Comments on: A Frustrating Lunch Encounter

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:38:02 +0000

@Golfing Girl: Well said. I guess I’m still waiting for my next best student to come along.

@Lora: Good thinking… you never know, maybe someone else did hear…

@Roger: Essentially that he needed to carefully check all of the details of the deal, I offered to help if he was interested, and that giving up the $500 in earnest money would be nothing next to the thousands lost on the mortgage.

By: Barbaric Links: Debt Edition | The Corporate Barbarian Blog

Barbaric Links: Debt Edition | The Corporate Barbarian Blog — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:33:16 +0000

[...] Kevin at No Debt Plan shares his frustrating lunch encounter; [...]

By: Roger

Roger — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:28:11 +0000

That’s… disturbing, to say the least. What advice did you end up giving him?

By: LoraPapineau

LoraPapineau — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:33:38 +0000

Yup…people are weird. They never listen to other people’s advice or past experience. Yet I still give out free advice, in hopes someone else over hears it

By: Golfing Girl

Golfing Girl — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:33:31 +0000

Kevin,
You’re in the boat as all of us who receive money for professional advice. (I give golf lessons so it applies to me too.) Basically, some will listen, some won’t, and all you can do is keep giving the best advice you can and enjoy the fruits of your labor when someone really listens and appreciates your help.

I put up with the students who’ve played for 20 years and have reinforced those bad habits so long it’s almost impossible to break them. It’s all worth it when the next student listens, tries to apply what I’ve shared, and is then able to hit the best shot they’ve ever hit. You take the good with the bad and remember you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink the knowledge you’re providing.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:36:16 +0000

@Trevor: I wouldn’t say crazy. I would say average American. Unfortunate.

@Christina: Great perspective. I never thought about being a college adviser, but I can see how it would be similar. Watching people make life changing mistakes is hard.

@Matt: Yea you’ve got to watch the “I told you so!”… tough.

@Corporate Barbarian: He didn’t necessarily ask, I sort of offered. Was trying not to be too forward/pushy.

By: Corporate Barbarian

Corporate Barbarian — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 13:53:52 +0000

I wonder why people ask for advice AFTER they’ve already committed to something. I wonder if they’re asking for forgiveness rather than advice.

By: Matt SF

Matt SF — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:57:59 +0000

It’s one thing to be a good friend and try to indirectly offer the correct advice, but it’s also hard to hold back the “I Told You So” after they stick their finger in the proverbial electrical outlet.

However, such a jolt is exactly the lesson they need to prevent such screw ups in the future.

By: Christina @ Northern Cheapskate

Christina @ Northern Cheapskate — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 18:51:25 +0000

I used to be an academic adviser at a community college… you learn fast that you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. All you can do is share what you know with people and give them all the tools you can. It’s up to the other person to take some personal responsibility.

It also made me realize how much doctors are also like advisers… they have a lot of education and training and they can diagnose and treat things, but so much of what they do is advising: quit smoking, diet, exercise, reduce stress, etc. I’m sure they get frustrated, too!

As for your friend’s situation… hearing these stories always makes me hyperventilate! Didn’t read the contract till after he signed it. ACCCK!

By: Trevor @ Financial Nut

Trevor @ Financial Nut — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:24:51 +0000

“He said he and his wife had just signed a contract to purchase a new home under construction. Yet he mentioned he didnâ€™t really read the details of the contract until the following night.”

HOLY CRAP! Is this guy crazy?!