Learned my lesson about human nature today! vent

[rockundergirl]

So I'm not a "rich" person, I get by, things are better for me now then they have been in years pasts, but I wouldn't go as far as saying I have extra money to spend.
About a year ago I started working for a small tech company, I made the move from a much larger company, and because of this,I was used to things working a little differently. For example the break room didn't' have a coffee maker! I noticed my self and 5 out of the 10 other employees all drank coffee (bringing it in from 7/11 etc...)

Over the year of me working here I have come to know ( or thought i knew) that most of the employees are very budget minded, often declining to do things like have secret Santa, or get the occasional take out for lunch because they don't' have the money.. More then once we have had an office baby shower, birthday party that i fronted the money for and had to pull teeth to get back. ( I don't have it this week, can i give it to you next pay day blah blah) I was always understanding and just held out for the money. Also feeling bad about the struggle my coworkers must be having I have bought the office coffee and donuts many times out of my own pocket.

About a month ago I couldn't stand my unfresh coffee from home any more and when i spotted a coffee maker on sale, I picked one up for the office. I brought coffee/cream/splenda in from home as well.
Every one had no problem using the coffee maker and all my supplies but when the stuff ran out they stopped making coffee. I asked around for a collection ( we each chip in 2 bucks for coffee stuff ) and they all said they would just rather me take the pot home! I was shocked, but that's what i did.
Now I come in today, and find that One of my co-workers just bought a house! The very same one that never has money for anything and takes forever to pay me back, she is bragging that she put a 20% down on the loan.
So yeah GRRRR. I don't' mind helping people out when they are in need ( ie waiting for my money from people till pay day) but if you want to be frugal and save your money.. do it buy saving your own money, not buy fooling other people into fronting money for you.

 

[C.Ann]

I would buy myself a nice Black & Decker one-cup coffeemaker, all of the supplies that you need for your coffee, and keep it on your desk..

There's always "takers" in every bunch..

 

[NYCDiane]

That happens in most small-mid size places. At my job (large company) we have all the frills in our break room and it's all supplied by the company. However, on "the floor", various people have treats and things at their desk for their team members. I know I was on a team and the lead person always had candy, etc. I would either give her $$ each week or just get a large bag of assorted candy (kit kats and the like) for the candy bowl. Of course, everyone loved the candy. Problem? ONLY she and I put in $$ or candy.

We both just stopped doing it. There was no reason everyone couldn't chip in $1 a week or bring something in. Ridiculous!

 

[rockundergirl]

I would buy myself a nice Black & Decker one-cup coffeemaker, all of the supplies that you need for your coffee, and keep it on your desk..

There's always "takers" in every bunch..

Really good idea.. now how to fend off the " oh let me get a cup " buzzards lol

 

[C.Ann]

Really good idea.. now how to fend off the " oh let me get a cup " buzzards lol

No need to fend them off.. Give them the info on where you purchased yours and remind them that it was suggested that you take the larger pot home because no one was interested in chipping in for the supplies..

Can I be a fly on the wall to see the look on their faces when you're sitting at your desk enjoying your nice hot fresh cup of coffee?? Please? Pretty please??

 

[rockundergirl]

No need to fend them off.. Give them the info on where you purchased yours and remind them that it was suggested that you take the larger pot home because no one was interested in chipping in for the supplies..

Can I be a fly on the wall to see the look on their faces when you're sitting at your desk enjoying your nice hot fresh cup of coffee?? Please? Pretty please??

Ha Ha,, I might just post a video ...

 

[Mrs. Charming]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! BUZZARDS!! Sorry, I just wanted to let you know that I'm very glad I wasn't drinking coffee at the moment, because it would have been sprayed all over my laptop. You guys/gals crack me up.

Oh, and I totally agree with the "one cup" coffeemaker. It's too bad there wasn't a USB coffeemaker for your desk!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Of course, everyone loved the candy. Problem? ONLY she and I put in $$ or candy.

I have a candy jar on the credenza in my office and everyone helps themselves generously. Only once has anyone brought in candy.

So last month I put up a sign and placed an empty jar next to it. And each and every person I told them they needed to pay up for candy. Told 'em they had to put their spare change in for donation to our state's fund for needy reservists family. I have been shameless in asking each of them every single time they stick their hands in the jar!

Serves 'em right! And the money is going to a great place. I don't need it. It's the principle of the thing!

 

[wvjules]

So you're mad at this woman for being frugal enough to save 20% for a DP on a home and by doing so she had decided to start making coffee at home instaed of contributing $2 to your coffee supplies?

 

[patsal]

There are people like that everywhere. We bought a Keurig--I know too expensive for what you are doing to save money, but 5 of us chipped in $20 and we just bring our own pods. It works really well. Except one day when we were all out for a conference our substitute teachers apparantly had a lot of coffee, we all came back to 5 pods in our boxes! We think we know which "weasel" took them so now we keep our eye on him if one person is out for some reason! We even have a "welcome to our Keurig invite" We let others who have not chipped in for the maker 'buy in" with two boxes of coffee for the 5 original people--we share them but the new buy in can't use from those 2 boxes, just the original 5. Ours is very well used, and I know we will have to get a new one in a year or two, but by then there will be enough of us hooked that we will need to put in like $10.00 each, but I am sure we may lose people who are too cheap for that!

My fav is the one in our group of friends that goes out with us. We get separate checks because of her. She has a $500,000 home but eats off all of our plates when we go out. I swear if I buy another appetizer and get one piece while she wolfs down the platter I am going to refuse to go out with the group any more.

 

[rockundergirl]

So you're mad at this woman for being frugal enough to save 20% for a DP on a home and by doing so she had decided to start making coffee at home instaed of contributing $2 to your coffee supplies?

I'm upset with her because she has borrowed money from me many times and was late paying me back, while crying poverty. Also keep in mind when I say "borrowed money" its not like I had an option to lend it our not. I would go pick up the "office gift" for someone, that we all decided to get, and she just wouldn't' hand me her part of it, thn when i would ask for it, she would say .. well I don't have it today , let me get it to you next payday. short of breaking her knees for it , I was forced to lend her money. Although now i just refuse to go pick the stuff up , even when it makes the most sense for me to get it. ( I live the closest. )

 

[wmharley]

get a small coffee maker... hook it up to a power strip behind your desk or somewhere that is hard to see the strip (or plug it in to the same outlet). When you are not using it, turn it off at the strip or unplug it. I guarantee you that if it won't turn on quickly, most people will bail from using it.

also, put a not on it saying that this is for you and unless they pitch in, or provide their own supplies, they cannot use it. Then keep your supplies hidden out of sight.

 

[JoiseyMom]

So you're mad at this woman for being frugal enough to save 20% for a DP on a home and by doing so she had decided to start making coffee at home instaed of contributing $2 to your coffee supplies?

She's upset that this women would owe her money, and take forever to pay her back, and would MOOCH OP's coffee. THere is saving, and then there is mooching!!

 

[C.Ann]

She's upset that this women would owe her money, and take forever to pay her back, and would MOOCH OP's coffee. THere is saving, and then there is mooching!!

Exactly!

If you want to save money, it's not fair to do it at the expense of someone else..

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

that is one thing I do not miss about my old job. I had so many people like that -- we'd all agree to chip in $4 or $5 for something we wanted to get and then two, maybe three people would ever pay for it. Sad really but it's just how some people are.

 

[dizneechic]

Situations like that can be SO frustrating!

I think a simple lesson to be learned though is instead of fronting for everyone maybe plan a little earlier and request that if they want to participate in a group gift the $ needs t be in by X date and leave it at that. Then use the funds you have to buy something reasonable and give it from those who participated. Then no one is left holding the bag of feeling cheated because they weren't paid back in what they feel is a reasonable time. It how it's always worked for classroom gifts and group gifts in my dh's office, and I have to say I like the way it's done.

 

[msmayor]

I'm upset with her because she has borrowed money from me many times and was late paying me back, while crying poverty. Also keep in mind when I say "borrowed money" its not like I had an option to lend it our not. I would go pick up the "office gift" for someone, that we all decided to get, and she just wouldn't' hand me her part of it, thn when i would ask for it, she would say .. well I don't have it today , let me get it to you next payday. short of breaking her knees for it , I was forced to lend her money. Although now i just refuse to go pick the stuff up , even when it makes the most sense for me to get it. ( I live the closest. )

So this begs the question...why would you KEEP loaning money to someone who is so late paying you back? All it would have taken was ONE time being late or not paying back, and the next time a person like this asks for money you say "Sorry, I just don't have it to lend".

In my mind, you should be more upset with yourself for allowing the situation to continue.

Who was organizing and 'fronting' money for these things before you got there? What caused this to end up on your plate?

If I were you I would just draw a line in the sand and let someone else deal with it. And never loan money to anyone again you can't afford to get back.

 

[rockundergirl]

So this begs the question...why would you KEEP loaning money to someone who is so late paying you back? All it would have taken was ONE time being late or not paying back, and the next time a person like this asks for money you say "Sorry, I just don't have it to lend".

In my mind, you should be more upset with yourself for allowing the situation to continue.

Who was organizing and 'fronting' money for these things before you got there? What caused this to end up on your plate?

If I were you I would just draw a line in the sand and let someone else deal with it. And never loan money to anyone again you can't afford to get back.

Hmmmm well i hate to say this , but it seems you didn't read my post that you quoted, I know this because the last line of it was talking about how i don't do it anymore. It fell on my plate because I would believe people when they would wine and complain about having no time, and plus I was the newbie. I have never asked who used to do it before me. I assume my bosses wife who used to work here until they had thr baby. I'm not sure if i should be upset with myself or not. I dont' think I did anything "wrong".

 

[Ephany]

Sounds like my DH's old office. He and the other guys decided to keep a 'mess' in their supply cabinet full of healthier snacks, drinks etc... because it was so much cheaper than the guys running to the vending machine multiple times per day. All the guys in the office contributed a couple of dollars per week, DH kept a spreadsheet of contributions and whenever supplies were low we'd add it to our Costco run.

No big deal except that other offices would swing by and help themselves. Some would offer to pay, you know put in 50 cents for a soda or a granola bar but others wouldn't. It got so bad they eventually had to lock the cabinet, and then lock the office door when no one was present. The kicker was the other offices complained to the higher ups that they weren't allowed to take what they wanted when they wanted! They were less than pleased when it was passed down from above that they were a bunch of moochers and to stop swiping food. It never ceases to amaze me what people will try to get away with if they think they can.

OP: I'd definitely invest in my own personal coffee pot that does single servings and hang the rest of them!

 

[sydneysmom]

we have people like that in our office too. Finally, I stopped being the one to buy the boss' gift because everyone always wanted a terrific gift, but no one kicked in the money. I got sick of "I'll pay you later". later doesn't come. Sometimes people are a bummer. We do "snack day" in our office...well, there's this one woman who NEVER brings anything. Not a napkin, not a fork, not a snack. BUT, wouldn't you know, she's the first one to "go see" what everyone brought. ( funny, she always brings a big plate back) No, she's not hurting for money....she's lazy. Sometimes people like that are just mooches.