Ramblings on cigars, whiskey, craft beer, shooting sports, and life.
Friday, April 25, 2025
Five O'Clock Friday: Sensible Budgeting
I'll admit it. This is exactly my thought process when shopping. However, cigars and bourbon bring me way more joy than any utilitarian purchase ever could.
*randomly collected internet image -- credit will be given upon request
This reminds me of a conversation that I was a witness to. I was having lunch with three other lawyers in a cafe in Houston. Of the three of us, only one was younger, the lawyer from Texas, who was also 1) extremely arrogant and 2) pretty obviously uncomfortable in his own skin (which is probably why he was arrogant).
Somehow, the conversation turned to alcohol I have no recollection of why. The young lawyer went on about how he had quit drinking entirely in order to save money, and then went on about how financially wise he was. In response to the conversation somehow the comment, from the younger lawyer, came to the effect of "alcohol is expensive". And the oldest of us said "I don't care", and made it plain that he thought the cost worth it. The younger fellow didn't know how to take it.
I'm not advocating drinking rivers of alcohol, of course, and don't have any problem with people who don't drink at all. I can't help but note however that the younger lawyer gritted his teeth in stress constantly.
On clothing, I find myself in the weird situation that, being cheap by nature, and being almost 62 years old, I've failed to replace work shirts (oxford button downs) in recent years as I've been figuring that I'd retire before they needed to be replaced. In doing that, I overestimated their life span, and I'm now tragically in the situation of probably needing to buy new shirts, and probably a couple of new suits, which in turn will way outlast my career.
Surprisingly, I may have bought more new clothes since I retired than I did the last few years of my career. Although I mostly worked from home, so a dress code was a moot subject. I am reminded of a meme I saw recently that stated, "The problem with Facebook memories is they show me wearing the same shirt I was wearing seven years ago."
This reminds me of a conversation that I was a witness to. I was having lunch with three other lawyers in a cafe in Houston. Of the three of us, only one was younger, the lawyer from Texas, who was also 1) extremely arrogant and 2) pretty obviously uncomfortable in his own skin (which is probably why he was arrogant).
ReplyDeleteSomehow, the conversation turned to alcohol I have no recollection of why. The young lawyer went on about how he had quit drinking entirely in order to save money, and then went on about how financially wise he was. In response to the conversation somehow the comment, from the younger lawyer, came to the effect of "alcohol is expensive". And the oldest of us said "I don't care", and made it plain that he thought the cost worth it. The younger fellow didn't know how to take it.
I'm not advocating drinking rivers of alcohol, of course, and don't have any problem with people who don't drink at all. I can't help but note however that the younger lawyer gritted his teeth in stress constantly.
On clothing, I find myself in the weird situation that, being cheap by nature, and being almost 62 years old, I've failed to replace work shirts (oxford button downs) in recent years as I've been figuring that I'd retire before they needed to be replaced. In doing that, I overestimated their life span, and I'm now tragically in the situation of probably needing to buy new shirts, and probably a couple of new suits, which in turn will way outlast my career.
Surprisingly, I may have bought more new clothes since I retired than I did the last few years of my career. Although I mostly worked from home, so a dress code was a moot subject. I am reminded of a meme I saw recently that stated, "The problem with Facebook memories is they show me wearing the same shirt I was wearing seven years ago."
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