Sometimes I forget that I am "different."

[JanetJackson]

This weekend/week I am house/pet sitting for friends and while I often pet sit, etc, I am not often in someones home for this extended period of time.

I almost feel like I am the primitive character in some kind of reality show where they confuse a person with strange experiences for entertainment purposes:

This morning I wanted to vacuum, but it took me 10+ minutes to figure out their really fancy convertible dyson, and then when i did get it going, I couldn't figure out why it was moving on it's own (self propelled, DUH)

I  keep reaching for the "vegetable wash" (what?) that's in a bottle by the kitchen sink... because I think it's the dish soap.  But they have a dish soap dispenser BUILT IN to their sink.. and I also don't even really need to do that because they have a dishwasher.  Ha.

I could not figure out where they kept ice, and was about to go to the gas station to buy a bag... when I realized there's an ice dispenser built into the fridge door.

There are what appear to me to be super fragile decorations everywhere and I am scared to sit anywhere or move too fast... ha.  How do they have three big dogs in here?


These people are SUPER WONDERFUL, and I am not judging, but I didn't realize how different our everyday life was.
Does this resonate with anyone else?

[SwordGuy]

I drive a 16 year old sedan that we bought when it was about 8 years old.  My wife drives an 8 year old car we bought when it was 6 years old.  Neither are top of the line.

When my mom died, we flew into another city and rented a small compact car to drive the several hours to the funeral site.   That car was so luxurious that, when we got back home, I looked up how much it cost to buy it new.   $13,000.

Then I hear people say you can't buy a decent car for less than $40,000!

The Tiny Details Exaggeration Syndrome is strong with some people!

 http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2012/12/26/cure-yourself-of-tiny-details-exaggeration-syndrome/

[frugalmom]

I have a mid 50's single friend who has been an executive for 25 years.  Enjoys work and has a very solid financial plan, no longer is work needed. 

Occasionally I let myself into the house to wait when we are going to do stuff.  I have a key.  What I don't however have is any idea in the world how to make the TV work.  None.  I mixed a book of short stories into the bookshelf, so I have something to do when waiting...

[JanetJackson]

Ha, thanks for the anecdotes y'all.
They also said I could use the Roku, Netflix, or... something account on this huge TV.  I've never even owned a TV, nor do I know how to even turn theirs on.  Ha.
Also their guest room has "sleep lotion" on the bedside table... like a lotion you put on specifically to sleep.  Whoa.

*Mind you, SOME of this stuff I wish I could have (but can't right now, to meet my financial goals) like a nice set of kitchen towels that aren't also potholders, a yonanas machine, and this big nice butchers block they have... but some of it is just... confusing?

[Gone_Hiking]

I was at Babies'R'Us one Friday picking up an online order.  When the person behind the counter couldn't find the order, she asked whether I had the order email on my phone.  It felt weird facing the twenty-something salesperson who couldn't fathom someone NOT having an email on their phone.

[Maenad]

I just got a surprise bonus at work. The second the deposit was in my bank account online, I put in a purchase order for that amount at Vanguard. Various friends explained how they would have bought electronics, taken a vacation, etc. I'm thinking, "I'm buying FI with this, I'll get to be on a permanent vacation!"

[AlanStache]

Engineer at work had to leave early last week to meet a plumber at his house to fix a faucet in his home.  He is 100% able bodied.  I could not help but give him some shit about wasting money and not learning a skill.  He sort of gets it but has some time consuming hobbies so is 'time vs money' or so he says.  I told him that faucets are stupid simple and basically USB/Lego, I think he sees it but would still rather spend 100$ to save him two hours.

[slappy]

I posted last week about having my husband cut my hair. One of the girls at work keeps making comments about how i need to relax and get some pampering. She mentioned to one of my bosses that he should get me a gift certificate to a salon because I need pampering.

[marty998]

I just got a surprise bonus at work. The second the deposit was in my bank account online, I put in a purchase order for that amount at Vanguard. Various friends explained how they would have bought electronics, taken a vacation, etc. I'm thinking, "I'm buying FI with this, I'll get to be on a permanent vacation!"

You are not the only one who does this... I can usually predict exactly when funds will hit my account :)

[Dicey]

Oh, I love this topic. I'm often stunned when I glimpse behind the curtain at someone else's house. I was at a friends and noticed a Dualit blender and kettle. I had to Google the brand. Oy.

[pbkmaine]

Leasing expensive cars for 3 years and then getting a new one just stuns me. I know a lot of people of modest means who do it. They "don't want the maintenance expense".

[Finallyunderstand]

Acquaintances bought a $1500 dog to keep their other $1500 dog company because they thought the first dog legitimately had depression. 

[RedwoodDreams]

Oh yes, totally relate. Our fridge died recently. I was horrified by the new models of fridges available-- you can spend 5k to get a fridge that has flippin' cameras inside so you can, I guess, check to see what's in there from anywhere... and iPad type things built into the face of it so you can scan in every item as you unload groceries and then keep an online shopping list and then maybe it beeps at you and tells you when you need milk, I DON"T KNOW but can we really not look in a fridge and see when we need milk? I watched a youtube video about how to use all the touch features and I just felt TIRED.

As I complained to my sister, while looking at her 20+ yr old fridge that's still humming along, our fridge (which we inherited with this house) was top of the line in 2005, so to me, it dying in 2017 seems *early*... They put so much crap into appliances, and that crap breaks, and you have to start over. Just give me an analog, functional workhorse and I am happy.

But I do feel like such a relic.

[BlueHouse]

I legitimately don't know how to start newer cars.  I got a loaner from my car dealership when I had my car in for a repair and could not figure out how to turn it on.  Electronic ignition. 

I have a lot of gadgets for my house though and a lot of people don't know how to do things like turn on the lights, use the TV, unlock the doors, etc. 

[oldtoyota]

On the flip side, people get into my car and press the door lock button to roll down the window. The window operates with a hand crank. =-)

On vacation, I stayed in a house with a refrigerator that produces filtered ice and water. The other lovely addition was a spigot near the kitchen sink that provided hot water for tea. The electric can opener was pretty nice, too.

My phone--once complimented by a Google employee is now very old--and I only use wifi instead of paying for internet wherever.

Recently, someone asked me what "weather app" I use. Um, I look at the sky? I ask someone? I don't use an app for that.

I do feel a bit unlike other people sometimes.

[nouveauRiche]

Driving around in my 16-year-old vehicle.  It has a combo radio/CD/cassette but the CD player is broken.  Looked into the car next to me at a red light and I could see a screen displaying the music the person was playing.  I had a twinge of un-mustachian envy but then realized I wouldn't be able to figure out how to play music in that car and don't want to make the effort to learn....

[teen persuasion]

My sis was telling me all about the Gala she and her DH went to, hosted by the hospital he works for.  One of the docs gave him their tickets.  Police were directing traffic - saw their evening wear and directed them to the valet parking, not the parking garage they'd been told to use.  Professional photos inside, which made the city paper and a website.  Multiple city restaurants were serving food at various sampling stations in the ballroom (before the elaborate dinner).  Different musical groups on different levels. Spirit sampling stations.  Donut stations.  Swagbags and all the little niceties they'd thought of, like flip flops for when your heels pinched.  Propane heaters at the end of the night while you waited for the valet to return your car.

I know I'm forgetting lots of her story, it was just so over the top for our area.

[expatartist]

Never owned a car. 5 years ago, I let my license expire o.O

[Monkey Uncle]

Also their guest room has "sleep lotion" on the bedside table... like a lotion you put on specifically to sleep.  Whoa.

Um, are you sure that's for sleeping?  :<O

[JanetJackson]

Ha Ha Ha Ha, as funny as that is, I am certain it is sleep lotion because it was in a black stainless steel container with a very fancy label telling me to use it before bed to be whisked away to dreamland. 
I mean, don't get me wrong... I am using the lotion, but it's just odd.

Also, people PURCHASING dogs makes my blood boil (unless it's like your only option to save one from dog fighting or something..?), but that's a whole other topic that I am not going to start here.

That "look in the fridge" app is STRANGE.  I mean, I guess it could save you electricity if you're constantly opening it to stare inside (ie, not meal planning) or you have teenagers in your house who do that.  I definitely did that when I was a teenager - Fridge Gaze.

Updates:  I took my first shower there- THEY HAVE A RAIN SIMULATOR shower head!  I do like how it feels, but it took forever to get my hair wet and to rinse off, because the pressure isn't as "washing a horse/car" as my shower head at home.
They also had like seven body washes to choose from.

Still haven't tried to turn on the TV, but I did peek into their snack cabinet and gasped at the $16 bulk bag of brazil nuts.  I actually love brazil nuts and wish I could afford to have that many around the house at any given time.  This one made me legit feel jealous.

They also have a Nest system, with a security camera- I asked them if they're playing vacation drinking games based on how many times they catch me picking my nose.  :)

Nothing else to report, YET.

Also their guest room has "sleep lotion" on the bedside table... like a lotion you put on specifically to sleep.  Whoa.

Um, are you sure that's for sleeping?  :<O

[Comar]

Oh yes, totally relate. Our fridge died recently. I was horrified by the new models of fridges available-- you can spend 5k to get a fridge that has flippin' cameras inside so you can, I guess, check to see what's in there from anywhere... and iPad type things built into the face of it so you can scan in every item as you unload groceries and then keep an online shopping list and then maybe it beeps at you and tells you when you need milk

Whaaaaat?

[saving_dutchman]

Oh yes, totally relate. Our fridge died recently. I was horrified by the new models of fridges available-- you can spend 5k to get a fridge that has flippin' cameras inside so you can, I guess, check to see what's in there from anywhere... and iPad type things built into the face of it so you can scan in every item as you unload groceries and then keep an online shopping list and then maybe it beeps at you and tells you when you need milk, I DON"T KNOW but can we really not look in a fridge and see when we need milk? I watched a youtube video about how to use all the touch features and I just felt TIRED.

As I complained to my sister, while looking at her 20+ yr old fridge that's still humming along, our fridge (which we inherited with this house) was top of the line in 2005, so to me, it dying in 2017 seems *early*... They put so much crap into appliances, and that crap breaks, and you have to start over. Just give me an analog, functional workhorse and I am happy.

But I do feel like such a relic.

I fully agree that these fancy features are rather unmustachian and useless. But please have a look at the energy consumption of this 20 year old fridge. I've had one of these old fridges and the damn thing used €160 a year worth of electricity (I measured it). The newer efficient fridges use as little as €30 year.

[jlcnuke]

Oh yes, totally relate. Our fridge died recently. I was horrified by the new models of fridges available-- you can spend 5k to get a fridge that has flippin' cameras inside so you can, I guess, check to see what's in there from anywhere... and iPad type things built into the face of it so you can scan in every item as you unload groceries and then keep an online shopping list and then maybe it beeps at you and tells you when you need milk

Whaaaaat?

Smart fridges are the future... for instance http://www.samsung.com/us/explore/family-hub-refrigerator/overview/

:)

[Comar]

I'm all for fridges that consume less energy but in-built cameras that send photos to your smartphone? Both innovative and lazy as fuck.

[Dicey]

They also have a Nest system, with a security camera- I asked them if they're playing vacation drinking games based on how many times they catch me picking my nose.  :)

My paint brush storage and cabbage consumption are private!
+
I had to settle for a fridge clever enough to tell me the internal temperature, but too dull to inform the world. I need to be able to outsmart something in the house, and my dog has me easily beat!

Too funny! Thank Dog I hadn't poured milk in my cereal yet!

[nouveauRiche]

I had to buy a narrower than usual fridge when I moved in to my house last year. It was tough to find one that didn't have some sort of "smart" feature like one with an internal camera or another that sent you texts when you needed milk.

While I know that it's unreasonable, my internal tin-foil hat advocate is worried about what would happen if someone hacked my fridge. My paint brush storage and cabbage consumption are private!

I had to settle for a fridge clever enough to tell me the internal temperature, but too dull to inform the world. I need to be able to outsmart something in the house, and my dog has me easily beat!

Because your toaster got hacked because you tried to watch porn on your blender.

[scottish]

The appliance has to connect to your wi-fi network correct?

Which you have secured with a (probably wpa2) password correct?

No password = no connection.   I don't even connect my TV to my wi-fi.    There's malware on TVs, dammit!

[AlanStache]

The appliance has to connect to your wi-fi network correct?

Which you have secured with a (probably wpa2) password correct?

No password = no connection.   I don't even connect my TV to my wi-fi.    There's malware on TVs, dammit!

Refrigerators reading: unable to connect to Twitteris the 2017 equivalent of 1985 VHS player with "12:00" blinking.

[JLee]

I'd like a fridge that allows you to set temperature to a specific temperature, vs the generic "colder/warmer" dials.  I was wondering why I've had such bad luck with milk going bad early lately, so I stuck my thermometer in my last (bad 3 days early) gallon and it read 43f.

Time to turn it down...

[smedleyb]

I'd like a fridge that allows you to set temperature to a specific temperature, vs the generic "colder/warmer" dials.  I was wondering why I've had such bad luck with milk going bad early lately, so I stuck my thermometer in my last (bad 3 days early) gallon and it read 43f.

Time to turn it down...

Just a thought:  perhaps a dirty condenser is the cause of poor temperature performance.

[JLee]

I'd like a fridge that allows you to set temperature to a specific temperature, vs the generic "colder/warmer" dials.  I was wondering why I've had such bad luck with milk going bad early lately, so I stuck my thermometer in my last (bad 3 days early) gallon and it read 43f.

Time to turn it down...

Just a thought:  perhaps a dirty condenser is the cause of poor temperature performance.

It's entirely possible. I'm splitting an apartment with someone who has an established lease and I know nothing about the appliances.

[Dicey]

The appliance has to connect to your wi-fi network correct?

Which you have secured with a (probably wpa2) password correct?

No password = no connection.   I don't even connect my TV to my wi-fi.    There's malware on TVs, dammit!

Refrigerators reading: unable to connect to Twitteris the 2017 equivalent of 1985 VHS player with "12:00" blinking.

OMG, my funny, funny dad, may he rest in peace, used to see that at other people's houses and say, "Hey, I have the same brand."

[asauer]

I've had the reverse happen.  We have neighbor kids come in our house to play with our kids and on multiple occasions have heard "you're joking, you don't only have one TV.  Come on, where's your other ones?"  However, our collection of dress up clothes (fabric scrap yardage and goodwill finds) is apparently unrivaled, so there's that.

[rantk81]

There are what appear to me to be super fragile decorations everywhere and I am scared to sit anywhere or move too fast... ha.  How do they have three big dogs in here?

Oh my goodness this is one of my biggest pet peeves when sharing a living-space.  If there are one or two things that have some special meaning, that's fine. But to have every single shelf/table/wall/etc all 100% completely full of decorations/clutter it really just gets to me. It is less relaxing/zen to me than just having a de-cluttered space. But more importantly, it makes it a real pain in the ass to do chores, with all these things collecting dust, having to move everything to wipe down surfaces, etc.

Having decorations/ornaments/etc littered all over can increase the amount of time required to do chores by a couple orders of magnitude.

[JanetJackson]

Agreed about the nic nacks... It's just more stuff for my dumb clumbsy (I like the term adventurous better) self to knock over.  I wouldn't say they have a TON, but way more than me.  Every time the dogs zoom past one of their neatly potted succulents (I love plants, no bashing the plants...) or cute little framed chalk boards I hold my breath for a moment, waiting for something to come crashing down.
I understand that my place looks stark to most people.  I have a few things, but I keep it minimal to be functional, peaceful, and easy to clean! :)

I used their dishwasher last night and succeeded!  Next I have to look into the washer dryer (together = size of a smart car) and see if I can wash some clothes tonight. 
What an adventure. 
I can't find a paper clip in the place to save my life, but k-cups abound! :)

[coppertop]

My mother-in-law wants to downsize, and she wanted me to take some of her stuff.  Honestly, the things that she bought in the 50s and 60s are just not my taste ... I find them gaudy, with gold painting all over them etc., where my taste runs to country primitive/shabby chic.  Plus we are at an age where we should be reducing what we have too ... and sadly, her millennial grandchildren will probably not what her things either.  So I guess they will end up in thrift stores. 

[PoutineLover]

I've never had a TV, so I can never figure out how to work them if it's any more complicated than a power button. My friend walked me through turning on the netflix at her place and I had to use like 3 remotes and 10 different buttons, it was ridiculous.
I also get around by bike and public transit, and sometimes people seem to feel sorry for me and offer me rides. I honestly enjoy biking, and I've never felt like owning a car was necessary in a city with lots of public transit options. And there are always car rentals and taxis/ubers for the few times I've needed a car.
I think more people should be different like us, there would probably be way less pollution, garbage, traffic and obesity.

[JanetJackson]

My mother-in-law wants to downsize, and she wanted me to take some of her stuff.  Honestly, the things that she bought in the 50s and 60s are just not my taste ... I find them gaudy, with gold painting all over them etc., where my taste runs to country primitive/shabby chic.  Plus we are at an age where we should be reducing what we have too ... and sadly, her millennial grandchildren will probably not what her things either.  So I guess they will end up in thrift stores.

Oh gosh, I feel you on this... Sadly, my grandfather just passed away... watching my mother go through his things was just heartbreaking.  He was a very very active man with lots of hobbies, but honestly he has maybe 1/4th of the things my father has accumulated. 
Dad grew up very very poor (like catch and boil turtles for soup poor) and has a scarcity mindset.  I mean, he has old mower pieces from when mowers died and he calculated that they might be more useful disassembled to repair other mowers than scrapping.  Nearly everything he has ever replaced, he's shelved the old item for future "use"...
I don't even want to think of losing my father, and in addition I don't even want to FATHOM going through all of his stuff.  He could be on hoarders (is that still a show?)... it's pretty heartbreaking trying to assure him that I will buy him a new wallet if his ever rips and that he doesn't need to "save the old one" as back up.  Also, he has the money to replace these things, but it's embedded in his existence to stockpile.

How did you deal with your MIL's offer?  Did you figure out a way to politely decline?

[JanetJackson]

I'm in the Never Owned a TV Club too!  Yay!
*I am not yet in the biking club, but that's by choice right now (could change in the future).
But I think you're right... "Different" is good. :)

I've never had a TV, so I can never figure out how to work them if it's any more complicated than a power button. My friend walked me through turning on the netflix at her place and I had to use like 3 remotes and 10 different buttons, it was ridiculous.
I also get around by bike and public transit, and sometimes people seem to feel sorry for me and offer me rides. I honestly enjoy biking, and I've never felt like owning a car was necessary in a city with lots of public transit options. And there are always car rentals and taxis/ubers for the few times I've needed a car.
I think more people should be different like us, there would probably be way less pollution, garbage, traffic and obesity.

[Spiffy]

Driving around in my 16-year-old vehicle.  It has a combo radio/CD/cassette but the CD player is broken.  Looked into the car next to me at a red light and I could see a screen displaying the music the person was playing.  I had a twinge of un-mustachian envy but then realized I wouldn't be able to figure out how to play music in that car and don't want to make the effort to learn....

Not many years ago when my kids were little we were driving around town in my 17 year old Volvo. We were listening to a cassette tape of Sesame Street songs that my in laws had saved from their youngest child. We pulled up behind a minivan and could see the kids inside watching a DVD of the very same song we were listening to. Weird. And so glad the kids were too young to know how "unfair" it was.

[GrumpyPenguin]

I suspect this is unusual for a lot of people... I was over at a friend's place, really fancy, at the top of a hill in a good place of town.  There was some kind of total house vacuum system.  In different rooms, near the outlets, there'd be some jack that you could plug a hose+vacuum handle into and it provided suction.  The system must deposit whatever you vacuumed up into some centralized location. I'd never seen anything like this before, and the house was built maybe 20 years ago.

[Dicey]

I suspect this is unusual for a lot of people... I was over at a friend's place, really fancy, at the top of a hill in a good place of town.  There was some kind of total house vacuum system.  In different rooms, near the outlets, there'd be some jack that you could plug a hose+vacuum handle into and it provided suction.  The system must deposit whatever you vacuumed up into some centralized location. I'd never seen anything like this before, and the house was built maybe 20 years ago.

Hahaha, we have one (well two, actually). One in our primary home and another in a rental property. They're actually kind of nice because they empty into a large canister in the garage which is easy to dump and no bags are required. If something gets sucked up accidentally, it's easy to find it in the collection container. Would I ever pay extra for one? Hell, no! In fact our primary home was a short sale and the rental was purchased below market rates because the interior was so damn ugly, so I guess you could say we didn't pay anything extra for them at all, lol.

Funny, when we bought our primary home, I cleaned out all the insertion plugs and found a smattering of coins and small stones in each one. Seems some things are too heavy to be transported through the lines. All told, I remember finding about $2.00 in coins throughout the house.

Finally, MIL lives with us. She has Alz. She still likes to sweep and vacuum. The whole-house vac has a very long hose, so it's really simple for her to use. I literally only have to move the hose once and she can vacuum anywhere in the house to her heart's content. I actually think it's soothing for her to be able to do something familiar. If it takes her an hour, that's an hour of respite for me, so hell yes, totally worth it!

[Optimiser]

My grandparent's had a whole house vacuum system installed when they built their house in 1989. My favorite thing about it is that is much quieter than a normal vacuum because the motor is out in the garage.