Deconstructed by a co-worker.

"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
11/05/2020 at 22:22 • Filed to: I am shocked. Shocked! Well not that shocked dot pee en gee

Leaning against our respective cubicle walls, chatting 10 minutes to close about what we’re having for dinner tonight.

“I don’t know, I’m thinking grilled cheese or something.”

“Oh, that sounds so good. Are you gonna make it? ”

“Well... yeah. Who else is gonna make it?”

“Well there’s that place down the road—”

“Right, those melts you brought in for us before.”

“So good.”

“Oh definitely. But trying not to eat out. Already spent four bucks at the gas station on for lunch, a cold corn dog and a drink. Kind of at my spending limit for the day.”

[two seconds of silence]

“... You are the most frugal person I have ever met.”

What can I say? I’m on an incentive based pay system, so when times are slow, I make less, and spend less. And when I project slow times coming, I also spend less in anticipation of that. To me, that just seems responsible. But perhaps I’m just a joyless man

DISCUSSION (26)

MM54 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:24

I am amazed by the spending habits of some people, I think there are a lot of folks with no savings and a bunch of debt that don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

(My favorite is when people give me shit for not spending a bunch of money on their interests, then scoff at my having a bunch of cars I’m always working on)

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:29

I used to have a coworker who ate out for lunch every single work day. Over the course of three years, I could count the number of times he brought a lunch on one hand. I mean, if that's your thing, fine. But I'm not made of money, and eating out can be a huge expense.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > MM54
11/05/2020 at 22:29

He makes as much as me but buys lunch everyday. 7-13 bucks every working day is ~ 21 0 bucks a month. For just 21 lunches and one person. This also excludes the 32oz coffee he buys every morning. Near the end of the month, he will start complaining about having no money.

Nice guy, though.

subexpression > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:32

I don’t see any problem with that, but... I’m still upset that a 12-pack of ramen is now over $2 at Aldi, and the reason I buy it at Aldi is that it’s a few pennies less (literally a few cents) than Wal-Mart. I make my grocery list by looking at what’s on sale in the weekly ads - if it’s not on sale, I probably don’t need it. I also have a list of the regular everyday prices for a lot of the groceries I buy at all of the nearby stores so I know if a sale price is good, though I’m overdue to update it .

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > MM54
11/05/2020 at 22:33

Or the people that wonder how I have a few toys, and a nice house, even tho I don’t have a “real job”. While their puffins on their 10th cig of the day, and are planing on going to the bar after work...

ranwhenparked > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:35

That’s really excessive. I’ll do it maybe once a week or once every other week, depending on what I feel like or am close to. Did have a job where a bunch of us did end up going out almost every day, got expensive, but it was a necessary release from a seriously toxic work environment. One coworker was always half shitfaced at Monday morning meetings, because he claimed that was the only thing that kept him from jumping over the table and flipping out at the boss.

And this was at a family friendly, community serving, patriotic nonprofit.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > subexpression
11/05/2020 at 22:36

I used to be the type to shop at four stores for my weekly groceries and supplies. At some point I gave that up years ago. May have to bring it back.

Jb boin > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:36

You might take joy doing that as you feel like you are in control of what you eat and spend and are not unable to control yourself on your cravings .

Personally, i take great joy in not counting (within reasonable limits) how much i spend on food and on drinks but i know that i could have bought myself a nice car if i did spent with more restraint all those years :)

Chariotoflove > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:38

Lunch out to me is a social activity, and there isn’t that much call for that in my work day anymore. I mostly eat at my computer. Saves lots of $.

SmugAardvark > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:39

In my case, it must be an age thing. In my 20's, I wasted money on eating out, going to bars, buying random crap on Amazon, and dumping money into my various hobbies. I basically survived paycheck to paycheck for years.

Now in my late 30's, and earning more than twice what I was back then, I find that I’m much more frugal. That’s not to say I don’t still occasionally splurge (*coug h* Corvette *cough*). But for the first time in my life, I have a bank account that tells me that if shit were to hit the fan, I’d be okay for quite a while.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/05/2020 at 22:47

Ah yes, because having a cube farm job guaranteed happiness and an infinite supply of credit cards (well maybe that last part for a few years at a time).

fintail > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 22:50

Nothing wrong with treating yourself, just keep the outflow smaller than the income.

Hearses don’t have luggage racks :)

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
11/05/2020 at 22:58

I’ve tried desk jobs. They make me want to die.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
11/05/2020 at 23:03

I was just thinking earlier. In a restaurant job I had, when I didn ’t feel like working, I went into work anyways and just crashed on a sofa at the end. When I don’t feel like working and I have 6 hours to do 4 hours worth of work at a desk, I do 3 hours or less worth of work at a desk.

shop-teacher > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 23:06

Aldi

smobgirl > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 23:08

Well, there’s a reason my work meals tend to lean more towards Wendy’s 4 for $4 than the hot local restaurants. Also I sleep in a van down by the river.

Just Jeepin' > smobgirl
11/05/2020 at 23:10

How is Shelly?

facw > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/05/2020 at 23:19

Seems entirely reasonable to me. No reason to spend just to spend.

smobgirl > Just Jeepin'
11/05/2020 at 23:21

Eh. She still likes walks and pulls the leash and wants to chase things, but she also stumbled and fell on her face this morning. She’s still mostly happy or asleep though so we’re just hanging in there. Thanks for asking :)

Just Jeepin' > smobgirl
11/05/2020 at 23:26

My girl was really struggling with something neurological , and when she reached the point where she didn’t enjoy a Jeep ride to the park, I knew the time had come.

As long as Shelly is still enjoying life, that’s all you need. Good luck.

Jim Spanfeller > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/06/2020 at 00:08

I thought joy was what Toyota Tercels are for?

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/06/2020 at 00:14

Well even when I had a steady job I didn't buy squat so maybe I was just born cheap ;)

Snuze: Needs another Swede > SmugAardvark
11/06/2020 at 07:46

This is me. I'm buying less these days even though I'm making more. Its weird.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > SmugAardvark
11/06/2020 at 08:59

I used to have a bank account. The low hours the last 6 or so months wiped that out. My pay dropped, bills did not.

My bird IS the word > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/06/2020 at 09:49

You dont get a sportscar on a normal salary by eating out all the time. You get a gut instead.

sn4cktimes > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
11/06/2020 at 14:14

You don’t have money by burning it. Frugal to put your money where you actually want to is smart. My wife broke me of my feckless spending ways when we were still young. We had no debt and fully owned our house in Calgary by age 36. I think we made good choices. We lived larger some years when we had more money, and we lock shit down when we don’t; like now.