Overheard on Facebook

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

The difference is that fat people know they're fat and only a tiny minority of people try to justify it or say that it's an optimum state to be in. They might accept it but they don't extol it.

Hold my beer... you haven't met fat people in my family. I mean, my extended family. (pun intended)

There's this idea in (East) Indian and African cultures that being fat = healthy. Being slim is associated with poverty.

Every time I go back to East Africa, my relatives assume things are bad for my wife and me. I have to explain to them that being poor in America means you can't afford a lot of veggies and whole grain foods in the supermarket, that food deserts exist, and we don't live in one.

White bread syndrome:
America - cheapest you can find, bad for you.
East Africa - associated with wealth, because brown bread is more common and cheaper. Also, "White is Right"

Being slim was associated with poverty for millennia!  Being fat is only a recent pathology.  And having some fat is good if you get sick, from what I understand.

Being seriously ill will melt that fat away in record time. Your body does need resources to fight with. Having said that, a healthy weight has enough body fat for that. You're not saving up for anything by being 300 pounds! It's funny how doctor's change advice over time though - before old age they encourage you to lose a few pounds, once you hit "old age" they encourage you to maintain your weight.

[Wrenchturner]

Being seriously ill will melt that fat away in record time. Your body does need resources to fight with. Having said that, a healthy weight has enough body fat for that. You're not saving up for anything by being 300 pounds! It's funny how doctor's change advice over time though - before old age they encourage you to lose a few pounds, once you hit "old age" they encourage you to maintain your weight.

You're right.  Part of the problem is that what is marketed to be healthy is like <10% body fat.

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

Being seriously ill will melt that fat away in record time. Your body does need resources to fight with. Having said that, a healthy weight has enough body fat for that. You're not saving up for anything by being 300 pounds! It's funny how doctor's change advice over time though - before old age they encourage you to lose a few pounds, once you hit "old age" they encourage you to maintain your weight.

You're right.  Part of the problem is that what is marketed to be healthy is like <10% body fat.

Anything that's suggested that has you actively working against your own healthy body isn't healthy. Very low bodyfat is hard for most people to maintain for a reason. There will always be a few who are just genetically of very low bodyfat. That's their healthy. It isn't my healthy. There isn't one healthy, just as there isn't an ideal height or skintone or eyecolour or orientation. You have to remember that people who deal with large groups of folk, like medical agencies, use statistics to tell them what is "normal" and therefore healthy. Outliers aren't automatically unhealthy. I've got friends whose baby was classed as very underweight by their local medical center. By the general standards of kiwi babies, she was a very small baby for her age. Except that her parents are of East Asian extraction, both below 5'5 and both of tiny build. The med staff were also concerned at what the child was being fed - a traditional East Asian type of baby food, one that has raised millions of East Asians! Suffice to say, the child was absolutely fine, although it took awhile for the do-gooders to come to that conclusion.

[AlanStache]

...
Anything that's suggested that has you actively working against your own healthy body isn't healthy. Very low bodyfat is hard for most people to maintain for a reason. There will always be a few who are just genetically of very low bodyfat. That's their healthy. It isn't my healthy. There isn't one healthy, just as there isn't an ideal height or skintone or eyecolour or orientation. You have to remember that people who deal with large groups of folk, like medical agencies, use statistics to tell them what is "normal" and therefore healthy. Outliers aren't automatically unhealthy. I've got friends whose baby was classed as very underweight by their local medical center. By the general standards of kiwi babies, she was a very small baby for her age. Except that her parents are of East Asian extraction, both below 5'5 and both of tiny build. The med staff were also concerned at what the child was being fed - a traditional East Asian type of baby food, one that has raised millions of East Asians! Suffice to say, the child was absolutely fine, although it took awhile for the do-gooders to come to that conclusion.

I would hope they are using quantity and quality of life to determine what is healthly and not just "normal == healthy".  I cant say I care what is or was normal, I care about living a long high quality life. 

But yeah your friends are why simple statistical models cant be blindly applied.  One always needs to remember how a mathematical model was generated and what assumptions are baked into it or its source data. 

[Taran Wanderer]

People get so fixated on “average” being “normal”. In mathematical terms, normal is a distribution and includes a range of values.  Weather forecasts are the worst for this. It drives me nuts to hear the weather person on the local news declare that today was X degrees above or below normal.  IT’S ABOVE OR BELOW AVERAGE!!!  Yes, that’s me yelling at the TV.  They haven’t heard me yet, apparently.

[JAYSLOL]

The former high school classmate Facebook friend of mine that has spent the last 2 years posting about how they really need to win the lottery to have any chance of paying off debts while posting photos of a brand new big screen tv and new huge dodge truck and complaining about their "loan place"(payday loans), and not making ends meet just posted that they crashed their SO's car and posted a photo of a brand new jeep SUV as the replacement.  I just don't understand how people can be so wrapped up in consumerism that they can completely destroy their own future for that new car smell today.

It’s been a long time since an update.  Just saw a post that this person is off to Las Vegas, I have a feeling more posts of anti-mustachian financial trainwreckery will follow. 

[cupcakery]

Sounds like humble bragging to me, especially since he uses that ridiculous baby-talk "vacay".

Definitely some bragging in there. "This vacay" as in "I've taken others and plan to do it again."  They're either advertising that they're incredibly stupid at planning and not reading price tags, or bragging that they can afford to blow that much money.  The last time I had a $1000 hotel bill I was staying somewhere for two weeks.

I can’t even with the fat fire community

This is particularly funny to me.  A few years ago, I spent the day with one of my out of town friends.  She had just lost her job and had her car repossessed.  We were just walking around and she wanted to go in the candle shop because they were having a sale.  I said that I thought it was a bad idea given her financial situation, but was told that they were 50% off so she HAD to get them.  When it was time to go, she asked if I wanted to get dinner.  I said no, I was going to eat at home and save my money.  She said we could go somewhere cheap.  No thanks.  Meanwhile, I was gainfully employed with money in the bank.  It made me sad.

[partgypsy]

Being seriously ill will melt that fat away in record time. Your body does need resources to fight with. Having said that, a healthy weight has enough body fat for that. You're not saving up for anything by being 300 pounds! It's funny how doctor's change advice over time though - before old age they encourage you to lose a few pounds, once you hit "old age" they encourage you to maintain your weight.

You're right.  Part of the problem is that what is marketed to be healthy is like <10% body fat.

Anything that's suggested that has you actively working against your own healthy body isn't healthy. Very low bodyfat is hard for most people to maintain for a reason. There will always be a few who are just genetically of very low bodyfat. That's their healthy. It isn't my healthy. There isn't one healthy, just as there isn't an ideal height or skintone or eyecolour or orientation. You have to remember that people who deal with large groups of folk, like medical agencies, use statistics to tell them what is "normal" and therefore healthy. Outliers aren't automatically unhealthy. I've got friends whose baby was classed as very underweight by their local medical center. By the general standards of kiwi babies, she was a very small baby for her age. Except that her parents are of East Asian extraction, both below 5'5 and both of tiny build. The med staff were also concerned at what the child was being fed - a traditional East Asian type of baby food, one that has raised millions of East Asians! Suffice to say, the child was absolutely fine, although it took awhile for the do-gooders to come to that conclusion.

Or get a doctor with common sense. My oldest daughter was always around 50% of weight but- as she is long/skinny, for a long time her bmi was very low, around the 5% level. The doctor simply tracked her weight. She was healthy, she stayed in the same percentile but just following her own track). She only ended up getting into the 25% later in life when she hit puberty and got some curves. Still, her bmi will always be on the low side because she just has a stretched out body shape (long limbs).

otoh with pregnancy with youngest, they were concerned about her in utero, bugging me to eat more because based on the ultrasounds were estimating her to be underweight saying she was going to be around 4.5-5.5 lbs at birth. When she was born she was 7 lb 1 ounce.

[ysette9]

I’ve read that the causal arrow goes the other direction though: you eat more and gain more weight because the baby you are growing is big, not that eating more will make the baby bigger.

I’ve made three babies and each pregnancy I pretty much ate the same. My first baby I was told not to do strenuous exercise and she was tiny (1.65kg). My second I ate the same and exercised and she was gigantic for her gestational age and has remained consistently 90th percentile for weight from day 1. My third baby is somewhere in the middle and was the pregnancy where I worked out pretty much daily.

[partgypsy]

I’ve read that the causal arrow goes the other direction though: you eat more and gain more weight because the baby you are growing is big, not that eating more will make the baby bigger.

I’ve made three babies and each pregnancy I pretty much ate the same. My first baby I was told not to do strenuous exercise and she was tiny (1.65kg). My second I ate the same and exercised and she was gigantic for her gestational age and has remained consistently 90th percentile for weight from day 1. My third baby is somewhere in the middle and was the pregnancy where I worked out pretty much daily.

What I have heard, is that the baby steals from the mom. The baby is typically going to get what it needs regardless. But not an excuse not to eat well or nutritionally because it will definitely impact the mother's health and possibly impact the baby.  The opposite thing happened when my mother when pregnant with me was told to STOP EATING so much, you are getting too fat! She was basically put on a diet. The doctor didn't realize she was having twins. It is true we were both on the small side and probably would have weighed more if she ate the way she wanted. But we were both perfectly healthy. 

[Sibley]

I’ve read that the causal arrow goes the other direction though: you eat more and gain more weight because the baby you are growing is big, not that eating more will make the baby bigger.

I’ve made three babies and each pregnancy I pretty much ate the same. My first baby I was told not to do strenuous exercise and she was tiny (1.65kg). My second I ate the same and exercised and she was gigantic for her gestational age and has remained consistently 90th percentile for weight from day 1. My third baby is somewhere in the middle and was the pregnancy where I worked out pretty much daily.

What I have heard, is that the baby steals from the mom. The baby is typically going to get what it needs regardless. But not an excuse not to eat well or nutritionally because it will definitely impact the mother's health and possibly impact the baby.  The opposite thing happened when my mother when pregnant with me was told to STOP EATING so much, you are getting too fat! She was basically put on a diet. The doctor didn't realize she was having twins. It is true we were both on the small side and probably would have weighed more if she ate the way she wanted. But we were both perfectly healthy.

I sincerely hope that doctor apologized on hands and knees to your mother when they realized that they starved a pregnant woman because of stupid "norms". But I doubt that happened. Sometimes doctors are really, really stupid.

[partgypsy]

No. This was when pregnant and laboring women were treated like cattle. Things have definitely improved.

[Travis]

From the comments section of the Garrison Commander's daily update:

Will my kids be excused if I don't school them at home? I am not a teacher nor do I want to be

School has been closed for three weeks and counting. The students are receiving daily assignments on the school portal.  As parents we don't have to teach a damn thing - just make sure the kids are logging in and doing the work.  Regardless, we're parents. Making sure our kids are getting an education somehow is what parents do.  Several other spouses gave her hell for the comment.

[DadJokes]

Found this gen today:

I feel some businesses are taking advantage of the situation regarding the Tornado and this Virus!!! I went to one of the Cigarette stores that have been to a few times but not my regular place I stop at. As the 2 places I normally go to were blown way or damaged by tornado. ANYWAY...go into this Cigarette store couple days ago and ask for just a couple of packs of my brand (generic) until I get paid this Friday, The person behind counter....tells me they don't sell by the pack!! WHAT..I say?? What the HELL?? He tells me that they only sell the "Edgefield RED 100's Box" only by the CARTON!!  Because his customers only buy by the carton and never packs?? I just about turned around and wallked out of there. I told him my cigarette places both of them got hit by tornado and just wanted couple packs to hold me over for couple days till I get paid!! He gave in and opened a carton and let me buy 2 packs!! I GUESS THEY MAKE MORE MONEY OFF SELLING CARTONS THAN PACKS??... — feeling mad.

[Taran Wanderer]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

I employ the same logic about chocolate. Big bars are cheaper, but little bars mean I can't eat as much...... sigh

[Travis]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

I employ the same logic about chocolate. Big bars are cheaper, but little bars mean I can't eat as much...... sigh

I'll continue to eat as much chocolate as you put in front of me, often to the point of it making me sick. When there's chocolate candy in the house, normal procedure is for her to grab one or two, my son has a stash, and the rest goes with me to work.  After Halloween, Christmas, and Easter my wife has to remind me of my eating habits and how unsympathetic she'll be if I give myself a stomach ache. 

[dragoncar]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

I employ the same logic about chocolate. Big bars are cheaper, but little bars mean I can't eat as much...... sigh

Gotta get a chocobuddy

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

I employ the same logic about chocolate. Big bars are cheaper, but little bars mean I can't eat as much...... sigh

Gotta get a chocobuddy

Been there. Turns out that sharing doesn't mean halving.......

[jinga nation]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

I employ the same logic about chocolate. Big bars are cheaper, but little bars mean I can't eat as much...... sigh

Gotta get a chocobuddy

Been there. Turns out that sharing doesn't mean halving.......

Split your choc according to your asset allocation. I share 80/20 or 70/30 with wife, sometimes 60/40 if I'm in a good mood.

[frugalnacho]

I take the boglehead approach to chocolate and consume about 10X what is realistically required just in case.  2,000 calories a day? preposterous, I don't see how anyone could survive on less than 20,000.

[dragoncar]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

I employ the same logic about chocolate. Big bars are cheaper, but little bars mean I can't eat as much...... sigh

Gotta get a chocobuddy

Been there. Turns out that sharing doesn't mean halving.......

Split your choc according to your asset allocation. I share 80/20 or 70/30 with wife, sometimes 60/40 if I'm in a good mood.

This seems like a good strategy until you have to rebalance

[jinga nation]

Found this gen today:

Addiction sucks.

Many smokers never buy more than one pack at a time because they will smoke faster if they have more. My mother, as a smoker in the 80s, bought by the carton because it was cheaper, whereas my father, who still smokes, has always done just one pack at a time. Which is obviously terrible in many ways, but at least shows  some self-awareness?

I employ the same logic about chocolate. Big bars are cheaper, but little bars mean I can't eat as much...... sigh

Gotta get a chocobuddy

Been there. Turns out that sharing doesn't mean halving.......

Split your choc according to your asset allocation. I share 80/20 or 70/30 with wife, sometimes 60/40 if I'm in a good mood.

This seems like a good strategy until you have to rebalance

Always rebalance in your favor.
I'm in shape, round is a shape.

[Uturn]

Three posts this week from the same person

Upset that their annual Disney World trip is cancelled
Grateful for restaurant delivery services, because who has time to cook and
Upset that they won't be getting a stimulus check because they cannot afford to pay taxes, therefore does not have returns filed for the last few years
 

[Kris]

Three posts this week from the same person

Upset that their annual Disney World trip is cancelled
Grateful for restaurant delivery services, because who has time to cook and
Upset that they won't be getting a stimulus check because they cannot afford to pay taxes, therefore does not have returns filed for the last few years

That last one almost literally made my head explode.

[zolotiyeruki]

Three posts this week from the same person

Upset that their annual Disney World trip is cancelled
Grateful for restaurant delivery services, because who has time to cook and
Upset that they won't be getting a stimulus check because they cannot afford to pay taxes, therefore does not have returns filed for the last few years

Wow.  The thing is, Disney is offering some substantial discounts to people who had reservations cancelled because of COVID-19.  I.e. if you had hotel and park tickets, they are giving away free dining plans.

Posting on social media that you haven't filed your taxes the last few years seems...unwise.

[SwordGuy]

Three posts this week from the same person

Upset that their annual Disney World trip is cancelled
Grateful for restaurant delivery services, because who has time to cook and
Upset that they won't be getting a stimulus check because they cannot afford to pay taxes, therefore does not have returns filed for the last few years

Wow.  The thing is, Disney is offering some substantial discounts to people who had reservations cancelled because of COVID-19.  I.e. if you had hotel and park tickets, they are giving away free dining plans.

Posting on social media that you haven't filed your taxes the last few years seems...unwise.

Yeah, with up to a 30% of collected taxes bounty going to the person who reported them...

https://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/personal-income-taxes/how-to-report-tax-fraud3.htm


Given the person's posts they deserve to be turned in.  Even when we were dirt poor we paid our damn taxes.   

[ohsnap]

Someone posted a PSA yesterday on my community's FB page that we should all go out and buy new cars right now because the deals are so good.  "Support your local business people and don’t let these programs go to waste."  He traded in his 2016 SUV for a 2019 and got to keep the same payment.  For 7 years.

Out of 142 comments, only one person pointed out that he'd just put himself into debt for 7 years and would likely be underwater for half of that time.  He got some angry responses to that saying he was just jealous.  The other comments are painful to read.  Lots of folks saying "I have a 2017 and I'd love to trade mine in!"

[Miss Piggy]

Someone posted a PSA yesterday on my community's FB page that we should all go out and buy new cars right now because the deals are so good.  "Support your local business people and don’t let these programs go to waste."  He traded in his 2016 SUV for a 2019 and got to keep the same payment.  For 7 years.

Out of 142 comments, only one person pointed out that he'd just put himself into debt for 7 years and would likely be underwater for half of that time.  He got some angry responses to that saying he was just jealous.  The other comments are painful to read.  Lots of folks saying "I have a 2017 and I'd love to trade mine in!"

I mean...just...wow. I don't understand the car mentality sometimes.

[jinga nation]

Someone posted a PSA yesterday on my community's FB page that we should all go out and buy new cars right now because the deals are so good.  "Support your local business people and don’t let these programs go to waste."  He traded in his 2016 SUV for a 2019 and got to keep the same payment.  For 7 years.

Out of 142 comments, only one person pointed out that he'd just put himself into debt for 7 years and would likely be underwater for half of that time.  He got some angry responses to that saying he was just jealous.  The other comments are painful to read.  Lots of folks saying "I have a 2017 and I'd love to trade mine in!"

I mean...just...wow. I don't understand the car mentality sometimes.

Misery loves company. Birds of a feather...
All too common at my workplace (govt agency) where a lot of the Gov Civilians and Military keep on rolling loans, buying/upgrading/leasing new vehicles, focus on monthly payment only...
Contractors are used to periods of leanness during transition, protests, etc. In the row that I sit in, the 6 contractors have used cars or buy new and keep for life, none commute in trucks (one has a ~1994 Nissan Frontier at home).

[Sugaree]

Someone posted a PSA yesterday on my community's FB page that we should all go out and buy new cars right now because the deals are so good.  "Support your local business people and don’t let these programs go to waste."  He traded in his 2016 SUV for a 2019 and got to keep the same payment.  For 7 years.

Out of 142 comments, only one person pointed out that he'd just put himself into debt for 7 years and would likely be underwater for half of that time.  He got some angry responses to that saying he was just jealous.  The other comments are painful to read.  Lots of folks saying "I have a 2017 and I'd love to trade mine in!"

I mean...just...wow. I don't understand the car mentality sometimes.

Misery loves company. Birds of a feather...
All too common at my workplace (govt agency) where a lot of the Gov Civilians and Military keep on rolling loans, buying/upgrading/leasing new vehicles, focus on monthly payment only...
Contractors are used to periods of leanness during transition, protests, etc. In the row that I sit in, the 6 contractors have used cars or buy new and keep for life, none commute in trucks (one has a ~1994 Nissan Frontier at home).

I see this a lot too.  Contractors never know when a stop-work order could come down.  The civilians are more confident that a paycheck will be consistent for the next 5-7 years.

[wonkette]

On a mainstream women's personal finance group

OP: Is anyone pulling out money from their 401k now that penalties have been lifted?

Early Comment: What? Penalties are lifted? Thanks in advance!

[Many many comments about how exactly to take advantage of this exciting opportunity because "it is your money anyway." There were some comments warning people away from this, but not many.]

Obviously if you are in dire straights you need to do what you need to do, I understand that many people don't have emergency savings, but I think highlighting this "opportunity" is going to lead to a lot of dumb decisions.

[frugalnacho]

The same people in 10 years will be promoting gold or bitcoin and talking about how the stock market is such "a scam" and how after diligently investing (like 3% of their income) for decades they have "nothing" to show for it in terms of investment returns because the whole system was rigged against them while conveniently forgetting to mention that they under saved in the first place, and at the first opportunity decided to sell during a recession and lock in losses to be able to buy a hot tub, and then lock in even further losses with the upkeep of said hot tub.  The crooks of wall street strike again.

[Kris]

On a mainstream women's personal finance group

OP: Is anyone pulling out money from their 401k now that penalties have been lifted?

Early Comment: What? Penalties are lifted? Thanks in advance!

[Many many comments about how exactly to take advantage of this exciting opportunity because "it is your money anyway." There were some comments warning people away from this, but not many.]

Obviously if you are in dire straights you need to do what you need to do, I understand that many people don't have emergency savings, but I think highlighting this "opportunity" is going to lead to a lot of dumb decisions.

This was my reaction to that news, as well. Ugh.

I mean, the problem is, I know some people will find themselves in dire enough straits that this will help them immensely.

But my gut is, the vast majority of people who will pull money out of their 401ks because this temporary lift in penalties will be doing it to buy something big out of a lack of self-control.

[partgypsy]

Similar to the post about everyone should now buy a new car, I am closing in on paying off the car I got in 2016 (366 to go!). So of course included in the most recent invoice for payment is an ad about buying a new car with the great interest rates! I am so looking forward to having a paid off car. I don't understand people who have a paid off car, wanting to go right back into debt again.

[partgypsy]

On a mainstream women's personal finance group

OP: Is anyone pulling out money from their 401k now that penalties have been lifted?

Early Comment: What? Penalties are lifted? Thanks in advance!

[Many many comments about how exactly to take advantage of this exciting opportunity because "it is your money anyway." There were some comments warning people away from this, but not many.]

Obviously if you are in dire straights you need to do what you need to do, I understand that many people don't have emergency savings, but I think highlighting this "opportunity" is going to lead to a lot of dumb decisions.

This was my reaction to that news, as well. Ugh.

I mean, the problem is, I know some people will find themselves in dire enough straits that this will help them immensely.

But my gut is, the vast majority of people who will pull money out of their 401ks because this temporary lift in penalties will be doing it to buy something big out of a lack of self-control.

.

My lil brother told his work that he's not coming in. He's used up all his annual leave now, and now had to decide and send correspondence of how much unpaid leave he wants to take off.
He is kind of freaked out about the virus, especially as my elderly mother lives with him. He said, I took out a 50K on my house. So I'm good for the rest of the year." And I said, and yeah, what about after that? If you want to actually hold onto your house you might need a plan B.

[jinga nation]

Similar to the post about everyone should now buy a new car, I am closing in on paying off the car I got in 2016 (366 to go!). So of course included in the most recent invoice for payment is an ad about buying a new car with the great interest rates! I am so looking forward to having a paid off car. I don't understand people who have a paid off car, wanting to go right back into debt again.

Congrats! You're going to enjoy the next several years and use them to expand your little green army.

Sadly, Mustachians/savers see it as debt, many do not. They see it as "just another monthly payment" akin to cellphone plans, subscription services, gym payments, etc.

[solon]

Overheard on Twitter.

[wonkette]

Overheard on Twitter.

I really wish anyone who described consumables as an investment was required to post a year later about the ROI of said investment. Instagram likes don't count.

The best therapist is the therapist that calls you on your bullshit. The money she's spending on that "investment" also seems misplaced.

[partgypsy]

Overheard on Twitter.

wow that therapist seems like an enabler and yes-man.

[SugarMountain]

Overheard on Twitter.

I really wish anyone who described consumables as an investment was required to post a year later about the ROI of said investment. Instagram likes don't count.

The best therapist is the therapist that calls you on your bullshit. The money she's spending on that "investment" also seems misplaced.

I assume for her (Best of Nextdoor creator), much of her income comes from speaking engagements and her appearances at SXSW are opportunities for her to showcase herself, so it likely is an "investment" that may help her get more gigs.  Whether it's a worthwhile investment is not really for me to say, I don't know whether bookers that would be interested in her care that much about what her hair looks like.

[dragoncar]

Overheard on Twitter.

I really wish anyone who described consumables as an investment was required to post a year later about the ROI of said investment. Instagram likes don't count.

The best therapist is the therapist that calls you on your bullshit. The money she's spending on that "investment" also seems misplaced.

If it was for a paid gig, I could see it.  Unclear from the tweet what the purpose of the purchase was.

Same way toner carriages would be an investment if you have a business.

[Wrenchturner]

Overheard on Twitter.

I really wish anyone who described consumables as an investment was required to post a year later about the ROI of said investment. Instagram likes don't count.

The best therapist is the therapist that calls you on your bullshit. The money she's spending on that "investment" also seems misplaced.

If it was for a paid gig, I could see it.  Unclear from the tweet what the purpose of the purchase was.

Same way toner carriages would be an investment if you have a business.

That's what I was thinking, although I am not qualified enough in the hair department to really know.

(It's also possible the thairapist didn't actually say this or mean this.)

[Davnasty]

Overheard on Twitter.

I really wish anyone who described consumables as an investment was required to post a year later about the ROI of said investment. Instagram likes don't count.

The best therapist is the therapist that calls you on your bullshit. The money she's spending on that "investment" also seems misplaced.

If it was for a paid gig, I could see it.  Unclear from the tweet what the purpose of the purchase was.

Same way toner carriages would be an investment if you have a business.

That's what I was thinking, although I am not qualified enough in the hair department to really know.

(It's also possible the thairapist didn't actually say this or mean this.)

Very true. People hear what that want to hear.

[dragoncar]

Overheard on Twitter.

I really wish anyone who described consumables as an investment was required to post a year later about the ROI of said investment. Instagram likes don't count.

The best therapist is the therapist that calls you on your bullshit. The money she's spending on that "investment" also seems misplaced.

If it was for a paid gig, I could see it.  Unclear from the tweet what the purpose of the purchase was.

Same way toner carriages would be an investment if you have a business.

That's what I was thinking, although I am not qualified enough in the hair department to really know.

(It's also possible the thairapist didn't actually say this or mean this.)

Very true. People hear what that want to hear.

You are right, I am very handsome

[AnnaGrowsAMustache]

Overheard on Twitter.

I really wish anyone who described consumables as an investment was required to post a year later about the ROI of said investment. Instagram likes don't count.

The best therapist is the therapist that calls you on your bullshit. The money she's spending on that "investment" also seems misplaced.

If it was for a paid gig, I could see it.  Unclear from the tweet what the purpose of the purchase was.

Same way toner carriages would be an investment if you have a business.

That's what I was thinking, although I am not qualified enough in the hair department to really know.

(It's also possible the thairapist didn't actually say this or mean this.)

Very true. People hear what that want to hear.

You are right, I am very handsome

LOL!

[mm1970]

Today, on FB:

I am in California.  We've been basically shut down for a little over a month.  Our YMCA shut down on 3/17/2020 officially (my last day there was a week before that), and they immediately sent an email to members.  The email has general "this is a hard time, we are hoping to open April 1, etc.) with other useful info like:

1. Please keep your membership active if you can, it is helpful
2. If you need to cancel or put on hold, contact us here (email)

They sent another email a month later.
Their website has a form you can fill out to put your membership on hold.
Their FB page has periodically had updates - including daily streaming workouts, links to other member benefits, and notes that if you choose to keep your membership, you can get future discounts AND take credit for charitable giving on your taxes.

Today, someone asked how to hold the membership because nobody answers the phone.  So I told them: go to the website, there's a contact form.

Someone else goes OFF on me like "they should automatically hold ALL memberships because it's a SERVICE we aren't getting and WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL US RIGHT AWAY."

Um, they did?  Turns out, this particular lady doesn't have email.  So, she's known that the Y is closed since they closed, but hasn't bothered to figure out how to hold her membership?  We are living in the digital age man...

[Bloop Bloop]

I can see the reasoning, though. Service providers who obviously can't provide a service shouldn't be outsourcing their labour costs to their customers. The memberships should simply have been put on hold by default, which is what gyms here have done.

[Dicey]

On a mainstream women's personal finance group...

Which blog might that be? Asking for a friend.