An Australian man learned that hiding approximately $15,000 in cash in his oven was not the best idea after the money ended up getting baked on accident, according to a Friday report.
Yahoo.com said the man sold his car and placed the money, which was put aside for his mortgage and other bills, in his oven because it was barely used.
His wife preheated the oven to make chicken nuggets for their children that day and the cash was baked, according to the article.
The man said the money, which became a damaged mess, was everything he had and his wife was reportedly equally distraught.
Yahoo.com said the man reached out to a bank and his lender for help.
Yes, he's an idiot, but I feel bad for him. I don't know the stats for Australia, but in the US:
- 7.7% of people don't have a checking or a savings account.
Of these, 1/3 don't have enough extra money at any one time to feel they could open an account and keep it open.
20% of folks making less than $30k/yr are unbanked, as are 20% of African Americans and Hispanics, and 25% of those w/o a hs diploma (those are likely not independent variables. likley lots of overlap in those characteristics)
- 18% of americans have used payday loans and other predatory places in the last 5 yrs (1 in 5! That's stunningly high for something that is such a stunningly bad deal)
The cycle of poverty bites. It's ridiculous that there isn't mandatory substantive personal finance instruction in all high schools.
Poor guy, as for the people calling hi an idiot, way to kick someone while they're down, you've never made mistakes? The oven was barely used, thought he was keeping it safe, now the poor guy cant pay his mortage and bills, plus hes got a wife and kids, they must be so distraught right now.
Quoting LucyHarper:Poor guy, as for the people calling hi an idiot, way to kick someone while their down, you've never made mistakes? The oven was barely used, thought he was keeping it safe, now the poor guy cant pay his mortage and bills, plus hes got a wife and kids, they must be so distraught right now.
If we called him an idiot in a venue he would be aware of, this could constitute kicking him when he's down. And no, storing money in a place meant to cook things, without telling anyone who might use it to cook things, is stupid. As would be leaving it in your car. Or carrying it around with you. I think it's ok to label stupid actions stupid amongst strangers reviewing it in a venue not at all likely to be known to the person in question. The fact that they are distraught doesn't make it less stupid, or make them more likely to learn of our labeling.
If I leave $15k in my oven, regardless of whether it gets burnt, feel free to call me an idiot.
That's really sad for them!
On a funny note, earlier this year my sister put a plastic bakery box in the oven to get it out of the way...she needed the counter space or something. She wasn't planning on baking at that point, but later in the day she'd completely forgot the box was there and preheated the oven....there goes the cupcakes!
When is it not okay?
- steveiguana
on Jul. 28, 2012 at 3:41 PM