Author Topic: Epic FU money stories  (Read 2794981 times)

Alfred J Quack

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2800 on: August 27, 2019, 12:47:26 PM »
Butt in seat time based jobs seem to be very common in large organizations.
The question is:
  • Is it required
  • Is it culture
  • Is it expected
I work a job where attendance is required for my job title. My colleagues on the same team (but with a different job title) are not required because they often work outside office hours on planned maintenance/changes. They are expected to put in their hours though, but working a couple more this week and a couple less next week is no problem (nor is working from home). The key is, of course, trust.

We've seen departments where that trust was gone (new manager, usually) where basically everything fell apart.

Step37

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2801 on: August 27, 2019, 10:50:17 PM »
Slow clap for @MissNancyPryor - how great to be in a position to send such a powerful message. One can hope that they learn something...

SwordGuy

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2802 on: August 27, 2019, 10:58:24 PM »
Slow clap for @MissNancyPryor - how great to be in a position to send such a powerful message. One can hope that they learn something...

Smart managers learn from their mistakes.

Dumb ones blame others and NEVER, EVER learn from their mistakes -- because they never made any.


former player

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2803 on: August 28, 2019, 05:04:40 AM »
I am so glad to be done and finally really FIRE'd.     
Congratulations.  Definitely an epic FU money story.

I've had some bad managers in my time, and come to the conclusion that a manager only has three jobs-

1.  To hire the right people and fire the wrong ones.
2.  To give people the information they need (this includes training, overseeing any needed improvement of work output - very rare if you've hired the right people, and ensuring that organisational information flows as it should)
3.  Not to get in the way of the people doing the real work.

Of course, a manager might have a "real" job as well which actually makes things happen for the organisation.  But far too many managers end up hampering the work of an organisation instead of facilitating it. Less is usually more when it comes to managing people.

theSlowTurtle

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2804 on: August 28, 2019, 07:33:33 AM »
After ruminating a few days I can say the whole hours thing really, really bugs me. 

So which is it: Am I a great catch that they were able to lure back after lamenting my absence and now have big leadership visions for,

 -or-

am I a dishonest hourly clerk who is singled out from the group and found to be cheating on her time card?

Trying to paint me as both was mind numbingly stupid.  I think because she lost the argument about me moving up to her vision in the first part of the conversation she thought she could zing me with treating me like a low level hourly person as a demonstration that she was still in control of me.  If I don’t follow her vision I will bear the wrath of being treated like I can’t wipe my own ass. 

Monty, I will take Door Number 3 and GTFO instead. 

She never saw that coming and that makes her a foolish manager.  Further, when I quit she should have quickly wished me well and let me carry on my way— that would have been a show of strength and dignity on her part.
Do you have to submit a timesheet stating 8 hours a day? I am a government contractor so I have to be a stickler with my time...federal crime otherwise. I had a big issue with coworkers doing the same thing...that amplified when I was promoted to manager and had to start approving those timesheets. I called someone out on their blatant timecard issues...it got ugly

On the other hand there are definitely times where our software is down and we can't really do much if any work. I remain in my seat and surf the net...is that any better? Probably not...but I rationalize to myself that if an emergency comes up I'm here for it. It's just a bad situation in the U.S. where hours are a really big deal...if companies would switch the value based pricing we could stop all the timesheet nonsense! I honestly believe my entire team could accomplish 98% of our work in 30/week....but I digress.

Enjoy retirement!

BlueHouse

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2805 on: August 28, 2019, 09:12:43 AM »
I do not accept hammer blows because I don't need the job.
I am printing this out and hanging it above my cube.  I do actually need a job, but I don't necessarily need this job.  And it's healthy for me to remember this.

Warlord1986

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2806 on: August 28, 2019, 07:54:18 PM »
@MissNancyPryor I want to be like you when I grow up.

RyanAtTanagra

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2807 on: August 28, 2019, 10:34:01 PM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

BlueHouse

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2808 on: August 29, 2019, 10:13:15 AM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

I'm going to graduate to this once I'm done with all the telemarketers. 

jeninco

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2809 on: August 29, 2019, 11:23:21 AM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

I'm going to graduate to this once I'm done with all the telemarketers.

So, we'll expect to hear back from you in ... what, a week or three? about your new job at Wells Fargo?

thesis

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2810 on: August 29, 2019, 11:26:01 AM »
Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

This!

It would take some serious FI concentration to not internalize the stress in work locations like that, but wouldn't it be fun to turn toxic environments around by having the leverage to get the right things done? Even the leverage to get rid of the bad apples? "So-and-so is ruining your company. I can help you fix your problems, but you're going to fire so-and-so first".

GreenToTheCore

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2811 on: August 29, 2019, 06:38:19 PM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

Oh man, this.
Imagine getting hired into HR, finding a problem manager, and filling their team with fellow FI mustachians... *touches fingertips with an evil grin*

Edited for clarity.
« Last Edit: August 29, 2019, 06:40:17 PM by GreenToTheCore »

zolotiyeruki

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2812 on: August 29, 2019, 07:55:34 PM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

Oh man, this.
Imagine getting hired into HR, finding a problem manager, and filling their team with fellow FI mustachians... *touches fingertips with an evil grin*
Ooh, I like the idea of infiltrating multiple positions.  Hmmm, it might even make for a good TV show....maybe something like....

"Two years ago, a handful of workers were chewed out by a boss for something they didn't do.  These people promptly quit their jobs and joined the FIRE movement.  Today, still wanted by the Internet Retirement Police, they thrive as spoilers of mismanagement.  If your manager stinks...and nobody in HR is willing to help...and if you can find them...maybe you can enlist*...the FI-Team." (cue heroic music)

* no, you can't hire them, because they're retired.

RWTL

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2813 on: August 30, 2019, 03:41:38 AM »


"Two years ago, a handful of workers were chewed out by a boss for something they didn't do.  These people promptly quit their jobs and joined the FIRE movement.  Today, still wanted by the Internet Retirement Police, they thrive as spoilers of mismanagement.  If your manager stinks...and nobody in HR is willing to help...and if you can find them...maybe you can enlist*...the FI-Team." (cue heroic music)


This worked as intended....I was hearing the A-Team the whole time I read this.  Well done.

fantabulous

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2814 on: August 30, 2019, 11:36:19 AM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

Oh man, this.
Imagine getting hired into HR, finding a problem manager, and filling their team with fellow FI mustachians... *touches fingertips with an evil grin*
Ooh, I like the idea of infiltrating multiple positions.  Hmmm, it might even make for a good TV show....maybe something like....

"Two years ago, a handful of workers were chewed out by a boss for something they didn't do.  These people promptly quit their jobs and joined the FIRE movement.  Today, still wanted by the Internet Retirement Police, they thrive as spoilers of mismanagement.  If your manager stinks...and nobody in HR is willing to help...and if you can find them...maybe you can enlist*...the FI-Team." (cue heroic music)

* no, you can't hire them, because they're retired.

As long as we still get to build cabbage cannons.

Emerald

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2815 on: August 30, 2019, 12:05:05 PM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

Oh man, this.
Imagine getting hired into HR, finding a problem manager, and filling their team with fellow FI mustachians... *touches fingertips with an evil grin*
Ooh, I like the idea of infiltrating multiple positions.  Hmmm, it might even make for a good TV show....maybe something like....

"Two years ago, a handful of workers were chewed out by a boss for something they didn't do.  These people promptly quit their jobs and joined the FIRE movement.  Today, still wanted by the Internet Retirement Police, they thrive as spoilers of mismanagement.  If your manager stinks...and nobody in HR is willing to help...and if you can find them...maybe you can enlist*...the FI-Team." (cue heroic music)

* no, you can't hire them, because they're retired.

As long as we still get to build cabbage cannons.

I ain't getting on no plane.

okisok

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2816 on: August 30, 2019, 11:13:33 PM »
Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

This!

It would take some serious FI concentration to not internalize the stress in work locations like that, but wouldn't it be fun to turn toxic environments around by having the leverage to get the right things done? Even the leverage to get rid of the bad apples? "So-and-so is ruining your company. I can help you fix your problems, but you're going to fire so-and-so first".

Ha! I've actually done this. It wasn't because I had FU money, but because I didn't need the job. It was several years ago when I was frugal but not Mustachian. I took a part-time job to save up for some traveling. It was the same company that my full-time job was with. They needed someone with my expertise and experience. I found out who was causing the problems that necessitated them hiring me, and was very straight up with management. "X is your problem, and will keep causing problems no matter who you fire or promote." They got rid of that person and it solved a lot of their problems in that department.
If I'd been desperate for money or the job, I would've kept my head down and begrudgingly kept working with the toxic person. THey would have kept trying to hire or train their way out of the issue. I'm still proud of that one!

Dicey

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2817 on: August 30, 2019, 11:31:34 PM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

Oh man, this.
Imagine getting hired into HR, finding a problem manager, and filling their team with fellow FI mustachians... *touches fingertips with an evil grin*
Ooh, I like the idea of infiltrating multiple positions.  Hmmm, it might even make for a good TV show....maybe something like....

"Two years ago, a handful of workers were chewed out by a boss for something they didn't do.  These people promptly quit their jobs and joined the FIRE movement.  Today, still wanted by the Internet Retirement Police, they thrive as spoilers of mismanagement.  If your manager stinks...and nobody in HR is willing to help...and if you can find them...maybe you can enlist*...the FI-Team." (cue heroic music)

* no, you can't hire them, because they're retired.

As long as we still get to build cabbage cannons.

I ain't getting on no plane.
You can be a regional specialist.

SwordGuy

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2818 on: August 31, 2019, 08:22:30 PM »
I am sticking with my theory that she pulled it out of her ass as an attempt to wrest control over me since I would not accept the idea of moving up out of the job.  I had already frustrated her by wanting to just do the job I was hired for so she had no other bullets.  She didn't think she would actually kill me with it but she was wrong.
[/quote]vi
@MissNancyPryor

In the olden days, when someone was knighted, the person doing the knighting would use the hand to strike the person being knighted a terrific blow to the face.  It was called "the buffet". 

(PS -- that's buff-it, not buf-fey.   It means a violent blow with a hand or fist, not a table full of serve-yourself food.)

With that buffet went these words, "Take this blow and no other."   

Being a sword guy, I view MMM's face punches in a very similar way.

When you graduate to FU or FI status, you no longer put up with other people's shit.  You stand for what you believe to be the right.

So walk proud, you've followed in a long tradition of chivalric behavior.  :)


BicycleB

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2819 on: September 02, 2019, 03:35:23 PM »
I am sticking with my theory that she pulled it out of her ass as an attempt to wrest control over me since I would not accept the idea of moving up out of the job.  I had already frustrated her by wanting to just do the job I was hired for so she had no other bullets.  She didn't think she would actually kill me with it but she was wrong.
vi
@MissNancyPryor

In the olden days, when someone was knighted, the person doing the knighting would use the hand to strike the person being knighted a terrific blow to the face.  It was called "the buffet". 

(PS -- that's buff-it, not buf-fey.   It means a violent blow with a hand or fist, not a table full of serve-yourself food.)

With that buffet went these words, "Take this blow and no other."   

Being a sword guy, I view MMM's face punches in a very similar way.

When you graduate to FU or FI status, you no longer put up with other people's shit.  You stand for what you believe to be the right.

So walk proud, you've followed in a long tradition of chivalric behavior.  :)
[/quote]

Learn something new every day?

My day is done. Thanks,@SwordGuy!

:)

Well Respected Man

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2820 on: September 11, 2019, 05:01:03 PM »
I finally have a story to share!

My daughter got a part time job at a ski shop, which is a great opportunity, should be fun, etc. It didn't turn out that way, as she was the only female employee, and when she became ill, the manager [I assume, don't know exactly] was not very accommodating, kind of retaliating by not scheduling her at all. It's also just stressing her out because she has a full load of classes, and her academics were not great last year.

So she's quitting. I mentioned that she should do what is right for her, and to remember this feeling of control and freedom (I am paying for her education and room and board, so her current power comes from privilege, not savings). I explained that to be in that position of power, she needs to save 50%+ of her income, and always have enough to walk if the situation warrants.

I think she gets it, and mentioned that she still has a good amount of savings from her summer job. Planting the seeds of a potential future epic FU money story.

Loren Ver

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2821 on: September 11, 2019, 06:47:34 PM »
Nice FU MissNancyPrior!

Sometimes i think a fun post-fire job would be to get hired at known toxic companies and fuck with the management.

Oh man, this.
Imagine getting hired into HR, finding a problem manager, and filling their team with fellow FI mustachians... *touches fingertips with an evil grin*
Ooh, I like the idea of infiltrating multiple positions.  Hmmm, it might even make for a good TV show....maybe something like....

"Two years ago, a handful of workers were chewed out by a boss for something they didn't do.  These people promptly quit their jobs and joined the FIRE movement.  Today, still wanted by the Internet Retirement Police, they thrive as spoilers of mismanagement.  If your manager stinks...and nobody in HR is willing to help...and if you can find them...maybe you can enlist*...the FI-Team." (cue heroic music)

* no, you can't hire them, because they're retired.

As long as we still get to build cabbage cannons.

I ain't getting on no plane.

This made my day so much better.  We are currently on season three.
DH cross stitched this for me for retirement.

RWTL

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2822 on: September 12, 2019, 03:37:29 AM »
I finally have a story to share!

My daughter got a part time job at a ski shop, which is a great opportunity, should be fun, etc. It didn't turn out that way, as she was the only female employee, and when she became ill, the manager [I assume, don't know exactly] was not very accommodating, kind of retaliating by not scheduling her at all. It's also just stressing her out because she has a full load of classes, and her academics were not great last year.

So she's quitting. I mentioned that she should do what is right for her, and to remember this feeling of control and freedom (I am paying for her education and room and board, so her current power comes from privilege, not savings). I explained that to be in that position of power, she needs to save 50%+ of her income, and always have enough to walk if the situation warrants.

I think she gets it, and mentioned that she still has a good amount of savings from her summer job. Planting the seeds of a potential future epic FU money story.

Good job Dad.

Much Fishing to Do

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2823 on: September 12, 2019, 05:31:16 AM »
I explained that to be in that position of power, she needs to save 50%+ of her income

I think that's a great age to say this as you maybe the only one she's ever going to hear a savings rate even considered outside the range of 0%-20%...

talltexan

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2824 on: September 18, 2019, 10:56:24 AM »
Advocating that you should always save 50% of your income seems kind of impossible for a parent to carry out successfully.

Your daughter's income will grow rapidly through the decade of her 20's. An easier path for her is to get used to saving some, but then commit to saving 50% of any raises that appear.

RyanAtTanagra

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2825 on: September 18, 2019, 11:37:05 AM »
Advocating that you should always save 50% of your income seems kind of impossible for a parent to carry out successfully.

Your daughter's income will grow rapidly through the decade of her 20's. An easier path for her is to get used to saving some, but then commit to saving 50% of any raises that appear.

Impossible for parents making how much?  For every financial goal someone says is impossible, you can find someone else doing it.  We, as mustachians, come across this from people all the time.  Impossible shouldn't be in our vocabulary.

SwordGuy

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2826 on: September 18, 2019, 11:52:25 AM »
Advocating that you should always save 50% of your income seems kind of impossible for a parent to carry out successfully.

Your daughter's income will grow rapidly through the decade of her 20's. An easier path for her is to get used to saving some, but then commit to saving 50% of any raises that appear.

Impossible for parents making how much?  For every financial goal someone says is impossible, you can find someone else doing it.  We, as mustachians, come across this from people all the time.  Impossible shouldn't be in our vocabulary.
Bravo!

saguaro

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2827 on: September 18, 2019, 11:53:13 AM »
I finally have a story to share!

My daughter got a part time job at a ski shop, which is a great opportunity, should be fun, etc. It didn't turn out that way, as she was the only female employee, and when she became ill, the manager [I assume, don't know exactly] was not very accommodating, kind of retaliating by not scheduling her at all. It's also just stressing her out because she has a full load of classes, and her academics were not great last year.

So she's quitting. I mentioned that she should do what is right for her, and to remember this feeling of control and freedom (I am paying for her education and room and board, so her current power comes from privilege, not savings). I explained that to be in that position of power, she needs to save 50%+ of her income, and always have enough to walk if the situation warrants.

I think she gets it, and mentioned that she still has a good amount of savings from her summer job. Planting the seeds of a potential future epic FU money story.

Good job Dad.

This is great.   A good lesson to learn early on, that feeling of freedom and control is invaluable.   And she has a start on the savings. 

Chris Pascale

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2828 on: September 22, 2019, 10:23:46 AM »
A lot of this is on the 2019 cohort thread but it fits here and I was encouraged to post it in this widely-read thread. 

I left my very stressful job April 5th, 2019 as per the glorious FIRE plan of quitting at age 50.  I quickly returned to work later that month at a place I used to work years prior in an effort to transition and SWAMI my way into a retirement.  I felt like I needed a transition period from the crazy corporate life with its ridiculous cross country travel to a time where I could still earn a little bit as a safety net and would finally be able to develop my life outside of work and be social since I would finally be no one's boss. 

I shifted from a high power boss type job pre-FIRE to more of a technical analyst, but still salaried and with a decent paycheck.  Unfortunately I have been there 4 months and it is boring beyond all hell.  There is a struggle because the person who is supposed to be training me is a passive aggressive dude who told me flat out, "No one taught me anything here, I had to figure it out for myself" and then proceeded to not teach me anything there.  Every bit of knowledge I have gained has been painfully acquired.  It was clear that he did not want me to be the successful candidate for this job, he wanted a buddy of his, but they could not meet the salary requirements.  The fact that I easily figured out that I was not his first choice should tell you everything about how he treated me after I arrived.   

But, the goals of transitioning are being met for the most part-- I have enjoyed not carrying a company cell phone any longer and the extension of medical insurance as well as a paycheck.  Even though it is boring and I have the constant friction with the dude in the next cubicle I decided that I would stay a year so as not to be a jerk about things and show some gratitude.     

Last Friday my boss and I had our regular 1:1 session and she said she could tell I was not happy.  I explained (again, because I have been saying it to her since my second week there) that I was not getting the training I needed and was frustrated but I was sorry I was not hiding it better.  She encouraged me to take a promotion where my skill set and leadership experience would be better used.  I declined and emphasized that I purposefully downshifted to this role in order to build a life that was not driven by work.  After a while we developed some ideas on how I could find a path forward and we agreed. 

She then ham-handedly turned the topic to my hours.  She said she noticed I only worked 7 hours a day and I really need to work 8.

I quit. 

She freaked out.  She refused to accept my resignation.   

It was fairly dramatic but I explained that I have been working the exact same hours as the rest of the group, I am a salaried individual, and furthermore I asked more than once when I got on board what the deal was and it was agreed I was fine.  I had just spent 40 minutes going through how I was struggling with getting necessary training from a guy who refuses to provide it and to move to a discussion about my HOURS of all things was just too much.  I told her I simply can't take that and therefore I quit.  She told me to sleep on it and let her know Monday.

So I did today.  Color me D.O.N.E. 

Today it was a surprisingly good discussion with her.  I agreed to help us both by doing a graceful exit.  "It just wasn't a fit, I am going to go back to my early retirement" will be our story.  I can live with that.  The only question now is if I should work at all into September or if I can take vacation days to get me another full month of health insurance to ease the transition out to the exchange.   

Side note, for fun I came in extra early today and watched every single one of my co-workers come in later than they should and watched them leave after putting in only about 7 hours.  As I said, I was following the rest of the staff with my comings and goings and it was nice to prove that she was out of line.

I am really glad that doing this short encore job gave me the chance to have an oh-so-satisfying EPIC FU MONEY story as my final exit from working life.  That must have been what these few months were for, a small gift to myself in that I do not have to put up with a boring job where I can't get good training and am going to be hounded about my hours.  Perfect.   

I am so glad to be done and finally really FIRE'd.   

Going to share this with my kids. Excellent story. They were way out of line.

talltexan

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2829 on: October 03, 2019, 06:58:18 AM »
Advocating that you should always save 50% of your income seems kind of impossible for a parent to carry out successfully.

Your daughter's income will grow rapidly through the decade of her 20's. An easier path for her is to get used to saving some, but then commit to saving 50% of any raises that appear.

Impossible for parents making how much?  For every financial goal someone says is impossible, you can find someone else doing it.  We, as mustachians, come across this from people all the time.  Impossible shouldn't be in our vocabulary.
Bravo!

Raising a child who saves 50% of his or her income is not a financial goal. My children won't even listen to me about easy stuff I want them to do.

RyanAtTanagra

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2830 on: October 03, 2019, 11:38:51 AM »
I have a new entry, from my sister, whom in a short time got to experience two different aspects of FU money.

She took on a part-time small-town bartending job for extra money.  She bartended in school so it was an easy job to pick up.  She learned quickly that the owner was the angry, yelling kind of boss.  But she didn't really need the job, and as such she realized the yelling and anger didn't bother her, where as previously if would have.  But now it just rolled off her back and she could just ignore him.  Benefit of FU money #1.

Until the other night when he starting yelling at her directly like she was an idiot, which she decided she absolutely wasn't ok with.  She told him 'no one talks to me like that' and walked.  Benefit of FU money #2.

Very proud of her, and very happy she's in the position to not put up with bullshit anymore.  I wish everyone were taught the power of that.

bluebelle

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2831 on: October 03, 2019, 02:22:11 PM »
I have a new entry, from my sister, whom in a short time got to experience two different aspects of FU money.

She took on a part-time small-town bartending job for extra money.  She bartended in school so it was an easy job to pick up.  She learned quickly that the owner was the angry, yelling kind of boss.  But she didn't really need the job, and as such she realized the yelling and anger didn't bother her, where as previously if would have.  But now it just rolled off her back and she could just ignore him.  Benefit of FU money #1.

Until the other night when he starting yelling at her directly like she was an idiot, which she decided she absolutely wasn't ok with.  She told him 'no one talks to me like that' and walked.  Benefit of FU money #2.

Very proud of her, and very happy she's in the position to not put up with bullshit anymore.  I wish everyone were taught the power of that.
the attitude from FU money is a powerful thing....just having that attitude shuts down alot of work-place bullies.   Having the air of 'I won't put up with that shit' often stops the bullies.   Good for your daughter for knowing when to walk away.

Just Joe

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2832 on: October 04, 2019, 09:04:41 AM »
Raising a child who saves 50% of his or her income is not a financial goal. My children won't even listen to me about easy stuff I want them to do.

Hang in there Tall Texan. Sometimes your kids will surprise you. From the outside it looks messy but one day they reveal that something you taught them stuck.

DW and I are in a similar situation with our kids.

Adventine

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2833 on: October 04, 2019, 12:58:54 PM »
Raising a child who saves 50% of his or her income is not a financial goal. My children won't even listen to me about easy stuff I want them to do.

Hang in there Tall Texan. Sometimes your kids will surprise you. From the outside it looks messy but one day they reveal that something you taught them stuck.

DW and I are in a similar situation with our kids.

Kids learn by example, not by lectures. All you can do is set a good example.

Sandi_k

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2834 on: October 11, 2019, 12:45:21 PM »
This thread is so much fun! So here's one of mine...

My first job, working as a cashier at a stop-and-shop quicky mart. I got the job as a junior in high school, paid 15 cents more per hour than minimum wage. Decent manager, the owners showed up to count the cash and sign for deliveries, everything else was on us.

We had pretty good continuity, people stayed typically 12-24 months, with occasional bumps in pay. Pretty laid back, to the point where payroll checks were loaded under the cash drawer every other Friday, and anyone could scan them as they weren't in envelopes.

Well, a new guy had been hired, and I was training him his first week. I was now graduated from HS, and starting at the junior college up the hill. I'd moved out to my own apartment (at age 17!), and was a great employee for them - never sick, always willing to cover for others' absences, never late, good at training. When paychecks came out in New Guys' second week, as I sorted through the stack to get my check, I could see that his hourly rate was higher than mine.

OK, I hadn't asked for a raise for awhile, and surely I was worth it, and I understood that the boss doesn't *have* to pay me more unless I ask...so I do.

The next Saturday morning, the owner was in, and I asked him for a raise. I mentioned that I'd been there now 18 months, was now a college student, and was worth a 50 cent raise (so I'd be making 25 cents more than New Guy). So I would have gone from $3.90/hour to $4.40/hr. Boss says nope.

I ask why I'm being paid less than New Guy. Boss says it's because he does swing shift (3pm-11pm). I remind him that *I* do swing shift, too! And I am worth more. Still nope. Even worse, he dared me - "If you think you're worth more, go find someone else to pay it."

So I go up the hill to the JC's job board for college students, find a listing for a small Mom and Pop copy shop in town (coincidentally, half a mile from my new apartment), and go in person to apply. I am hired on the spot, to start the next day, at $4.75 per hour.

I then ride my badass new scooter (bought two weeks before, paid for in cash, from job savings) to the quicky mart, and tender my immediate resignation (no one ever gave two weeks notice for the cashier/stocking job). He's dumbfounded, and I am delighted. It could only have been more epic if I'd managed it on the holiday weekend a couple of weeks earlier.

That was in 1983, and it still gives me joy to have proven to that old misogynistic assh*le that there were young women who wouldn't put up with his sh*t.
« Last Edit: October 11, 2019, 12:49:48 PM by Sandi_k »

techwiz

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2835 on: October 11, 2019, 01:10:14 PM »
This thread is so much fun! So here's one of mine...

My first job, working as a cashier at a stop-and-shop quicky mart. I got the job as a junior in high school, paid 15 cents more per hour than minimum wage. Decent manager, the owners showed up to count the cash and sign for deliveries, everything else was on us.

We had pretty good continuity, people stayed typically 12-24 months, with occasional bumps in pay. Pretty laid back, to the point where payroll checks were loaded under the cash drawer every other Friday, and anyone could scan them as they weren't in envelopes.

Well, a new guy had been hired, and I was training him his first week. I was now graduated from HS, and starting at the junior college up the hill. I'd moved out to my own apartment (at age 17!), and was a great employee for them - never sick, always willing to cover for others' absences, never late, good at training. When paychecks came out in New Guys' second week, as I sorted through the stack to get my check, I could see that his hourly rate was higher than mine.

OK, I hadn't asked for a raise for awhile, and surely I was worth it, and I understood that the boss doesn't *have* to pay me more unless I ask...so I do.

The next Saturday morning, the owner was in, and I asked him for a raise. I mentioned that I'd been there now 18 months, was now a college student, and was worth a 50 cent raise (so I'd be making 25 cents more than New Guy). So I would have gone from $3.90/hour to $4.40/hr. Boss says nope.

I ask why I'm being paid less than New Guy. Boss says it's because he does swing shift (3pm-11pm). I remind him that *I* do swing shift, too! And I am worth more. Still nope. Even worse, he dared me - "If you think you're worth more, go find someone else to pay it."

So I go up the hill to the JC's job board for college students, find a listing for a small Mom and Pop copy shop in town (coincidentally, half a mile from my new apartment), and go in person to apply. I am hired on the spot, to start the next day, at $4.75 per hour.

I then ride my badass new scooter (bought two weeks before, paid for in cash, from job savings) to the quicky mart, and tender my immediate resignation (no one ever gave two weeks notice for the cashier/stocking job). He's dumbfounded, and I am delighted. It could only have been more epic if I'd managed it on the holiday weekend a couple of weeks earlier.

That was in 1983, and it still gives me joy to have proven to that old misogynistic assh*le that there were young women who wouldn't put up with his sh*t.

Wow Epic FU story. I would have like to seen his face when he found out you were out of there.

RyanAtTanagra

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2836 on: October 11, 2019, 01:13:13 PM »
@Sandi_k good one!

That reminds me of a really good one an ex of mine had.  She was working at a family owned produce market.  Really nice market, but the father was a grade A ass.  My ex was a great worker, but refused to kowtow to anyone, so he didn't like her.  When he decided he didn't want someone there anymore, he wouldn't just let them go, because he might have to pay unemployment, so he would just cut their hours so they'd have to quit, which is shitty but pretty common in retail.  He started doing it to her and pissed her off, so she talked to the unemployment office and they said that probably qualifies for partial unemployment, so she filed for it.  He got piiiiisssed and disputed it.  She stuck it out, won, told everyone there about it (so he couldn't pull that shit again), then quit.

Dogastrophe

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2837 on: October 11, 2019, 01:31:29 PM »
Even worse, he dared me - "If you think you're worth more, go find someone else to pay it."



A few years ago my wife's manager said very same thing to her.  She had arranged a meeting to discuss a raise.  She presented him with a list of extra responsibilities she had taken on over the past year and asked for ~$3000 raise.  About a month after he threw his dare in her face she resigned for her new job (with a $4K bump and has since increased even further).  Best of all, they are on their 3rd person in her role in 3 years.  Current person is only doing ~1/2 what she was doing.  From what we have heard, her old manager has commented a few times how they were stupid to have let her leave like they did. 

Sandi_k

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2838 on: October 11, 2019, 01:43:56 PM »
@RyanAtTanagra , nice! You reminded me of my favorite FU story, that I helped engineer...

DH and I bought our first house, in 1992. Not married, but together 10+ years, so it's all good. We cobble together a 10% DP, and move in.

I have my first post-college FT job, doing well for my age. DH is just out of college too, still working his college job at a local bike shop (he's super-good with fixing things, handy to have around). He'd worked there for ~2+ years, and was now the most senior (and most expensive) employee. He was also the guy who did ALL of the bicycle repairs. During his time there, he actually got a following of bike nerds, who would bring their fancy bikes in to be optimized by DH.

He's paid well enough, he hates interviewing, not really looking for a job (even after being taped up and robbed at gunpoint, but that's another story!)

After the robbery, the owner decides it's time to sell. So he does. New owner looks at DH's payroll, and decides he's going to get him out. So he assigns him to the other shop, about a 40 minute commute via freeway in the Bay Area. Instead of the current 20 minute commute. The employee with whom he was swapped (the most expensive employee at the other shop) decided to quit instead of putting up with the reassignment. DH doesn't.

So then the owner reduces his hours, by 25%, saying that the business is slowing (actually, business was recovering from the recession, and receipts were up). DH still doesn't quit, but he starts looking for another job. Slowly.

Well, owner pays out another month, and decides DH is still too expensive, so he "lets him go." DH comes home, all depressed and feeling worthless (he's an introvert, hates looking for work). I tell him he can file for unemployment, since he wasn't fired for cause. DH perks up!

I advise DH to call the owner the next day, no hassle, and ask him if he'd sign a letter of reference for DH, to "aid in his job search." Owner says yes. DH asks if it's OK if we draft it, and he'll bring it by the following day for a signature. Owner says yes.

So I draft the letter, outlining DH's three years of work in the shop, his expertise in repair, his solid work ethic, his perfect attendance, his reassignment to the other shop and his willingness "to work where he was most needed by the business," and then I note owner's dismay at having to lay him off due to "lack of funds, and lack of work", as evidenced by the prior reduction to 75% time.

DH takes it in, owner happily signs it (he didn't have to do any work! DH is going away without drama!). DH then went STRAIGHT TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE, AND FILED.

Owner fights it, says he fired DH for bad attitude, attendance, possible thievery, he's not sure, but maybe...

So a conference call is scheduled with an adjudicator. DH listens to owner spew his lies, and then simply says: "Huh. That's not at all what you said in your written reference letter for me. You said it was due to lack of funds and lack of work."

Stunned silence. Then the adjudicator asks owner: "Is this true? Did you write a letter of reference for [DH]?" Owner admits that yes, he did sign a letter of reference, and it might have included those terms.

That was it. Dispute settled in DH's favor, and he proceeded to de-PTSD for the next 6 months while continuing to pay his Mustachian-level bills from the UE checks.

And because we kept a lockdown on the budget, he was able to turn down Blockbuster and their evil corporate hiring practices, AND buy a sweet 1967 Honda Dream 305 motorcycle during that 6 months of unemployment.

Overall: pretty sweet.

Sandi_k

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2839 on: October 11, 2019, 01:50:04 PM »
@Sandi_k love, love, LOVE that story. 

And in the end he is proven to be a complete moron and you were proven to be an excellent clerk who follows directions.  His direction to go find someone else to pay you more was his last order and followed to a tee. 

Ha!


Thanks, @MissNancyPryor ! That was my very first job, and I have NEVER forgotten that work is a mutual contract. I *always* have the right to walk, and I make sure I have the ability to do so, too.

My current boss is an *ss, but I choose to stay because he knows my worth - I've negotiated SERIOUS pay upgrades in the past decade with him, and I punch him right back when he tries to throat punch me. I am staying for the pension, until 2025. But he rotates out in June 2021.

Only 20 more months with him. I cannot wait!

eostache

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2840 on: October 11, 2019, 03:09:52 PM »

That was it. Dispute settled in DH's favor, and he proceeded to de-PTSD for the next 6 months while continuing to pay his Mustachian-level bills from the UE checks.


I got laid off a pretty decent tech job this past summer. Having been laid off past jobs I had saved my paychecks (while co-workers were buying new trucks). I wasn't too unhappy to be laid off. I'm not even close to FIRE, but have enough of a stash to not worry for a while. I got a couple months severance pay, plus cash to pay COBRA (got a cheap Marketplace plan instead). I'm collecting unemployment for 6 months now, it's enough to pay the bills so I don't need to hurry to find the next job.

mm1970

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2841 on: October 11, 2019, 04:29:52 PM »
@Sandi_k

You win for the best new stories today!

Sandi_k

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2842 on: October 11, 2019, 04:45:28 PM »
@Sandi_k

You win for the best new stories today!

Thank you, @mm1970

alcon835

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2843 on: October 13, 2019, 08:17:26 AM »
A few years ago I worked in cyber security at a large cosmetics company. I was part of a team of about 25 security folks in a company of 5,000 with around 600 being IT. So a larger IT org.

In cyber security, we worked very closely with other teams. The problem, however, is of the 25 people on my team, only 4 of us did the work. It was a frustrating experiencing being required to pick up the slack of 20 other people, but I strive to serve the company I work for well and to do my job with excellence, so I put that aside and didn't worry much about it.

Over my time there, I was repeatedly called out for excellence and became the go-to guy in the cyber security team. Is an attack happening? I'm up to be the main responder. Do we need to smooth out things with another team? Send me. Do we need some new products? I need to test them out and work across the organization to see if its a fit.

In the end they promoted me...sort of. They put two people under me and said I was a team lead, but refused to change my official title or give me a raise saying that HR could take a year or longer to get me the raise and title. I'd always been an unofficial team lead, training and support everyone in cyber security, but had never been offered a manager position before and decided it was worth waiting 8-12 months to get the titles on my resume (I've since learned to put what I did on a resume, not what they call it).

Well, people like to talk with me and I have always been into personal finance so eventually conversations with my coworkers turned to our salaries. Turns out, I was severely under paid - by at least 40%; and this was without taking my promotion into account.

I started doing research: talking with folks I knew in the industry, reading online forums, and looking at job posting to put together a number right in the middle of what the industry was paying for my promoted role. I took that information to my boss at my next one-on-one and proceeded to walk him through what I was looking for in salary when they finally promoted me and why I thought those numbers were fair.

He was clearly stunned by the conversation and didn't even take a second to process what I'd said. Instead he told me, "You started at this company underpaid and you will always be underpaid as long as you work here. The promotion is not going to be negotiable and it's more like a 5% increase." I pointed out that the role should be paid at what the role is worth and not be based on my current salary. He shrugged his shoulders and basically said, "That's the way that it is and I'm not going to fight to get you any more."

That was the moment I knew it was time to leave. It was suddenly clear that they knew they were taking advantage of me. They knew I was ignorant of what the industry was paying and used that leverage to severely underpay me while hiring other folks at 40-60% more than me. And even when I proved to be one of the strongest assets on their team, the only response was a shrug of the shoulders and a "that's the way that it is."

So I started looking for work immediately. Within 3 weeks I had a job paying me an even higher salary than I had requested in the promotion. I turned in my notice ASAP and was walked out that day.

While it wasn't my savings that let me walk, my financial independence and my skill set meant I could leave if I needed too and gave me confidence to have the raise conversation. It felt so gratifying to see that my research was correct. I've since built up a strong emergency fund and begun working my way into true mustacian independence.

I work at an amazing organization now in a management role where I've been able to right size salaries and bring people up to where they should be in the industry. I am loving what I do every day and my emergency fund means I can FU if anything ever changes. It's a great place to be!
« Last Edit: October 21, 2019, 07:41:07 PM by alcon835 »

2sk22

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2844 on: October 13, 2019, 09:21:42 AM »
@alcon835 A wonderfully inspiring story! Since I work in software too, I know that good security people are really hard to find so I'm very happy that you're now getting paid what you're worth.

RWD

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2845 on: October 13, 2019, 10:23:03 AM »
Instead he told me, "You started at this company underpaid and you will always be underpaid as long as you work here."

Holy crap, I can't believe he told you that straight up. That's practically telling your employee to leave for greener pastures.

SwordGuy

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2846 on: October 13, 2019, 10:23:49 AM »
Many years ago I was manager of programming for the US for a multinational corporation.   I had seriously trained up our programmers and analysts.  We got really impressive results with very few people.   95% of our resources went to new functionality and only 5% had to be used on fixing mistakes or poorly done work.  Industry standards at the time were fairly close to the opposite of that.

Management didn't want to increase their pay "because we've already done the budget for the year".  So we waited until the next budget cycle and -- surprise -- no raise.    Within 6 months the department was gutted because most left for significantly more money elsewhere.  (I got a 30% raise right off.)

I got word a few years later that the US corporate president had (too late) realized what a treasure he had in our department and was bemoaning that he was never going to get that kind of IT department again.

It was nice to be missed but much better to be well paid. :)

Montecarlo

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2847 on: October 13, 2019, 12:23:56 PM »
Instead he told me, "You started at this company underpaid and you will always be underpaid as long as you work here."

Holy crap, I can't believe he told you that straight up. That's practically telling your employee to leave for greener pastures.

Maybe they were tired of him making them look bad.

mm1970

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2848 on: October 14, 2019, 12:14:22 PM »
Instead he told me, "You started at this company underpaid and you will always be underpaid as long as you work here."

Holy crap, I can't believe he told you that straight up. That's practically telling your employee to leave for greener pastures.

Insane, but true.

Quote
I pointed out (because for some reason these dorks making $300K per year running large sections of a multi-national corporation simply don't get it) that if I hired some nobody from off the street I would have to pay them the higher amount.  They would come with zero company-specific business acumen, loyalty, etc. and there was no guarantee they would work out for the long term.  Still got push back and it took a few more weeks of crap to resolve it.   

Lordy, I had a long hard fight for two of my people years ago...they were going from hourly to salary, and bigboss kept offering $43k, then $50k.  THEY MAKE $51K WITH OVERTIME DUDE.  They were going from tech to engineering (hourly to salary).

gipsygrrl

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Re: Epic FU money stories
« Reply #2849 on: October 14, 2019, 02:49:35 PM »
I'm so excited to have one of my first FU money experiences today! It's little, but mighty.

I am a designer and this weekend (Ugh - weekend. Strike one.) I had a client contact me about a job. The last line of her e-mail, verbatim, was "if you're interested, I can explain exactly what we need on a very tight timeline and even tighter budget." Gawd, what a horrible proposition!

Of course there are a few reasons to consider a job like that... if it's an important client or could lead to other, better jobs, etc. But that didn't apply here. In past years, I would have had to take the job because I needed the money, period. Now I'm able to discriminate, and I kind of feel like throwing myself a party because it's so awesome. Three cheers for being able to take a pass on the crappy assignments of life!!

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!