# Are you a Grasshopper or an Ant? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880 "2009-01-25T03:33:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/1 "2009-01-25T03:33:51Z")
[Wiki link for those unfamiliar (?!) with the fable](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ant_and_the_Grasshopper) I’m a grasshopper through and through. However, I certainly don’t expect the ants–or anyone else–to save me when winter comes. You? ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/2 "2009-01-25T03:52:07Z")
Were you by chance reading John Ringo recently. Declan ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/3 "2009-01-25T04:37:19Z")
I’m a kind of a granthosser. I can save well for a while, but then get an urge to splurge irresponsibly a bit. ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/4 "2009-01-25T05:08:37Z")
An ant, in a family full of grasshoppers. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/5 "2009-01-25T05:14:40Z")
Definitely an ant. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/6 "2009-01-25T14:10:49Z")
I was a grasshopper for most of my life but I became an ant when I turned 40. That’s when it sunk in that I really was getting older and would have to support myself some day without working. I’m glad that I did because now a decade later I can afford to retire. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/7 "2009-01-25T14:51:00Z")
I’m a reformed grasshopper, as well. Now I’m the antiest ant you’ll ever meet. ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/8 "2009-01-25T14:52:39Z")
Anthopper. When I make enough money to do things, I prefer to spend most of it and save a little. Life’s no fun if you have to wait until your 65 to start enjoying it. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/9 "2009-01-25T14:56:40Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > Definitely an ant. > > Valete, > Vox Imperatoris Only quoted so you can see his all important sig. I am a grasshopper. > [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > Definitely an ant. > > Valete, > Vox Imperatoris Just in case you missed it before. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/10 "2009-01-25T15:22:33Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Anthopper. When I make enough money to do things, I prefer to spend most of it and save a little. Life’s no fun if you have to wait until your 65 to start enjoying it. Unfortunately, because I didn’t start "ant"ing earlier in life, I won’t be enjoying my money as much as I’ll be using it to survive. We’ll probably maintain our current lifestyle, which is simple but comfortable. There’ll be no lavish trips, but we will also avoid dining in the pet food aisle. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/11 "2009-01-25T15:45:52Z")
What about us anteaters? (Sorry. Just watched some “The Ant and the Aardvark” cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/12 "2009-01-25T15:51:48Z")
In my first job interview (aged 19) I asked “What is the pension fund like?” So that makes me an ant. 🆒 Now I’m retired (aged 54) and enjoying the pension. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/13 "2009-01-25T16:11:09Z")
Ant. Who has had to help bail out Grasshopper relatives often enough to be very grumpy about it. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/14 "2009-01-25T16:21:50Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > I’m a reformed grasshopper, as well. Now I’m the antiest ant you’ll ever meet. Exactly! I have never been good with money but somehow have managed to stay solvent and debt-free. However, nobody ever really taught me to handle money properly. To this day my dad resists talking to me about money, but that’s another issue. Anyhow, about two months ago my incredibly good-with-money-goddamn-cheap-ass-New-England-Yankee friend offered to help me learn to go cash-only, balance my checkbook, etc. Since I trust the guy with my life I figure I can trust him at least temporarily with my checking account. So far it’s worked out well. I feel much more informed and, I guess adult. So I’m learning. But I do miss all that devil-may-care online shoe and handbag shopping debauchery. Gotta give to get, I guess. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/15 "2009-01-25T16:22:10Z")
I’m an ant. I only know a couple of grasshoppers and they aren’t people I know well enough for them to come to me for money so I am not worried about having to bail out other people. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/16 "2009-01-25T16:41:50Z")
Currently an ant. Have been grasshopper-ish in the past. (I wish I had been an ant in my 30s) ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/17 "2009-01-25T16:43:42Z")
Definitely an ant. The sound of grasshoppers pleading for food as they starve to death during winter is music to my ears… ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/18 "2009-01-25T16:56:52Z")
I’m an ant. But sometimes I buy shoes. Seriously, I’ve always been careful with money, trying to live beneath my means as much as possible, so that when I do want something nice, and I mean really, _really_ want it, I can afford it without going into debt over it. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/19 "2009-01-25T17:49:58Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > I’m an ant. > > But sometimes I buy shoes. > > Seriously, I’ve always been careful with money, trying to live beneath my means as much as possible, so that when I do want something nice, and I mean really, _really_ want it, I can afford it without going into debt over it. That’s how I am. I don’t want for a whole lot, so I’m sure to have a huge cushion to fall back on, and then when those shoes or that throw pillow or that _whatever_ starts screaming out to me, I suffer no guilt if I buy it. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880/20 "2009-01-25T18:00:52Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Only quoted so you can see his all important sig. [QUOTE=don’t ask] Just in case you missed it before. [/QUOTE] **don’t ask** , this is inappropriate for IMHO. If you have a problem with another user’s posting style, take it to the Pit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-grasshopper-or-an-ant/482880.md?page=2)