Overheard at Work

[VirginiaBob]

I wouldn't say that complaining about an HDHSA necessarily qualifies you for the Wall. If you had somewhat high medical expenses, like two kids with asthma, you might be better off with a more inclusive plan.

I've never had an HSA but I did, in one memorably year, find out I was pregnant during open enrollment (surprise!) and we upped to the all-inclusive plan for the duration, then back down to a cheaper, higher copay plan once we'd had the baby and he came out healthy.

We were actually planning on doing the hard numbers on the traditional plan vs. the HDHSA since we're hoping to be having a baby next year, but the company took the option away on that. And honestly, I think that even with high medical expenses that you know are coming that you end up pretty good with the HDP. For the highest ($3k) deductible plan it's completely FREE for just me, and only about $750 more adding my wife to the plan. The all-inclusive plans were several thousand dollars a year minimum- when it became available I just moved all of what I had been paying (and a bit more) to going into the HSA.

We have both traditional and HDHSA plans, but in our case, the HDHSA plan is an extra $60 per pay period.  The Plan does put $60 per pay check into the account, making it a wash.  I go with the traditional plan because the benefits are better.  It worked out well when the twins spent 2-1/2 months in the NICU.  About a half million dollars in charges, and I just had to pay some copays, which were less than the HDhSA copays anyways.  Not to mention the $3k deductible per person on the HDHSA plan.  will take about 4 years just to pull even with the HDHSA plan, and that is only if we don't need any other special healthcare during that time.   Just stating this example that the HDHSA plan is not always the best choice.

[dragoncar]

Awn, rebs, you're such a nice guy!

I have absolutely no problem not responding to the people in the introduction thread.

I have to actively refrain from telling people in the introduction thread to go to hell.

Well, that makes me extremely glad I never posted in that thread. I wouldn't want the urge to tell people to go to hell on a daily basis.

It's more because I'm a grump than because of the people in the thread.  YMMV

edit: you know the saying: if you meet an asshole in the morning, you met an asshole.  if you meet assholes all day, you're the asshole :-P

[eyePod]

I'm a huge fan of MMM, but I haven't posted on the forums before. I've barely spent any money during my life and my net worth is about 100 times the median for my age. I expect to retire by 30. I enjoy reading this thread, but there were a couple things here I have to comment on:

...she is convinced they are worthless and won't listen to any other viewpoints.  I don't like second CW as much as first CW, so I just don't bother with her, even though it bothers *me* to think that someone would just give up $15,000 because it's easier than spending three minutes clicking "cash out" on a website.

I can't imagine working with any one person, let alone multiple people, so stupid about leaving $10,000 on the table.

While I am skeptical myself about "free money" because it usually is not free, it's very strange that your co-workers don't get it about the great windfall awaiting them. Usually word-of-mouth experiences like yours carry much weight. Perhaps they are hearing the experiences of other like you who cashed in their points for crap and they saw taxes come out of their check.

I have to say that is a robust rewards point system that your place of work offer! wow!

I think he works at that factory that makes screen doors for submarines.

AMIRITE?

That made me laugh really, really hard.  Thank you.  I'm a "she," not  "he," fyi. 

Yes, these two coworkers are just extremely well-dressed and spend a lot of money.  I told CW2 that I try to be frugal, and she said that was silly, and that every time her husband tells her they should save money, she just tells him they can always make more.  It's a philosophy.  I was with her once at breakfast, and her card was declined for a $6 charge (this is a woman who makes more than $200,000 per year).  Neither one of them is very good at navigating benefits or getting the most out of what the company offers us.  CW1 actually forgot to sign up for health insurance one year -- she put it off and put it off, and then decided to sign up at night, from home, on the last day of registration, only to find that registration ended at 7pm and she was too late.  Aye yay yay.

This just blows my mind. Someone making 200k per year and the fact that they have trouble paying $6. She should be smacked. Did you end up paying for her?

The other day my credit card was declined for a ~$2 purchase of envelopes. The cause was purely bank incompetency, not a lack of funds. I'm a customer of a large number of banks in US and Canada and I can tell you that banks made errors like this all the time. Additionally, since my money is split across around 30 accounts, it wouldn't be too surprising if one day I use the wrong instrument to pay for something, giving the illusion that I no money (although I haven't actually made this mistake yet).

I just had to comment on this because it's definitely a mistaken impression to think that a declined card has anything to do with a lack of funds -- almost always, this is caused by bank error.

I don't believe what I bolded in your post. I'm going to counter your n=1 situation with my own! I have never had a transaction declined. Guess it's a draw. I'm sure it happens sometimes but CC companies seem to be very good at knowing how much money they are loaning to you since it's their own damn money.

[eyePod]

Near daily I hear about the loans these students are taking out for school. I know it is expensive but $100k in student loans - yikes! I'm pretty frightened about the massive debt students are having to take on just for a BS.

I got you beat, not that it's a competition.

A "friend" of mine drives a decent Lexus and delivers pizza for a living. The guy is like 33-34 now I think? Anyways, he's always gone from random odd job to random off job. Recently he applied for school to pursue computer programming and also told me that since his income was so low school is free.

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, he decided since school was free and he didn't need the loan he applied for he might as well take the money and use it to "pay off debt", buy aftermarket car parts, and who knows what else. Makes me very angry, honestly.

Get ready for the complaints on FB after he graduates about how unfair it is that he has to pay back the loan with interest. Who has that kind of money just lying around?

[DeepEllumStache]

Rode down the elevator with another employee yesterday and we were discussing the stock market's performance.  I shrugged and said it'll come back up.  He replied that he was getting out of the market entirely since he was now at a 0% return for the year.

[Pooperman]

Rode down the elevator with another employee yesterday and we were discussing the stock market's performance.  I shrugged and said it'll come back up.  He replied that he was getting out of the market entirely since he was now at a 0% return for the year.

I'm kindof hoping it drops a bit more/holds low for the week or so it takes until my 401k contribution comes in. I like sales, but sadly no rain checks on the market :(.

[VirginiaBob]

Rode down the elevator with another employee yesterday and we were discussing the stock market's performance.  I shrugged and said it'll come back up.  He replied that he was getting out of the market entirely since he was now at a 0% return for the year.

I wouldn't be surprised if his 0% was optimistic.  Probably perpetual buy high-sell low strategy.

[eyePod]

Rode down the elevator with another employee yesterday and we were discussing the stock market's performance.  I shrugged and said it'll come back up.  He replied that he was getting out of the market entirely since he was now at a 0% return for the year.

I wouldn't be surprised if his 0% was optimistic.  Probably perpetual buy high-sell low strategy.

The question is if he's going to pay transaction fees each time. That means that 0% return is a loss.....

[Pooperman]

Rode down the elevator with another employee yesterday and we were discussing the stock market's performance.  I shrugged and said it'll come back up.  He replied that he was getting out of the market entirely since he was now at a 0% return for the year.

I wouldn't be surprised if his 0% was optimistic.  Probably perpetual buy high-sell low strategy.

The question is if he's going to pay transaction fees each time. That means that 0% return is a loss.....

Subtract inflation (~2%) from that as well.

[horsepoor]

Rode down the elevator with another employee yesterday and we were discussing the stock market's performance.  I shrugged and said it'll come back up.  He replied that he was getting out of the market entirely since he was now at a 0% return for the year.

Good for me, because I'm ramping my TSP contributions way, way up for the rest of the year and will be able to buy quite a few more shares.

[VirginiaBob]

Rode down the elevator with another employee yesterday and we were discussing the stock market's performance.  I shrugged and said it'll come back up.  He replied that he was getting out of the market entirely since he was now at a 0% return for the year.

Good for me, because I'm ramping my TSP contributions way, way up for the rest of the year and will be able to buy quite a few more shares.

Yep me too, I was at 5% only for awhile due to medical stuff, but ramping up to $17,500 now that we are in the clear.

[gimp]

My last 401k purchase was about 3 hours too early, but my small taxable contribution was at the perfect time (delayed two days, and ended up at the perfect time.) Doesn't really matter in the long run but it's nice to say 'Bullseye!'

[HairyUpperLip]

Near daily I hear about the loans these students are taking out for school. I know it is expensive but $100k in student loans - yikes! I'm pretty frightened about the massive debt students are having to take on just for a BS.

I got you beat, not that it's a competition.

A "friend" of mine drives a decent Lexus and delivers pizza for a living. The guy is like 33-34 now I think? Anyways, he's always gone from random odd job to random off job. Recently he applied for school to pursue computer programming and also told me that since his income was so low school is free.

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, he decided since school was free and he didn't need the loan he applied for he might as well take the money and use it to "pay off debt", buy aftermarket car parts, and who knows what else. Makes me very angry, honestly.

Get ready for the complaints on FB after he graduates about how unfair it is that he has to pay back the loan with interest. Who has that kind of money just lying around?

hahahah provably

[mm1970]

This is more of a comment of the work work work culture.
My company kind of sucks.  We haven't been doing well, are trying to get funding or get bought.  We have had rounds of layoffs, then we hire new people in at market rate, but our existing (and more useful) employees get paid peanuts.
So our morale is in the toilet.

Saw a coworker on my lunch walk - haven't seen him in awhile.  He wanted to know what I know.  I don't know anything - he works in the building with the big wigs. Well, HE thinks things are terrible, lots of closed door meetings, nobody is going to buy us, etc. etc.  Well I said "I've been job hunting, haven't found the right fit yet.  Of course, I could always stay home with the kids for a few years."

His response (same as everyone's response) "NO! Don't do it!  You will never work again!  It's impossible to find a job if you've been out of work awhile!"
Okay, well, maybe.
But so?
Work work work work.

[RyanAtTanagra]

Ok, I'll add one on the other end of the spectrum to switch things up a bit.  I work with a young developer (early-mid 20s) that is frugal bordering on cheap.  He'll do things like buy a tool that he only needs once to work on his truck, use it, then return it and say it wasn't the right tool.  From what I've gathered he learned tricks like that from his dad.  The other day he took his sister out for her birthday and the tab came to over $100 and he said he started sweating.  Even though he has the money it was just painful to pay that much, even for a special occasion.  Being in SF I commend him for being thrifty, since he gets crap for it at work sometimes, but he's a reminder to me sometimes to not swing too far in the other direction.

[AlanStache]

Ok, I'll add one on the other end of the spectrum to switch things up a bit.  I work with a young developer (early-mid 20s) that is frugal bordering on cheap.  He'll do things like buy a tool that he only needs once to work on his truck, use it, then return it and say it wasn't the right tool.  From what I've gathered he learned tricks like that from his dad.  The other day he took his sister out for her birthday and the tab came to over $100 and he said he started sweating.  Even though he has the money it was just painful to pay that much, even for a special occasion.  Being in SF I commend him for being thrifty, since he gets crap for it at work sometimes, but he's a reminder to me sometimes to not swing too far in the other direction.

yep, frugal = good; cheap = bad.  Bet he has over 20k in a cash checking account with minimal investments too :-(

[voidmain]

Ok, I'll add one on the other end of the spectrum to switch things up a bit.  I work with a young developer (early-mid 20s) that is frugal bordering on cheap.  He'll do things like buy a tool that he only needs once to work on his truck, use it, then return it and say it wasn't the right tool.  From what I've gathered he learned tricks like that from his dad.  The other day he took his sister out for her birthday and the tab came to over $100 and he said he started sweating.  Even though he has the money it was just painful to pay that much, even for a special occasion.  Being in SF I commend him for being thrifty, since he gets crap for it at work sometimes, but he's a reminder to me sometimes to not swing too far in the other direction.

I'm in SF and I get shit for being frugal from my coworkers from time to time. Like they'll want to take an Uber/Lyft to go somewhere, I say I'll take the bus to meet them there. $5 sure isn't gonna break the bank, but that 10-15 minutes saved isn't worth it to me vs $0 for transit (marginal cost because I already have my pass for commuting). I'm not as bad as that guy at least :)

Also, who the hell even has a truck in SF. That doesn't seem to frugal to me, I have no interest in ever having a vehicle

[Dr.Vibrissae]

I just had to comment on this because it's definitely a mistaken impression to think that a declined card has anything to do with a lack of funds -- almost always, this is caused by bank error.

I don't believe what I bolded in your post. I'm going to counter your n=1 situation with my own! I have never had a transaction declined. Guess it's a draw. I'm sure it happens sometimes but CC companies seem to be very good at knowing how much money they are loaning to you since it's their own damn money.

I have to agree with Cathy.  While debit cards will get declined if you over draw, a CC is almost always declined due to some other problem (unless you are really far over the limit).  If you pay regularly, most cards will let you go slightly over the stated limit, and I've had limits raised by the company just because I was getting close every month (I always paid in full).  However I have a transaction or two declined/fail every year for problems that never have to do with funds.  It's annoying, but usually you just pay another way and call the bank to fix the issue when you get home.

[HappierAtHome]

One of my managers yesterday said "you're just not very materialistic, are you, Happier?" and meant it as a compliment :-)

She then went on to tell me that one of our colleagues lives paycheck to paycheck and has no safety net / savings... to the extent of strategically putting in her HR forms for sick leave in separate pay periods even if the days were consecutive, as she'd run out of official sick leave and couldn't afford more than one day of unpaid leave per pay period!!

The way this story was told made me think that the manager is probably fairly sensible with money given her absolute horror of living paycheck to paycheck like our colleague does.

[MountainBeard]

Had an offsite work meeting last week, which most folks had to travel to.  It took two hotel vans and a personal car to shuttle folks to the office...  across the street.

[Zamboni]

^Awesome.

When I have had a CC declined (which happened twice this year), it had nothing to do with funds.  It had to do with them deciding that the purchase couldn't possibly be me.  Like when I was on a business trip to another state and decided to buy a bottle of fancy tequila from an admittedly shady liquor store that the cabby recommended on our way to the airport.  Annoying, but better than identity theft, so I play along and just pull out another form of payment.

[Metta]

When I have had a CC declined (which happened twice this year), it had nothing to do with funds.  It had to do with them deciding that the purchase couldn't possibly be me. 

This is almost always when it happens to me. The time when they asked me if I'd used my credit card to pay for a bunch of chocolates and a prostitute in Poland, I was simply speechless. Several witty remarks entered my head at once but the person sounded very sober and I didn't want him to think that I took Polish prostitution lightly. Or, alternatively, that I was the type of person who flew to Poland for a quickie with a prostitute (and chocolates). It did seem to demand something more than, "Nope, not mine."

I eventually tracked down why my credit card numbers kept getting stolen and used to fund illicit activities and I put an end to it. But the card companies still put a hold on my cards if the purchase seems fishy. I'm ok with it.

[lizfish]

Oh and by the way, I just discovered this site a couple of weeks ago, and I just now completed all 93 pages of reading in this thread.  It was way more entertaining than anything else I was doing. :)  You guys are awesome.

I'm pretty sure there's a medal available for that. Welcome to MMM.

[lizfish]

A colleague replied that I should get a new Tablet pc. I replied that maybe, one day, I would want to, but would not get more value out of a new one now.

She replied "we should send you to a boot camp, to change your mind, and that you start buying more things. You should spend more money!"

Ha ha ha. They think *you're* wrong? Ooops never mind.

[Bigote]

The time when they asked me if I'd used my credit card to pay for a bunch of chocolates and a prostitute in Poland, I was simply speechless.

Same thing happened to me!   Now I know to just hit the ATM at the hotel and bring lots of cash.   

[coin]

My boss was fired today.  We got paid on Monday, and we get paid 2 weeks ahead.  So my worked asked for the 2 weeks prepayment back.

My now ex-boss is refusing to give them the money back.  Considering he ate out for breakfast and lunch every day, he probably needs it.  Good for him, I guess?

[VirginiaBob]

The time when they asked me if I'd used my credit card to pay for a bunch of chocolates and a prostitute in Poland, I was simply speechless.

Same thing happened to me!   Now I know to just hit the ATM at the hotel and bring lots of cash.

Lol, ATM at the hotel.  Who was the lucky lady (or guy)?

[Elderwood17]

My boss was fired today.  We got paid on Monday, and we get paid 2 weeks ahead.  So my worked asked for the 2 weeks prepayment back.

My now ex-boss is refusing to give them the money back.  Considering he ate out for breakfast and lunch every day, he probably needs it.  Good for him, I guess?

You get paid ahead of time?  That's interesting.  They would never recover that money from employees at my job.

We have a major problem when people turn in their notice then run up big bills on their payroll deduction at the cafeteria.  The payroll deduct system posts what you charge one month after the charge, so people take advantage of it.  They get mailed a bill but I never stand from our HR folks they rarely collect.

[Caella]

Little backstory for context:

Six months ago I changed jobs to a much more formal one.
Sure enough, I had no formal clothes at all, since I never needed them.

Having no idea at all on how to dress formal or what to buy, I asked for a coworker friend of mine for some help, and she showed me some stores and gave me some guidelines on what to buy and how to combine things. I then bought six shirts and three pants (more than enough for a week of work, wash in the weekend and use again next week).

So, yesterday she asked me (not for the first time, i must say) if I didn't want to buy new clothes again, that she would help me choose (yep, I'm TOTALLY incompetent, and if left to me I would never wear anything different than comfy tennis shoes, jeans and T-shirts).

Me: No, the clothes are good as new, there's no need for new clothes yet.
She: You need to renew your wardrobe!
Me: But the clothes aren't not even a year old, they're perfectly good!
She: And you only buy clothes when the old aren't good anymore?
Me: Obviously?! o.o

...and she stopped talking to me since then.

[seanc0x0]

I've only had one credit card transaction declined, which was an expensive specialty part from a small company in the US. They weren't set up for it to be done online, and entered it at a terminal. Given that it was a $4800 hit, entered on a terminal manually in another company, I'm fine with it! I called the company and it was sorted out.

As far as travel, whenever I'm going out of the country, I call my CC company and tell them I'm travelling, and where I'll be. So far, no problems!

Put to prevent this thread from getting too foamy,  here's something on topic. We had a meeting to discuss something at work, and at the end, a coworker asked our boss about travel. Turns out he couldn't book the hotel since they want to put a hold on a credit card for the booking amount. He said he couldn't do it because he has less than $100 credit left on his card!

[GuitarStv]

Put to prevent this thread from getting too foamy,  here's something on topic. We had a meeting to discuss something at work, and at the end, a coworker asked our boss about travel. Turns out he couldn't book the hotel since they want to put a hold on a credit card for the booking amount. He said he couldn't do it because he has less than $100 credit left on his card!

To be fair . . . if you're traveling for work, your work should pay for as many of your expenses as possible in full, up front.  There's really no good reason to not operate this way.  I've pretended that I am nearly at the limit of my personal credit card to force the company to do the right thing.

[jordanread]

To be fair . . . if you're traveling for work, your work should pay for as many of your expenses as possible in full, up front.  There's really no good reason to not operate this way.  I've pretended that I am nearly at the limit of my personal credit card to force the company to do the right thing.

I'll say that I usually prefer putting business expenses on my rewards card, and get reimbursed within a month. It's like free money!!

That being said,  I agree it should be an option only, not required.

[seanc0x0]

To be fair . . . if you're traveling for work, your work should pay for as many of your expenses as possible in full, up front.  There's really no good reason to not operate this way.  I've pretended that I am nearly at the limit of my personal credit card to force the company to do the right thing.

Never thought of that, as nowhere I've ever worked fronted travel expenses. I personally don't mind since I get cash back on my card. We do get paid promptly once the expense claim is submitted (a few days, unless there's an irregularity).

You can get a travel card, just by asking though. I've never bothered.

[eyePod]

This is more of a comment of the work work work culture.
My company kind of sucks.  We haven't been doing well, are trying to get funding or get bought.  We have had rounds of layoffs, then we hire new people in at market rate, but our existing (and more useful) employees get paid peanuts.
So our morale is in the toilet.

Saw a coworker on my lunch walk - haven't seen him in awhile.  He wanted to know what I know.  I don't know anything - he works in the building with the big wigs. Well, HE thinks things are terrible, lots of closed door meetings, nobody is going to buy us, etc. etc.  Well I said "I've been job hunting, haven't found the right fit yet.  Of course, I could always stay home with the kids for a few years."

His response (same as everyone's response) "NO! Don't do it!  You will never work again!  It's impossible to find a job if you've been out of work awhile!"
Okay, well, maybe.
But so?
Work work work work.

Remember, they locked themselves into monthly payments which requires lots of cash flow!

[Fuzzy Buttons]

When I have had a CC declined (which happened twice this year), it had nothing to do with funds.  It had to do with them deciding that the purchase couldn't possibly be me.  Like when I was on a business trip to another state and decided to buy a bottle of fancy tequila from an admittedly shady liquor store that the cabby recommended on our way to the airport.  Annoying, but better than identity theft, so I play along and just pull out another form of payment.

Last year my mother's credit card was frozen after she paid for my father's funeral expenses.  Got declined later that day when she was attempting to buy some picture frames for the memorial service.  Just had to call and confirm the charge was really her, and she handled it really well.  But of all the times to have to deal with that kindof thing.  :(

[eyePod]

Put to prevent this thread from getting too foamy,  here's something on topic. We had a meeting to discuss something at work, and at the end, a coworker asked our boss about travel. Turns out he couldn't book the hotel since they want to put a hold on a credit card for the booking amount. He said he couldn't do it because he has less than $100 credit left on his card!

To be fair . . . if you're traveling for work, your work should pay for as many of your expenses as possible in full, up front.  There's really no good reason to not operate this way.  I've pretended that I am nearly at the limit of my personal credit card to force the company to do the right thing.

I just did the exact opposite to get the points! :-D

[klystomane]

When I have had a CC declined (which happened twice this year), it had nothing to do with funds.  It had to do with them deciding that the purchase couldn't possibly be me.  Like when I was on a business trip to another state and decided to buy a bottle of fancy tequila from an admittedly shady liquor store that the cabby recommended on our way to the airport.  Annoying, but better than identity theft, so I play along and just pull out another form of payment.

Last year my mother's credit card was frozen after she paid for my father's funeral expenses.  Got declined later that day when she was attempting to buy some picture frames for the memorial service.  Just had to call and confirm the charge was really her, and she handled it really well.  But of all the times to have to deal with that kindof thing.  :(

First off, sorry to hear of the loss of your father; I think I'll personally be a wreck when that day comes.

In all seriousness (and no offense intended to anybody), is having a funeral considered Mustachian?

Are there different levels of a Mustachian funeral like there is for a wedding? If MMM advocates no wedding ring, does he also support not having a casket?

[dragoncar]

Oh and by the way, I just discovered this site a couple of weeks ago, and I just now completed all 93 pages of reading in this thread.  It was way more entertaining than anything else I was doing. :)  You guys are awesome.

I'm pretty sure there's a medal available for that. Welcome to MMM.

My boss was fired today.  We got paid on Monday, and we get paid 2 weeks ahead.  So my worked asked for the 2 weeks prepayment back.

My now ex-boss is refusing to give them the money back.  Considering he ate out for breakfast and lunch every day, he probably needs it.  Good for him, I guess?

You get paid ahead of time?  That's interesting.  They would never recover that money from employees at my job.

We have a major problem when people turn in their notice then run up big bills on their payroll deduction at the cafeteria.  The payroll deduct system posts what you charge one month after the charge, so people take advantage of it.  They get mailed a bill but I never stand from our HR folks they rarely collect.

My wife just started at a job where she gets paid monthly, after the fact.  There's an option to get an "advance" halfway through the month for 1/3 of her paycheck.  Uh, assholes that's not an "advance" that's just a regular paycheck that's 1/6 too small.  I wonder why anyone would choose NOT to take this "advance".

Put to prevent this thread from getting too foamy,  here's something on topic. We had a meeting to discuss something at work, and at the end, a coworker asked our boss about travel. Turns out he couldn't book the hotel since they want to put a hold on a credit card for the booking amount. He said he couldn't do it because he has less than $100 credit left on his card!

To be fair . . . if you're traveling for work, your work should pay for as many of your expenses as possible in full, up front.  There's really no good reason to not operate this way.  I've pretended that I am nearly at the limit of my personal credit card to force the company to do the right thing.

I just did the exact opposite to get the points! :-D

I love using my card for work expenses, especially when there's 5% back on restaurants, etc.  But my office usually pays me back before the credit card due date.  I know many other people who have had problems getting their employer to pay them back on time -- not due to lack of funds, just bureaucracy.  I agree with GuitarStv that employers really SHOULD front the bill - either issue a corporate card or direct bill - at least for large expenses such as flights, hotels, car rentals, etc.

[RyanAtTanagra]

I'm in SF and I get shit for being frugal from my coworkers from time to time. Like they'll want to take an Uber/Lyft to go somewhere, I say I'll take the bus to meet them there.

I get the same thing from coworkers when I meet them out :-)  Cab is the absolute last option for me.  I've stumbled 3 miles home before and didn't even consider a cab.

Also, who the hell even has a truck in SF. That doesn't seem to frugal to me, I have no interest in ever having a vehicle

Heh agreed, he says he needs it for surfing.  He's in the sunset now so it's not a big deal, but he's trying to move in further and having a hard time finding places with free/cheap parking.  I keep telling him to just get rid of it, it'll make finding a place way easier, but 'i'll never not have a car' etc.  At least it's a 10+ year old S10, but there's no frugal/non-pain-in-the-ass way to have a car in this city unless you're out far enough to have plenty of free parking.

[eyePod]

I'm in SF and I get shit for being frugal from my coworkers from time to time. Like they'll want to take an Uber/Lyft to go somewhere, I say I'll take the bus to meet them there.

I get the same thing from coworkers when I meet them out :-)  Cab is the absolute last option for me.  I've stumbled 3 miles home before and didn't even consider a cab.

Didn't Freakonomics talk about how it's a lot more dangerous to drunk walk than drunk drive?

[gimp]

I've stumbled 3 miles home before and didn't even consider a cab.

The beer scooter is real, man. Three miles ain't shit when you're drunk.

[seanc0x0]

I'm in SF and I get shit for being frugal from my coworkers from time to time. Like they'll want to take an Uber/Lyft to go somewhere, I say I'll take the bus to meet them there.

I get the same thing from coworkers when I meet them out :-)  Cab is the absolute last option for me.  I've stumbled 3 miles home before and didn't even consider a cab.

Didn't Freakonomics talk about how it's a lot more dangerous to drunk walk than drunk drive?

Maybe for you. I'd wager you're less likely to kill/maim someone else by walking drunk though.

[RyanAtTanagra]

I'm in SF and I get shit for being frugal from my coworkers from time to time. Like they'll want to take an Uber/Lyft to go somewhere, I say I'll take the bus to meet them there.

I get the same thing from coworkers when I meet them out :-)  Cab is the absolute last option for me.  I've stumbled 3 miles home before and didn't even consider a cab.

Didn't Freakonomics talk about how it's a lot more dangerous to drunk walk than drunk drive?

http://freakonomics.com/2011/12/28/the-perils-of-drunk-walking/

I hadn't read that before.  Interesting, maybe I'll be a little quicker to grab a cab ;-)  Although it's probably harder to admit/realize you're 'too drunk to walk' than it is 'too drunk to drive'.

[voidmain]

I'm in SF and I get shit for being frugal from my coworkers from time to time. Like they'll want to take an Uber/Lyft to go somewhere, I say I'll take the bus to meet them there.

I get the same thing from coworkers when I meet them out :-)  Cab is the absolute last option for me.  I've stumbled 3 miles home before and didn't even consider a cab.

Getting home when drunk > 2 miles away is about the only situation I'll ever take a cab

[Timmmy]

I'm in SF and I get shit for being frugal from my coworkers from time to time. Like they'll want to take an Uber/Lyft to go somewhere, I say I'll take the bus to meet them there.

I get the same thing from coworkers when I meet them out :-)  Cab is the absolute last option for me.  I've stumbled 3 miles home before and didn't even consider a cab.

Didn't Freakonomics talk about how it's a lot more dangerous to drunk walk than drunk drive?

http://freakonomics.com/2011/12/28/the-perils-of-drunk-walking/

I hadn't read that before.  Interesting, maybe I'll be a little quicker to grab a cab ;-)  Although it's probably harder to admit/realize you're 'too drunk to walk' than it is 'too drunk to drive'.

My old roommate believed that walking was a lot harder than driving.  If he was sober enough to find/walk to the car he was sober enough to drive home. 

[Albert]

I have never taken a cab in Switzerland (very expensive and we have superb public transport), but I've been to plenty of places where that is the best option. That's not counting business trips when I just don't care too much about the cost.

[gimp]

My old roommate believed that walking was a lot harder than driving.  If he was sober enough to find/walk to the car he was sober enough to drive home.

Your old roommate is a cunt. :)

SF is a very walkable city. Walking drunk is fun. Just, you know, try not to get stabbed.

[RyanAtTanagra]

SF is a very walkable city. Walking drunk is fun. Just, you know, try not to get stabbed.

People worry about that one way too much here.  I hardly ever get stabbed when walking home drunk.

[Timmmy]

My old roommate believed that walking was a lot harder than driving.  If he was sober enough to find/walk to the car he was sober enough to drive home.

Your old roommate is a cunt. :)

SF is a very walkable city. Walking drunk is fun. Just, you know, try not to get stabbed.

Taking this way off topic but he came home one time absolutely piss drunk all pissed off.  It took me several minutes to calm him down and figure out what was going on.  Turns out he got stopped by the police for turning left out of the bar parking lot when it was posted right turn only.  They gave him a ticket for, wait for it...  "Disobeying a traffic control device"

[dragoncar]

My old roommate believed that walking was a lot harder than driving.  If he was sober enough to find/walk to the car he was sober enough to drive home.

Your old roommate is a cunt. :)

SF is a very walkable city. Walking drunk is fun. Just, you know, try not to get stabbed.

Taking this way off topic but he came home one time absolutely piss drunk all pissed off.  It took me several minutes to calm him down and figure out what was going on.  Turns out he got stopped by the police for turning left out of the bar parking lot when it was posted right turn only.  They gave him a ticket for, wait for it...  "Disobeying a traffic control device"

I was almost run over by a garbage truck going the wrong way down a one-way street while running a red light.  But at least I wasn't drunk.