Comments on: Does a frugal culture exist in your workplace? http://www.rocketfinance.net/2008/07/14/does-a-frugal-culture-exist-in-your-workplace/ Finance is not rocket science, unless it is government finance. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:52:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Don’t Feed the Alligators » Blog Archive » Weekly Feeding 8-3-2008 http://www.rocketfinance.net/2008/07/14/does-a-frugal-culture-exist-in-your-workplace/comment-page-1/#comment-7148 Don’t Feed the Alligators » Blog Archive » Weekly Feeding 8-3-2008 Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:40:26 +0000 http://www.rocketfinance.net/?p=406#comment-7148 [...] wonders if a frugal culture exists at your work place. He feels obligated to eat out with coworkers for fear of missing [...] [...] wonders if a frugal culture exists at your work place. He feels obligated to eat out with coworkers for fear of missing [...]

]]> By: rocketc http://www.rocketfinance.net/2008/07/14/does-a-frugal-culture-exist-in-your-workplace/comment-page-1/#comment-6663 rocketc Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:19:29 +0000 http://www.rocketfinance.net/?p=406#comment-6663 MITBeta, great idea, I think I will look into this. MITBeta, great idea, I think I will look into this.

]]> By: MITBeta @ Don't Feed The Alligators http://www.rocketfinance.net/2008/07/14/does-a-frugal-culture-exist-in-your-workplace/comment-page-1/#comment-6649 MITBeta @ Don't Feed The Alligators Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:40:06 +0000 http://www.rocketfinance.net/?p=406#comment-6649 My workplace is a mix of brown-baggers and take-outers, but most people still end up eating in the conference room. My suggestion is that if lunches out turns out to be a required part of the job that you check with you tax preparer to see if you can claim at least some of the expense as a deduction. It certainly seems to me that if your boss is making you go and pay your own way that this is a deductible expense. My workplace is a mix of brown-baggers and take-outers, but most people still end up eating in the conference room. My suggestion is that if lunches out turns out to be a required part of the job that you check with you tax preparer to see if you can claim at least some of the expense as a deduction. It certainly seems to me that if your boss is making you go and pay your own way that this is a deductible expense.

]]> By: LC http://www.rocketfinance.net/2008/07/14/does-a-frugal-culture-exist-in-your-workplace/comment-page-1/#comment-5980 LC Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:39:37 +0000 http://www.rocketfinance.net/?p=406#comment-5980 My workplace sounds about halfway in between your old and new jobs. Around here, if we schedule a meeting around lunchtime, it is catered (company-paid), so many people can get their lunch for free almost every day. Maybe suggest that to your management. To them, the cost for each meal is far less than the extra hour of productivity per person (that is if you are ok with the idea of not getting a lunch break). But I would also just change your mindset from "that is a lot of extra money I have to spend just for lunch" to "This is part of my job and this is how much I need to spend to have a say in company decisions." Then automatically deposit $20 per paycheck into a savings account so you don't miss it. Then I would make a point to go out to lunch at least once a week with the group, perhaps with your own ideas of what you'd like to discuss (work related). You may actually find that they are not discussing business and haven't been missing out. I would still say go every now and then just to maintain relationships with your co-workers. But I also think it's a good idea to join a gym or "invent" appointments or errands for your lunch break. My workplace sounds about halfway in between your old and new jobs. Around here, if we schedule a meeting around lunchtime, it is catered (company-paid), so many people can get their lunch for free almost every day. Maybe suggest that to your management. To them, the cost for each meal is far less than the extra hour of productivity per person (that is if you are ok with the idea of not getting a lunch break).

But I would also just change your mindset from “that is a lot of extra money I have to spend just for lunch” to “This is part of my job and this is how much I need to spend to have a say in company decisions.” Then automatically deposit $20 per paycheck into a savings account so you don’t miss it. Then I would make a point to go out to lunch at least once a week with the group, perhaps with your own ideas of what you’d like to discuss (work related). You may actually find that they are not discussing business and haven’t been missing out. I would still say go every now and then just to maintain relationships with your co-workers.

But I also think it’s a good idea to join a gym or “invent” appointments or errands for your lunch break.

]]> By: deepali http://www.rocketfinance.net/2008/07/14/does-a-frugal-culture-exist-in-your-workplace/comment-page-1/#comment-5976 deepali Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:53:14 +0000 http://www.rocketfinance.net/?p=406#comment-5976 This is a tough one. Adding in a day or two a week for the gym could help. Perhaps suggesting lunch-in a day a week would also be good. But it does sound like 1-2 times a week, you'll have to go out, especially if there is decision-making going on. Reminds of that Friends episode where Rachel takes up smoking... I never saw the end of it, wonder what she worked out. This is a tough one. Adding in a day or two a week for the gym could help. Perhaps suggesting lunch-in a day a week would also be good. But it does sound like 1-2 times a week, you’ll have to go out, especially if there is decision-making going on. Reminds of that Friends episode where Rachel takes up smoking… I never saw the end of it, wonder what she worked out.

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