Whilst cleaning the bathroom the other day, I was thinking to myself what kind of things do I do on a regular basis that if a stranger saw me, he would more likely think I was a common middle class bum rather than the grandiose kiss-my-feet Wall Street professional that I am – 1. Take public transportation everywhere 2. Clean my own bathroom, wash my own dishes, mop my own floors 3. Track my expenses to the nearest penny and get annoyed when I spend $10 more than I should have in any given month 4. Walk around in t-shirt and shorts when I’m not working (and even some times when I am working) 5. Play internet poker…for fake money 6. Up until I got married I used to use plastic utensils because I was too cheap to buy real ones 7. Used to take the Fung-Wa Chinatown bus to Boston and Washington DC until there was a riot on one trip 8. Still have the exact same furniture that I had 8 years ago, with the exception of a $100 desk I bought at OfficeMax, an $80 dresser and two $40 bookshelves from IKEA, and two other bookshelves that I got for free
Agree with everything except number 2. I’ve never done any of that. I also borrow my girlfriend’s mercedes on a regular basis and tell people it is my weekend car.
i agree with those and will add: Mow my lawn with a push mower and do all my own landscaping/yardwork
My husband and I don’t hire anything done, unless absolutely necessary. Tile the floor, change out faucets, plant grass and bushes…yep, we’ve done all of that. It makes me feel really good to save a few bucks.
(1) I always look to buy things on sale. I will only pay full price for things if I really like them. (2) As a corollary to point #1, I buy stuff on eBay and amazon.com all the time. I believe in bargain-hunting. (3) I clean my own bathroom, wash my own dishes, mop my own floors (I don’t have anyone else that can help me with that, and I’m paranoid that inviting a cleaning staff could lead to burglary) (4) I shop at Target and Wal-Mart for most everyday items, with the exception of sandwich meats where I need to get premium cuts from the gourmet deli. I believe that anything I actually ingest requires a little more attention to detail and good tastes. (5) Whenever it’s convenient, I believe in carpooling, even if it means that I’m the one doing the driving (6) I’m generally a pretty laid back and inconspicuous guy (aside from my polished appearance in business attire, but that’s only on the weekdays). I don’t think my polos and jeans look on the weekends would suggest anything else other than “middle class.” The only times I’ve ever spent more than $150 on casual outerwear were for jackets and coats.
i like to eat lunch from street vendors in nyc
The car I drive (old and cheap). Also, I’ve done most of the home improvements on my house. I’ve probably saved myself 5 figures doing that and had some fun in the process. I actually like doing projects around the house. It’s a good escape from the day job.
- I’m a raging bargain hunter too. I rarely pay more than 30% of original px for clothes; and I’m regularly complemented. I also go for quality that is timeless- I have many pieces that are 5+ years old that I still wear regularity. If its trendy its forever21 or H&M all the way. 2. Some would say I am overly practical w/ many purchases. My car for example- bought used (2yrs), ultra reliable, cheap to insure, and great gas mileage (…this was when gas was
1 - I don’t buy cloth. ( My wife buys what she wants me to wear when we’re seen together) 2 - I only get hair cuts when my wife threatens to leave the house with the kids. 3 - I would clean my own bathrooms, …etc … if my wife would pay me what she pays the crew. 4 - I would rather spend the evenings working on my models than doing anything “fun” (whatever that means, I forgot).
I live with a married Islamic couple in a 980 sqft condo in the suburbs.
akanska, i also enjoy nice walks at the dog park!
uhohcfa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > i like to eat lunch from street vendors in nyc Three times a week…
kkent Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I live with a married Islamic couple in a 980 sqft > condo in the suburbs. … no joke. My first year out of college I dedicated myself to paying off ALL of my school loans so I got 4 jobs and moved in w/ a restaurant coworker’s extended mexican family in the inland empire. They had a nuclear family p/bedroom in the main house (~16ppls in 3 bdrms) and I lived in the converted garage w/ the 350lb aunt. She snored horribly and had a penchant for “hording”. Couldn’t beat 100$ a month though- including all utilities and cable TV. The family was incredibly loving and a pleasure to live with. W/ in 4 months I was debt free and in 6 more I’d set myself up with plenty on capital to travel for 2 yrs. … they also provided me w/ a reference to a mexican “garage” dentist when I needed a root canal and had no insurance. That was shady. I have to admit I’m past this lifestyle now.
- i gel my hair if and when i feel like it. 2. i rotate two pairs of black slacks. 3. i only have one pair of Ferragamos. 4. I get a haircut every 4 weeks instead of 3. 5. i dont walk in my a briefcase or bag, just holding the CFA notes in my hand. 6. i dont buy the Starbucks coffee in the lobby. I drink the office given Lipton for health benefits.
numi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > akanska, i also enjoy nice walks at the dog park! wanna go to china? Can’t find anyone who wants to go!
I wish I was better with my money.
- i drive a ford - i flush brown only - i talk about how high gas prices are and how it’s a conspiracy against the consumer, while i fill up my expedition - i think college attractiveness should be based on how many national title’s one’s school owns - i work out at a public gym (in a wife beater) - i think samuel adams is an import - i wear a gold chain and very clean white shoes - i talk about how bad the stock markets and complain about my 401(k) being down 20%, how will I every make up that $2,000?
akanska, i’d be up for it. i’ve actually never been to beijing or shanghai before and would like to visit. maybe we can do our dog park excursion first though, since it might be more mutually convenient. what do you think? i’m also thinking about going to south america in december. perhaps peru or brazil. have you ever been?
akanska Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > kkent Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I live with a married Islamic couple in a 980 > sqft > > condo in the suburbs. > > > … no joke. My first year out of college I > dedicated myself to paying off ALL of my school > loans so I got 4 jobs and moved in w/ a restaurant > coworker’s extended mexican family in the inland > empire. They had a nuclear family p/bedroom in > the main house (~16ppls in 3 bdrms) and I lived in > the converted garage w/ the 350lb aunt. She > snored horribly and had a penchant for “hording”. > Couldn’t beat 100$ a month though- including all > utilities and cable TV. The family was incredibly > loving and a pleasure to live with. W/ in 4 > months I was debt free and in 6 more I’d set > myself up with plenty on capital to travel for 2 > yrs. > > … they also provided me w/ a reference to a > mexican “garage” dentist when I needed a root > canal and had no insurance. That was shady. I > have to admit I’m past this lifestyle now. LOL. Words don’t even do justice to the laughter I just experienced!
I tinkle on the garden instead of purchasing expensive fertilizers. I use my laser printer to print currency when I’m running low.