Overheard at Work

[slugline]

Me too... didn't win anything, though.  How would you feel if you won $200 million with a found lottery ticket though?  I imagine they might even trace it back to the original buyer.

That's a very interesting scenario. If officials have any suspicions they may quiz the winner about where and when he/she bought the ticket because they do have that on record. Then there's the question of whether the retail outlet would keep surveillance footage from the date of the purchase.

I remember reading about one case where a contractor working for the lottery was busted by surveillance footage of him buying a winning ticket after he rigged an upcoming drawing. He subsequently gave the ticket to an accomplice that tried to claim the prize.

[bloomability]

Yup! Love how "free market" advocates howl about how regulations are destroying this country, but are the first ones with their hands outstretched when they need a bail-out. It's sickening how Wall Streeters actually believe that they were victimized by the collapse, I know a few people that comments about that until they were told to shut up by people that were actually hurt.

Haha, Oh yes, there was an article about a subprime trader who actually DID NOT GET ANY BONUS in the crash year and had to live of his base salary 150K for a WHOLE YEAR!
IMPOSSIBLE!!!
Some people on unemployment payment offered to change places. He was to shy to take up the offer.

do you think you could link that article? I did a quick Google search looking for low bonuses on Wall Street, but only found people mad at $3.5 million bonuses.

[dragoncar]

Me too... didn't win anything, though.  How would you feel if you won $200 million with a found lottery ticket though?  I imagine they might even trace it back to the original buyer.

That's a very interesting scenario. If officials have any suspicions they may quiz the winner about where and when he/she bought the ticket because they do have that on record. Then there's the question of whether the retail outlet would keep surveillance footage from the date of the purchase.

I remember reading about one case where a contractor working for the lottery was busted by surveillance footage of him buying a winning ticket after he rigged an upcoming drawing. He subsequently gave the ticket to an accomplice that tried to claim the prize.

You'd probably know the location of the purchase since they typically advertise it on the news.  The question is would you lie about buying it?  As much as I'd like a few hundred million, I'm not sure I would.  On the other hand, if you admit you found it, thousands of people would probably come forward "claiming" the ticket.  I agree surveillance footage may or may not exist, especially if you wait a year to claim the prize.

Not sure about elsewhere, but consider the following law from PA:

Until such time as a name is imprinted or placed upon the rear portion of the lottery ticket in the area designated for name, a lottery ticket shall be owned by the physical possessor of the ticket.

So if it's unsigned, you could probably cash it without needing to lie.  Moreover, you should write your name immediately upon purchase.

[Papa Mustache]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/saudi-arabia-announces-2016-budget-1451312691

So the Saudis are cutting benefits and raising prices to compensate for their sagging oil earnings.

As mentioned above I figure they are trying to starve the North American competition, renewables and EVs.

According to an NPR story this morn 2015 was a record year for the automakers (except for VW perhaps) and the majority of the vehicles sold were trucks and SUVs. Hybrids aren't selling well.

And then suddenly one day - fuel prices double and the light truck drivers are surprised that they can't afford the payments and fuel to get to work... 

[zolotiyeruki]

"let the taxpayer pay in advance and we will think about how much we will give back".

Gee, that sounds a lot like Social Security! :)

There are huge infrastructure startup costs involved to the point that it's actually more profitable to keep it running while selling oil at a loss for a few years than to shut it all down and then rebuild it all later. Currently domestic oil producers are pouring money into a money pit in the hope that they can fill it up before they run out. Meanwhile the Saudis are at the other end, trying to make the hole deeper to so that the US oil companies give up and stop throwing money into the money pit.

If the US fracking companies go under then they'll lose a shit ton of investor money, have their skilled technicians leave the company and the area, no longer be able to maintain the infrastructure that gets the oil to the refineries, have a knockon impact on the refineries that process their oil which can in turn damage the ability to even sell the oil in the future and so forth. It's not as simple as an on/off switch which is why the Saudis are doing what they're doing. Their lower cost of production can allow them to force their rivals into bankruptcy, thus restoring their monopoly. It's almost to the point you think maybe the US gov should subsidize domestic oil production to protect the industry from this. Almost.

From what I've heard, even the Saudis are losing money at this point.  I wonder if they didn't become the victims of their own greed--oil prices were so high for so long that there was enough time to develop/refine the technology for producing more difficult oil/gas.  Once that hurdle was cleared, it permanently decreased the cost of producing that previously-uneconomic oil.

[Troy McClure]

It's not as if the House of Saud doesn't know what it's doing. While it was true that flooding the market with supply was originally done to drive US fracking companies under, that is not the reason why it is continuing. In case anyone's forgotten, OPEC isn't just one happy family. In fact, members Saudi Arabia and Iran are currently fighting several proxy wars in the area. Further, the US and EU just gone done lifting sanctions on Iran allowing them to reenter the petroleum markets from which they have been long absent. Given such matters, the House of Saud, while preferring to reduce supply and increase prices is not about to give global market share to Iran to fund their proxy wars against the Saudis. As such they are continuing to lower prices as a form of economic warfare against Iran. Saudi Arabia has already begun pricing actions to lower petroleum costs in Italy and other places in the Mediterranean where Iran historically delivered its oil.

Source: I read the news and I slept at a Holiday Inn Express

[notquitefrugal]

You can still win the lottery by randomly finding a winning ticket somewhere.

I figure the odds of winning are so low, I will probably only win with divine intervention.
As such, I'm sure the good lord can get the winning ticket to me if he decides I'm worthy of winning the lottery, rather than me needing to actually buy the ticket (I'm actually an atheist, but doesn't mean I'm not optimistic)

I generally have the exact same philosophy (chance of winning is approximately the same whether you purchase or not). I've found $20 lying on the ground twice in the past year or two, why not a winning lotto ticket?

We had an office pool today and I put in $5. Figured I'd really feel like shit if the pool won and I hadn't participated. The potential of not feeling like shit was worth $5. Also mentioned something about buying my own ticket to try to beat everyone.
Coworker: "You'll share that with us, right?"
Me: "Uh, no, but I might have lunch catered."

[coin]

You can still win the lottery by randomly finding a winning ticket somewhere.

I figure the odds of winning are so low, I will probably only win with divine intervention.
As such, I'm sure the good lord can get the winning ticket to me if he decides I'm worthy of winning the lottery, rather than me needing to actually buy the ticket (I'm actually an atheist, but doesn't mean I'm not optimistic)

I generally have the exact same philosophy (chance of winning is approximately the same whether you purchase or not). I've found $20 lying on the ground twice in the past year or two, why not a winning lotto ticket?

We had an office pool today and I put in $5. Figured I'd really feel like shit if the pool won and I hadn't participated. The potential of not feeling like shit was worth $5. Also mentioned something about buying my own ticket to try to beat everyone.
Coworker: "You'll share that with us, right?"
Me: "Uh, no, but I might have lunch catered."

Here in Australia there was a court case by an office lottery syndicate against a guy who they figure had bought a ticket with the syndicate money, won, then kept it to himself.  They ended up losing because the guy claimed they had won... about $300, but the jackpot had been won using 'his numbers' and that was what the winning tickets numbers were.

A friend of mine is normally anti-gambling, but partakes in the office syndicate because 'let's face it, if they won and all quit their jobs, I would feel like absolute crap'.  Can't say I disagree.

At lunch at work recently a coworker said she'd love to take a few months off work to go travelling, but if she and her husband quit their jobs while she could easily find work when she got back, he might be considered too old to employ anymore and he doesn't have enough superannuation to retire (he's in his 60s).  Yet... they went business class on a trip to the UK.  I don't really understand how they can recognise a problem, but aren't doing anything to resolve it.

[cerat0n1a]

A friend of mine is normally anti-gambling, but partakes in the office syndicate because 'let's face it, if they won and all quit their jobs, I would feel like absolute crap'.  Can't say I disagree.

Was talking to a friend in the US yesterday and the guys he manages at work have put together an office pool and bought quite a few tickets. He declined to take part, telling them that it was a win-win situation. If they lose, he gets to have a bit of fun with them on Monday; if they win, he never has to see them again.

[former player]

A millionaire is made ten bucks at a time.  I think by logical extension you can also argue a millionaire is made two bucks at a time.

You make ten bucks by counting your pennies.

A true mustachian spends the pennies before breaking a note so that they never add up to ten bucks.

[grantmeaname]

On lentils.

[TomTX]

new one to add: CW bought a new to her 2014 F150 V8 single cab. She drives 60 miles each way every day, for I think $15 an hour or so. They wouldn't take her old car in on trade, so the dealer actually advised her to LET IT GET REPOSSESSED! it would be her 3rd repo, but shouldn't matter because she will still be paying on the truck in 7 years when her credit is "better". It's so good now her interest rate is 13% So this $22k truck is going to cost $36k by my math, plus lets say gas averages $3 a gallon x 6 gallons a day X 250 days/year x 5 years = $22,500 in GAS in a $22k truck she's paying 36k for.


wow, $59,000 for a used ford F150. it better do dirty sexual things for that price.

Not that this CW made a good decision, but seriously, why are people still assuming fuel is $3 a gallon?  From where I sit, I see a gas station that has gas at $1.79 and diesel at $2.19.  In fact, I believe we ended 2015, at least here in the states, with an average price per gallon of gasoline at $2.00.

Now, that's still stupid for that personals financial situation, and a LOT of fuel, but why does everyone on MMM have to get so judgy over people's decisions?

Figuring a ballpark $3 average for the next seven years of gasoline prices is reasonable when figuring the total cost of the vehicle. You can't just say 'oh, gas is $1.79, gonna stay cheap for 7 years!'

On the oil topic: US producers/frackers have driven costs down HARD. Thinking that $70/barrel is needed for profits is ridiculous. It's below $45/barrel - I'm not sure how far below, but below. All those truckers who were getting paid 6 figures? Try $50k, if they can keep their jobs at all. Drilling rig rentals are well below half what they were. Oil services companies? Hell, when oil was down to $70, the majors told them "cut prices 40% or we'll get someone else" - hotels that were getting $250/night are happy to get $75. Even the materials suppliers are being squeezed hard. Prices to complete a fracked well are WAY WAY down.

And cost-cutting innovations (more efficient/accurate/productive drilling/fracking) are being implemented hard and fast.

Yes, production is going down in the USA and will keep going down - but nowhere near as much as was originally predicted.  The Saudis are making the US oil producers WAY more efficient.

[Elle 8]

Even losing lotto tickets can win you money! You can find a couple of those losing scratchoff tickets and cash them in for second-chance drawing. NJ lotto's is $1 million, so there's that.

Ha!  My dog walking route takes me past a convenience store that sells lottery tickets.  Sometimes there's a scratch ticket on the ground.  I'll pick it up, check the numbers and if has a second chance drawing (not all of them do here in Massachusetts), I'll take it home and enter.  Haven't won yet, but I'm hopeful, haha!

Also, I did join the office Powerball pool for $2 because if they did win, I wouldn't want to be the one left to do all the work!

[Pooperman]

Even losing lotto tickets can win you money! You can find a couple of those losing scratchoff tickets and cash them in for second-chance drawing. NJ lotto's is $1 million, so there's that.

Ha!  My dog walking route takes me past a convenience store that sells lottery tickets.  Sometimes there's a scratch ticket on the ground.  I'll pick it up, check the numbers and if has a second chance drawing (not all of them do here in Massachusetts), I'll take it home and enter.  Haven't won yet, but I'm hopeful, haha!

Also, I did join the office Powerball pool for $2 because if they did win, I wouldn't want to be the one left to do all the work!

I declined to join at work. The guy next to me said he did some on his own and at his wife's work... basically he hasn't but wants to be more diplomatic than me :P.

[esq]

Co worker used to brag at lunch she spent $300 a month on dry cleaning.  She was a CPA and the company controller.  One of the young architects said what we all were thinking.  "Glad you're not my CPA."  Oh, and this was in 1989 and she was about 27 years old.  Has always stuck in my craw.

[JLee]

new one to add: CW bought a new to her 2014 F150 V8 single cab. She drives 60 miles each way every day, for I think $15 an hour or so. They wouldn't take her old car in on trade, so the dealer actually advised her to LET IT GET REPOSSESSED! it would be her 3rd repo, but shouldn't matter because she will still be paying on the truck in 7 years when her credit is "better". It's so good now her interest rate is 13% So this $22k truck is going to cost $36k by my math, plus lets say gas averages $3 a gallon x 6 gallons a day X 250 days/year x 5 years = $22,500 in GAS in a $22k truck she's paying 36k for.


wow, $59,000 for a used ford F150. it better do dirty sexual things for that price.

Not that this CW made a good decision, but seriously, why are people still assuming fuel is $3 a gallon?  From where I sit, I see a gas station that has gas at $1.79 and diesel at $2.19.  In fact, I believe we ended 2015, at least here in the states, with an average price per gallon of gasoline at $2.00.

Now, that's still stupid for that personals financial situation, and a LOT of fuel, but why does everyone on MMM have to get so judgy over people's decisions?

Figuring a ballpark $3 average for the next seven years of gasoline prices is reasonable when figuring the total cost of the vehicle. You can't just say 'oh, gas is $1.79, gonna stay cheap for 7 years!'

On the oil topic: US producers/frackers have driven costs down HARD. Thinking that $70/barrel is needed for profits is ridiculous. It's below $45/barrel - I'm not sure how far below, but below. All those truckers who were getting paid 6 figures? Try $50k, if they can keep their jobs at all. Drilling rig rentals are well below half what they were. Oil services companies? Hell, when oil was down to $70, the majors told them "cut prices 40% or we'll get someone else" - hotels that were getting $250/night are happy to get $75. Even the materials suppliers are being squeezed hard. Prices to complete a fracked well are WAY WAY down.

And cost-cutting innovations (more efficient/accurate/productive drilling/fracking) are being implemented hard and fast.

Yes, production is going down in the USA and will keep going down - but nowhere near as much as was originally predicted.  The Saudis are making the US oil producers WAY more efficient.

$33.16/barrel now. Mid-90's price levels now, it seems.

[MrMoogle]

Me too... didn't win anything, though.  How would you feel if you won $200 million with a found lottery ticket though?  I imagine they might even trace it back to the original buyer.

That's a very interesting scenario. If officials have any suspicions they may quiz the winner about where and when he/she bought the ticket because they do have that on record. Then there's the question of whether the retail outlet would keep surveillance footage from the date of the purchase.

I remember reading about one case where a contractor working for the lottery was busted by surveillance footage of him buying a winning ticket after he rigged an upcoming drawing. He subsequently gave the ticket to an accomplice that tried to claim the prize.

You'd probably know the location of the purchase since they typically advertise it on the news.  The question is would you lie about buying it?  As much as I'd like a few hundred million, I'm not sure I would.  On the other hand, if you admit you found it, thousands of people would probably come forward "claiming" the ticket.  I agree surveillance footage may or may not exist, especially if you wait a year to claim the prize.

Not sure about elsewhere, but consider the following law from PA:

Until such time as a name is imprinted or placed upon the rear portion of the lottery ticket in the area designated for name, a lottery ticket shall be owned by the physical possessor of the ticket.

So if it's unsigned, you could probably cash it without needing to lie.  Moreover, you should write your name immediately upon purchase.

Being out of state of a lotto state, it's pretty common for one guy to drive up to Tennessee and buy tickets for a bunch of people.  So here it's not uncommon if your credit card purchases don't match the location of the ticket.

[MgoSam]

Me too... didn't win anything, though.  How would you feel if you won $200 million with a found lottery ticket though?  I imagine they might even trace it back to the original buyer.

That's a very interesting scenario. If officials have any suspicions they may quiz the winner about where and when he/she bought the ticket because they do have that on record. Then there's the question of whether the retail outlet would keep surveillance footage from the date of the purchase.

I remember reading about one case where a contractor working for the lottery was busted by surveillance footage of him buying a winning ticket after he rigged an upcoming drawing. He subsequently gave the ticket to an accomplice that tried to claim the prize.

You'd probably know the location of the purchase since they typically advertise it on the news.  The question is would you lie about buying it?  As much as I'd like a few hundred million, I'm not sure I would.  On the other hand, if you admit you found it, thousands of people would probably come forward "claiming" the ticket.  I agree surveillance footage may or may not exist, especially if you wait a year to claim the prize.

Not sure about elsewhere, but consider the following law from PA:

Until such time as a name is imprinted or placed upon the rear portion of the lottery ticket in the area designated for name, a lottery ticket shall be owned by the physical possessor of the ticket.

So if it's unsigned, you could probably cash it without needing to lie.  Moreover, you should write your name immediately upon purchase.

Being out of state of a lotto state, it's pretty common for one guy to drive up to Tennessee and buy tickets for a bunch of people.  So here it's not uncommon if your credit card purchases don't match the location of the ticket.

I don't know how it is in other states, but in Minnesota you need to pay cash for lottery tickets.

[Lizzy B.]

I’ve written before about some of my coworkers’ financial shenanigans.  For the most part, they’re pretty careful and sensible, but one of the managers in my department is the notable exception.

He repeatedly asks for information about investing and finances which I’m happy to oblige him with because the level of his ignorance is slightly frightening and because it’s such general information that I’m not tipping my hand.  For example, he doesn’t participate in our 401k because he didn’t understand the tax benefits.  Instead, he pays an advisor to invest in post-tax accounts at over 1.5% fees.  Facepalm.  He also asked once, disparagingly, if I invested in index funds since, “those are just for folks who don’t know what they’re doing.”  (As a side note, in one of our first discussions, he asked if I thought you could manage finances without an advisor.  I responded enthusiastically that you could, only to be convinced by his subsequent statements that he really, REALLY needed to be talking to someone who knows what they’re doing.  Advisors are good for some people.  I just wonder what this advisor does for him if he’s STILL so clueless after years of working with this advisor.)

Anyway, apparently he has these discussions with many of my coworkers too, which is probably great since, as I mentioned they’re pretty sensible.  After having enough of these conversations, he’s decided to downsize to a smaller house with a shorter commute time.  Because it’s a smaller house, he got money back from the sale of his old house in addition to lowering his commuting costs and monthly housing expenses.  So far so good.   

So then he starts talking about what to do with the extra money from the sale of the house.  Ok, I can see lots of reasons for not simply rolling that into a larger down payment on the new house.  I assumed, however, that since he’s constantly talks about not having enough to retire on that he’d invest the difference, using it to kick-start his savings.  Instead, I’ve now started hearing about some expensive kitchen options that he’s installing in the new house and some possible renovations (we’re talking moving walls and plumbing, not repainting or new carpets, so these are pricy renovations).  So, he’s basically already spent the money he’s making from the sale of the old house.  He also calculates that he’s only saving about $200 a month by moving.  While that’s a nice monthly boost, I hardly think that will set him on a path to financial freedom, particularly since he just reset the 30-year timer on paying for his house.
 

[Murse]

Coworker and I were discussing the lotto and she says
 "we should play the smaller ones"
Me- I know, I don't understand why everyone wants to play the 1b when 2m would be more then enough
CW- enough for what?
Me- to retire on, don't show up to work the next day
CW- are you crazy, you can't retire on 2m
Me- sure you can, just put it in a diversified portfolio
Cw changed the subject, I wish I could of gotten into how much do you make per year, of 70k, what 2m/70k almost 30x? (ignoring taxes)...

[nnls]

Coworker and I were discussing the lotto and she says
 "we should play the smaller ones"
Me- I know, I don't understand why everyone wants to play the 1b when 2m would be more then enough
CW- enough for what?
Me- to retire on, don't show up to work the next day
CW- are you crazy, you can't retire on 2m
Me- sure you can, just put it in a diversified portfolio
Cw changed the subject, I wish I could of gotten into how much do you make per year, of 70k, what 2m/70k almost 30x? (ignoring taxes)...

Similar thing was discussed at my work the other day, we had a big draw here in Australia and a team of us went into a group ticket, we would have got about 3 million each(and australian lotto isn't taxed), and most said it wouldn't be enough to retire.

[Primm]

Coworker and I were discussing the lotto and she says
 "we should play the smaller ones"
Me- I know, I don't understand why everyone wants to play the 1b when 2m would be more then enough
CW- enough for what?
Me- to retire on, don't show up to work the next day
CW- are you crazy, you can't retire on 2m
Me- sure you can, just put it in a diversified portfolio
Cw changed the subject, I wish I could of gotten into how much do you make per year, of 70k, what 2m/70k almost 30x? (ignoring taxes)...

Similar thing was discussed at my work the other day, we had a big draw here in Australia and a team of us went into a group ticket, we would have got about 3 million each(and australian lotto isn't taxed), and most said it wouldn't be enough to retire.

Some of us at work today were admiring a prize home at Noosa for which tickets are currently for sale. The home and furniture package is supposedly worth $1.9M, and it comes with 2 cars valued at about $160k and gold bullion at $750k.

I was the only one who said that selling the house wouldn't be a mandatory requirement for my retirement (I'd sell it, it's ugly, but still...) and that I could quite happily live off the $900k I'd get for the house and gold. They all looked at me like I was insane.

[GuitarStv]

On lentils.

Discount lentils.  Coupled with rice from dumpster diving.

[arebelspy]

On lentils.

Discount lentils.  Coupled with rice from dumpster diving.

Also they had a coupon for the dumpster rice.

[Cromacster]

Me too... didn't win anything, though.  How would you feel if you won $200 million with a found lottery ticket though?  I imagine they might even trace it back to the original buyer.

That's a very interesting scenario. If officials have any suspicions they may quiz the winner about where and when he/she bought the ticket because they do have that on record. Then there's the question of whether the retail outlet would keep surveillance footage from the date of the purchase.

I remember reading about one case where a contractor working for the lottery was busted by surveillance footage of him buying a winning ticket after he rigged an upcoming drawing. He subsequently gave the ticket to an accomplice that tried to claim the prize.

You'd probably know the location of the purchase since they typically advertise it on the news.  The question is would you lie about buying it?  As much as I'd like a few hundred million, I'm not sure I would.  On the other hand, if you admit you found it, thousands of people would probably come forward "claiming" the ticket.  I agree surveillance footage may or may not exist, especially if you wait a year to claim the prize.

Not sure about elsewhere, but consider the following law from PA:

Until such time as a name is imprinted or placed upon the rear portion of the lottery ticket in the area designated for name, a lottery ticket shall be owned by the physical possessor of the ticket.

So if it's unsigned, you could probably cash it without needing to lie.  Moreover, you should write your name immediately upon purchase.

Being out of state of a lotto state, it's pretty common for one guy to drive up to Tennessee and buy tickets for a bunch of people.  So here it's not uncommon if your credit card purchases don't match the location of the ticket.

I don't know how it is in other states, but in Minnesota you need to pay cash for lottery tickets.

I thought that too, but last Friday I bought a powerball ticket with my credit card.

[bb11]

One of my bosses recently bought a condo in the Virgin Islands. She is in her mid-30's and is a pretty extravagant spender; probably makes ~$150k. This has to be a very poor financial decision right?

She rents an apartment in a prime area of Manhattan, and plans to vacation to VI often (she's already been quite a bit) as well as use the condo as a vacation rental managed by the condo association (I believe she said they get 40% of the gross rent or something outrageous). I just can't see how you buy a vacation condo before you own your primary residence.

[former player]

One of my bosses recently bought a condo in the Virgin Islands. She is in her mid-30's and is a pretty extravagant spender; probably makes ~$150k. This has to be a very poor financial decision right?

She rents an apartment in a prime area of Manhattan, and plans to vacation to VI often (she's already been quite a bit) as well as use the condo as a vacation rental managed by the condo association (I believe she said they get 40% of the gross rent or something outrageous). I just can't see how you buy a vacation condo before you own your primary residence.

It can make a lot of sense, particularly if you are priced out of the location you work in and can get a decent return on the holiday rental.

[MishMash]

More of an oversaw at work.  So for the last couple of years I've seen this very pricey BMW in the parking lot, the specialty license plate is O mst Go and the rear end is covered in Obama is an illegal immigrant, NObama (and more recently pro donald trump stickers).  For years I've been mentally profiling the owner without realizing it as the plethora of non removable, hate spewing, racist crap stickers increased.  I always figured old white man bitter that he's still working. 

Well today the owner of this car pulled into the space besides me and I saw them for the first time....95 lb Asian woman with a couple of Costco sized crates of cat food in the back seat, along with her cat print laptop bag and the radio was blaring some political AM station that was denouncing on how white people can't afford to live in this country any more, and how the Demoncraps have ruined this once great nation etc....yup, threw me for a loop.  The biggest anti Obama person in our office park is a crazy Asian cat lady folks.

**PS I'm also owned by a couple of cats, this just struck me as a huh....didn't see THAT one coming.

[dragoncar]

More of an oversaw at work.  So for the last couple of years I've seen this very pricey BMW in the parking lot, the specialty license plate is O mst Go and the rear end is covered in Obama is an illegal immigrant, NObama (and more recently pro donald trump stickers).  For years I've been mentally profiling the owner without realizing it as the plethora of non removable, hate spewing, racist crap stickers increased.  I always figured old white man bitter that he's still working. 

Well today the owner of this car pulled into the space besides me and I saw them for the first time....95 lb Asian woman with a couple of Costco sized crates of cat food in the back seat, along with her cat print laptop bag and the radio was blaring some political AM station that was denouncing on how white people can't afford to live in this country any more, and how the Demoncraps have ruined this once great nation etc....yup, threw me for a loop.  The biggest anti Obama person in our office park is a crazy Asian cat lady folks.

**PS I'm also owned by a couple of cats, this just struck me as a huh....didn't see THAT one coming.

Not that surprising, as all cats are Republicans.

[mtn]

One of my bosses recently bought a condo in the Virgin Islands. She is in her mid-30's and is a pretty extravagant spender; probably makes ~$150k. This has to be a very poor financial decision right?

She rents an apartment in a prime area of Manhattan, and plans to vacation to VI often (she's already been quite a bit) as well as use the condo as a vacation rental managed by the condo association (I believe she said they get 40% of the gross rent or something outrageous). I just can't see how you buy a vacation condo before you own your primary residence.

I've thought about it--but that is mostly because I know where I want to vacation for the rest of my life, but can see 3-4 moves in the next 5-10 years in the place that I actually live. Oh, and the vacation area, homes are CHEAP. A waterfront 4BR house is about the same as a 2BR, busy street in a good school district here.

[vivian]

At my office, parking options are as follows: 1) metered parking right outside the door (intended for visitors), 2) buy a permit for the large parking lot at $36 per month, or 3) park on the street about 3-4 blocks away for free. There is a small contingent that park on the street (as do I when I have to drive). Most have parking permits. One coworker jokes about how I don't have a parking permit. Today I learned that not only does he pay for a permit, but about once a week also pays for a metered spot. He always has some reason, really cold weather, heavy bag, etc. but goes out every two hours to feed the meter when he's already paid for a permit!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[nitsuj1225]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.

The best face-palm moment that happened recently is that I had a potential client contact me about seeing a property.  It was regarding a $45k mobile home.  I emailed him the MLS information and asked if he wanted me to set up a showing.  I get a reply back saying he's waiting on a disability check and trying to straighten out his credit before buying right now (he's the one who contacted me first by the way).  Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

It was everything I could do not to email him back and say you mean to tell me you have a $600+ brand new smartphone and another ridiculous monthly amount for having an AT&T plan but yet you have bad credit and have trouble affording a $45k home?  Priceless.

[zephyr911]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side

Me too, and I like it so much I plan to do it in FIRE. We should swap cards and stuff. ;)

It was everything I could do not to email him back and say you mean to tell me you have a $600+ brand new smartphone and another ridiculous monthly amount for having an AT&T plan but yet you have bad credit and have trouble affording a $45k home?  Priceless.

In fairness, AT&T probably did build most or all of the retail value of that phone into his plan, so it doesn't seem that expensive. You're showing the guy a $45K trailer, what kind of sophistication do you expect? xD

[MgoSam]

You're showing the guy a $45K trailer, what kind of sophistication do you expect? xD

+!

[ohyonghao]

It was everything I could do not to email him back and say you mean to tell me you have a $600+ brand new smartphone and another ridiculous monthly amount for having an AT&T plan but yet you have bad credit and have trouble affording a $45k home?  Priceless.

In fairness, AT&T probably did build most or all of the retail value of that phone into his plan, so it doesn't seem that expensive. You're showing the guy a $45K trailer, what kind of sophistication do you expect? xD

In another forum  frequent regarding credit card offers one AT&T customer scoffed at the Citi AT&T More card which gives you a $650 rebate on purchasing a phone for full price from AT&T, complaining that the phones are overpriced on their site.  I saw iPhone's going for the same price as Apple's site.  I can only assume he's used to having his phone baked into his plan that $750 for an iPhone 6s 64Gb seems like a jacked up price when he can get it with his jacked up plan for only $200 (or whatever they offer it for, I'm a T-Mobile customer).

[dragoncar]

It was everything I could do not to email him back and say you mean to tell me you have a $600+ brand new smartphone and another ridiculous monthly amount for having an AT&T plan but yet you have bad credit and have trouble affording a $45k home?  Priceless.

In fairness, AT&T probably did build most or all of the retail value of that phone into his plan, so it doesn't seem that expensive. You're showing the guy a $45K trailer, what kind of sophistication do you expect? xD

In another forum  frequent regarding credit card offers one AT&T customer scoffed at the Citi AT&T More card which gives you a $650 rebate on purchasing a phone for full price from AT&T, complaining that the phones are overpriced on their site.  I saw iPhone's going for the same price as Apple's site.  I can only assume he's used to having his phone baked into his plan that $750 for an iPhone 6s 64Gb seems like a jacked up price when he can get it with his jacked up plan for only $200 (or whatever they offer it for, I'm a T-Mobile customer).

That's a great deal for an unlocked phone!  You have to activate on ATT but I suppose no contract is required....


https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/credit-card-details/citi.action?ID=citi-att-access-more-credit-card

[ohyonghao]

It was everything I could do not to email him back and say you mean to tell me you have a $600+ brand new smartphone and another ridiculous monthly amount for having an AT&T plan but yet you have bad credit and have trouble affording a $45k home?  Priceless.

In fairness, AT&T probably did build most or all of the retail value of that phone into his plan, so it doesn't seem that expensive. You're showing the guy a $45K trailer, what kind of sophistication do you expect? xD

In another forum  frequent regarding credit card offers one AT&T customer scoffed at the Citi AT&T More card which gives you a $650 rebate on purchasing a phone for full price from AT&T, complaining that the phones are overpriced on their site.  I saw iPhone's going for the same price as Apple's site.  I can only assume he's used to having his phone baked into his plan that $750 for an iPhone 6s 64Gb seems like a jacked up price when he can get it with his jacked up plan for only $200 (or whatever they offer it for, I'm a T-Mobile customer).

That's a great deal for an unlocked phone!  You have to activate on ATT but I suppose no contract is required....


https://www.citi.com/credit-cards/credit-card-details/citi.action?ID=citi-att-access-more-credit-card

Yearly fee isn't waved, and if you don't have AT&T you do have to pay for 1 month + a prorated partial month which they force on you, usually 3 days or so.

For me it worked out as
$850 - iPhone 6s 128gb
+$95 - annual fee
+$70 - AT&T cheapest no-contract plan
-$650 - Credit after meeting minimum requirements
-$52 - worth of Citi Thank You points
-$35 - worth of Plenti points
------
$278 - Total cost of iPhone 6s 128gb.  This might be similar to what one pays with an inflated AT&T plan with phone costs baked in.

Also note that AT&T purchases are interest free for 6 months or so, making it very easy to float the money until you get the credit from Citi.

This phone replaces my Nexus 4 which I had used for over 3 years.  I expect to get at least 3 years, possibly more, out of this one.  It also replaced the camera we were thinking of getting for when we travel.

[Hunny156]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

[dragoncar]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

Can we stop calling them flat-screens now?  They are just TVs.  If you want to indicate that they are expensive, just say expensive or new.

[frugalnacho]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

Can we stop calling them flat-screens now?  They are just TVs.  If you want to indicate that they are expensive, just say expensive or new.

She did specify it was "back in the day".  A flat screen was not just a TV during that historic period in time, so the distinction is required.

[maco]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

'Course, there are plenty of people whose families would give them a new cell phone, TV, or other luxury good for birthday/Christmas but would think it gauche to give a card with a check for $1000.

[dragoncar]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

Can we stop calling them flat-screens now?  They are just TVs.  If you want to indicate that they are expensive, just say expensive or new.

She did specify it was "back in the day".  A flat screen was not just a TV during that historic period in time, so the distinction is required.

You are right, it's much better to say type out "a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home)"

Than simply "expensive TV"

[Hunny156]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

'Course, there are plenty of people whose families would give them a new cell phone, TV, or other luxury good for birthday/Christmas but would think it gauche to give a card with a check for $1000.

LOL, in this particular case (the TV case, not the iPhone case), tenant's mom was kicking in half the rent.  She just foolishly made that check out to her daughter, until I suggested she send the funds directly to me.  Wasn't too long after that that the tenants were begging the local catholic charity to cover their rent in full.

[Hunny156]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

Can we stop calling them flat-screens now?  They are just TVs.  If you want to indicate that they are expensive, just say expensive or new.

She did specify it was "back in the day".  A flat screen was not just a TV during that historic period in time, so the distinction is required.

You are right, it's much better to say type out "a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home)"

Than simply "expensive TV"

I'm still bitter about it, hence the description!  Can we move on now?

[BDWW]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

Can we stop calling them flat-screens now?  They are just TVs.  If you want to indicate that they are expensive, just say expensive or new.

She did specify it was "back in the day".  A flat screen was not just a TV during that historic period in time, so the distinction is required.

You are right, it's much better to say type out "a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home)"

Than simply "expensive TV"

Succinctness can be a virtue, it can also destroy information and context.

[dragoncar]

I'm a part-time realtor on the side (I have a regular 9-5 as well) so this isn't more of a "overheard at work" as it is people I've come across in real estate.
.....

Which is still fine if the footer of his email didn't read "Sent from my Galaxy S6 on AT&T".

Hopefully not too foamy, but I own rental properties on the side and this exact thing annoys me to no end.  Back in the day,  it was the young couples who got pregnant on a dime, could not afford to pay rent, but had a stack of Nike boxes and a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home).  Nowadays its the tenant who texts you with yet another excuse of why they will be late, and the iPhone latest edition on Verizon footer comes through.  I have to resist the urge to point out that the inflated phone and plan is not as important as the roof over your head...

Can we stop calling them flat-screens now?  They are just TVs.  If you want to indicate that they are expensive, just say expensive or new.

She did specify it was "back in the day".  A flat screen was not just a TV during that historic period in time, so the distinction is required.

You are right, it's much better to say type out "a flat screen in the bedroom - well before they were reasonably priced (and I still had a tube TV in my home)"

Than simply "expensive TV"

Succinctness can be a virtue, it can also destroy information and context.

That's just a fancy way of saying "shut up"

[MoonShadow]

More of an oversaw at work.  So for the last couple of years I've seen this very pricey BMW in the parking lot, the specialty license plate is O mst Go and the rear end is covered in Obama is an illegal immigrant, NObama (and more recently pro donald trump stickers).  For years I've been mentally profiling the owner without realizing it as the plethora of non removable, hate spewing, racist crap stickers increased.  I always figured old white man bitter that he's still working. 

Well today the owner of this car pulled into the space besides me and I saw them for the first time....95 lb Asian woman with a couple of Costco sized crates of cat food in the back seat, along with her cat print laptop bag and the radio was blaring some political AM station that was denouncing on how white people can't afford to live in this country any more, and how the Demoncraps have ruined this once great nation etc....yup, threw me for a loop.  The biggest anti Obama person in our office park is a crazy Asian cat lady folks.

**PS I'm also owned by a couple of cats, this just struck me as a huh....didn't see THAT one coming.

You didn't see that coming, probably because you have likely never taken the time to actually consider the viewpoints of your opposition. I am not a republican, but I've known many Asian republicans.  In my own experience, the Asian republican is more common than the American-of-African-Decent republican; but that might just be a local thing.  I'd challenge you to ask her about her real perspectives.  If you were to honestly consider them, I'd wager that you'd find that her responses are much more thoughtful than what you expected, and certainly more thoughtful than a bumper sticker slogan.  You probably would still disagree, but you might gain a better appreciation for differing viewpoints.

[beltim]

More of an oversaw at work.  So for the last couple of years I've seen this very pricey BMW in the parking lot, the specialty license plate is O mst Go and the rear end is covered in Obama is an illegal immigrant, NObama (and more recently pro donald trump stickers).  For years I've been mentally profiling the owner without realizing it as the plethora of non removable, hate spewing, racist crap stickers increased.  I always figured old white man bitter that he's still working. 

Well today the owner of this car pulled into the space besides me and I saw them for the first time....95 lb Asian woman with a couple of Costco sized crates of cat food in the back seat, along with her cat print laptop bag and the radio was blaring some political AM station that was denouncing on how white people can't afford to live in this country any more, and how the Demoncraps have ruined this once great nation etc....yup, threw me for a loop.  The biggest anti Obama person in our office park is a crazy Asian cat lady folks.

**PS I'm also owned by a couple of cats, this just struck me as a huh....didn't see THAT one coming.

You didn't see that coming, probably because you have likely never taken the time to actually consider the viewpoints of your opposition. I am not a republican, but I've known many Asian republicans.  In my own experience, the Asian republican is more common than the American-of-African-Decent republican; but that might just be a local thing.  I'd challenge you to ask her about her real perspectives.  If you were to honestly consider them, I'd wager that you'd find that her responses are much more thoughtful than what you expected, and certainly more thoughtful than a bumper sticker slogan.  You probably would still disagree, but you might gain a better appreciation for differing viewpoints.

MoonShadow, I have to ask: do you often talk to vile-spewing racists, and have them respond thoughtfully?

And to your response, how can you possibly know anything about how much MishMash has considered the viewpoints of her opposition?  It sure looks like you jumped to a conclusion there.

[MoonShadow]

More of an oversaw at work.  So for the last couple of years I've seen this very pricey BMW in the parking lot, the specialty license plate is O mst Go and the rear end is covered in Obama is an illegal immigrant, NObama (and more recently pro donald trump stickers).  For years I've been mentally profiling the owner without realizing it as the plethora of non removable, hate spewing, racist crap stickers increased.  I always figured old white man bitter that he's still working. 

Well today the owner of this car pulled into the space besides me and I saw them for the first time....95 lb Asian woman with a couple of Costco sized crates of cat food in the back seat, along with her cat print laptop bag and the radio was blaring some political AM station that was denouncing on how white people can't afford to live in this country any more, and how the Demoncraps have ruined this once great nation etc....yup, threw me for a loop.  The biggest anti Obama person in our office park is a crazy Asian cat lady folks.

**PS I'm also owned by a couple of cats, this just struck me as a huh....didn't see THAT one coming.

You didn't see that coming, probably because you have likely never taken the time to actually consider the viewpoints of your opposition. I am not a republican, but I've known many Asian republicans.  In my own experience, the Asian republican is more common than the American-of-African-Decent republican; but that might just be a local thing.  I'd challenge you to ask her about her real perspectives.  If you were to honestly consider them, I'd wager that you'd find that her responses are much more thoughtful than what you expected, and certainly more thoughtful than a bumper sticker slogan.  You probably would still disagree, but you might gain a better appreciation for differing viewpoints.

MoonShadow, I have to ask: do you often talk to vile-spewing racists, and have them respond thoughtfully?

Beltim, do you honestly think that an Asian woman driving a nice car with anti-Obama stickers is racist?

And to your response, how can you possibly know anything about how much MishMash has considered the viewpoints of her opposition?  It sure looks like you jumped to a conclusion there.

Obviously, there has been a whole lot of jumping going on.  Based upon what you write in other political threads, I'm surprised you're not exhausted yourself.

[beltim]

More of an oversaw at work.  So for the last couple of years I've seen this very pricey BMW in the parking lot, the specialty license plate is O mst Go and the rear end is covered in Obama is an illegal immigrant, NObama (and more recently pro donald trump stickers).  For years I've been mentally profiling the owner without realizing it as the plethora of non removable, hate spewing, racist crap stickers increased.  I always figured old white man bitter that he's still working. 

Well today the owner of this car pulled into the space besides me and I saw them for the first time....95 lb Asian woman with a couple of Costco sized crates of cat food in the back seat, along with her cat print laptop bag and the radio was blaring some political AM station that was denouncing on how white people can't afford to live in this country any more, and how the Demoncraps have ruined this once great nation etc....yup, threw me for a loop.  The biggest anti Obama person in our office park is a crazy Asian cat lady folks.

**PS I'm also owned by a couple of cats, this just struck me as a huh....didn't see THAT one coming.

You didn't see that coming, probably because you have likely never taken the time to actually consider the viewpoints of your opposition. I am not a republican, but I've known many Asian republicans.  In my own experience, the Asian republican is more common than the American-of-African-Decent republican; but that might just be a local thing.  I'd challenge you to ask her about her real perspectives.  If you were to honestly consider them, I'd wager that you'd find that her responses are much more thoughtful than what you expected, and certainly more thoughtful than a bumper sticker slogan.  You probably would still disagree, but you might gain a better appreciation for differing viewpoints.

MoonShadow, I have to ask: do you often talk to vile-spewing racists, and have them respond thoughtfully?

Beltim, do you honestly think that an Asian woman driving a nice car with anti-Obama stickers is racist?

I don't think an Asian woman is racist because she is driving a nice car with anti-Obama stickers.  MishMash said she had "hate spewing, racist stickers" on the car (that's why I bolded that section).  That could make her racist, yes.

And to your response, how can you possibly know anything about how much MishMash has considered the viewpoints of her opposition?  It sure looks like you jumped to a conclusion there.

Obviously, there has been a whole lot of jumping going on.  Based upon what you write in other political threads, I'm surprised you're not exhausted yourself.

So yes, you jumped to a conclusion.