Overheard at Work

[secondcor521]

I just checked one of the fridges, and there is a tupperware, with a person's name on it, and a date of 3/18!  I'm just glad I got out of administration, and that we have multiple fridges nearby.  ;)

Maybe they were thinking it would last another 35 months... ;-)

[theadvicist]

I love this thread! But does anyone else feel kind of...tainted... after reading it? I love the stories, and then I have to go and check my budget to make sure none of it has rubbed off on me somehow!

And to keep it on topic: overheard at lunch with a colleague on maternity leave, "I don't want to come back to work... but I have to... sigh. I'm dreading it, but we can't afford for me not to". *she was sipping an £18 champagne cocktail, my sympathy left the building.

[elysianfields]

BTW, backup cameras are required for the 2018 model year. http://money.cnn.com/2014/03/31/autos/rear-facing-cameras/

From the article:

Rear facing cameras, including those that automakers already offer, would save between 59 and 69 deaths a year, NHTSA said.

Any death is bad, but statistically speaking this is a miniscule amount. Too miniscule to require all drivers in the US to have cameras in their cars.

And if you really wanted to prevent deaths, you need to somehow connect the rear-view camera with an image processing capability to detect anything behind it to the braking system. That way, the driver doesn't even have to think about braking at all...because there is no guarantee the driver will be looking at the camera. In all likelihood, they will be looking at their smartphone while backing up (unfortunately). ;-)

I know I'm late to the party on the discussion, and let's have some perspective.

Over 30,000 people die in the US every year due to motor vehicle accidents.  People don't realize the (relatively) enormous risks they are taking every time they get behind the wheel.  The real and most mustachian solution is to drive less or not at all.

Now back to the discussion of gelatinous dishes from bygone years...

[grantmeaname]

Glad we stepped nine months back for that.

[Mississippi Mudstache]

We had a fancy pants lunch of On the Border taco bar delivered to our office yesterday for the company meeting.  There were lots of leftovers so I packed it all up and put it in the fridge around 2:30.  I just took it out and reheated myself a plate for lunch today.  So far three people have walked by and the responses have been, OH! we got lunch AGAIN today sweet?!?...oh wait, that's just the leftover crap from yesterday isn't it?", "Ugh, but it's coooooold now" (there is a microwave sitting on the same counter and paper plates) and "Ewww! who eats LEFTOVERS!!"

Screw that, if no one else eats it I"m taking it home, it's almost two full trays of meat, rice, beans, chips and lbs of fixings like cheese and salsa.  I could eat for a week off of the leftovers, with extra at the end, the way they are and a month if I make stretch meals out of them.  The waste in this office kills me.

I don't hear a lot of snobbery about our office leftovers, but I don't see many people eating them either. Usually if we get to Friday and they're not all gone, I'll show up with containers. I've had weeks where I barely cooked.
A couple of months ago one of the officers in my guard unit got promoted and bought huge boxes of fried chicken for the party. You bet your ass I froze about 10 pounds of it on Sunday afternoon and lived off it all week. Great timing too, cause DW was off visiting family.
And actually, we have an office lunch today... I'll have to see what I can snag >.<

I'm jealous. I work with a bunch of 20-something guys, and whenever we get office lunch it all disappears in like 15 minutes.

I'm not exactly surrounded by Mustachians at work, but when we have leftovers from a company-paid lunch, our administrative assistant always makes sure to let me know first, because she knows I'll be all over that sh#t. The vultures have usually circled and departed, leaving nothing but scraps, after an hour. When there's still something left after an hour, I'll go back and pack up some leftovers for the next day. A few times I've been able save a pound of pork barbecue or enough baked chicken to eat for a week. I'm not the only one who comes in there with tupperware, either, so I don't even feel weird about it!

[DecD]

So here's a bit of a mixed one.A coworker is going on sabbatical for ~3 months because she saved money since college over the last 3 or so years. She's going to places like Bali, St. Thomas, etc and then moving back to her home state (California). The good is that she saved. The bad is her attitude towards the saved money: gotta enjoy life while you're young because you never know what will happen. With that attitude, we all know what will happen. She will work until she's 70 and never be able to retire. I told her that. She disagreed and said now was more important anyway.

She does have a big advantage.  She's already learned how to flex the saving muscles.  I don't know how old she is, or how much she's saved on what wage, but it's definitely not the disaster that you're making it out to be.

Yeah, I have to say, it's not necessarily a disaster.  I think enjoying life now is a great idea.  As long as she gets back to the frugalness when she's done with her tour.

I've been working full time for 23 years.  Well, minus 2.5 years of 30-35 hours a week when I had babies/ toddlers.  I wish I'd taken more time when I was younger.

I mean really, the whole travel-round-the-world thing isn't really my thing at all.  But I wish I'd taken a few more 2 week or 3 week summer road trips.  The first time I took 2 weeks off straight was when my oldest was a toddler, and it was to visit family. I couldn't believe how relaxing 2 weeks is.  I mean, you are 3 days into it when you've finally relaxed from the grind, and there are 11 more days!  If only I'd done that pre-kid.

Yeah, I agree here.  After I finished my masters degree, I could have started my real engineering job immediately...but chose to spend a year in France instead.  Rather than making a real salary (~$70K) + benefits that year, I made $6K + basic living expenses, of which I spent all of it living & traveling.  So I saved $0 that year- I broke even exactly.  Missed out on a year of savings, 401K, job experience, annual raise...

Do not regret.  If my #1 goal had been early retirement, it was not a logical choice.  But I wasn't delaying life, waiting for FIRE to arrive.  I was very busy living.  I'll likely never choose to live abroad longterm again.  I'm glad I did it pre-kids.

[druth]

My company is making something that will interact with services like Mint/CashEdge/etc.  A few of us in the meeting use Mint, the rest didn't really know much about it and were asking questions about why we like it.  A few examples of good thinking, and some not so good.

Coworker 1: "It's good for just looking back and seeing say...  how much you spent on a party or something.  Then you can say 'I spent HOW MUCH at the liquor store!' and at least be aware of it."
Coworker 2: "Yeah, my husband works really hard to save money on skiing, but then we realized that he was spending hundreds a month on the restaurants next to the ski location."
Coworker 3: "Wow, both of those sound exactly like things I DON'T want to know.  I'll pass and stay unaware."

[Merrie]

When I look back on dubious financial decisions I've made in the past, I never regret spending 5 weeks studying in London, UK when I was in my last year of school, despite the cost (which I don't even remember what it was anymore, somewhere between 2k-5k is all I remember). That was literally a once in a lifetime opportunity and worth it.

[MandalayVA]

Coworker 3: "Wow, both of those sound exactly like things I DON'T want to know.  I'll pass and stay unaware."

Ah, the "ignorance is bliss" response.  I once had a coworker who routinely overdrew her checking account because she never kept track and said "it doesn't matter."  She was astonished that I had (and continue to have) never overdrawn my account.  She honestly didn't know it could be done.  /headdesk

[thd7t]

My company is making something that will interact with services like Mint/CashEdge/etc.  A few of us in the meeting use Mint, the rest didn't really know much about it and were asking questions about why we like it.  A few examples of good thinking, and some not so good.

Coworker 1: "It's good for just looking back and seeing say...  how much you spent on a party or something.  Then you can say 'I spent HOW MUCH at the liquor store!' and at least be aware of it."
Coworker 2: "Yeah, my husband works really hard to save money on skiing, but then we realized that he was spending hundreds a month on the restaurants next to the ski location."
Coworker 3: "Wow, both of those sound exactly like things I DON'T want to know.  I'll pass and stay unaware."

Wow!  It really shows how embracing information can be helpful.  Coworkers 1 & 2 may not be saving appropriately, but it sounds like just by tracking some expenses, they're primed to start.  Coworker3, WTF?!

[Pooperman]

My company is making something that will interact with services like Mint/CashEdge/etc.  A few of us in the meeting use Mint, the rest didn't really know much about it and were asking questions about why we like it.  A few examples of good thinking, and some not so good.

Coworker 1: "It's good for just looking back and seeing say...  how much you spent on a party or something.  Then you can say 'I spent HOW MUCH at the liquor store!' and at least be aware of it."
Coworker 2: "Yeah, my husband works really hard to save money on skiing, but then we realized that he was spending hundreds a month on the restaurants next to the ski location."
Coworker 3: "Wow, both of those sound exactly like things I DON'T want to know.  I'll pass and stay unaware."

Wow!  It really shows how embracing information can be helpful.  Coworkers 1 & 2 may not be saving appropriately, but it sounds like just by tracking some expenses, they're primed to start.  Coworker3, WTF?!

Head + sand is a way of life.

[elysianfields]

Great now Huey Lewis will be suck in my head all day.

Huey Lewis doesn't have to be suck in your head, he sucks most of the time.

[frugalnacho]

Their early work was a little too 'new-wave' for my taste, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own - both commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In '87, Huey released this, Fore!, their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip To Be Square", a song so catchy most people probably don't listen to the lyrics - but they should! Because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity, and the importance of trends, it's also a personal statement about the band itself!

[thd7t]

Their early work was a little too 'new-wave' for my taste, but when Sports came out in '83, I think they really came into their own - both commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and a new sheen of consummate professionalism that really gives the songs a big boost. He's been compared to Elvis Costello, but I think Huey has a far more bitter, cynical sense of humor. In '87, Huey released this, Fore!, their most accomplished album. I think their undisputed masterpiece is "Hip To Be Square", a song so catchy most people probably don't listen to the lyrics - but they should! Because it's not just about the pleasures of conformity, and the importance of trends, it's also a personal statement about the band itself!

I'm just quoting you here, because this should be in a quotation box.  I, too, am in murders and executions.

[Risa]

At my first job, a coworker and I hit it off and we're still friends to this day. But she has a horrible spending problem. She has over 17 Coach/Kate Spade bags+ 2 wallets to go with each bag. I asked her why she needed two wallets for each bag and she told me she has "a lot of rewards cards."  She's in credit card debt up to her eyeballs, plus she has student loans and a car payment.

Two days ago she told me she's buying yet another bag+wallet combo. The crazy part? She's afraid of what her aunt will say if she sees the bags so she keeps them in her closet and never uses them.

I tell ya, it makes my brain hurt.

[thd7t]

At my first job, a coworker and I hit it off and we're still friends to this day. But she has a horrible spending problem. She has over 17 Coach/Kate Spade bags+ 2 wallets to go with each bag. I asked her why she needed two wallets for each bag and she told me she has "a lot of rewards cards."  She's in credit card debt up to her eyeballs, plus she has student loans and a car payment.

Two days ago she told me she's buying yet another bag+wallet combo. The crazy part? She's afraid of what her aunt will say if she sees the bags so she keeps them in her closet and never uses them.

I tell ya, it makes my brain hurt.

This has the hallmarks of addiction.  She's embarrassed and knows it's detrimental, but can't stop.  It's scary!

[Risa]

It really is. I've tried to get her to see a psychiatrist but she says she has no time/money/etc. She doesn't want to be helped, and it's very sad.

[Gazelle]

I've been reading this thread for a while, and I figure it's time to make a contribution.

Last year, I was having a conversation with one of my coworkers (~45 years old) and a fresh-out-of-school guy (~23 yo) from another organization that we were working a project with.  We were talking about jobs, finances, etc, and the young guy told us a story about a mandatory advising meeting he had in college where the advisor asked about what he really wanted from his career, and he told the advisor that he didn't care that much, and would love to be retired by the time he's 35.

My coworker informed him that he was SOL.  People of our generations (where defined benefit plans are going away and social security's future is uncertain) will probably just never retire.  This is coming from a guy who makes about $140k/year, with generous benefits, who commutes about 30 miles per day, has bought then sold multiple boats, and probably makes tons of other terrible spending decisions I don't know about.

I don't make a habit of talking about FIRE at work, but I told both of them at the time that that was bullshit, and while privately talking to the young guy later, told him to check out MMM.

[thd7t]

I've been reading this thread for a while, and I figure it's time to make a contribution.

Last year, I was having a conversation with one of my coworkers (~45 years old) and a fresh-out-of-school guy (~23 yo) from another organization that we were working a project with.  We were talking about jobs, finances, etc, and the young guy told us a story about a mandatory advising meeting he had in college where the advisor asked about what he really wanted from his career, and he told the advisor that he didn't care that much, and would love to be retired by the time he's 35.

My coworker informed him that he was SOL.  People of our generations (where defined benefit plans are going away and social security's future is uncertain) will probably just never retire.  This is coming from a guy who makes about $140k/year, with generous benefits, who commutes about 30 miles per day, has bought then sold multiple boats, and probably makes tons of other terrible spending decisions I don't know about.

I don't make a habit of talking about FIRE at work, but I told both of them at the time that that was bullshit, and while privately talking to the young guy later, told him to check out MMM.

Talk about a spectrum!  That young colleague was lucky you were there!

[MgoSam]

I've been reading this thread for a while, and I figure it's time to make a contribution.

Last year, I was having a conversation with one of my coworkers (~45 years old) and a fresh-out-of-school guy (~23 yo) from another organization that we were working a project with.  We were talking about jobs, finances, etc, and the young guy told us a story about a mandatory advising meeting he had in college where the advisor asked about what he really wanted from his career, and he told the advisor that he didn't care that much, and would love to be retired by the time he's 35.

My coworker informed him that he was SOL.  People of our generations (where defined benefit plans are going away and social security's future is uncertain) will probably just never retire.  This is coming from a guy who makes about $140k/year, with generous benefits, who commutes about 30 miles per day, has bought then sold multiple boats, and probably makes tons of other terrible spending decisions I don't know about.

I don't make a habit of talking about FIRE at work, but I told both of them at the time that that was bullshit, and while privately talking to the young guy later, told him to check out MMM.

Talk about a spectrum!  That young colleague was lucky you were there!

Yeah, I wonder how many people would love to retire by 35 but are told that it's impossible. Some of them will try to do it anyways, but others might give up and figure that since they are living in the rat race they mind as well live it up. That's why I don't make any secrets of my plan to retire and am willing to talk to anyone that wants to listen. They may not like my advice, but at least they should know that it is possible to retire early.

[Paul der Krake]

I work on a team of 9 people.

In the past two months, 4 out of 9 got a new car. One of them is financing it at an exhorbitant rate because of mistakes he made in his youth that are still haunting him today.

[ender]

Yeah, I wonder how many people would love to retire by 35 but are told that it's impossible. Some of them will try to do it anyways, but others might give up and figure that since they are living in the rat race they mind as well live it up. That's why I don't make any secrets of my plan to retire and am willing to talk to anyone that wants to listen. They may not like my advice, but at least they should know that it is possible to retire early.

The irony to me, as a cog in a large corporation (50k+ people) is that the megacorp types of companies are a great place to be for FIRE aspirations since they generally pay pretty well and offer pretty reliable career paths for most people.

But the company, as a result of the above, has a vested interest in keeping you from going after the FIRE route once you get 10-20 years of experience with them...

[DeepEllumStache]

Yeah, I wonder how many people would love to retire by 35 but are told that it's impossible. Some of them will try to do it anyways, but others might give up and figure that since they are living in the rat race they mind as well live it up. That's why I don't make any secrets of my plan to retire and am willing to talk to anyone that wants to listen. They may not like my advice, but at least they should know that it is possible to retire early.

The irony to me, as a cog in a large corporation (50k+ people) is that the megacorp types of companies are a great place to be for FIRE aspirations since they generally pay pretty well and offer pretty reliable career paths for most people.

But the company, as a result of the above, has a vested interest in keeping you from going after the FIRE route once you get 10-20 years of experience with them...

Megacorps also get better negotiating leverage on their 401k fees. I was grumpy about mine until I realized just how good I had it compared to everyone else.

[SailAway]

Can't resist any longer. Coworker in local govt job makes $55k. His wife is in a highly compensated private job. I'd guess 100k. This is well compensated for non-Chicago Midwest. They just built a $500k McMansion on a VA loan (he served one tour out of HS). Based on the collection calls at work and other dropped info about the mortgage, I assume no down payment. They were trying to sell their old house that they had trashed. They both drive very expensive new trucks. Eat out every meal. Financed everything, in debt up to their eyeballs.

So he hears he can get can get a break on his property taxes for being a veteran. Tries to apply but is told he only gets it if he's a disabled veteran, so that person then coaches him into faking a disability (seriously he BRAGGED about this) so now he gets a VA disability check. Just told us his wife hasn't been working for months. She was rear-ended and although she has no apparent injuries, and a clear MRI, she is "in pain" and "wasn't happy at work." I predict a personal injury lawsuit is in the works and probably a disability claim.

Meanwhile he watches Faux News 24/7 and votes Tea Party. I. Can't. Even.

[Gockie]

Can't resist any longer. Coworker in local govt job makes $55k. His wife is in a highly compensated private job. I'd guess 100k. This is well compensated for non-Chicago Midwest. They just built a $500k McMansion on a VA loan (he served one tour out of HS). Based on the collection calls at work and other dropped info about the mortgage, I assume no down payment. They were trying to sell their old house that they had trashed. They both drive very expensive new trucks. Eat out every meal. Financed everything, in debt up to their eyeballs.

So he hears he can get can get a break on his property taxes for being a veteran. Tries to apply but is told he only gets it if he's a disabled veteran, so that person then coaches him into faking a disability (seriously he BRAGGED about this) so now he gets a VA disability check. Just told us his wife hasn't been working for months. She was rear-ended and although she has no apparent injuries, and a clear MRI, she is "in pain" and "wasn't happy at work." I predict a personal injury lawsuit is in the works and probably a disability claim.

Meanwhile he watches Faux News 24/7 and votes Tea Party. I. Can't. Even.

Ohhh dear. You should report all of them for fraud. An investigation should be done, and perhaps some jail time could help...

[LeRainDrop]

First, a brag on my employer:  They recently decided to change the funds available in our 401(k) plan, moving away from a core line-up of actively managed funds to a line-up of low-cost index funds.  Before, all of us were stuck with funds that included limited advice, and so average expense ratios were 0.55%.  Now, we have the option to manage our funds on our own -- of course, what I'm doing! -- or to add on a retirement planner service for 0.35%.  I am thrilled that our expense ratios are now extremely low, particularly for a 401(k).  I'm getting Schwab S&P 500 Index for 0.09, and Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Admiral for 0.08 :-)

Second, reactions of some of my co-workers:  Many people were annoyed they'd have to pick all new funds, since our entire old line-up was going away.  Oh, so you're sad to lose the high expenses, and get all these low-cost options?  Also, at least a month or two before the change, we started receiving notices and information about what was coming up, our office had a few information sessions with the investment company rep (who did a good job with his presentation), we had about a month where we could log in to our accounts and see what funds and allocation our Morningstar retirement planner would recommend for us, etc.  Nevertheless, the day that our reallocations were completed, as soon as we received the email that we could now log in to see the changes in effect, people started looking for the first time and freaking out.  It sounds like most people just went with the default retirement planner service, and several ladies in their 50s-60s were calling around to each other -- "They put some of my money in bonds!  I don't want any bonds!  Why would they do that?  Oh my gosh, not bonds!  They're saying I should be more conservative with my investments as I near retirement age, but that's stupid -- I want to be aggressive!"

[Latwell]

At my first job, a coworker and I hit it off and we're still friends to this day. But she has a horrible spending problem. She has over 17 Coach/Kate Spade bags+ 2 wallets to go with each bag. I asked her why she needed two wallets for each bag and she told me she has "a lot of rewards cards."  She's in credit card debt up to her eyeballs, plus she has student loans and a car payment.

Two days ago she told me she's buying yet another bag+wallet combo. The crazy part? She's afraid of what her aunt will say if she sees the bags so she keeps them in her closet and never uses them.

I tell ya, it makes my brain hurt.

Ugh. You just reminded me of about an old co-worker. She had an apartment with her boyfriend but she moved back in with her parents while she was pregnant. When she moved back in, she couldn't bring all of her "stuff" so the majority of it had to go into storage. She would tell me horror stories about her climbing through this storage unit because it was supposedly 80% made up of purses. I always hoped that she was just excessively exaggerating, but then every month she had a different handbag, and I don't ever recall seeing the same one twice.

Luckily, the baby seemed to knock some sense into her. Once the baby arrived, she stopped spending her money on herself and started planning/saving for the baby's future.

[JetBlast]

In the gate area at LAX today I overheard a mother trying to get her probably seven year old daughter to behave, and this was the mind blowing statement I heard:

"If you don't shape up I'm going to take your flat screen away.  Think about it, how many of your classmates have a 55 inch flat screen in their room? How many of them have a queen size bed in their room? Ask them. I bet most don't. Do you want me to take it away?"

I've never owned a 55" television, and only upgraded from a full size mattress when my wife and I first moved in together. Who buys this stuff for a kid in elementary school?

[LennStar]

Someone who thinks that having possessions no one else has is a good thing instead of something to think about.

[zephyr911]

I work on a team of 9 people.

In the past two months, 4 out of 9 got a new car. One of them is financing it at an exhorbitant rate because of mistakes he made in his youth that are still haunting him today.

Peer pressure's a bitch, innit?
I should probably finance a truck to be just like my CWs... how else will I feel safe while commuting from the 'burbs to sit at my desk all day?

[Pooperman]

I work on a team of 9 people.

In the past two months, 4 out of 9 got a new car. One of them is financing it at an exhorbitant rate because of mistakes he made in his youth that are still haunting him today.

Peer pressure's a bitch, innit?
I should probably finance a truck to be just like my CWs... how else will I feel safe while commuting from the 'burbs to sit at my desk all day?

Just get a big-rig with double stacks and chrome everything. Paint it with the confederate flag and everyone will be in awe of you... or something.

[FatCat]

In the gate area at LAX today I overheard a mother trying to get her probably seven year old daughter to behave, and this was the mind blowing statement I heard:

"If you don't shape up I'm going to take your flat screen away.  Think about it, how many of your classmates have a 55 inch flat screen in their room? How many of them have a queen size bed in their room? Ask them. I bet most don't. Do you want me to take it away?"

I've never owned a 55" television, and only upgraded from a full size mattress when my wife and I first moved in together. Who buys this stuff for a kid in elementary school?

It's probable the TV was given to her because they upgraded their main TV to a bigger screen and so the 55" was just moved from the main room to the kid room instead of being specifically bought for the daughter.

If her mother is making a point of pointing out that she has better things than her friends she's going to start defining herself this way. That sort of "I'm the kid with the best stuff" mentality isn't very pleasant to be around. It quickly turns into, "I'm better than you because my stuff is better than yours."

[Hunny156]

Co worker has a few pieces of crappy furniture in her garage, preventing her from parking her brand new car in there.  I suggested she put it on the curb w/a free sign on it, maybe post it on freecycle or the Facebook yard sale pages, and watch it disappear.

Her response:  "That's awesome!  I can have more space, so I can buy more stuff!"

She also routinely complains about how tight her finances are and has a lovely home already furnished with enough stuff from Crate & Barrel.

She's a lovely person, but she never sees the disconnect between spending and finances.  Sigh.

[I'm a red panda]

I've never owned a 55" television, and only upgraded from a full size mattress when my wife and I first moved in together. Who buys this stuff for a kid in elementary school?

A 55" TV hurts my eyes if I'm not halfway across the room from it. I can't imagine this in a kids room.  It must be huge. Of course they do have a queen bed.


I have noticed most of my friends go from crib to full size bed.  They figure they will skip the expense of "toddler bed" and get the bed the kid will take with them to college.  (When I was a kid I had a twin until I was like 8 and then got a full. It did go to college with me.)

[mtn]

I've never owned a 55" television, and only upgraded from a full size mattress when my wife and I first moved in together. Who buys this stuff for a kid in elementary school?

A 55" TV hurts my eyes if I'm not halfway across the room from it. I can't imagine this in a kids room.  It must be huge. Of course they do have a queen bed.


I have noticed most of my friends go from crib to full size bed.  They figure they will skip the expense of "toddler bed" and get the bed the kid will take with them to college.  (When I was a kid I had a twin until I was like 8 and then got a full. It did go to college with me.)

Hi, I'm 25 years old, 5'10" 210, and am living with my parents. I sleep on a twin sized bed. I didn't have anything bigger than a twinXL until a sublease during my internship when I had a queen. Then I was sharing a full. Then I had my own full. Then I was sharing a full again.

I'd rank the sleeping arrangements as follows: (KS:King, single sleeping; FD: Full, double sleeping)

KS=QS=FS>TS>KD>>QD>>FD>>>TD. I don't think most people realize that a king is only two twin XL's pushed together. So when I move out, I will settle for a Queen if space doesn't permit a king, but I am trying REALLY hard for a king. And there is no way I'm going back to a full. Ever.

[JLee]

I've never owned a 55" television, and only upgraded from a full size mattress when my wife and I first moved in together. Who buys this stuff for a kid in elementary school?

A 55" TV hurts my eyes if I'm not halfway across the room from it. I can't imagine this in a kids room.  It must be huge. Of course they do have a queen bed.


I have noticed most of my friends go from crib to full size bed.  They figure they will skip the expense of "toddler bed" and get the bed the kid will take with them to college.  (When I was a kid I had a twin until I was like 8 and then got a full. It did go to college with me.)

Hi, I'm 25 years old, 5'10" 210, and am living with my parents. I sleep on a twin sized bed. I didn't have anything bigger than a twinXL until a sublease during my internship when I had a queen. Then I was sharing a full. Then I had my own full. Then I was sharing a full again.

I'd rank the sleeping arrangements as follows: (KS:King, single sleeping; FD: Full, double sleeping)

KS=QS=FS>TS>KD>>QD>>FD>>>TD. I don't think most people realize that a king is only two twin XL's pushed together. So when I move out, I will settle for a Queen if space doesn't permit a king, but I am trying REALLY hard for a king. And there is no way I'm going back to a full. Ever.

Sleeping alone is one of my least favorite things to do. :P

[zephyr911]

Hi, I'm 25 years old, 5'10" 210, and am living with my parents. I sleep on a twin sized bed. I didn't have anything bigger than a twinXL until a sublease during my internship when I had a queen. Then I was sharing a full. Then I had my own full. Then I was sharing a full again.

I'd rank the sleeping arrangements as follows: (KS:King, single sleeping; FD: Full, double sleeping)

KS=QS=FS>TS>KD>>QD>>FD>>>TD. I don't think most people realize that a king is only two twin XL's pushed together. So when I move out, I will settle for a Queen if space doesn't permit a king, but I am trying REALLY hard for a king. And there is no way I'm going back to a full. Ever.

I'm 5'11" and 210 myself. I've never had more than a twin when I wasn't sharing with someone, and I still don't see the point. Always been quite comfy.
Never felt the need for more than a queen with two people, either.
Not even with a cat and a dog.

Makes me wonder what all you perverts are doing with those big fancy king-size beds.... ;)

[Cookie78]

Hi, I'm 25 years old, 5'10" 210, and am living with my parents. I sleep on a twin sized bed. I didn't have anything bigger than a twinXL until a sublease during my internship when I had a queen. Then I was sharing a full. Then I had my own full. Then I was sharing a full again.

I'd rank the sleeping arrangements as follows: (KS:King, single sleeping; FD: Full, double sleeping)

KS=QS=FS>TS>KD>>QD>>FD>>>TD. I don't think most people realize that a king is only two twin XL's pushed together. So when I move out, I will settle for a Queen if space doesn't permit a king, but I am trying REALLY hard for a king. And there is no way I'm going back to a full. Ever.

I'm 5'11" and 210 myself. I've never had more than a twin when I wasn't sharing with someone, and I still don't see the point. Always been quite comfy.
Never felt the need for more than a queen with two people, either.
Not even with a cat and a dog.

Makes me wonder what all you perverts are doing with those big fancy king-size beds.... ;)

Fits three people better than any other type of bed I've slept in. :)

[RWD]

I had a coworker assert that you should not hold any stocks in retirement. When I mentioned the Trinity Study he said he disagreed with it, though he clearly hadn't read anything about it.

This person goes out to eat for lunch every day and lives about 20 miles from work. We had a holiday that landed on a payday once and he had to come in to pick up his paycheck (I'm almost as surprised he hadn't set up direct deposit than I am about him not being about to go a weekend without being paid)... I'll be retired well before I reach his current age.

[zephyr911]

I had a coworker assert that you should not hold any stocks in retirement. When I mentioned the Trinity Study he said he disagreed with it, though he clearly hadn't read anything about it.

This person goes out to eat for lunch every day and lives about 20 miles from work. We had a holiday that landed on a payday once and he had to come in to pick up his paycheck (I'm almost as surprised he hadn't set up direct deposit than I am about him not being about to go a weekend without being paid)... I'll be retired well before I reach his current age.

I can forgive ignorance, but I can't forgive blind confidence in one's own ignorance. Why is this world so full of people with smug opinions about shit they don't know anything about?

[FatCat]

I had a coworker assert that you should not hold any stocks in retirement. When I mentioned the Trinity Study he said he disagreed with it, though he clearly hadn't read anything about it.

This person goes out to eat for lunch every day and lives about 20 miles from work. We had a holiday that landed on a payday once and he had to come in to pick up his paycheck (I'm almost as surprised he hadn't set up direct deposit than I am about him not being about to go a weekend without being paid)... I'll be retired well before I reach his current age.

He probably isn't able to have a checking account. If you screw up enough with overdrawing your account and writing bad checks, banks won't let you open an account anymore. So you have to take all your checks to check cashing services and pay a fee to get your paycheck cashed. The fact that he couldn't go a weekend without getting paid makes the possibility that he isn't able to open an account seem very likely.

[jinga nation]

I've been holding my thoughts all day, but finally couldn't take it anymore.

Co-worker, who is retired military (he was enlisted), drives a 201X Ram 1500 Laramie full-size truck, and is always complaining gas costs too much (even when it hit a low of about $2.00/gal). He has at least a 52-mile round-trip commute with tolls. His wife doesn't work; instead comes with him to the base most days, hits the gym, Dunkin' Donuts (twice daily). They eat at the food trucks or food court. He's always telling me he wants a more fuel efficient car, a cheap car, so that he can be like me and buy real estate to rent out.

Today, I see that he traded in his wife's paid-off last decade Nissan Maxima and got he a spankin' new Lexus GS 350. Then I hearing him telling my co-workers that the trail mix in the Gee Dunk costs too much. Next he comes over and tells me gas is going up and he want to move closer to work. 

I'm speechless.
The devil in me is envious of both his truck and his car; they are fine vehicles, in great condition, clean and shiny. I'm getting all crow/magpie over this. Then the halo chap says to chill out, stay the course, make ze wife go back to full time work when the kids are a bit older, keep on investing, and I can retire from the daily grind well before 50-55. But that's so boring. FML.

[mtn]

The devil in me is envious of both his truck and his car; they are fine vehicles, in great condition, clean and shiny. I'm getting all crow/magpie over this. Then the halo chap says to chill out, stay the course, make ze wife go back to full time work when the kids are a bit older, keep on investing, and I can retire from the daily grind well before 50-55. But that's so boring. FML.

So start the search for a 10-15 year old, grandpa-driven GS 350, and a 10-15 year old F-150. No reason you can't have your cake and eat it too. It won't even be stale, just an older recipe.

[Zaga]

Hi, I'm 25 years old, 5'10" 210, and am living with my parents. I sleep on a twin sized bed. I didn't have anything bigger than a twinXL until a sublease during my internship when I had a queen. Then I was sharing a full. Then I had my own full. Then I was sharing a full again.

I'd rank the sleeping arrangements as follows: (KS:King, single sleeping; FD: Full, double sleeping)

KS=QS=FS>TS>KD>>QD>>FD>>>TD. I don't think most people realize that a king is only two twin XL's pushed together. So when I move out, I will settle for a Queen if space doesn't permit a king, but I am trying REALLY hard for a king. And there is no way I'm going back to a full. Ever.

I'm 5'11" and 210 myself. I've never had more than a twin when I wasn't sharing with someone, and I still don't see the point. Always been quite comfy.
Never felt the need for more than a queen with two people, either.
Not even with a cat and a dog.

Makes me wonder what all you perverts are doing with those big fancy king-size beds.... ;)

My husband can't sleep if someone is touching him.  The king sized bed makes it so we have plenty of room between us and he sleeps better, worth it I'd say.

[Zaga]

I had a coworker assert that you should not hold any stocks in retirement. When I mentioned the Trinity Study he said he disagreed with it, though he clearly hadn't read anything about it.

This person goes out to eat for lunch every day and lives about 20 miles from work. We had a holiday that landed on a payday once and he had to come in to pick up his paycheck (I'm almost as surprised he hadn't set up direct deposit than I am about him not being about to go a weekend without being paid)... I'll be retired well before I reach his current age.

He probably isn't able to have a checking account. If you screw up enough with overdrawing your account and writing bad checks, banks won't let you open an account anymore. So you have to take all your checks to check cashing services and pay a fee to get your paycheck cashed. The fact that he couldn't go a weekend without getting paid makes the possibility that he isn't able to open an account seem very likely.

I have a family member who had that problem for several years before he cleaned up his act.  Bad debts from years of being a jerk haunted him, but even so he wasn't desperate to cash his paycheck immediately.

For awhile there he would pay me cash and I would write out his checks once a month.  I'm so very glad that he has gotten his act together.

[JLee]

The devil in me is envious of both his truck and his car; they are fine vehicles, in great condition, clean and shiny. I'm getting all crow/magpie over this. Then the halo chap says to chill out, stay the course, make ze wife go back to full time work when the kids are a bit older, keep on investing, and I can retire from the daily grind well before 50-55. But that's so boring. FML.

So start the search for a 10-15 year old, grandpa-driven GS 350, and a 10-15 year old F-150. No reason you can't have your cake and eat it too. It won't even be stale, just an older recipe.

Older Lexus vehicles age very well - their build quality is stellar. I have an '07 with over 100k and it's in near-immaculate condition (and MUCH cheaper than new!).

[RWD]

I had a coworker assert that you should not hold any stocks in retirement. When I mentioned the Trinity Study he said he disagreed with it, though he clearly hadn't read anything about it.

This person goes out to eat for lunch every day and lives about 20 miles from work. We had a holiday that landed on a payday once and he had to come in to pick up his paycheck (I'm almost as surprised he hadn't set up direct deposit than I am about him not being about to go a weekend without being paid)... I'll be retired well before I reach his current age.

I can forgive ignorance, but I can't forgive blind confidence in one's own ignorance. Why is this world so full of people with smug opinions about shit they don't know anything about?

He's a really nice guy and pretty bright too so I thought he'd be more open to learning a bit. But he likened the stock market to gambling and made some comment about being burned before...

[Pooperman]

I had a coworker assert that you should not hold any stocks in retirement. When I mentioned the Trinity Study he said he disagreed with it, though he clearly hadn't read anything about it.

This person goes out to eat for lunch every day and lives about 20 miles from work. We had a holiday that landed on a payday once and he had to come in to pick up his paycheck (I'm almost as surprised he hadn't set up direct deposit than I am about him not being about to go a weekend without being paid)... I'll be retired well before I reach his current age.

I can forgive ignorance, but I can't forgive blind confidence in one's own ignorance. Why is this world so full of people with smug opinions about shit they don't know anything about?

He's a really nice guy and pretty bright too so I thought he'd be more open to learning a bit. But he likened the stock market to gambling and made some comment about being burned before...

Reminds me of a guy at work. Good developer, smart, but ignorant. Like a the market to gambling and thinks that real estate is less risky and better performing. Wouldn't listen when I let him know that the returns are like 7% after inflation per year over the last 100 years where real estate is up 20% after inflation in total. Doesn't invest in his 401k, eats out every day...

[Hedge_87]

I had a coworker assert that you should not hold any stocks in retirement. When I mentioned the Trinity Study he said he disagreed with it, though he clearly hadn't read anything about it.

This person goes out to eat for lunch every day and lives about 20 miles from work. We had a holiday that landed on a payday once and he had to come in to pick up his paycheck (I'm almost as surprised he hadn't set up direct deposit than I am about him not being about to go a weekend without being paid)... I'll be retired well before I reach his current age.

I can forgive ignorance, but I can't forgive blind confidence in one's own ignorance. Why is this world so full of people with smug opinions about shit they don't know anything about?

He's a really nice guy and pretty bright too so I thought he'd be more open to learning a bit. But he likened the stock market to gambling and made some comment about being burned before...

Reminds me of a guy at work. Good developer, smart, but ignorant. Like a the market to gambling and thinks that real estate is less risky and better performing. Wouldn't listen when I let him know that the returns are like 7% after inflation per year over the last 100 years where real estate is up 20% after inflation in total. Doesn't invest in his 401k, eats out every day...

Yea I've learned just to ignore some of the horrible investing strategies that some of my coworkers have. We have one guy at work who is an amazing saver. He is probably kicking my ass on his savings rate however he sticks it all in cds and money market accounts so he does "lose" any money lol

[Exprezchef]

A co-worker of mine (in his mid 20's who makes just north of $100K) who is up to his eyeballs in debt is taking a road trip from San Diego to Texas then up to Colorado and back down to San Diego. He just bought (financed) a new Prius two months and last month bought (financed) a $3K camera because he wants to make sure he takes good pictures along the way (???). He is telling me about the plans for his trip and I mention that he will have to keep track of his gas mileage with the Prius and report back what he gets. I then learn that he decided not to drive the Prius because he did not want to put on all of the extra miles on the car. He decided to rent a car instead. Not just any car but decides to get a full sized Chevy Tahoe SUV w/ 4-wheel drive (At this point I am thinking WTF?). The rental car alone will cost him $2K just for the rental period. Don't they get like low-to-mid teens in gas mileage??? He is traveling with his wife and 3 year old child. I get that he wants to rent a car but I had to ask why he needed such a large vehicle and why didn't he get something more economical. His reply was that he needed the extra space because of all of the extra stuff they are taking for the child and he wants to take his golf clubs too. I mention that he should have looked at a mini-van if he needed the extra space and it would get better MPG. He looked at me with a shocked look and stated he would never be caught dead driving a mini-van and chuckled when he indicated he wanted to "impress" his well-to-do relatives he was visiting. The next day he mentions that he was out looking for a potable DVD player and mounting hardware for the rental car so his child won't be bored on the trip. I mention that he could easily download some movies onto his tablet that he already owns and that should work fine. He states it was too much trouble. ....Wow.....    He is a nice guy but never gets the poor financial situation he puts himself into. When he gets back I am sure he will be looking for overtime opportunities to pay for the trip when his credit card statements comes in.