Spin off on being poor/frugal

[Belle5]

Way too low.



Offset makes no sense. That requires time to go shopping, things to cook in, etc. When people travel they deserve to have a proper amount to feed them the whole time.

Totally agree with this! You have employees killing themselves flying, renting, etc. and then running from meeting to meeting. They are (perhaps) missing their kid's games at home (all the special moments from the kids, reading to them, etc.). They have little time for (or access to) farmer's market type shopping and all the healthy cooking methods and tools they would have at home. Reward 'em for their sacrifice and make sure they are getting some HEALTHY meals!

 

[4under4]

Way too low.


Offset makes no sense. That requires time to go shopping, things to cook in, etc. When people travel they deserve to have a proper amount to feed them the whole time.

I certainly don't know about the OP's specific situation, but for all of us on that project (and most other extended projects I worked)... after a few weeks of eating at restaurants every day, it got really old. We WANTED to cook for ourselves (and the extended stay hotel provided kitchens with pots/pans, etc.).

Every situation is different, and as I said, I do think $25 is too low.

On a side note, we had a couple members of the team that would eat CHEAP every day so they could either keep the extra cash or "save up" for a really expensive dinner once or twice a week. Everyone learned to budget their per diem over the course of a week, and it was all good.

 

[Karenj2]

Our workplace has a limit of $50/day, and we always book hotels that have free breakfasts. If we provide lunch (I'm in the training department), the associates can claim only $35. (They also aren't given just $50, they have to pay OoP, then get reimbursed.)

 

[4under4]

I would also say that some of the best restaurants we found - quality/service/etc. - cost the least, and fit well within the per diem, even if you did eat out for both lunch and dinner. Working within a budget doesn't mean you can't find a really great meal.

 

[princessmom29]

We got $30 a day to eat on when our college band was out of town for performances, and this was 10 years ago for teens and early 20's. I don't think $25 a day is sufficent for average adults. I agree with others, a per deim is desigend to COVER ALL your expenses incurred while traveling for work, NOT offset them.

 

[SandrA9810]

Eating healthy has nothing to do with eating expensive. Applebee's, Chili's, Red Robin, and any other sit down restaurant can be just as bad as running through the drive through and ordering 20 mc chickens.

I can think of plenty of other better alternatives to casual dining places, that offer healthier meals for cheaper.

 

[lovesmurfs]

You don't say the profession, but $25 is way too low. We're a non-profit, and we reimburse based on expenditure (not a true per diem, which is paid whether you use it or not), a maximum of $65 per day.

Breakfast - $10 (which is getting harder and harder to do)
Lunch - $15
Dinner - $40

Another organization I worked for (also non profit) reimbursed up to $110 per day (white collar professionals). I also had one reimburse for reasonable and customary expenses.

You're taking people away from their families -- you shouldn't make them uncomfortable in having to find cheap food, particularly if they're holed up in a hotel.

 

[Cruise]

Have to agree with the others - way too low. Even eating fast food all day, the medium size "value meals" top off at close to $7 each now....more in urban areas. And I wouldn't want to eat fast food for every meal on the road.

I would also say that some of the best restaurants we found - quality/service/etc. - cost the least, and fit well within the per diem, even if you did eat out for both lunch and dinner. Working within a budget doesn't mean you can't find a really great meal.

I would also agree that these places exist but, for the most part, they're also the "local, mom-and-pop" type places and it's not fair to ask an employee to go searching out these places (which can also be hit-or-miss and a complete disaster) after a long day of work away from home. At least with the chains, you pretty much know what you're getting and most (if not all) do offer a healthier options type menu now as well.

 

[TickleMeTink]

That's pretty low. When I was working, they paid $40 per day - that was almost 10 years ago. my husband's company pays really well and they breakout down into meals - $20 for breakfast, $30 for lunch and $75 for dinner.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

My husband is military and the base military rate is $46/day. You can google "M&IE rates 2011" and get the government's table of allowance for every county in the US. (M&IE stands for Meals and Incendental Expenses.)

 

[endy]

Our company pays $35/day in the states and $40/day in Canada.
As a PP mentioned it is meant to offset costs not completely cover all.

 

[trip]

My husband is military and the base military rate is $46/day. You can google "M&IE rates 2011" and get the government's table of allowance for every county in the US. (M&IE stands for Meals and Incendental Expenses.)

But doesn't that vary depending on location?

 

[Callie]

I think its a fair amount!
For B-fast, if its not included, I could go to panera and pick up a bagel or two and have ice water (not a coffee fan) $3

Lunch - Could go to the grocery salad bar and eat for around $5. Healthy Meal. They also have other home cooked meals you can buy for around $5.

Dinner - Look for a deal, coupon etc! Lots of places have those two for 20's, so that is 10 per person, plus tip $12
Theres also a lot of local resturants that offer a good home cooked meal for under $10

12+5+3 = $20 which leaves room for snacking!

 

[Jeff_G]

Here is the link to the government Per Diem rates:
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287

$46 is the lowest unspecified rate...

 

[kimberlym322]

Our employees receive $25 a day per diem. They also have a hotel room and company vehicles with gas paid. They feel it should be raised. They do not have to entertain clients. This is just the money allowed for their meals when out of town.
Could you eat on $25 a day or would you have to dip into your own cash?

It is a little low, However it depends on what areas that you send your employees. I know that my father's comapany when they send him to one part of the state they will do like 38.00 a day, however if they go to another part of the state it is like 48.00 or 58.00! That is only because when they send him to the shore meals cost more, but when they go to the mountians meals cost less.

However most the guys he works with, including himself, will just go to the store and buy a loaf of bread and a pack or 2 of bologna. Now they do have one guy that has a indoor grill and a crockpot that he takes and will spend his money on things that he can cook in them for the week.

Any money that they don't eat while on the road is theirs to keep. They yell when the company puts them in a hotel/motel that don't have a frige or microwave. When they get back to work they tell them not that place again they dont have a frige or microwave and needless to say they don't stay at that place again!!

We started this because some guys would rather have the money and eat bologna sandwiches

That must be a guy thing!!!

 

[Belle5]

I think its a fair amount!
For B-fast, if its not included, I could go to panera and pick up a bagel or two and have ice water (not a coffee fan) $3

Lunch - Could go to the grocery salad bar and eat for around $5. Healthy Meal. They also have other home cooked meals you can buy for around $5.

Dinner - Look for a deal, coupon etc! Lots of places have those two for 20's, so that is 10 per person, plus tip $12
Theres also a lot of local resturants that offer a good home cooked meal for under $10

12+5+3 = $20 which leaves room for snacking!

I could see this for the person who travels a couple times of year and has a lot of free time to hunt down nutritious dining deals. That is certainly not the case for many people I know that are working in their rooms until midnight to complete presentations for the next day, etc. and are traveling 2-5 days per week.

 

[elainesj]

$25 is very low.

Yes, I can eat pretty well for that - but it would take a lot of research and why should I HAVE to do that if the company is asking me to travel away from my family?

Mine reimburses - up to a limit:
Breakfast - $10
Lunch - $15
Dinner - $25

It's not a lot, but enough for most table service meals. I often end up spending over my limits...but that's OK because I just pay the extra myself. i.e. claim $25 of a $30 dinner.

We used to have it as a per diem...$50 a day, which I preferred. But this way is OK. If any meals are included then I don't expense it, kwim? I think this system is fair to both the company and myself.

 

[cbg1027]

Our employees receive $25 a day per diem. They also have a hotel room and company vehicles with gas paid. They feel it should be raised. They do not have to entertain clients. This is just the money allowed for their meals when out of town.
Could you eat on $25 a day or would you have to dip into your own cash?

I think that's way too low. It's not reasonable to expect an employee to eat fast food for 3 meals a day.

They are sometimes when an employee is limited on WHERE they can go. You only have so much time between meetings and hotel restaurants can be more expensive than sometime outside the hotel, for example.

I think $40 a day is more reasonable.
$5-10 for breakfast
$10-15 for lunch
$15-25 for dinner

 

[VAfamily1998]

I think its a fair amount!
For B-fast, if its not included, I could go to panera and pick up a bagel or two and have ice water (not a coffee fan) $3

Lunch - Could go to the grocery salad bar and eat for around $5. Healthy Meal. They also have other home cooked meals you can buy for around $5.

Dinner - Look for a deal, coupon etc! Lots of places have those two for 20's, so that is 10 per person, plus tip $12
Theres also a lot of local resturants that offer a good home cooked meal for under $10

12+5+3 = $20 which leaves room for snacking!

A bagel or two and water isn't exactly a healthy breakfast.

Depending on where the buisness person is traveling to, there aren't always grocery stores with salad bars around. Can you really get a healthy meal (with some form of protein, not just lettuce and dressing) for $5? I always heard they are expensive and have avoided them.

2/$20---what if the person is travelling solo? Are they just supposed to grab a random person off the street to share with? Even still, I think $12 is a low number...there is still tax, you're assuming the person will only drink water, and is a cheap tipper.

 

[DawnM]

If you have a car of some sort maybe.

When DH travels he usually flies, no car to get to a Panera or grocery store and no pre-knowledge of what is around the area to bring a coupon along! Never mind that he won't have transportation to get to a specific location.

Thankfully he usually travels with his boss, so he knows how much DH's meals are.

I "think" they get $15 for b-fast and lunch each and $25 for dinner, so $55/day, although many times at conferences b-fast and lunch are provided and they only have to get dinner. His company also pays for reasonable taxi service to get out for dinner. Typically his co-workers will go out together and share the taxi.

He isn't awake yet or I would ask him.

Dawn

I think its a fair amount!
For B-fast, if its not included, I could go to panera and pick up a bagel or two and have ice water (not a coffee fan) $3

Lunch - Could go to the grocery salad bar and eat for around $5. Healthy Meal. They also have other home cooked meals you can buy for around $5.

Dinner - Look for a deal, coupon etc! Lots of places have those two for 20's, so that is 10 per person, plus tip $12
Theres also a lot of local resturants that offer a good home cooked meal for under $10

12+5+3 = $20 which leaves room for snacking!