Overheard on Facebook

[LeRainDrop]

Ok, for all you animal lovers out there, here's a video of him playing.  I'm trying to train him not to tackle anyone because he's 65 pounds now and still growing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_VQ4S-KAyw

Love it!  He's got so much energy and spring in his step!

[Rural]

Eh, I guess it doesn't take me long cause I'm a clean as you go type of guy.  If I use the microwave and make a mess (rare since I cover everything) I wipe it up immediately before it needs "scrubbing".  While I have the sponge in my hand, the fridge seal takes an extra 5 seconds. 

It's shocking but I recently learned this. My roommate does this and I have followed suit and wow does my kitchen and living room look so much better and it isn't all that much work. It takes less than a minute to wash up dishes after a meal, and seconds to wipe down something if it has spilled. Now I just need to do things like clean the floor every so often.

Ever since I got a dog I've been vacuuming way more-- like 4x as often.  But it's decent cardiovascular exercise, so I don't gain much paying someone to do it

What type of dog?

Some kind of lab.  He was recently shedding his undercoat so hopefully it gets better until fall

I'm guessing he's a rescue? I love labs, such amazing creatures, so loyal and friendly.

Yep, tell me what you think.  here he is helping out with neighborhood trash.  The shelter guessed labrador/border collie but people at the dog park throw out other guesses like some kind of hound (he definitely follows his nose)

ADORABLE! Thanks for adopting. I think it is the white markings that made them think border collie. But I don't think this is a mutt, as suggested by Rural. The black lab is strong in that one!
Generic mutts tend to be brown, upright ears (ends might droop), and curly tail (or GBD as a friend calls them = generic brown dog).

Again, ADORABLE!

Yeah I concur, I think he's a black lab. Looks absolutely a delight to play with. Does he tackle you when you come home?

Huh. Perhaps I define mutt differently - and I very much believe it's a term of endearment by the way. But i think of "mutt" as a dog of mixed breeds? Sometimes you can tell one or more of the probable breeds, sometimes not.


 I could see some hound in the general shape, by the way, but his coloring's very different. I think he's too big to have much border collie. Which, of the suggestions, leaves lab.


Regardless, he is himself, and that is clearly a fine thing to be.

[zephyr911]

Gainfully employed professional friend: My daughter, who's all excited about her last day of school today, asked me, "Is today your last day of work?"
 I just had to laugh or I would cry. 😂

Me: Doktor prescribez moar #mmm.

Friend: *likes comment*

[I'm a red panda]

I agree with "mutt" being mixed breeds, often unknown mixed breeds (as opposed to a "designer dog" which is what used to be called a mutt, but is now sold for a freaking fortune- it's mixed breeds, but they are known and intentional- with names like "cockapoo" and "labradoodle")

My dog is a shelter mutt. She's some sort of terrier, colored like a jack russel but too large to be one- but has a grayhound's gate when she runs.

[Chris22]

I agree with "mutt" being mixed breeds, often unknown mixed breeds (as opposed to a "designer dog" which is what used to be called a mutt, but is now sold for a freaking fortune- it's mixed breeds, but they are known and intentional- with names like "cockapoo" and "labradoodle")[/url]

People always ask me what kind my dog is, and I always tell them "well, when I was a kid, we called him a mutt.  Now they call him a Yorkiepoo."  They also think he's a puppy, he's about 7.5 years old in this pic (just having been picked up from knee surgery, note his left knee).

[druth]

I agree with "mutt" being mixed breeds, often unknown mixed breeds (as opposed to a "designer dog" which is what used to be called a mutt, but is now sold for a freaking fortune- it's mixed breeds, but they are known and intentional- with names like "cockapoo" and "labradoodle")[/url]

People always ask me what kind my dog is, and I always tell them "well, when I was a kid, we called him a mutt.  Now they call him a Yorkiepoo."  They also think he's a puppy, he's about 7.5 years old in this pic (just having been picked up from knee surgery, note his left knee).

We also have a shelter mutt/yorkiepoo and people think he's a puppy all the time.  He's 5 in this pic.



Also want to add I think it's funny that Overheard on FB and Work are both on dog tangents right now.

[Kitsune]

Also want to add I think it's funny that Overheard on FB and Work are both on dog tangents right now.

Because dogs are awesome.

[ringer707]

Can someone just a make a dog thread so we can just share pictures of our awesome dogs? Because that would be great.

To the original dog poster: I agree with lab, but maybe also some Walker Hound? I had a Walker Hound up until a few years ago when she passed away at an old age. Similar white markings, very sweet and loving dog. Slept outside in the warm spring and summer and really enjoyed barking at deer at 2 AM -__- Still a stellar dog though. Yours is a cutie regardless!

[With This Herring]

Eh, I guess it doesn't take me long cause I'm a clean as you go type of guy.  If I use the microwave and make a mess (rare since I cover everything) I wipe it up immediately before it needs "scrubbing".  While I have the sponge in my hand, the fridge seal takes an extra 5 seconds. 

It's shocking but I recently learned this. My roommate does this and I have followed suit and wow does my kitchen and living room look so much better and it isn't all that much work. It takes less than a minute to wash up dishes after a meal, and seconds to wipe down something if it has spilled. Now I just need to do things like clean the floor every so often.
*snip*

Best thing for microwaves:
Take the sponge you use for dishes.  Make sure it is still soapy and damp.  Microwave it for one minute.  Open the microwave door, and wait until the sponge is cool enough to touch (you can burn yourself!  Be careful!).  Now, use the sponge to wipe down the inside of the microwave, starting at the top/ceiling, then walls, then bottom.  Wash the turntable plate under hot water.  The steam from the wet sponge softens anything caked onto the inside of the microwave, so it is really easy to wipe down.  It takes just a few minutes, and you are done!

*snip*

Yep, tell me what you think.  here he is helping out with neighborhood trash.  The shelter guessed labrador/border collie but people at the dog park throw out other guesses like some kind of hound (he definitely follows his nose)

What a cutie!  He looks SO similar to the sweetheart pointer-mix mutt dog my neighbors had when I was growing up.  See up "pointer mix" on Google, so maybe yours is primarily lab and pointer?  (But he is taking that towel down!)

[I'm a red panda]

Created a dog thread.

[Goldielocks]

Created a dog thread.

The internet is supposed to be about cats.  Cat thread.

Dogs are fine right here, though.   Where I can admire them accidentally without letting my cat know.

[RWD]

Shared by one of my friends...




Text, in case image hotlink breaks:

Thank you, student loans, for helping me get through college.

I don't think I can ever repay you.

[LeRainDrop]

Created a dog thread.

The internet is supposed to be about cats.  Cat thread.

Dogs are fine right here, though.   Where I can admire them accidentally without letting my cat know.

Fear not.  There is also a mustachian cat thread:  http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/off-topic/cat-thread-)/

Edit:  I have to add that I find the DiCaprio meme that RWD posted here to be pretty hilarious.

[RWD]

Edit:  I have to add that I find the DiCaprio meme that RWD posted here to be pretty hilarious.

It is actually rather clever. And there were Facebook commenters that were talking about how fast they had paid off their student loans, so it wasn't all antimustachian.

[dragoncar]

Edit:  I have to add that I find the DiCaprio meme that RWD posted here to be pretty hilarious.

It is actually rather clever. And there were Facebook commenters that were talking about how fast they had paid off their student loans, so it wasn't all antimustachian.

Yeah it's obviously a joke, and a good one at that.  But like all good jokes there's a kernel of truth

[HairyUpperLip]

Sigh.  Tragedy in the region here, two 17 YO boys were flying down a country road in a 2002 Jaguar convertible, major wreck into fence, trees, and farm equipment, both dead.  Early signs are there was alcohol involved.  Of course the local news goes right to FB to collect up photos. 

I checked it out and am just sickened.   The young driver was given a $65K+ GMC Denali monster truck for his 16th b-day last spring, and has many photos of him with a very expensive speed boat and snowmobiles, this young man loved his toys and was well fed with them.  I am not sure if parents are compensating for a divorce or mom was widowed with a large life insurance policy or maybe they won the lottery, can't really tell why they would load this kid up with crazy levels of stuff.  Still, I am sure that they would trade every last toy to have their boy and his friend back. 

Still, what struck me is the massive level of show-off that was on the page, classic stuff that this entire thread is devoted to.  Look, more toys!  Look, more trips!  Look how shiny and fake everything is!  But now add "we are sorry for your loss!" from strangers and friends alike.  Aya, yes, that is the truth, so sorry, it is such a tragedy and I can't imagine what they are going through right now. 

Someone commented on FB that he didn't take the monster truck that day and drove the Jag instead to save on gas.  I can't even begin with that.  At that speed they would still have been dead, but the crazy idea of saving a few nickels on gas when they have about $200K work of stuff sitting there for the kid just doesn't compute.  And I feel bad for judging.   

A lesson here:  if anything happens to you or yours the local news (and looky lous and snoops like me) are going directly to FB to paw through your world and judge you, where they (I) have no right to be.  But maybe these kids would still be alive if there wasn't such an obsession with buying shiny shit.  Maybe, maybe, maybe not.  Godspeed.     

If you like that type of stuff you can check out mydeathspace.com

[Magilla]

Ok, for all you animal lovers out there, here's a video of him playing.  I'm trying to train him not to tackle anyone because he's 65 pounds now and still growing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_VQ4S-KAyw

OMG, screw the rest of the threads let's just have a thread about adorable pets!!  Soooo cute!

[MrsDinero]

Ok, for all you animal lovers out there, here's a video of him playing.  I'm trying to train him not to tackle anyone because he's 65 pounds now and still growing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_VQ4S-KAyw

That towel never stood a chance!  Cute!

[Sibley]

Eh, I guess it doesn't take me long cause I'm a clean as you go type of guy.  If I use the microwave and make a mess (rare since I cover everything) I wipe it up immediately before it needs "scrubbing".  While I have the sponge in my hand, the fridge seal takes an extra 5 seconds. 

It's shocking but I recently learned this. My roommate does this and I have followed suit and wow does my kitchen and living room look so much better and it isn't all that much work. It takes less than a minute to wash up dishes after a meal, and seconds to wipe down something if it has spilled. Now I just need to do things like clean the floor every so often.

I may have messed up the quotes... sorry.

Can you get my roommate to do the same thing? I wipe up as I go, and she doesn't. She also doesn't do periodic deep cleans. When I move out, she's getting bugs.

[Inaya]

Eh, I guess it doesn't take me long cause I'm a clean as you go type of guy.  If I use the microwave and make a mess (rare since I cover everything) I wipe it up immediately before it needs "scrubbing".  While I have the sponge in my hand, the fridge seal takes an extra 5 seconds. 

It's shocking but I recently learned this. My roommate does this and I have followed suit and wow does my kitchen and living room look so much better and it isn't all that much work. It takes less than a minute to wash up dishes after a meal, and seconds to wipe down something if it has spilled. Now I just need to do things like clean the floor every so often.

I may have messed up the quotes... sorry.

Can you get my roommate to do the same thing? I wipe up as I go, and she doesn't. She also doesn't do periodic deep cleans. When I move out, she's getting bugs.

[nr]

Just came across this on my facebook feed...

Late 20-something year old couple - she lived at home due to lack on employment until recently when her boyfriend had her move in...

"Looking for a place to board our dogs when we go away. Somewhere nice, comfortable and cozy.. NOT a typical "kennel." It's worth the price to help keep Jayla's anxiety level low. Suggestions?"

[Goldielocks]

Just came across this on my facebook feed...

Late 20-something year old couple - she lived at home due to lack on employment until recently when her boyfriend had her move in...

"Looking for a place to board our dogs when we go away. Somewhere nice, comfortable and cozy.. NOT a typical "kennel." It's worth the price to help keep Jayla's anxiety level low. Suggestions?"

Ooh. Offer to house sit the dogs for $200 a week, in her home, more if special care is required. The. Enjoy free tv, lot of hot showers, maybe even AC depending on where you live. Zero wear and tear on your home and you get $ too.

[nr]

Just came across this on my facebook feed...

Late 20-something year old couple - she lived at home due to lack on employment until recently when her boyfriend had her move in...

"Looking for a place to board our dogs when we go away. Somewhere nice, comfortable and cozy.. NOT a typical "kennel." It's worth the price to help keep Jayla's anxiety level low. Suggestions?"

Ooh. Offer to house sit the dogs for $200 a week, in her home, more if special care is required. The. Enjoy free tv, lot of hot showers, maybe even AC depending on where you live. Zero wear and tear on your home and you get $ too.

Would have but I am very allergic.  And although I do love money - I do not want to pick up poo unless absolutely necessary.

[druth]

Just came across this on my facebook feed...

Late 20-something year old couple - she lived at home due to lack on employment until recently when her boyfriend had her move in...

"Looking for a place to board our dogs when we go away. Somewhere nice, comfortable and cozy.. NOT a typical "kennel." It's worth the price to help keep Jayla's anxiety level low. Suggestions?"

This isn't too crazy, rover.com is cheaper than a kennel and seems better for the dog IMO.

[merula]

My friends are idiots. One posted this:


(Text in case the link breaks: Saving 20 odd dollars a week by not going to Dunkin Donuts for coffee isn't going to help when the working poor's real problem is worrying about being able to still make rent if they miss work due to the flu, so let's stop pretending like this "junior piggybank savers/guilt the poor out of simple comforts" technique is a viable solution to the problem of stagnating wages and skyrocketing living costs.)

I am completely 100% on board federally mandatory paid sick leave. And I'll be honest, it's for selfish reasons. I don't want sick people serving me food or stacking my produce or delivering my packages, plus if I wouldn't take a job without paid sick leave why should anyone else.

But $20/week is $1,040 a year. Or, more practically, two weeks of full-time, post-tax take home pay at $15/hour. There's your sick leave. Right there. You don't even have to wait for Congress to do anything.

[dragoncar]

Just came across this on my facebook feed...

Late 20-something year old couple - she lived at home due to lack on employment until recently when her boyfriend had her move in...

"Looking for a place to board our dogs when we go away. Somewhere nice, comfortable and cozy.. NOT a typical "kennel." It's worth the price to help keep Jayla's anxiety level low. Suggestions?"

This isn't too crazy, rover.com is cheaper than a kennel and seems better for the dog IMO.

It may be cheaper, but I don't want strangers touching my stuff :-)  maybe they could combine it with a house cleaning service

[druth]

Just came across this on my facebook feed...

Late 20-something year old couple - she lived at home due to lack on employment until recently when her boyfriend had her move in...

"Looking for a place to board our dogs when we go away. Somewhere nice, comfortable and cozy.. NOT a typical "kennel." It's worth the price to help keep Jayla's anxiety level low. Suggestions?"

This isn't too crazy, rover.com is cheaper than a kennel and seems better for the dog IMO.

It may be cheaper, but I don't want strangers touching my stuff :-)  maybe they could combine it with a house cleaning service

My dog usually stays in somebody else's house.  No stuff touching possible  (well, unless the dog counts as stuff).  On the other hand, the person who visits my cats when we are away also does house cleaning, so I actually could do this.

[dragoncar]

Just came across this on my facebook feed...

Late 20-something year old couple - she lived at home due to lack on employment until recently when her boyfriend had her move in...

"Looking for a place to board our dogs when we go away. Somewhere nice, comfortable and cozy.. NOT a typical "kennel." It's worth the price to help keep Jayla's anxiety level low. Suggestions?"

This isn't too crazy, rover.com is cheaper than a kennel and seems better for the dog IMO.

It may be cheaper, but I don't want strangers touching my stuff :-)  maybe they could combine it with a house cleaning service

My dog usually stays in somebody else's house.  No stuff touching possible  (well, unless the dog counts as stuff).  On the other hand, the person who visits my cats when we are away also does house cleaning, so I actually could do this.

Oh yeah, I've looked into dogvacay and it seemed nice.  So far we've been sending him to a kennel because he is high energy and can play with LOTS of dogs all day, and I'm worried about him damaging someone else's property (he still chews and/or swallows a lot of things he shouldn't when unattended)

[LeRainDrop]

Regarding pet-sitting while you're going to be on vacation, there are other services where you can get a person to house and pet-sit for you for free.  I saw in anther thread that arebelspy is about to do a 2-month house-sit in Australia through trustedhousesitters.com ("Helping more pet lovers travel - We connect home and pet owners who need a sitter, when going away, with trustworthy people who are happy to sit for FREE.")

I'm curious about the house sitting you plan to do in Australia.  Is a friend/family members house?  A gig you found some other way?

I wish I knew what it was off the top of my head, but he used a service specifically for house sitters. I believe the feedback was that it was a pain to get started, because everyone is looking at reviews, but once you do, a lot of options open up. He has posted details, and I'm almost certain it was earlier in this thread.

it's called Trusted House Sitters.  https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/us/

[Cherry Lane]

My friends are idiots. One posted this:

(Text in case the link breaks: Saving 20 odd dollars a week by not going to Dunkin Donuts for coffee isn't going to help when the working poor's real problem is worrying about being able to still make rent if they miss work due to the flu, so let's stop pretending like this "junior piggybank savers/guilt the poor out of simple comforts" technique is a viable solution to the problem of stagnating wages and skyrocketing living costs.)

I am completely 100% on board federally mandatory paid sick leave. And I'll be honest, it's for selfish reasons. I don't want sick people serving me food or stacking my produce or delivering my packages, plus if I wouldn't take a job without paid sick leave why should anyone else.

But $20/week is $1,040 a year. Or, more practically, two weeks of full-time, post-tax take home pay at $15/hour. There's your sick leave. Right there. You don't even have to wait for Congress to do anything.

This hit my feed, too.  It was all I could do to refrain from commenting with something very similar to what you've said.  It would not have been received well.

[dragoncar]

My friends are idiots. One posted this:

(Text in case the link breaks: Saving 20 odd dollars a week by not going to Dunkin Donuts for coffee isn't going to help when the working poor's real problem is worrying about being able to still make rent if they miss work due to the flu, so let's stop pretending like this "junior piggybank savers/guilt the poor out of simple comforts" technique is a viable solution to the problem of stagnating wages and skyrocketing living costs.)

I am completely 100% on board federally mandatory paid sick leave. And I'll be honest, it's for selfish reasons. I don't want sick people serving me food or stacking my produce or delivering my packages, plus if I wouldn't take a job without paid sick leave why should anyone else.

But $20/week is $1,040 a year. Or, more practically, two weeks of full-time, post-tax take home pay at $15/hour. There's your sick leave. Right there. You don't even have to wait for Congress to do anything.

This hit my feed, too.  It was all I could do to refrain from commenting with something very similar to what you've said.  It would not have been received well.

But muh donuts!

Seriously, though, does anyone really spend over $20 per week at Dunkin Donuts?  How is that possible?  Have they reached Starbucks prices?

[randymarsh]

But muh donuts!

Seriously, though, does anyone really spend over $20 per week at Dunkin Donuts?  How is that possible?  Have they reached Starbucks prices?

A large coffee even at DD is still almost $3. So if they go every single day and buy a breakfast item just twice a week...yikes.

Someone on reddit.com/r/personalfinance once said they started using Mint and found they were spending ~$300 at Starbucks every month. :-----0

[MgoSam]

But muh donuts!

Seriously, though, does anyone really spend over $20 per week at Dunkin Donuts?  How is that possible?  Have they reached Starbucks prices?

A large coffee even at DD is still almost $3. So if they go every single day and buy a breakfast item just twice a week...yikes.

Someone on reddit.com/r/personalfinance once said they started using Mint and found they were spending ~$300 at Starbucks every month. :-----0

That's $10/day, or $15 if you only go during work days. How the hell do you spend that much, short of buying for your colleagues?

edit: That said, it's great that the guy is realizing this and can now work on reducing that. This could be $300 that he's now able to add to his stash each month, plus as he's likely buying the sugary stuff, he might drop weight and feel loads better.

[rockstache]

I have a colleague who buys an ice coffee and a breakfast sandwich every single morning. On weekends he takes his grandkids and they each get a pastry of choice. I'm sure he spends $20 per week.

[dragoncar]

I have a colleague who buys an ice coffee and a breakfast sandwich every single morning. On weekends he takes his grandkids and they each get a pastry of choice. I'm sure he spends $20 per week.

I admit I spend more than $20/week on fast food (barely).  But I'm not poor.  And coffee/doughnuts from a generic non-luxury shop should be like $2/day max.  I guess this makes me an old fogey -- "in my day coffee was a buck and donuts were $0.50! (you can still get out of McDonalds for $2, I bet)

[Ann]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is it really as common as it is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

[HairyUpperLip]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

[Uturn]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is it really as common as it is made out to be? 

My former roommate used to get Starbucks at least once, sometimes twice a day.  Worse than that, he would drive past the one 4 blocks away to get to the one 2 miles away because they had better coffee. 

[theadvicist]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is it really as common as it is made out to be? 

My former roommate used to get Starbucks at least once, sometimes twice a day.  Worse than that, he would drive past the one 4 blocks away to get to the one 2 miles away because they had better coffee.

These are probably the same people who complain endlessly about how 'busy' and 'hectic' modern life is. I have lots of friends who are always exhausted from going from here to there to there, and documenting it endlessly on their iphone. I'm like, "hmmm, my life isn't hectic at all", as I recline in my garden reading a book. Probably because I make my own coffee in my kitchen rather than driving 2 miles for it.

[Sibley]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

[Hedge_87]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

WHAT! is that real or are you exaggerating? I used to play pick up games of basketball down at the YMCA a couple times a week. It was a good way to get cardio in and not be stuck running or biking for long periods of time. My membership was paid for by my employer but would have really considered paying a monthly fee for access to the basketball courts. obviously not $300 a month. The Y also had a pool and a pretty decent but crowded free weights area.

[dragoncar]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

WHAT! is that real or are you exaggerating? I used to play pick up games of basketball down at the YMCA a couple times a week. It was a good way to get cardio in and not be stuck running or biking for long periods of time. My membership was paid for by my employer but would have really considered paying a monthly fee for access to the basketball courts. obviously not $300 a month. The Y also had a pool and a pretty decent but crowded free weights area.

I'm sure a $300/mo gym is full of business prospects, attractive women, and includes pools, saunas, steam rooms, spas, various sport courts, etc.  Maybe subsidized food.  It's getting into country club territory.  Obviously it's ridiculous to pay that just for basketball but maybe the friend isn't explaining the real reasons (status?)

[MgoSam]

When people talk about saving money by quitting Starbucks, I'm always incredulous when someone estimates how much money people can save reduce expenditures by not going to  Starbucks.  How many people REALLY go to Starbucks every single day, even on their days off?  Really?  Some people do that, but is that really as common as is made out to be? 

Even when I went through times of being awful and ate out every day for two weeks, I didn't eat at the same place every single time (that is much worse than going to Starbucks, but what I'm having a hard time conceptualizing is the repetitious  monotony, not the spendypants gluttony).

I wonder what the median number of times per week regular Starbucks customers go to Starbucks?

I would guess 7-10 times per week.

So, just based on two coworkers: Morning coffee, 5 days a week. Afternoon coffee, 3-5 days a week (sometimes meetings get in the way). That's just what I see, no idea about weekends.

One of those coworkers was on medical leave for about 3 months recently - preventable type stuff if you eat a decent diet and get some exercise. She also frequently eats fast food for lunch and is overweight.

The other coworker goes to the gym almost daily. Not a problem. But, he's a member of the $300 a month gym across the street instead of the $20 a month gym in the building. Why? Cause the one in the building doesn't have a basketball court. Oh, and yeah, he can't play basketball because he messed up his shoulder. How? Playing basketball.

WHAT! is that real or are you exaggerating? I used to play pick up games of basketball down at the YMCA a couple times a week. It was a good way to get cardio in and not be stuck running or biking for long periods of time. My membership was paid for by my employer but would have really considered paying a monthly fee for access to the basketball courts. obviously not $300 a month. The Y also had a pool and a pretty decent but crowded free weights area.

I'm sure a $300/mo gym is full of business prospects, attractive women, and includes pools, saunas, steam rooms, spas, various sport courts, etc.  Maybe subsidized food.  It's getting into country club territory.  Obviously it's ridiculous to pay that just for basketball but maybe the friend isn't explaining the real reasons (status?)

Yeah, depending on your area there's quite a bit of varieties in the qualities of gyms. I used to be a member of LA Fitness for $20/month, which was essentially free after insurance deductible (12 visits), but the facilities were absolute shit, the employees couldn't care less, and yeah. I used to be a member of Lifetime Fitness which has a few different levels, the basic one was going to be around $55/month for me, and that included access to a few different facilities. These are WAY better than LA Fitness, and most of them are 24 hours, which is nice when you have trouble sleeping and feel like working out. The next level above is even nicer, the facilities are much better and I felt like the employees were way better. Then they have at least one or two more premium levels that included access to better gyms, I believe one includes having someone there to wash your clothes while you shower...and one premium level is there solely because it includes a location in downtown Minneapolis where the Timberwolves players also work out.

[10dollarsatatime]

My friends are idiots. One posted this:


(Text in case the link breaks: Saving 20 odd dollars a week by not going to Dunkin Donuts for coffee isn't going to help when the working poor's real problem is worrying about being able to still make rent if they miss work due to the flu, so let's stop pretending like this "junior piggybank savers/guilt the poor out of simple comforts" technique is a viable solution to the problem of stagnating wages and skyrocketing living costs.)

I am completely 100% on board federally mandatory paid sick leave. And I'll be honest, it's for selfish reasons. I don't want sick people serving me food or stacking my produce or delivering my packages, plus if I wouldn't take a job without paid sick leave why should anyone else.

But $20/week is $1,040 a year. Or, more practically, two weeks of full-time, post-tax take home pay at $15/hour. There's your sick leave. Right there. You don't even have to wait for Congress to do anything.

This just came up on my page, and I replied with math.  Friend went on the rant about stagnating wages and poor people not just being lazy.  I replied again.  With the same math.  Which won't change the country's problems, but certainly mean that people can help themselves while they're waiting for that change.  I haven't heard back from that one yet.

[merula]

I wish I could respond with math. The issue is that these are friends from college, where I got a business degree and they got social science degrees. In college, I was "the conservative" in the group for arguing that stock market participation is not inherently evil.

And now, any argument around money is "Merula doesn't know what it's like because she has a good job." Despite the fact that I can point to $200 in monthly spending that the original poster has that I don't, just from what she posts to fb. (Three subscription boxes and an energy drink habit. Not to mention the fact that her kids have twice the toys mine do.)

[10dollarsatatime]

I wish I could respond with math. The issue is that these are friends from college, where I got a business degree and they got social science degrees. In college, I was "the conservative" in the group for arguing that stock market participation is not inherently evil.

And now, any argument around money is "Merula doesn't know what it's like because she has a good job." Despite the fact that I can point to $200 in monthly spending that the original poster has that I don't, just from what she posts to fb. (Three subscription boxes and an energy drink habit. Not to mention the fact that her kids have twice the toys mine do.)

Most of my friends ended up with theater degrees like mine, so I can math at them all I want.  Also... the one who posted it, I haven't seen in 10 years, and we weren't that great of friends to begin with.  I decided I was ok offending him with math.

[PencilThinStash]

I wish I could respond with math. The issue is that these are friends from college, where I got a business degree and they got social science degrees. In college, I was "the conservative" in the group for arguing that stock market participation is not inherently evil.

And now, any argument around money is "Merula doesn't know what it's like because she has a good job." Despite the fact that I can point to $200 in monthly spending that the original poster has that I don't, just from what she posts to fb. (Three subscription boxes and an energy drink habit. Not to mention the fact that her kids have twice the toys mine do.)

Most of my friends ended up with theater degrees like mine, so I can math at them all I want.  Also... the one who posted it, I haven't seen in 10 years, and we weren't that great of friends to begin with.  I decided I was ok offending him with math.

I understand being offended by stagnating wages and skyrocketing COL. Those are bad things. But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm a lot of fun at parties, in case you couldn't tell.

[nobodyspecial]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

[Dollar Slice]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

Physicists have every right to be offended by gravity.

[With This Herring]

But when someone is offended by math, I mentally put them in the same camp as somebody who's offended by gravity - they're an idiot.

I'm offended by gravity
But I'm a physicist

A physicist, eh?  Perhaps you will appreciate this little nugget:
Bahfest: Louie Terrill - Halting Terrestrial Rotation: The Benefits

BAHFest is a celebration of well-argued and thoroughly researched but completely incorrect scientific theory. Additional information is available at http://bahfest.com/

BAHFest, short for "Festival of Bad ad Hoc Hypotheses," is meant to be entirely humorous.  Please don't take any of it seriously.