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305

The last year at my former employer was also the last year of Trump's presidency before the deadly coronavirus killed us all. The company had one it's best years in a decade, and we all got a substantial year-end bonus - something on the order of $5000 after everything had been taken out.

(The kid that took over the place from his parents whined that no one groveled before him until someone told him that everyone saw this as the raises his parents never gave anyone.)

When I got that deposit in my account, I looked at it. Didn't touch it. A day later, something said to me "That's about what you have left on your car. You should pay that car off with that money. Don't just let it sit there, pay it off now." So I did. Made the final payment and got the title. The day after I made that payment, I stopped by the local "Dayum these doughnuts are good!" bakery and picked up a couple dozen. Dropped them on the table because fuck you I paid off my car and that's the only open loan I had.

My boss gave me this weird look when I told him why I brought doughnuts.

To give you some context, he was, is, and always will be a fucking redneck hick. He's constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses. Constantly buying vehicles. Motorcycles. Bought a condo timeshare. Whined about not being able to afford a pool like his neighbors. Has a giant McMansion in a high-price area that he can barely afford. If he was a woman, he'd get a boob job. Terrible with money, never has two dimes to rub together. His parents are the same way, they lost a decently profitable dairy farm because they're terrible with money.

(To be fair, private dairy is a hard business because you're constantly squeezed by governmental regs and big players.)

But back to the look. This was a look of total not understanding. How could you pay off your loan just...like that? He's never going to pay off anything, never will be able to pay off anything, and the look on his face was simply priceless because I could hear the gears shattering and springs coming undone. I really wanted to say something like you need to quit spending money like a nigger and just buckle down a little, but I didn't because it wouldn't go over well and it wouldn't do anything regardless. The money he got was spent on beer and food and crap, and it was gone in short order. Oh the amount of beer that was consumed...

The company has since closed and I know he took a job that pays more. Apparently, new things were had when that new money came in because why save a little of it by not spending every cent you get?

But the reason for the story? I was laid off 4 months after this bonus pay out. Someone was looking out for me, and I appreciate that.

Thank you for coming to my Fred talk, you've been a wonderful audience. Tip your waiter.

The last year at my former employer was also the last year of Trump's presidency before the deadly coronavirus killed us all. The company had one it's best years in a decade, and we all got a substantial year-end bonus - something on the order of $5000 after everything had been taken out. (The kid that took over the place from his parents whined that no one groveled before him until someone told him that everyone saw this as the raises his parents never gave anyone.) When I got that deposit in my account, I looked at it. Didn't touch it. A day later, something said to me "That's about what you have left on your car. You should pay that car off with that money. Don't just let it sit there, pay it off now." So I did. Made the final payment and got the title. The day after I made that payment, I stopped by the local "Dayum these doughnuts are good!" bakery and picked up a couple dozen. Dropped them on the table because fuck you I paid off my car and that's the only open loan I had. My boss gave me this weird look when I told him why I brought doughnuts. To give you some context, he was, is, and always will be a fucking redneck hick. He's constantly trying to keep up with the Joneses. Constantly buying vehicles. Motorcycles. Bought a ~~condo~~ timeshare. Whined about not being able to afford a pool like his neighbors. Has a giant McMansion in a high-price area that he can barely afford. If he was a woman, he'd get a boob job. Terrible with money, never has two dimes to rub together. His parents are the same way, they lost a decently profitable dairy farm because they're terrible with money. (To be fair, private dairy is a hard business because you're constantly squeezed by governmental regs and big players.) But back to the look. This was a look of total not understanding. How could you pay off your loan just...like that? He's never going to pay off anything, never will be able to pay off anything, and the look on his face was simply priceless because I could hear the gears shattering and springs coming undone. I really wanted to say something like you need to quit spending money like a nigger and just buckle down a little, but I didn't because it wouldn't go over well and it wouldn't do anything regardless. The money he got was spent on beer and food and crap, and it was gone in short order. Oh the amount of beer that was consumed... The company has since closed and I know he took a job that pays more. Apparently, new things were had when that new money came in because why save a little of it by not spending every cent you get? But the reason for the story? I was laid off 4 months after this bonus pay out. Someone was looking out for me, and I appreciate that. Thank you for coming to my Fred talk, you've been a wonderful audience. Tip your waiter.

(post is archived)

[–] 5 pts (edited )

Money is a very abstract concept, people don't realize. Most people don't actually understand it at all. That guy is clearly one of them. Further complicating that fact are jews always adding yet more abstractions and lies.

Buy now pay later. It's only $50 per month (for 5 years) and so on. People don't understand the math of debt. They don't understand derivatives and variable interest rates. People are bombarded by incentives to buy now and pay later, not understanding their debt load. They see the government always going more in debt without understanding why governments are able to do that and they can not.

[–] 4 pts

He just saw the shiny and had to have it.

[–] 3 pts

I have a close friend/ex-coworker that is like that with money. He was a EE that was earning around $80K/year (20 years ago), a great salary for the area, had already gone through bankruptcy and lost his house 5 years earlier due to poor financial decisions. He was able to buy a decent doublewide on +/-23 acres way out in the sticks about 3 years after bankruptcy with "special" financing. We used to do lunch often and I'd hear him piss and moan about his finances a couple times a week. I was getting ready to quit my career to make the great leap to do my dream RE project. He was envious, wished he could do something like that. I pointed out that he could, he had 23 acres he could develop and he wouldn't have to quit work to do it. "Oh no!, couldn't do that" he said, "I love the acreage and privacy". A couple of months later he came around to embrace the idea. So I helped coach him through the development process, he made at least $250K profit on that small project over a 4 year period. He built a new 4600sqft colonial for his family on one of the lots and sold the doublewide (for more than he originally paid for it with all the land). In the meantime his father-in-law sold my friend their family camp on a big lake for $60k and financed it for him. About 10 years later my friend was already behind on paying that camp loan, so he decided to sell it for IIRC $210K! He had decided he wanted to work for himself, get out of the EE rat race, sold his big colonial home for more than twice what he had into it and bought an old variety store, proceeded to become owner/operator. After about 8 years of that he wants out of it, he's poured every penny he had into it and continues to operate at a loss. He made many improvements and has had the store listed for well over a year with no offers near what he was asking. He has used most of the credit available to him and is desperate to turn a profit or sell.

The guy has had so much money since his bankruptcy 25 years ago, yet it runs through his fingers like water. It kills me to watch him. He has always had shitty cars, a shitty house (except while he had that colonial), no time to enjoy the nice camp that he eventually sold, almost always no money to make good investments, always relying on revolving credit, a stressful life and now medical issues as a result of pushing himself and the years of stress. Flat broke, stressed out, a stuck owner operator that wants out in his 60s. He has told me more than once he would be way further ahead if he hadn't bought the store and had done nothing in all that time. Some people just never get it even when you show them the way over and over. We are still great friends and I truly wish him the best, it kills me to watch him fail. It is hard to believe such an intelligent person can be so stupid with their finances.

[–] 2 pts

He had enough cash to invest and have a nice monthly kicker.

Oh well.

[–] 2 pts

<smdh>

Sad, but he brought it all on himself.

[–] 3 pts

Good stuff man. It's a good feeling.

[–] 3 pts

If I never have to take out a loan again, I'll be good.

[–] 3 pts

Especially with current rates...

[–] 3 pts

Excellent.

I have paid off every loan I've ever had early. Faster you pay, the less interest, and the better you feel getting it off your back. Your credit score will take a hit, but it's temporary.

[–] 1 pt

My credit is shit because I don't have any loans at all now.

[–] 4 pts

Mine was up around 842ish until I paid off my only remaining loan last year, a modest mortgage on my old house (the one I am selling shortly). Since then my Discover Card statement says my credit score sunk down to around 820 (they show you your current credit score on the monthly statement). I pay my card off in full every month. I don't really care, I don't foresee taking out any more loans in this life. Interesting to watch it change over time, I'm not doing anything differently.

[–] 3 pts

Mine has been in the 830s for years, but I have heard once you get over like 760, it really doesn't matter as far as loan rates are concerned.

[–] 2 pts

I tried letting one of my cards run until the end of the statement and paid it all at once. Score dropped 15 points immediately.

Fuck that, back to paying it as soon as the charge shows up.

[–] 1 pt

The hell? How's that work? You don't owe and your rating is bad?!?

[–] 3 pts

Credit ratings are NOT about how likely you are to default or not on a loan, the ratings are about how good a customer you are for lenders.

[–] 2 pts

No loans, so I don't have a good "credit mix." The reports constantly complain about lack of information regarding a mortgage.

[–] 0 pt

No credit cards? Make purchases, get reward points, and just pay the card in full same day as the purchase. Use the reward points for payments on card or to travel.

[–] 0 pt

I have plenty of cards. Just no loans.

[+] [deleted] 2 pts
[–] 2 pts

I have 2 paid off cars, no student loans, and no credit cards or CC debt. Feels good man.

[–] 1 pt

I had a similar experience while talking with co-workers once. I don't remember the details, but the topic turned to financial stability and all of my co-workers confessed that they live paycheck to paycheck. I just sat quietly in the breakroom after that as I had 20k in my account.

I always knew some people were bad with money, but I never realized just how many.

Five years later, I have less liquid funds, but I've got two investment accounts, a truck and a motorcycle paid for, home is halfway paid for.

If things happen to go well in the next 10 years or so I might consider retiring before I'm 50.

[–] 1 pt

That's rockin. You inviting us all to your retirement party? I'll bring a couple bottles of good bourbon.

[–] 1 pt

The only thing better than a new car is driving around in a car that you own outright and never have to make another payment on.

[–] 1 pt

What do you mean you don't want to be milked for years and pay more than twice the amount you borrowed? Ridiculous!

[–] 1 pt

The last one I took out was for my current car. It was 0.9%, that to me was just the cost of doing the business.

No, nothing at 7-10% ever again if I can help it.