Are you a frugal person?

@annierose (18926)
Philippines
August 19, 2018 6:18am CST
Tomorrow is my birthday and it is a tradition in our workplace that whoever has a birthday will treat all the employees for lunch. When there were just few people, it was okay to do but now that we get bigger, giving everyone a free lunch is quite heavy to the budget. That is why, I just asked my colleague who will celebrate her birthday 2 days after my birthday to just share with me. I don't know how long will I do this or maybe this will be the last time I am going to treat everyone for my birthday.
18 people like this
21 responses
@ZedSmart (19753)
• Philippines
19 Aug 18
Happy birthday in advance. Wow! Was it made mandatory? You will have a bigger budget for that because you will also treat your family. When my budget is not enough, I just bought something for dinner (not the usual dinner). It's difficult to spend your money in one day for the celebration and the coming days are headache. You have prepared it though, right?
3 people like this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Hi Edz, thank you for the birthday greetings! It is not mandatory but it has been the tradition at work whenever someone has a birthday.
1 person likes this
@ZedSmart (19753)
• Philippines
26 Aug 18
@annierose When I was still working at LGU, we have this monthly meeting for all the "barangay". Each person representing the "barangay" whose birthday falls that month will shoulder the lunch. It was a sort of luck because there are many celebrants for my birth month including our action officer. We agreed that each of us would have an assigned food to bring for that day.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
@ZedSmart Lucky for you but not for those people who do not have any other persons to share with the cost for the birthday celebration.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
21 Aug 18
Wow!! At the price of restaurants now a days this is a lot to expect people to do. I would be thinking maybe a Box of Doughnuts or something would be the easier thing to do.
2 people like this
@flpoolbum (2978)
• United States
25 Aug 18
@KrauseHome~I go to a friends party that is a potluck, most of the time I'll get a chocolate bunt cake for $3 at Sav-A-Lot (a low price store in my area.)
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
I agree with you. This is something that gives stress. I remember when I was just a newly hired teacher, I just bought them doughnuts.
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
19 Aug 18
I don't agree with that custom.
2 people like this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
I don't like it either. Haha!
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
20 Aug 18
happy birthday to you. hope you have enjoyed your day with your family and friends.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Thank you Ingrid! We just had a simple birthday celebration. It was just my mom and my sisters and their own family who celebrated my birthday. It was a good one. We had happy tummy after.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
@ridingbet Yes I have. My older sister bought me a cake.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
28 Aug 18
@annierose the best part of a celebration is the eating part. having cake is also good fr dessert, but you had cake, am i right?
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
22 Aug 18
Happy birthday, I wouldn't think about footing the bill for everyone's dinner. Why not everyone pay for their own dinner and chip in for yours. That sounds more reasonable to me.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Thank you Ruby! The tradition here most of the times is that getting free meals sounds better than paying for one's dinner.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
@RubyHawk That sounds better.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
27 Aug 18
@annierose I don't believe I would participate, I'd suggest everyone pay for their own dinner and for the birthday girls. The birthday girl should be the one to be gifted.
1 person likes this
• India
20 Aug 18
Happy birthday dear.. It's a good way to share heavy bills. It's done here too
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Thanks my friend! So, we are not alone when it comes to that tradition? I am surprised it is also like that in India.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
@anamika161088 I agree with that technique as well.
1 person likes this
• India
1 Sep 18
@annierose Yeah.. it's an option here.. usually this option works best with school and college students.
1 person likes this
@popciclecold (35062)
• United States
25 Aug 18
The birthday person treating everyone else. If it has grown to that many it would be my last one too.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Hahaha! I am glad you can understand what I feel.
@flpoolbum (2978)
• United States
19 Aug 18
@Annierose ~That's dumb., it sounds like you have a lot of moochers where you work The most that we have done at my jobs is get a cake for someone's birthday. Some of the places that I worked had one cake for birthdays for the whole month. Have your company change it's policy. You don't want to be stressed and burdened on your birthday. Sometimes, I'm really frugal, like when I go grocery shopping. I wait for items to go one sale before buying them. One superstore that I go to, Meijer, a competitor for Wal-Mart, in the midwest of the U.S.A., has a frequent shopper plan called MPerks. Occasionally, Meijer will send me coupons from items I regularly get from the store. I take advantage of store specials and use coupons when I can. I also get $2 off for every $100 that I spend. I bought a 28 pound bag of Rachel Ray's Nutrish dry dog food. It's normally $41.99 but it was on sale for $36.99. I also used a Nutrish coupon that they had sent to me for an additional $6.25 off. I haven't been eating much since I suffer from nausea frequenty. I only shop for myself, my dog and cat. So far this year I've saved $261. Imagine how much an attentive shopper with a family could save! Have a Happy Birthday!
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Thank you very much! I received a cake before and it just happened once. You are a wise spender. I think I should be doing the same strategy that you have so I can save more. Thanks for the tips.
1 person likes this
@flpoolbum (2978)
• United States
25 Aug 18
@annierose ~I'm frugal on something but i do like to buy myself gifts. Usually, i can find myself nice things at Goodwilll or other thrift stores. I love going to antique stores, but rarely buy anything from them anymore.
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
19 Aug 18
It is really a big expense to invite all the staff to lunch. Fortunately, we don't have this habit.How many Staff do you have?
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
We are many and it is really heavy to the budget answering everyone's foods.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
25 Aug 18
@annierose I see.
1 person likes this
@redtesha (1773)
• Indonesia
19 Aug 18
Wow. Indonesia has that culture too. So when I was still working in office, I usually make my homemade lunch, which is enough for all of us. It's so much cheaper than buying at cafe hahaha
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
You are fortunate because you can cook. I think my colleagues will starve if I will cook for them. The last time I cooked for my family, they were not able to eat it.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
@redtesha At least you can see a progression on what you are doing. I am happy for you.
1 person likes this
@redtesha (1773)
• Indonesia
26 Aug 18
@annierose hahaha I am still bad chef. Just make simple foods. I am learning a lot from YouTube and Pinterest.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
19 Aug 18
Happy birthday!. yeah that's more practical share it with someone. but you know actually it is wrong. they should treat those who are celebrating the birthdays, because it is a celebration of her/his birth.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Thank you Mavic! I agree with you. I think since it is the birthday of the person, then, the birthday celebrant should not be given any stressed at all.
1 person likes this
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
26 Aug 18
@annierose in all honesty, I always believe in this principle. yes that's true.
@sol_cee (38223)
• Philippines
27 Aug 18
It’s the opposite here. People treat you on your birthday and it makes more sense, yeah? Hehe
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
2 Sep 18
i like that more. If they are many then there is no need to contribute a big amount.
@just4him (305561)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 Aug 18
I hope you had a Happy Birthday. That would be hard on the budget to treat all your coworkers.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Thank you Valerie! That is true and with a big number of coworkers, I think it is impractical to treat all of them.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305561)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
28 Aug 18
@annierose I'm sure it is.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
19 Aug 18
Advance happy birthday, Ms. Annie! Maybe what you should do is group all those who are celebrating their birthdays during the month into one blow-out as is usually done here by certain organizations. That way, the cost for the treat is divided equally among the month's celebrant.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
That is a good idea! The problem is that I am not that close with other coworkers whose birthday is August. There are just two of us who are close.
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
@sunrisefan I see. Maybe by next year, we will do that arrangement.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
@annierose Many are doing that kind of arrangement here; even some organizations :)
1 person likes this
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Aug 18
Lucky you coz there's someone to share it with.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Yes, we are both lucky because we can divide the cost into two which is more practical.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
19 Aug 18
it's good that you have someone to share the expense with. are you going to buy lunch or merienda?
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Thank you! My colleague and I just answered their lunch.
1 person likes this
@MALUSE (69416)
• Germany
19 Aug 18
You could offer a buffet which isn't so costly or ask your colleagues to bring something to eat instead of presents. It's absurd that one person should invite a big group of people.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Oh, actually I only have one colleague who gave me a present on my birthday and he has been like that everytime there is special occasions. He always has something for me.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
19 Aug 18
Some offices will take a monthly small collection of money from each person in the group so that there is a fund to pay for the birthday cakes and sweets.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
That sounds a good idea!
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (115921)
• United States
19 Aug 18
I'm not a frugal person but I would object to having to treat everyone to lunch. That is an unreasonable expectation.
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
Well, I hope this custom will be removed.
1 person likes this
@MACQUUNE (513)
• Lagos, Nigeria
19 Aug 18
I am not a frugal person, although I love to save money because of precautionary and contingency motives, when is available I spent but careful to spend
1 person likes this
@annierose (18926)
• Philippines
25 Aug 18
I agree! We should always think carefully before we spend money because money saved is money earned.