Comments on: Frugal Ideas For The Office http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:28:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: The Friday Gathering - Life change edition http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-5030 The Friday Gathering - Life change edition Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:39:55 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-5030 [...] Frugal Ideas to Take to the Office [...]

[...] Frugal Ideas to Take to the Office [...]

]]> By: Link Love « Saving Money Ideas http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4997 Link Love « Saving Money Ideas Wed, 23 Jul 2008 23:49:41 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4997 [...] Frugal Dad has some ideas on ways to be frugal at your office. This doesn’t apply to me at this point, since I am a stay at home mom, but he has great ways you can lessen costs for your employer. [...]

[...] Frugal Dad has some ideas on ways to be frugal at your office. This doesn’t apply to me at this point, since I am a stay at home mom, but he has great ways you can lessen costs for your employer. [...]

]]> By: fathersez http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4963 fathersez Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:30:57 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4963 I particularly liked the last 2 suggestions. Spending the company's money as we would spend our own. So many decisions are made based on what would be the impact on me, rather than the company. This also has an impact on integrity. Say, choosing a flight just because of the FF miles that are accrued. And on raises, I cannot understand how a company can say that "people are their greatest asset" and yet shaft them regularly. I particularly liked the last 2 suggestions. Spending the company’s money as we would spend our own. So many decisions are made based on what would be the impact on me, rather than the company. This also has an impact on integrity. Say, choosing a flight just because of the FF miles that are accrued.

And on raises, I cannot understand how a company can say that “people are their greatest asset” and yet shaft them regularly.

]]> By: Daily Links: Discovering Dads Edition : Parenting Advice and Tips: Modern Parent http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4960 Daily Links: Discovering Dads Edition : Parenting Advice and Tips: Modern Parent Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:34:14 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4960 [...] the frugal side of things, Frugal Dad features a list of ways to save money at the office. I notice several offenders throughout the course of the day wasting money at my job, and they [...]

[...] the frugal side of things, Frugal Dad features a list of ways to save money at the office. I notice several offenders throughout the course of the day wasting money at my job, and they [...]

]]> By: mike http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4921 mike Tue, 22 Jul 2008 13:23:33 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4921 My father is a business owner, and it is very difficult when your employees believe you have lots of money sitting around, so it doesn't matter that I'm not productive or that I swipe stuff from the office. If he could get his employees to stop smoking, productivity would jump exponentially (Better health, a financial boost for the employee, and no more smoke breaks) I am a Pastor and would like to start recycling here at the church. The amount of paper that we throw away is criminal. Any tips on how to get this started when we don't have local pick up? My father is a business owner, and it is very difficult when your employees believe you have lots of money sitting around, so it doesn’t matter that I’m not productive or that I swipe stuff from the office. If he could get his employees to stop smoking, productivity would jump exponentially (Better health, a financial boost for the employee, and no more smoke breaks)

I am a Pastor and would like to start recycling here at the church. The amount of paper that we throw away is criminal. Any tips on how to get this started when we don’t have local pick up?

]]> By: Maha http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4914 Maha Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:29:37 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4914 If you really want to save energy/money, see if your gas and electric company will do an energy audit of your building. One of my first jobs out of college was working for, then later with, our gas and electric company. If they still do it, they'll come in, inventory all of your energy sucking equipment, offer suggestions for areas to reduce energy and show what the payback would be of implementing various ideas. Some ideas they're likely to suggest are replacing inefficient heating and air units with efficient ones and possibly zoning the building, planting deciduous trees around the building, using compact fluorescent bulbs, occupancy sensors, using higher rated insulation, insulating boilers, etc. If you really want to save energy/money, see if your gas and electric company will do an energy audit of your building. One of my first jobs out of college was working for, then later with, our gas and electric company. If they still do it, they’ll come in, inventory all of your energy sucking equipment, offer suggestions for areas to reduce energy and show what the payback would be of implementing various ideas. Some ideas they’re likely to suggest are replacing inefficient heating and air units with efficient ones and possibly zoning the building, planting deciduous trees around the building, using compact fluorescent bulbs, occupancy sensors, using higher rated insulation, insulating boilers, etc.

]]> By: Brandy http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4910 Brandy Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:39:55 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4910 oh i so totally agree with writers coin. everyone i know, even people i know who dont have the money will go out for lunch. i bring my lunch everyday religiously and have for 6 years. they look at me like im poor but im the one saving the money id rather spend elsewhere. i just cant eat all that food at lunch. a sandwich tides me to dinner. same people stop for breakfast too. i see it everyday. i carry my recyclables home for our recycling since our work wont do it. what gets me is hearing people complain about money then they go out to lunch. i just dont understand people. oh i so totally agree with writers coin.
everyone i know, even people i know who dont have the money will go out for lunch. i bring my lunch everyday religiously and have for 6 years. they look at me like im poor but im the one saving the money id rather spend elsewhere. i just cant eat all that food at lunch. a sandwich tides me to dinner. same people stop for breakfast too. i see it everyday. i carry my recyclables home for our recycling since our work wont do it. what gets me is hearing people complain about money then they go out to lunch. i just dont understand people.

]]> By: Writer's Coin http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4909 Writer's Coin Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:32:54 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4909 I don't know, the whole "I convinced my coworkers to brownbag it" just isn't my style. I feel like that would be like talking someone into my religion or something like that. I don't like to "reveal" that I'm into personal finance and investing to the degree that I am, and I work with traders and finance pros. Maybe it's the industry I'm in, I don't know. But with bigger companies I feel like "hey, they have the money. They can afford it." Which is a bad attitude, I know. I don’t know, the whole “I convinced my coworkers to brownbag it” just isn’t my style. I feel like that would be like talking someone into my religion or something like that. I don’t like to “reveal” that I’m into personal finance and investing to the degree that I am, and I work with traders and finance pros. Maybe it’s the industry I’m in, I don’t know. But with bigger companies I feel like “hey, they have the money. They can afford it.” Which is a bad attitude, I know.

]]> By: Brandy http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4908 Brandy Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:18:22 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4908 i know writing this im a burned out employee thats tired of her company but as the economys bad its too hard to change now. our city offers free recycling pick up. i suggested we have recycling for cans etc, not just paper thats shredded. they told me it wasnt feasible. same company has skylights and inside lights hanging from them. and what is with companies providing desk lights and overhead lights??? i dont need that much light. id really prefer it dimmer. but at the same time we have to share staples and air cans. i now just buy my own. its easier that way. needless to say i work for a big wasting company. i wish they were better. i know writing this im a burned out employee thats tired of her company but as the economys bad its too hard to change now.
our city offers free recycling pick up. i suggested we have recycling for cans etc, not just paper thats shredded. they told me it wasnt feasible. same company has skylights and inside lights hanging from them. and what is with companies providing desk lights and overhead lights??? i dont need that much light. id really prefer it dimmer. but at the same time we have to share staples and air cans. i now just buy my own. its easier that way.
needless to say i work for a big wasting company. i wish they were better.

]]> By: David http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/comment-page-1/#comment-4907 David Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:39:43 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/07/21/frugal-ideas-to-take-to-the-office/#comment-4907 The motion lighting sounds like a good idea except when they don't install a very good one. I did some contract work for an office where you had to move at least once every 15 minutes or the lights would go out. This works fine for the conference rooms and lunch area but in an office one can sit typing or reading on their computer and remain motionless for quite a while. I agree with the 4/10 work schedule. Unfortunately, that's not the way the world works. Just like everyone has to come to work at 8am (or nearly so) and leave at 5pm (if you're lucky). On that same note, how does one get a mortgage quote, insurance quote or deal with the a school when everyone works at the same time you do? I don't steal office supplies from work. Often, I have to provide my own quality pens and pads at work because I'll be darned if I'm writing with an 8cent BIC special all day on a cheapo pad. I am definitely all for banning fund-raising at work. It's too much of a pressure situation for people and almost forces people to spend money. Besides, those same offices often have a sign out front that states "No Soliciting!" One small note, @Andy. Depending on your company's IT setup, it may not be a good idea to hibernate or turn off your computer when you leave. Many shops auto-update the OS patches and antivirus software over the network to all the client machines. Check with your IT personnel before doing anything different with your PC. The motion lighting sounds like a good idea except when they don’t install a very good one. I did some contract work for an office where you had to move at least once every 15 minutes or the lights would go out. This works fine for the conference rooms and lunch area but in an office one can sit typing or reading on their computer and remain motionless for quite a while.

I agree with the 4/10 work schedule. Unfortunately, that’s not the way the world works. Just like everyone has to come to work at 8am (or nearly so) and leave at 5pm (if you’re lucky). On that same note, how does one get a mortgage quote, insurance quote or deal with the a school when everyone works at the same time you do?

I don’t steal office supplies from work. Often, I have to provide my own quality pens and pads at work because I’ll be darned if I’m writing with an 8cent BIC special all day on a cheapo pad.

I am definitely all for banning fund-raising at work. It’s too much of a pressure situation for people and almost forces people to spend money. Besides, those same offices often have a sign out front that states “No Soliciting!”

One small note, @Andy. Depending on your company’s IT setup, it may not be a good idea to hibernate or turn off your computer when you leave. Many shops auto-update the OS patches and antivirus software over the network to all the client machines. Check with your IT personnel before doing anything different with your PC.

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