Thread: My "life hacking" time saver!

OK. I thought I'd start to get things moving in this new "Life Hacking" forum.

Here's my contribution...

You'd think a multimillionaire would be dining on expensive china or some dinnerware from Neiman Marcus? Not a chance...

http://www.mjdemarco.com/2010/09/why-do-dishes/

It all depends on class. If you want to live out your days as a millionaire eating off of paper plates, go for it.

Originally Posted by marktech101

It all depends on class.

If you think "class" is defined by how someone chooses to eat in the privacy of their own home, then I'd say you have your own set of issues.

We do that as well. My wife and I would rather do other things than wash dishes. Our house is to small for a dishwasher, so why spend 1-2 hours each week wasting our time. to all the tree huggers.

Originally Posted by marktech101

It all depends on class. If you want to live out your days as a millionaire eating off of paper plates, go for it.

Wow, interesting philosophy. Sounds like someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today!

Class has nothing to do with frugality of time and money. Class and sophistication have nothing to do with money. It's not an amount or an account you can show off.

I know some rich people who are complete morons, clods if you will! Can make a million dollars but can't tell you the difference between a fine piece of art and a doodle, or dancing and seizing, or music and loud noises, or the difference between polite and rude, a glass of wine or a glass of sheeps butt, or possibly the difference between making unnecessary and possibly inappropriate comments or not... yes my friend, class is not defined by what you eat on. And those of you who are working on sophistication, wipe your mouth when you eat! Nothing more of a turn off than watching you slober mayo all over your cheek. =)

I couldn't agree more. When my wife moved in, she brought with her about $10,000 worth of fine china, and dinnerware that she had collected over the years. I guess in her family, a woman feels like whoever dies with the most dishes WINS! ROFL....

This is all well and good, except for the fact that I have twin 7 year olds, and there is absolutely no reason why we need to own any plate that can't easily be replaced at Wal-Mart for the next, oh.... 11 years!!! haha... We've already broken a few, and it's been a huge pain in the ass -- having to hunt and hunt online to find the right pattern, and then pay $50-75 per dish to replace them.

So when she isn't looking, I still do sneak out the paper plates as often as possible Saved time, saves effort, and keeps the kids from smashing stuff that is $50+ a pop!

Cheers,

- Hakrjak

Originally Posted by PhxMJ

If you think "class" is defined by how someone chooses to eat in the privacy of their own home, then I'd say you have your own set of issues.

I agree.

Originally Posted by marktech101

It all depends on class. If you want to live out your days as a millionaire eating off of paper plates, go for it.

You're 17, marktech, so I'll cut you some slack.

I didn't even REALIZE how screwed up I was about "class" and what I was supposed to do and not do, until I was in my 30s.

So you've got a little time-- unless you want to break out of the rut that everyone else is in, keeping up w/the Joneses.

Do you have to own a new-ish car? Live in a nice neighborhood? Have lots of nice clothes? A good-looking gf or bf?

Do you have to spend money to feel like you have class?

Think about that.

A few years ago, I pulled up in my old Ford Mustang convertible (it was 10 years old at that time) to sign papers with a bank loan officer in a parking lot.

Kinda tacky.

I didn't want to drive all the way to his bank. So we were meeting half way-- half way between his bank and my house.

He rolled up in w/a new BMW. 7 series. Very nice.

I'm sure he owed a ton on it, and had bought it new.

That day, in my wrinkled shorts and Mickey Mouse T-shirt, I signed some loan docs for over a million dollars.

Did it leaning over, signing the docs on his trunk.

Yep, that's right: The well dressed bank guy in his new Beemer was giving me-- the schlubby looking guy in the T shirt and shorts w/the old car-- over a million dollars.

Why?

Because my wife and I had a proven track record. We'd already bought a property a few years earlier, and increased its value by more than $1.5 million.

So this bank wanted to see us do it again.

And they were lending us a lot of money to do just that.

So, here's my question for you:

Who had the class?

Me-- the guy in the Mickey T shirt and the old (but paid for) Mustang?

Or the guy who was wearing the great clothes and driving the $100,000 car?

perhaps a better question:

. . . is class what's most important here, or is there something else?

-Russ H.

This has more to do with time than frugality.(While still important) Any joe schmo can make more money, no one can make more time.

Added comment to the post on your site.

Originally Posted by Russ H

. . . is class what's most important here, or is there something else?

-Russ H.

Exactly my thought!!

But, what?

Making Smart Financial Decisions?
Making Smart Time Decisions?
Making Decisions that help you enjoy each moment, as it comes?

Each person will probably pick a different one... or maybe all three

Originally Posted by Darkside

I think most successful entrepreneurs are naturally frugal.

Absolutely ... Fastlaners are frugal with time, moreso than money.

Originally Posted by Bilgefisher

Any joe schmo can make more money, no one can make more time.

Amen brother!

Originally Posted by Russ H

Me-- the guy in the Mickey T shirt and the old (but paid for) Mustang?

Or the guy who was wearing the great clothes and driving the $100,000 car?

I hear this saying a lot ... money doesn't buy class.

Originally Posted by topherea

http://www.mjdemarco.com/2010/09/why-do-dishes/

Dude you're massive! How do you fit in your car?

Clownborghini! It's a very niche care right now, but it's gaining more popularity in certain crowds.

Dude, you're so small-- how do you fit in *your* car?!?

(see screen grab, w/your avatar on left)

-Russ H.

I'm thinking a dishwasher is a good alternative to disposable plates. Cleaning one plate and utensils takes a few seconds. A dishwasher even less time. But repairs can be a hassle occasionally.

...If you do your own cooking, don't you have to clean pots and pans?