issues is they don't give it the mystique Americans do by making it verboten.). But there are still issues.  Anytime a cop, even the Polizei, find you sitting in a functioning car drinking it's not a stretch for them to assume you may have driven there while drinking or intended to commit a DUI.  For Germany in particular you never want to grab a drink after a fender bender until well afterwards.  The Polizei were known to go to to a residence to conduct a breathalyzer test shortly after an accident and blowing the test to them was blowing the test. 

[solon]

I just want to say how much I love this thread. It's a guilty pleasure because it's surely not right to mock our fellow humans. But man, some of 'em make it really hard not too.

Sadly haven't got any good stories to share, partially because I'm self employed and my clients don't see me enough to divulge much of their financial wisdom. But I live in hope.

Edited for drunk spelling.

I hear ya. This is always the first thread I check every day!

[Ashyukun]

3- Exotic (1983 DMC-12): Car I'd wanted all my life and is fun through and through, gets driven sparingly but a lot more than people expect.

If you ever want to sell it... :)

Heh. When I take it to car shows (rarer these days since I've got lots else on my plate and free Saturdays are a sparse) it's pretty much a given that someone will, whether jokingly or seriously, ask what I'd want for it. My stock answer is about $100k- which to my great amusement is often met by a response of, "Wow, that little?" The amusing thing is that I arrived at that $100k number by taking what it's likely worth (or would cost to replace)- about $25k- and mutliplying it by 4 so I'd have enough to buy another one in at least as good of shape, outfit it to my tastes, and still have a good bit of money left over. :P

[FunkyStickman]

3- Exotic (1983 DMC-12): Car I'd wanted all my life and is fun through and through, gets driven sparingly but a lot more than people expect.

If you ever want to sell it... :)

Heh. When I take it to car shows (rarer these days since I've got lots else on my plate and free Saturdays are a sparse) it's pretty much a given that someone will, whether jokingly or seriously, ask what I'd want for it. My stock answer is about $100k- which to my great amusement is often met by a response of, "Wow, that little?" The amusing thing is that I arrived at that $100k number by taking what it's likely worth (or would cost to replace)- about $25k- and mutliplying it by 4 so I'd have enough to buy another one in at least as good of shape, outfit it to my tastes, and still have a good bit of money left over. :P

Deloreans aren't as rare or as expensive as people think... guy down the street has one, I've seen them on Ebay for $15K-$20K. I'd buy a basketcase one and do an engine swap to make it fast, too. All the style and speed of a $200K supercar, for a fraction of the cost.

[Ashyukun]

Deloreans aren't as rare or as expensive as people think... guy down the street has one, I've seen them on Ebay for $15K-$20K. I'd buy a basketcase one and do an engine swap to make it fast, too. All the style and speed of a $200K supercar, for a fraction of the cost.

Yup. Even the 'new build' ones DMCH was putting out for a while (haven't checked to see if they still do or not) were only around $50k. But most people don't have a clue as to what they're actually worth and assume it's worth far more than what it actually is. The $100k number is more a 'I have no interest at all in selling it, but if someone actually gave me it I'd take it and be far better off' number than something I expect anyone to pay. ;)

[FunkyStickman]

I know it's off topic, but... neighbor's DMC tech day. Four Deloreans, I got to help work on them. Two were converted to carbs. None of them were worth more than $25K.

[dragoncar]

I know it's off topic, but... neighbor's DMC tech day. Four Deloreans, I got to help work on them. Two were converted to carbs. None of them were worth more than $25K.

Only 4?

[nikki]

Then she took a taxi home costing her almost $ 100 (Even though the public transport was right next door, goes every 10 minutes and straight home to her and I would not cost her anything as she have a public transport card).

Of all the things you listed, this is the one I have the hardest time understanding. ...why?!

[Ashyukun]

I know it's off topic, but... neighbor's DMC tech day. Four Deloreans, I got to help work on them. Two were converted to carbs. None of them were worth more than $25K.

Interesting! Especially the fact two were carbureted conversions, given I converted mine over to carbed while restoring it too. The only time I've ever seen another carbed one has been at the 2 DeLorean Car Shows I've been to where there were 40+ cars total and still only 2 or 3 of us running carbs. There were more engine-swapped cars than carbureted, including one awesome LS-4 swap. Honestly, the only time I see another one AT ALL is when I'm at a specific meetup for them- there are supposedly 3 or 4 around Central KY, but mine is the only one most people say they've ever actually seen.