What does "out of pocket" mean to you?

[Mickeyluver37]

A friend of mine just asked me to define this and I defined it this way:

That I'm doing something with a group of people and there will be an extra expense, if it's for work, I'd expect to be reimbursed, if not then it's an additional cost.

She works with a lot of Texans and she says they use it this way:

"I'll be out of pocket this afternoon, so just send me an email and I'll get back to you."

I agree with you-

If I go to a wedding and I have to pay for my own drink , I had to pay "out of pocket."

If I'm on a business trip and I have to pay for my own cab, I had to pay "out of pocket." Charging a hotel room or rental car on the company's credit card is not out of pocket, charging on my own IS.

Being "out of the office", or "with no access to voicemail/email", is just that.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I use it both ways.

Out of pocket - expense. For me (pr - agency) this is all money spent not in billable hourly time, but in actual goods. For example, i am an going to a meeting, it would be $200 in fee for my time and $200 in out of pocket expenses for my transportation costs and any meals on the road.

Out of pocket - unreachable. usually when in an important meeting or presentation, I will be "out of pocket" for any other client work.

 

[shirleyb]

I've heard of it both ways.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

1) intentionally unreachable -When I am at WDW I am "out of pocket".
2) costs paid at my own expense

 

[Gina]

Well, just to muddy things up further, I'm a third-generation Texan and I've *only* heard that saying in the context of being unavailable. I never heard it used in a financial sense until we started doing the DDP and had to figure out what meals we were going to pay out-of-pocket for. LOL

 

[Mickeyluver37]

I've never heard it used that way either.
But I can see the meaning.
If someone will be out of the office, they're "off the clock". So any expenses they incur will be "out of pocket", as opposed to work related activities, which would be billable. Make sense?

Oh, and it's sprinkles here in Missouri too...LOL

Off the clock to me means that you are not working. If I have shut down my computer, but I'm still in the office and I'm standing around talking to co-workers, it's off the clock.

If I am out at a client, but still working, I am out of the office, but not off the clock.

 

[JessicaR]

Out of pocket has only meant one thing to me. An expense that I am responsible for, the bottom line of what it will cost me personally.

The other example sounds silly to me but I guess it just isnt used that way around here. Available or unavailable why in the world would I be in a pocket? Pocket of what? A shirt or like a time pocket? Silly.

 

[Aimeedyan]

I use it both ways, and have heard it used both ways many times growing up.

 

[safetymom]

I have a friend in Dallas and when she says out of pocket it means I wouldn't be able to reach her by phone.

 

[Loverly]

Out of Pocket-means the person will be in and out and unreachable at home or work(this was pre-cell phone era)


Out of pocket expenses-is additional cost of something

 

[MushyMushy]

I'd never heard it until DH started using it. He doesn't say it to people outside his industry, but if he goes on vacation, he'll say in his voice message, "I'll be out of pocket until such and such a date."

We're in SW PA.

 

[rt2dz]

I've been living in TX for 20 years and one month, I've never heard "out of pocket" to mean out of touch. I'm sure that is a secondary meaning, but not one I've heard.