Obnoxious Coworker Blathering About My Addition

[Anonymous]

So my wife and I are putting a second story on our house. It's a huge expensive PITA ordeal but it is what it is as we are currently a family of 5 with two dogs and two cats stuffed into a 1930s 3 bed/ 1.5 bath Tudor.

I made the huge mistake of mentioning this to a colleague that lives on gossip. Literally not a single day goes by without him making a snide, snarky, borderline harassing remark about the costs of X and 'It must be nice to build a mansion' and "Oh, only if we all had your money" and "Where are you send the kids to school now? Exeter or Lawrenceville?"

Keep in mind- this is a run of the mill, middle of the road 400k addition.

I have not taken the bait yet but I'm about to unload on him.

Do I document the harassment and bring to HR or do I pull him into the parking lot and tell him if he makes one more quip, I'm going to beat his old fat ass.

I want to do the later but I know he'd consider that a victory.

[Anonymous]

I'd probably take the middle road and ask him why he feels the need to mention your addition and finances on a regular basis and then ask him to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So my wife and I are putting a second story on our house. It's a huge expensive PITA ordeal but it is what it is as we are currently a family of 5 with two dogs and two cats stuffed into a 1930s 3 bed/ 1.5 bath Tudor.

I made the huge mistake of mentioning this to a colleague that lives on gossip. Literally not a single day goes by without him making a snide, snarky, borderline harassing remark about the costs of X and 'It must be nice to build a mansion' and "Oh, only if we all had your money" and "Where are you send the kids to school now? Exeter or Lawrenceville?"

Keep in mind- this is a run of the mill, middle of the road 400k addition.

I have not taken the bait yet but I'm about to unload on him.

Do I document the harassment and bring to HR or do I pull him into the parking lot and tell him if he makes one more quip, I'm going to beat his old fat ass.

I want to do the later but I know he'd consider that a victory.

LOL, only on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

He wants to know how you’re paying for it so he can judge you and feel better about himself. Sounds like a very petty person. I bet your spouse is better looking than theirs too.

[Anonymous]

"Why are you obsessed with my addition?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So my wife and I are putting a second story on our house. It's a huge expensive PITA ordeal but it is what it is as we are currently a family of 5 with two dogs and two cats stuffed into a 1930s 3 bed/ 1.5 bath Tudor.

I made the huge mistake of mentioning this to a colleague that lives on gossip. Literally not a single day goes by without him making a snide, snarky, borderline harassing remark about the costs of X and 'It must be nice to build a mansion' and "Oh, only if we all had your money" and "Where are you send the kids to school now? Exeter or Lawrenceville?"

Keep in mind- this is a run of the mill, middle of the road 400k addition.

I have not taken the bait yet but I'm about to unload on him.

Do I document the harassment and bring to HR or do I pull him into the parking lot and tell him if he makes one more quip, I'm going to beat his old fat ass.

I want to do the later but I know he'd consider that a victory.

LOL, only on DCUM.

In my neck of the woods, there are no additions below half a mil. OP is doing well. Go away.

[Anonymous]

You are going to threaten to assault him for snarky commentary? How old are you? Most middle schoolers don’t have a spouse and kids.

[Anonymous]

$400k on top of the house price means you are very wealthy.

[Anonymous]

"It's amusing how insecure you are about this, Frank."

"Yes, I'm building a mansion just to hear how envious you are every day."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$400k on top of the house price means you are very wealthy.

And does that justify getting remarks every day? Would you like that?

[Anonymous]

Going to HR to report the so-called harassment is silly. You knew he was a gossip when you told him, so part of me thinks you wanted him to repeat it, and you are secretly enjoying the envy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$400k on top of the house price means you are very wealthy.

Not really, realistically speaking. It’s not much different than buying a bigger house. Except op probably originally bought their home years ago and has a low mortgage with a low interest rate. So the $400k addition means they keep the original low mortgage and get a bigger house for less than it would cost to move up to a bigger home.

[Anonymous]

He sounds really obnoxious. I’d probably just ignore/freeze out. He’s trying to get a reaction.

[Anonymous]

I’m always amazed by how dcum people think a snarky comment or a full insane meltdown is the right response.

Be a grown up!

Say, “Frank, your comments about my house are making me uncomfortable. I regret sharing about it. Can we agree not to discuss it any more?”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$400k on top of the house price means you are very wealthy.

Not really, realistically speaking. It’s not much different than buying a bigger house. Except op probably originally bought their home years ago and has a low mortgage with a low interest rate. So the $400k addition means they keep the original low mortgage and get a bigger house for less than it would cost to move up to a bigger home.

yep. it’s pretty normal. we bought at 700k 10 years ago and could now afford a 1.1 mil home if we sold. By doing an addition instead OP is financing a smaller %% at the higher interest rates and avoiding moving/closing costs. And presumably likes their current neighborhood and schools.