Overheard on Facebook

[Vindicated]

I've seen people on baby center have 100+ people at their baby showers though; and my baby shower (um, 8 people) came with near zero gift receipts, so Mom might have had no "choice" but to keep them.

I also recommend the Dad organize a "Diaper Party" with his friends.  We got enough diapers to last most of the first year going this route.

[Just Joe]

We prob used 80%-90% hand me downs for the first 5-6 years of both our kids' lives. I'd guess before we lost track of the clothes 6-7 families made use of them with a few that wore out or became too stained by food accidents.

[Proud Foot]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

I would say that is pretty much the norm.  Like others have said, that is a good price if you were to purchase them all.  Its hard to find them for less than $1 at the consignment store my wife and I use.  And the number of items and being only worn once is pretty common as well.  People receive a lot as gifts.  There have been several times when we were changing out our sons clothes in his dresser that we found items that were at the back of the drawer that were never worn but are now too small.

[dividend]

Friend checks in a local new/used Honda dealership, with a picture of a new HR-V.

Came in for an oil change, but ended up driving away with a brand new car.

Gems from her in the comments include :

Apparently they really wanted my Accord because it's in high demand. Payments stay the same, so it was hard to say no.  For having it less than 2 years it was certainly desirable for re-sale. I'm kinda glad I take care of my cars now

I know it was completely unexpected. But trust me, I had plenty of questions and made sure they understood that I was disappointed in the previous buying experience I had with them. They made sure that I got a fair deal with no changes to my payments.

The comments from other people are all positive - Awesome!  Congrats!  Nice!  Maybe I should go in for an oil change now!  Good things like that don't happen to me!  And my favorite - You don't make poor choices. 

I can't even.

[ducky19]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

I've purchased most of my clothes in used lots (like this), so I have 70 pieces of NB-3 months (which is 2 sizes, NB and 0-3 months).  My average per piece is a quarter. I won't spend more than a dollar per piece.

This lot is actually a decent deal, though way more than anyone needs.  But it's hard to resist, and honestly- for many people the price of the lot will be such a good deal it would be worth buying even if half of it doesn't get touched. They can easily recoup the cost selling it themselves.


I've seen people on baby center have 100+ people at their baby showers though; and my baby shower (um, 8 people) came with near zero gift receipts, so Mom might have had no "choice" but to keep them.

OP, have you considered that the FB poster may have herself bought the lot like this from someone, used a quarter of it, then is now reselling it to make her money back? If that's the case, I would actually consider it to be a pretty Mustachian way to go.

[marielle]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

I've purchased most of my clothes in used lots (like this), so I have 70 pieces of NB-3 months (which is 2 sizes, NB and 0-3 months).  My average per piece is a quarter. I won't spend more than a dollar per piece.

This lot is actually a decent deal, though way more than anyone needs.  But it's hard to resist, and honestly- for many people the price of the lot will be such a good deal it would be worth buying even if half of it doesn't get touched. They can easily recoup the cost selling it themselves.


I've seen people on baby center have 100+ people at their baby showers though; and my baby shower (um, 8 people) came with near zero gift receipts, so Mom might have had no "choice" but to keep them.

OP, have you considered that the FB poster may have herself bought the lot like this from someone, used a quarter of it, then is now reselling it to make her money back? If that's the case, I would actually consider it to be a pretty Mustachian way to go.

No, because it specifically says used once. So the person had it all new, whether they bought directly or were gifted, and wore each piece once versus rewearing some of them and maybe selling the rest as "brand new".

[dragoncar]

I used to get those flyers from Honda all the time: Your car is in HIGH DEMAND.  We can offer you 20 BAJILLION dollars as a trade in.

But of course they make the money back on the price of the new car.  It's 50 bajillion dollars.

[ringer707]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

This is what happens when everyone shows up to your baby shower with newborn size clothes, but your baby weighs 10 pounds when it's born.

[Sibley]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

This is what happens when everyone shows up to your baby shower with newborn size clothes, but your baby weighs 10 pounds when it's born.

I have standard baby gift.

If I'm not close - size not tiny white onesies. Whatever I can find easiest, usually 6-9 months. White because it goes with everything. Onesies are dead useful.

If I'm close - the onesies + package Huggies diapers size 2. Most people are at least willing to try Huggies.

I've know multiple people who had 10+ lb babies. I also don't give gender specific clothes, again because I know someone who got a surprise in that department. I'm pretty sure the dad nearly had a heart attack about putting the baby boy in a room that looked like someone vomited pink all over (I saw the room).

Now, still working on standard wedding gift...

[marielle]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

This is what happens when everyone shows up to your baby shower with newborn size clothes, but your baby weighs 10 pounds when it's born.

But all 115 pieces have supposedly been "worn once"...so the baby must have been underweight to be able to wear all those clothes for 115 days. I guess it's possible they wore more than one a day though.

[ringer707]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

This is what happens when everyone shows up to your baby shower with newborn size clothes, but your baby weighs 10 pounds when it's born.

But all 115 pieces have supposedly been "worn once"...so the baby must have been underweight to be able to wear all those clothes for 115 days. I guess it's possible they wore more than one a day though.

Good point. I have no explanation for that. I mean obviously it's conceivable that you would change the baby's outfit during the day from spit up/diaper explosion, but 115 outfits still seems excessive.

[Kashmani]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

This is what happens when everyone shows up to your baby shower with newborn size clothes, but your baby weighs 10 pounds when it's born.

This +1. People tend to give a sh**load of newborn clothes as gifts when someone is having a baby. Since everybody gets more newborn clothes than they need, people also start giving hand-me-downs in addition to the new stuff. And that system propagates like a pyramid scheme until people get a giant tote full of newborn clothes. When my first child was born, even the neighbours on the street started to rummage through their basement and gave us their newborn clothes. We certainly had around 100 items of newborn clothing, only a fraction of which we ever used before --- you guessed it --- regifting the tote to the next unlucky couple who probably have re-re-gifted it by now.

Once kids are around 5 years old they wear out stuff much faster than they grow out of it, so the hand-me-down "pipeline" slows precipitously at the toddler stage, and then dries up completely at the elementary school stage.

[better late]

I used to get those flyers from Honda all the time: Your car is in HIGH DEMAND.  We can offer you 20 BAJILLION dollars as a trade in.

But of course they make the money back on the price of the new car.  It's 50 bajillion dollars.

This.  Last summer I brought our Prius in to the dealer for some work/fix the recall issue and before I had even exited the car, one of the sales people was in my face telling my my car was in HIGH DEMAND and that they wanted to buy it from me. It was ridiculous, and annoying.

[cheapass]

Saw this gem on FB tonight

"Just drove into the garage and I noticed 60k miles. It's time for a new car! ☺"

Dumbass

[I'm a red panda]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

This is what happens when everyone shows up to your baby shower with newborn size clothes, but your baby weighs 10 pounds when it's born.

But all 115 pieces have supposedly been "worn once"...so the baby must have been underweight to be able to wear all those clothes for 115 days. I guess it's possible they wore more than one a day though.

A newborn can easily go through 3-5 (or more) outfits a day.

[I'm a red panda]

I've seen people on baby center have 100+ people at their baby showers though; and my baby shower (um, 8 people) came with near zero gift receipts, so Mom might have had no "choice" but to keep them.

I also recommend the Dad organize a "Diaper Party" with his friends.  We got enough diapers to last most of the first year going this route.

Nah, he's not doing a party. While I take every hand me down offered, I'm fairly uncomfortable with expecting others to spend their money on things for our child.

[TOgirl]

I've seen people on baby center have 100+ people at their baby showers though; and my baby shower (um, 8 people) came with near zero gift receipts, so Mom might have had no "choice" but to keep them.

I also recommend the Dad organize a "Diaper Party" with his friends.  We got enough diapers to last most of the first year going this route.

Nah, he's not doing a party. While I take every hand me down offered, I'm fairly uncomfortable with expecting others to spend their money on things for our child.

That's refreshing. I just attended a shower for an old friend, who had 3 registries, fully loaded with crap only first time parents require. DURING the shower, she complained to me about the gifts some of the invitees gave her. She felt some didn't give enough items, and that she should have gotten more. Unbelievable.

[DTaggart]

I used to get those flyers from Honda all the time: Your car is in HIGH DEMAND.  We can offer you 20 BAJILLION dollars as a trade in.

But of course they make the money back on the price of the new car.  It's 50 bajillion dollars.

This.  Last summer I brought our Prius in to the dealer for some work/fix the recall issue and before I had even exited the car, one of the sales people was in my face telling my my car was in HIGH DEMAND and that they wanted to buy it from me. It was ridiculous, and annoying.

I enjoy it immensely when they tell me they can get me in a new car AND lower my payments!
"Really, you're going to pay me to take a new car?"
"Uhh... what?"
"I paid cash for my current car, so my payment is $0. That means you'll have to give me money to make it lower."

[kimmarg]

Someone please tell me this isn't the norm. I have no idea how much brand new baby clothes cost, anyone have an estimate of how much this cost them (or the gift givers)?

This is what happens when everyone shows up to your baby shower with newborn size clothes, but your baby weighs 10 pounds when it's born.

But all 115 pieces have supposedly been "worn once"...so the baby must have been underweight to be able to wear all those clothes for 115 days. I guess it's possible they wore more than one a day though.

Oh gosh we went through closer to 3 outfits a day at 0-3 month size. there was LOTS of puking involved.

[PetiteMouche]

A Facebook acquaintance inherited money after her mother's death and spent it on large, brand new, gas-guzzling vehicles for her son and husband. I thought that was a stupid use of this one-time windfall, but hey, if she can afford it, it's no skin off my nose.

Well, only a few months later, there was an unexpected family crisis on the other side of the world.

SHE SET UP A GOFUNDME PAGE and kept spam-posting her FB friends for weeks, begging them to pay for her plane tickets, which were only going to cost a few thousand dollars, anyway.

Hardly anyone gave - I wonder why. Could it be that we still remembered the super-luxury vehicles you rubbed in our faces so recently?

She quietly deleted the page when it became obvious she wasn't going to get the help she'd hoped for.

[Metric Mouse]

I've seen people on baby center have 100+ people at their baby showers though; and my baby shower (um, 8 people) came with near zero gift receipts, so Mom might have had no "choice" but to keep them.

I also recommend the Dad organize a "Diaper Party" with his friends.  We got enough diapers to last most of the first year going this route.

This. Was a blast, everyone got great food, good beer and home brewed whiskey, beer darts and other yard games and a night of fun for far less than going out to a bar. About the price of a byob potluck, only less work for everyone but the host. 7 months in and still have free diapers; would absolutely do again.

[I'm a red panda]

Husband just got invited to a new Dad poker party: buy in is the typical $20, plus a pack of diapers.  The payout only involves the cash buy in :)

He still won't host such a thing though.

I did just get a work shower- I am so completely overwhelmed by the amount of things given to me.  Baby will not be starting life as a minimalist!

[redbird]

I used to get those flyers from Honda all the time: Your car is in HIGH DEMAND.  We can offer you 20 BAJILLION dollars as a trade in.

But of course they make the money back on the price of the new car.  It's 50 bajillion dollars.

This.  Last summer I brought our Prius in to the dealer for some work/fix the recall issue and before I had even exited the car, one of the sales people was in my face telling my my car was in HIGH DEMAND and that they wanted to buy it from me. It was ridiculous, and annoying.

I enjoy it immensely when they tell me they can get me in a new car AND lower my payments!
"Really, you're going to pay me to take a new car?"
"Uhh... what?"
"I paid cash for my current car, so my payment is $0. That means you'll have to give me money to make it lower."

We just live in a society where people are so used to having certain debts that they feel like encountering someone without those debts is like encountering a mythical beast, like a unicorn. EVERYONE has car loans, mortgages, student loans, and massive credit card debt, right?! *eye roll*

[marielle]

I used to get those flyers from Honda all the time: Your car is in HIGH DEMAND.  We can offer you 20 BAJILLION dollars as a trade in.

But of course they make the money back on the price of the new car.  It's 50 bajillion dollars.

This.  Last summer I brought our Prius in to the dealer for some work/fix the recall issue and before I had even exited the car, one of the sales people was in my face telling my my car was in HIGH DEMAND and that they wanted to buy it from me. It was ridiculous, and annoying.

I enjoy it immensely when they tell me they can get me in a new car AND lower my payments!
"Really, you're going to pay me to take a new car?"
"Uhh... what?"
"I paid cash for my current car, so my payment is $0. That means you'll have to give me money to make it lower."

We just live in a society where people are so used to having certain debts that they feel like encountering someone without those debts is like encountering a mythical beast, like a unicorn. EVERYONE has car loans, mortgages, student loans, and massive credit card debt, right?! *eye roll*

Or people think the only reason you don't have a car loan is because you make a ton of money, or have an inheritance. Um...you realize most /really/ poor people drive cars that are literally about to fall apart and they've never had a car payment? I see it everyday, cars in the parking lot that are wrecked/dented, nearly bald tires, mismatched tires, clear coat half gone, etc because they can't afford to do anything about it and the cars still technically drive. The best part is when people want new cars to "save on maintenance" but even in a WORST CASE SCENARIO if I were to have serious maintenance on my car every. single. year. it would still be like half of a car payment. I could get my engine rebuilt every 5 years and still pay less than having a car payment for 5 years. Assuming the cheapest car payment for a brand new car is maybe $300-350 for 60 months. Most people pay a lot more. I'm not even including the extra insurance for a brand new car...

Sorry, I went on a rant there. You were probably referring to someone having a newish car paid in cash, not a $800 junker...

[zolotiyeruki]

Or people think the only reason you don't have a car loan is because you make a ton of money, or have an inheritance. Um...you realize most /really/ poor people drive cars that are literally about to fall apart and they've never had a car payment? I see it everyday, cars in the parking lot that are wrecked/dented, nearly bald tires, mismatched tires, clear coat half gone, etc because they can't afford to do anything about it and the cars still technically drive.

It might not be a matter of being able to afford it in all cases.  I drive a '95 Corolla with 210K miles.  It has a few scratches and it's starting to rust, and the clear coat is all but gone from the hood.  On a car like that, there's simply no point in fixing minor body issues.  In fact, you could count the age/mileage of the car as somewhat of a plus because you don't have to worry about issues like that.

On the other hand, a bald tire or a broken window certainly warrants attention IMO.

[marielle]

Or people think the only reason you don't have a car loan is because you make a ton of money, or have an inheritance. Um...you realize most /really/ poor people drive cars that are literally about to fall apart and they've never had a car payment? I see it everyday, cars in the parking lot that are wrecked/dented, nearly bald tires, mismatched tires, clear coat half gone, etc because they can't afford to do anything about it and the cars still technically drive.

It might not be a matter of being able to afford it in all cases.  I drive a '95 Corolla with 210K miles.  It has a few scratches and it's starting to rust, and the clear coat is all but gone from the hood.  On a car like that, there's simply no point in fixing minor body issues.  In fact, you could count the age/mileage of the car as somewhat of a plus because you don't have to worry about issues like that.

On the other hand, a bald tire or a broken window certainly warrants attention IMO.

Agreed. Some of them just have cosmetic dents, others have been in a fender bender and have a busted headlight. I'm kind of in the opposite boat, I try to keep my car cosmetically clean even though it's 14 years old, but I have long-term goals for it and don't plan to stop driving it even if the engine needs to be replaced. Not very mustachian though.

[MightyAl]

I just saw an interesting one on the facebook for sale group I am in.  Nearly new sectional.  Asking $500 paid $1700.  Just wanting to change things around.  My jaw dropped but it was a nice sectional.

There also seems to be a preponderance of tattoo kits and vape items.  Like at least one newer tattoo kit per week being sold for $300 or so dollars.

[Chris22]

I used to get those flyers from Honda all the time: Your car is in HIGH DEMAND.  We can offer you 20 BAJILLION dollars as a trade in.

But of course they make the money back on the price of the new car.  It's 50 bajillion dollars.

This.  Last summer I brought our Prius in to the dealer for some work/fix the recall issue and before I had even exited the car, one of the sales people was in my face telling my my car was in HIGH DEMAND and that they wanted to buy it from me. It was ridiculous, and annoying.

I enjoy it immensely when they tell me they can get me in a new car AND lower my payments!
"Really, you're going to pay me to take a new car?"
"Uhh... what?"
"I paid cash for my current car, so my payment is $0. That means you'll have to give me money to make it lower."

We just live in a society where people are so used to having certain debts that they feel like encountering someone without those debts is like encountering a mythical beast, like a unicorn. EVERYONE has car loans, mortgages, student loans, and massive credit card debt, right?! *eye roll*

OTOH, there's some of the opposite belief here too.  There's the assumption that if you have a car payment, you're a sucka and will always have a car payment.  I bought a new car, financed it cheaply (0.9%), paid it off early, and continue to drive it payment free, with no plans to get rid of it anytime soon.  Having a payment or not having a payment is not a permanent state.

[AlanStache]

I used to get those flyers from Honda all the time: Your car is in HIGH DEMAND.  We can offer you 20 BAJILLION dollars as a trade in.

But of course they make the money back on the price of the new car.  It's 50 bajillion dollars.

This.  Last summer I brought our Prius in to the dealer for some work/fix the recall issue and before I had even exited the car, one of the sales people was in my face telling my my car was in HIGH DEMAND and that they wanted to buy it from me. It was ridiculous, and annoying.

I enjoy it immensely when they tell me they can get me in a new car AND lower my payments!
"Really, you're going to pay me to take a new car?"
"Uhh... what?"
"I paid cash for my current car, so my payment is $0. That means you'll have to give me money to make it lower."

We just live in a society where people are so used to having certain debts that they feel like encountering someone without those debts is like encountering a mythical beast, like a unicorn. EVERYONE has car loans, mortgages, student loans, and massive credit card debt, right?! *eye roll*

OTOH, there's some of the opposite belief here too.  There's the assumption that if you have a car payment, you're a sucka and will always have a car payment.  I bought a new car, financed it cheaply (0.9%), paid it off early, and continue to drive it payment free, with no plans to get rid of it anytime soon.  Having a payment or not having a payment is not a permanent state.

I think the implicit assumption here on MMM is that you should not buy a car that would need a payment plain ie your new to you car costs under 4k off CL and you paid cash because CL does not finance.  Personally I can go back and forth on this, and can see how car buying should be individual.  (Please lets not rehash the argument that everyone should just ride a bike 98% of the time!  This has been covered in tens of different threads a 1000 different ways :-)   )

[dragoncar]

I just saw an interesting one on the facebook for sale group I am in.  Nearly new sectional.  Asking $500 paid $1700.  Just wanting to change things around.  My jaw dropped but it was a nice sectional.

There also seems to be a preponderance of tattoo kits and vape items.  Like at least one newer tattoo kit per week being sold for $300 or so dollars.

Hardly sat on?

[Well Respected Man]

I just saw an interesting one on the facebook for sale group I am in.  Nearly new sectional.  Asking $500 paid $1700.  Just wanting to change things around.  My jaw dropped but it was a nice sectional.

There also seems to be a preponderance of tattoo kits and vape items.  Like at least one newer tattoo kit per week being sold for $300 or so dollars.

Hardly sat on?

"Brand spanking new" is the phrase on my local "high end" yardsale group. The seller is offering a sectional sofa from Bob's Discount Furniture for $1100, when it cost $1299, but they don't like the color. 75 comments, but no takers (shocker!). Lots of pictures of nice color combos, other peoples' sectionals (?), disparaging comments about Bob's, including "Cheap man pays twice."

[Metric Mouse]

I just saw an interesting one on the facebook for sale group I am in.  Nearly new sectional.  Asking $500 paid $1700.  Just wanting to change things around.  My jaw dropped but it was a nice sectional.

There also seems to be a preponderance of tattoo kits and vape items.  Like at least one newer tattoo kit per week being sold for $300 or so dollars.

Hardly sat on?

:D Iseewhatyoudidthere....

[I'm a red panda]

I think a lot of people on facebook sale groups don't understand how facebook sales work...


"Brand new. I paid $50, only looking to get back what I paid!"

Um, if you want what you paid back, return it.  Garage sale groups are for discounts (or rare items, which go for a premium.)

[4alpacas]

A friend is planning a trip to Vegas for her 30th birthday in September and just put out an event invite on Facebook. One of her friends commented "Oh girl, I would freaking love to party with you! However, after spending 1600 some odd dollars on my car, there's no way I can afford that. Especially in such short notice! Have the best time and know I'm with you in spirit!"

I feel like 6 months isn't "such short notice"

The friend might just want to get out of the trip and figured everyone understands car maintenance.  Maybe she's a mustachian who has a really old car.  :)

[MightyAl]

I just saw an interesting one on the facebook for sale group I am in.  Nearly new sectional.  Asking $500 paid $1700.  Just wanting to change things around.  My jaw dropped but it was a nice sectional.

There also seems to be a preponderance of tattoo kits and vape items.  Like at least one newer tattoo kit per week being sold for $300 or so dollars.

Hardly sat on?

I think it was mostly sat on.  The rest you don't want to know about.

[4alpacas]

A friend is planning a trip to Vegas for her 30th birthday in September and just put out an event invite on Facebook. One of her friends commented "Oh girl, I would freaking love to party with you! However, after spending 1600 some odd dollars on my car, there's no way I can afford that. Especially in such short notice! Have the best time and know I'm with you in spirit!"

I feel like 6 months isn't "such short notice"

The friend might just want to get out of the trip and figured everyone understands car maintenance.  Maybe she's a mustachian who has a really old car.  :)

I completely get coming up with an excuse to not go, ours is that we'll have just driven 600 miles away to see family the week before. We could still go but neither is interested in Vegas so we'll act like its stopping us. But calling 6 months "short notice" seemed like a reach for a mustacian excuse

Maybe she doesn't have time to travel hack?

I would do/say almost anything to get out of a trip to Vegas!  :)

[4alpacas]

A friend is planning a trip to Vegas for her 30th birthday in September and just put out an event invite on Facebook. One of her friends commented "Oh girl, I would freaking love to party with you! However, after spending 1600 some odd dollars on my car, there's no way I can afford that. Especially in such short notice! Have the best time and know I'm with you in spirit!"

I feel like 6 months isn't "such short notice"

The friend might just want to get out of the trip and figured everyone understands car maintenance.  Maybe she's a mustachian who has a really old car.  :)

I completely get coming up with an excuse to not go, ours is that we'll have just driven 600 miles away to see family the week before. We could still go but neither is interested in Vegas so we'll act like its stopping us. But calling 6 months "short notice" seemed like a reach for a mustacian excuse

Maybe she doesn't have time to travel hack?

I would do/say almost anything to get out of a trip to Vegas!  :)

Lol. I wish I could be that optimistic about people's financial acumen.

I never understood the appeal of Vegas. We stopped there once during a road trip and I still don't understand the appeal

I like to hope for the best...even in the lives of others. 

I went to a few shows in Vegas that I LOVED!  But I don't think there is much else I would want to do.  Maybe the buffet at the Wynn. 

[MgoSam]

Vegas can be fun. Some people like gambling or the glitz of it, so it can be good for them. I grew up going to Vegas so it isn't anything special for me, but I remember how much fun I had when I first was able to gamble and drink after having come for so many years as a teenager. Now I really dislike needing to go to Vegas...I go for work and after a long day at a convention I generally only want to go back to my hotel room and watch TV (and I'm an extrovert).

That said, I really don't understand the TMI declination on FB. If you can't come, feel free to just decline. Seriously, how hard is to say, "Thanks but I can't make it. I hope you all have a great time!"

[kelvin]

Layaway is mainly for people that lack the discipline to.save money themselves... They don't trust that they can save $100 by putting $10 a month towards it and hence Walmart and other stores do it for them for a particular item. The janitor at work buys a lot of stuff on layaway and this is his reasoning

I use layaway but not like this.

Sometimes I'm shopping for a major purchase I only make once every few years - the last one was a good winter coat. I was prepared to spend about $300, but at that price it had to be perfect.

I tried on every coat in the mall, and had two set aside on layaway but with a timer. I told the sales rep If I wasn't back by 2pm, assume I wasn't coming back for the coat and put it back on the shelf for someone else to buy.

I ended up spending $150, and I still wear that coat 5 years later.

[FIT_Goat]

A classmate from high school wrote on Facebook today

"Just keep winning free play on our lotto tickets (frowny face), I'd be happy with hundred thou and be out of debt.  Some day I'll win big (smiley face)"

Doubt it.  (Face palm face)

Along those lines, my wife had a patient who told her he was in dire straits (not the band) because of his scratch-off lottery ticket habit. He operates a food truck, and makes between $400 and $800 a day. He keeps $100 for expenses each day, and spends the rest on scratch-off tickets. Yep, up to $700 a day.

He said his wife is ready to leave him, he owes money up the wazoo, and he doesn't know what to do. Hmm.

I worked with someone, when I was working at a gas station, who would spend his entire paycheck on scratch tickets.  He would come in, the evening of payday, buy a 4-pack of "High Life" and all the scratch tickets his remaining money would buy. He would go out, sit in his car, drink, and scratch all the tickets.  Then he would come in with all the winners, cash them in, and buy as many scratch tickets as he could from the winnings.  He'd repeat that until he had no money left.  He did this every payday. And, he'd talk about how one day he would hit it big and finally be able to move out of his mom's house and from under her control.

I tried talking to him about why he didn't just save the money each week until he had enough.  He told me that it would take too long, and he couldn't live off the pay he made even after saving enough to get his own place. This second part was probably true without a roommate.  Working at the gas station didn't really provide a living wage.  Still, he was never going to get anywhere spending every penny on scratch tickets.  When I moved on, to greener pastures, he was still there, scratching his check away every two weeks. It was really depressing.  Other people came and spent lots of money on scratch tickets, but I could pretend they had the income to waste.

My school is a lotto cesspool.  A group of teachers will each contribute $20 a week and pool all the money to buy tickets. Word got around that I play poker, and they came to me assuming that I would want to jump in on their lotto pool.  They told me that it was 25 staff members (at the time).  That's $500 a week they're pouring down the drain.  They "reinvest" any small returns (anything under $500) into the next drawing. To my knowledge, no one has ever seen any return on it.  They're all waiting to hit it big.  $800 a year for 30 years at 7% is something like $82,000 extra they could each have at retirement.

[I'm a red panda]

all the scratch tickets his remaining money would buy. He would go out, sit in his car, drink, and scratch all the tickets.  Then he would come in with all the winners, cash them in, and buy as many scratch tickets as he could from the winnings.  He'd repeat that until he had no money left.  He did this every payday. And, he'd talk about how one day he would hit it big and finally be able to move out of his mom's house and from under her control.

Except for the "whole paycheck" (and drinking, since we were 19) thing  a friend and I did this sort of thing once.  We bought $24 worth of scratch offs, took the winnings, drove to a new gas station bought more, took the winnings, drove to a new gas station, etc.  It kept us busy for about 6 hours, which was good entertainment for a weekend night. Gas was also like 75  cents a gallon then, so just driving around was often a main entertainment feature.

[cheapass]

Along those lines, my wife had a patient who told her he was in dire straits (not the band) because of his scratch-off lottery ticket habit. He operates a food truck, and makes between $400 and $800 a day. He keeps $100 for expenses each day, and spends the rest on scratch-off tickets. Yep, up to $700 a day.

He said his wife is ready to leave him, he owes money up the wazoo, and he doesn't know what to do. Hmm.

Ho-lee shit. Averaging $500/day after expenses... $10,000 a month. Dude needs to invest that instead and he'd be sitting on a cool $2M in 10 years.

[I'm a red panda]

Layaway is mainly for people that lack the discipline to.save money themselves... They don't trust that they can save $100 by putting $10 a month towards it and hence Walmart and other stores do it for them for a particular item. The janitor at work buys a lot of stuff on layaway and this is his reasoning

I use layaway but not like this.

Sometimes I'm shopping for a major purchase I only make once every few years - the last one was a good winter coat. I was prepared to spend about $300, but at that price it had to be perfect.

I tried on every coat in the mall, and had two set aside on layaway but with a timer. I told the sales rep If I wasn't back by 2pm, assume I wasn't coming back for the coat and put it back on the shelf for someone else to buy.

I ended up spending $150, and I still wear that coat 5 years later.

I've never used layaway. I just buy all the ones I think might be options, and then return what doesn't make the final cut!

[MgoSam]

Layaway is mainly for people that lack the discipline to.save money themselves... They don't trust that they can save $100 by putting $10 a month towards it and hence Walmart and other stores do it for them for a particular item. The janitor at work buys a lot of stuff on layaway and this is his reasoning

I use layaway but not like this.

Sometimes I'm shopping for a major purchase I only make once every few years - the last one was a good winter coat. I was prepared to spend about $300, but at that price it had to be perfect.

I tried on every coat in the mall, and had two set aside on layaway but with a timer. I told the sales rep If I wasn't back by 2pm, assume I wasn't coming back for the coat and put it back on the shelf for someone else to buy.

I ended up spending $150, and I still wear that coat 5 years later.

Where I'm from that is just called putting something on hold, and most stores will do it for free for 24 hours. Generally with layaway AFAIK, you have to put money down on it.

Yeah, that's how I understand the term.

2 weeks ago I was visiting a store that I sell to, they had a customer walk in who wanted to "look" at her water pipe. It was a $1500 water pipe!!!! that is on lay-away for her. She was gushing about how she was 2 weeks away from purchasing it, but wanted to come in and hold it. The owner hemmed and hawed about allowing her to touch it "because it has a ton of energy that you want to save for when you first use it," and I had to stifle a laugh, but people believe that about some artisan glass.

[solon]

[Chris22]

The other two numbers I agree with, but what sort of garbage-ass shoes are being bought for $12?  Last pair of shoes I bought were at the Nike outlet, $120 list (or something) paid like $50.  $12 YGBSM.

[mm1970]

The other two numbers I agree with, but what sort of garbage-ass shoes are being bought for $12?  Last pair of shoes I bought were at the Nike outlet, $120 list (or something) paid like $50.  $12 YGBSM.

Yep.  The shoes I wear the most are:
1.  $120 Eccos that I bought >11 years ago (before I had kid #1) that I wear to work
2.  $130 running shoes that I wear for running, and occasionally to work (on biking/ walking days)
3.  $5 flip flops from Kmart

[Dave1442397]

Along those lines, my wife had a patient who told her he was in dire straits (not the band) because of his scratch-off lottery ticket habit. He operates a food truck, and makes between $400 and $800 a day. He keeps $100 for expenses each day, and spends the rest on scratch-off tickets. Yep, up to $700 a day.

He said his wife is ready to leave him, he owes money up the wazoo, and he doesn't know what to do. Hmm.

Ho-lee shit. Averaging $500/day after expenses... $10,000 a month. Dude needs to invest that instead and he'd be sitting on a cool $2M in 10 years.

Yeah, he makes good money, but has mental health issues. Nobody could make him see anything beyond the "big win" that he's sure is coming his way.

[MandalayVA]

2 weeks ago I was visiting a store that I sell to, they had a customer walk in who wanted to "look" at her water pipe. It was a $1500 water pipe!!!! that is on lay-away for her. She was gushing about how she was 2 weeks away from purchasing it, but wanted to come in and hold it. The owner hemmed and hawed about allowing her to touch it "because it has a ton of energy that you want to save for when you first use it," and I had to stifle a laugh, but people believe that about some artisan glass.

$1500 for a BONG?!?!?!?  :O

[AlanStache]

2 weeks ago I was visiting a store that I sell to, they had a customer walk in who wanted to "look" at her water pipe. It was a $1500 water pipe!!!! that is on lay-away for her. She was gushing about how she was 2 weeks away from purchasing it, but wanted to come in and hold it. The owner hemmed and hawed about allowing her to touch it "because it has a ton of energy that you want to save for when you first use it," and I had to stifle a laugh, but people believe that about some artisan glass.

$1500 for a BONG?!?!?!?  :O

Yeah right!  That is like half a weeks worth of scratch off lottery tickets.