Overheard at Work

[frugalnacho]

A coworker today complaining that he was too full...

cw: Ugh, i'm way too stuffed.  I feel like i'm going to be sick.
me: I knew that place was expensive, but the portions seemed reasonable the last time I went (several years), why are you so full?
cw: Oh I brought leftovers for my lunch and I ate it about a half hour before ken rounded up everyone for lunch. 
me: So you ate two lunches?
cw: yea

And right before lunch they were looking over options and decided on a local burger place because it gets good reviews and none had ever been.  I warned them it was pricey so they wouldn't be shocked when it was like $10 for a burger, plus fries, plus a drink, plus tax and tip.  I think they got out of there for around $16 each for a burger and fries.  The coworker in question has a brand new baby though, and his wife is staying at home with the kid right now.  So not only is he making less than me, but he has a wife and new baby to support! And he spent $16 going out to lunch just 30 minutes after eating left overs for lunch! I can't even!

[Marian]

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

A couple of us would make a morning ritual out of looking out my office window in the mornings during winter when I worked in Colorado.  I had a nice view of the parking lot and the road which led to it (with a decent incline).  My First Sergeant got the biggest laugh because he's from the area and most of us learned how you drive makes a bigger difference than the vehicle itself (within reason).  We'd watch a seasoned driver ease their way up the hill while the Mustang behind them revved and spun their tires and slid backwards. Sometimes we'd watch a Dodge or Ford truck do the exact same thing and spin out while someone's Honda made it up just fine.  In the Army we have way too many pickup truck owners (formerly myself included) without real reasons to have them.  It's like a rite of passage or membership requirement.  Sometimes I feel silly parking my Ford Focus (which I've had for 10 years) in between two new giant Dodge 3500s, but then I remember I'm not paying for their tires or fuel bills.

My dad's still active duty Army, and bikes to work every day.  He has sent me pictures of his bike parked in his designated parking spot, lol.  Also, they have a policy where before holiday weekends, they have their cars safety inspected.  When the guys approach my dad in a panic because they haven't inspected his car yet, he just laughs and offers to let them inspect his helmet and biking gear. 

[MrMoogle]

I just don't understand their priorities.

They don't understand yours either. It is sad, but we are the weird ones. Always remember that.

I live overseas in a location where you really can't show off your wealth, so everyone appears to be frugal.  But hearing about some of the things they do on vacation.  One guy just bought a new truck, you know for that month he's home every two years. 

Another goes on a month long vacation twice a year, and it sounds like he blows his entire salary on those two vacations.  Luxury hotel here for a few days, flight to the next luxury hotel.  It takes weeks of planning to hit all the spots and figure out all the flights.

But now, I'm moving back, so these will no longer be things I hear about, but things I get to see.

[lizzie]

I'm all for public financing of healthcare - except for what I refer to as "diseases of choice".  If someone chooses to get or stay sick, they should pay for those healthcare costs themselves.

Not saying I disagree, but that's a slippery slope.  Where does it end?  Should parents have to pay their own costs of birth?  How about first 2 kids are covered but after that they're on their own because of population concerns?  On the flip side, what about women that choose not to have kids and are at higher risk of some types of cancer?  If they develop cancer later in life is that their problem because they made that risky choice?  Smokers don't get coverage for lung cancer costs?  What about coal miners because they chose the job?  Or do we just draw the line on diet and exercise related problems?  What about children who are overweight and diabetic because of their parents?  Covered until they turn 18 then turn off the tap?

It sounds good in theory, but everyone is going to draw that line somewhere different, and no matter where you draw it someone that legitimately needs help is going to get caught on the wrong side.

Getting pretty off topic, but it's a good thought experiment and I always like to hear opinions on things like this because I'm not quite sure where I stand either.

A very fair and reasonable objection.   Anything we do with public money means someone gets an advantage and someone else gets taken advantage of.   There's no way to avoid that, so we just have to try to be fair and reasonable about it.

FYI - pregnancy is not a disease and it has definite benefits (in moderation) for society.   If someone wants to give birth to a child they cannot afford to raise we should pay for the pregnancy (it's not the child's fault!) and fine the parents for being a pain in the butt to the rest of us.  Then let someone who can afford to raise the child do so.  And yes, I'm a hard-ass when it comes to personal responsibility.

When do you decide they cannot afford to raise it?

What about parents with 3 children, aged 8 to 16, who fall on hard times?  Do you take away the children and give them away?  Foster care, poor house, child work centers?

My dad left my mom for the last time when she was pregnant with my little brother. One of my two older brothers had leukemia, too. Tough times. We were on welfare for awhile.

I'm sure some people would find it easy to blame my mom for getting pregnant again. IIRC (I was pretty little) my parents' marriage had been on the rocks for a long time and my dad had moved out more than once, I think.

But going on welfare enabled my mom to get her nursing degree and she's been paying income taxes for the last ~35 years as a result. She raised four good kids who are all productive taxpaying members of society.

So, to satisfy your sense of moral outrage and superiority about my mom being such a fucking leech, you could take the risk of completely fucking up the lives of four kids who had just seen their parents get divorced. Or you could just get the fuck over yourself.

[Indexer]

3.  Chemotherapy is not "poison".  It does make you feel sick, so people sometimes use "poison" as a short-hand to explain how chemotherapy works and feels, but it's an oversimplification of the truth. There are a lot of different ways that chemotherapies work, but usually they target rapidly-growing cells.  Most cells in your body don't grow that fast, so they aren't affected at all by chemotherapy.  Some cells do grow fast - for example, hair cells, immune cells, and cancer cells.  Unfortunately, I've seen first-hand what cancer can do to a body, so believe me when I say that in most cases, the temporary terrible side effects of chemotherapy are better than the alternative.

I think it is pretty safe to call it poison, but that doesn't make it a bad thing.  Hydrogen peroxide is a poison, but serves a great purpose.  If you pour a small amount into a wound barely any gets in your bloodstream so you are fine, but any bacteria taking a bath in the stuff will die.  Result:  a slight burning sensation but you don't get an infection.  Chemotherapy is poison*, but like the peroxide it is a lot more dangerous to the disease than it is to the rest of you.  Result:  you feel like crap, but hopefully you live!

[shanghaiMMM]

OK this wasn't at work but I'm in California on holiday and, as a Brit, it has been eye opening to see so much anti-mustachian stuff, especially car related. Here is my favourite overheard conversation:

Guy 1: Hey, I thought you drove a Prius?

Guy 2: (climbing into a ridiculously oversized truck) Nah, I traded it in for this!

Guy 1: Sweet, you can have your man card back now!

:/

[ender]

OK this wasn't at work but I'm in California on holiday and, as a Brit, it has been eye opening to see so much anti-mustachian stuff, especially car related. Here is my favourite overheard conversation:

Guy 1: Hey, I thought you drove a Prius?

Guy 2: (climbing into a ridiculously oversized truck) Nah, I traded it in for this!

Guy 1: Sweet, you can have your man card back now!

:/

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

It's somewhat reassuring because my portfolio is probably larger than nearly everyone I see boast about <<insert expensive consumer good here>>.

[johnny847]

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

[fantabulous]

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I just assume I have a larger penis than they do, and go about with my day. I don't even like having one.

[Metta]

ORGAN HARVESTING!  ORGANS FOR EVERYONE!

Is it organ harvesting season already? The year just slips by, doesn't it?

[Metta]

One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

[gimp]

One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

[Metta]

One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I feel a unicycle gap in my little heart. It probably gets better gas mileage, too. And it's pretty badass.

[LennStar]

One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I feel a unicycle gap in my little heart. It probably gets better gas mileage, too. And it's pretty badass.

It defintiely makes you more manly then a truck in my eyes :D


On the poison: Everthing is poison! Its just the dose that makes it.
Just look at water, probably the most dangerous stuff there is. Reasons:

1) if you have not enough you die, and there are a lot of places where there is not enough water
2) if you have too much of it, you die too, and there are a lot of places on earth where there is way to much water (2/3 of earth surface)
3) Lots of deadly other poisons can be in water


or the more funny version (DHMO = Dihydrogenmonoxid = water):
http://dhmo.org/

DHMO is a constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases and disease-causing agents, environmental hazards and can even be lethal to humans in quantities as small as a thimbleful.

but you can rest assured something will be done

A similar study conducted by U.S. researchers Patrick K. McCluskey and Matthew Kulick also found that nearly 90 percent of the citizens participating in their study were willing to sign a petition to support an outright ban on the use of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the United States.

[Wiggle]

Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

Apparently some of the top minds here at MMM think you can stop being disabled by changing your diet.

Well if you are disabled because you are overweight because you eat poorly and do not exercise then yes I would agree with them.  Unless we are talking legitimate medical barriers to having a healthy body weight.

[infogoon]

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I once had a coworker make some joke about my lack of masculinity because I was wearing a pink polo shirt. I pointed out that I rode a bicycle to work, while her husband drove an enormous truck to get there, and that I clearly have no need to overcompensate proving my manhood.

[Ynari]

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I know a few unicyclists who would be more likely to get to work unicycling on a snow day than most other people would driving. Unicyclists don't make excuses.  They're too badass.

[Sibley]

There's a "lifestyle" going on with several coworkers. Basically, they're super into fitness, and to help them achieve some goal (I think?) they take all sorts of supplements. Pre-workout, recovery, endurance, muscle support, whatever else they can think of. One guy has little containers of various powders at his desk that he mixes into the most disgusting looking drinks multiple times a day.

These people spend anywhere between 700 - 1500 a year on this crap. Yet their meals are crap - fast food, pre-processed junk, etc. If I try to suggest that a healthy, balanced diet would properly supply their bodies with everything needed, they shout me down because I don't understand.

Oh, one guy loves to play basketball but can't because he damaged his shoulder. Another coworker has severe back problems -she can't sit all day often and will stand up to work. Why are they exercising so hard they "need" these supplements?

[4alpacas]

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I know a few unicyclists who would be more likely to get to work unicycling on a snow day than most other people would driving. Unicyclists don't make excuses.  They're too badass.

Today at work, I'm going to try to work "unicyclists don't make excuses," into a conversation. 

Best quote of this thread!

[MgoSam]

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I once had a coworker make some joke about my lack of masculinity because I was wearing a pink polo shirt. I pointed out that I rode a bicycle to work, while her husband drove an enormous truck to get there, and that I clearly have no need to overcompensate proving my manhood.

+1, never understood the concept of being "manly." I believe that is way more manly to be yourself, I mean if you don't wear a pink polo shirt because you think it's unmanly, that is just plain silly. It takes more courage to not drink when out with friends, than to give in to be thought to be part of the bunch.

[GuitarStv]

Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

[RyanAtTanagra]

Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

Especially when going uphill around a curve and you're trying so hard to not hit that cancel button and just hang through the turn, then it down shifts and accelerates.   Weeeee

I agree, gods willing I will never again own a car without cruise.  Without it, I watch my speed enough that it's probably a distraction.  Having cruise on makes for both a more relaxing and more aware drive for me.

[Pooperman]

Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

Especially when going uphill around a curve and you're trying so hard to not hit that cancel button and just hang through the turn, then it down shifts and accelerates.   Weeeee

I agree, gods willing I will never again own a car without cruise.  Without it, I watch my speed enough that it's probably a distraction.  Having cruise on makes for both a more relaxing and more aware drive for me.

I used to love attempting to hit the speed limit in a couple of over-mountain roads. Speed limit was 55, the sane speed limit was 40, but fun doing around corners and getting some air... Gotta do it once in your life.

[antarestar]

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

I'm pretty sure they're overcompensating for something...

I just assume I have a larger penis than they do, and go about with my day. I don't even like having one.

I assume the same thing and I don't even have a penis.

[katstache92]

Here's a gem from a cube-neighbor...

While talking about credit cards with someone else: Yeah, I just try to pay a little bit more each month than I spend.

I'm taking this to mean that he has credit card debt.

Meanwhile he's meeting with contractors this week to put stone on the front of his house.  He's debating about putting the stone behind the shutters or not and whether the $1,700 savings is worth the worrying that when he goes to sell the home that will cause an issue.

Sigh, credit card debt is not an acceptable state of being.

[Pooperman]

So one of my bosses was complaining about having to pay $5k in extra taxes (liquidated UTMA for some house thing, not sure exactly). Apparently this means he doesn't have $5 sitting around to just pay. First thing in my head was "what, no e-fund?!" He's been to top billable hours person for the last 2 years!

[johnny847]

So one of my bosses was complaining about having to pay $5k in extra taxes (liquidated UTMA for some house thing, not sure exactly). Apparently this means he doesn't have $5 sitting around to just pay. First thing in my head was "what, no e-fund?!" He's been to top billable hours person for the last 2 years!

You're missing a k there,... I would hope he has $5 lying around....

[Pooperman]

So one of my bosses was complaining about having to pay $5k in extra taxes (liquidated UTMA for some house thing, not sure exactly). Apparently this means he doesn't have $5 sitting around to just pay. First thing in my head was "what, no e-fund?!" He's been to top billable hours person for the last 2 years!

You're missing a k there,... I would hope he has $5 lying around....

Whoops. Yeah good catch. Still, $5k or $5. Not having one or both is bad.

[Zaga]

People around here say "Real men don't eat quiche."

My husband responds that real men choose foods that they like, and eat them.  His favorite color is purple also, and he doesn't care who knows it!

[gimp]

Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

My car eats mountains for breakfast on cruise control. I fucking love the feeling when it downshifts and the supercharger spools up. At this point, I've driven most of the steepest parts of any interstates... RPM stays under 3000 and cruise never comes off, regardless of the corners and ascents.

It sounds silly, but it's fun as all hell.

People around here say "Real men don't eat quiche."

My husband responds that real men choose foods that they like, and eat them.  His favorite color is purple also, and he doesn't care who knows it!

It's a joke, not something to get up in arms about. Source It's made its way into the programming world as satire, a tongue-in-cheek saying. Misinterpreting it and defending your quiche-eating and purple-loving is hilarious, and a little bit embarrassing.

[solon]

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

I know a few unicyclists who would be more likely to get to work unicycling on a snow day than most other people would driving. Unicyclists don't make excuses.  They're too badass.

Honey badger don't care!

[jordanread]

People around here say "Real men don't eat quiche."

My husband responds that real men choose foods that they like, and eat them.  His favorite color is purple also, and he doesn't care who knows it!

It's a joke, not something to get up in arms about. Source It's made its way into the programming world as satire, a tongue-in-cheek saying. Misinterpreting it and defending your quiche-eating and purple-loving is hilarious, and a little bit embarrassing.

Oh thank god. I totally thought I would lose yet another man card since quiche is awesome. Those come in decks of 52, right?

[frugalnacho]

Cruise doesn't work on steep hills.  Or rather, it does but . . . it's a little too exciting for me to suddenly have the engine blast out revs.

My car eats mountains for breakfast on cruise control. I fucking love the feeling when it downshifts and the supercharger spools up. At this point, I've driven most of the steepest parts of any interstates... RPM stays under 3000 and cruise never comes off, regardless of the corners and ascents.

It sounds silly, but it's fun as all hell.

People around here say "Real men don't eat quiche."

My husband responds that real men choose foods that they like, and eat them.  His favorite color is purple also, and he doesn't care who knows it!

It's a joke, not something to get up in arms about. Source It's made its way into the programming world as satire, a tongue-in-cheek saying. Misinterpreting it and defending your quiche-eating and purple-loving is hilarious, and a little bit embarrassing.

I just ate quiche for the first time last week and it was awesome.  I just made 2 quiches last night with ham, spinache, mushrooms, and onion.  It's going to be my new obsession for the next couple months.

[Avidconsumer]

My favourite colour is white and gold.

http://www.wired.com/2015/02/science-one-agrees-color-dress/

[Zaga]

Ha ha, I'm well aware that the "real men eat quiche" thing is satire, but it does demonstrate in a silly way how men are pushed to act certain ways to be perceived as "manly".  My DH doesn't care about all of that crap, thank goodness!

[frugalnacho]

Ha ha, I'm well aware that the "real men eat quiche" thing is satire, but it does demonstrate in a silly way how men are pushed to act certain ways to be perceived as "manly".  My DH doesn't care about all of that crap, thank goodness!

If anybody needs me i'll be in the garage, hanging some sheet rock, around an engine i'm rebuilding.

[4alpacas]

Ha ha, I'm well aware that the "real men eat quiche" thing is satire, but it does demonstrate in a silly way how men are pushed to act certain ways to be perceived as "manly".  My DH doesn't care about all of that crap, thank goodness!

If anybody needs me i'll be in the garage, hanging some sheet rock, around an engine i'm rebuilding.

Taking plenty of quiche breaks?

[NoraLenderbee]

There is a ridiculous attitude among a lot of guys about "big truck = man."

Yeah, your manhood depends on owning (or being in debt for) a couple of tons of metal that were manufactured in a factory and that anyone can buy, including wimps and females. But a couple of tons manufactured in a different shape (Prius) is wussy. And manhood is also something that you have to insure, and you can lose it completely in a car accident. Gosh, that manliness is delicate, just like testicles.

[Wings5]

I guar-on-tee my 1996 Camry has taken me to more trailheads, adventures, and general awesome experiences than most of the lifted trucks I park between on base.

My new pet wtf is the YETI cooler sticker. Cool, bruh, you spent $400 on a cooler. We live in Dallas; are you knocking out a five-day rafting trip on the Elm Fork? I had a college friend who, when we were on a canoe camping trip, swam to the bottom of a river, found a cold eddy, and tied our drinks in a bag with a rope, stone, and bobber attached, and cooled them off in midsummer heat. I just want a sticker that says "MIKE".

[dragoncar]

I guar-on-tee my 1996 Camry has taken me to more trailheads, adventures, and general awesome experiences than most of the lifted trucks I park between on base.

Of course -- you need a lifted truck to get your vehicle over obstacles that real men would easily surmount using their own two feet.

[gimp]

I had a college friend who, when we were on a canoe camping trip, swam to the bottom of a river, found a cold eddy, and tied our drinks in a bag with a rope, stone, and bobber attached, and cooled them off in midsummer heat. I just want a sticker that says "MIKE".

I might be in the market for Mike. Is he for rent? I could do with some cold drinks.

[shelivesthedream]

Not hiring someone because they are a smoker is clearly different from things like racism. Smoking is something you DO. You can stop. Try stopping being black, Welsh, disabled, a lesbian, whatever...

Apparently some of the top minds here at MMM think you can stop being disabled by changing your diet.

Well if you are disabled because you are overweight because you eat poorly and do not exercise then yes I would agree with them.  Unless we are talking legitimate medical barriers to having a healthy body weight.

I so clearly meant things like being blind or having one leg.

[Goldielocks]

A coworker today complaining that he was too full...

cw: Ugh, i'm way too stuffed.  I feel like i'm going to be sick.
me: I knew that place was expensive, but the portions seemed reasonable the last time I went (several years), why are you so full?
cw: Oh I brought leftovers for my lunch and I ate it about a half hour before ken rounded up everyone for lunch. 
me: So you ate two lunches?
cw: yea

And right before lunch they were looking over options and decided on a local burger place because it gets good reviews and none had ever been.  I warned them it was pricey so they wouldn't be shocked when it was like $10 for a burger, plus fries, plus a drink, plus tax and tip.  I think they got out of there for around $16 each for a burger and fries.  The coworker in question has a brand new baby though, and his wife is staying at home with the kid right now.  So not only is he making less than me, but he has a wife and new baby to support! And he spent $16 going out to lunch just 30 minutes after eating left overs for lunch! I can't even!

And his wife is stuck at home with the baby, without a nice lunch out with DH once in a while, too...   Gah, I used to be so jealous of that.. 

[Wings5]

I had a college friend who, when we were on a canoe camping trip, swam to the bottom of a river, found a cold eddy, and tied our drinks in a bag with a rope, stone, and bobber attached, and cooled them off in midsummer heat. I just want a sticker that says "MIKE".

I might be in the market for Mike. Is he for rent? I could do with some cold drinks.

Mike is happily spoken for. Made all his own furniture (he's a carpenter for fun). We all kind of chuckled at him using saws and sawhorses outside of a dormitory, but his stuff has held up for years and we are now a seeing the light.

[ImproveEveryday]

I work at a fancy coffee shop in a high-income town. My hubby and I moved here for a sweet, permanent dream job (for him), which meant I had to leave my career behind, so I have down-graded to "barista". Whatever, its just supplemental income, so I enjoy it.

Anyways, I work with a variety of 21-35 year olds (I am 24), and it seems to me that I am the only one who GETS personal finance. Here are a few gems I have heard from my workplace.

35-year-old fella:
"I pretty much plan on working until the day I die"
"Oh yeah, I have tried the whole "6-month buffer" thing and "IRA" thing, but it never works out. They just end up getting spent."
"You shouldn't chase money. I have seen bad things happen to people who chase money"
"There is no sense in trying to invest. The stock market is going to crash again and you will lose everything anyways"

21-year-old girl:
"What? Paychecks aren't coming today? Doesn't she know that we live paycheck to paycheck!?" (I think she assumes I do too...)
"I don't have a bank account." (said proudly)
Gets trashed/high every night

22-year old fella - works 2 jobs, lives w/ parents, somehow has no money
"I just bought new tires, new headlights, and sweet new rims for my car. Ugh, I don't know how I'm gonna pay this all off..."
"I take my girlfriend out to dinner about three times a week"  (high end restaurants!)
"I think I'm going to buy a macbook with my next paycheck"


These are just the tip of the iceberg. Everyone in my workplace seriously lives from paycheck to paycheck, even though we all make $12-$15 an hour when tips are included. We might each get $20 in cash tips after a busy 6-hour shift, and most everyone will blow it on buying a fancy coffee/sandwich/dessert combo, or some beers. If only they knew how much those tips could accumulate to over a few months if deposited immediately into a jar in their closet, like I do ; )

[johnny847]

I work at a fancy coffee shop in a high-income town. My hubby and I moved here for a sweet, permanent dream job (for him), which meant I had to leave my career behind, so I have down-graded to "barista". Whatever, its just supplemental income, so I enjoy it.

Anyways, I work with a variety of 21-35 year olds (I am 24), and it seems to me that I am the only one who GETS personal finance. Here are a few gems I have heard from my workplace.

35-year-old fella:
"I pretty much plan on working until the day I die"
"Oh yeah, I have tried the whole "6-month buffer" thing and "IRA" thing, but it never works out. They just end up getting spent."
"You shouldn't chase money. I have seen bad things happen to people who chase money"
"There is no sense in trying to invest. The stock market is going to crash again and you will lose everything anyways"

21-year-old girl:
"What? Paychecks aren't coming today? Doesn't she know that we live paycheck to paycheck!?" (I think she assumes I do too...)
"I don't have a bank account." (said proudly)
Gets trashed/high every night

22-year old fella - works 2 jobs, lives w/ parents, somehow has no money
"I just bought new tires, new headlights, and sweet new rims for my car. Ugh, I don't know how I'm gonna pay this all off..."
"I take my girlfriend out to dinner about three times a week"  (high end restaurants!)
"I think I'm going to buy a macbook with my next paycheck"


These are just the tip of the iceberg. Everyone in my workplace seriously lives from paycheck to paycheck, even though we all make $12-$15 an hour when tips are included. We might each get $20 in cash tips after a busy 6-hour shift, and most everyone will blow it on buying a fancy coffee/sandwich/dessert combo, or some beers. If only they knew how much those tips could accumulate to over a few months if deposited immediately into a jar in their closet, like I do ; )

How does the 21 year old girl use her paychecks without a bank account? Does she go to a check cashing place or something?

[ImproveEveryday]

How does the 21 year old girl use her paychecks without a bank account? Does she go to a check cashing place or something?

Yep. I assume so!

[RyanAtTanagra]

How does the 21 year old girl use her paychecks without a bank account? Does she go to a check cashing place or something?

Yep. I assume so!

You can go to whatever bank the business uses and cash them for free, to give her the benefit of the doubt... :-)

[10dollarsatatime]

One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

No excuses.

[gimp]

I had a college friend who, when we were on a canoe camping trip, swam to the bottom of a river, found a cold eddy, and tied our drinks in a bag with a rope, stone, and bobber attached, and cooled them off in midsummer heat. I just want a sticker that says "MIKE".

I might be in the market for Mike. Is he for rent? I could do with some cold drinks.

Mike is happily spoken for. Made all his own furniture (he's a carpenter for fun). We all kind of chuckled at him using saws and sawhorses outside of a dormitory, but his stuff has held up for years and we are now a seeing the light.

Mike sounds like a Bad Motherfucker. I like Mike.

One of the guys got a brand new car- but he got a good deal!  Sticker price was ~$30,000, and he haggled it down to $20-something thousand!  Fully loaded with all sorts of doodads and big engine and 4-wheel drive... all the good stuff that is soooo necessary in a car.

Also, we've been getting a "lot" of snow here lately, and yesterday the roads were a little icy.  In the parking lot at work, I saw a coworker of mine get out of this monstrous red F-series Ford (she usually drives a recent-model Honda Civic).  Upon seeing me, she exclaimed "Take that, winter!" with a big smile, like having a huge, high-off-the-ground truck was actually the safer option when driving icy roads with a max 1 inch of snow on them.  Sigh.

Yet another reason why a sports car is the practical choice. When ice closed Memphis down last week, I called in and said, "I'm sorry, my car refuses to drive in these conditions. I'm working from home."

A guy at work non-ironically uses a unicycle to get around places. I think he's got you beat if it ever snows here.

No excuses.

That is pretty fucking hardcore. Also relevant: