Is your job in-line with your frugality?

jodi · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 07:51 AM

Does your choice of a career, be it in the workforce or in the home, support your choice to live a frugal lifestyle?

I would have to say that by nature, mine does not, although I have found ways to compensate. As a salesperson (real estate), I guess I should be in the mindset to sell, sell, sell at the highest price for the maximim commision. However, spending unwisely, or beyond your means, is contrary to everything I believe in and not a position I would want to put clients in. Instead, I make sure to counsel buyers as to what their actual costs would be. I recently worked with a couple who was preapproved for $150k. However, when I told them, in current interest rates, what a house for $150k would work out to in monthly payments, they couldn't do it. Instead, they bought one for $116k.

Do you have to do things in your job that are anti-frugal, or does your job conicide with frugality? Do you make modifications in your work to make it more in line with your lifestyle?

shelbylovesmelby · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 08:36 AM

Jodi - that was awsome of you Jodi! I love people who are upfront with you about someone getting over their heads. Even moreso when it comes to a home as we often dont' think about all the changes we'd like to make after we buy it & that costs $$$$ too!

We'll I'm a SAHM for the past 3 yrs . So being a SAHM & living on one income it becomes essential for our families survival that I be frugal. Though my dh would rather shop til he drops, I've learned to live with out prior to meeting dh because I've had to. SO it doesn't bother me to do things frugally. Simply because it allows me to stay home with my kids before they are in school full time OR when we are done having children and they are all in school I'll go back to work while they are in class.

pearlieq · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 08:44 AM

My current setup very much supports my frugality. My company lets me telecommute, so I don't need to pay for commuting, lunches out, a work wardrobe, etc. It also leaves me with a very flexible schedule that allows me to take advantage of savings/financial opportunities I might not have time for otherwise.

Ironically, I do deal with consumer products all day, every day. Somehow though, it doesn't really affect me much. I can deal with new products without having the overwhelming need to aquire them all. I do wind up with the munchies a lot, though!

creditcardfree · #4 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 08:52 AM

Yes, my job as a SAHM is in line with our frugality. While I could be in the workforce, we know there would be additional expenses. Since I stay at home, I'm able to work on getting the best deals on groceries, make phone calls regarding purchases and be there to cook a homemade meal in the evenings. There are more benefits than those...just some examples.

shelbylovesmelby · #5 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 09:24 AM

I'm also saving a fortune as a sahm on GAS & Day Care costs. If I went back to work I'd have to make almost double what I was making (prior to the kids) to come out w/ more than gas money left over.

Plus watching your kids grow up is priceless as the time lost is irreplaceable.

Ima saver · #6 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 10:14 AM

Well I am not a sahm but I do not work any longer. Because I don't know how to use a computer the only job I could get around here was as a waitress, which I did for many years. My dh got tired of being home alone everynight, especially on weekends, so he decided to just work a few extra hours a week so I could stay home.
I do all the bookwork for the houses he builds, so I do contribute there. I do try and be frugal and save us money. This $20 challenge has really shown me how much money I do help to save every week. So far, I have saved double what I have ever made working for a living.
I plan to continue this challenge every year and tuck away all the money that I am saving my taking surveys, couponing, etc.

Bookie · #7 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 03:08 PM

As a career academic, I'd say my career was in line with my frugality. Faculty incomes hardly support a lifestyle of wretched excess.

There's also a culture of inverse snobbery, usually swathed in environmental awareness, that expresses itself in conspicuous non-consumption. Stereotypically, participants drive decrepid Volvos with iinprobably high odometer readings, sport leather patches on their tweed jackets, and gleefully homestead in the gentrified neighborhoods of the inner city.

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BCHGRL · #8 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 03:40 PM

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.

LuxLiving · #9 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 04:11 PM

Bchgrl, I'm glad you're on the job!!

disneysteve · #10 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 05:38 PM

Very interesting question.

I'm a family practice physician. We all know healthcare isn't the most frugal of fields, but I do think my frugality shows through. I work in a practice where we dress somewhat informally. I wear a dress shirt and slacks. No tie. No suit. No jacket. So minimal clothing expenses. I work 8 miles from my house, so minimal commuting costs. I don't do any inpatient hospital work, so no staff dues.

As for my patients, I work in the poorest city in America. Many of my patients have trouble affording their care. We often provide care for reduced rates or free for people that really need it. And I give out zillions of dollars worth of free drug samples provided by the pharmaceutical companies.

So yes, I think my job reflects my frugality.

meaghanchan · #11 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 06:12 PM

Great question!

Working in the media, some jobs I've had have not been in line with, maybe not my frugality, but my views on consumption (ie, that consuming doesn't make us happier). I have worked on jobs promoting things that, while not necessarily unethical, promoted spending or consuming. I have worked directly on advertising- trying to tell people they absolutely need to buy something that didn't even exist 5 years ago.

I am very happy that the job I'm working at now does not directly promote the consumer culture, or any one product or service. Instead, it stresses the importance of imagination, and having fun with ordinary things around the house. Unfortunately, I do know that while the program itself may be free from those kinds of negative messages, it is sure to be surrounded by and interrupted by commercials of all kinds, which do promote unnecessary toys and unhealthy sugar cereals.

As for my own frugality at my job, I'm lucky to be in the kind of position where I don't need to wear anything fancy to work- jeans and a t-shirt are fine- and where it's not unusual for people to bring their lunches to work every day. And as an added bonus, one lunch a week is payed for by the company! The downside to my frugality is that the workforce at my job is very young, and the company is a pretty recent startup itself... So no 401(k) is offered, and I don't think anyone but me actually sees that as a problem. Right now I'm not even staff officially (I just started a couple months ago) so I'm in no position to bring it up, but we'll see once I've been there a bit longer.

tabbycat31 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 07:04 PM

i just started a new job (that I may not keep...... i'm a debt collector, however I'm staying until I can find something else). MY coworkers are dolls, but they're always dropping $20 plus a day on lunch. I have a loaf of bread, peanut butter, and jelly, and that's my lunch.

Luckily the company supplies us drinks (coffee, tea, hot chocolate, Poland spirng cooler).

I can wear jeans to work, but my coworkers are much younger htan me (ok I'm 26, most of them are 19). That is a huge perk.

lrjohnson · #13 (**permalink**) 10-01-2006, 08:31 PM

Working in the welfare business definitely reminds me that choices of how to spend money can really affect quality of life. I'm not sure whether that makes it in line with frugality, but it is a tremendous reinforcer for me that frugal choices and commitments to long term returns are important for individuals and the goverment.

As far as day to day, I can dress casually, cars in the parking lot are very low key, and there's not much flash in any way. I'm one of many brown baggers.

Fillanzea · #14 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 07:29 PM

I work at a library, which is one of the frugallest places there is.

From my point of view, libraries are centers for imagination, information, and education, which are all ways that can help people earn more and spend less. Plus, you can get books for free. But at the same time, it saddens me when I see people using the library computers to apply for payday loans, or investigating some get-rich-quick pyramid scheme.

(By the way: whenever someone is checking out a personal finance book, it seems like they have racked up $50 in fines... I always think to myself that I hope the book helps!)

Gruntina · #15 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 08:17 PM

I work two full time jobs at the moment to pay off all debts I currently have and to maintain my EF. Sacrificing my 120 hours(Seems excessive but my overnights is exchanged for free rent live in attendant (I can sleep during this time)) gives me so little time to go shopping or spend on entertainments but on the other hand gives me hardly any time for garage sales, thrift store shopping and couponing.

Day job does require a certain level of professional apparel. Commute/gas of one way of 45 min. is my main expense. I do bring peanut butter sandwich and low cost lunch even though there are a few cafeterias located at the company. Free coffee, tea, cocoa, free use of soda vending machine and filtered water is provided.

My work offer free use of a 24 hour gym so definite the company has perks where I can save money but they are usually luxuries of things I normally would not buy or purchase myself.

TinyFish · #16 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 09:15 PM

Hmmm I'd say it is half and half.

My company has many people who probably live beyond their means and who feel the need for snazzy clothes, or cars, or homes. I've had people at work who rent their houses sneer at the house I own because it is not in a fancy neighborhood. So there is some pressure to conform, but I tend to shrug it off. I have a fairly long commute, but I mitigate that by using public transport.

On the other hand, we get a lot of perks at work. I was thinking today that it is a bit of a case that the wealthier you are, the more things you get given to you, when it is really the poorer people who need things. So we get free sodas, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, hot lunches and snacks (sometimes I think they may be fattening us up for veal). Sometimes the lunches they buy us are so large we are set for dinner too. We also get given freebies such as backpacks, mugs, and shirts. There are sometimes events as treats that are free too.

We have generally good benefits and not bad 401K, though we had to fight for decent investment options for it.

And there are some more frugal people at work too. Was just having a conversation the other day with one of the bosses, we were talking about how evil credit cards are and how you can end up in big trouble with them if you are not careful.

In my job I sometimes have the ability to advocate frugality in the workplace. I was recently arguing with some people about whether we really NEEDED to produce a 200+ page document when the customer need could be better met with a few 2-3 page documents instead. Some people don't get that time is money when you are paying someone to do a job, and you have to put them to work where it will do the most good.

-TinyFish

Homebody · #17 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 09:30 PM

I'm lucky in that I work at home. No work clothes or coummuting costs. I can be more organized with using leftovers.

However I do like the house warm in the winter, which makes up for it some!

CRFSaver · #18 (**permalink**) 10-02-2006, 09:59 PM

I will say it fits pretty good for me. I have vendors that take me out to dinner and lunch, games and events so I dont have to pay for them.

Elgin526 · #19 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 12:32 PM

Mine is in line with being frugal. I'm a corporate travel agent and work for a non-profit organization and a big part of my job is to keep travel costs down for my company as much as possible. Some day's it's easier than others but we (my department) saves the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars each year, dollars that instead can go to fund our programs.

nanamom · #20 (**permalink**) 10-03-2006, 10:15 PM

I am a sahm so mine is in line. I looked at my DH's job next. He wrangles data for aliving and I have to say his is too. He can wear jeans and a nice shirt everyday and rarely goes out for lunch. They provide his cell phone. He works at making the machines more efficient with data and the way they present it. Using his skills cuts the companies costs for newer programs and for techies that only knowone program since he can usually figure everything out himself.