Since early 2021 we’ve been hit with massive inflation extremely high energy costs and what appears to be greed all around and grift and fraud.
Suffice it to say our money gets less bang for the buck.
Buying breakfast and lunch commuting in needing more and new shoes and clothes is destroying me.
I need a $5-10k raise to survive here in Massachusetts
And this new ft rto is ki-ling me I need one day a week where I do not need to commute in. I need that humanity humane time to get through this.
This is absurd just because Jamie dimon thought he was tough guy back then forcing his workers back in.
I really thought Fidelity was a step above.
Well I could not have been more incorrect.
15 replies (most recent on top)
I was once in a meeting with the head of my department and he openly said that he didn’t understand why people were complaining about comp. He said “everyone makes at least $90k in this group”. The dum--ss was talking about total comp like that’s the money people were actually making. The truth is even licensed reps were making $45k.
They’re not playing d-mb, they just don’t care.
@k6 I worked with someone not from the USA at Fido who used to make fun of the car I drive(used compact car). Of course he drove the newest bmw and upgraded his phone every year. Years later I ran into him and he was surprised to find out I took the VBO and retired despite being in my 50s, I said - yes now maybe you understand why I drove that car and didn't give into the consumerism you seemed to embrace.
Stop acting so entitled. Bring your own food to the office. Buy your shoes off of the clearance rack.
@jg, We have been listening to Dave Ramsey since I don't remember when (a few decades, I think). The need to save and spend wisely should be taught in the home and in school). Anyway, Dave Ramsey teaches to live below your means and keep a 6 month emergency savings in the bank among other things. I took the second VBO at 55 years old. I started there in the mid 80s when times were good, but I rarely bought meals in the cafeteria. I brought a banana or yogurt for breakfast, some nuts to snack on, and either a sandwich or something to heat up in the microwave. I buy new cars and keep up the maintenance and keep then for 15 years. I buy clothes and shoes on sale (I couldn't care less about brand names). As the previous person said, I also don't run out and get the latest phone or gadgets. I don't like eating out, I prefer my own cooking. I'm wondering if these concepts have been lost? But I do understand we are all under economic pressure now. Perhaps I'm just lucky to have been born when I was?
@jg+1m2qt6y45 - We cut cable and most streaming services. Took out a somewhat low fixed rate personal loan to consolidate and pay down credit card debt which is unending with a family of four. I don’t buy new clothes ever. We need another car but can’t make that happen. We never eat out and if we rarely order take out, we go get it rather than paying for DoorDash fees. And we go to Aldis a lot too. I hate my job but have no choice but to su-k it up and allow upper management to reduce my quality of life (their goal) since I can’t leave. I don’t get how they can sleep at night.
Yes, all the people who aren’t part of the wealthy class are struggling. In the short term, we have to look at every penny we spend and cut things we can. We have to pay the rent, utilities and so forth. I’ve cut back on eating out (including eating breakfast at home and taking lunch to work). I don’t upgrade phones, etc. when the things I have still work - and I found an unlimited phone plan for about $12/month. I feel like saving money has become a second full time job. Yes, it is stressful but hopefully it will see me through until I find a better job elsewhere and things get better.
I’d love to hear about things others are doing to get by.
@ew that is sick. slow clap of disgusted respect.
Abby will lead us all off the top of the mandarin oriental
How low of a demonic vessel do you have to be, to sit here and write about how you find happiness in being an emotional vampire, feeding off of people's misery.
You are literally possessed by satan.
You need Jesus Christ.
Ask Him into your heart and mind now.
Ask for healing and guidance.
You need to connect with God's love.
I haven't bought new clothes or shoes since 2018. Enjoying life is overrated. I know that most of you come here to vent or say things that are outside of your control, but think of the flip side, for those of us who like to be miserable, reading about others misery first hand is treat in itself.
That's how I find my happiness. 🙂
ge-z, I've seen this post....like a hundred times....boring.
Don't rely on just passive "hope" that things will get better, when you can see with your own eyes and daily experience that things are getting worse, with no end in sight.
Trust your intuition, and get a new job somewhere else.
Honestly figure out what your priorities really are, so in your next role, you get it for yourself.
Shorter commute?
F/T remote? (with or without the goal of moving somewhere with a lower COL)
At least 20% more pay?
Better benefits?
Just less stress overall, maybe compromise by settling for less pay for a truly 8 & Skate/Leave work at the office situation?
I agree with the other poster about clothes and making your own food to bring in, rather than buying lunch. Set aside some time on the weekend to cook up or prep different ingredients, then you have them all ready to go in the fridge, to mix & match all week, in a container to bring in to work. If you have different bowls of ingredients ready in your fridge, you just need to scoop out different variations to mix together each morning before you leave! Have big bowls of basics ready, such as: ground beef, roasted (or deli meat) chicken, veggies, shredded cheese, cooked pasta/cous-cous/mashed potatoes, and lots of good condiments, sauces, spices, etc. Always have bread or rolls ready, too.
That way it's easier and faster to quickly put together a salad, or veggie/meat bowl, or a sandwich before you leave or the night before.
Clothes: try thrift stores. Try other places besides the biggies (Goodwill, Savers, etc.)
Here:
https://thriftshopfinder.com/thrift-stores/massachusetts
&
https://mylocalthriftstore.com/locations/massachusetts
You can do this!
Both great posts thank you o keep hoping there’ll be some reasonable and modest changes. If not yea I’m looking elsewhere. May not have the prestige name less match on retirement or HSA but sacrifices need to be made for a balance I guess.
I feel for you. I’d say we are all in this together but that doesn’t soften the blow. Just remember you aren’t alone and I bet 85-90% of the company feels the exact same way.
When we don’t report record profits next year, maybe they will link associate happiness to the overall success of the firm.
Fidelity has and will continue follow what everone else does. For a whie leadership wanted to shed perception of being your grandparent's financial instituion and attract young investors and hire young talent, but over time we've seen you can't teach an old dog new tricks. They find small ways to differentiate from the competition but on the whole whatever everyone else does is the barometer. On the bright side they're very predictable for whatever that's worth.
Do you what you want, but for me I'm not buying food there and havn't in many years... i bring my own. I know it takes more time out of your day to prep but if you want to save money and not give them another way to make money from you it's an option. Same with the clothes -- whatever i would wear at home is what i wear to the office. Never had an issue.
As for the cost of living in MA and gas prices, that's a separate issue but i undersand related with a daily commute now. Not sure what to tell you there except start looking for a different employer closer to home or with more flexable work options, and/or consider leaving the state. I know it's not easy, I'm actively working on both. Even without Fidelity in the picture living in MA is insane, but do what makes sense for your family work and living wise and at the very least I can't see paying for Flik, special clothes etc. I figure if it was important enough to the company they'd have a way to track and report on it like everything else. So until they start sending me home to change or enforcing catefeteria spending I'm not participating.