Being Greedy....

[SANDRO43]

Are the gas and electric meters not read monthly?

Maybe it works like here. Meters are read once-twice/year, bills are bimonthly and based on an estimated monthly usage, adjusted if we communicate by phone/via Internet our current meter readings.

Readings used to be monthly once, when they could rely on finding someone at home most of the times to open the door and give them physical access to the in-house meter. Some 20 years ago they started installing all condo meters in basements, to provide them with a single access point.

I was just notified by my power company that they will shortly replace my 50 y.o. meter with a new 'electronic' one that'll provide them with readings automatically at each billing cycle. Big Electric Brother is going to watch me closely in the future . 

[JR]

The ugliest wife behaviour I can ever think of ...

It should be enough to send her back home.

If she wants expensive shoes, she should be able to buy them with her own money, that she either saved from her working life in Russia, or earned from her employment in the U.S.

If she is not able to earn money, she should be content with the budget that her husband, the earner, has estimated.

That was her on a "not so bad day"

I should have send her home.....many times. I just don't seem to know when to quit. But I have learned.

She didn't really work, I paid for everything. I don't think I'll be doing that again.

[Aloe]

????

We are missing something.

I can understand that your car insurance would cost a lot with a RW driver.    Are the gas and electric meters not read monthly?

no, apparently they are not read monthly. You have to pay every month some amount of money you choose thats above minimum, and in the end of the year they calculate if you paid enough or not, and then you have to pay more if you didnt. I read about this on russians in belgium forums too.

[mies]

Алое - эти рассуждения звучат как-бы по-детски. Прожив хотя бы год в новом месте, я отлично представляю себе во сколько обходится потребляемые мною электроэнергия и газ - в том числе учитывая сезонные колебания. Как и все остальные расходы. Если в квартире появляется еще один человек - потребление нужно увеличить примерно в 1.5-2 раза. Нет никакой необходимости "жить в неведении и дрожать" весь год ожидая счетов "на тысячи евро".
Потому повторюсь - Вы уверенны что то что Вам говорит муж соответствует действительности и он не знает сколько ежемесячно нужно платить по счетам (в среднем)? Или он просто пытается вас таким способом (не очень умным) "приучить" к бережливости? Если он знает, но умышленно убеждает Вас в том что не знает размеры этой статьи расходов - это очень странно. Так ведут себя люди которые хотят держать бюджет в тайне. Какие у них мотивы - это следующий вопрос.
Если же он действительно до сих пор не знает на сколько же он денег потребляет электричества за год - то это значит что у него не очень хорошо идет бюджетирование. И тем более - вам нужно вникать во все детали и брать дела в свои руки.

[kievstar]

Belgium allows you to pay your past years monthly utility rate and than true it up later.  Meaning if usage and price goes up you can get hit with a bill.  You can also get a refund but usually no since Belgium has a government law where employees get mandatory wage increases based on certain indexes.  This year it was over 4% for wage increases which means the utility companies will need to pass on the additional costs.

Car insurance gets adjusted periodically as well but if you have a ticket or accident or add a driver you will get hit with a future bill. 

However utility costs and car insurance is cheap in Belgium so should not be more than 2,000 euro surprise unless someone is doing cash budgeting instead of accrual based budgeted. 

[mies]

thank you for explaining. This is more or less how i imagined the situation.
The $2'000 "adjustment/surprise bill" sounds quite large to me. Maybe electricity is in fact expensive in Belgium. I am saving energy, and try not to use AC whenever possible. Our total annual payment for electricity in USA is much less than $2'000. Also, my guess is that electricity bill depends on the size of the apartment. If Aloe's husband has modest income - so modest that electricity bill is a significant part of income - then I assume their dwelling isn't too big. Hence - the electricity bill should not be too high either.

[Aloe]

Алое - эти рассуждения звучат как-бы по-детски. Прожив хотя бы год в новом месте, я отлично представляю себе во сколько обходится потребляемые мною электроэнергия и газ - в том числе учитывая сезонные колебания. Как и все остальные расходы. Если в квартире появляется еще один человек - потребление нужно увеличить примерно в 1.5-2 раза. Нет никакой необходимости "жить в неведении и дрожать" весь год ожидая счетов "на тысячи евро".
Потому повторюсь - Вы уверенны что то что Вам говорит муж соответствует действительности и он не знает сколько ежемесячно нужно платить по счетам (в среднем)? Или он просто пытается вас таким способом (не очень умным) "приучить" к бережливости? Если он знает, но умышленно убеждает Вас в том что не знает размеры этой статьи расходов - это очень странно. Так ведут себя люди которые хотят держать бюджет в тайне. Какие у них мотивы - это следующий вопрос.
Если же он действительно до сих пор не знает на сколько же он денег потребляет электричества за год - то это значит что у него не очень хорошо идет бюджетирование. И тем более - вам нужно вникать во все детали и брать дела в свои руки.

Он жил с родителями до этого, переехал в отдельную квартиру только за неделю до моего приезда, поэтому совершенно без понятия на сколько нам предъявят счет ) Его боссу вон предъявили на 4 тысячи евро счет, но у него маленький ребенок и дом 3 спальный, у нас 3-х комнатная квартира, но у нас дверей и окон в потолке дофига, из-под дверей дует по самое не балуйся, насчет окон не знаю, насколько хорошо они изолируют, но учитывая, что они в потолке, я даже не знаю.. Так что, мне кажется, много денег на отопление уйдет.

[kievstar]

Aloe, based on what you wrote above you may want to call the utility company and get them to give you an accurate reading.  Good news you should get a nice breeze during the summer.

[Aloe]

Aloe, based on what you wrote above you may want to call the utility company and get them to give you an accurate reading.  Good news you should get a nice breeze during the summer.

it's ok i guess, we need to have some rainy day money anyway, in case our crappy old car breaks down, or who knows what

[mies]

Он жил с родителями до этого, переехал в отдельную квартиру только за неделю до моего приезда, поэтому совершенно без понятия на сколько нам предъявят счет ) Его боссу вон предъявили на 4 тысячи евро счет, но у него маленький ребенок и дом 3 спальный, у нас 3-х комнатная квартира, но у нас дверей и окон в потолке дофига, из-под дверей дует по самое не балуйся, насчет окон не знаю, насколько хорошо они изолируют, но учитывая, что они в потолке, я даже не знаю.. Так что, мне кажется, много денег на отопление уйдет.

в таком случае - приношу извинения за свою излишнюю подозрительность :-)

 

[kens1958]

JollyRats,
Thank you for starting this thread.... I read about the idea of Greedy before I went to Ukraine.... but this thread has helped me tremendously in understanding some of the potential pitfalls when in a relationship with a RW...
Funny side note.... My business partner who was a confirmed bachelor until he met his RW ..... went for quite a financial ride as his new bride became accustom to American ways..... finally after 10 years and LOTS of money ... she understands better how to live and survive in America..

[CanadaMan]

Greedy = Stingy

I was giving thought to this the past day or so. I used to have a couple of Russian gf's years ago and one of them called me greedy on more than one occasion.  

I think this is simply a misuse of the word greedy on the part of FSU women as boaterguy had suggested.
For the context that the women use this word, stingy would be the correct word to use.

A man who doesn't buy a women clothes/jewelery/other items etc. every time she asks for them might be stingy or practical or thrifty, but NOT greedy.

Here is an example where a woman might correctly label a man as greedy.
He has just won a prize of $1000 at a contest draw. He decides to go shopping with his girlfriend and part with this money. They come back home and he has spent $950 on stuff for himself and $50 on stuff for her! Then she can correctly look him in the eye and declare "You are a greedy man!"

[brad5959]

My thoughts on RW using the word "greedy".  first of all, I thought that russian women are supposed to be so educated and intelligent.  if that is the case, than why can't they comprehend the proper meaning of the word??  and why do they so often misuse and abuse the word, in particular in reference to western men??  let's get something straight.  Vladimir Putin and his KGB/Mafia cronies, who rule russian society and politics, are corrupt and greedy.  the multi millionaire and billionaire types of Russia and Ukraine, who have ripped off entire industries for pennies on the dollars, are greedy.  the corrupt politicians and policemen looking for bribes, are greedy.  the overfed russians and ukrainians, who cannot or will not feed the thousands of homeless cats and dogs in every russian or ukrainian city, are greedy. 
On the other hand, an average american guy, who spends thousands of dollars to get to Ukraine or Russia, and needs to make it there for 14 days or more with enough food, water and shelter, is NOT greedy OR stingy, he is merely frugal and prudent.  and after he was plied with letters from his sweetheart or sweethearts, about how they are looking for their "beloved" man, their "favorite" man, their "real" man, etc etc. blah blah blah, they ought to have the respect and decency to meet him on a first date for just coffee, a glass of wine, or a reasonably priced lunch or dinner.  women who expect a guy to spend $100.00 or more on a first date, are the ones who are actually greedy--greedy, selfish, and materialistic.  in fact since you like to use the word so much, why don't you put it where it really belongs--in your profile.  such as:  "greedy, materialistic, selfish, self centered woman, seeks a man who will wine and dine her in expensive restaurants on a first date, and/or take me on a shopping trip for a new wardrobe, even though I am a complete liar and have no romantic intentions whatsoever".  on the other hand, I believe if she is truly interested in the man, as she stated in her dozens of letters, than he should buy her some groceries and let her cook him a nice dinner, maybe with candle light, and than give him a full body massage after dinner to help him relax from his 22 hours of combined flight time to go and visit the wonderful, special, educated, intelligent, romantic, passionate, honest, faithful russian/ukrainian woman!!

[groovlstk]

My thoughts on RW using the word "greedy".  first of all, I thought that russian women are supposed to be so educated and intelligent.  if that is the case, than why can't they comprehend the proper meaning of the word??  and why do they so often misuse and abuse the word, in particular in reference to western men??  let's get something straight.  Vladimir Putin and his KGB/Mafia cronies, who rule russian society and politics, are corrupt and greedy.  the multi millionaire and billionaire types of Russia and Ukraine, who have ripped off entire industries for pennies on the dollars, are greedy.  the corrupt politicians and policemen looking for bribes, are greedy.  the overfed russians and ukrainians, who cannot or will not feed the thousands of homeless cats and dogs in every russian or ukrainian city, are greedy. 
On the other hand, an average american guy, who spends thousands of dollars to get to Ukraine or Russia, and needs to make it there for 14 days or more with enough food, water and shelter, is NOT greedy OR stingy, he is merely frugal and prudent.  and after he was plied with letters from his sweetheart or sweethearts, about how they are looking for their "beloved" man, their "favorite" man, their "real" man, etc etc. blah blah blah, they ought to have the respect and decency to meet him on a first date for just coffee, a glass of wine, or a reasonably priced lunch or dinner.  women who expect a guy to spend $100.00 or more on a first date, are the ones who are actually greedy--greedy, selfish, and materialistic.  in fact since you like to use the word so much, why don't you put it where it really belongs--in your profile.  such as:  "greedy, materialistic, selfish, self centered woman, seeks a man who will wine and dine her in expensive restaurants on a first date, and/or take me on a shopping trip for a new wardrobe, even though I am a complete liar and have no romantic intentions whatsoever".  on the other hand, I believe if she is truly interested in the man, as she stated in her dozens of letters, than he should buy her some groceries and let her cook him a nice dinner, maybe with candle light, and than give him a full body massage after dinner to help him relax from his 22 hours of combined flight time to go and visit the wonderful, special, educated, intelligent, romantic, passionate, honest, faithful russian/ukrainian woman!!

You're completely missing the point 

[ML]

Here is an example where a woman might correctly label a man as greedy.
He has just won a prize of $1000 at a contest draw. He decides to go shopping with his girlfriend and part with this money. They come back home and he has spent $950 on stuff for himself and $50 on stuff for her! Then she can correctly look him in the eye and declare "You are a greedy man!"

I disagree.  Your example is yet another one that can be labeled as stingy.

Greedy has to do with taking something, not with giving something.

Greedy would be when a platter of food is passed around the table, and one person takes an inordinate amount, leaving virtually none of that particular food for anyone else.

In the typical RW - WM relationships, there are very few instances in which the WM displays greedy actions.  Stingy maybe, but not greedy.

[daveyj]

Greedy is when you already have a lot, and yet you not only want more but you see nothing wrong with taking it from those who have little.

Stingy is when you have a lot, and yet you are only willing to share or spend a very small portion of what you have even though others have so much less.

[Daveman]

Guys (and girls), you are all unnecessarily over-complicating the simplicity of this topic..

From the FSUW perspective:

Greedy - doesn't give all his money to ME.
Stingy - doesn't spend all his money on ME.

 

I think that about sums it up...  :evil: :evil: :evil:

[Gator]

This reminds me of the difference between a whore and a slut.

A whore has sex with anyone.

A slut has sex with anyone but you. 

[ think about it ]

[Lily]

My thoughts on RW using the word "greedy".  first of all, I thought that russian women are supposed to be so educated and intelligent.  if that is the case, than why can't they comprehend the proper meaning of the word??  and why do they so often misuse and abuse the word, in particular in reference to western men??  

brad, RW use the word correctly, the word just has different meaning in Russian language, as it has been pointed out already in this thread.

Further on, they use it in accordance with Russian mentality towards spending habits. Daveman put it quite right

  Vladimir Putin and his KGB/Mafia cronies, who rule russian society and politics, are corrupt and greedy.  the multi millionaire and billionaire types of Russia and Ukraine, who have ripped off entire industries for pennies on the dollars, are greedy.  the corrupt politicians and policemen looking for bribes, are greedy.  the overfed russians and ukrainians, who cannot or will not feed the thousands of homeless cats and dogs in every russian or ukrainian city, are greedy.   

From a perspective of some RW, the above people are not greedy. They just know how to live, and get from life everything they can. This makes them desirable partners, because they were clever enough in order to out-compete other RM, and RW would think that they would bring these acquired wealth into their families. They would call the men described by you good providers, not greedy. Russian mentality does not judge winners!

At the same time, RW would call these men greedy in case they are reluctant to spend their money on wives, kids and other siblings. Read Daveman below again

On the other hand, an average american guy, who spends thousands of dollars to get to Ukraine or Russia, and needs to make it there for 14 days or more with enough food, water and shelter, is NOT greedy OR stingy, he is merely frugal and prudent.  and after he was plied with letters from his sweetheart or sweethearts, about how they are looking for their "beloved" man, their "favorite" man, their "real" man, etc etc. blah blah blah, they ought to have the respect and decency to meet him on a first date for just coffee, a glass of wine, or a reasonably priced lunch or dinner.  women who expect a guy to spend $100.00 or more on a first date, are the ones who are actually greedy--greedy, selfish, and materialistic.  in fact since you like to use the word so much, why don't you put it where it really belongs--in your profile.  such as:  "greedy, materialistic, selfish, self centered woman, seeks a man who will wine and dine her in expensive restaurants on a first date, and/or take me on a shopping trip for a new wardrobe, even though I am a complete liar and have no romantic intentions whatsoever".  on the other hand, I believe if she is truly interested in the man, as she stated in her dozens of letters, than he should buy her some groceries and let her cook him a nice dinner, maybe with candle light, and than give him a full body massage after dinner to help him relax from his 22 hours of combined flight time to go and visit the wonderful, special, educated, intelligent, romantic, passionate, honest, faithful russian/ukrainian woman!!

Remember, many RW have never lived in the West, and have no idea what a disposable income is, for example. They would think like, if he has found a few thousands of bucks to make an oversea visit, he must certainly have a couple of extra hundreds to spend on the woman. 'Rich' may mean reckless spending, and a number of women may disqualify a man just because he shows signs of being frugal and thrifty. They just don't understand this.

[Velena]

Hey Guys! All women without exception (Russian, American, Nigerian......) are dreaming about handsome, wealthy, generous knight in the shiny armour. But being realistic most of us have to compromise and to settle for less 
Joe, your ex has done well for herself! Good for her!

[Maniac999]

  By the way, where is Joe?
 Author to sudio!!!!

[SFandEE]

I find statements that women end up settling for men off-putting.  The implication is that women offer more than they receive.  Perhaps these women should stay single or find a nice lady friend to grow old with.

[brad5959]

brad, RW use the word correctly, the word just has different meaning in Russian language, as it has been pointed out already in this thread.

Further on, they use it in accordance with Russian mentality towards spending habits. Daveman put it quite right

From a perspective of some RW, the above people are not greedy. They just know how to live, and get from life everything they can. This makes them desirable partners, because they were clever enough in order to out-compete other RM, and RW would think that they would bring these acquired wealth into their families. They would call the men described by you good providers, not greedy. Russian mentality does not judge winners!

At the same time, RW would call these men greedy in case they are reluctant to spend their money on wives, kids and other siblings. Read Daveman below again

Remember, many RW have never lived in the West, and have no idea what a disposable income is, for example. They would think like, if he has found a few thousands of bucks to make an oversea visit, he must certainly have a couple of extra hundreds to spend on the woman. 'Rich' may mean reckless spending, and a number of women may disqualify a man just because he shows signs of being frugal and thrifty. They just don't understand this.

thanks for the clarifications, Lilly.  so according to Russian mentality, the russian jewish mafia which traffics thousands of poor and unwise young Ukrainian women into prostitution in Israel and other horrible places, where they are treated with less respect than homeless wild animals, those men are "winners" and would make good husband material, right????????

[Gator]

thanks for the clarifications, Lilly.  so according to Russian mentality, the russian jewish mafia which traffics thousands of poor and unwise young Ukrainian women into prostitution in Israel and other horrible places, where they are treated with less respect than homeless wild animals, those men are "winners" and would make good husband material, right????????

Brad, I think Lilly has a special name for you.  Don't worry, its not "greedy."

Again, I question your reading comprehension and deductive reasoning.

[SFandEE]

I imagine in every culture there are people who are indifferent to or excited by acquiring their revenue through morally malicious means.  Aren't bad boys exciting!

I know that there are people who would love to debate or judge people who build their wealth through oil, timber, fishing, fur, and banking.

All legal--whereas slave trade is of course not--unless I imagine the right bribes are paid.  Perhaps the women who reward men who succeed in this business are indifferent to others as long as their needs are met.  This can't be a purely Russian quality, although perhaps it is a bit more pronounced.  I know I witnessed behavior I have never seen before in Moscow.