Overheard at Work

[patrickza]

I have the best co-worker for stories like these, I'll have to pick just a few...

I work in an organisation where salaries are set by level and years, so this co-worker is on my level (we earn very decent salaries for our city) and is always running out of money, even complaining when he pre-pays visas of $50 and has to wait a week for reimbursement. He drives a nice audi a4 which I know is financed, but after a new audi dealership opens up, we go check out the new R8 on display. While there a sleazy salesman tries to sell him an A5. I tolerate the salesman because I'm sure my in debt co-worker isn't dumb enough to fall for the "almost exactly the same payment as your A4" schpeel.

A few days later he tells me he loves that car. After I try talk him out of it, but then he says he actually bought it that morning.

Now here's where it gets interesting. I do a blog post on this purchase (http://investorchallenge.co.za/your-car-doesnt-cost-you-r5800-pm-it-costs-you-a-million-dollars-you-fool/ if you want the whole story). It gets a great response, but due to all the shares, the said coworker also finds it. He's not happy with me, and we barely speak for another year.

Fast forward a year later, and we're friends again, but what do I see in the basement but a brand new audi S3. Guess who it belongs to. A few days later, he says he notices my electric bike parked in the basement and says he wishes he had one so he could save on fuel!!!

Then a week later, he says they've decided to buy a new property, just outside the city (a 35 mile commute), and they're going to build their dream house there. Begins telling me how he'll be able to control the lights from his ipad etc, and they've already bought kayaks for the whole family as it has a lake on it.

If that wasn't bad enough, he has a private pilots licence, so when they go to see the property he drives 15 miles the other way, rents an aircraft and flies to the site (in an estate with an airstrip) for a couple of hours then flies back.

I've given up giving him financial advice...

[Davids]

Mine is nowhere near as bad as others (I don't really listen to other conversations). Earlier this week our work had its onsite Biometric Screening. They do it once a year for the employees who participate in the company medical plan and as an incentive those who complete the onsite biometric screening receive a $100 bonus (less taxes) in the next pay. The whole process takes 15 mins (height weight, blood pressure, pricking finger for blood to read cholesterol and other measurements). Something nice the company does to promote a healthy lifestyle. So I ask a few people if they were participating and they all said no basically saying things like "I do not have time" or "I do not feel like it". I don't know about you but for 15 minutes of my time to earn an extra $100 (less taxes) seems like a pretty good deal to me.

It sounds like they were uncomfortable telling you their real reasons, which in my case would be "my cholesterol is not my employer's business", or "I don't trust how the information will be kept safe or how it will really be used".

I've never seen a company just run out and offer "free" money - recipients are giving something up for it, in this case it is their personal health information.  Some people would consider that payment really low for the exchange.

The results are confidential, my employer does not see any of them. And yes before you ask I do believe that.

[Rezdent]

Mine is nowhere near as bad as others (I don't really listen to other conversations). Earlier this week our work had its onsite Biometric Screening. They do it once a year for the employees who participate in the company medical plan and as an incentive those who complete the onsite biometric screening receive a $100 bonus (less taxes) in the next pay. The whole process takes 15 mins (height weight, blood pressure, pricking finger for blood to read cholesterol and other measurements). Something nice the company does to promote a healthy lifestyle. So I ask a few people if they were participating and they all said no basically saying things like "I do not have time" or "I do not feel like it". I don't know about you but for 15 minutes of my time to earn an extra $100 (less taxes) seems like a pretty good deal to me.

It sounds like they were uncomfortable telling you their real reasons, which in my case would be "my cholesterol is not my employer's business", or "I don't trust how the information will be kept safe or how it will really be used".

I've never seen a company just run out and offer "free" money - recipients are giving something up for it, in this case it is their personal health information.  Some people would consider that payment really low for the exchange.

The results are confidential, my employer does not see any of them. And yes before you ask I do believe that.

Sorry, didn't mean to imply anything about your choices or beliefs.  I was just commenting that your sample's answers seemed evasive, and I listed objections  that some of my coworkers have told me.

[Elle 8]

I tried trust me.
I even did the rough math for him, like "do you realize that $100 of your gross are $70 in your pocket at most, but would be $200 in the 401k? You'd give up 70$ per paycheck and get 200$ in exchange, it's a magic tool that triples your money"
Didn't work.

Non-mustachians don't get non-card, non-Vegas magic. They don't trust magic that increases money in the wallet. But they are happy to fall for consumer magic that makes one buy shit they don't need.

…"in the wallet."  That's the problem.  For them, it's not going in the wallet; it's going into some account that they won't have access to for a long, long time.  Since it's not readily accessible, it's not worth it to them.

[Basenji]

I tried trust me.
I even did the rough math for him, like "do you realize that $100 of your gross are $70 in your pocket at most, but would be $200 in the 401k? You'd give up 70$ per paycheck and get 200$ in exchange, it's a magic tool that triples your money"
Didn't work.

Heard this on NPR this morn. Good food for thought. No spoilers from me.

http://www.npr.org/2015/07/31/427990401/why-peer-pressure-doesn-t-add-up-to-retirement-savings

WOW. Was not expecting that; it seems totally counter-intuitive.

This should be a whole MMM post. Holy cow. So, they think that the reason people did NOT respond to peer pressure to sign up for retirement savings is they assume they are too far behind thier peers, like they think, "what's the point now? Too late for me." 
IDK, I think people are so intimidated by investments and money issues that they assume they can't manage such a complicated thing. In any case, this relates to another thread saying that many billions of dollars in company matching finds are left on the table because a person doesn't save enough to maximize the match.

I think its more that people don't know what options they have. They have this notion and fear that the stock market is a place where you lose money and that having a high interest account that pays 1% is a good thing. I know many who are absolutely clueless on where they can invest their money. There's a huge lack of education when it comes to finances in our society.

We agree, that's what I meant by "intimidated." We fear what we don't understand.

[yrhyrh]

I'm surrounded by anti-mustachian people, especially at work! I don't even know where to start. (I also have a friend outside of work who is awful at handling her personal finances..but I'll save that for another time.)

In my particular office at work, we make low salaries. We also live in NYC, so expenses are rather high. One of my co-workers is 29, turning 30 at the end of the year, and lives with her mom. There's nothing wrong with living with your parents, especially when you're super close, but one of the reasons she lives with her mom is that there is NO WAY she will ever have the money to move out. She buys breakfast and lunch out every day, and buys dinner out most nights. She refuses to cook because she hates cooking and will make tons of excuses for why she can't be bothered to cook. She has very little savings and actually dips into her savings so that she can pay for the expenses that come with being a bridesmaid. She has a huge makeup collection and buys more all the time, despite barely wearing any actual makeup to work. Most of her sentences about her day begin with, "So yesterday I bought [unnecessary item] with money that I don't have" or "I bought [unnecessary item], even though I can't afford it and shouldn't be spending any more money." So great, she's aware that she's broke. But she doesn't want to do anything about it.

A few weekends ago, she came in on Monday and complained about how she spent sooo much money on an expensive meal with her friends (includes a salad that cost over $20). Then lunchtime comes around and she says, "I'm going to go and get that expensive shrimp salad because I need to treat myself to something." And I just want to say, "Um...you treat yourself to something every day. That's the problem." She spends a lot of time at work surfing for new things to buy, more Nike shoes to add to her collection, more bathing suits because having more than 5 pairs already is just. not. enough. She asked me the other day if it's silly to buy a bathing suit that is too big for her and then get it taken in, because it is "only $8." I can't even. I have heard her say many times, "I have only $30 in my checking account so I need to use my credit card" or order an extra appetizer from the chinese take-out because they don't deliver for orders under $10.

She's also been out of undergrad for many years and is not even close to paying off her student loans. I finally paid off my student loans a month ago and the general response from my co-workers is, "Oh, that's so great, but there's no way I can do that."

Anyway, I just had to get this off my chest. Every day I come into work and hear more tales of how my co-workers throw their money away and then complain over and over about how they're sooo broke and life is so expensive. If only I can just press a mute button.

[LennStar]

Have you told her to go to professional help for addicts?

Because that sounds a lot like shopping addiction.

[zephyr911]

Fun with National Guard drill!!!

This happened yesterday.

CW1: Did you hear so-and-so got a new truck?
CW2: Yeah, he went to the dealer to trade in his old one.
CW1: They were sitting there signing the paperwork and his wife looked out the window and said "I like that one..."
CW2: He had to buy that one too.
CW1: He's down eating at the chow hall cause he can't afford to buy lunch.

When people at this place actually admit to not having the funds to eat out, they're genuinely broke as fuck. Unbelievable.

[nobodyspecial]

I think we just explained http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/investor-alley/ford-and-apple/

[Pooperman]

At 200 pages, this thread has more replies than nearly every board has topics. Epic.

[Khaetra]

At 200 pages, this thread has more replies than nearly every board has topics. Epic.

It appears there is no shortage of whiny, broke but spend-anyway coworkers.  Makes me glad I am out of the workforce.

[cripzychiken]

Mine is nowhere near as bad as others (I don't really listen to other conversations). Earlier this week our work had its onsite Biometric Screening. They do it once a year for the employees who participate in the company medical plan and as an incentive those who complete the onsite biometric screening receive a $100 bonus (less taxes) in the next pay. The whole process takes 15 mins (height weight, blood pressure, pricking finger for blood to read cholesterol and other measurements). Something nice the company does to promote a healthy lifestyle. So I ask a few people if they were participating and they all said no basically saying things like "I do not have time" or "I do not feel like it". I don't know about you but for 15 minutes of my time to earn an extra $100 (less taxes) seems like a pretty good deal to me.

It sounds like they were uncomfortable telling you their real reasons, which in my case would be "my cholesterol is not my employer's business", or "I don't trust how the information will be kept safe or how it will really be used".

I've never seen a company just run out and offer "free" money - recipients are giving something up for it, in this case it is their personal health information.  Some people would consider that payment really low for the exchange.

My old job did something like this, and it isn't controlled by the company, it's the insurance that cares/runs/pays.  Basically you fill in the info and they can help you fix any problems (or point you to someone that can help) while it is a lot cheaper than going to the ER with a hospital stay.  So they would rather spend $100 to know you are healthy then save that and spend $10k when you go to the hospital for a week.  Basically it is trying to get the employee/healthcare user to focus on prevent care and stay healthy.  And even with only a 20-25% buy-in from employees, the insurance company can save tons of money.

I used to get $50/yr for filling out a 10 min questionnaire, $150/yr for going to the doctor and $50/yr for meeting some random goal (which is just a check box that says you do it).  So they gave me $250/yr just to fill out less than 15minutes of forms and see the doctor (which is also completely free).

[Hall11235]

Fun with National Guard drill!!!

This happened yesterday.

CW1: Did you hear so-and-so got a new truck?
CW2: Yeah, he went to the dealer to trade in his old one.
CW1: They were sitting there signing the paperwork and his wife looked out the window and said "I like that one..."
CW2: He had to buy that one too.
CW1: He's down eating at the chow hall cause he can't afford to buy lunch.

When people at this place actually admit to not having the funds to eat out, they're genuinely broke as fuck. Unbelievable.

I've read a lot of fucked up shit on this thread, but that is the most twisted, unreal thing I've ever read.

[I'm a red panda]

The company I worked for last, in addition to paying the $80 if you completed the health assessment also sent you to counseling based on your 'needs'.  You also had to do it if you wanted reimbursement for a gym membership, which was the main reason I did it.

If your BMI was overweight, you got 10 free personal training sessions at the gym.  That's a fabulous value!
If you were stressed, you could get fees paid for a "mindfulness seminar" that had a retail cost of about $800. I never did that one.

They obviously offered other stuff too; smoking cessation, nutritional counseling, etc.

[bloomability]

Mine is nowhere near as bad as others (I don't really listen to other conversations). Earlier this week our work had its onsite Biometric Screening. They do it once a year for the employees who participate in the company medical plan and as an incentive those who complete the onsite biometric screening receive a $100 bonus (less taxes) in the next pay. The whole process takes 15 mins (height weight, blood pressure, pricking finger for blood to read cholesterol and other measurements). Something nice the company does to promote a healthy lifestyle. So I ask a few people if they were participating and they all said no basically saying things like "I do not have time" or "I do not feel like it". I don't know about you but for 15 minutes of my time to earn an extra $100 (less taxes) seems like a pretty good deal to me.

It sounds like they were uncomfortable telling you their real reasons, which in my case would be "my cholesterol is not my employer's business", or "I don't trust how the information will be kept safe or how it will really be used".

I've never seen a company just run out and offer "free" money - recipients are giving something up for it, in this case it is their personal health information.  Some people would consider that payment really low for the exchange.

We get a discount for our healthcare premium by completing the biometric screening and being within the guidelines. It's $1000 over the year, and I put it all into an HSA.

Overall I hate it, but I do get to go to my own PCP and submit the numbers directly to the insurance company. I honestly wouldn't get an annual check-up without being forced to get one. And I probably should go yearly with family history and all. 

[zephyr911]

I've read a lot of fucked up shit on this thread, but that is the most twisted, unreal thing I've ever read.

Yeah, the incidence of "if you're gonna buy something we can't afford, then so am I" attitudes around here is amazingly high.

[wenchsenior]

Fun with National Guard drill!!!

This happened yesterday.

CW1: Did you hear so-and-so got a new truck?
CW2: Yeah, he went to the dealer to trade in his old one.
CW1: They were sitting there signing the paperwork and his wife looked out the window and said "I like that one..."
CW2: He had to buy that one too.
CW1: He's down eating at the chow hall cause he can't afford to buy lunch.

When people at this place actually admit to not having the funds to eat out, they're genuinely broke as fuck. Unbelievable.

OMFG

[realityinabox]

The power lines into my company's building have a lot of issues; we've lost power a few times in the short time I've worked here.  The power company won't replace the entire run from the transformer into the building, so we have to deal with them replacing small chunks every time the lane goes out.  They're under ground cables, not entirely sure what the issue is there...

Anyways, this time the phase that runs the A/C unit went down.  It is maybe 80F in here, tops.  Today I'm finding out who lives a pampered air-conditioned lifestyle.  People are leaving to work from home to "escape the heat", even after the company rolled in oscillating fans and a free-standing A/C.

[aristotle]

Boss: It's so difficult saving for retirement and I'll have to work until I'm atleast 65 even 70 to realistically have a chance.. Then starts bashing cops and teachers because they have nice pensions and get paid alot of money to do nothing apparently. This guy is a dink which makes it even worst. I don't know his salary but he's making $70k atleast..

He always comes in with dunkin donuts coffee each morning, buys lunch(every day) and orders takeouts everynight because he says since it's only him and his wife he doesn't want to throw out extras.. He also seems to go to expensive restuarants in NYC every weekend or so and brags about the experience.

Don't get how a DINK who's probably in his 50's isn't ready to retire. SMH @ DINKS

[johnny847]

Boss: It's so difficult saving for retirement and I'll have to work until I'm atleast 65 even 70 to realistically have a chance.. Then starts bashing cops and teachers because they have nice pensions and get paid alot of money to do nothing apparently. This guy is a dink which makes it even worst. I don't know his salary but he's making $70k atleast..

He always comes in with dunkin donuts coffee each morning, buys lunch(every day) and orders takeouts everynight because he says since it's only him and his wife he doesn't want to throw out extras.. He also seems to go to expensive restuarants in NYC every weekend or so and brags about the experience.

Don't get how a DINK who's probably in his 50's isn't ready to retire. SMH @ DINKS

Yea okay, lets extrapolate from this one DINK that all DINKs are like this.

[zephyr911]

He always comes in with dunkin donuts coffee each morning, buys lunch(every day) and orders takeouts everynight because he says since it's only him and his wife he doesn't want to throw out extras.. He also seems to go to expensive restuarants in NYC every weekend or so and brags about the experience.

But he needs all those things to compensate for the stress of his job. Duh ;)

Don't get how a DINK who's probably in his 50's isn't ready to retire. SMH @ DINKS

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.
The funny part is, I did everything wrong for over a decade and only got serious about FIRE a couple of years ago.

[nobodyspecial]

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.

That's the point if there are two paychecks and no expensive-rug rats you should be able to save one of the pay checks without too much hardship

[johnny847]

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.

That's the point if there are two paychecks and no expensive-rug rats you should be able to save one of the pay checks without too much hardship

That still doesn't explain why aristotle hates all DINKs. By your logic, aristotle shouldn't hate zephyr911, but zephyr911 is a DINK. so by aristotle's previous statement, aristotle hates zephyr911.

[zephyr911]

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.

That's the point if there are two paychecks and no expensive-rug rats you should be able to save one of the pay checks without too much hardship

I couldn't agree more. In fact, I make twice what DW does and we're getting close to living off her paycheck.
My objection was only to the phrasing, which seems to lump all DINKs in with the "dumbasses who blow incredible financial opportunities" crowd. There are financial idiots both in AND out of the DINK category.

[zolotiyeruki]

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.

That's the point if there are two paychecks and no expensive-rug rats you should be able to save one of the pay checks without too much hardship

That still doesn't explain why aristotle hates all DINKs. By your logic, aristotle shouldn't hate zephyr911, but zephyr911 is a DINK. so by aristotle's previous statement, aristotle hates zephyr911.

In his defense, I don't think he *hates* DINKs, and I think he probably meant "DINKs who can't retire early because of poor financial habits."

[Sam E]

Uh... What's a DINK?

[johnny847]

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.

That's the point if there are two paychecks and no expensive-rug rats you should be able to save one of the pay checks without too much hardship

That still doesn't explain why aristotle hates all DINKs. By your logic, aristotle shouldn't hate zephyr911, but zephyr911 is a DINK. so by aristotle's previous statement, aristotle hates zephyr911.

In his defense, I don't think he *hates* DINKs, and I think he probably meant "DINKs who can't retire early because of poor financial habits."

I agree, but it drives me crazy when people write statements that mean everybody in group X behaves in a certain way, especially when that is written to disparage X. It drives me even more crazy when what precedes it is ONE example of somebody from X.

Uh... What's a DINK?

Dual income no kids.

[zephyr911]

Uh... What's a DINK?

These assholes, basically:

[dragoncar]

Uh... What's a DINK?

These assholes, basically:

Thats some pretty funny stuff.

The power lines into my company's building have a lot of issues; we've lost power a few times in the short time I've worked here.  The power company won't replace the entire run from the transformer into the building, so we have to deal with them replacing small chunks every time the lane goes out.  They're under ground cables, not entirely sure what the issue is there...

Anyways, this time the phase that runs the A/C unit went down.  It is maybe 80F in here, tops.  Today I'm finding out who lives a pampered air-conditioned lifestyle.  People are leaving to work from home to "escape the heat", even after the company rolled in oscillating fans and a free-standing A/C.

I'd take Just about any excuse, reasonable or unreasonable, to go home from work early, so I wouldn't judge those people. 

[mtn]

The power lines into my company's building have a lot of issues; we've lost power a few times in the short time I've worked here.  The power company won't replace the entire run from the transformer into the building, so we have to deal with them replacing small chunks every time the lane goes out.  They're under ground cables, not entirely sure what the issue is there...

Anyways, this time the phase that runs the A/C unit went down.  It is maybe 80F in here, tops.  Today I'm finding out who lives a pampered air-conditioned lifestyle.  People are leaving to work from home to "escape the heat", even after the company rolled in oscillating fans and a free-standing A/C.

Depending on the humidity that would be me. If I'm not outside, even with fans, 80 is miserable for me. But I am comfortable without pants down to around 60*, so I'm probably an outlier.

[Sibley]

The power lines into my company's building have a lot of issues; we've lost power a few times in the short time I've worked here.  The power company won't replace the entire run from the transformer into the building, so we have to deal with them replacing small chunks every time the lane goes out.  They're under ground cables, not entirely sure what the issue is there...

Anyways, this time the phase that runs the A/C unit went down.  It is maybe 80F in here, tops.  Today I'm finding out who lives a pampered air-conditioned lifestyle.  People are leaving to work from home to "escape the heat", even after the company rolled in oscillating fans and a free-standing A/C.

My roommate would be on that list. Even better is I'm on the opposite side. We've compromised by setting the A/C at 75 and me sitting with an afghan (yes, a blanket, in the middle of summer), and not using the A/C as much as possible because the dryness irritates my sinuses.

She insists that she can't sleep if it's 80. She insists that she can't sleep without covers. She insists that she can't sleep with just a sheet. She also insists that she can't sleep anywhere other than her bed, never mind that it's 15 degrees cooler in the fully finished basement. And it's her futon in the basement.

[vivophoenix]

The power lines into my company's building have a lot of issues; we've lost power a few times in the short time I've worked here.  The power company won't replace the entire run from the transformer into the building, so we have to deal with them replacing small chunks every time the lane goes out.  They're under ground cables, not entirely sure what the issue is there...

Anyways, this time the phase that runs the A/C unit went down.  It is maybe 80F in here, tops.  Today I'm finding out who lives a pampered air-conditioned lifestyle.  People are leaving to work from home to "escape the heat", even after the company rolled in oscillating fans and a free-standing A/C.

My roommate would be on that list. Even better is I'm on the opposite side. We've compromised by setting the A/C at 75 and me sitting with an afghan (yes, a blanket, in the middle of summer), and not using the A/C as much as possible because the dryness irritates my sinuses.

She insists that she can't sleep if it's 80. She insists that she can't sleep without covers. She insists that she can't sleep with just a sheet. She also insists that she can't sleep anywhere other than her bed, never mind that it's 15 degrees cooler in the fully finished basement. And it's her futon in the basement.

sounds like me. i need a blanket to fall asleep. a sheet is not heavy enough. I think its more about the weight than anything else, which there are plenty of studies proving a link between weight on a body and relaxation. and i use the A/C. i also wouldn't want to sleep in a basement when I pay for a bedroom. and im willing to pay for my A/C. our bill is like 40 a month with five A/Cs.

sounds like c cold mist humidifier would be a great compromise

[Brilliantine]

My roommate would be on that list. Even better is I'm on the opposite side. We've compromised by setting the A/C at 75 and me sitting with an afghan (yes, a blanket, in the middle of summer), and not using the A/C as much as possible because the dryness irritates my sinuses.

She insists that she can't sleep if it's 80. She insists that she can't sleep without covers. She insists that she can't sleep with just a sheet. She also insists that she can't sleep anywhere other than her bed, never mind that it's 15 degrees cooler in the fully finished basement. And it's her futon in the basement.

Sounds like it's time to dump the complainypants roommate...

[I'm a red panda]

Anyways, this time the phase that runs the A/C unit went down.  It is maybe 80F in here, tops.  Today I'm finding out who lives a pampered air-conditioned lifestyle.  People are leaving to work from home to "escape the heat", even after the company rolled in oscillating fans and a free-standing A/C.

I'd leave because of the fans. I cannot handle air blowing on me.

And 80 degrees at home is comfortable, until I got pregnant, that was where we set our A/C; 80 degrees at work is uncomfortable- 77 makes a world of difference. I wear shorts and a tank top and am barefoot at home.  I can't dress like that at work.  So I can understand "escape the heat".

[vivophoenix]

My roommate would be on that list. Even better is I'm on the opposite side. We've compromised by setting the A/C at 75 and me sitting with an afghan (yes, a blanket, in the middle of summer), and not using the A/C as much as possible because the dryness irritates my sinuses.

She insists that she can't sleep if it's 80. She insists that she can't sleep without covers. She insists that she can't sleep with just a sheet. She also insists that she can't sleep anywhere other than her bed, never mind that it's 15 degrees cooler in the fully finished basement. And it's her futon in the basement.

Sounds like it's time to dump the complainypants roommate...

that's also an option, but i think "complainypants"  gets used way too often to just refer to someone who doesn't agree with you.

doesn't sound like the room mate complains about the bill to keep it the A/C. is it really complaining to like things a certain way and ask for it? it also seems like a compromise has been established.

[MgoSam]

My roommate would be on that list. Even better is I'm on the opposite side. We've compromised by setting the A/C at 75 and me sitting with an afghan (yes, a blanket, in the middle of summer), and not using the A/C as much as possible because the dryness irritates my sinuses.

She insists that she can't sleep if it's 80. She insists that she can't sleep without covers. She insists that she can't sleep with just a sheet. She also insists that she can't sleep anywhere other than her bed, never mind that it's 15 degrees cooler in the fully finished basement. And it's her futon in the basement.

Sounds like it's time to dump the complainypants roommate...

that's also an option, but i think "complainypants"  gets used way too often to just refer to someone who doesn't agree with you.

doesn't sound like the room mate complains about the bill to keep it the A/C. is it really complaining to like things a certain way and ask for it? it also seems like a compromise has been established.

I don't pay for utilities, my roommate/landlord does, so it's his call if he wants to turn the A/C on, and I love it when he does. I find it sleeps better. Now that I'm buying a house for myself and going to be paying for utilities, I am going to learn to suck it up.

[Chris22]

The power lines into my company's building have a lot of issues; we've lost power a few times in the short time I've worked here.  The power company won't replace the entire run from the transformer into the building, so we have to deal with them replacing small chunks every time the lane goes out.  They're under ground cables, not entirely sure what the issue is there...

Anyways, this time the phase that runs the A/C unit went down.  It is maybe 80F in here, tops.  Today I'm finding out who lives a pampered air-conditioned lifestyle.  People are leaving to work from home to "escape the heat", even after the company rolled in oscillating fans and a free-standing A/C.

I'm with your coworkers.  I'm sitting here in my office in a long sleeve dress shirt, undershirt, and wool dress pants.  If it's 80* in here, I'm leaving.  I came in over the weekend to prepare for a presentation this AM, and even in my t-shirt and basketball shorts it was uncomfortable at 85* with the A/C off over the weekend (news to me they did that).  I grew up in a house without central air, nothing about that is "better". 

[gimp]

CW1: Did you hear so-and-so got a new truck?
CW2: Yeah, he went to the dealer to trade in his old one.
CW1: They were sitting there signing the paperwork and his wife looked out the window and said "I like that one..."
CW2: He had to buy that one too.
CW1: He's down eating at the chow hall cause he can't afford to buy lunch.

The only response I have is "top kek"

[Silverado]

He always comes in with dunkin donuts coffee each morning, buys lunch(every day) and orders takeouts everynight because he says since it's only him and his wife he doesn't want to throw out extras.. He also seems to go to expensive restuarants in NYC every weekend or so and brags about the experience.

But he needs all those things to compensate for the stress of his job. Duh ;)

Don't get how a DINK who's probably in his 50's isn't ready to retire. SMH @ DINKS

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.
The funny part is, I did everything wrong for over a decade and only got serious about FIRE a couple of years ago.

Great, now we have DINKs who are getting offended. Lighten up Francis.

Maybe the proper extrapolation (which rarely exists) is that he is shaking his head at those in their 50s and not retired, which would be confusing to a card carrying MMM follower.


We had about 85 at my desk today. We were not happy. Lots of other areas were nice and cool though, so one could beat the heat by taking  the laptop elsewhere. Lucky that we are 99% mobile in my area.

[SweetLife]

Getting tired of explaining mustachianism to coworkers who have no clue ... am giving up... last person I mentioned retiring early to had just finished talking about her upcoming wedding $30,000 and counting ... ARGH ... wtf ...

I just want to get my ducks in a row so that I don't have to deal with these people anymore lol.... :)

One more debt till shovelling money into savings starts ... CAN"T WAIT!!!

[johnny847]

Getting tired of explaining mustachianism to coworkers who have no clue ... am giving up... last person I mentioned retiring early to had just finished talking about her upcoming wedding $30,000 and counting ... ARGH ... wtf ...

I just want to get my ducks in a row so that I don't have to deal with these people anymore lol.... :)

One more debt till shovelling money into savings starts ... CAN"T WAIT!!!

Stop trying to explain Mustachianism to them. I'm completely serious - some people are just too entrenched in their ways, and trying to explain it to them is just going to alienate you.

[OlyFish]

Mine is nowhere near as bad as others (I don't really listen to other conversations). Earlier this week our work had its onsite Biometric Screening. They do it once a year for the employees who participate in the company medical plan and as an incentive those who complete the onsite biometric screening receive a $100 bonus (less taxes) in the next pay. The whole process takes 15 mins (height weight, blood pressure, pricking finger for blood to read cholesterol and other measurements). Something nice the company does to promote a healthy lifestyle. So I ask a few people if they were participating and they all said no basically saying things like "I do not have time" or "I do not feel like it". I don't know about you but for 15 minutes of my time to earn an extra $100 (less taxes) seems like a pretty good deal to me.

It sounds like they were uncomfortable telling you their real reasons, which in my case would be "my cholesterol is not my employer's business", or "I don't trust how the information will be kept safe or how it will really be used".

I've never seen a company just run out and offer "free" money - recipients are giving something up for it, in this case it is their personal health information.  Some people would consider that payment really low for the exchange.

We get a discount for our healthcare premium by completing the biometric screening and being within the guidelines. It's $1000 over the year, and I put it all into an HSA.

Overall I hate it, but I do get to go to my own PCP and submit the numbers directly to the insurance company. I honestly wouldn't get an annual check-up without being forced to get one. And I probably should go yearly with family history and all.

Our healthcare through my wife's job is like this as well. When you sign up they quote you the rates with the discounts already put in, and you get penalized for smoking, having bad biomarkers, and not taking care of them. I love it! Loss aversions is strong in most people, so setting it up so that people see it as them losing money by not being healthy is perfect.

We get $700 each, per year, tucked into the HSA as long as we do a biometric screen (height, weight, fingerprick cholesterol) and do two online modules that take about 5 minutes a piece. I do not think there is a penalty for bad scores.

[marty998]

Friend at work today turned up today with the most spectacular handbag I'd ever seen.

Asked her how much it cost...

"Too much". Expresses her regret by saying she's going to use it every god damn day of her life.

Shall we start the count down to 10,000 posts on this thread?

~8~

[Squirrel away]

I don't understand how people can spend so much money on something like a handbag. If I owned anything that expensive I would probably be too worried to use it in case I left it on the bus or something.:P

[Alfred J Quack]

@ducky Are we talking about this tank disguised as a civil vehicle?



Because of course what looks to be a 163 tons, 35ft long monstrosity is not enough because "I have a baby now".
Genius :)

That's the one. Except in red.  ;)

It's the right color, it matches his balance :P

[mlejw6]

I'd leave because of the fans. I cannot handle air blowing on me.

Yes! Me, too! My husband HAS to have a fan on to go to sleep. If I feel any sort of breeze at all, I can't get to sleep and I have to tell him to move the fan. It could be 75 degrees, but if I feel air blowing, I get goosebumps and start shivering.

Uh,

~5~

[plainjane]

What's wrong with DINKs? I'm a DINK. But I'll be goofing off by ~40. Mostly by, you know, not being quite such a dumbass.
The funny part is, I did everything wrong for over a decade and only got serious about FIRE a couple of years ago.

The problem with us DINKs is that the repercussions for us doing things wrong for a decade are much easier to deal with than if there are kids who have to be taken into consideration.  It's easier to downsize if we're in too big/expensive a house/apartment/condo, it's easier to move to a cheaper location without worrying about school zones, it's easier to live without a car.

In more topical news, I was speaking with the regular office cleaning person the other evening when I was working late, and found out that she's 68.  Which was shocking, because she looks 50.  She had retired several years ago, but got bored, and so took this job so she wouldn't "turn into one of those old people who just sits around and watches tv".  Not what I'm planning to do when I'm fully FI, but it explains why she's always in such a good mood.

[zephyr911]

Great, now we have DINKs who are getting offended. Lighten up Francis.

Who said I was offended? I was pointing out that what was said and what was meant were probably different things. How about YOU lighten up? ;)

Maybe the proper extrapolation (which rarely exists) is that he is shaking his head at those in their 50s and not retired, which would be confusing to a card carrying MMM follower.

Emotions are much harder to extrapolate than numbers, so I've learned to start by assuming good intentions but imprecise wording (see above). My guess is the same as yours there.

We had about 85 at my desk today. We were not happy. Lots of other areas were nice and cool though, so one could beat the heat by taking the laptop elsewhere. Lucky that we are 99% mobile in my area.

My (huge) building is set around 75, but I sit in a small peninsula (so to speak) surrounded by huge windows so it gets to 80 or so with the actual onset of summer. This period is usually characterized by massive whining, but then people seem to magically acclimate and quiet down. It's an interesting illustration of powers most of them still don't know they have.

[zephyr911]

The problem with us DINKs is that the repercussions for us doing things wrong for a decade are much easier to deal with than if there are kids who have to be taken into consideration.  It's easier to downsize if we're in too big/expensive a house/apartment/condo, it's easier to move to a cheaper location without worrying about school zones, it's easier to live without a car.

How is that a problem?

In more topical news, I was speaking with the regular office cleaning person the other evening when I was working late, and found out that she's 68.  Which was shocking, because she looks 50.  She had retired several years ago, but got bored, and so took this job so she wouldn't "turn into one of those old people who just sits around and watches tv".  Not what I'm planning to do when I'm fully FI, but it explains why she's always in such a good mood.

Hehe... that's pretty cool. I'd be more likely to be a barista myself, but it does take all kinds. :)

[Sibley]

My roommate would be on that list. Even better is I'm on the opposite side. We've compromised by setting the A/C at 75 and me sitting with an afghan (yes, a blanket, in the middle of summer), and not using the A/C as much as possible because the dryness irritates my sinuses.

She insists that she can't sleep if it's 80. She insists that she can't sleep without covers. She insists that she can't sleep with just a sheet. She also insists that she can't sleep anywhere other than her bed, never mind that it's 15 degrees cooler in the fully finished basement. And it's her futon in the basement.

Sounds like it's time to dump the complainypants roommate...

that's also an option, but i think "complainypants"  gets used way too often to just refer to someone who doesn't agree with you.

doesn't sound like the room mate complains about the bill to keep it the A/C. is it really complaining to like things a certain way and ask for it? it also seems like a compromise has been established.

We were roomies for a year in college, and are now into the 3rd year of housemates. I don't want to move, don't want to pay the rent by myself, and she can't pay the rent by herself. I'm planning on buying in a few years, at which point this will be a nonissue. Until then, we have occasional issues in the summer.