Overheard at Work

[oldladystache]

Only in a corporal discipline state.

Ask your teacher friends how many who welcome the re-introduction of capital punishment in schools

Maybe so, but it sure would put a stop to it.

The death penalty seems pretty severe for misbehaving in school.

[GuitarStv]

Only in a corporal discipline state.

Ask your teacher friends how many who welcome the re-introduction of capital punishment in schools

The death penalty seems pretty severe for misbehaving in school.

Maybe so, but it sure would put a stop to it.

Is that why states that allow the death penalty have no crime?

[MoonShadow]

Only in a corporal discipline state.

Ask your teacher friends how many who welcome the re-introduction of capital punishment in schools

The death penalty seems pretty severe for misbehaving in school.

Maybe so, but it sure would put a stop to it.

Is that why states that allow the death penalty have no crime?

No, silly.  Because it wouldn't be long before there were no kids left in the school!  All that welding of young flesh, and all.  Then we can close the school and reduce property taxes!  Win, win!

[Dollar Slice]

No, silly.  Because it wouldn't be long before there were no kids left in the school!  All that welding of young flesh, and all.  Then we can close the school and reduce property taxes!  Win, win!

Property values in this district would soon be a real buying opportunity for any childless Mustachians looking for a nice place to FIRE. Cheap housing, no neighbor kids making noise and TPing your house... sounds good to me ;-)

[nobodyspecial]

Ask your teacher friends how many who welcome the re-introduction of capital punishment in schools

The death penalty seems pretty severe for misbehaving in school.

It wasn't a typo - you obviously didn't go to Catholic school.
 

[vivophoenix]

Ask your teacher friends how many who welcome the re-introduction of capital punishment in schools

The death penalty seems pretty severe for misbehaving in school.

It wasn't a typo - you obviously didn't go to Catholic school.

'

corporal, perhaps?

[nobodyspecial]

Ask your teacher friends how many who welcome the re-introduction of capital punishment in schools

The death penalty seems pretty severe for misbehaving in school.

It wasn't a typo - you obviously didn't go to Catholic school.

corporal, perhaps?

No - they found nailing a couple of kids to a tree at the start of term generally ensured good behavior from the rest

[zephyr911]

The visitor chap is retired military, with a disability, now a DoD contractor, who runs a fishing charter boat on weekends. Drives 40-ish miles each way daily. In a V8 truck. So much income, pissing it all away. I asked him if he wanted to grab some lunch from the Hispanic deli nearby (my once-a-week eating out disorder); he said he couldn't afford it. Gobsmacked!

I'm surrounded by that at work. People who got their military retirement + VA benefits in their late 30s and early 40s and are still working 10-20 years later to lock in another pension while driving long distances from suburban McMansions in 15mpg trucks. If I'd been around as long and brought home as much $$ as they have, I'd be on a beach in the Caribbean right now instead of at this building.
Some of 'em probably love the job. I'm sure others are just stuck on the treadmill.

[Kriegsspiel]

Ask your teacher friends how many who welcome the re-introduction of capital punishment in schools

The death penalty seems pretty severe for misbehaving in school.

It wasn't a typo - you obviously didn't go to Catholic school.

'

corporal, perhaps?

Typical heathen propaganda. I know plenty of kids who were killed for verbal outbursts, repeated missing of assignments, and staring out of windows.

[notquitefrugal]

I will echo the sentiment from a page or two back that it's nice to see some other car enthusiasts here. I'm reminded of a quote by J. Irwin Miller (former head honcho at Cummins Inc. and philanthropist, especially in the Columbus, Indiana area):

…we would like to see this community come to be not the cheapest community in America, but the very best community of its size in the country. We would like to see it become the city in which the smartest, the ablest, the best young families would like to live…a community which will offer their children the best education available anywhere…a community whose citizens are themselves well-paid and who will not tolerate poverty for others, or slums in their midst.

I'm not looking for the cheapest or most practical possible transportation, but one that is safe, comfortable, enjoyable, and within a reasonable expense range in my budget.

I also can't believe I've read every page of this thread and the Overheard on Facebook thread...

[Argyle]

Very apt, Notquitefrugal.  And Columbus, IN, might not be quite what he envisioned, but it's more like it than many communities.

[Taran Wanderer]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape. I was talking with a coworker/superior about it, and she said she didn't even own clothing that is ten years old.  I'm thinking really?  Not even old jeans?

Same day, a few hours earlier, a couple of coworkers were talking about another coworker who will be retiring in a few weeks after 34 years at the company. (He's 60, so not ER, but not late either.). They noted how rare it is for someone to work at the same company for so long. Then they needled me because I've worked there over 16 years, and they said I could get to 34 also (that would have me also retiring at 60). I said, no, I'd be done before then.  I was asked if I planned to win the lottery. I relied that I had hit the lottery 16 years ago when I started to get our company match:  9.5% plus up to 3% more on a 50% match of my 401k contributions.  Conversation sort of ended there as the one guy is about 10 years older, and I imagine will be working until full retirement age in his late 60s.

I don't even count as mustachian compared to most of you folks, but compared to these people, all of whom are 6-figure earners, I must look like a complete cheapskate.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape.

Zippers are a pain to replace, but if you go to a good sewing store like Joann's or Michael's, you will probably be able to find the right size. Make sure you get the kind that come apart in two halves. For an armpit zipper you don't necessarily have to go whole hog and replace the entire zipper. Just sew the new one to the old one, with the inside of the new zipper facing the teeth of the old one, so that when it zips up it'll be facing the outside just like the old zipper. The color of thread won't matter, because it won't be visible from the outside. Make sure to snip off the old zipper head. You don't even need a sewing machine to do this; in fact it'll be faster by hand. Total cost to you: less than $7 for the zipper. I'm assuming you already own a needle and thread.

[dragoncar]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape.

Zippers are a pain to replace, but if you go to a good sewing store like Joann's or Michael's, you will probably be able to find the right size. Make sure you get the kind that come apart in two halves. For an armpit zipper you don't necessarily have to go whole hog and replace the entire zipper. Just sew the new one to the old one, with the inside of the new zipper facing the teeth of the old one, so that when it zips up it'll be facing the outside just like the old zipper. The color of thread won't matter, because it won't be visible from the outside. Make sure to snip off the old zipper head. You don't even need a sewing machine to do this; in fact it'll be faster by hand. Total cost to you: less than $7 for the zipper. I'm assuming you already own a needle and thread.

You can just sew the pit closed.

[TheGrimSqueaker]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape.

Zippers are a pain to replace, but if you go to a good sewing store like Joann's or Michael's, you will probably be able to find the right size. Make sure you get the kind that come apart in two halves. For an armpit zipper you don't necessarily have to go whole hog and replace the entire zipper. Just sew the new one to the old one, with the inside of the new zipper facing the teeth of the old one, so that when it zips up it'll be facing the outside just like the old zipper. The color of thread won't matter, because it won't be visible from the outside. Make sure to snip off the old zipper head. You don't even need a sewing machine to do this; in fact it'll be faster by hand. Total cost to you: less than $7 for the zipper. I'm assuming you already own a needle and thread.

You can just sew the pit closed.

Unless you want to still be able to use the vent as designed. It sounds to me like the vent was being used, otherwise the zipper wouldn't have failed.

[maco]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape.

Zippers are a pain to replace, but if you go to a good sewing store like Joann's or Michael's, you will probably be able to find the right size. Make sure you get the kind that come apart in two halves. For an armpit zipper you don't necessarily have to go whole hog and replace the entire zipper. Just sew the new one to the old one, with the inside of the new zipper facing the teeth of the old one, so that when it zips up it'll be facing the outside just like the old zipper. The color of thread won't matter, because it won't be visible from the outside. Make sure to snip off the old zipper head. You don't even need a sewing machine to do this; in fact it'll be faster by hand. Total cost to you: less than $7 for the zipper. I'm assuming you already own a needle and thread.

+1 for handsewing, unless you have a zipper foot for your sewing machine and know how to use it

[jinga nation]

The visitor chap is retired military, with a disability, now a DoD contractor, who runs a fishing charter boat on weekends. Drives 40-ish miles each way daily. In a V8 truck. So much income, pissing it all away. I asked him if he wanted to grab some lunch from the Hispanic deli nearby (my once-a-week eating out disorder); he said he couldn't afford it. Gobsmacked!

I'm surrounded by that at work. People who got their military retirement + VA benefits in their late 30s and early 40s and are still working 10-20 years later to lock in another pension while driving long distances from suburban McMansions in 15mpg trucks. If I'd been around as long and brought home as much $$ as they have, I'd be on a beach in the Caribbean right now instead of at this building.
Some of 'em probably love the job. I'm sure others are just stuck on the treadmill.

Only one guy I know, retired military, spent 20+ years as DoD contractor, then retired recently to coastal Costa Rica, to open a bar. I wished him the best, coz I know running a bar ain't a joke. He didn't have any business experience, especially running a bar. His reason was that he likes to sit at a bar, so why not open one instead? This will be in a touristy resort area, since he hasn't visited any of the non-tourist and funner parts of The Land of Pura Vida.

[MgoSam]

The visitor chap is retired military, with a disability, now a DoD contractor, who runs a fishing charter boat on weekends. Drives 40-ish miles each way daily. In a V8 truck. So much income, pissing it all away. I asked him if he wanted to grab some lunch from the Hispanic deli nearby (my once-a-week eating out disorder); he said he couldn't afford it. Gobsmacked!

I'm surrounded by that at work. People who got their military retirement + VA benefits in their late 30s and early 40s and are still working 10-20 years later to lock in another pension while driving long distances from suburban McMansions in 15mpg trucks. If I'd been around as long and brought home as much $$ as they have, I'd be on a beach in the Caribbean right now instead of at this building.
Some of 'em probably love the job. I'm sure others are just stuck on the treadmill.

Only one guy I know, retired military, spent 20+ years as DoD contractor, then retired recently to coastal Costa Rica, to open a bar. I wished him the best, coz I know running a bar ain't a joke. He didn't have any business experience, especially running a bar. His reason was that he likes to sit at a bar, so why not open one instead? This will be in a touristy resort area, since he hasn't visited any of the non-tourist and funner parts of The Land of Pura Vida.

That could be fun. I imagine many people might do something like this, so long as they don't put any money that they can't afford to lose and it is more as a fun sideline or hobby that could work out.

[jinga nation]

I was asked if I planned to win the lottery. I relied that I had hit the lottery 16 years ago when I started to get our company match

• Immigrating (legally) to the US is winning the lottery
• Going to university/college in the US on Pell Grants/Work Study/ Subsidized loans is winning the lottery
• Being sponsored to study for a graduate degree is winning the lottery
• Contributing to an employer 401(k) plan with company match and with Vanguard funds is winning the lottery
• Getting a DoD contractor position is winning the lottery

I have won 5 lotteries.

[MgoSam]

I was asked if I planned to win the lottery. I relied that I had hit the lottery 16 years ago when I started to get our company match

• Immigrating (legally) to the US is winning the lottery
• Going to university/college in the US on Pell Grants/Work Study/ Subsidized loans is winning the lottery
• Being sponsored to study for a graduate degree is winning the lottery
• Contributing to an employer 401(k) plan with company match and with Vanguard funds is winning the lottery
• Getting a DoD contractor position is winning the lottery

I have won 5 lotteries.

Question, what does being a DoD contractor mean exactly? When I think of it, I'm thinking Blackwater or another outfit that might be considered mercenaries.

Also, I agree, many of us have had good fortune in our life, and like that we can recognize it and appreciate it. I think we have won the lottery in that index funds exist and we are able to invest in them. I can't imagine being able to FIRE 100 years ago unless I was born into wealth or privilege....or had Carnegie's level of success.

[serpentstooth]

I was asked if I planned to win the lottery. I relied that I had hit the lottery 16 years ago when I started to get our company match

• Immigrating (legally) to the US is winning the lottery
• Going to university/college in the US on Pell Grants/Work Study/ Subsidized loans is winning the lottery
• Being sponsored to study for a graduate degree is winning the lottery
• Contributing to an employer 401(k) plan with company match and with Vanguard funds is winning the lottery
• Getting a DoD contractor position is winning the lottery

I have won 5 lotteries.

Question, what does being a DoD contractor mean exactly? When I think of it, I'm thinking Blackwater or another outfit that might be considered mercenaries.

Also, I agree, many of us have had good fortune in our life, and like that we can recognize it and appreciate it. I think we have won the lottery in that index funds exist and we are able to invest in them. I can't imagine being able to FIRE 100 years ago unless I was born into wealth or privilege....or had Carnegie's level of success.

It can mean anything from being part of a company that makes powdered Tang for MREs to working for Blackwater to maintaining IT systems to providing any other good or service the largest military on the planet needs.

[Taran Wanderer]

+1 for handsewing, unless you have a zipper foot for your sewing machine and know how to use it

I actually have my grandmother's old sewing machine and know how to use it.  :-)   It looks like there is a way to just sew the opening shut by using the wind flap on the inside of the zipper. I'm going to give that a shot and if it doesn't work out, then buying a new cost is my backup plan.

[CptCool]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape. I was talking with a coworker/superior about it, and she said she didn't even own clothing that is ten years old.  I'm thinking really?  Not even old jeans?

My jeans don't last that long either. Maybe 4-5 years? I wear them once a week on jeans day at work, wash them, then they go back in the closet till next Friday. By the time I retire them, the fabric is almost threadbare in places.

I think you may be over washing your jeans. I wear the same pair about twice a week for the past 3 years and I think I've only washed them 2-3 times - only when I've spilled something gross on them

[Merrie]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape. I was talking with a coworker/superior about it, and she said she didn't even own clothing that is ten years old.  I'm thinking really?  Not even old jeans?

My jeans don't last that long either. Maybe 4-5 years? I wear them once a week on jeans day at work, wash them, then they go back in the closet till next Friday. By the time I retire them, the fabric is almost threadbare in places.

I think you may be over washing your jeans. I wear the same pair about twice a week for the past 3 years and I think I've only washed them 2-3 times - only when I've spilled something gross on them

Yuck. I think the happy medium is somewhere in between these two comments.

[midweststache]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape. I was talking with a coworker/superior about it, and she said she didn't even own clothing that is ten years old.  I'm thinking really?  Not even old jeans?

My jeans don't last that long either. Maybe 4-5 years? I wear them once a week on jeans day at work, wash them, then they go back in the closet till next Friday. By the time I retire them, the fabric is almost threadbare in places.

I think you may be over washing your jeans. I wear the same pair about twice a week for the past 3 years and I think I've only washed them 2-3 times - only when I've spilled something gross on them

You only wash them once a year?!?!

I disagree about the over washing.  I do typically wear them 2-3 days per washing (Friday to work, Sat and possibly Sun depending on how sweat-tastic the Saturday was).  If I wear them an average of 2.5 day/week and they are lasing 4 years conservatively, that's 520 wearings minimum.  Nothing else in the wardrobe lasts as long, including shoes (but not outerwear).  Plus, everything else needs to be washed each time it's worn (excluding shoes & outerwear); that's my personal minimum cleanliness standard for clothing.

Denim--REAL denim--isn't supposed to be washed frequently (or ever, depending on who you talk to). You should spot clean when necessary, but save the W/D or heavy-duty washing for rare instances.

That said, "jeans" is such an amorphous term at this point that jeans and denim, while they seem synonymous, are not necessarily the same thing. For instance, I have a pair of EF 100% cotton jeans that are decidedly NOT denim, and they go through the wash (never the dryer) about once every two weeks.

[Million2000]

I work in an office with a coffee machine that is sort of an automated barista, much fancier than the old drip coffee pot I have at home. I don't exactly know what they're called but they are a dispenser that whizzes and bangs, then spits out your drink. A month ago the coffee machine that had been in place for over a year went on the fritz and shut down. The cries went out, gnashing of teeth ensued, and finally protests loud enough for management to provide them a massive replacement were finally acted upon. This new monstrosity was even fancier and larger than the last one but had a terrible knack for requiring constant maintenance. The poor mail lady in our building was conscripted to provide this maintenance (emptying out the waste bin of the device). Everyone in the office (5 floors) started coming up to my floor to use it, making it break down even faster. Since I sit next to the coffee room I can't but hear the constant complaining and condemnations of the device.

Fast forward a few weeks and we have an even newer device because of constant complaints. As of yesterday the new device has broken down and requires as much maintenance as the last one. As I sit here this morning several people have already cried and complained about the broken coffee machine, even though 1) It was free coffee 2) There are four other coffee machines that aren't broken on other floors 3) You can always make your own coffee from home.

People truly are weak these days if they break down into lamentations because a coffee machine breaks. I think they miss their catheters and bedpans. As for me, when the first machine broke down I started brewing coffee at home, the Starbucks coffee they had was truly terrible anyway, I don't know why people would pay for it.

[maco]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape. I was talking with a coworker/superior about it, and she said she didn't even own clothing that is ten years old.  I'm thinking really?  Not even old jeans?

My jeans don't last that long either. Maybe 4-5 years? I wear them once a week on jeans day at work, wash them, then they go back in the closet till next Friday. By the time I retire them, the fabric is almost threadbare in places.

I think you may be over washing your jeans. I wear the same pair about twice a week for the past 3 years and I think I've only washed them 2-3 times - only when I've spilled something gross on them

Yuck. I think the happy medium is somewhere in between these two comments.

Back when I still wore trousers, I'd wear a pair of jeans every day for a week or two, then wash. Now I wear twill skirts, and I go more like a month of daily wearing. With a shirt tucked in, not even the waistband is touching my skin, so whatever.

[mm1970]

I work in an office with a coffee machine that is sort of an automated barista, much fancier than the old drip coffee pot I have at home. I don't exactly know what they're called but they are a dispenser that whizzes and bangs, then spits out your drink. A month ago the coffee machine that had been in place for over a year went on the fritz and shut down. The cries went out, gnashing of teeth ensued, and finally protests loud enough for management to provide them a massive replacement were finally acted upon. This new monstrosity was even fancier and larger than the last one but had a terrible knack for requiring constant maintenance. The poor mail lady in our building was conscripted to provide this maintenance (emptying out the waste bin of the device). Everyone in the office (5 floors) started coming up to my floor to use it, making it break down even faster. Since I sit next to the coffee room I can't but hear the constant complaining and condemnations of the device.

Fast forward a few weeks and we have an even newer device because of constant complaints. As of yesterday the new device has broken down and requires as much maintenance as the last one. As I sit here this morning several people have already cried and complained about the broken coffee machine, even though 1) It was free coffee 2) There are four other coffee machines that aren't broken on other floors 3) You can always make your own coffee from home.

People truly are weak these days if they break down into lamentations because a coffee machine breaks. I think they miss their catheters and bedpans. As for me, when the first machine broke down I started brewing coffee at home, the Starbucks coffee they had was truly terrible anyway, I don't know why people would pay for it.

Well, I come to work pretty early, and when the coffee machine broke down at my office, it was rough.  I did go buy some once - it was down for a few days.  After the first day, we got a drip machine temp replacement.  Which we still have as a backup.

Of course, now I come in late 3x a week, and drink coffee at home those 3 days.  You don't want to see me on caffeine withdrawal.

[I'm a red panda]

I wear jeans daily to work and wash them once a week.  My work involves sitting at a desk all day, and I change out of the jeans into something else when I get home to help keep them clean.

[MgoSam]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs? I hate shopping and will just rely on gifts for the most part for my jeans, but I will need to get a new pair soon and am dreading going to the mall. How much do you normally spend on a good pair of jeans? I tend to wear one or two pairs and alternate between them as I sit in an office and don't really do much physical exertion while at work.

[mtn]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs? I hate shopping and will just rely on gifts for the most part for my jeans, but I will need to get a new pair soon and am dreading going to the mall. How much do you normally spend on a good pair of jeans? I tend to wear one or two pairs and alternate between them as I sit in an office and don't really do much physical exertion while at work.

I buy mine at Costco or at a TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Nordstrom Rack. I also pay extra for good quality jeans--determined in the store by me.

It should be noted that jean shopping for me is miserable due to my rather large rear-end and thighs. I often end up getting a pair that is too big in the waist to fit my legs.

[HairyUpperLip]

I recently grabbed a $20 pair from Old Navy - boot cut style. I'm happy with them. Have been wearing them for a few months now.

[4alpacas]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs? I hate shopping and will just rely on gifts for the most part for my jeans, but I will need to get a new pair soon and am dreading going to the mall. How much do you normally spend on a good pair of jeans? I tend to wear one or two pairs and alternate between them as I sit in an office and don't really do much physical exertion while at work.

I purchase my husband's jeans from The Gap.  I usually wait for a sale code and purchase a pair or two online (usually at 40% off).  With tax, we spend between $40-50/pair. 

[mtn]

I recently grabbed a $20 pair from Old Navy - boot cut style. I'm happy with them. Have been wearing them for a few months now.

Old Navy's quality, in my experience, just is not up to snuff. Or it is at least wildly varying.

[DTaggart]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs? I hate shopping and will just rely on gifts for the most part for my jeans, but I will need to get a new pair soon and am dreading going to the mall. How much do you normally spend on a good pair of jeans? I tend to wear one or two pairs and alternate between them as I sit in an office and don't really do much physical exertion while at work.

I get hubby's (and my) jeans at the local thrift store... $5 - $12 each depending on the brand, they're practically brand new.

[onehair]

I've been buying mom jeans at the Salvation Army (shamefaced look)with the elastic waist. Ugly as sin but aren't they comfy!!

[Zaga]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs? I hate shopping and will just rely on gifts for the most part for my jeans, but I will need to get a new pair soon and am dreading going to the mall. How much do you normally spend on a good pair of jeans? I tend to wear one or two pairs and alternate between them as I sit in an office and don't really do much physical exertion while at work.

My husband is a difficult to fit size.  He finally found a brand and size that fit his thighs and have enough ball room, and it's available on Walmart's website.  So he just orders from there because his size is rarely available even in the stores that say they carry it.

[I'm a red panda]

I used to buy husband's jeans (Levi's) from JCPenny but they stopped carrying the ones he likes. Now I get them at Target. Denizen brand. The men's jeans seem to be made from longer lasting material than the women's. I think it is the lack of 'stretch' material.

[Megma]

I bought two pair for BF last year at Khol's for around $18 (coupon + sale!) last Christmas, so 10 months. One pair fell apart in the first washing, lost a belt loop in the first washing, we exchanged them. This replacement and the other have been going strong so far.

[nobodyspecial]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs?

I have hit a major jeans buying problem.
I wear Wranglers, which you can get a Target/Walmart for $nothing.
But they are terrible quality - obviously because they are made to sell for $10-15.

I would pay 2x as much for ones that would last a year. But how do I know I'm not just buying the same crappy version with a 100% markup?
Where do I buy good quality Wranglers? Do good quality Wranglers even exist or do I have to switch? I'm too old to learn button flys in my 40s!

[Threshkin]

"She dashed by me in painted on jeans" Billy Ocean

[mcjuggerton21]

I finally have a couple to share:

My everyday soft-shell Marmot jacket is probably close to 10 years old, and one of the pit zippers is falling apart. This means that the underside of the armpit will now be completely open unless I come up with some sort of fix.  Or I could just get a new coat for $200, but shoot, the rest of the coat is in pretty good shape. I was talking with a coworker/superior about it, and she said she didn't even own clothing that is ten years old.  I'm thinking really?  Not even old jeans?

I fixed some zippers the other day after seeing this http://unofficialnetworks.com/2015/09/how-to-fix-a-zipper-that-doesnt-close

The bottom half of the zipper pull gets loose after a while, and you can fix it by taking some pliers and squeezing each side of the bottom half of the zipper pull. Not too much or it will become to tight to pull. It took me 5 minutes to find some pliers and fix two coats and backpack.

[cripzychiken]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs?

My last few jean purchases:
Ross/TJAXX (or one of those types of stores) $15 for a 'Levi's' brand that is complete crap.  Still have them, but only as 'work' jeans when they might get ruined (and I don't want to risk my better jeans)
JCP - Arizona Brand - BoGo / 2 for $60 (plus used a gift card) - still have these even though I bought them 3 yrs back
Forget the Store, but the brand was "Duck Head" and 2 pairs for $20/each and lasted me about 3 yrs of near everyday use (washed jeans weekly, so 2-3 days per pair per wash).

[Rosy]

The last two pair were Levis for Mr. R. - $36 on sale, no tax on base and $36 on sale, plus tax at Bealls. They fit him well and last about 3-4 yrs.

Me, I sometimes wear a designer brand from Sears:), because they fit me well. Usually $30 on sale, they never last past 2 or 3 years.
Other than that it is whatever I find on sale colored or white jeans for $14.99 avg price at Marshals or TJ Maxx - I've been lucky, most last at least two years, my last ones are 4 yrs old and still looking good.
Did pay 100 bucks for a pair of black stretch jeans at a boutique 3 yrs back - call it temporary insanity, but they do look sharp on me. They should hold up another year at least, so in the end it was an acceptable price.

[Travis]

Fox News was on TV in my office today. Sheppard Smith was discussing how the Christmas shopping season may see some trouble because we're planning to spend less this year.  According to poll numbers of the people who said they were cutting back it was a roughly even split between paying down debts, worrying about their jobs, generally saving more, and not having a raise in a while.  Smith remarked that the younger generation seems to be becoming more frugal and not wanting "the same junk we do."  His guest explained how 70% of our economic activity is consumption which got Smith to remark that "saving is bad for the economy."  The guest also went through how older people who are more financially stable tend to spend more and the younger crowd averages tens of thousands of college loan debt.  I thought he was going to be on board with "if we don't spend more we're doomed," but he surprised me at the end of his piece remarking "so to help the economy I need to spend money I don't have? That doesn't make sense."

[gimp]

Too much of "the economy" and the market is, yes, estimates banked on future consumption. Easy loans mean 1) more consumption and hopefully 2) a nice return for the financial market too.

It would probably be best for everyone as a whole if we had a bit less growth over the next couple decades by slowly paring back unnecessary spending.

Still, ain't gonna happen, I don't think.

Also, because I'm weird, I wear the same pair of jeans for probably 250 days a year, year after year until they get worn out, then someone usually forces me to buy another pair (or just buys them for me... hah.) They do last a long time. They don't need to be washed much; when they're dirty, not before.

[Pooperman]

Bit of backstory for this one. Coworker is a single parent with one kid. Makes a decent salary ($75k give or take). She's about 40 years old, has boyfriend, whatever. So when I joined the company, she was house sitting for another coworker about 1:40 mins from work by car. She complains about the drive, about not having much money, so I gave her some advice about how to cut back and stuff (it was ignored). So last week she talked about getting a new car because her current car is ending its lease. Some people said buy a new one instead of leasing (marginally better). I suggest buying one that's just off lease. She gives reasons why that's not a good idea (reliability, etc). It came down to being underwater on the lease (is that possible?). I suggest she get something similar to what she had (Accord) but she wants a CRV because it's better in the snow. I say that snow tires are what make a car good/bad and relay the story of me driving my 2 wheel drive car in 6 inches of snow up and down hills in upstate NY without troubles (no snow tires).

Well she was late to work yesterday because she was picking up her CRV from the dealership... a lease. I have no idea how much that monthly payment will be, but it's not good. She's got a bunch of debt too. She hates her job and is going to try to get a higher paying one. I make about what she does and yet manage to save like $30k/yr... So sad.

[notquitefrugal]

It came down to being underwater on the lease (is that possible?).

In the olden days, there were "open-ended" leases, which weren't really leases at all, more like an option to buy or trade in at market value at the end of the term. I don't think they exist anymore. More likely, she was way over the allotted miles on the lease and owed several hundred up to a few thousand dollars in excess mileage fees. Less likely, there was excess wear and tear on the car she was turning in (if it was a Honda, they have a pretty generous wear and tear policy, so this is even less likely).

It's not an absolute necessity, but I will say it is more difficult to get stuck in snow with 4WD/AWD.

[notquitefrugal]

Since we're talking about jeans, where all do the men on here buy theirs? I hate shopping and will just rely on gifts for the most part for my jeans, but I will need to get a new pair soon and am dreading going to the mall. How much do you normally spend on a good pair of jeans? I tend to wear one or two pairs and alternate between them as I sit in an office and don't really do much physical exertion while at work.

Same place I buy my khakis--the Polo Ralph Lauren outlet. Probably $50-60 per pair (go ahead and facepunch me). I have two pair of their jeans (they fit me really well) and some other jeans which don't fit so well. I get the non-weathered ones, on the theory that they will eventually weather as I wash them. Happy with the quality so far.

[LennStar]

"I bought me a brand new Challenger Hellcat. Cost me $72,000."

He makes $80,000 per year.

So he bouhgt it for the car company and the bank's profit?