Overheard at Work

[FIPurpose]

Everyone screaming 'foam' every time they think a post is boring is getting old.

[skunkfunk]

foam

We could always talk about red boxes.

[Timmmy]

foam

We could always talk about red boxes.

You mean the "black boxes" that I heard were orange? 

[skunkfunk]

foam

We could always talk about red boxes.

You mean the "black boxes" that I heard were orange?

Damn, I forget. I guess we need a full recap.

[gimp]

Oh my fucking god, the horror of a 100-page thread going off topic. That deserves a massive image embedded right into the post. Because of course that isn't just making the thread go further off-topic.

[Jack]

It really doesn't help that the bay is... diagonal. Oh well. We all know how it works.

Yeah, caught me in the middle of an edit, but I honestly had no idea how it worked as a child.

geography is so funny. in the Twin Cities there's a suburb called West St. Paul, but it's actually south of St. Paul (although there's also a South St. Paul, southeast of West St. Paul), because west of St. Paul would be... Minneapolis.

Being from the eastern suburbs, I really hate that whole thing. Now, as a resident of St. Paul, my bigger pet peeve is somewhat more insane: within the city of St. Paul, there is a neighborhood called "the West Side". This is the SOUTHEAST side. I actually live on the western side of the city, and I have no way of describing where I live. Most people don't know the actual neighborhood names (Union Park represent!), so I'm typically stuck with "Near [college]" or "about equidistant from the two downtowns", depending on how familiar the asker is with MSP geography.

There is a city named East Point in western metro Atlanta.

Why is it called "East Point" when it's clearly in the west?

Because it's the east end of a railroad line, which terminates in -- you guessed it -- the city of West Point, GA, located on the Alabama border.

(FOAM!)

Okay, back on topic: A coworker is talking about getting one of those electric heaters because he thinks it'll be cheaper than using his gas furnace. I think he's planning to heat his whole house with it, and no, he hasn't done the math.

[Timmmy]

Oh my fucking god, the horror of a 100-page thread going off topic. That deserves a massive image embedded right into the post. Because of course that isn't just making the thread go further off-topic.

So much foam in your post. 

[mydogismyheart]

Many public libraries have those devices (Kill-a-Watt meters) available for checkout.  No need to pay for one.

Whaaaaaat

They've also got these old-timey things where you read words on physical paper.  I think they're called "borks"

We have some of these on display at work.  I have seen them with my own eyes!

[viper155]

Also a woman and I have never heard the term "blue box."

And don't get me started again on push presents. Ugh!!!!

Blue box is the same as blue balls, but for women. Am I in trouble again for pointing this out?

[Cressida]

Also a woman and I have never heard the term "blue box."

And don't get me started again on push presents. Ugh!!!!

Blue box is the same as blue balls, but for women. Am I in trouble again for pointing this out?

Yes. Reported. You are disgusting.

[gimp]

Can't tell if sarcasm or actually offended

[Cressida]

Can't tell if sarcasm or actually offended

If you mean me, I'm completely serious.

[dragoncar]

Can't tell if sarcasm or actually offended

If you mean me, I'm completely serious.

Reported for what?

[Cressida]

Can't tell if sarcasm or actually offended

If you mean me, I'm completely serious.

Reported for what?

I'm not sure what's supposed to be the meaning of this. Can you elucidate?

[Silverado]

Can't tell if sarcasm or actually offended

If you mean me, I'm completely serious.

Classic. If you are actually offended, stop reading these replies. Take some personal accountability. Go away.

Hopefully you are simply continuing to be sarcastic, in which case, great, let it roll.

[Vorpal]

If I were Moderator, I would be giving everyone with certain off-topic posts (re: foam, boxes) temporary bans, and then deleting those posts (or moving them to some "trash thread" somewhere).

So be glad I'm not a Moderator, jackasses.

[jordanread]

Can't tell if sarcasm or actually offended

If you mean me, I'm completely serious.

Reported for what?

Okay, we need an add on that plays that song on the report button. I just spit out a bit of coffee the second I saw what video it was. And now that's going to be the song that goes through my head every time someone says for what...kudos to you sir, kudos.

I'm not sure what's supposed to be the meaning of this. Can you elucidate?

It's the "for what" part.

[Pooperman]

If I were Moderator, I would be giving everyone with certain off-topic posts (re: foam, boxes) temporary bans, and then deleting those posts (or moving them to some "trash thread" somewhere).

So be glad I'm not a Moderator, jackasses.

Chill, Winston.

[rocksinmyhead]

Can't tell if sarcasm or actually offended

If you mean me, I'm completely serious.

Reported for what?

Okay, we need an add on that plays that song on the report button. I just spit out a bit of coffee the second I saw what video it was. And now that's going to be the song that goes through my head every time someone says for what...kudos to you sir, kudos.

I'm not sure what's supposed to be the meaning of this. Can you elucidate?

It's the "for what" part.

bahahaha love that song. one of my BFFs got married last month and he was WAY too excited when that one came on during the dance party.

for the record, I have vehemently disagreed with many things viper has posted here and even I thought that joke was hilarious!

[arebelspy]

MOD NOTE: The joke is crude, but we are not in the habit of censoring things or people just because they arecrude or can be offensive.

As far as all the foam/box color/etc. stuff - it does seem worse than normal in terms of off topic.  Please refrain from posting stuff about foam or boxes just to be annoying or make a point.  If the thread gets off topic, doing those things don't help it get back on topic.  Just ignore the thread until someone posts a relevant work anecdote and it's back OT.

Thanks.

[greenmimama]

A guy my DH works with is getting divorced, he makes about 200k/year and also owns his own business, he employs about 30 people buying and flipping houses, renting some.

He told my DH that if he sold everything right now and split it with her, their would be nothing to split because they have that much debt.

No children and not an extremely lavish lifestyle either, they are just in way over their heads, pretty sad.

[resy]

If I were Moderator, I would be giving everyone with certain off-topic posts (re: foam, boxes) temporary bans, and then deleting those posts (or moving them to some "trash thread" somewhere).

So be glad I'm not a Moderator, jackasses.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that thinks endless off-topic posts are super annoying. (A little is ok)

[frugalnacho]

If I were Moderator, I would be giving everyone with certain off-topic posts (re: foam, boxes) temporary bans, and then deleting those posts (or moving them to some "trash thread" somewhere).

So be glad I'm not a Moderator, jackasses.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that thinks endless off-topic posts are super annoying. (A little is ok)

You didn't overhear that at work.  Off topic.

[dragoncar]

If I were Moderator, I would be giving everyone with certain off-topic posts (re: foam, boxes) temporary bans, and then deleting those posts (or moving them to some "trash thread" somewhere).

So be glad I'm not a Moderator, jackasses.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that thinks endless off-topic posts are super annoying. (A little is ok)

You didn't overhear that at work.  Off topic.

What people don't realize, is that this thread is the trash thread.  All off-topic stuff from other threads should be moved here.

[frugalnacho]

Like a black hole where off topic comments go to die.

[Brad_H]

Yes. Reported. You are disgusting.

MOD EDIT: Don't be rude.  Forum Rule #1.

[Dr. A]

Like a black hole where off topic comments go to die.

Must... not... make comment about... orange... holes...

[countdown]

Cw1 told me about her cousin, age 60, who just got a new job and hopes that after another 10 yrs, her "art and writing" will pick up enough to let her stop working her ft job. Woman was delaying start date for her one month trip abroad.

Cw2 told me that it's irresponsible to advise people to consider purchasing insurance on the health exchange, that with the cost of healthcare people shouldn't ever consider retiring without er-paid health insurance. Further elaborated that medicare doesn't cover "anything".

cw3 signed up for the " healthy" snack delivery box and is evangelizing the wonders to other cw. So far, at least 2 others have signed up. The snacks are all super processed overpriced food products.

[GrayGhost]

A guy my DH works with is getting divorced, he makes about 200k/year and also owns his own business, he employs about 30 people buying and flipping houses, renting some.

He told my DH that if he sold everything right now and split it with her, their would be nothing to split because they have that much debt.

No children and not an extremely lavish lifestyle either, they are just in way over their heads, pretty sad.

I honestly, seriously wonder... where does it all go?

I have friends who are married, the husband is a doctor and the wife is a higher up manager for a fairly large corporation. They have two kids and they spend money on schooling and extracurricular activities and all that, but somehow, they are living paycheck to paycheck.

Now, they did just move to a quite large house, but I just can't see the math behind it. I figure they're pulling down about $20k a month... how can you possibly spend that much money and only live an upper middle class lifestyle? I just don't understand it at all.

[Catbert]

Dogs need their own room or 2?  I'll have to consult with my dog tonight on this... poor thing has never had his own room, much less 2 rooms.

yeah, don't tell my dog. he already has his own futon, I don't want him to get any more crazy ideas...

If my parent's allowed it, their dogs would sleep in whatever room they decided to sleep in. Master bedroom? Sure. Office? That's comfy. Living room couch? Plenty of space for two people and two dogs!

My cats on the other hand... let's just say I may be the one paying the rent, but I'm not fooling anyone, it's their apartment. They're graciously allowing me to stay with them.

Of course your cats let you stay there - you're part of the live-in staff!

[dandarc]

A guy my DH works with is getting divorced, he makes about 200k/year and also owns his own business, he employs about 30 people buying and flipping houses, renting some.

He told my DH that if he sold everything right now and split it with her, their would be nothing to split because they have that much debt.

No children and not an extremely lavish lifestyle either, they are just in way over their heads, pretty sad.

Sounds like he's reliving the Dave Ramsey early career years.

[Silverado]

A guy my DH works with is getting divorced, he makes about 200k/year and also owns his own business, he employs about 30 people buying and flipping houses, renting some.

He told my DH that if he sold everything right now and split it with her, their would be nothing to split because they have that much debt.

No children and not an extremely lavish lifestyle either, they are just in way over their heads, pretty sad.

I honestly, seriously wonder... where does it all go?

I have friends who are married, the husband is a doctor and the wife is a higher up manager for a fairly large corporation. They have two kids and they spend money on schooling and extracurricular activities and all that, but somehow, they are living paycheck to paycheck.

Now, they did just move to a quite large house, but I just can't see the math behind it. I figure they're pulling down about $20k a month... how can you possibly spend that much money and only live an upper middle class lifestyle? I just don't understand it at all.

Any chance they are socking away so much it only appears like they are pay to pay living?

[Cressida]

Yes. Reported. You are disgusting.

MOD EDIT: Don't be rude.  Forum Rule #1.

wait ... was Brad H rude to me, or was I rude? It looks like the former, but, I'm fine with being corrected if it's the latter; it would help me know where the line is when it comes to calling out gross behavior.

Regarding crude jokes and moderation, I get it. I agree that morality police are usually obnoxious. I was icked out and I reacted.

[arebelspy]

Yes. Reported. You are disgusting.

MOD EDIT: Don't be rude.  Forum Rule #1.

wait ... was Brad H rude to me, or was I rude? It looks like the former, but, I'm fine with being corrected if it's the latter; it would help me know where the line is when it comes to calling out gross behavior.

Regarding crude jokes and moderation, I get it. I agree that morality police are usually obnoxious. I was icked out and I reacted.

It was indeed the former, a comment which has now been removed.

You are free (and encouraged) to report anything that bothers you to have mods take a look - we may not always take action, but we appreciate having things brought to our attention, especially as it sometimes indicates a pattern of behavior that while one particular comment may not warrant censoring, an individual in question may be detracting from things.

[mm1970]

The advantage of living in New England is that when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around, you can just use the garage as a massive spare refrigerator.

Sshhhh, stop piercing the veil.

You must have a house heated to ideal temperatures all year round, regardless of outside temperatures.

You must have a fridge cooled to ideal temperatures inside of your heated house, regardless of outside temperatures.

You must have a tiny heater inside of your fridge to raise the temperature enough to avoid frost inside of your cooled fridge inside of your heated house inside of your cold environment.

My god, how did all of humanity manage to not die of food poisoning before 1950?

My MIL would put the leftovers from holiday dinners on the unheated back porch.

At least until that year we were washing dishes, she looked out the window, and saw a mouse on the porch!

[mm1970]

Got another gem this morning.  Context: coworker is heading to Morocco on vacation in a week, last week she was thinking of getting a bigger house because her clothes have filled all FOUR of her closets in her DC townhome....and she constantly worries about being fired because they have ZERO savings, she's pulling in 130k/yr, her husband is a GS 14 so probably in the same area.

CW1: So we looked at the weather and it's been raining a lot in Fez, and I realized I don't have a good rain + coat, I have a raincoat, but it's not super heavy, and I have 2 regular coats I bought for the trip, but I don't have a Rain + coat
Me:  Couldn't you just put your raincoat over your regular coat?
CW1:  *giving me what the fuck face*  Uh no....that would look weird as heck!
Me:  So you are going to go buy a rain resistant heavy coat, in case it rains the week you are there?
CW1:  OH!  I bought it last night, it was on sale for only $140 from 200!!  I got a great deal on it. 
Me:  Didn't you already buy a ton of clothes for this trip?
CW1:  Oh not a ton, I've only spent like 1200 dollars.

She's going to Morocco....for a week....and she already has FOUR closets of clothes and shoes.

The good thing is that her and her hubby can retire at a relatively early age with full retirement benefits and then he can get a job doing the same thing for more pay as a civilian consultant.

But they have to live in DC.  And the craziness.  And fight the traffic. 

I lived there when I was in my 20's, a few of my friends stayed after their military time and transitioned to government GS13/ (14/15 whatever) levels.  But they commute an hour each way.

[tofuchampion]

Can I bitch about something not money related?

Coworker is upset because her dog is missing.  Fair enough.  Except:

1.  Dog has run away before.
2.  Dog was not on a leash or in a fence; they just let it go outside freely (which is illegal where I live, not to mention stupid anywhere).
3.  Dog is not neutered (it's 3 years old; this should have been done 2 1/2 years ago).
4.  Dog is trained/disciplined by "popping," which I assume means she just hits it when it doesn't do what she wants.

I'm biting my tongue so hard right now.  OF COURSE your damn dog ran away.  You didn't train it, it's not fixed so it's more prone to wandering off, it's done this before, and you just.... let it go, no leash, no supervision, etc?  This is your fault, not the dog's.  Dog is just being a dog.

[eyePod]

MOD NOTE: The joke is crude, but we are not in the habit of censoring things or people just because they arecrude or can be offensive.

As far as all the foam/box color/etc. stuff - it does seem worse than normal in terms of off topic.  Please refrain from posting stuff about foam or boxes just to be annoying or make a point.  If the thread gets off topic, doing those things don't help it get back on topic.  Just ignore the thread until someone posts a relevant work anecdote and it's back OT.

Thanks.

First, if someone actually reported anything, that's ridiculous.
Second, I kind of want to push back just by seeing this. I loved someones post above talking about personal accountability and ignoring things they don't like. Complaining doesn't help.
3rd, my co-worker and I were talking about people who are in our jobs and work 60+ every single week. We both understand that there's sometimes a need for it (project based most likely), but it should be the exception. He said "I really don't need the money so bad where I'm going to work like that." He also paid of the last of his student loans because we were talking about them. He had forgotten it and then figured, why the hell not just pay it off at his desk. I gave him a high five.

[pistachio]

My coworker said that tuition costs and books are killing her. She goes to a community college trying to get her bachelors. I said that at least she gets some of the money back with our company's tuition reimbursement so she would only have to front the money. She says she doesn't bother with the tuition reimbursement because she'd have to pay it all back if she left the company before the end of the year. That's not how the tuition reimbursement works - the company pays for 80% and the degree just has to be a manager approved field of study and you have to make at least a C. Also, she's been with the company for three years and in school since she started. I just nodded and told her she knows best and changed the subject.

Same coworker took out a 401k loan to pay for her father's funeral. Afterwards, she found out that her brother has $60k in his 401k that he wouldn't take a loan from to help pay for the funeral too. She referred to his $60k as a mountain of money that he's sitting on. Coworker is 38 and her brother is in his 40s.

Job stability has been bad at our company and we've had 3 large layoffs in the last year and yet that same coworker keeps saying she hopes that she'll be laid off because she doesn't really need the job because her and her husband have plenty of money so she doesn't really need to work. Then why did she have to take out a 401k loan?

[arebelspy]

MOD NOTE: The joke is crude, but we are not in the habit of censoring things or people just because they arecrude or can be offensive.

As far as all the foam/box color/etc. stuff - it does seem worse than normal in terms of off topic.  Please refrain from posting stuff about foam or boxes just to be annoying or make a point.  If the thread gets off topic, doing those things don't help it get back on topic.  Just ignore the thread until someone posts a relevant work anecdote and it's back OT.

Thanks.

Second, I kind of want to push back just by seeing this. I loved someones post above talking about personal accountability and ignoring things they don't like. Complaining doesn't help.

I completely agree. In fact, I bolded the part where you quoted me saying the same thing. I don't know that would require pushback.

It requires personal accountability on everyone's part: the people posting OT stuff to get back on track (going OT is fine - purposefully being OT just to be annoying isn't) and the people annoyed by the OT stuff to pass by it and not post stupid "foam" stuff and the people annoyed by the foam stuff to ignore that and so on and so forth.

It takes both sides acting like children, and if either decides to take personal accountability, as you put it, and be the bigger person, the annoying cycle stops. We go OT, then back on. Then off, and on. And it's fine. No need to bicker or be annoyed about being OT, and no need to purposefully go OT to annoy those people to prove a point.

[greenmimama]

A guy my DH works with is getting divorced, he makes about 200k/year and also owns his own business, he employs about 30 people buying and flipping houses, renting some.

He told my DH that if he sold everything right now and split it with her, their would be nothing to split because they have that much debt.

No children and not an extremely lavish lifestyle either, they are just in way over their heads, pretty sad.

I honestly, seriously wonder... where does it all go?

I have friends who are married, the husband is a doctor and the wife is a higher up manager for a fairly large corporation. They have two kids and they spend money on schooling and extracurricular activities and all that, but somehow, they are living paycheck to paycheck.

Now, they did just move to a quite large house, but I just can't see the math behind it. I figure they're pulling down about $20k a month... how can you possibly spend that much money and only live an upper middle class lifestyle? I just don't understand it at all.

I am assuming it all goes toward this new start up, some Hawaiian vacation and silly stuff like eating out all the time because they are so tired and can't cook, she is actually a great cook, but when you are always running around, I get the sentiment, even if it isn't true.

It's sad, they are going to look back on these earning years and be mad for not using it well.

[mm1970]

A guy my DH works with is getting divorced, he makes about 200k/year and also owns his own business, he employs about 30 people buying and flipping houses, renting some.

He told my DH that if he sold everything right now and split it with her, their would be nothing to split because they have that much debt.

No children and not an extremely lavish lifestyle either, they are just in way over their heads, pretty sad.

I honestly, seriously wonder... where does it all go?

I have friends who are married, the husband is a doctor and the wife is a higher up manager for a fairly large corporation. They have two kids and they spend money on schooling and extracurricular activities and all that, but somehow, they are living paycheck to paycheck.

Now, they did just move to a quite large house, but I just can't see the math behind it. I figure they're pulling down about $20k a month... how can you possibly spend that much money and only live an upper middle class lifestyle? I just don't understand it at all.

I am assuming it all goes toward this new start up, some Hawaiian vacation and silly stuff like eating out all the time because they are so tired and can't cook, she is actually a great cook, but when you are always running around, I get the sentiment, even if it isn't true.

It's sad, they are going to look back on these earning years and be mad for not using it well.

When we bought our house we cleaned out our 1/2 garage before we moved, because our house doesn't have a garage.  So, purging.  I found a CC statement from  my single days in DC in my early/mid 20's.

O.M.G.  My bill was easily $1000-$1300 a month, almost ALL of it eating out.

I was a few years into my frugal lifestyle when I found it.  Just about passed out.  If only I'd learned to cook a decade earlier.

[rocksinmyhead]

Can I bitch about something not money related?

Coworker is upset because her dog is missing.  Fair enough.  Except:

1.  Dog has run away before.
2.  Dog was not on a leash or in a fence; they just let it go outside freely (which is illegal where I live, not to mention stupid anywhere).
3.  Dog is not neutered (it's 3 years old; this should have been done 2 1/2 years ago).
4.  Dog is trained/disciplined by "popping," which I assume means she just hits it when it doesn't do what she wants.

I'm biting my tongue so hard right now.  OF COURSE your damn dog ran away.  You didn't train it, it's not fixed so it's more prone to wandering off, it's done this before, and you just.... let it go, no leash, no supervision, etc?  This is your fault, not the dog's.  Dog is just being a dog.

wow. that is a pretty unreal level of stupid.

[deedeezee]

Can I bitch about something not money related?

Coworker is upset because her dog is missing.  Fair enough.  Except:

1.  Dog has run away before.
2.  Dog was not on a leash or in a fence; they just let it go outside freely (which is illegal where I live, not to mention stupid anywhere).
3.  Dog is not neutered (it's 3 years old; this should have been done 2 1/2 years ago).
4.  Dog is trained/disciplined by "popping," which I assume means she just hits it when it doesn't do what she wants.

I'm biting my tongue so hard right now.  OF COURSE your damn dog ran away.  You didn't train it, it's not fixed so it's more prone to wandering off, it's done this before, and you just.... let it go, no leash, no supervision, etc?  This is your fault, not the dog's.  Dog is just being a dog.

Is it possible that she meant "click" training (some might call it popping)?

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/clicker-training-your-pet

Either way: yes, her fault.  Surely this can't be surprising?! 

To the title of the thread: many years ago, I worked at a small company that would furnish lunch every Friday. They also provided brewed Starbucks coffee and almost any drink you could think of. I had a co-worker who would go out for brewed Starbucks coffee (not espresso) almost every day because "the coffee isn't freshly brewed." Likewise,he would order and pick up lunch on Fridays because he didn't want whatever was ordered that day. 

The irony? He could have brewed a pot of coffee whenever he wanted, and he could have asked the lunch ordering people to order something different.  He was too lazy to do either, and admitted as much.

[skunkfunk]

I had a co-worker who would go out for brewed Starbucks coffee (not espresso) almost every day because "the coffee isn't freshly brewed." Likewise,he would order and pick up lunch on Fridays because he didn't want whatever was ordered that day. 

I don't think I could work with this person. I would inevitably do or say something far too rude.

[tofuchampion]

Can I bitch about something not money related?

Coworker is upset because her dog is missing.  Fair enough.  Except:

1.  Dog has run away before.
2.  Dog was not on a leash or in a fence; they just let it go outside freely (which is illegal where I live, not to mention stupid anywhere).
3.  Dog is not neutered (it's 3 years old; this should have been done 2 1/2 years ago).
4.  Dog is trained/disciplined by "popping," which I assume means she just hits it when it doesn't do what she wants.

I'm biting my tongue so hard right now.  OF COURSE your damn dog ran away.  You didn't train it, it's not fixed so it's more prone to wandering off, it's done this before, and you just.... let it go, no leash, no supervision, etc?  This is your fault, not the dog's.  Dog is just being a dog.

Is it possible that she meant "click" training (some might call it popping)?

Unfortunately, no.  She said something along the lines of "I smack him when he acts up, he gets popped."  I don't remember her exact words, but it was pretty clear what she meant.  Reactionary "discipline" that teaches the dog NOTHING.  Not that it matters, bc a dog who is free to run is going to run, especially if said dog is young and unaltered.

Good news (at least for her): they did find the dog.  I doubt she'll change anything, though.

OH, and it gets better!  Once when the dog ran off, they found it swiming in the river by their house.... which is also home to alligators.

[Le Barbu]

One of my CW can't make a sentence without the "B" word (bought this, bought that, will buy etc)

Not 100% of the time, she only take a pause and tell us what she will do when she get rich...

I'm on mute, facepalm myself inside my mind, thinking "you will never get rich, you buy so much shit !"

The reason I dont say a word is because she is divorced and every time she bitch her ex, the bitching is about something that make me think this guy was a kind of Mustachian, so...

What's the point doing so much "activities" with 3-5 years old kids ? I have 2 (7 and 11) and we probably have 1/10 of those "organized/corporate/$$ activities" compared to her and we are perfectly happy.

She's completely brainwashed, nothing to do !

[Tallgirl1204]

My coworker told me he is looking into declaring bankruptcy.  He had some specific questions for me about how that might (or might not) affect his background check/security level, so I referred him to someone in our administration who is known as a discreet person who will give him answers without gossiping. 

I know how much he makes because we are all on the same pay scale, and although he makes less than I do, it's not a lot less.  His rent is about half of my house payment, which just about makes up for the difference.  He went through a divorce a couple of years ago and maybe there are leftover debts (the spouse was an alcoholic).  But he also went on a great vacation earlier this year to an overseas location, where things are known to be "cheap" but geez, you gotta get there, and I know there were hotels and such. 

I don't want to judge him because this is someone who I really, really like and respect professionally-- but at the same time, I want to shake my coworker and say "you have a HUGE income compared to most people in this town, and you have CHEAP housing compared to the same-- how could you be so broke?" 

Sorry, this didn't turn out very funny.  I have a sad about it. 

[Le Barbu]

Oh, another one about CW

This is a more sensible case about a really brave, nice and generous lady.

In the 50's, divorced, 1 kid.

Big mortgage (5x annual income), bring 35K$ gross/year

Health problems (psoriasis caused by stress) etc. Diabete and cholesterol also I think...

We are commuting together and save traffic jam (2+people/car, buses and cabs lane), saving 5,000km/year and 2,000$/year doing this.

Budget is VERY thight and she told me she plan to facelift her bathroom for 2k$ soon. Nooooo ! This bathroom is ok actualy, paint & deco for max 100$, that's it ! Sit on the facelift project for at least 10 years, maybe more.

I told her last year to buy a 5k$ Yaris at the end of last car rental (hatchback Yaris). Noway, she just rent a brand new Corolla for 4 years :(

She told me: "I can't buy a 5k$ car, I'm to tight on my budget, I cannot finance 5k$ @ good rate and/or afford repairs, so I decided to go safe" so sad...

I cannot facepunch, I don't want her to be sad or mad so I keep to tell good advices but not being rude in any way.




footnote

We start a contest many 3 years ago with CW.The winner is the last one to change is car. We are 12 at work, 3 peoples remaining in the contest. Everyone else bought/lease new car since then ! I'm the 2nd highest salary here but 10th considering my car value (3nd last). I give you a hint, I will win this in an easy way, I drive a 2006 Civic with 125K miles. Brand new considering MMM standards !

[irishbear99]

A coworker of mine constantly complains about not having enough money. He makes between $120k-130k (pads his time with OT) AND has a military pension. He just accepted a short-term overseas assignment with special pay due to location, and pulled up to his going-away party in a brand new 2015 car (leaving out make/model for identifying purposes) that cost in the vicinity of $40k. This is the same guy who complained bitterly to anyone who would listen (including the person in the office who makes less than 1/2 his salary) that he couldn't financially absorb the 6 days of furlough required last year. All I can say is I hope all his clearances go through since he's apparently already spent the extra pay.

/headdesk