Things that have you secretly smirking

[resy]

Just a little light-hearted fun :)
What are some things others do that perhaps they feel superior than you for but make you secretly smirk?
For me:

* Having big families/growing families.  I have people that try to make me feel like the odd one for only having and wanting one but everytime I see (unmustachian) ppl growing their family I smirk thinking of the saved money and freedom down the line I give myself.  When my kid goes off to college I will be in my 30s able to pursue whatever the hell I want while they'll be worrying about daycare and what not.

* Holidays like today (easter) and all the pics poping up on my feed with the over indulgence of gifts. My kid isnt raised like that and I smirk because bot only am I raising a less narcissistic person but I am also keeping all that money in our bank account

Buahahaha ;)
Your turn!

[ambimammular]

All of those brand-new, tricked out, 1 ton trucks that fall through the ice in the early spring.

Those ice fishers never seem to lose an old truck.

[Arktinkerer]

Just a little light-hearted fun :)
What are some things others do that perhaps they feel superior than you for but make you secretly smirk?
For me:

*  When my kid goes off to college I will be in my 30s able to pursue whatever the hell I want while they'll be worrying about daycare and what not.

Were you 20 when you had your child?  Its good to have the child out on their own but that is a big responsibility at a young age when most are building their careers.

My "smirk" is being more self sufficient.  Usually fix my own vehicles, household repair, garden, hunt, fish.  Costs less to do it and I don't have to pay people with "after tax" money.  Always evaluate doing things myself vs hiring out by figuring out how many hours I have to work to pay for their time.  Usually me, being slow, takes more hours to do the work but still less time than I'd have to work to pay them and the taxman!

[Kris]

I don't feel "smirky", exactly, but this makes me shake my head and thank my lucky stars.

It makes me sad to realize how many people don't realize the full cost of debt -- that it robs you basically twice, and then some.  Every $100 of bad debt you have that you need to pay per month is costing you: a) the $100 you have to put toward the debt; b) the lost opportunity of being able to put that money into savings/investment; c) the interest you're paying on the debt; and d) the lost interest you could be making on the investment. 

My husband was marveling yesterday at how quickly his 401k is accumulating (I was showing him the balance as part of a discussion involving rebalancing the allocation).  I pointed out that a lot of the reason is that we have no debt except for our mortgage, which is extremely low for two people who earn as much as we do.  All of that money is now money that can go towards our investments.  I know this is simple and that I'm not pointing out anything new to anyone on here, but I really think that people don't think of it in that way. 

[thenextguy]

Posts like these.

[resy]

Just a little light-hearted fun :)
What are some things others do that perhaps they feel superior than you for but make you secretly smirk?
For me:

*  When my kid goes off to college I will be in my 30s able to pursue whatever the hell I want while they'll be worrying about daycare and what not.

Were you 20 when you had your child?  Its good to have the child out on their own but that is a big responsibility at a young age when most are building their careers.

yes, young isnt it?. Hardest thing in my life but also in odd ways the best. I love my kid, I got to grow up and sure I "missed" some opportunities but Im working on them now (like college) that my kid is older and I feel I have my whole life ahead of me :) sadly, with a lot if young parents you get kids being neglected because he parents wont "grow up", wasnt my case though

[Cassie]

I got married young & had 3 kids by the time I was 25. I started college at 31 & ended up with a Ph.D. so it doesn't have to hold you back. LIke you I wanted a family & grew up. Raising my boys was some of the best years in my life. I was 43 when the youngest was 18.  Of course, they don't magically disappear at 18 either.

[CheapskateWife]

Of course, they don't magically disappear at 18 either.

Crap! 

[Kris]

Posts like these.

Lol, isn't belonging to the smugness police a form of smugness itself?

[11ducks]

I got married young & had 3 kids by the time I was 25. I started college at 31 & ended up with a Ph.D. so it doesn't have to hold you back. LIke you I wanted a family & grew up. Raising my boys was some of the best years in my life. I was 43 when the youngest was 18.  Of course, they don't magically disappear at 18 either.

Its so nice to hear such positive stories from young mothers! I had my little duck at 20 alone, am now 31 with a Masters degree, I have a gorgeous 11 year old and a permanent job (teacher).
In 8 years, I'll be 39, he'll be turning 19 and (hopefully) first year university. It is hard work, studying and working while parenting young, but so very rewarding. Plus, now, my friends have started having babies, so I get to play with them (I love babies) and then hand them back!


Things that make me smirk a little - the lady at work who complains and blames the world for her money/work/health problems, while buying and eating multiple candy bars from the work machine every day.

[Lifestyle Deflation]

Community college. Lots of people scoff at it or think those who go to it are lesser, etc.

I went to community college for 2 years, then transferred all my credits to the Prestigious University. What does my degree, and resume say? Prestigious University.

I paid thousands less for my first 2 years, and still got the exact same degree. Smirk!

[ambimammular]

Store bought frozen dinners and two liter sodas in someone's grocery cart. Instant mashed potatoes, boxed cake mix.

And big gulps from the gas station. Sugar water and styrofoam.

[Candace]

These things don't have me smirking. They have me wincing. It's painful. I would only smirk if someone was doing something mean-spirited and got hurt, rather than doing stupid things and hurting themselves and those around them.

[mm1970]

* Having big families/growing families.  I have people that try to make me feel like the odd one for only having and wanting one but everytime I see (unmustachian) ppl growing their family I smirk thinking of the saved money and freedom down the line I give myself.  When my kid goes off to college I will be in my 30s able to pursue whatever the hell I want while they'll be worrying about daycare and what not.

I'm the opposite.   I generally don't secretly smirk often at people for their family choices.  I may wonder though.

Unlike people who had their kids young, I waited.  So now because I'm older with a career, I've got plenty of money to pay for child care, plus a mortgage payment, plus savings.  I did the dumb spending stuff like eating out too much before I had kids.  I get to do all the fun stuff now with my kids when I can afford it.

I guess I smirk at surviving 2 kids with only a small car.

[Bob W]

Not necessarily a smirk but a sadness.   I have the Republic Wireless phone I found on this site.   $10 a month!     I could scream it from the rooftops and people just don't get it.    The say "well but you can't get the internet when your not at home or work."      I say $10 a month!   They continue to choose their $60 a month plan times two for a couple spending $100 more per month,  $1,200 more per year,  $24,000 per decade.   They could have an additional 400K in their account in 30 years but choose to surf the web because facebook is so important. 

I shake my head.   

Imagine this conversation ---  Father -  "well son,  I would really like to leave the grandkids a nice big piece of money,  but unfortunately we spent our money on cell phones and Starbucks and fancy cars and vacations." 

[Cwadda]

When people in college complain about having $X low amount in their bank account. Again, not really a smirk, but thoughts of sadness. They're usually the ones that go out to the bar and order food every weekend.

[resy]

* Having big families/growing families.  I have people that try to make me feel like the odd one for only having and wanting one but everytime I see (unmustachian) ppl growing their family I smirk thinking of the saved money and freedom down the line I give myself.  When my kid goes off to college I will be in my 30s able to pursue whatever the hell I want while they'll be worrying about daycare and what not.

I'm the opposite.   I generally don't secretly smirk often at people for their family choices.  I may wonder though.

Unlike people who had their kids young, I waited.  So now because I'm older with a career, I've got plenty of money to pay for child care, plus a mortgage payment, plus savings.  I did the dumb spending stuff like eating out too much before I had kids.  I get to do all the fun stuff now with my kids when I can afford it.

I guess I smirk at surviving 2 kids with only a small car.

I think you missed the part where I said it applied to people judging you for the opposite choice. I have a lot of pple in "disbelief" and make rude comments about me having one child (to the tune of my child must be so lonely" what if he dies, etc). Yeah, not apologizing when I smirk when same people feel the burden of their choices and air it to everyone. Like when I saved up and took my kid on a trip for his bday as a very special bonding thing, I got the dismissive and resentful "I cant afford that! I have x kids" as if it were my fault lol

[dsmexpat]

Someone really said "What if he dies?" regarding your only child?!?! That's nuts.

[jmusic]

Someone really said "What if he dies?" regarding your only child?!?! That's nuts.

LOL.  Proper response to that question:  "What if YOU die... right now."

[cjottawa]

These things don't have me smirking. They have me wincing. It's painful. I would only smirk if someone was doing something mean-spirited and got hurt, rather than doing stupid things and hurting themselves and those around them.

Not necessarily a smirk but a sadness...

Both of the above.

Even people I like and respect make bad financial choices. I only feel sad for them. I feel very, very fortunate that a friend gave me a copy of "The Bogleheads' Guide to Investing" a few years ago and I've since read dozens of books and blogs on the topic (MMM included) putting me way ahead of most people.

Occasionally, a friend will ask me for input. I approach these requests with caution. They have to really want it and at all turns I will be asking, "are you sure you want to hear this? I can stop." They have to know I'm not being judgmental.

https://xkcd.com/1053/



Stay humble.

[mm1970]

* Having big families/growing families.  I have people that try to make me feel like the odd one for only having and wanting one but everytime I see (unmustachian) ppl growing their family I smirk thinking of the saved money and freedom down the line I give myself.  When my kid goes off to college I will be in my 30s able to pursue whatever the hell I want while they'll be worrying about daycare and what not.

I'm the opposite.   I generally don't secretly smirk often at people for their family choices.  I may wonder though.

Unlike people who had their kids young, I waited.  So now because I'm older with a career, I've got plenty of money to pay for child care, plus a mortgage payment, plus savings.  I did the dumb spending stuff like eating out too much before I had kids.  I get to do all the fun stuff now with my kids when I can afford it.

I guess I smirk at surviving 2 kids with only a small car.

I think you missed the part where I said it applied to people judging you for the opposite choice. I have a lot of pple in "disbelief" and make rude comments about me having one child (to the tune of my child must be so lonely" what if he dies, etc). Yeah, not apologizing when I smirk when same people feel the burden of their choices and air it to everyone. Like when I saved up and took my kid on a trip for his bday as a very special bonding thing, I got the dismissive and resentful "I cant afford that! I have x kids" as if it were my fault lol

I guess I did miss that.

The one-child thing is so silly. My sister (who had one) told me to have two, because it's easier! (and you would know...how?)  And the dies thing - seriously, my roommate decades ago and his fiance were arguing about how many kids to have.  He said 3 because "what if one of them dies?"  Really.

[HazelStone]

Community college. Lots of people scoff at it or think those who go to it are lesser, etc.

I went to community college for 2 years, then transferred all my credits to the Prestigious University. What does my degree, and resume say? Prestigious University.

I paid thousands less for my first 2 years, and still got the exact same degree. Smirk!

Individual mileage can very a LOT on community colleges. I work in IT, and taking classes on the side is pretty much a given if you want to STAY in IT. I've taken classes at several CCs, and some classes were better experiences than others. Depending on the place, you might get cheap classes but they might not be effective classes. Of course, the same can be said for a state university. But the community college in the county where I was born and raised? USELESS. The one in the next county over? A bit better. The ones where I am right now have a lot of cybersecurity funding from the federal government, and still have decent funding otherwise.

Particularly if you grew up in a poor backwater (like I did), your local CC might not be a very effective choice because it might not have the necessary funding base to . Cost != value. Lots of people check over the universities but don't think to give the same scrutiny to their "fallback."

[Arktinkerer]

Imagine this conversation ---  Father -  "well son,  I would really like to leave the grandkids a nice big piece of money,  but unfortunately we spent our money on cell phones and Starbucks and fancy cars and vacations."

Some level of financial savvy runs in families.  My parents were good with money.  Current problem with my aging mother is one many people would like to have--"Mom, you have the money, what do you want to do?  Want a week on the beach with your friends?  Go rent a house and invite them while you can all still travel!  Mom, I want you to spend every last dime having a great time."

[resy]

Someone really said "What if he dies?" regarding your only child?!?! That's nuts.

Yeah! And not just ine but multiple people so even crazier! I started resorting to "I'll take my chances" lol

[2ndTimer]

As a childless older woman, I sometimes am the recipient of confidences of women who wish they had not had children.  I always try to say supportive positive things about having them because there is no point in saying, "You are right, being a parent sucks.  Throw them away."  but inside I am smirking.  It's a really big decision.  It wasn't that hard to look at the women around me with children of various ages and see that they were not having much fun  How stupid to you have to be not to pay attention to how it is turning out for other people before you commit to it.

[Bob W]

As a family with 7 I can say that is the perfect number. 

[pbkmaine]

2T, I am childless as well and get this all the time! So many people have told me I was lucky because I figured out I did not want them before I had them. All I did to figure it out was watch and listen. Great for many people, not for me.

[2ndTimer]

 a family with 7 I can say that is the perfect number.



2T, I am childless as well and get this all the time! So many people have told me I was lucky because I figured out I did not want them before I had them. All I did to figure it out was watch and listen. Great for many people, not for me.


Totally agree with both of you.  The trick is to figure out what you want and get it done before it's too late to change.

[resy]

a family with 7 I can say that is the perfect number.



2T, I am childless as well and get this all the time! So many people have told me I was lucky because I figured out I did not want them before I had them. All I did to figure it out was watch and listen. Great for many people, not for me.


Totally agree with both of you.  The trick is to figure out what you want and get it done before it's too late to change.

agree! And then dont judge others that took the opposute approach!
I want to clarify that when I started this thread, I meant to "smirk" back at judgy people, ot people that just took different choices than me.
Drives me crazy to have someone criticize my choices and then later show envy or regrets about their own.
I used to want a bigger family, it didnt work out that way.

[2ndTimer]

a family with 7 I can say that is the perfect number.



2T, I am childless as well and get this all the time! So many people have told me I was lucky because I figured out I did not want them before I had them. All I did to figure it out was watch and listen. Great for many people, not for me.


Totally agree with both of you.  The trick is to figure out what you want and get it done before it's too late to change.

agree! And then dont judge others that took the opposute approach!
I want to clarify that when I started this thread, I meant to "smirk" back at judgy people, ot people that just took different choices than me.
Drives me crazy to have someone criticize my choices and then later show envy or regrets about their own.
I used to want a bigger family, it didnt work out that way.

I'm sorry if I dragged your thread in a direction you didn't want it to go.  I did not mean to suggest that any particular number of children is right for everybody.  My smirk is for the people who make a decision that isn't right for them  (whatever that decision is) because they responded to social pressure rather than thinking it through for themselves. 

[Colgate_Toothpaste]

I live in a middle-class neighborhood with a 3rd-Reich HOA.  People pay upwards of $200/mo so some overweight guy with a rusted F150 and a trailer of lawn tools can mow their lawn, trim their bushes, and keep the flower-beds pretty.

I do it myself and I still find it that it is a needless cost.  You're fighting nature by paying $200/mo so you can live inside watching TV all day?  None of these people are ever outside.  It's all for image and so the old woman in the middle of the neighborhood doesn't write an angry letter to the HOA because you didn't mow your lawn.

My wife and I are moving next year to a house in the woods where yard maintenance is substantially less.  Leaves?  Leave 'em.  Mow the lawn, keep everything maintained decently, but there's no need for the level of maintenance required by our neighborhood bylaws.   

[Firefly]

To name a few:
- People with designer everything. Luis Vuitton bag, red-sole shoes, some fancy-ass sunglasses all on display at the same time
- People eating crap and then spending hundreds of dollars on some shakes to loose weight.