Great story! Quote from the AP: BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) — A man who sometimes held his coat together with safety pins and had a long-time habit of foraging for firewood also had a knack for picking stocks.... Full story: http://news.yahoo.com/man-lived-modestly-leaves-millions-surprise-donations-135358404.html
I love stories like that. I've often heard one of an older gentleman at a car dealership. Dressed frugally and no one really wanted to help him. Finally got help and bought the car with cash.
Reminds me of the old prospector that went into a car dealer in Timmins Ontario back in the 60's to buy a new car. Because of his shabby clothes and appearance the dealership called the man's bank to see if he could afford the car. The bank manager told them to sell him any car he wanted as he could easily buy the entire dealership.
Try the one Clemsonfor posted earlier today in another thread. http://firewoodhoardersclub.com/for...story-of-another-scrounger.10331/#post-260271
Got a good one for you. Have a friend (Jimmy Marx) who won on a "Win for Life" scratch off ticket here in Glenville NY. Bought at the Stewart's down the road about 3 years ago. I am not telling tales out of school you can read the story in The Daily Gazette, Schenectady NY they do a Living article every Sunday. He never changed who he was or who he is. Took the lump sum payment of 4.2 million. He and his wife still work their full time jobs, he still drives the 7 year old Ford pick up, lives in the same house and the only thing he has done was to build a 3 car garage on his property "his man cave" and paid off his children's student loans. Talk about down to earth. Then we have a nut job (? Riggi) in Saratoga NY who almost got a Reality show on T.V. who has countless dogs with a heated backyard lawn so they don't freeze their paws and bedrooms for the dogs in her mansion. Maybe too much money and too little brain, I don't know you tell me.
A guy I know named Ken sold Dodge cars for years. One day a farmer came in looking kinda rough and the sales guys on point and floor wouldn't go out to greet him. Ken went out to talk, and the guy asked a couple of questions and took a few minutes looking at the cars. Ken asked if he'd take a test drive, and the farmer declined. The farmer asked him if he had any colors other than the blue one they were looking at. Ken said "sure, we have red, green, silver, white...". The farmer said "I'll take the blue one and the silver one". Of course Ken was floored, and he went on to ask about payment. Financing, cashier's check, etc. The farmer said he'd go and get the payment - and proceeded to go to his car trunk and start counting cash. By that point 15 minutes had passed and Ken had been out there alone with the farmer the whole time. He said it was really fun to walk back in to the dealership with wads of cash to get two sets of car keys. At least that's how Ken's story goes - after all he was a car salesman.
Had a lad in this area win 50 million about 3 years ago. He was a log truck driver for one of the local family owned companies for 25+ years, and a bachelor. He quit work, gave his fellow workers some. Then he bought himself a new pick up and finished the reno on his family homestead. Other than that he takes the occasional hunting trip to some great place. Still lives day to day just like he used to.
"People need to realize looks don't make a man!" This. Walked into an appliance store several years ago with several hundred dollars in my pocket. Couldn't talk anyone into selling me a microwave or a tv because I was still grimy from the factory. That store isn't there anymore.
Went to a Harley dealer years ago after work one day. Had called earlier cause I needed a part. They wouldn't give me the time of day at the service counter. Finally I started blowing the air horn they had set up. After the guy at the service counter said I don't think we have the part I got even more mad. I had to show the parts guy in the manual what the part was. Another 20 minutes later he found it. Said it was 3 times what the guy on the phone told me it was. I told him a little loud that I would beg, borrow, cheat or steal the part before I bought it or anything else from them for that matter.
I have a very good friend who many do not understand. He would walk around in rags if it weren't for his wife. He doesn't mind making do. Even during the winter months, all he wears are the yellow fuzzy gloves (cheap) and as they get holes, he tapes the holes so they will last longer. One day we were going through his woods and we had to stop and cut a tree that had fallen on the trail. I could hardly believe how poorly his saw was cutting that little thing. But when he got done, I took the saw and looked at the chain. I'd be really afraid to run that for fear that chain would come apart at any time. And there was not enough tooth left to allow for another filing. He hoards junk or whatever. Hates to see things not kept. As you might guess, he was a farmer. He and I lived about a mile apart and have been friends since childhood. Then there is the matter of trucks. His wife just retired and she has 2 new pickup trucks. He drives an old clunker. But, he is happy and I am happy for him.
