Re: Is your job in-line with your frugality?
Being a government employee does not require a high-maintenance persona. Other than gas and a wardrobe, my only other expenses are when I travel, but I get per diem for that and can usually stay somewhere that offers free breakfasts and maybe free appetizers at dinner time that I can fill up on. I also don't pay much for lunches since they are usually working lunches. Oh, occasionally, I'll have to throw in a few bucks to pay for b-day cakes or cakes for coworkers or going away presents, but it is usually less than $10.
They are pretty flexible with our wardrobe too. I mean, living in Florida, who wants to wear pantyhose every day. Don't get me wrong, when I travel I dress to the nines but just a normal day in the office, I'm usually wearing slacks and button up blouse and open-toed shoes. When I worked in retail and was making a whole $6/hr, they were soooo picky about wearing pantyhose, etc., and the discount wasn't enough to offset the cost of maintaining the wardrobe they wanted. It was ridiculous!
As far as my job goes, I am in the business of procurement which means that I am a steward of the taxpayers dollars. Of course, frugality comes into play. Does contractor A really need to travel first class? I have to evaluate all the costs proposed by a contractor, negotiate any unreasonable costs, and make a fair and reasonable determination before a contract is signed.
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