Overheard on Facebook

[gimp]

Not strictly anti-Mustachian (apart from me wanting to tell them all, if you hate it so much then stop buying shoes and start saving for early retirement), but...

All the teachers I know have been complaining on Facebook (plus in phone calls and texts with me) about having to go back to work today.

A relative phone last night and it was all she had to talk about!

Always great when people who get six or seven weeks off over Christmas complain to people who get two weeks off.

>.<

Where does she work that she gets six or seven weeks off over Christmas?  Is she at a college/university level?  Every school I have ever heard about gets two weeks off for Christmas (and maybe one extra day if New Years falls funny).

Summer vacation in the southern hemisphere is my only guess.

[ltt]

SIL sent private messages to everyone she knows trying to get donations for her kids' soccer teams. This happens every couple of months. I've muted her after the last one, so I hadn't noticed she asked me again (she also asked DW). Today, she texts DW:

"I'm sending people fb messages to do it and if they don't, I'm deleting them. If you can't help my kid then u don't need to see my posts"

because one kid got $1k and the other got $600. We haven't given anything this time because it's all too much.

Ugh..............

[kiwibeach]

Christmas vacation is also summer vacation in New Zealand and Australia. 
The high school where I teach finished for the year on December 12, the students at back on Tuesday, January 31st for the beginning of the new school year. School year goes from February to December for all schools in New Zealand. 
Then two weeks vacation (called holidays down under) in April, July and September.

The return to school after summer vacation  is always motivating for me in terms of saving more!! My department has one particularly good example of why teaching at 64 with ill health is not good for anyone.

[Warlord1986]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

[Metric Mouse]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

[dragoncar]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

He should eat at Socks n' Lox, the only bagel shop that offers a free pair of socks with every meal!

[I'm a red panda]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

I'm not sure I'd give him this one on a "to be fair". If he was posting about buying generic peanut butter and on-sale bread and couldn't afford to replace his socks, that is one thing. But going out daily? 

[BDWW]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

I'm not sure I'd give him this one on a "to be fair". If he was posting about buying generic peanut butter and on-sale bread and couldn't afford to replace his socks, that is one thing. But going out daily?

Can't afford to replace socks? What kind of socks is he buying?

My unmustachian confession: I've thrown out bundles of socks because a few got holes. I find it far less aggravating to have a clean drawer full of matched socks, rather than a bunch of different brands/mismatched socks. But we're talking like 25 bucks here to get 10 pair or something.

[Kitsune]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

I'm not sure I'd give him this one on a "to be fair". If he was posting about buying generic peanut butter and on-sale bread and couldn't afford to replace his socks, that is one thing. But going out daily?

Can't afford to replace socks? What kind of socks is he buying?

My unmustachian confession: I've thrown out bundles of socks because a few got holes. I find it far less aggravating to have a clean drawer full of matched socks, rather than a bunch of different brands/mismatched socks. But we're talking like 25 bucks here to get 10 pair or something.

6-pack of black socks from Costco is around 10$. I have a drawer-full of black socks. One gets a hole? No problem. Any 2 socks are a pair if they're all short and black. Once a year or so I add an extra pack, and this seems to keep the system going quite well.

Apparently it's not the most feminine approach, but like hell am I spending time pairing colorful socks. I have a life to go be having.

[mm1970]

Family member on FB and their cars.  Notoriously bad at buying cars and trading in after 6 months, over and over and over.

They were doing better!  Had a Camry. 

I think I mentioned it here, but last summer bought a brand new tricked out Jeep.  And all I could think was "gas hog, high price, won't last".

Anyhoo, it's 5 months later.  The car has almost 12,000 miles on it, and she's got different priorities now so she's letting her baby go, firm $33,500.

5 month old car with 12,000 miles (2500 from a trip to Florida and back just last month), oh and did I mention she hit a deer?

She's showing a NADA values for trade in, but as far as I can tell, I can build the same car on the Jeep website for a little under $30k.

[Miss Piggy]

Family member on FB and their cars.  Notoriously bad at buying cars and trading in after 6 months, over and over and over.

They were doing better!  Had a Camry. 

I think I mentioned it here, but last summer bought a brand new tricked out Jeep.  And all I could think was "gas hog, high price, won't last".

Anyhoo, it's 5 months later.  The car has almost 12,000 miles on it, and she's got different priorities now so she's letting her baby go, firm $33,500.

5 month old car with 12,000 miles (2500 from a trip to Florida and back just last month), oh and did I mention she hit a deer?

She's showing a NADA values for trade in, but as far as I can tell, I can build the same car on the Jeep website for a little under $30k.

Well, this is a no-brainer. Clearly you are not including the value of the deer imprint on the vehicle in your comparison. I mean, c'mon man, it's a Jeep...shit like that adds value, right?

[Dave1442397]

Family member on FB and their cars.  Notoriously bad at buying cars and trading in after 6 months, over and over and over.

They were doing better!  Had a Camry. 

I think I mentioned it here, but last summer bought a brand new tricked out Jeep.  And all I could think was "gas hog, high price, won't last".

Anyhoo, it's 5 months later.  The car has almost 12,000 miles on it, and she's got different priorities now so she's letting her baby go, firm $33,500.

5 month old car with 12,000 miles (2500 from a trip to Florida and back just last month), oh and did I mention she hit a deer?

She's showing a NADA values for trade in, but as far as I can tell, I can build the same car on the Jeep website for a little under $30k.

Well, this is a no-brainer. Clearly you are not including the value of the deer imprint on the vehicle in your comparison. I mean, c'mon man, it's a Jeep...shit like that adds value, right?

And don't forget the trip to Florida! It's a well-traveled Jeep. The radiator may have love bugs splattered all over it.

[BlueHouse]

"I'm sending people fb messages to do it and if they don't, I'm deleting them. If you can't help my kid then u don't need to see my posts"

What an asshat! I'd save her the trouble and delete and block her before she gets the chance.

I'm not on FB, but I think I would post that comment on her FB page.  That is incredibly assholish behavior

[solon]

Comment from poster was, "Ya! That will never happen....and you know what...that is ok!"

[MrMoogle]

Been working 2 years at this company.  The best I can tell u about payday is I think it's fortnightly. 

[theadvicist]

Comment from poster was, "Ya! That will never happen....and you know what...that is ok!"

I already posted this in the Mustachian People Problems thread, but once I was so financially secure I forgot it was payday.

Unfortunately, the rest of our employees, for whom I run payroll, had not forgotten...

[jinga nation]

Been working 2 years at this company.  The best I can tell u about payday is I think it's fortnightly.

Been working almost 7 years at mine. I don't keep track of paydays, only realizing when I get an automated email reminder from the paycheck processing company.

[I'm a red panda]

I already posted this in the Mustachian People Problems thread, but once I was so financially secure I forgot it was payday.

Unfortunately, the rest of our employees, for whom I run payroll, had not forgotten...

Oh goodness!

I never know when payday is- but I don't pay other people!

[Dollar Slice]

I already posted this in the Mustachian People Problems thread, but once I was so financially secure I forgot it was payday.

Unfortunately, the rest of our employees, for whom I run payroll, had not forgotten...

My old boss did this to us a couple of times when he went on vacation and forgot to schedule it in advance. It always outs the people living paycheck-to-paycheck, they arrive at work in a panic saying all their payments will bounce because their pay didn't get automatically deposited at the stroke of midnight.

I run payroll at my company now and I have extensive electronic reminders set up so that I never forget anything payroll-related, including reminding our 1099/part-time people to submit their hours, reminding my boss to submit commissions for the sales staff, reminding me to submit payroll with plenty of time to spare, etc. While I think it is best not to be paycheck-to-paycheck, that doesn't mean it's OK to be late!

[Chris22]

I already posted this in the Mustachian People Problems thread, but once I was so financially secure I forgot it was payday.

Unfortunately, the rest of our employees, for whom I run payroll, had not forgotten...

My old boss did this to us a couple of times when he went on vacation and forgot to schedule it in advance. It always outs the people living paycheck-to-paycheck, they arrive at work in a panic saying all their payments will bounce because their pay didn't get automatically deposited at the stroke of midnight.

You don't have to live paycheck to paycheck to have it be an issue; I schedule automatic payments out of my checking account, and I have my checking account balance stay relatively low because I keep my money elsewhere in things that actually make money.  Yeah, I can transfer money to fix the problem, possibly incurring fees in the process, but it's still time and expense I have to incur as a result of someone else's inexcusable fuckup. 

[Ann]

I already posted this in the Mustachian People Problems thread, but once I was so financially secure I forgot it was payday.

Unfortunately, the rest of our employees, for whom I run payroll, had not forgotten...

My old boss did this to us a couple of times when he went on vacation and forgot to schedule it in advance. It always outs the people living paycheck-to-paycheck, they arrive at work in a panic saying all their payments will bounce because their pay didn't get automatically deposited at the stroke of midnight.

You don't have to live paycheck to paycheck to have it be an issue; I schedule automatic payments out of my checking account, and I have my checking account balance stay relatively low because I keep my money elsewhere in things that actually make money.  Yeah, I can transfer money to fix the problem, possibly incurring fees in the process, but it's still time and expense I have to incur as a result of someone else's inexcusable fuckup.

Agreed.  If my two-week paycheck is late (by a day, not hours), does that mean I get a free pass to be late everyday (hours late, not minutes) for two weeks?

[Dollar Slice]

I already posted this in the Mustachian People Problems thread, but once I was so financially secure I forgot it was payday.

Unfortunately, the rest of our employees, for whom I run payroll, had not forgotten...

My old boss did this to us a couple of times when he went on vacation and forgot to schedule it in advance. It always outs the people living paycheck-to-paycheck, they arrive at work in a panic saying all their payments will bounce because their pay didn't get automatically deposited at the stroke of midnight.

You don't have to live paycheck to paycheck to have it be an issue; I schedule automatic payments out of my checking account, and I have my checking account balance stay relatively low because I keep my money elsewhere in things that actually make money.  Yeah, I can transfer money to fix the problem, possibly incurring fees in the process, but it's still time and expense I have to incur as a result of someone else's inexcusable fuckup.

People like you are the ones who get mad/annoyed about it, while the people who are paycheck-to-paycheck are panicking because their financial house of cards is on the edge of collapse. It's a different reaction. Either way, I take an enormous amount of care never to do it.

[Chris22]

I already posted this in the Mustachian People Problems thread, but once I was so financially secure I forgot it was payday.

Unfortunately, the rest of our employees, for whom I run payroll, had not forgotten...

My old boss did this to us a couple of times when he went on vacation and forgot to schedule it in advance. It always outs the people living paycheck-to-paycheck, they arrive at work in a panic saying all their payments will bounce because their pay didn't get automatically deposited at the stroke of midnight.

You don't have to live paycheck to paycheck to have it be an issue; I schedule automatic payments out of my checking account, and I have my checking account balance stay relatively low because I keep my money elsewhere in things that actually make money.  Yeah, I can transfer money to fix the problem, possibly incurring fees in the process, but it's still time and expense I have to incur as a result of someone else's inexcusable fuckup.

People like you are the ones who get mad/annoyed about it, while the people who are paycheck-to-paycheck are panicking because their financial house of cards is on the edge of collapse. It's a different reaction. Either way, I take an enormous amount of care never to do it.

But I still might arrive at work in a 'panic' because my payments will bounce. 

Point is that people love to jump to the conclusion people get upset about money because they manage it poorly, but you simply can't know if someone is upset their mortgage bounced because they have $.12 or $1.2M of money spread across other accounts.

[Dollar Slice]

But I still might arrive at work in a 'panic' because my payments will bounce. 

Point is that people love to jump to the conclusion people get upset about money because they manage it poorly, but you simply can't know if someone is upset their mortgage bounced because they have $.12 or $1.2M of money spread across other accounts.

In my example, those were all people I've known and worked closely with for years... so I am pretty sure I would know the difference. :-)  I'm not so judgey that I would assume anything about a total stranger, of course.

[Warlord1986]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

If it is a question between overpriced sushi several times a week and socks, I would pick socks.

Former coworker (yesterday): OMG, my heat is out and why can refugees and illegals get money but nobody will help us fix our heat? (This is a paraphrase, but you get the idea).
Same former coworker (today): Thanks to (person's name) for fixing the heat! Now off to McDonalds to celebrate!

[Playing with Fire UK]

But I still might arrive at work in a 'panic' because my payments will bounce. 

Point is that people love to jump to the conclusion people get upset about money because they manage it poorly, but you simply can't know if someone is upset their mortgage bounced because they have $.12 or $1.2M of money spread across other accounts.

In my example, those were all people I've known and worked closely with for years... so I am pretty sure I would know the difference. :-)  I'm not so judgey that I would assume anything about a total stranger, of course.

When my company started paying our expenses late I had a mild dose of panic because that is what happens when a company has crap cash flow and is about to start folding or canning people. It turned out they were just crap at maths and the US hadn't accounted for our public holidays properly.

[Metric Mouse]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

If it is a question between overpriced sushi several times a week and socks, I would pick socks.

If I had to choose between giving up socks forever and sushi forever... That is not even a hard choice. Insulated shoes and slippers it would be.

[cheapass]

Saw a post today from some friends who we thought were immune from keeping up with the Joneses. Maybe they were just unable to afford it until now.

"Traded in my car I got for my 18th birthday, over 150,000 miles and 11 years of growing up!" Okay, maybe they went with a sensible replacement. Farther down in the comments... "We got a new range rover"

Holy hell, those things MSRP at $85,000. This couple is 29 years old.... even at 0% interest you're talking $1,400 A MONTH.... the opportunity cost... GAAAHHHH!!!!!!

[Just Joe]

Don't leave out the rest of the story - they pay $1400 a month to drive the RR and $1500 a month for an efficiency apartment they dislike and they complain about money??? ;)

[Chris22]

Saw a post today from some friends who we thought were immune from keeping up with the Joneses. Maybe they were just unable to afford it until now.

"Traded in my car I got for my 18th birthday, over 150,000 miles and 11 years of growing up!" Okay, maybe they went with a sensible replacement. Farther down in the comments... "We got a new range rover"

Holy hell, those things MSRP at $85,000. This couple is 29 years old.... even at 0% interest you're talking $1,400 A MONTH.... the opportunity cost... GAAAHHHH!!!!!!

There are several different Range Rovers, ranging from the Evoque starting at $42k and up.

[cheapass]

There are several different Range Rovers, ranging from the Evoque starting at $42k and up.

Perhaps they "settled" on this option. Still, quite the spendypants endeavor with massive opportunity cost for a 29 year old, no?

[Chris22]

There are several different Range Rovers, ranging from the Evoque starting at $42k and up.

Perhaps they "settled" on this option. Still, quite the spendypants endeavor with massive opportunity cost for a 29 year old, no?

Maybe, maybe not.  Hard to look at one single aspect of someone's spending and judge that.  We bought my wife a $40k SUV when she was 31 two years ago.  We'll make ~$250k this year, and we're hardly unique.  Is it a brilliant financial move?  Obviously not, but it doesn't affect our savings goals either, so whatever. 

[slugline]

Sometimes people say "new" when they really mean "new to us." But yeah, I'd say a Range Rover is a sensible choice for very few out there.

[4alpacas]

Friend of mine posts about going out for food every day. Today there was a picture of his hole-ridden socks that he 'can't afford' to replace.

To be fair, people need food. Very few people need socks at the level they need food.

If it is a question between overpriced sushi several times a week and socks, I would pick socks.

If I had to choose between giving up socks forever and sushi forever... That is not even a hard choice. Insulated shoes and slippers it would be.

+1
I have really pretty feet.

[Goldielocks]

Don't leave out the rest of the story - they pay $1400 a month to drive the RR and $1500 a month for an efficiency apartment they dislike and they complain about money??? ;)

In January, at the top of the parking lot at the ski hill. Big snow day.

 I had the great satisfaction of seeing a new range rover get stuck... in the snow in the middle of the parking lot -- not even at the side of the road.   Wheels spinning, etc.  It took volunteers to get him out.  and my DH said to me "that must be particularly embarrassing" which is when I learned what Range Rovers are supposed to be able to do for the money.  Apparently you can get 2 wheel drive RR's that have weird low profile tires for smoother rides.

The minivans (with chains), and our mature toyota were some of the primary cars to easily make it out of there.

[dragoncar]

Sometimes people say "new" when they really mean "new to us." But yeah, I'd say a Range Rover is a sensible choice for very few out there.

It's not just the base price, it's the shit reliability and increased cost of everything (since they are relatively rare imports compared to say, a Honda)

[Vindicated]

I don't have anything to share yet.  Just posting to follow, because this is the most motivating thread I've read on this forum.

[Just Joe]

Don't leave out the rest of the story - they pay $1400 a month to drive the RR and $1500 a month for an efficiency apartment they dislike and they complain about money??? ;)

In January, at the top of the parking lot at the ski hill. Big snow day.

 I had the great satisfaction of seeing a new range rover get stuck... in the snow in the middle of the parking lot -- not even at the side of the road.   Wheels spinning, etc.  It took volunteers to get him out.  and my DH said to me "that must be particularly embarrassing" which is when I learned what Range Rovers are supposed to be able to do for the money.  Apparently you can get 2 wheel drive RR's that have weird low profile tires for smoother rides.

The minivans (with chains), and our mature toyota were some of the primary cars to easily make it out of there.

Doesn't it make ya want to toot your horn as you drive by in your totally PAID FOR family hauler? I don't know about you but I'm proud of my well worn (but very presentable) cars. Its sort of an underdog/little engine that could sort of thing. They never cost that much and they keep on getting the job done going on two decades. 

[horsepoor]

Silly, the Range Rover isn't for driving in snow

[marielle]

I'll just leave this here.

[Taran Wanderer]

Eek!  What happened to (paraphrased) "measure twice, buy once"?

(Edited to fix an autocorrect problem...)

[StockBeard]

"I'm sending people fb messages to do it and if they don't, I'm deleting them. If you can't help my kid then u don't need to see my posts"

What an asshat! I'd save her the trouble and delete and block her before she gets the chance.

I'm not on FB, but I think I would post that comment on her FB page.  That is incredibly assholish behavior

She's deleting her messages, not the people. I'm not sure I understand what people are getting angry about? If you're not reading the message, ultimately she deletes it. Makes it easier to remove noise in her inbox/outbox?

[shelivesthedream]

"I'm sending people fb messages to do it and if they don't, I'm deleting them. If you can't help my kid then u don't need to see my posts"

What an asshat! I'd save her the trouble and delete and block her before she gets the chance.

I'm not on FB, but I think I would post that comment on her FB page.  That is incredibly assholish behavior

She's deleting her messages, not the people. I'm not sure I understand what people are getting angry about? If you're not reading the message, ultimately she deletes it. Makes it easier to remove noise in her inbox/outbox?

No. You are wrong.

[QueenAlice]

"I'm sending people fb messages to do it and if they don't, I'm deleting them. If you can't help my kid then u don't need to see my posts"

What an asshat! I'd save her the trouble and delete and block her before she gets the chance.

I'm not on FB, but I think I would post that comment on her FB page.  That is incredibly assholish behavior

She's deleting her messages, not the people. I'm not sure I understand what people are getting angry about? If you're not reading the message, ultimately she deletes it. Makes it easier to remove noise in her inbox/outbox?

[Megma]

I'll just leave this here.

Sheesh facebook sale groups are worse that craigslist I swear. I keep seeing ads for "custom" this or that - um it's not custom when you try to re-sell it. It was custom only for your space/decor, now those are just used curtains/sofa/rug/etc.

[AlanStache]

To summarize and merge a few different lines from a FB friend: "Money is tight right now, I dont have the cash to pay my weekly landscaper to re-sod my yard."  The city gave her a fix-it ticket because during the California water restrictions her yard died and is basically dirt now and "unimproved".  She posted a pic and it does not look that bad, bushes and trees look fine - I suggested she put down some seed but not sure that is time of year/climate appropriate.  WRT crying poor while paying a gardener... I will not touch that with a ten foot pole.

[Taran Wanderer]

Sheesh. Buy some f$&%ing bark dust and be done with it.

[horsepoor]

To summarize and merge a few different lines from a FB friend: "Money is tight right now, I dont have the cash to pay my weekly landscaper to re-sod my yard."  The city gave her a fix-it ticket because during the California water restrictions her yard died and is basically dirt now and "unimproved".  She posted a pic and it does not look that bad, bushes and trees look fine - I suggested she put down some seed but not sure that is time of year/climate appropriate.  WRT crying poor while paying a gardener... I will not touch that with a ten foot pole.

Wow.  Why, in an area subject to water restrictions, is putting sod down the default?  So it can die during the next drought and need to be replaced again, all while sucking up too much water.  Maybe give her some links on xeriscaping?  She could put in some buffalo grass plugs if she really feels the need for lawn, but yeah, DIY it.

[AlanStache]

To summarize and merge a few different lines from a FB friend: "Money is tight right now, I dont have the cash to pay my weekly landscaper to re-sod my yard."  The city gave her a fix-it ticket because during the California water restrictions her yard died and is basically dirt now and "unimproved".  She posted a pic and it does not look that bad, bushes and trees look fine - I suggested she put down some seed but not sure that is time of year/climate appropriate.  WRT crying poor while paying a gardener... I will not touch that with a ten foot pole.

Wow.  Why, in an area subject to water restrictions, is putting sod down the default?  So it can die during the next drought and need to be replaced again, all while sucking up too much water.  Maybe give her some links on xeriscaping?  She could put in some buffalo grass plugs if she really feels the need for lawn, but yeah, DIY it.

I grew up mostly in NorCaL but have not lived there since the early 00's but I think the legal/cultural/societal expectations that you have a green front lawn have not really changed much over the decades.  I mean most all of the state has regular droughts but I am not sure that is seen as 'normal'.  Just checked and 11 of the last 20 years are refereed to as 'dry years'.  At some point you have to drop the word 'dry' and just call them 'years'.  What do the current Ca residents think - are green yards still a standard where you are looked down upon if you dont have it?

I am not sure of all her details but I suspect she is in a rock vs hard place situation; several young kids, HCOL area trying to get into a new profession.  Where both time and money are very tight so long term investments are hard given day to day struggles.  But yeah a weekly gardener...

[frooglepoodle]

To summarize and merge a few different lines from a FB friend: "Money is tight right now, I dont have the cash to pay my weekly landscaper to re-sod my yard."  The city gave her a fix-it ticket because during the California water restrictions her yard died and is basically dirt now and "unimproved".  She posted a pic and it does not look that bad, bushes and trees look fine - I suggested she put down some seed but not sure that is time of year/climate appropriate.  WRT crying poor while paying a gardener... I will not touch that with a ten foot pole.

Wow.  Why, in an area subject to water restrictions, is putting sod down the default?  So it can die during the next drought and need to be replaced again, all while sucking up too much water.  Maybe give her some links on xeriscaping?  She could put in some buffalo grass plugs if she really feels the need for lawn, but yeah, DIY it.

I grew up mostly in NorCaL but have not lived there since the early 00's but I think the legal/cultural/societal expectations that you have a green front lawn have not really changed much over the decades.  I mean most all of the state has regular droughts but I am not sure that is seen as 'normal'.  Just checked and 11 of the last 20 years are refereed to as 'dry years'.  At some point you have to drop the word 'dry' and just call them 'years'.  What do the current Ca residents think - are green yards still a standard where you are looked down upon if you dont have it?

I am not sure of all her details but I suspect she is in a rock vs hard place situation; several young kids, HCOL area trying to get into a new profession.  Where both time and money are very tight so long term investments are hard given day to day struggles.  But yeah a weekly gardener...

In my parent's town in SoCal, the city is giving incentives to convert lawn to drought-tolerant landscaping. My parents have done a portion of their front yard that way and also have expanded the patio to take over some of the back lawn and reduce water use. I think the social expectation is still that yards look "nice", though the definition of that is somewhat broader than it used to be.