Leaning against our respective cubicle walls, chatting 10 minutes to close about what we’re having for dinner tonight.
“I don’t know, I’m thinking grilled cheese or something.”
“Oh, that sounds so good. Are you gonna make it?”
“Well... yeah. Who else is gonna make it?”
“Well there’s that place down the road—”
“Right, those melts you brought in for us before.”
“So good.”
“Oh definitely. But trying not to eat out. Already spent four bucks at the gas station on for lunch, a cold corn dog and a drink. Kind of at my spending limit for the day.”
[two seconds of silence]
“... You are the most frugal person I have ever met.”
What can I say? I’m on an incentive based pay system, so when times are slow, I make less, and spend less. And when I project slow times coming, I also spend less in anticipation of that. To me, that just seems responsible. But perhaps I’m just a joyless man 🤔