I bought my house because there was a double murder there

[toocheap?]

When I was looking to buy my house, there was a "good" area in town and a not so good area. The good area had better schools and property values seemed a lot more stable. The only problem was that the houses selling in this part of town were out of my price range. I had spent several months looking and even the run down houses were still more than I could afford.

So you can imagine my surprise when there was a new listing for a nice looking house that was well below of comparable houses in the area. I couldn't find anything that would dictate such a low price, so I asked what was wrong with it. That is when I found out there had recently been a double murder in the house and the owners wanted to sell it quickly. I didn't hesitate buying it. Am I too cheap?

[bjl584]

I know someone that bought a house that was supposedly haunted. They didn't get a discount on it though.

[disneysteve]

I've actually read other stories like this. Sometimes a house loses value for a reason that has nothing fundamental to do with the quality of the house itself. If you weren't bothered by the house's history, this was just seizing an opportunity.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

You were too cheap if your decision hurts someone. No one hurt?--No problem. Is there someone you think you may have hurt? Perhaps a sensitive child who knows about this murder and feels miserable having to live there? I don't know; you tell us.

[bjl584]

So far you have only posted microcosms of your behavior. I would like you to post your complete budget so we can have a look at it. Your income, a detailed listing of your expenses, and the value of your various investments. Lay it all out so we can determine if your behavior is necessary or really even worth it. Usually when people focus on minusa it's becasue they are missing the big picture. Penny wise pound foolish is a phrase that comes to mind.

I could engage in every single one of your behavioral patterns if I wanted to, but I don't. Mainly because I live well below my means now, and I save a large portion of my income. I don't really have to sweat the details too much. I can go to the grocery store and shop for things like bananas without having to worry about pre-peeling them, and I can take a longer shower after a hard day, and it doesn't really have any impact on my finances or on my quality of life. So lay it out and let's have a look at what's really going on with you.

[BuckyBadger]

For a truly long term plan, you should consider actually KILLING all of the people who live in your dream house. A triple or quadruple murder would be best. Make sure the deed is done in a particularly gruesome and news-worthy manner. Then just sit back and twiddle your thumbs until your dream house comes on the market at half it's proper value.

Savings galore!

[EEinNJ]

If part of the great deal was you had to replace blodd-stained carpets and wallpaper, then YES, you would be cheap.

I'm not generally superstitious, but the "karma" of a place like that would give me pause. Many years ago in my hometown a man killed his whole family and disappeared. The house sat empty for many years until one day it burned down, and eventually a new one was built. They eventually caught him from a tip on America's Most Wanted.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by bjl584

So far you have only posted microcosms of your behavior. I would like you to post your complete budget so we can have a look at it. Your income, a detailed listing of your expenses, and the value of your various investments. Lay it all out so we can determine if your behavior is necessary or really even worth it.

Good point. You are asking if certain behaviors are too cheap? We really can't answer that without knowing your situation. If you are flush with cash, investing plenty for retirement and just do these things to squeeze out every last penny, then some of what you've posted probably is too cheap. If, however, you are really struggling to get by, buried in deb, barely making ends meet, then anything you can do to save a buck should be on the table.

[EEinNJ]

I fell for this thread before I saw all the other nutty threads. I call TROLL!

I'm waiting for "I save money by recycling Beer" - if you know what I mean!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by EEinNJ

I fell for this thread before I saw all the other nutty threads. I call TROLL!

Whether OP is a troll or not, I think his threads have actually led to some worthwhile discussions. Sometimes the best way to get people talking is to lay out a really extreme concept and let everyone sound off.

[BuckyBadger]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Whether OP is a troll or not, I think his threads have actually led to some worthwhile discussions. Sometimes the best way to get people talking is to lay out a really extreme concept and let everyone sound off.

Really? What do you think was worthwhile? I'll give him the one on not knowing that you can use CostCo giftcards without having a membership. (Although amusingly enough, that thread probably got the fewest responses...) Stealing from supermarkets, peeing in the shower, and begging for used food at Chipotle don't really qualify for me.

Other than that I can't really think of anything that I'd call worthwhile.

Now, I'm not suggesting that I want him to stop posting! His threads are certainly interesting, and I'm really looking forward to his next. I about died laughing when I saw the title of THIS thread!

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Whether OP is a troll or not, I think his threads have actually led to some worthwhile discussions. Sometimes the best way to get people talking is to lay out a really extreme concept and let everyone sound off.

I agree. Troll or not, his threads have had the most activity out of anything else in weeks.

[BuckyBadger]

Originally Posted by bjl584

I agree. Troll or not, his threads have had the most activity out of anything else in weeks.

I would certainly agree with that! I was very worried when they got moved from Personal Finance to Q&A... I thought they were deleted!!

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by BuckyBadger

Really? What do you think was worthwhile?

All of these threads (except the Costco one) actually made me think back to my college days when I had a Sociology class and we had to do experiments on norms and mores and taboos. Each student had to design a project in which they broke some common societal "rule" and then had to report on how it went. I wouldn't be surprised to find out at some point that this person is actually just doing sociology homework by making these posts to gauge the reaction.

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by BuckyBadger

I would certainly agree with that! I was very worried when they got moved from Personal Finance to Q&A... I thought they were deleted!!

I wouldn't delete this stuff. It's priceless.

And I agree with Steve. We may all be guinea pigs in some sort of experiment/homework assignment.

[BuckyBadger]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

All of these threads (except the Costco one) actually made me think back to my college days when I had a Sociology class and we had to do experiments on norms and mores and taboos. Each student had to design a project in which they broke some common societal "rule" and then had to report on how it went. I wouldn't be surprised to find out at some point that this person is actually just doing sociology homework by making these posts to gauge the reaction.

Interesting...

What "rule" did you break? how did it go?

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by BuckyBadger

Interesting...

What "rule" did you break? how did it go?

Probably stuff like you see on tv. People acting strange in public, stuff like that. The MTV show "Jackass" comes to mind. Or that one guy Tom Greene that used to do all that weird stuff in public just to get a reaction.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by BuckyBadger

Interesting...

What "rule" did you break? how did it go?

I went to a sit-down restaurant and stood and ate my meal at the table. I got some strange looks but not a single person said anything or asked why I was doing it. Some were murmuring about it to the people they were with. It probably made me more uncomfortable than it made them, which was part of the point of the assignment as well - how does breaking social norms make us feel.

[jeffrey]

This brings up an interesting question -- what other type of things depress a home's value that could help you get a good deal? A murder in the house obviouly would. I know that homes close to graveyards often don't sell as well as ones away from them. Would supposed paranormal activity do it? Simple rumors?

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by jeffrey

This brings up an interesting question -- what other type of things depress a home's value that could help you get a good deal? A murder in the house obviouly would. I know that homes close to graveyards often don't sell as well as ones away from them. Would supposed paranormal activity do it? Simple rumors?

Houses close to airports, powerlines, highways, and other public works projects. There is a whole section of homes on one side of my town with depressed values because it is a proposed route of a highway.