Overheard on Facebook

[Crystal1588]

"Christmas is for maxing out credit cards for people you love, and panicking in January, right? 🎄🎁"

What's amazing is how many replies agreeing with her there are.
Yikes.

[Cressida]

I was always in co-ed dorms. That tends to balance things out. Co-ed dorms means co-ed bathrooms, and co-ed bathrooms means there's no such thing as guys not showering.

These actually exist? I've heard of them, but never actually encountered them. Even the co-ed dorm I was in had segregated bathrooms.

My co-ed dorm had separate bathrooms for men and women, but my friend who lived in another building on campus had truly co-ed bathrooms. It wasn't that big a deal.

Same here - 23 years ago. Agreed that it didn't turn out to be a big deal, but it was definitely much remarked-upon, so it couldn't have been a very common thing, at least at the time.

[I'm a red panda]

Agreed on the lib balm scam. Try petroleum jelly (Vaseline) instead of lanolin. Cheapest option and works so take the risky investment of $5 for 13oz and maybe you hate it or maybe you have a 50 year supply. Marketing geniuses somewhere convinced the developed world that you need special crap to put on your lips, but I call BS.

I got a jar of vaseline (it's baby powder scented which I haven't seen in recent decades, but I like better) when I was 7 as a stocking stuff.  Twenty-six years later, I have about half of it left; so the 50 year supply sounds right.

It is the only thing that helps my lips. It's also really nice on cracked elbows.

[Ashyukun]

Agreed on the lib balm scam. Try petroleum jelly (Vaseline) instead of lanolin. Cheapest option and works so take the risky investment of $5 for 13oz and maybe you hate it or maybe you have a 50 year supply. Marketing geniuses somewhere convinced the developed world that you need special crap to put on your lips, but I call BS.

I got a jar of vaseline (it's baby powder scented which I haven't seen in recent decades, but I like better) when I was 7 as a stocking stuff.  Twenty-six years later, I have about half of it left; so the 50 year supply sounds right.

It is the only thing that helps my lips. It's also really nice on cracked elbows.

6 or 7 years ago when I was almost done with reassembling the engine I'd taken apart and rebuilt some Googling yielded that the best thing to use to hold parts in place while reassembling to keep them from falling out was petroleum jelly- so on the next trip to the store (I believe it was a Big Lots...), I picked up 2 large jars of the stuff to make sure I didn't have to make a run back out for more when covered in oil and in my shop clothes. I got QUITE a concerned look from the checkout lady... :P

[dragoncar]

Agreed on the lib balm scam. Try petroleum jelly (Vaseline) instead of lanolin. Cheapest option and works so take the risky investment of $5 for 13oz and maybe you hate it or maybe you have a 50 year supply. Marketing geniuses somewhere convinced the developed world that you need special crap to put on your lips, but I call BS.

I got a jar of vaseline (it's baby powder scented which I haven't seen in recent decades, but I like better) when I was 7 as a stocking stuff.  Twenty-six years later, I have about half of it left; so the 50 year supply sounds right.

It is the only thing that helps my lips. It's also really nice on cracked elbows.

6 or 7 years ago when I was almost done with reassembling the engine I'd taken apart and rebuilt some Googling yielded that the best thing to use to hold parts in place while reassembling to keep them from falling out was petroleum jelly- so on the next trip to the store (I believe it was a Big Lots...), I picked up 2 large jars of the stuff to make sure I didn't have to make a run back out for more when covered in oil and in my shop clothes. I got QUITE a concerned look from the checkout lady... :P

There's something to be said for lip balm with sunscreen.  I suppose you could just put sunscreen directly on your lips or mix with vasoline, but I expect that would end up like this:

[mm1970]

I was always in co-ed dorms. That tends to balance things out. Co-ed dorms means co-ed bathrooms, and co-ed bathrooms means there's no such thing as guys not showering.

These actually exist? I've heard of them, but never actually encountered them. Even the co-ed dorm I was in had segregated bathrooms.

My co-ed dorm had separate bathrooms for men and women, but my friend who lived in another building on campus had truly co-ed bathrooms. It wasn't that big a deal.

Same here - 23 years ago. Agreed that it didn't turn out to be a big deal, but it was definitely much remarked-upon, so it couldn't have been a very common thing, at least at the time.

Huh wow. I graduated 23 years ago, and I cannot imagine co-ed bathrooms at all.

Not that it would bother me terribly.  I was in the Navy and spent bits of time on ships here and there that were all male (before women were allowed on combat ships).

[faithless]

OT: Afaik, medicated lip balms are a scam. Most of them contain menthol, camphor and phenol which give momentary relief but actually irritate the lips. Since I stop buying lip balm which contain them (including the Blistex mecial stuff) my lips are doing much better. I had much better results with pure shea butter, and the absolute best results with pure lanoline (which unfortunately makes you unkissable).
Unless of course if you have a brand that suits you already.

I second the lanolin. Petroleum jelly does nothing for my lips. The lanolin is amazing but tastes vile, I use it on my nose and lips when they're raw after a cold, slather it on before bed and it helps heal everything. It's not cheap but I think my mum's had her tube at least a decade.
(And I just nicked a small blob off her a couple years ago and put it in a Vaseline tin that I washed out)

[notquitefrugal]

YMMV, maybe I have genetically inherited the correct genes that make my skin maintenance free...

Lucky you... I have extremely oily skin, am in my 30s and have to blot the oil off my face with oil-absorbing sheets at least a couple of times a day. The corners of my lips will occasionally split and I have to put Neosporin on them to get them to heal. Also have to moisturize my hands, especially in the winter.

[Cressida]

I was always in co-ed dorms. That tends to balance things out. Co-ed dorms means co-ed bathrooms, and co-ed bathrooms means there's no such thing as guys not showering.

These actually exist? I've heard of them, but never actually encountered them. Even the co-ed dorm I was in had segregated bathrooms.

My co-ed dorm had separate bathrooms for men and women, but my friend who lived in another building on campus had truly co-ed bathrooms. It wasn't that big a deal.

Same here - 23 years ago. Agreed that it didn't turn out to be a big deal, but it was definitely much remarked-upon, so it couldn't have been a very common thing, at least at the time.

Huh wow. I graduated 23 years ago, and I cannot imagine co-ed bathrooms at all.

Not that it would bother me terribly.  I was in the Navy and spent bits of time on ships here and there that were all male (before women were allowed on combat ships).

It was a pretty hippie college. :) And to be honest, I was glad at the time that my dorm was one of the ones that went for single-sex bathrooms.

Later I moved off campus, but was back in a dorm my senior year and there the bathrooms really were coed. By then I didn't care much.

This was a pretty rarefied environment, though (private liberal arts school). I would not support coed bathrooms in most public spaces.

[Rubyist]

Agreed on the lib balm scam. Try petroleum jelly (Vaseline) instead of lanolin. Cheapest option and works so take the risky investment of $5 for 13oz and maybe you hate it or maybe you have a 50 year supply. Marketing geniuses somewhere convinced the developed world that you need special crap to put on your lips, but I call BS.

I agree as well! I used to apply lip balm constantly and couldn't leave the house without it, but since I switched to Vaseline I only apply a few times a day. I use these tubes of it in lip balm packaging. Of course you pay way more per ounce compared to a tub of Vaseline but to me it's worth it for the convenience.

[ShoulderThingThatGoesUp]

I lived in a triangular dorm freshman year of college. One corner had a men's bathroom, one had a women's bathroom, and mine had a coed bathroom. After two hours it was "whatever."

[Joggernot]

Agreed on the lib balm scam. Try petroleum jelly (Vaseline) instead of lanolin. Cheapest option and works so take the risky investment of $5 for 13oz and maybe you hate it or maybe you have a 50 year supply. Marketing geniuses somewhere convinced the developed world that you need special crap to put on your lips, but I call BS.

I agree as well! I used to apply lip balm constantly and couldn't leave the house without it, but since I switched to Vaseline I only apply a few times a day. I use these tubes of it in lip balm packaging. Of course you pay way more per ounce compared to a tub of Vaseline but to me it's worth it for the convenience.

Vaseline in the tube melts down here and makes a mess of your clothing (or purse if you carry one).  We have the jar in the house so it doesn't melt.

[RunHappy]

I asked for socks, medicated lip balm, and hand cream as stocking stuffers (aka: give me the present of not having to go shop for boring shit!). My husband is recieving the present of getting his piano fixed and tuned (because he actively plays it a lot but a pedal is broken and needs to be soldered back on, and also it needs tuning). Also some stocking stuffers, just because.

When my mother asked what I wanted/needed (and wouldn't accept $ as an answer), I listed: warm winter coat for playing in the snow with our kid, warm winter boots, warm robe, flannel nightgown, books from my Amazon wishlist (carefully edited to be ONLY the books I couldn't get from the library/interlibrary loan system).

Seriously, though: all things on my list are things that I would value, that would make my life better, that I would be grateful to recieve, and that I would use until they wore out (hopefully years from now). Isn't that the hallmark of an excellent gift?

OT: Afaik, medicated lip balms are a scam. Most of them contain menthol, camphor and phenol which give momentary relief but actually irritate the lips. Since I stop buying lip balm which contain them (including the Blistex mecial stuff) my lips are doing much better. I had much better results with pure shea butter, and the absolute best results with pure lanoline (which unfortunately makes you unkissable).
Unless of course if you have a brand that suits you already.

Agreed on the lib balm scam. Try petroleum jelly (Vaseline) instead of lanolin. Cheapest option and works so take the risky investment of $5 for 13oz and maybe you hate it or maybe you have a 50 year supply. Marketing geniuses somewhere convinced the developed world that you need special crap to put on your lips, but I call BS.

YMMV, maybe I have genetically inherited the correct genes that make my skin maintenance free, but I don't do a lot of skin care even though I live in the drier west (avg humidity is 25-35%). I use petroleum jelly on my lips (usually after prolonged wind/sun exposure) and occasionally a dry spot here and there on the hands if I have been doing some concrete or drywall mudding without gloves. No lotion, no soap on the face, and pure castile soap on the rest.

My grandmother used to smear her face in Vaseline every night before bed.  When she was in her 80's she could have passed for 50. No wrinkles despite having 8 children.

[nobodyspecial]

My grandmother used to smear her face in Vaseline every night before bed.  When she was in her 80's she could have passed for 50. No wrinkles despite having 8 children.

How did she look under the 80year accumulation of vaseline ?

[RunHappy]

My grandmother used to smear her face in Vaseline every night before bed.  When she was in her 80's she could have passed for 50. No wrinkles despite having 8 children.

How did she look under the 80year accumulation of vaseline ?

LOL!  Shiney of course.

[intirb]

I would not support coed bathrooms in most public spaces.

I'm curious why not?  In my town, most single-toilet restrooms are gender neutral.  There are some multi-stalled gender-neutral bathrooms too.  I mean, if no one can see you, what does it matter?

[LeRainDrop]

I would not support coed bathrooms in most public spaces.

I'm curious why not?  In my town, most single-toilet restrooms are gender neutral.  There are some multi-stalled gender-neutral bathrooms too.  I mean, if no one can see you, what does it matter?

Either you're a man or you've never shared a bathroom with a man before.

[intirb]

I would not support coed bathrooms in most public spaces.

I'm curious why not?  In my town, most single-toilet restrooms are gender neutral.  There are some multi-stalled gender-neutral bathrooms too.  I mean, if no one can see you, what does it matter?

Either you're a man or you've never shared a bathroom with a man before.

Neither of those assumptions are true, actually.

[GuitarStv]

We had coed washrooms in my dorm at university.  It wasn't really a big deal. 

What was a big deal is that everyone would leave his/her toiletries in the washroom and someone kept taking my damned mouthwash . . . until I peed in the bottle.  Well, actually, that's not true.  They kept drinking it until I put a note on the bottle saying that I had peed in it.  :P

[Cressida]

I would not support coed bathrooms in most public spaces.

I'm curious why not?  In my town, most single-toilet restrooms are gender neutral.  There are some multi-stalled gender-neutral bathrooms too.  I mean, if no one can see you, what does it matter?

I will amend: I would not be in favor of multi-stalled coed bathrooms.

In answer to your question, I don't feel as strongly about this as I do about some other gender-related issues. But briefly, I don't feel completely safe from men in public. Some of them are violent, and you can't necessarily tell which. In a bathroom, you're even more vulnerable than you are in general public space, and I would prefer not to feel unsafe there. That's all.

[LeRainDrop]

I would not support coed bathrooms in most public spaces.

I'm curious why not?  In my town, most single-toilet restrooms are gender neutral.  There are some multi-stalled gender-neutral bathrooms too.  I mean, if no one can see you, what does it matter?

Either you're a man or you've never shared a bathroom with a man before.

Neither of those assumptions are true, actually.

Sorry, I meant it kind of jokingly.  In general, it seems that guys aren't as careful to keep the facilities as clean as women are.  Not all guys and not all women, just a general observation.  I could be wrong.  But that's why I prefer that public bathrooms not be co-ed.  Plus the (probably unsubstantiated) creep factor.

Oh, yeah, Cressida just hit the nail on the head:

I will amend: I would not be in favor of multi-stalled coed bathrooms.

In answer to your question, I don't feel as strongly about this as I do about some other gender-related issues. But briefly, I don't feel completely safe from men in public. Some of them are violent, and you can't necessarily tell which. In a bathroom, you're even more vulnerable than you are in general public space, and I would prefer not to feel unsafe there. That's all.

[jda1984]

I second radicaledward's observation.  This was nearly always the case in my undergraduate academic building bathroom cleaning days.

[Zikoris]

Sorry, I meant it kind of jokingly.  In general, it seems that guys aren't as careful to keep the facilities as clean as women are.  Not all guys and not all women, just a general observation.  I could be wrong.  But that's why I prefer that public bathrooms not be co-ed.  Plus the (probably unsubstantiated) creep factor.

I'm not sure I would agree. One of my jobs as a teenager required us to clean the bathrooms after the store closed for the day and generally the women's bathroom was dirtier than then men's. Of course the men's room tended to have larger messes when they occurred, but the women's tended to be require more work to clean on average.

I've noticed the same. Women do that %$@# hover thing and piss everywhere. Toilet paper thrown everywhere seems pretty common as well.

[solon]

I'll cast my vote, too. Women's rooms are definitely dirtier than men's rooms.

I agree it's counter-intuitive.

[theadvicist]

Sorry, I meant it kind of jokingly.  In general, it seems that guys aren't as careful to keep the facilities as clean as women are.  Not all guys and not all women, just a general observation.  I could be wrong.  But that's why I prefer that public bathrooms not be co-ed.  Plus the (probably unsubstantiated) creep factor.

I'm not sure I would agree. One of my jobs as a teenager required us to clean the bathrooms after the store closed for the day and generally the women's bathroom was dirtier than then men's. Of course the men's room tended to have larger messes when they occurred, but the women's tended to be require more work to clean on average.

You need to take into account the type of store. I mean, if it sold mainly ladieswear, of course those bathrooms will be dirtier just because they get used more.

That said, I have no idea which get dirtier, and would suppose that there are messy people of both genders.

Re: safety, I personally feel that the kind of people who are going to do nasty things to people in public bathrooms aren't the kind of people who obey the sign on the door, but I understand being afraid of creeps too.

[JordanOfGilead]

Sorry, I meant it kind of jokingly.  In general, it seems that guys aren't as careful to keep the facilities as clean as women are.  Not all guys and not all women, just a general observation.  I could be wrong.  But that's why I prefer that public bathrooms not be co-ed.  Plus the (probably unsubstantiated) creep factor.

I'm not sure I would agree. One of my jobs as a teenager required us to clean the bathrooms after the store closed for the day and generally the women's bathroom was dirtier than then men's. Of course the men's room tended to have larger messes when they occurred, but the women's tended to be require more work to clean on average.

You need to take into account the type of store. I mean, if it sold mainly ladieswear, of course those bathrooms will be dirtier just because they get used more.

That said, I have no idea which get dirtier, and would suppose that there are messy people of both genders.

Re: safety, I personally feel that the kind of people who are going to do nasty things to people in public bathrooms aren't the kind of people who obey the sign on the door, but I understand being afraid of creeps too.

Worked at a gas station and a best buy in college and can confirm that in gender neutral stores (as opposed to places like field and stream or Victoria's secret with an obvious customer gender bias) with roughly equal usage of lavatory facilities, women's restrooms are almost always 5x more effort to clean.

[I'm a red panda]

My experience is that public restrooms the women's tend to be dirtier; but private restrooms, I'd much rather go into a women's (though of course some men are very clean, and some women are gross).

[Tjat]

Why does every urinal have a puddle on the floor in front of it? Do they all leak?

[MgoSam]

Can we change the subject?

[AlanStache]

Can we change the subject?

I second the motion.

[JordanOfGilead]

I've got a mustachian overheard on facebook:

A friend was asking around for extra plastic jugs and containers. The reason? She makes her own shampoo and household cleaning products and intends to distribute some as Christmas gifts this year, but doesn't have enough containers to mix everything in.

[MgoSam]

I've got a mustachian overheard on facebook:

A friend was asking around for extra plastic jugs and containers. The reason? She makes her own shampoo and household cleaning products and intends to distribute some as Christmas gifts this year, but doesn't have enough containers to mix everything in.

That's awesome! I should look into doing this for myself. Anyone have any good male shampoo recipes that are easy? Or for body soap?

Perhaps we should have an Ant-Antimustachian Overheard on Facebook thread?

[Kitsune]

I've got a mustachian overheard on facebook:

A friend was asking around for extra plastic jugs and containers. The reason? She makes her own shampoo and household cleaning products and intends to distribute some as Christmas gifts this year, but doesn't have enough containers to mix everything in.

That's awesome! I should look into doing this for myself. Anyone have any good male shampoo recipes that are easy? Or for body soap?

Perhaps we should have an Ant-Antimustachian Overheard on Facebook thread?

There's a book called The Hands-On Home (by Erica Strauss, and I think she's a member of this forum) that has recipes for shampoo and soap and cleaning products and it's really a fantastic book that I'd recommend getting from your library ASAP if you're interested.

I'd mostly stopped buying any house-maintanance books because I tend to know more than the writers include in the books (sad but true), but this one I got via the library and am intending to buy as a reference. It's fantastic.

[MgoSam]

I've got a mustachian overheard on facebook:

A friend was asking around for extra plastic jugs and containers. The reason? She makes her own shampoo and household cleaning products and intends to distribute some as Christmas gifts this year, but doesn't have enough containers to mix everything in.

That's awesome! I should look into doing this for myself. Anyone have any good male shampoo recipes that are easy? Or for body soap?

Perhaps we should have an Ant-Antimustachian Overheard on Facebook thread?

There's a book called The Hands-On Home (by Erica Strauss, and I think she's a member of this forum) that has recipes for shampoo and soap and cleaning products and it's really a fantastic book that I'd recommend getting from your library ASAP if you're interested.

I'd mostly stopped buying any house-maintanance books because I tend to know more than the writers include in the books (sad but true), but this one I got via the library and am intending to buy as a reference. It's fantastic.

Unfortunately my library doesn't carry it. Any other suggested books? I'm on the insane wait list for "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I suspect my name will come up in about 18 months, lol.

[Kitsune]

I've got a mustachian overheard on facebook:

A friend was asking around for extra plastic jugs and containers. The reason? She makes her own shampoo and household cleaning products and intends to distribute some as Christmas gifts this year, but doesn't have enough containers to mix everything in.

That's awesome! I should look into doing this for myself. Anyone have any good male shampoo recipes that are easy? Or for body soap?

Perhaps we should have an Ant-Antimustachian Overheard on Facebook thread?

There's a book called The Hands-On Home (by Erica Strauss, and I think she's a member of this forum) that has recipes for shampoo and soap and cleaning products and it's really a fantastic book that I'd recommend getting from your library ASAP if you're interested.

I'd mostly stopped buying any house-maintanance books because I tend to know more than the writers include in the books (sad but true), but this one I got via the library and am intending to buy as a reference. It's fantastic.

Unfortunately my library doesn't carry it. Any other suggested books? I'm on the insane wait list for "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I suspect my name will come up in about 18 months, lol.

Inter-library loan? My library didn't have it either; they got it from some other small-town library in rural vermont, and it took about 3 weeks.

[zolotiyeruki]

That's awesome! I should look into doing this for myself. Anyone have any good male shampoo recipes that are easy? Or for body soap?

Perhaps we should have an Ant-Antimustachian Overheard on Facebook thread?

I keep my hair really short, so a 22-oz bottle of Suave for $0.88 lasts me a year...

[MgoSam]

I've got a mustachian overheard on facebook:

A friend was asking around for extra plastic jugs and containers. The reason? She makes her own shampoo and household cleaning products and intends to distribute some as Christmas gifts this year, but doesn't have enough containers to mix everything in.

That's awesome! I should look into doing this for myself. Anyone have any good male shampoo recipes that are easy? Or for body soap?

Perhaps we should have an Ant-Antimustachian Overheard on Facebook thread?

There's a book called The Hands-On Home (by Erica Strauss, and I think she's a member of this forum) that has recipes for shampoo and soap and cleaning products and it's really a fantastic book that I'd recommend getting from your library ASAP if you're interested.

I'd mostly stopped buying any house-maintanance books because I tend to know more than the writers include in the books (sad but true), but this one I got via the library and am intending to buy as a reference. It's fantastic.

Unfortunately my library doesn't carry it. Any other suggested books? I'm on the insane wait list for "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I suspect my name will come up in about 18 months, lol.

Inter-library loan? My library didn't have it either; they got it from some other small-town library in rural vermont, and it took about 3 weeks.

I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, do you have any additional recommendations for any like-minded books?

[Astatine]

I've got a mustachian overheard on facebook:

A friend was asking around for extra plastic jugs and containers. The reason? She makes her own shampoo and household cleaning products and intends to distribute some as Christmas gifts this year, but doesn't have enough containers to mix everything in.

That's awesome! I should look into doing this for myself. Anyone have any good male shampoo recipes that are easy? Or for body soap?

Perhaps we should have an Ant-Antimustachian Overheard on Facebook thread?

There's a book called The Hands-On Home (by Erica Strauss, and I think she's a member of this forum) that has recipes for shampoo and soap and cleaning products and it's really a fantastic book that I'd recommend getting from your library ASAP if you're interested.

I'd mostly stopped buying any house-maintanance books because I tend to know more than the writers include in the books (sad but true), but this one I got via the library and am intending to buy as a reference. It's fantastic.

Unfortunately my library doesn't carry it. Any other suggested books? I'm on the insane wait list for "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I suspect my name will come up in about 18 months, lol.

Inter-library loan? My library didn't have it either; they got it from some other small-town library in rural vermont, and it took about 3 weeks.

I'll see what I can do. In the meantime, do you have any additional recommendations for any like-minded books?

Brooks Palmer is excellent IMO. I read all of his blog a few years ago and bought both his books. Life changing for me. I got rid of most of my stuff and nearly all of my sentimental items (huge for me). He has a similar concept of only keeping things you love.

http://clutterbusting.com/the-books/

[RunHappy]

One thing I've noticed on my feed is 3 families who complain about having no money (one I know has $40k+debt) go out to dinner once or twice a week.  They post these dinners on FB, an appetizer, each with a full entree, & dessert.  Sometimes even a couple glasses of wine/beer.  Then they talk about how it was so much food they couldn't eat everything and wished they liked leftovers because there was enough for another meal.  It boggles my mind that they are paying $60-70/week on one meal and throwing half of it in the trash.

[Cookie78]

[RFAAOATB]

One thing I've noticed on my feed is 3 families who complain about having no money (one I know has $40k+debt) go out to dinner once or twice a week.  They post these dinners on FB, an appetizer, each with a full entree, & dessert.  Sometimes even a couple glasses of wine/beer.  Then they talk about how it was so much food they couldn't eat everything and wished they liked leftovers because there was enough for another meal.  It boggles my mind that they are paying $60-70/week on one meal and throwing half of it in the trash.

You know, sometimes you got to show and not just lead by example.  Basically cook an affordable but slightly upscale dinner at home for $20, and use a couple $20 bills as napkins.  More baller use of $60 than Applebees.

[MgoSam]

One thing I've noticed on my feed is 3 families who complain about having no money (one I know has $40k+debt) go out to dinner once or twice a week.  They post these dinners on FB, an appetizer, each with a full entree, & dessert.  Sometimes even a couple glasses of wine/beer.  Then they talk about how it was so much food they couldn't eat everything and wished they liked leftovers because there was enough for another meal.  It boggles my mind that they are paying $60-70/week on one meal and throwing half of it in the trash.

You know, sometimes you got to show and not just lead by example.  Basically cook an affordable but slightly upscale dinner at home for $20, and use a couple $20 bills as napkins.  More baller use of $60 than Applebees.

I took my dad out to Red Robin a few weeks ago because he was craving a burger. It was a Wednesday and the place was PACKED, there was a 25 minute wait for the two of us. My dad just kept wondering why people were going out, he kept looking around as if anticipating an explanation, like if someone was having a birthday or a family gathering or a business celebration of some sort.

He didn't believe me when I told him that most of the families here likely come on a regular basis or go out several times a week. The notion of spending that much money when you can cook perfectly good food at home was baffling to him.

[Helvegen]

I took my dad out to Red Robin a few weeks ago because he was craving a burger. It was a Wednesday and the place was PACKED, there was a 25 minute wait for the two of us. My dad just kept wondering why people were going out, he kept looking around as if anticipating an explanation, like if someone was having a birthday or a family gathering or a business celebration of some sort.

He didn't believe me when I told him that most of the families here likely come on a regular basis or go out several times a week. The notion of spending that much money when you can cook perfectly good food at home was baffling to him.

It ruins eating out for me period. I just can't relax and enjoy it when I know I could have made it for a 1/4 of the cost and have it taste the same, if not better. The best food I ate in a restaurant was on a cruise ship in one of the specialty bistros. With Costco provided dining credits, we paid $10 for it. I would have paid happily 10 times that. But that is the very rare exception. Most food out I end up pissed that I wasted that much money on it.

[Hedge_87]

I took my dad out to Red Robin a few weeks ago because he was craving a burger. It was a Wednesday and the place was PACKED, there was a 25 minute wait for the two of us. My dad just kept wondering why people were going out, he kept looking around as if anticipating an explanation, like if someone was having a birthday or a family gathering or a business celebration of some sort.

He didn't believe me when I told him that most of the families here likely come on a regular basis or go out several times a week. The notion of spending that much money when you can cook perfectly good food at home was baffling to him.

It ruins eating out for me period. I just can't relax and enjoy it when I know I could have made it for a 1/4 of the cost and have it taste the same, if not better. The best food I ate in a restaurant was on a cruise ship in one of the specialty bistros. With Costco provided dining credits, we paid $10 for it. I would have paid happily 10 times that. But that is the very rare exception. Most food out I end up pissed that I wasted that much money on it.

Waiting in a crowded noisy foyer thingy for some crappy, overpriced, under/overcooked food and extremely overpriced drinks totaling >$100 for the two of us vs. Being in the privacy of our own home with a bottle of wine and some music. Where we can prepare and enjoy a delicious meal and do it all Inight our pj's if we so chose for <$100 and we don't have to worry about driving home if the wine is really strong ;). I'll pick option two any time.

The inlaws always insist on taking us out to eat few times a year and I always catch crap for ordering the "simplest" thing I can find on the menu. This usually ends up being a cheeseburger or some type of sandwich thing. I always get told, "it's ok we are paying you can order steak if you want." To which I reply, "it's ok I'm just really craving a cheeseburger or whatever I happen to be getting." What I really want to say is, "thanks but no thanks, chances are this restaurant would disappoint me in the ability to simply cook a hunk of beef to the desired level of med-rare I enjoy. Therefore I would much rather order a cheeseburger which even fucked up will still be good enough to eat. I really appreciate the gesture  and enjoy spending time with you however if you wanted to. We could save some money, have more time to visit, and enjoy a better meal, if we stopped by the grocery store got steaks and a 6 pack , went to the back patio, chilled and grilled."

[purplish]

I made a thread before about this friend, but I have a "friend" who is poor, trying to get on free government housing, but is by all accounts a healthy capable man.  He refuses to work because he "has anxiety", but also will not see a therapist, has never even tried medication, and will not try any work from home position.  He is however, very able to go out drinking with friends all the time.  I'm very compassionate to people with mental illness, but it's hard to have empathy when someone refuses to help themself.  Anyhow, I've distanced myself from him for various reasons (including this).

Lately he's been posting on FB pictures of his latest collection.  He keeps buying these toys, and literally has over 100 now.  I'm sure he's spent several hundred at this point.  In fact now he made his own youtube channel, which he posts on FB, dedicated to him OPENING BOXES of crap he buys online each week/month.  Like literally the videos are of him opening boxes and taking out all the stuff he bought, and showing it to the camera.  I watched it and cringed the whole time.  I very much am for helping people who are in need of help, but this guy is using his gov. benefits to buy toys and amazon.com crap constantly :/   What a waste.

[nobodyspecial]

I very much am for helping people who are in need of help, but this guy is using his gov. benefits to buy toys and amazon.com crap constantly :/   What a waste.

Isn't that the idea behind QE ?

[agent_clone]

I made a thread before about this friend, but I have a "friend" who is poor, trying to get on free government housing, but is by all accounts a healthy capable man.  He refuses to work because he "has anxiety", but also will not see a therapist, has never even tried medication, and will not try any work from home position.  He is however, very able to go out drinking with friends all the time.  I'm very compassionate to people with mental illness, but it's hard to have empathy when someone refuses to help themself.  Anyhow, I've distanced myself from him for various reasons (including this).

Lately he's been posting on FB pictures of his latest collection.  He keeps buying these toys, and literally has over 100 now.  I'm sure he's spent several hundred at this point.  In fact now he made his own youtube channel, which he posts on FB, dedicated to him OPENING BOXES of crap he buys online each week/month.  Like literally the videos are of him opening boxes and taking out all the stuff he bought, and showing it to the camera.  I watched it and cringed the whole time.  I very much am for helping people who are in need of help, but this guy is using his gov. benefits to buy toys and amazon.com crap constantly :/   What a waste.

Its called "unboxing" apparently its something that can actually make you money.... http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toy-unboxing-boom-20151224-story.html

[mm1970]

I took my dad out to Red Robin a few weeks ago because he was craving a burger. It was a Wednesday and the place was PACKED, there was a 25 minute wait for the two of us. My dad just kept wondering why people were going out, he kept looking around as if anticipating an explanation, like if someone was having a birthday or a family gathering or a business celebration of some sort.

He didn't believe me when I told him that most of the families here likely come on a regular basis or go out several times a week. The notion of spending that much money when you can cook perfectly good food at home was baffling to him.

It ruins eating out for me period. I just can't relax and enjoy it when I know I could have made it for a 1/4 of the cost and have it taste the same, if not better. The best food I ate in a restaurant was on a cruise ship in one of the specialty bistros. With Costco provided dining credits, we paid $10 for it. I would have paid happily 10 times that. But that is the very rare exception. Most food out I end up pissed that I wasted that much money on it.

Waiting in a crowded noisy foyer thingy for some crappy, overpriced, under/overcooked food and extremely overpriced drinks totaling >$100 for the two of us vs. Being in the privacy of our own home with a bottle of wine and some music. Where we can prepare and enjoy a delicious meal and do it all Inight our pj's if we so chose for <$100 and we don't have to worry about driving home if the wine is really strong ;). I'll pick option two any time.

The inlaws always insist on taking us out to eat few times a year and I always catch crap for ordering the "simplest" thing I can find on the menu. This usually ends up being a cheeseburger or some type of sandwich thing. I always get told, "it's ok we are paying you can order steak if you want." To which I reply, "it's ok I'm just really craving a cheeseburger or whatever I happen to be getting." What I really want to say is, "thanks but no thanks, chances are this restaurant would disappoint me in the ability to simply cook a hunk of beef to the desired level of med-rare I enjoy. Therefore I would much rather order a cheeseburger which even fucked up will still be good enough to eat. I really appreciate the gesture  and enjoy spending time with you however if you wanted to. We could save some money, have more time to visit, and enjoy a better meal, if we stopped by the grocery store got steaks and a 6 pack , went to the back patio, chilled and grilled."

Ah, yes.  Last night we enjoyed home-baked rosemary bread, red wine, and beef stew.  It would have been fabulous if the 9 year old didn't have the stomach flu and the toddler wasn't refusing to eat.  Of course eating out would have been worse!

[Kitsune]

I took my dad out to Red Robin a few weeks ago because he was craving a burger. It was a Wednesday and the place was PACKED, there was a 25 minute wait for the two of us. My dad just kept wondering why people were going out, he kept looking around as if anticipating an explanation, like if someone was having a birthday or a family gathering or a business celebration of some sort.

He didn't believe me when I told him that most of the families here likely come on a regular basis or go out several times a week. The notion of spending that much money when you can cook perfectly good food at home was baffling to him.

It ruins eating out for me period. I just can't relax and enjoy it when I know I could have made it for a 1/4 of the cost and have it taste the same, if not better. The best food I ate in a restaurant was on a cruise ship in one of the specialty bistros. With Costco provided dining credits, we paid $10 for it. I would have paid happily 10 times that. But that is the very rare exception. Most food out I end up pissed that I wasted that much money on it.

Waiting in a crowded noisy foyer thingy for some crappy, overpriced, under/overcooked food and extremely overpriced drinks totaling >$100 for the two of us vs. Being in the privacy of our own home with a bottle of wine and some music. Where we can prepare and enjoy a delicious meal and do it all Inight our pj's if we so chose for <$100 and we don't have to worry about driving home if the wine is really strong ;). I'll pick option two any time.

The inlaws always insist on taking us out to eat few times a year and I always catch crap for ordering the "simplest" thing I can find on the menu. This usually ends up being a cheeseburger or some type of sandwich thing. I always get told, "it's ok we are paying you can order steak if you want." To which I reply, "it's ok I'm just really craving a cheeseburger or whatever I happen to be getting." What I really want to say is, "thanks but no thanks, chances are this restaurant would disappoint me in the ability to simply cook a hunk of beef to the desired level of med-rare I enjoy. Therefore I would much rather order a cheeseburger which even fucked up will still be good enough to eat. I really appreciate the gesture  and enjoy spending time with you however if you wanted to. We could save some money, have more time to visit, and enjoy a better meal, if we stopped by the grocery store got steaks and a 6 pack , went to the back patio, chilled and grilled."

Ah, yes.  Last night we enjoyed home-baked rosemary bread, red wine, and beef stew.  It would have been fabulous if the 9 year old didn't have the stomach flu and the toddler wasn't refusing to eat.  Of course eating out would have been worse!

For Christmas Eve, I had my in-laws over, and made traditional Québécois food for 7 adults and 2 toddlers (tourtière and cretons, plus fresh bread, salad, and wine for the adults... And Christmas cookies for dessert if anyone felt so inclined). Ingredients for the main meal cost 22$. Wine was 20$ for two bottles. Everyone was well-fed and the food was excellent, and we have leftovers for tonight (and probably also tomorrow, to be honest...)

Meanwhile, half of my colleagues outsourced their holiday cooking to the local catering school, which will fix you up and box up a fairly similar meal for "only" 10$/person (and you still have to buy the wine... But they make wine list recommendations, starting at 20$/bottle, sigh).

Seriously: 2 hours of cooking, done the morning of, and we had an amazing dinner for 1/4 the cost and with many meals of leftovers. And I'm pretty sure it was tastier. AND I didn't have to go fetch food at the caterers on the 24th.

[purplish]

I made a thread before about this friend, but I have a "friend" who is poor, trying to get on free government housing, but is by all accounts a healthy capable man.  He refuses to work because he "has anxiety", but also will not see a therapist, has never even tried medication, and will not try any work from home position.  He is however, very able to go out drinking with friends all the time.  I'm very compassionate to people with mental illness, but it's hard to have empathy when someone refuses to help themself.  Anyhow, I've distanced myself from him for various reasons (including this).

Lately he's been posting on FB pictures of his latest collection.  He keeps buying these toys, and literally has over 100 now.  I'm sure he's spent several hundred at this point.  In fact now he made his own youtube channel, which he posts on FB, dedicated to him OPENING BOXES of crap he buys online each week/month.  Like literally the videos are of him opening boxes and taking out all the stuff he bought, and showing it to the camera.  I watched it and cringed the whole time.  I very much am for helping people who are in need of help, but this guy is using his gov. benefits to buy toys and amazon.com crap constantly :/   What a waste.

Its called "unboxing" apparently its something that can actually make you money.... http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-toy-unboxing-boom-20151224-story.html

Oh weird.  Well, trust me he's not earning anything from it.  And I'm sure he's still complaining how poor he is- this was my biggest source of contention, the fact that he will constantly say he is poor and can't do anything, except spend hundreds on toys apparently and go out drinking.  He was also ranting on FB about being angry how long his free housing was taking, and how he might just have to get an apartment with a roommate instead if they didn't hurry up.  Umm.... if you can just do that why do you need housing?  Luckily for him however, the housing did come through.  Now he can have his own apartment, filled with toys (and probably still complain he is poor).