A contractor came into the house to receive the final payment for a hefty home improvement project he had just completed. We had saved for this project for two years and therefore had the cash on hand to pay for it in full.
But without any prompting whatsoever, the contractor offered us a steep discount for the work he had done. We tried to argue that we could afford to pay for the project and were more than pleased with the final results, but he would have none of it and insisted on giving us the discount. After he left, we were baffled by (and grateful for) this act of generosity.
But the question arose, why was this discount offered in the first place? There was no need for it. We had the money for the project. "Do we look poor?" I asked Don rhetorically.
At this, he laughed. "Of course we look poor," he chuckled.
This actually startled me, because I don't think we do. Certainly I feel very, very rich. We have no debt, and live in a comfortable home with everything we need.
But then I looked around our house and tried to see it with a stranger's eyes. Nearly everything we own is either thrifted, inherited, or built by Don. The most noticeable "flex" is our books, 99% of which were purchased second-hand at library sales or used bookstores. When this person walked into the house, I had clothes drying on our indoor clothes racks and a cooking project in the works. There was no television in sight (we haven't owned one since about 1993), and the only visible electronics were our respective computers. The house was tidy and neat, without clutter.
In my eyes, our home is comfortable and inviting. I feel very, very rich. But to the contractor (who sees many houses), we must have looked like we were struggling financially, and felt prompted to offer the discount.
So, unexpectedly, we were left with more cash in hand than we anticipated at the conclusion of the project. To this end, we decided to ... well, never mind. The left hand shouldn't know what the right hand is doing.
Love your writing. I 'look' poor as well. I'm in senior housing run as a 'missions' program through a local church. Clothes from the thrift or a big purchase at Walmart on sale. Drive a 21 year old car. Don't eat out or buy coffee out. Grow veggies in my little backyard patio area. To my neighbors, I'm sure I look poor. But I'm loving my debt free retirement life.
ReplyDeleteCheers, SJ now in California
You live in a manufactured home, right?
ReplyDeleteYes, although it has as 20x20 stick-built extension.
Delete- Patrice
I look poor too. I live in a small town, own an old house built in 1940, and drive 2 older vehicles (a car and truck), I despise new automobiles that are manufactured these days. I'm not looking to keep up with the Jones'. I'm single and have a quiet life, just the way I like it. It's me and the cat, and we're not complaining.
ReplyDeleteHe may have felt the Lord leading him to bless someone, and you were the recipient of that blessing.
ReplyDeleteIt’s all relative. Someone who goes into a lot of homes, like that man does, would compare your abode to that of what he normally sees and think “poor” when you are “thrifty”.
ReplyDeleteThe blessings he'll get for his generosity might not depend on whether you actually needed it.
ReplyDeleteI love that you have a piano. Too few people have music in their homes
I thank the Lord for running water, a roof and heat or AC, depending on the season. Whether I “look” poor is irrelevant, I am blessed.
ReplyDeleteI liked the response that you are not poor you are thrifty. Both cars we own are 8 and 12 years old were bought used and paid for with cash. We will continue to run them until we leave this earth. Even if someone wanted to give me a new vehicle I would refuse as I do not need a computer on wheels. We have been retired for a number of years now and are both getting infirm (the result of making it to 82) and do not do much of anything anymore. I read a lot (kindle on the computer with large type) and watch the TV news. I also read a nice newsletter from a rural north Idaho housewife!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was a cash discount. (since he didn't have to pay a credit card processing fee?)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking that too.
DeleteNot only cash, but also in hand at the end of the job - no waiting to get paid, which is a HUGE issue for small contractors.
Additionally, and common though not legal, he has the option of reporting how much he got paid - there is no paper trail.
Jonathan
You both treated him as a human being, welcomed him, offered him hospitality while he worked. Normal for you both and my husband and I. Rare for people who work for people to experience nowadays. You didn't ask for more or look down on him.
ReplyDeleteYou also paid cash so he didn't have to pay a percentage to credit card companies to process the payment.
Maybe he is a Christian or maybe he was drawn to your light. We run into that at the grocery store. Employees want to talk because we treat them courteously, like human beings.
I have a relative who makes contractors miserable because no matter how hard they work and no matter how big the job he complains to no end and tries to negotiate down to even nothing. And it has often worked. They tend to never work for him again.
DeleteAnd then there are the lawsuits. He will also sue over nothing stuff, especially if there's insurance involved, and he's really just looking for an easy " settlement". Free $.
Then on top of all of that he'll brag about his malfeasance. And how much $ he got.
Easy going people who pay their bills aren't the norm nowadays.
Those of us who do deserve a break. Part of our bills are to pay for people who avoid paying theirs.
I didn't know you were a relative of Donald Trump.
DeleteMutual respect. You work with your hands and so does he. He respects your lifestyle.
ReplyDelete1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
"and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."
I would like to suggest you "pay it forward" and use the money saved by the discount to bless some truely needy family/person. the world would be a much better place if everyone would pass on the kindness others have shown them.
ReplyDeleteLeft hand right hand....
Delete- Patrice
Maybe it wasn't because you look poor. It could have been due to the cash payment. The project may have gone more quickly and easily than he expected. And undoubtedly you and Don were pleasant, polite people, easy to work with, so he might have simply been feeling charitable. Based on the pictures I have seen over many years of following you, you don't look poor.
ReplyDeleteThis made me think of a card from a deck of 'emergency affirmations' designed to be fun and tongue-in-cheek. It says "I am rich in all the areas of life that actual rich people would laugh at." XD
ReplyDeleteIf you are in the financial category of 'poor', you are in good company with a majority of folks who are struggling these days. May we all be blessed with kindness and bless others in return.
God instructs us to give to others. Most times, it makes no sense why so we blindly follow his direction. It has nothing to "do with you", it is purely following God's direction. Enjoy the blessing.
ReplyDeleteI'd agree with the cash discount. I know many small business owners that accept less money if they are paid in full with cash after a job is finished. It's so rare that people can pay the full amount in cash anymore. We have had work done on vehicles before and ended up paying way less than quoted at the end because we could pay the full amount in cash on the spot. It also could be because of your age, often times small business owners will charge older people less for work being done because they assume they are on a limited budget due to social security. And I get that you don't think you are old, but it appears that once you hit about age 45 and are older than a lot of employees places enploy, they assume you are old and treat you accordingly.
ReplyDeleteNobody gives discount because someone looks poor. Maybe it was cash discount, as suggested, or maybe he ALWAYS overprices a bit, just in case, and then gives discount to make people really happy.
ReplyDeleteHere in northern Europe you cannot tell by looks how much money country people have. Everybody looks like they live under bridge, because that is what happens when you work with animals and tractors and such. So I very strongly believe he didn't think you were poor.