In the spirit of this spooky Halloween holiday, I made a list of the scariest things you could say to a personal finance geek. Then I opened it up on Twitter:
Monday's post is a list of the scariest things to say to a PF geek. Tweet yours to me and I'll add it! Ex: "Bought a house no money down!"
— Maggie Banks (@northernexpense) October 30, 2016
The response was overwhelming. I immediately threw out my own list since all of them were covered. So, turn on the creepy Halloween music and prepare yourself for a Twitter storm of the scariest things you could say to a personal finance geek (ordered by category).
Debt:
"We can afford buying that now because our credit limit increased."
— Harmony Smith (@CMK_Harmony) October 30, 2016
"In this day and age, everyone has at least Ā£10k of debt"
— Tortoise Happy (@tortoise_happy) October 30, 2016
"We've nearly paid our loan off so we'll be able to afford to take another out"
— Tortoise Happy (@tortoise_happy) October 30, 2016
"We got an interest-only loan. We'll just refinance before the payments go up."
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
"The bank gave us a home equity line of credit with zero percent interest. We'd be fools NOT to use it!"
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
"I don't know why I'd pay off my credit card balance when I can always transfer it to another 0% interest card!"
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
i'll carry my student loans until i die
— Bravely (@bravelygo) October 30, 2016
"I'm getting a degree from an unaccredited private (predatory) online university. I'm investing in myself!"
— Revanche (@RevAGSL) October 30, 2016
re: vacation they can't afford, "I just put it on my credit card, it has 0% interest for the first 6 months"
— Kudy (@MonetaryMusings) October 30, 2016
"I bought my car from a used car dealer and financed it w/them too. Interest? I dunno."
— Revanche (@RevAGSL) October 30, 2016
"I'm going on a cruise! I'll never pay off my student loans so I might as well have fun living on them!"
— Revanche (@RevAGSL) October 30, 2016
The payment is only $100 a month and I don't have to pay for the next year. It's super cheap.
— Family Money Plan (@FamilyMoneyPlan) October 30, 2016
I'm getting a teaching degree from a private school with no financial aid!
— Todd Schaffer, CFPĀ® (@Thrivent_Todd) October 30, 2016
"Got a great deal on my car lease"
— Matt @The Resume Gap (@TheResumeGap) October 30, 2016
Oh, I don't pay the bills. I just charge it.
— Penny (@picksuppennies) October 30, 2016
"Negative equity can be refinanced!"
— Make Smarter Decisions (@MSDLifeCoaching) October 30, 2016
Spending Money:
" I don't know where the money goes, that's mu husbands job." ???
— Athena (@accordingathena) October 30, 2016
I once had a roommate mention she ordered $200 sheets from online for her bed. I didn't know that was a thing.
— TJ (@PHXTJ) October 30, 2016
"So I decided to buy a timeshare."
— Faithful Dividends (@FaithDividends) October 31, 2016
I pay for my bus pass every month but drive to work everyday
— Apathy Ends (@ApathyEnds) October 31, 2016
"I always spend Ā£1k on each of the boys at Christmas" (said boys were 2 and 6)
— Tortoise Happy (@tortoise_happy) October 30, 2016
"My wife made me have an iphone 7 so she could have one as well"
— Tortoise Happy (@tortoise_happy) October 30, 2016
"I just bought myself a new BMW. Also, I'd love leads for informational interviews. The job search is taking a while."
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
"I don't know where our money goes each month. Did I tell you I found some great fudge on etsy?!"
— The SSC's (@coffeesippers) October 30, 2016
"I honestly don't know where it all goes. Pass the Cheval Blanc."
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
The new garage is important to house the Maserati
— PlanInvestEscape (@Mr_MrsPieBlog) October 30, 2016
Or "Gas costs add up. That's why we bought a Tesla." (Another true story) #financeconfessionalinthesky
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
Or the one who said: "Well I *need* a 5000 square foot house so I can get away from all the stuff my wife buys!"
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
"Like our new beer fridge? It was only $500 and we didn't like the other one."
— Penny (@picksuppennies) October 30, 2016
Last night's Halloween party.
Why would I use a coupon?
— Penny (@picksuppennies) October 30, 2016
"I know we have to get our spending under control but I don't know where to start so I can't."
— Revanche (@RevAGSL) October 30, 2016
Retirement Savings/Investing:
Another true one: "We aren't saving for retirement. That's what home equity is for." (Also, in this case, definitely no.)
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
My (UK) company changed its pension rules. I won't be retiring till I'm 70
— PlanInvestEscape (@Mr_MrsPieBlog) October 30, 2016
Im not sure what my finance guy has got me in, but it seems to be doing ok at the moment
— PlanInvestEscape (@Mr_MrsPieBlog) October 30, 2016
same couple "we need a new car but we'll just use our work savings account" it's their 401k....
— The SSC's (@coffeesippers) October 30, 2016
Cashed out my 401k because ford trucks have wifi now! Starting over on retirement savings but only owe 20k on the truck.
— Jillian (@mtmoneyadventur) October 30, 2016
Like the RICH guy who said, "I'm not saving for retirement. That's why I had kids!"
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
one more - "I can't afford the 4% payroll deduction to get the 401k match"
— Kudy (@MonetaryMusings) October 30, 2016
Had to withdraw from my 401K for the down payment, but that's OK because real estate always goes up!
— Your Roaring 20s (@yourroaring20s) October 30, 2016
"I can't afford to save money"....whether for retirement, efunds, or whatever.
— enancejividen (@enancejividen) October 30, 2016
"I borrowed from my 401(k)"
— Gwen (@FieryMillennial) October 30, 2016
"401ks are a government conspiracy to take your money." Yup, actually heard this one.
— Pennies and Dollars (@penniesNdollars) October 30, 2016
Stupidity:
"I don't switch my car insurance, they reward you for loyalty"
— Wiser Wealthier Blog (@WiserWealthier) October 30, 2016
"All I know about our money is that it's gone at the end of every month." (Also true story.)
— Tanja Hester (@our_nextlife) October 30, 2016
or, 'i don't even look at my bank account'
— Bravely (@bravelygo) October 30, 2016
@northernexpense That's so wonderful that the nice Nigerian Prince named me as a beneficiary - where exactly do I send my account info? š
— Bill @FamZoo (@FamZoo) October 30, 2016
I never cook.
— Penny (@picksuppennies) October 30, 2016
"I just cosigned a loan for (anyone, really), I thought it was important that they get (thing they can't afford)"
— Revanche (@RevAGSL) October 30, 2016
I don't need a budget, I'm great with money.
— Sarah (@SmileandConquer) October 30, 2016
Money seems like a lot of work.
— Penny (@picksuppennies) October 30, 2016
::dies::
I hope you’re sufficiently scared! Happy Halloween!Ā Feel free to add your own in the comments section for some bonus scares!
Miss Mazuma
Argh…After seeing your tweet I totally froze and couldn’t think of anything! Looks like you had plenty of replies! Today I finally thought of one…well, my BF provided me the ammo when he said “I don’t open those statements. I don’t want to know.” Smh. Really?!
MaggieBanks
AHHHH! So scary!
Penny (@picksuppennies)
ROFL. I’m seriously dying over here over the last category. I’m definitely guilty of money stupidity sometimes. I think it’s really important that we call each other out on it. Love it, Maggie. Happy Halloween! Wishing you lots of candy and no money spooky stories today!
MaggieBanks
Sometimes we’re all in the stupid category. But what’s different is that we know better! I really enjoyed gathering these!
Matt @ Optimize Your Life
Some of these felt like a real punch in the gut, which I guess outs me as a finance geek. I started noting the ones that were the most painful, but there were too many. I think the two most common ones I hear are variations on “Money seems like a lot of work” and “I’m not sure what my finance guy has got me in, but it seems to be doing okay at the moment.” Brutal.
MaggieBanks
I know, right? So scary! This is an instance where I start yelling: THE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW! š
Financial Panther
Taking those loans out for online or crappy for-profit colleges is just horrible. It’s not 100% the fault of the student. I’d say it’s a 50/50 split there – with the schools misleading these folks and students just not quite understanding the impact of huge student loan debt.
MaggieBanks
Agreed. They prey on the people!
Ms. Montana
Oh so good! Here is one my college roommate actually said to me:
Her: “My credit card just gave me $500, and this time I want to spend on something really special, like maybe a new camera. Because last time I just wasted it on a bunch of little things.”
Me: “Wait, your credit card just GAVE you $500?”
Her: “Well, yeah, I mean they increased my limit.”
I was 18 at the time, and remember thinking, this isn’t good!
TJ
That would scare me too.
MaggieBanks
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!
Matt @ The Resume Gap
omg
Sarah @tortoisehappy.com
This is a horrible list which I love (if that makes sense?) Most had me raising my eyebrows, some made my jaw drop too. At least reading these online is easier than when someone says it directly to you, no need to hide the true horror you’re feeling. All my contributions were things I’d actually heard… I’m not sure how well I hid the horror in real life!!
MaggieBanks
Most of these were stories from real people shared. EVEN MORE SCARY! š
financialibre
Amazing list… So many good ones, but I love the PIEs’ Maserati line. Ha!
Thanks for the laughs – and Happy Halloween!
MaggieBanks
Thanks for participating! Happy Halloween to you too!
Mrs. PIE
and those words really came out of Mr. PIE’s colleagues mouth! even scarier!
MaggieBanks
poor guy!
Mr. SSC
Man, that list. Another one to add to it though.
“So you’re going to roll your 401k into an IRA right?”
“No, I’m just going to cash it out…”
Oh wait, that was me many years ago – palm slap to forehead. š At least that goes to show people can change.
Leigh
I have a similar one. I was preparing to leave a job and having coffee with a coworker who just left.
Me: “What did you end up doing with your 401(k) when you left?”
Them: “Oh that. I meant to, but I never started contributing. Maybe I will at my next job.”
(We had a match. This person was at the company for 3-5 years, long enough to be vested in the match. The person made six figures that entire time.)
MaggieBanks
The amount of money people forfeit is obscene!
MaggieBanks
ha ha ha. We’ll ignore our own stupidity and pretend we’re awesome for the day!
Tawcan
Oh… scary stuff! Crazy things people will do.
Gotta say, I love these Twitter conversations. That’s the best part about using Twitter IMO.
MaggieBanks
Agreed!
Matt @ The Resume Gap
This post is inducing nausea! The 401(k) withdrawal ones reminded me of an old boss who liquidated her family’s entire retirement savings to start a (poorly planned, doomed from the start) small business that went bankrupt in less than a year. Argh!
MaggieBanks
oh dear. yikes!
Kalie @ Pretend to Be Poor
Pretty scary! True story: “I don’t know how much or mortgage is.” Another true story: “I don’t know how much we have left on our student loans.” Eek!
MaggieBanks
Ignoring the truth is a very common, scary theme!
eemusings
Oh shivers. Literally!
Listening to Bad with Money by Gaby Dunn was pretty scary / stressful for me, actually. Some of the stuff she admits to…!
MaggieBanks
I’ll have to give it a try. I’ve never listened to it! Happy Halloween (though yours is long over, now right?)
ExploreMountainsOnSkiFoot&Bike
“I will never buy a house without an inspection, again.” Coworker told me this. Really!?!? I inspect fruit before buying them to make sure they aren’t too bruised or rotten.
MaggieBanks
Oh yikes! Why forgo the inspection? that seems pretty scary!
Mrs. PIE
fantastic list, what a great use of Twitter!
I thought of another ” I had a really nice surprise, I found out I just made the last payment of my son’s student loan. I think we might buy a condo in the city”
MaggieBanks
I love this community on Twitter!
Angela Horn
We definitely fell into the ‘don’t look at our bank account’ category for a while there. EGADS!
MaggieBanks
We’ve all been guilty of some of these (and still are for a few maybe!), but if we know it’s a problem, that’s the first step! š
Alyssa @ Mixed Up Money
Hahahahaha these are all SO spot on.
MaggieBanks
I thoroughly enjoyed these as well.
Fervent Finance
Haha reading this on twitter the other day gave me a few chuckles. Many made me cringe on the inside though š
MaggieBanks
agreed and agreed!
Sarah
Oooh, these truly gave me more chills than anything I actually saw on Halloween!! Great post! ? Sarah http://www.enrichmentality.com
MaggieBanks
nice emoji
Michelle
I absolutely love this, haha. I don’t know how I didn’t notice this until now.
MaggieBanks
Thanks Michelle! It was super fun to put together!