Hiding Your Wealth (NOT a poll) :)

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB I've read and heard a lot of really good things about the food in NOLA, this thread is (once again) making me anxious to go visit.

The food here is terrific if you like our spicy cuisine. Warning, if you visit New Orleans you might leave with more pounds than you had when you arrived.

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by W2R The food here is terrific if you like our spicy cuisine. Warning, if you visit New Orleans you might leave with more pounds than you had when you arrived.

Unless you're a British tourist.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO Unless you're a British tourist.

So true!

Sometimes it's said that our greeting for tourists might as well be, "Welcome to New Orleans! Now spend all your money and go home."

[targatom2019]

we paid cash for my wife's Honda Accord at the dealer couple months ago, the sale man asked us what we do for a living and my answer was I mow lawn for a living.

[Amethyst]

I think buying a car still is a big deal for most people. I have only ever owned 7 vehicles. (One was a pickup truck and one was bought used. All but two bought with cash...yes, I was so rigidly LBYM in my 20's ((and so fond of working overtime)) that I was able to pay cash for a small car). None of them was anything to brag about, yet I always found that people liked to hear I'd bought a car and wanted to know more about it. A couple of times, people have said things about being surprised I didn't buy a fancier car, but they were just teasing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AboutThere Regarding people bragging about cars: I grew up poor, and it was a big deal when someone got a new (or used) car. Everyone would come over and take a ride in it, etc. When I started hanging around with rich people it shocked me that they never mentioned when they got a new car. I still do. Old habits die hard.

[CaliKid]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipertom1970 we paid cash for my wife's Honda Accord at the dealer couple months ago, the sale man asked us what we do for a living and my answer was I mow lawn for a living.

Nice. I might steal that line one day. I like it.

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliKid Nice. I might steal that line one day. I like it.

I like to glance around and then whisper that we are independently wealthy (the essence of FIRE). Sometimes that leads to attempted upsell and I say that is not how we got wealthy!

[sanfanciscotreat]

We practiced delayed gratification from age 30 to 70.
Happy to say now that the delay is over.

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcowan I like to glance around and then whisper that we are independently wealthy (the essence of FIRE). Sometimes that leads to attempted upsell and I say that is not how we got wealthy!

I don't think I'd ever do that at a car dealership! I like to look as poor as possible to maybe get a little sympathy discount. I'd expect my counterparty in a negotiation to use my ability to pay against me when it comes time to arrive at a price.

[petershk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO I don't think I'd ever do that at a car dealership! I like to look as poor as possible to maybe get a little sympathy discount. I'd expect my counterparty in a negotiation to use my ability to pay against me when it comes time to arrive at a price.

Last time I bought a used car (2008-ish) I went on Valentine's day (unintentionally). After many hours of negotiating got a pretty good deal. As it got closer to 7PM the "finance guy" started to sweat a bit more as I guess he probably had an SO that wasn't too happy about him being TOO late.

Just a suggestion :P

[Hermit]

Quote:

Originally Posted by petershk Last time I bought a used car (2008-ish) I went on Valentine's day (unintentionally). After many hours of negotiating got a pretty good deal. As it got closer to 7PM the "finance guy" started to sweat a bit more as I guess he probably had an SO that wasn't too happy about him being TOO late. Just a suggestion :P

That borders on being mean!

[NW-Bound]

It's fair.

"Diamonds cut diamonds." - English Proverb.

[RobbieB]

Another good time to buy a car is right at end of month. It makes their numbers look better to not have to carry inventory for another month and the sales guy might just need to make his "quota bonus"

[kcowan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUEGO I don't think I'd ever do that at a car dealership! I like to look as poor as possible to maybe get a little sympathy discount. I'd expect my counterparty in a negotiation to use my ability to pay against me when it comes time to arrive at a price.

Yet most people acknowledge that it is the truly rich who are careful with their money. So it is all about best price and forget about the financing profit!

Quote:

Originally Posted by petershk Last time I bought a used car (2008-ish) I went on Valentine's day (unintentionally). After many hours of negotiating got a pretty good deal. As it got closer to 7PM the "finance guy" started to sweat a bit more as I guess he probably had an SO that wasn't too happy about him being TOO late.

Last car we bought for Dad was negotiated at 5:30 on the last day of the month. You could see the guys saying: "What the hell, let's get that volume discount for the month!" and we got it for our offer price.

[petershk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermit That borders on being mean!

Which side of the border .
I WISH I could say I did it on purpose ... goes to show how aware I am of holidays and important dates.

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[Fedup]

I'm too impatient to be waiting in a car dealer. I negotiate online for weeks and months. Once I get a deal I like, I just come in and sign the paperwork. I got a great deal and bargain. No complain. I've been buying like this for years.

[pb4uski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by athena53 I was bicycling through the parking lot of an upscale shopping plaza and passed a 30-something guy standing beside his Maserati (I think) convertible parked at the curb near Nordstrom's. I wondered if this was a way to pick up women. We ignored each other. I've got great legs but also have grey hair, so prob not his type. My side- we don't share the same priorities. Unless he had multimillions, meaning that the car was only a tiny % of his net worth, he wasn't my type, either!

OTOH, he could have been a young, hard-working, successful entrepreneur who decided to treat himself to some nice wheels since he worked so hard and was picking up his wife who was late... as you pedaled by he nonchalantly eyed you and thought "ah... nice legs.... I wish she was 25 years younger"!

[Golden sunsets]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound I talked earlier about reading that Nova Scotia lobster is better than in Maine, because the water is colder. Search the Web again, and now I cannot find that info. Instead, I read several saying Maine lobster is better. An equal number says they are the same. This makes more sense. In any case, I doubt that my palate can tell.

There is an article in today's Portland Maine paper regarding Maine lobster and the fact that it commands a premium in restaurants if it is from Maine. Maine lobstering is conducted under very restrictive rules regarding how they are caught and what sizes they must be, thus protecting the stock and preventing decline of the industry. The Maine lobster has to be at least a certain size and must be thrown back if under that size or if it is a prolific breeder. Stewardship of the industry is proudly practiced. And oh by the way, the bigger the lobster, the tougher it is. I would eat two smaller lobsters rather than a 2+ pounder as the smaller are sweeter and more succulent. And of course hard shelled versus soft shelled are fuller, not necessarily tastier. Four of us feasted on four 1.5 pound hard shelled lobsters a couple of nights ago. Cost $48 for 4, not cheap by any means, but a good value if you love lobster, especially dunked in drawn butter😋

[rayinpenn]

I'm wading a few feet from shore tossing my lure (a crocodile) into the jones beach inlet with the hopes of finding striped bass or blue fish. A 40ft cigarette boat comes flying by, loud, obnoxious and in my eyes -useless. A mindless, conspicuous display of wealth and nothing more. Turn the key point the nose and go. It screamed hey look at me. Impractical and a waste of our limited oil. The fish are spooked and I'm more then annoyed but It is a beautiful day, I'm in no rush and I know bluefish are a ravenous lot.

I didn't hear her until she was nearly abreast of me - a 40ft something sloop. Both mainsail and jib taught in the steady breeze. She was moving along, silent, stealthy, beautiful and substantial. Oh she too cost a pretty penny but she could sail to Bermuda on little or no fuel, just skill and experience - she was a delight to the senses.

Wealth like most things in life is a choice: the ugly conspicuous cigarette boat or the beauty and stealth of the sailboat. No matter how much I fantasize , in the end, I always opt for the sailboat.

Timex watch, modest reliable cars, No toys -I chose to leave no wake.


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[Ronstar]

Well said, rayinpenn. And your post is novelesque!
I would opt for the sailboat as well.