The bank...(I'm cheap!)

**peanut** · 12-13-2011, 10:12 AM

So DH and I go to the bank yesterday to change our EF to a long term high interest savings account from a regular savings account, garnering a whole whopping 1.2% in interest. We discuss our financial situation as always. They don't like the fact we don't have ALL our money in their bank. The guy asks us what we do for a living. And I say "I stay home". He was surprised and asked how I managed that.

Well, I don't know what got into me. I just get tired of people asking that question after over 20 years of staying home. So I retort "I'm cheap!" You should have seen his face!

It was a mix of thoughtfulness, incredulity, amazement. Turns out he too is 'cheap'. His father was an immigrant who made them turn out the lights. This dissolved into just how cheap his father was compared to me. I asked if he'd ever been told to pay a nickel to a quarter for any light he left on in the house. He admitted no.

However, he did admit he, at about 30, is now just like his father. And he is single and owns his own house.

Do any of the rest of you have these moments with the bank? Or other people? The bank seems to be the worst for us. They just can't wrap their head around the idea I don't work and we have money...because we're frugal...

**Libby** · 12-13-2011, 10:39 AM

Frankly I'd have asked him why it was his concern if 'all' my money was with their company? We do get asked from time to time if we'd like to bring our 'other accounts' to be with them but we just keep saying 'No thanks' and thats the end of it.

I get flack for stating that I'm a SAHW. "Must be nice!" / "Lucky you!!" is all I keep hearing but its hard work to stay home. So much to do, so lil time. People always want what they don't have - usually the opposite. Those that work, wish they could stay at home. Those that stay at home wish they could work, right? What irks me even more is they assume I'm a SAHW b/c I have small children and when they find out I don't - I'm automatically deemed lazy young person and a burden to society, eating up their hard earned tax dollars.

And Canadian's are supposed to be overly polite?

**oheoh's momma** · 12-13-2011, 10:45 AM

My son went in to the bank well he had to use the bathroom before he done his business. Well my son works 2 jobs... He looked awful dirty from working outside she gave a very dirty look like are u gonna rob us or beg for change . he opened a checking account with 1600 and a saving account with 200. she helped him she asked what he did. he said well I work for an ambulance company 3 day a week 3 days a week I work demoloishing houses. he left she had a better attitude.

**peanut** · 12-13-2011, 11:03 AM

You know, the funny thing is, I don't think we really have all that much money. But the bank seems to think we do. I guess we just keep more in cash/liquid assets than most people? If the bank thinks we have more money than most of the people they see, maybe I should stop worrying about retirement. Because there will be a lot of people a lot worse off than us!

He was trying to tell us the difference between his bank and the other banks.

We just smiled and kept on going. He was telling us how friendly everyone was at his bank and the other bank were all 'suits'. Hmmm...funny, those 'suits' have most of our money because, well, they don't keep trying to shift us to low interest accounts all the time.

**heartofmine** · 12-13-2011, 11:30 AM

My son works at a bank. He is the assistant CFO. He's one of those "suits" LOL (and no I'm not upset or offended...LOL just thought it was funny) I just have to say that they are all just people too with the same worries as everyone else so I can see meeting up with one that is "cheap". We are low income and always have been. My son grew up well quite frankly...poor. Being frugal is how we made it...that and the grace of God. He worked hard to get his education so he wouldn't have to worry as much as we have. He is learning very quickly the difference in people. Some who make very large incomes and have 2 income homes but yet they barely make it because they also live big...bigger than even their large incomes. He has learned that just because they "look or act rich" doesn't mean they are. They are just living large and head over heels in debt. He has also mentioned people (no he doesn't tell us names) he's seen around who just looking at them you'd think they didn't have 2 nickles to rub together but had huge bank accounts. I guess it just goes to show that we instead of shouldn't...can't judge a book by its cover. Some of those covers can fool us.

**Spirit Deer** · 12-13-2011, 11:40 AM

We would be two of those people who have more than it looks like we have. We've never lived large and it's starting to pay off for us now, finally.

My husband works for the state and I stay home. My job is very part time. No large incomes here.

I've mentioned before about people being surprised to see us shopping at garage sales, because they know we live at the lake. How do they think we can afford to live at the lake?

**peanut** · 12-13-2011, 11:52 AM

SD: I cut myself off from garage sales.

I buy too much junk for the house. We have to de-clutter my garage sale finds.

**McD** · 12-13-2011, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by Libby

Frankly I'd have asked him why it was his concern if 'all' my money was with their company? We do get asked from time to time if we'd like to bring our 'other accounts' to be with them but we just keep saying 'No thanks' and thats the end of it.

It's his job to ask those questions. It's his job to sell the customer on his bank, his products, etc. If they don't ask and don't try to sell every customer, they can get in trouble.

**dcompton** · 12-13-2011, 12:30 PM

The reason they may ask if you would consider moving all your accounts to their bank is that they are required to, just as for a while all the checkers at my Kroger were required to ask if we wanted to apply for a Kroger's CC. They hated asking as much as I grew tired of being asked. But they were just doing what they were told they had to do.

Edited to add - I just saw McD beat me to this observation. I hadn't read through all the posts.

**Spirit Deer** · 12-13-2011, 12:43 PM

We didn't go to many sales last year, so less junk and less money spent, too. We've pretty much quit going to community sales and other large clutter-gathering events.

We don't browse online shopping sites much either, unless we have a specific need.

We don't look at clearance aisles too much at the local discount store anymore. We don't need anything and try to keep reminding ourselves of that constantly.

The new Goodwill opened here in September and we're having to be very careful not to buy too much there, too. Now that I have a decent yarn stash, I try not to buy stuff we don't have an immediate use for, and I'm also looking at it as a great opportunity to get rid of clutter in the form of donations. It's a lot more convenient to de-clutter than in the past so that's actually helping me.

We're doing better with our junk collecting than we were even three years ago, and far better than ten years ago. So for all the clutter collectors out there wanting to change, there's hope!

**shoiji** · 12-13-2011, 12:54 PM

My only thing about banks is that I would go in with a check asking for quarters. To many times the teller said she was out of quarters. One time I stated "I can't believe how lazy you are, can you ask the person next to you if she has any." Finally the last straw was when a different teller stated that they did not have any quarters and thankfully the manager was right there and I stated, "I can't believe every time I come in here no one has quarters." Since then I have never had any trouble getting quarters.

Guess the fact that I used to work at a bank and customer service was everything, I found it very irritating.

I am on disability and for whatever reason people will think I can still work and that I just do not want to work.

**peanut** · 12-13-2011, 02:00 PM

This banker was funny, and probably just doing his job. He used to work for a hotel and they'd pay him monthly. But he also made a healthy amount off tips. So he lived on his tips and didn't cash his paychecks until they were close to being outdated (six months). He said it drove payroll crazy! And the bank he took them to was like, 'are you into fraud or something?', because he'd take in 4 or 5 paychecks at once to be deposited.

**Ssindi** · 12-13-2011, 03:25 PM

People have always thought DH and I have lots more money than we actually have. We are just thrifty. I was a SAHM until DD was a senior in HS.
At payroll,I once mentioned all the deductions from my paycheck including savings and a tax shelter.A co-worker laughed and said she didn't make enough to save and fund a tax shelter. However,she had the lastest and greatest cell phone,smoked,and drank expensive liquor.
DH and I have been away twice this year and I went out of the country for ten days.Of course the rumor is again that we have money. They don't seem to get it that we are just thrifty.

**Incognito** · 12-13-2011, 03:58 PM

Hey peanut, that banker sure had a good saving-system!

I've saved like a squirrel for years, and constantly put away what I can, and take out only what I need, with a few exceptions. Over a period of years, this actually amounts to a tidy emergency fund, which I am now accessing as need be.

Typically, I don't look like a person that has money in savings. But that's because I don't follow the trend of people who are keeping up appearances at a tremendous cost to their financial state.
I am also careful to choose friends of good character and similar values, since I see so many egotistical and phony types of folks, who put on an act to impress others constantly, and live a double-life.

I prefer to be me, though sometimes that's hard when others mistreat me with snubs and petty persecutions. And when it comes right down to it, I think I can survive till retirement, even if I have to give up my phone, internet, present home (for a smaller apartment). I've learned how to survive in a lot of tough circumstances, and how to stand alone. I have no debts. It's been a free-ing and enlightening journey...one that has caused me to re-evaluate my priorities time and time again...and to count my blessings till I fall asleep at night in peace.

**Libby** · 12-13-2011, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by McD

It's his job to ask those questions. It's his job to sell the customer on his bank, his products, etc. If they don't ask and don't try to sell every customer, they can get in trouble.

Originally Posted by dcompton

The reason they may ask if you would consider moving all your accounts to their bank is that they are required to, just as for a while all the checkers at my Kroger were required to ask if we wanted to apply for a Kroger's CC. They hated asking as much as I grew tired of being asked. But they were just doing what they were told they had to do.

Edited to add - I just saw McD beat me to this observation. I hadn't read through all the posts.

I understand they have a job to do but some of the banks here are staffed with 'overly aggressive' people ie pushy sales people. I do not mind them doing their job in asking but when they start getting all uppity and into my business after I've politely said 'no thanks'- to me that is crossing the line entering into harassment. When the same questions were posed back to them, they got all persnickety. I accidentally found out that one of those high pressure sales people didn't even bank with the company they were working/recruiting for - odd no?

BTW: I'm a total believer in 'it doesn't hurt to ask'.