You know those people that just don't seem to get it when it comes to money etiquette? Whether it's a check-splitting cheat, a mooch, a tireless borrower or one of the seven other money jerks we highlight below, see if you can pick out any of the financial fools in your life.
No. 1: The Check-Splitting Deadbeat
All too often, when dining with a large group of people in a restaurant that does not provide separate checks, the last person to receive the check and accumulated money finds the cash isn't enough to cover the bill. Does he then risk embarrassing members of the group by demanding more money, or pay the shortfall himself? The check-splitting deadbeat hopes for the latter. Or perhaps it's lunch with a friend, but when the check comes said "friend" hands over enough to cover her food and drink, but gives nothing for the necessary tax or tip!
No. 2: The Property Pig
You've finally bought a little patch of Mother Earth that you can call your own. Then you discover your neighbor's fence is two feet over the property line, or the dying limb of his sugar maple is overhanging your garage, or his barking dog is keeping you up all night. Unfortunately for you, he doesn't seem to mind at all. (If this hits close to home, check out:
Neighbors From Hell.)
No. 3: The Pilfering Relative
This type of tale galls us: A relative of the just-deceased helps him or herself to a diamond ring or a cherry chiffarobe, from the deceased's household, "just to remember him by." Such tasteless theft, in the midst of grieving, can create a family rift that a lifetime won't heal.
No. 4: The Never-Pitches-In Passenger
Sure, most of us know it's par for the course to chauffeur family members from place to place, but you don't always have to be the designated driver with other auto-owning, license-holding adults, do you? Whether carpooling to a movie, a concert or heading out for night on the town, if this buddy is always a passenger but never pitches in for gas or tolls, he's taking you for a ride.
No. 5: The Pitches-In Passenger
On the other hand, even pitching in for gas and tolls isn't such a great deal when it comes to road trips. An acquaintance of one WalletPop writer once drove a group of his friends to a convention a couple of states away, probably 1,000 miles round-trip, under the typical "I drive, you pay for gas" arrangement. In our writer's opinion, his friend had been ripped off, big time. The trip cost his friend $520 including depreciation, insurance and maintenance. Minus the $160 in gas, he was out of pocket for $360, all for the privilege of chauffeuring his friends.
No. 6: The Perpetual Fundraiser
Ding Dong! She's he-e-re (again)! You're probably hit up by well-meaning fundraisers regularly. Sponsor my run for the cure? Buy some of my kid's Girl Scout cookies? Come to my corn hole tournament benefit? Join us for casino night at the Catholic school? The person who takes the "fun" out of fundraiser is the person who has a new cause every week and hits up the same folks over and over again. To avoid busting your budget, we suggest picking your causes carefully and politely declining those you can't afford.
No. 7: The One-Upper
You buy a rowboat, and your neighbor buys a yacht. Buy a scooter, he buys a Harley. Your oldest gets into Northwestern, theirs has to apply to MIT. Keeping up with one-uppers is a hopeless (and pointless) quest. Let them win -- because as annoying as these type of folks are -- if you take part in the "keeping up with the Joneses" game, you're just as guilty.
No. 8: The Baby(sitter) Maker
Your kids are in the backyard playing, so your neighbor sends little Susie out, too. Pretty soon she's headed out to run some errands, and says, "The girls are playing so nicely, I'd hate to drag Susie away to go from store to store. Would you mind keeping an eye on her for a bit?" Hours pass before Miss Isn't-It-Nice-to-Not-Have-to-Pay-for-a-Sitter gets home. However, when you ask for a similar favor, she's always on the way out or unavailable. Not cool, not cool, at all.
No. 9: The Borrower
How about those who treat your stuff like community property?This is especially true of equipment that we use only occasionally, such as ladders, roto-tillers, chain saws, car jacks, rug shampooers or slide projectors. Nothing is more frustrating than needing your leaf blower only to find it locked in your vacationing neighbor's garage.
No. 10: The Moocher
We saved the best for last: The classic moocher. You know the guy: He's always a quarter short for bus fare, didn't bring a lunch, the book store was out of copies of the book he needed for the course; can he borrow yours? Surely you don't mind, old buddy? Listen up, Mr. Moocher -- we do mind. We really do.
Is there another "money jerk" that should have made our list? Tell us about it in the comments section below.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-12-2010 @ 10:28AM
June said...
This is exactly what I have come to expect from people. I also don't like those who are always trying to take you for your money on rides. But then again who is not trying to take your money these days. For good savings that won't SPAM you for the rest of your life, check out Http://www.savecreatively.com they have free samples and coupons but better yet no e-mail required! That is what I call a score!
10-12-2010 @ 10:00AM
panhermes said...
Yup, have had my fill of some of these t ypes-like the new neighbor whose spouse is incapacitated they arrive minus a few key elements for setting up a home-stove, fridge, ability to move furniture in alone..So you are asked for and give help hoping to create a new great neighbor relationship...help move all kinds of stuff in, even going to another place to aide in moveing commercial metal shelves into a hanger and inviting them in for a couple of meals. Meanwhile you loan her a toaster and a new GF grill...which she keeps for months..YOUR told by her, "if there's every anything I can do for you just ask". B/S! She has no plan to reciprocate - EVER! Thanks for making clear your a moocher, a taker, and never a giver during your first months here-now keep away...
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10-12-2010 @ 2:05PM
KevinB said...
Are you tired of all these scams and business opportunities that are being posted? The internet DOES offer real jobs that you can work as an employee but you just have to know where to find these jobs. I really do work as an EMPLOYEE for a large internet corporation. ( http://tinyurl.com/ApplyForJobs ) has the info about how to find real work at home jobs offered by well known companies. These jobs are NOT business opportunities. These are employment positions. This is not a scam. Hope this helps!
10-12-2010 @ 10:13AM
Steve said...
Re: The Check Splitting Deadbeat: How about when a group of 8 or 10 agree beforehand to split the dinner bill. Then somebody loads up on $8 drinks while you're drinking ice water. You just paid for a good portion of that guy's liquor bill!
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10-12-2010 @ 10:13AM
carol said...
I am thankful to the moochers in my life. They have taught me to say NO
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10-12-2010 @ 10:22AM
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10-12-2010 @ 10:45AM
JWinn said...
The money jerk I dislike most it the one who asks directly about your purchases, "How much did that set you back?". Then he proceeds to tell you what a fool you are. He got a better deal. He knows of a better product at a cheaper price. Or if only you'd have asked his advice, he'd have told you where to get it cheaper.
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10-12-2010 @ 10:47AM
Bill said...
There is a popular bumper sticker in Texas:
"Yes, this is my truck. No, I will not help you move"
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10-12-2010 @ 11:21AM
CAPT KIRK said...
How's this? My mustang was parked in front of my house. I came out the next morning to go to work, and there was a dent in the left side behind the door, and white paint on the quarter panel. I figured it had to come from my neighbor across the street, They must have pulled their car out of the garage and hit my car! Only problem was, they were at their winter house in Michigan. So I called them up and asked if anyone was staying in their house that has a white car. They said that they think they know who it was, but they "didn't want to get involved!" So I took the car and had it repaired and painted. The next week, the neighbors called me and asked me to keep an eye out on their house to see if anyone was staying there! I then un-diplomatically said that I couldn't care less if thieves cleaned them out or if the damn place burns to the ground!!! Can you just imagine the nerve of those people?
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10-12-2010 @ 12:04PM
Luv said...
How about the person who crys to you about their money problems; expecting you to offering some assistance, because your a do gooder. But if it ever comes back up, their lame excuse is "I didnt ask you...U offered!" Which means you did that out of the kindness of your heart; so I don't owe you anything. I don't expect a return on all my investments, but it does say much about the character of any individual who would be petty enough to use such a line. My response, "You can keep the change, but you lost much respect!!
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10-12-2010 @ 12:05PM
Blah blah Blago said...
I have a next door mooch. This guy was watching me put stuff on my cartop carrier, he comes over and says "I used to have a cartop carrier just like that. I let someone borrow it and they never returned it." Almost insinuating that this one might be his. I stopped lending him things and whenever he asks I always change the subject.
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10-12-2010 @ 12:09PM
Karina said...
We had BIG mooching neighbors at an RV park where we camp frequently. Every single Sat. night, they would start roaming around to see who was cooking dinner and when they found something they liked, they stood over the grill looking forelorn. They did it to us a few times until we caught on to their game...the next time they showed up, we cooked just enough food for the two of US. I told them I was sorry, there wasn't enough to share and we wouldn't be able to feed them. The rest of the campers caught on and started using our tactic...and the moochers just disappeared! We did hear they had started up the same scam at another campground nearby but they did it to the owner and were asked to LEAVE and not come back. They own a huge RV and claim to be "loaded." I guess mooching can make you rich, but it sure won't make you any friends!
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10-12-2010 @ 12:46PM
Conrad said...
On a two hour short road trip, A relative and his buddy are along for the ride. About an hour later passing through a small town the request is " I'm broke and thirsty, can you stop at the next food stand and pop for a couple of sodas? I'm on schedule for my arrival if I don't stop but what the heck, a few minutes won't hurt. Find the stand and order three large Cokes. As i step back, He sticks his head in the window and blurts "Put a double-cheese and large fries on that order and...same thing for my buddy!" My astonished look was answered with " I was hungry too" No good deed goes unpunished.
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10-12-2010 @ 2:25PM
redfox said...
After my husband died I had a "girlfriend" who called me for a few weks and asked me how many life insurances I had. I said none. She gave me a big tale I must have life insurance,everybody has it. Again I said none. Next few weeks no calls from her. Last call "Life Insurance" I asked her why she ask all the time about it, she replied =she wants it when I die! No more phone calls!
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10-12-2010 @ 1:19PM
Terry said...
The greatest money moocher of all. Said she needed $450 to fix the transmission and would pay it back in two months "when the bonus came in." In two months, there was no bonus and she wanted another $1000. The relatives from hell, or am I a soft touch?
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10-12-2010 @ 2:58PM
Rose said...
Divorce and custody battles can bring out the devil in some people. After my sons decided it would be "cool" to go live with their dad, he bought my older son a sports car for his 16th birthday. Three months later, driving after midnight with a provisional license, my son was involved in a fatal car accident. His best friend was killed and his brother ended up in the ICU. My older son lost both of his legs and suffered permanent spinal damage. I asked my "X' to submit an insurance request for a $250 wheel chair lift for the back of my SUV, and he refused. Two months later he demanded I pay him $9000 for a new wheel chair accessible van ($150,000).
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10-12-2010 @ 2:26PM
Mark said...
I don't agree with #5 - the driver has to pay his insurance anyhow, and the car is depreciating anyhow, and he has to maintain it regardless. If he was planning to take this trip anyhow, then he actually benefits by having passengers throwing in for the gas. Now, if he wasn't planning to take the trip but volunteered to drive just to tag along for the heck of it, then that was mighty, mighty nice of him, but otherwise, he didn't get taken for a ride.
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10-12-2010 @ 6:00PM
redfox said...
Terry: You are a very decent person. You are not a "soft touch". You have character and proper upbringing. Get rid of that relative! I TRUSTED TOO AND IT TOOK ME A LONG TIME TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE AROUND ME. MY TRUST IS GONE. VERY SAD WORLD.
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10-12-2010 @ 3:03PM
Joyce said...
After one on my sisters either look forever or never fully repaid loans I made to her (on only verbal agreement), I responded to her next request agreeing to the loan only if we both signed paperwork spelling out terms of the loan and repayment (how much paid back and when, interest, late payment penalty, etc.). Her response was to the effect that "gee, I could get all those requirements by borrowing from a bank." I then told her to go ahead and do just that, knowing that she was unable to go that route. She wanted the loan badly enough to agree to my stipulations and eventually fulfilled the repayment obligation. A few years later, she and her husband borrowed money from me(with the same paperwork and stipulations), made 1-1/2 payments out of ten scheduled, and I've not seen a dime since. It's been almost 15 years, so their amount owed (due to interest, late payment penalty, etc.) is now astronomical!! Due to a separate matter, I cut off all contact with her about 2-1/2 years ago, and can honestly say I gained more by doing that than I would have gotten back by their repayment of the last loan!!
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10-12-2010 @ 3:40PM
"Rocko" said...
When we all worked for Boeing in Long Beach training airline personnel, they were always coming up with new ways to screw us on pay. We had this one senior guy that was always trying to get us to "walk out" or orgainize into some sort of "union." Just as soon as he found out that the latest pay cuts didn't apply to him, he was okay with it all and forgot about the rest of us. He's also the guy to orders the huge lunch at get togethers and then splits the check evenly among those of us eating light. Yah, he's fat too.
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