Survey: 64% of Americans Now Living Paycheck to Paycheck

[disneysteve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerides Am I the only one who went out to lunch often with work friends?

That's not a thing in healthcare. We don't/can't leave the office. We don't have a "lunch break" (or a dinner break for that matter). We eat when we can eat, which usually means a couple of bites in between patients. The staff does get a 30-min break each day but only one person can be on break at a time. When there is a lull in the action, which happens, that's the time we check lab results and call patients to discuss them.


So no, I've never gone out to lunch with coworkers during the work day.

[Out-to-Lunch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerides Am I the only one who went out to lunch often with work friends? We had "Sushi Monday" for years, and I look back on those times fondly.

Best of both worlds: A group of us went to the cafeteria, but you were allowed to bring your own lunch. My DW and I packed our lunches while our coworkers bought cafeteria food.

[MichaelB]

When I began with MegaCorp in Venezuela lunch was a 2 hour midday break, people had an early start, went home for lunch and a siesta, then returned for a long afternoon. This was a lifestyle inherited from the Spanish and made sense in a sweltering tropical climate with no air conditioning. Not the case in Caracas, but traditions don’t change easily. I could never get used to it, especially a midday nap, so chose to bring my lunch and stay at my desk.

MegaCorp eventually moved into the modern era with one hour for lunch and a shorter work day. They also opened a cafeteria with subsidized prices and a decent menu. That’s when I learned to enjoy a midday break and eat out. I had many enjoyable midday meals with co-workers or clients, and even a few with my children.

I still prefer going out for lunch rather than dinner.

[ExFlyBoy5]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerides Am I the only one who went out to lunch often with work friends? We had "Sushi Monday" for years, and I look back on those times fondly.

We did...usually once a week. Sometimes it was in part celebration for someone departing or a new arrival. More often, it was a bunch of zipper suited panty wearing sun gods Air Force flyers complaining about something a very large government contractor was doing to screw over the tax payers.

Our normal go to was a BBQ joint not too far from the air field. It was also usually the end of the w*rk day, so it was enjoyable for multiple reasons.

[aaronc879]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkern My sister-in-law in the big spender of all big spenders. Just a sampling of spending over the last year or two: New pool and back yard landscaping: $120K New Audi SUV: $95K Fly to Paris to buy Birkin Handbag: $15K New Diamond ring: $40K New Porche 911: $160K New Rolex watch: $20K Vacation to Dubai: $25K Multiple other vacations: ? Replace 5 year old granite counter with new granite counter: $7K This is just what I know about.

The question is, can they afford it? Nothing wrong with spending $500K/yr if you make $1M/yr. It worse if you make $60K and spend $60K or even more in some cases.

[aaronc879]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerides Am I the only one who went out to lunch often with work friends? We had "Sushi Monday" for years, and I look back on those times fondly.

I have never worked in a job that allowed that option. I also never made enough money to even think about eating out on a regular basis. If I had the 6-figure income that many people on here have then I would consider it.

[Dtail]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkern My sister-in-law in the big spender of all big spenders. Just a sampling of spending over the last year or two: New pool and back yard landscaping: $120K New Audi SUV: $95K Fly to Paris to buy Birkin Handbag: $15K New Diamond ring: $40K New Porche 911: $160K New Rolex watch: $20K Vacation to Dubai: $25K Multiple other vacations: ? Replace 5 year old granite counter with new granite counter: $7K This is just what I know about.

No Birkin bags in the USA?

[38Chevy454]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dtail No Birkin bags in the USA?

Or my response: Why is a Birkin bag so special? I can assume it is a designer handbag (never heard of Birkin myself until now), but traveling all the way to Paris to buy one?

[Gumby]

Who needs an excuse to travel to Paris?

[Letj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 38Chevy454 Or my response: Why is a Birkin bag so special? I can assume it is a designer handbag (never heard of Birkin myself until now), but traveling all the way to Paris to buy one?

Apparently they’re one of kind collector’s item and are made to order. They make a limited supply every year and apparently the trade is mostly in 2nd hand bags. I don’t understand the hype myself but then again, I am not one to go crazy over material possessions like this. I am happy in gym clothes and a bag I use over and over.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Letj Apparently they’re one of kind collector’s item and are made to order. They make a limited supply every year and apparently the trade is mostly in 2nd hand bags. I don’t understand the hype myself but then again, I am not one to go crazy over material possessions like this. I am happy in gym clothes and a bag I use over and over.

One Birkin bg sold for $500 K, used. It was made of albino crocodile leather and a bunch pf diamonds, etc. These bags are collector items and it's a secret how many Hermes's makes and sells (privately, of course) each year.

[finnski1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 One Birkin bg sold for $500 K, used. It was made of albino crocodile leather and a bunch pf diamonds, etc. These bags are collector items and it's a secret how many Hermes's makes and sells (privately, of course) each year.

Maybe so. But the whole concept seems pretty pathetic to me. YMMV

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnski1 Maybe so. But the whole concept seems pretty pathetic to me. YMMV

It's just the rich playing games with each other! No substance here.

[Amethyst]

It's for a subset of wealthy people who feel they must have different things than other rich people, instead of everyone buying the same high-end goods. I'd imagine these items are conversation pieces at social gatherings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnski1 Maybe so. But the whole concept seems pretty pathetic to me. YMMV

[GenXguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Out-to-Lunch Best of both worlds: A group of us went to the cafeteria, but you were allowed to bring your own lunch. My DW and I packed our lunches while our coworkers bought cafeteria food.

That's the same with me for a job I worked over 20 years. On-site cafeteria, didn't have to clock out, plus the food was low priced and good with rotating menu items through the week. So, only a half hour was taken off my time for lunch. If I wanted to go out for lunch, I would have to drive somewhere and pretty much plan for an hour, meaning I would have to work a half hour later. So, eating with others in the cafeteria made a lot more sense. Handy, good, less expensive, and get off work earlier.

[GenXguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Teacher Terry I ate a turkey sandwich for lunch 4 days a week for 20 years. On Friday I would go out with people from work. When I cook I eat the same thing 3 days in a row.

Was that deli turkey meat?

I feel like I've gotten into some very redundant strings of eating the same things often, but wow, you have me beat big time with eating turkey sandwiches 4 days per week for 20 years.

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by aja8888 One Birkin bg sold for $500 K, used. It was made of albino crocodile leather and a bunch pf diamonds, etc. These bags are collector items and it's a secret how many Hermes's makes and sells (privately, of course) each year.

I wouldn't even want that Birkin bag because I have a MUCH better bag. It's this one, the e-Bags Piazza (no longer made). It is simply perfect - - light, sturdy, water resistant, many pockets and clips, and more. Still looks like new. I bought it eight years ago for $34.99 and it looks like it will last another eight years before I need a new one.

[threeonesix]

I used to work with a guy who alternated daily between a can of tuna and crackers or a can of Spam and crackers. Needless to say, when an office became available everyone in our cube farm chose that guy to get his own, stinky office. Once he did, he started going out to eat with the rest of us. Smart! lol

[Walt34]

Back in 1983 when my first wife moved out and left me holding the bag for the house and other expenses because I refused to take out a loan to finance a pleasure trip six months after spending a week in Disney World (which almost caused the divorce right then) I quickly figured out that I could no longer afford to buy lunches as I had been doing. So at work one day I bought one of those little $15 Igloo coolers commonly seen at construction job sites.

After that it was a rare day that I bought lunch, even after recovering from the divorce and I could have afforded to. A sandwich, a bottle of tap water and an apple or similar fruit was about $1. Back then even McDonald's would have been at least $5, now I suppose it's double that or more. When I retired in 2002 a back-of-the-envelope calculation indicated that I'd saved well into five figures on lunches. Not a bad ROI on $15! Oh, and I haven't paid a dime in cc interest charges since then either.

I still have that cooler and one of us still uses it every now and then for some day trip. It's a regular with me when I spend the day flying R/C airplanes.

[Aerides]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 38Chevy454 Or my response: Why is a Birkin bag so special? I can assume it is a designer handbag (never heard of Birkin myself until now), but traveling all the way to Paris to buy one?

A guy I used to work with would travel to Germany to pick out and test a new BMW or Mercedes. While a Birkin would never be my thing (I like a shoulder strap or a cross body bag mostly), I will admit I treated myself to a couple of Prada bags on sale over the years...

Birkin is Hermes. It's been the highest of high end (besides going full custom no label stuff), it's been the It bag for decades.