Overheard at Work

[mm1970]

it was a nice western PA souvenir

Where?  (I grew up in western PA)

[Alabaster]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

[Fonzico]

Started a new job a couple weeks ago, and while there are a couple mustachians (two people in my 14 person department bike commute!) I'm already noticing some ridiculousness.
One of my office mates came in with a Quiznos sandwich at lunch the other day, declaring "I'm so sick of the food options here!" (It's a college campus, so there's a Tim Horton's, a Starbucks, the aforementioned Quiznos, a cafeteria and a pub). Before I remembered that add the newbie, I might want to keep my judgmental mouth shut, I asked him why he didn't just bring food from home? I should mention he's purchased food every day I've been there. "Yeah, yeah I should really do that, shouldn't I?" was the response.

Meanwhile, the really lovely staff lounge, complete with floor to ceiling windows, fridge, freezer, microwave, comfy chairs etc. barely gets used! I've had my lunch there every day, at a range of times between 12 and 2, and there's never more than a handful (maybe 5, max) of other people there. Whilst chatting with one of the bike commuters, about the absurdity of buying lunch daily and the wonderfulness of homemade food, I was advised that many people go off campus for lunch - so not only are they buying food, but they're wasting gas (definitely no food options within walking distance) and spending their lunch hour in their car. Great choice.

[red7]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

You scoff...but one of my jobs is for a prominent grocery store, and they have ALREADY done testing on these ideas. It's coming. My particular store already allows you to make a deli order online, for anything from a sandwich to sliced meats and cheeses to party platters. You just show up at the pick-up time you gave, and there's a special case where they put everything. You walk over, pick it up, pay for it, and go.

There are 2-3 stores in (wealthier parts of) my metro area that are currently testing online ordering and outside pick up for entire grocery lists. From what I've heard, the biggest issue is making sure everything on the list is specific enough that the grocery clerk is selecting the exact items the customer wants. Also, people are picky about their produce.

[firelight]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

I would actually love that service and would even pay for it. With a brand new baby in hand and back to work, I'm sleep deprived and would gladly out source grocery shopping if it meant I didn't have to pack a screaming baby just to get milk.

[Paul der Krake]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Some supermarkets in the UK offer free delivery if you spend more than a certain amount. It's been around for over a decade.

[Artemis67]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Here in Seattle, Safeway has online ordering for home delivery (for a fee). I use it maybe 3-4 times a year when I'm racing to a deadline, there's no fresh food in the house, and going out for groceries would require bathing, clean clothes, and a brittle veneer of civility. Sometimes, that's just too much work, man.

We also have Amazon Fresh, which not only delivers groceries, but also a limited selection of books, clothing, and household items. Amazon Fresh's grocery prices are too high to justify using regularly, but they do carry the only cat litter my one declawed cat* will happily use, and Safeway doesn't. So I use them maybe once a year, in a pinch.

I'm sure there are apps for both of these services, but I don't use them enough to download them.

[/foam]

* He came already-declawed; I wouldn't do that to a cat.

[jordanread]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Also don't forget that some people have issues sticking to the list, and end up spending more on crap. It might not be for us mustachians, but it could be a good intermediate step for those who can't quite get that impulse thing down. Imagine how much they would save by only getting the things they originally came for!

Just read a few articles on the sneakiness of marketing in grocery stores.

[MBot]

On the topic of food trucks: Why are they all so goddamn expensive? They're supposed to be cheap food without a fixed address. Why is a grilled cheese $6? No thanks. (Yes, I'm sure you know of "that one cheap one" but just replace "all" with "most.")

I don't often eat at food trucks, but when I do I'm ok to pay well for good food.

A local (Edit - local  from my old city) truck posted this. I appreciate it.
https://gorillacheese.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/10-bucks-for-a-grilled-cheese/

Tl;dr - grilled cheese for $10 also includes other ingredients like bacon, apples and maple syrup, is 2x as big as a homemade one and has better quality cheese and bread.

The simpler cheap "kid" one from that truck uses a local-made processed cheese that's 51% milk instead of 18% and fresh locally made bread for example.

I'm not saying every food truck is like that, but if I'm gonna buy a sandwich I'm getting the better-quality one instead of paying to sit in a restaurant for lousy quality.

[BlueHouse]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Hmmm.  I've been doing this for about a year. It started with a broken leg and was a godsend while I was housebound. They even carried it up my stairs for me. I kept doing it because it taught me how to plan meals and kept me from wasting food.   I started with pea pod by giant, but about 5 months ago, a few new services started that let you order and get your stuff within 2 hours!  Instacart!  Love it. They send their people out to Costco, Safeway, Harris teeter, whole foods. And two hours later they're delivering a case of Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc to my door and a rotisserie chicken, enough toilet paper for an army, and a month's supply of kitty litter..I love it. Guess what?  It allows me to finish up another hour of work rather than spending time driving to/from fighting crowds, etc. it costs about 3.99 for delivery and the food is usually uncharged too, but in that one hour, I'll make  about $185. So why do we make people feel guilty for these choices? 

[sugarsnap]

We have some local grocery stores that do this. I've used it a few times when I was super sick but still needed food for my family. (Using promo codes to get the $5 convenience fee waived of course.)

It's at a more expensive grocery chain in town, but it was nice shopping online where I could take my time sort by price per ounce on each item. Shopping with small kids leads to some rushed purchases at time.

[Primm]

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

I do this.

I hate grocery shopping, and the stores here deliver for free if you buy more than $100 worth of groceries. Why wouldn't I get someone else to walk around and pick the items off the shelf for me and deliver it to my door? Them driving to my place doesn't kill the environment any more than me driving to their "place", and I get a free 2 hours at home to paint. Or clean. Or do nothing.

Plus I find I'm much less likely to impulse buy if I order online. Enter the items on the list, pay, that's it. When I go shopping there's always "one little thing" that sneaks its way into my shopping trolley. Sneaky little buggers!

[Goldielocks]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Hmmm.  I've been doing this for about a year. It started with a broken leg and was a godsend while I was housebound. They even carried it up my stairs for me. I kept doing it because it taught me how to plan meals and kept me from wasting food.   I started with pea pod by giant, but about 5 months ago, a few new services started that let you order and get your stuff within 2 hours!  Instacart!  Love it. They send their people out to Costco, Safeway, Harris teeter, whole foods. And two hours later they're delivering a case of Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc to my door and a rotisserie chicken, enough toilet paper for an army, and a month's supply of kitty litter..I love it. Guess what?  It allows me to finish up another hour of work rather than spending time driving to/from fighting crowds, etc. it costs about 3.99 for delivery and the food is usually uncharged too, but in that one hour, I'll make  about $185. So why do we make people feel guilty for these choices?

It makes it hard to know what a great price is, for bulk buying.  The first couple of months, you still know from before, but most people just click on what they want without going for the real discounts. 

After all, the ethnic stores aren't doing this.

[Nudelkopf]

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Ummm, that already exists. If it exists in rural Australia, I'm sure it exists in America.

I use it when I'm buying soft drink (soda?) or bulk stuff I can't take on my bike.

[former player]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Yup, already working for years in the UK.  I live 15 miles from the nearest supermarket, and can get a next-day delivery of an internet order for £1 if I time it right.  I use it for bulk supplies for my house and for a household which has two disabled people in their nineties.  The saving of time and effort is priceless.

The scheme is so successful it is beginning to change the way supermarkets here are working - fewer people doing the big weekly shop in store, presumably as they get bulk items delivered, and the focus moving to smaller stores providing fresh food picked up more often.

[TheNorwegianGuy]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

This is actually getting big where I live, and it is really not that expensive. I would take me like 10 minute overtime work a week to pay for something that will save me at least 1 hours of dreadfull groceryshopping. All favorutie items are ready in the list and to add things to the list takes seconds, compared to walking around the horrible groceryshops, looking for the items and standing in ques. I would easily pay the small fee to be able to do a week worth of grocery shopping in 5 minutes instead of one hour spent in a stressfull shop. I have more valuble things to use my time on :)

[AlanStache]

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

I have never done this but several of the local stores have pick up lanes out front, presumably the people ordered online and are picking it up.  From my very unscientific observations it seems to be older people mainly using it.  My grandparents can still drive and get around but grandpa cant walk to well and does not like the electric carts so this might be a good option; well the grandparents dont always do well with them internets but grandmas pointing and clicking is getting better.  Also I had some real foot problems years ago and probably would have done this if it were available then.

[boarder42]

This grocery thing is awesome.  I live right by my store but i would think it could be a free service.  Employees could be gathering the items during slower times and it would just be drive up put in car and leave.  Even if its a buck it could be worth it.

[GuitarStv]

On the topic of food trucks: Why are they all so goddamn expensive? They're supposed to be cheap food without a fixed address. Why is a grilled cheese $6? No thanks. (Yes, I'm sure you know of "that one cheap one" but just replace "all" with "most.")

I don't often eat at food trucks, but when I do I'm ok to pay well for good food.

A local (Edit - local  from my old city) truck posted this. I appreciate it.
https://gorillacheese.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/10-bucks-for-a-grilled-cheese/

Tl;dr - grilled cheese for $10 also includes other ingredients like bacon, apples and maple syrup, is 2x as big as a homemade one and has better quality cheese and bread.

The simpler cheap "kid" one from that truck uses a local-made processed cheese that's 51% milk instead of 18% and fresh locally made bread for example.

I'm not saying every food truck is like that, but if I'm gonna buy a sandwich I'm getting the better-quality one instead of paying to sit in a restaurant for lousy quality.

It costs me less than 2$ to make a LOAF of artisanal bread.  A handful of excellent quality cheese is what . . . 50 cents?  Bacon, apples, and maple syrup do not belong on a grilled cheese in my books, but at best you're adding a buck to the costs.

It's a tremendous rip-off no matter what way you look at it.

[RFAAOATB]

On the topic of food trucks: Why are they all so goddamn expensive? They're supposed to be cheap food without a fixed address. Why is a grilled cheese $6? No thanks. (Yes, I'm sure you know of "that one cheap one" but just replace "all" with "most.")

I don't often eat at food trucks, but when I do I'm ok to pay well for good food.

A local (Edit - local  from my old city) truck posted this. I appreciate it.
https://gorillacheese.wordpress.com/2014/10/03/10-bucks-for-a-grilled-cheese/

Tl;dr - grilled cheese for $10 also includes other ingredients like bacon, apples and maple syrup, is 2x as big as a homemade one and has better quality cheese and bread.

The simpler cheap "kid" one from that truck uses a local-made processed cheese that's 51% milk instead of 18% and fresh locally made bread for example.

I'm not saying every food truck is like that, but if I'm gonna buy a sandwich I'm getting the better-quality one instead of paying to sit in a restaurant for lousy quality.

It costs me less than 2$ to make a LOAF of artisanal bread.  A handful of excellent quality cheese is what . . . 50 cents?  Bacon, apples, and maple syrup do not belong on a grilled cheese in my books, but at best you're adding a buck to the costs.

It's a tremendous rip-off no matter what way you look at it.

I would think the truck guy needs to charge higher prices not only for better quality items but the fact he doesn't have the volume on his fancy menu to make a decent living off of lower profit margins.  Does cheaper truck guy have a larger volume for more standard fare or is he making less of a living with lower margins?

[rocksinmyhead]

I know this is just going further off topic and people are going to get pissed, but I figured I might as well join in.

Bacon, apples, and maple syrup do not belong on a grilled cheese in my books, but at best you're adding a buck to the costs.

GuitarStv, I agree with your calculations but must say you are robbing yourself of a tremendous grilled cheese experience. Bacon and/or apples (not simultaneously) are two of the best things to ever happen to grilled cheese!!! Mmmm...salivating now.

This whole grocery store conversation is very interesting to me because I actually kind of ENJOY grocery shopping. Not enough that I want to go every day, which was actually becoming our tendency after my boyfriend and I moved in together (thankfully now it's more like 2-3x a week, still working on decreasing), but I definitely don't hate it. I'm sure this would change if I had little kids though.

[Scandium]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Hmmm.  I've been doing this for about a year. It started with a broken leg and was a godsend while I was housebound. They even carried it up my stairs for me. I kept doing it because it taught me how to plan meals and kept me from wasting food.   I started with pea pod by giant, but about 5 months ago, a few new services started that let you order and get your stuff within 2 hours!  Instacart!  Love it. They send their people out to Costco, Safeway, Harris teeter, whole foods. And two hours later they're delivering a case of Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc to my door and a rotisserie chicken, enough toilet paper for an army, and a month's supply of kitty litter..I love it. Guess what?  It allows me to finish up another hour of work rather than spending time driving to/from fighting crowds, etc. it costs about 3.99 for delivery and the food is usually uncharged too, but in that one hour, I'll make  about $185. So why do we make people feel guilty for these choices?

I've been tempted, but always balk at paying someone for doing something I can do myself. And here it doesn't seem that cheap. For basic grocery delivery it seems to be $8 and up. (or $100 for a year). Or if they pack it and I pick it up it's $3. I swear that used to be free and I considered using it but now it's 3 bucks no matter what. I'm already at the store, and I'd pay someone $3 to walk through it for me? nah.

[austin]

Safeway delivers for free where I am provided you purchase a minimum amount, I think $200. Ordering online allows you to get exactly what you want and better control your spending since it tallies your cart total as you add items. Plus you save all the time and energy/gas to travel to the store.

[RyanAtTanagra]

After all, the ethnic stores aren't doing this.

This is the main problem, only expensive stores do this from what I've seen.  I live in Safeway territory, which a couple people have mentioned, and I avoid that store like the plague.  People have come to accept their prices as normal around here, which they are far from.

[Timmmy]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Hmmm.  I've been doing this for about a year. It started with a broken leg and was a godsend while I was housebound. They even carried it up my stairs for me. I kept doing it because it taught me how to plan meals and kept me from wasting food.   I started with pea pod by giant, but about 5 months ago, a few new services started that let you order and get your stuff within 2 hours!  Instacart!  Love it. They send their people out to Costco, Safeway, Harris teeter, whole foods. And two hours later they're delivering a case of Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc to my door and a rotisserie chicken, enough toilet paper for an army, and a month's supply of kitty litter..I love it. Guess what?  It allows me to finish up another hour of work rather than spending time driving to/from fighting crowds, etc. it costs about 3.99 for delivery and the food is usually uncharged too, but in that one hour, I'll make  about $185. So why do we make people feel guilty for these choices?

With this logic, why not outsource everything?  Mowing the lawn, housecleaning, laundry, simple house repairs, food prep, etc?  After all, I can make more doing my one specialty thing then I can save doing those other things. 

[NumberCruncher]

Overheard the team a room over talking about a 'order-by-phone, pick-up at store entrance' convenience application/service they would like to see implemented at ... wait for it... the grocery store.

Alternative ideas included a order by phone app/online and deliver to door service. Again, for groceries.

Hmmm.  I've been doing this for about a year. It started with a broken leg and was a godsend while I was housebound. They even carried it up my stairs for me. I kept doing it because it taught me how to plan meals and kept me from wasting food.   I started with pea pod by giant, but about 5 months ago, a few new services started that let you order and get your stuff within 2 hours!  Instacart!  Love it. They send their people out to Costco, Safeway, Harris teeter, whole foods. And two hours later they're delivering a case of Kim Crawford Sauvignon blanc to my door and a rotisserie chicken, enough toilet paper for an army, and a month's supply of kitty litter..I love it. Guess what?  It allows me to finish up another hour of work rather than spending time driving to/from fighting crowds, etc. it costs about 3.99 for delivery and the food is usually uncharged too, but in that one hour, I'll make  about $185. So why do we make people feel guilty for these choices?

With this logic, why not outsource everything?  Mowing the lawn, housecleaning, laundry, simple house repairs, food prep, etc?  After all, I can make more doing my one specialty thing then I can save doing those other things.

Some people argue that, but the type of job where that makes sense seems rare. If you have that kind of job, awesome, if not, it may be time to reevaluate.

Most people have a set amount of hours to work or a salary, where paying someone to mow your lawn is definitely a net loss of money. Not to mention it might impact your FI number by raising your costs of living. Also, for me, I dislike work more than I dislike mowing the lawn. :)

[SisterX]

It's a college campus, so there's a Tim Horton's, a Starbucks, the aforementioned Quiznos, a cafeteria and a pub.

I'm curious about the pub.  We've got one on our campus here, but it was my understanding that it's very rare to have a pub or bar on a college campus.  As in, only two or three colleges besides University of Alaska Fairbanks has one.  So, where are you?  If you don't mind my asking.

[Zikoris]

I used to have grocery delivery. I spent $200/month on it as a single person, and that got me a weekly bin of in-season local organic produce, plus whatever else I needed - typically a loaf of bread (pre-breadmaking days), carton of soy milk, couple packages of tofu, tempeh, or veggie burgers, fresh herbs, grains, and whatever other little things I needed.

It was pretty helpful at expanding my cooking repertoire because the produce changed every week.

It's more than I would want to pay now, but it sure was nice as a single person.

[gimp]

With this logic, why not outsource everything?  Mowing the lawn, housecleaning, laundry, simple house repairs, food prep, etc?  After all, I can make more doing my one specialty thing then I can save doing those other things.

This is literally the whole point of specialization and professions.

If I can mow my lawn okay, and be a great lawyer, it makes total sense to be a great lawyer as much as possible and pay my neighbor to mow my lawn (even if he doesn't do it as well - but it's his best specialization.)

That's how the economy moves forward! We all figure out what we're good at and leave the rest to others.

You can mock that, but it's mutually beneficial to... well, literally everyone: you, the person you hire, the government who gets taxes, the myriad people who rely on what those taxes get spent on (including, again, you and the person you hire.)

The issue becomes when you're spending money wastefully without getting a winning trade-off from it. Spending $4 to make $185 is awesome. Spending $4 to relax and rejuvenate so tomorrow you can make $185 better and easier is also awesome. Spending $4 to do nothing, so that tomorrow you can also do nothing, because you never do anything, is not awesome.

[RyanAtTanagra]

It's a college campus, so there's a Tim Horton's, a Starbucks, the aforementioned Quiznos, a cafeteria and a pub.

I'm curious about the pub.  We've got one on our campus here, but it was my understanding that it's very rare to have a pub or bar on a college campus.  As in, only two or three colleges besides University of Alaska Fairbanks has one.  So, where are you?  If you don't mind my asking.

Not that rare:

http://collegestats.org/2012/12/21-best-campus-bars/

I wish we had one on ours, although by the time I turned 21 and could have used it, I was past the 'lets get drunk' phase, and I bet the bar scene on a college campus is really annoying.

[skunkfunk]

With this logic, why not outsource everything?  Mowing the lawn, housecleaning, laundry, simple house repairs, food prep, etc?  After all, I can make more doing my one specialty thing then I can save doing those other things.

This is literally the whole point of specialization and professions.

If I can mow my lawn okay, and be a great lawyer, it makes total sense to be a great lawyer as much as possible and pay my neighbor to mow my lawn (even if he doesn't do it as well - but it's his best specialization.)

That's how the economy moves forward! We all figure out what we're good at and leave the rest to others.

You can mock that, but it's mutually beneficial to... well, literally everyone: you, the person you hire, the government who gets taxes, the myriad people who rely on what those taxes get spent on (including, again, you and the person you hire.)

The issue becomes when you're spending money wastefully without getting a winning trade-off from it. Spending $4 to make $185 is awesome. Spending $4 to relax and rejuvenate so tomorrow you can make $185 better and easier is also awesome. Spending $4 to do nothing, so that tomorrow you can also do nothing, because you never do anything, is not awesome.

As an engineer, I get paid the same whether I mow my lawn or work on a project in off hours. Since I'd much rather be out on the lawn on a nice sunny day than in a cubicle on a Saturday, the choice is obvious.

The whole point of this philosophy is to quit obsessing over money and to do stuff like that for yourself - ever notice that MMM's back-of-the-napkin calculation includes the added value of doing something yourself rather than outsourcing? I believe he calls that worth $50/hr on its own.

[rocksinmyhead]

It's a college campus, so there's a Tim Horton's, a Starbucks, the aforementioned Quiznos, a cafeteria and a pub.

I'm curious about the pub.  We've got one on our campus here, but it was my understanding that it's very rare to have a pub or bar on a college campus.  As in, only two or three colleges besides University of Alaska Fairbanks has one.  So, where are you?  If you don't mind my asking.

Not that rare:

http://collegestats.org/2012/12/21-best-campus-bars/

I wish we had one on ours, although by the time I turned 21 and could have used it, I was past the 'lets get drunk' phase, and I bet the bar scene on a college campus is really annoying.

Interesting list. I'm tempted to say I'm jealous of having a craft beer bar on campus, but actually I didn't turn 21 until the very end of my college career, and I definitely wasn't that into craft beer back then (although I'm kind of proud that my first legal liquor store purchase was a 6-pack of Fat Tire), so it would have been pointless.

[robotclown]

People got into a conversation about tjeir new cars today.

26000 @ 8% and 36000 @ 6.9%.
Someone chimed in that getting 6.9% is pretty good, and I'm thinking, "no, it isn't.  The national average is close to 4.

Of course, neither one knows the total, just what the monthly payments are.  Sigh.

[austin]

People got into a conversation about tjeir new cars today.

26000 @ 8% and 36000 @ 6.9%.
Someone chimed in that getting 6.9% is pretty good, and I'm thinking, "no, it isn't.  The national average is close to 4.

Of course, neither one knows the total, just what the monthly payments are.  Sigh.

Military?

[Scandium]

Safeway delivers for free where I am provided you purchase a minimum amount, I think $200. Ordering online allows you to get exactly what you want and better control your spending since it tallies your cart total as you add items. Plus you save all the time and energy/gas to travel to the store.

Huh. I checked safeway and they say the delivery fee is $9.95 for >$150. Plus a fuel surcharge ("10¢ for every 10¢ increase gas prices above $2.75 per gallon"). That's actually worse than Giant which is only $8 here.
http://www.safeway.com/ShopStores/Shopping-Help#answer_7

So $10 every time I get groceries, probably 4x per month? $500/year in delivery? No thanks, I'll pass.

[robotclown]

People got into a conversation about tjeir new cars today.

26000 @ 8% and 36000 @ 6.9%.
Someone chimed in that getting 6.9% is pretty good, and I'm thinking, "no, it isn't.  The national average is close to 4.

Of course, neither one knows the total, just what the monthly payments are.  Sigh.

Military?

Haha, is it that obvious?

[arebelspy]

With this logic, why not outsource everything?  Mowing the lawn, housecleaning, laundry, simple house repairs, food prep, etc?  After all, I can make more doing my one specialty thing then I can save doing those other things.

This is literally the whole point of specialization and professions.

If I can mow my lawn okay, and be a great lawyer, it makes total sense to be a great lawyer as much as possible and pay my neighbor to mow my lawn (even if he doesn't do it as well - but it's his best specialization.)

That's how the economy moves forward! We all figure out what we're good at and leave the rest to others.

You can mock that, but it's mutually beneficial to... well, literally everyone: you, the person you hire, the government who gets taxes, the myriad people who rely on what those taxes get spent on (including, again, you and the person you hire.)

The issue becomes when you're spending money wastefully without getting a winning trade-off from it. Spending $4 to make $185 is awesome. Spending $4 to relax and rejuvenate so tomorrow you can make $185 better and easier is also awesome. Spending $4 to do nothing, so that tomorrow you can also do nothing, because you never do anything, is not awesome.

Sounds pretty awesome to me.

;)

[tmac]

I do my own grocery shopping, and kind of enjoy it. However, when I was very pregnant with a toddler in tow, you bet I did curbside pick-up. It was $5 and worth every penny.

[mm1970]

I know this is just going further off topic and people are going to get pissed, but I figured I might as well join in.

Bacon, apples, and maple syrup do not belong on a grilled cheese in my books, but at best you're adding a buck to the costs.

GuitarStv, I agree with your calculations but must say you are robbing yourself of a tremendous grilled cheese experience. Bacon and/or apples (not simultaneously) are two of the best things to ever happen to grilled cheese!!! Mmmm...salivating now.

This whole grocery store conversation is very interesting to me because I actually kind of ENJOY grocery shopping. Not enough that I want to go every day, which was actually becoming our tendency after my boyfriend and I moved in together (thankfully now it's more like 2-3x a week, still working on decreasing), but I definitely don't hate it. I'm sure this would change if I had little kids though.

Grocery shopping by myself is like a vacation.  Usually, I go on Saturdays, and I almost always take the 2 year old with me (gives my husband a chance to shower).  I dread the days that I have 3 stops (for deals at various stores).  For some reason getting him and and out of the carseat and cart the 3rd time is the deal breaker.

[mm1970]

$3.99 for delivery doesn't seem too bad.  Depending on how far away you are from the store, gas could be easily half that.

[LennStar]

It costs me less than 2$ to make a LOAF of artisanal bread.  A handful of excellent quality cheese is what . . . 50 cents?  Bacon, apples, and maple syrup do not belong on a grilled cheese in my books, but at best you're adding a buck to the costs.

It's a tremendous rip-off no matter what way you look at it.

You have made a little miscalulation here, based on your private experience. (the article makes an error in showing calculatory prices, too)

It doesnt matter how much it costs YOU to make a loaf, it matters how much it costs some artisan to do it, who has to get its hourly wage, too. How LONG does it take you for your bread? Including getting ingredients, kneading, baking (paying for the big oven and electricity etc.)
Same with the truck food - the truck has to be paid, the guy handing out the food, there is (a lot) of food thrown away.

In restaurants the calculation is roughly food cost*4. At smaller sellers like a food truck it maybe is only *3. So at 10$ that would mean the ingredients - good quality, artisan made - cost ~3$.

Still a tremendous ripp-off for excellent quality?

[Timmmy]

With this logic, why not outsource everything?  Mowing the lawn, housecleaning, laundry, simple house repairs, food prep, etc?  After all, I can make more doing my one specialty thing then I can save doing those other things.

This is literally the whole point of specialization and professions.

If I can mow my lawn okay, and be a great lawyer, it makes total sense to be a great lawyer as much as possible and pay my neighbor to mow my lawn (even if he doesn't do it as well - but it's his best specialization.)

That's how the economy moves forward! We all figure out what we're good at and leave the rest to others.

You can mock that, but it's mutually beneficial to... well, literally everyone: you, the person you hire, the government who gets taxes, the myriad people who rely on what those taxes get spent on (including, again, you and the person you hire.)

The issue becomes when you're spending money wastefully without getting a winning trade-off from it. Spending $4 to make $185 is awesome. Spending $4 to relax and rejuvenate so tomorrow you can make $185 better and easier is also awesome. Spending $4 to do nothing, so that tomorrow you can also do nothing, because you never do anything, is not awesome.

This is only true if you are required to trade off working hours in order to accomplish those tasks.  Nobody works that many hours.  I'm an accountant and I am slammed every year from Jan-Apr but I still shovel my own snow, do minor house/car repairs, prepare my own food and do my own grocery shopping all tax season long.  Doing those tasks not only saves me a crap load of money but it allows me to build valuable skills that will pay dividends for the rest of my life hundreds of times over.  I COULD hire out many of those things and work more hours to pay for them but then I'd be required to work for longer than I want to make sure I can continue to pay for them for the rest of my life.  No thanks.  I'd rather be a well-rounded retired individual at a fairly young age. 

[dragoncar]

With this logic, why not outsource everything?  Mowing the lawn, housecleaning, laundry, simple house repairs, food prep, etc?  After all, I can make more doing my one specialty thing then I can save doing those other things.

This is literally the whole point of specialization and professions.

If I can mow my lawn okay, and be a great lawyer, it makes total sense to be a great lawyer as much as possible and pay my neighbor to mow my lawn (even if he doesn't do it as well - but it's his best specialization.)

That's how the economy moves forward! We all figure out what we're good at and leave the rest to others.

You can mock that, but it's mutually beneficial to... well, literally everyone: you, the person you hire, the government who gets taxes, the myriad people who rely on what those taxes get spent on (including, again, you and the person you hire.)

The issue becomes when you're spending money wastefully without getting a winning trade-off from it. Spending $4 to make $185 is awesome. Spending $4 to relax and rejuvenate so tomorrow you can make $185 better and easier is also awesome. Spending $4 to do nothing, so that tomorrow you can also do nothing, because you never do anything, is not awesome.

This is only true if you are required to trade off working hours in order to accomplish those tasks.  Nobody works that many hours.  I'm an accountant and I am slammed every year from Jan-Apr but I still shovel my own snow, do minor house/car repairs, prepare my own food and do my own grocery shopping all tax season long.  Doing those tasks not only saves me a crap load of money but it allows me to build valuable skills that will pay dividends for the rest of my life hundreds of times over.  I COULD hire out many of those things and work more hours to pay for them but then I'd be required to work for longer than I want to make sure I can continue to pay for them for the rest of my life.  No thanks.  I'd rather be a well-rounded retired individual at a fairly young age.

I used to think this, but am reconsidering.  Some activities are fun -- I'll mow my own lawn even if the neighbor kid offers to do it for free.  But some are not fun/dangerous.  I'm thinking it makes sense for me to hire out, say, cleaning the gutters since I can sit down and pound out an hour of overtime at a much higher rate.  Once I retire, and can no longer make that trade off, I have no problem taking THAT time to learn how to do the roof work.

[AlanStache]

This is only true if you are required to trade off working hours in order to accomplish those tasks.  Nobody works that many hours.  I'm an accountant and I am slammed every year from Jan-Apr but I still shovel my own snow, do minor house/car repairs, prepare my own food and do my own grocery shopping all tax season long.  Doing those tasks not only saves me a crap load of money but it allows me to build valuable skills that will pay dividends for the rest of my life hundreds of times over.  I COULD hire out many of those things and work more hours to pay for them but then I'd be required to work for longer than I want to make sure I can continue to pay for them for the rest of my life.  No thanks.  I'd rather be a well-rounded retired individual at a fairly young age.
<someone else>
...
I used to think this, but am reconsidering.  Some activities are fun -- I'll mow my own lawn even if the neighbor kid offers to do it for free.  But some are not fun/dangerous.  I'm thinking it makes sense for me to hire out, say, cleaning the gutters since I can sit down and pound out an hour of overtime at a much higher rate.  Once I retire, and can no longer make that trade off, I have no problem taking THAT time to learn how to do the roof work.

"I'd be required to work for longer than I want to make sure I can continue to pay for them for the rest of my life" No.  If I work some OT and pay someone to make me a sandwich I am not required to pay someone to make me sandwiches the rest of my life.  In fact working OT now brings FIRE nearer and lowers my life time hours worked.  If you continue to pay people to make you sandwichs when not working OT or in retirement then yes you have a point but I understood all this to be about temporary increases in spending to allow larger temporary increases in earnings.  For convince things & services I try to account for if I would be otherwise directly earning more. 

while working I am trying to maximize the bottom line not minimize expenses - but keeping an eye on quality of life, all things in moderation, etc, standard caveats.  and I do do things for myself when OT is not an option or there are no deadlines.  Others I am sure draw the line differently than I do, great for them.

"Nobody works that many hours." yes some people really do and they are on the clock.  Toss in work travel and it can only get worse.

[SisterX]

It's a college campus, so there's a Tim Horton's, a Starbucks, the aforementioned Quiznos, a cafeteria and a pub.

I'm curious about the pub.  We've got one on our campus here, but it was my understanding that it's very rare to have a pub or bar on a college campus.  As in, only two or three colleges besides University of Alaska Fairbanks has one.  So, where are you?  If you don't mind my asking.

Not that rare:

http://collegestats.org/2012/12/21-best-campus-bars/

I wish we had one on ours, although by the time I turned 21 and could have used it, I was past the 'lets get drunk' phase, and I bet the bar scene on a college campus is really annoying.

Yes, but are these bars actually on campus, or are they just close to campus and affiliated?  Part of my understanding was that actually having a pub on the campus, rather than just officially or unofficially sanctioned and close by, was what was rare.
Our Pub only serves beer, wine, and cider, plus a few food items like Chex mix, nachos, M&M's, etc.  It's really low-key and just a fun place to hang out, even for staff and faculty.  They barely (or don't) break even, put on a lot of fun events (they're having a champagne tasting soon, host trivia every Tuesday night, etc.), and rarely have problems like fights.  It's not a "let's get wasted!" type of place.  If people want to do that, they can walk down the hill to the Marlin.

[austin]

My alma mater has three university-run bars on campus. It is not a party school.

[Fonzico]

It's a college campus, so there's a Tim Horton's, a Starbucks, the aforementioned Quiznos, a cafeteria and a pub.

I'm curious about the pub.  We've got one on our campus here, but it was my understanding that it's very rare to have a pub or bar on a college campus.  As in, only two or three colleges besides University of Alaska Fairbanks has one.  So, where are you?  If you don't mind my asking.

I'm in Canada, so perhaps it's more common here? The University I got my degree at also had a pub on campus. Of course, where I am the drinking age is 18, so they can probably do better business than in the states.

And to answer your other question, yes they are very much on campus, as in part of the main building. The one here does brisk business for lunch, and is definitely a full service bar, as in they sells shots and hi balls as well as beer and wine.

[lpep]

It was always middle-aged people in nice, fancy cars using the grocery store pickup, so I always laughed at them as I walked past.

But I have no idea how much it costs at home... maybe, since I'm that person who always gets more than what's on the list, it could actually save money? Thoughts?

[kib]

Different kind of crazy: I had a co-worker who inherited a condo in NYC, plus a bunch of money.  I mean millions of dollars.  She worked this miserable job and always working extra OT.  One day I went to borrow a pen from her and what did i see in her drawer?  Probably $40,000 worth of uncashed paychecks.  She said she was "saving them for a rainy day".  Far as I know, she died saving for a rainy day.  Good frugality IQ, terrible quality of life filter.

[gimp]

CW: There's no way I could cancel my cable, even if it was double that price.

Sounds like I have an idea to sell to comcast...

Probably $40,000 worth of uncashed paychecks.  She said she was "saving them for a rainy day".

The most stupid part is that often checks are only valid for a certain amount of time - a year, 90 days, that sort of thing. Businesses absolutely hate having outstanding checks kicking around; they're liabilities that have to be funded and nobody likes idle cash sitting there, taunting... except, apparently, her.