Comments on: You have $500 to spend on anything and then get reimbursed for it. What would you buy? http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/ Because you shouldn't need an MBA to be savvy about finance and business Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:13:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Personal Loans http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-121017 Personal Loans Sun, 09 Dec 2007 10:35:07 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-121017 I agree it is a free money for spending - vacation or some kind. Great article - very fun I agree it is a free money for spending – vacation or some kind.
Great article – very fun

]]> By: Ricemutt http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-106820 Ricemutt Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:41:06 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-106820 Actually, my reference to Safeway was as a place to buy Visa gift cards, not a place to spend $500 on groceries. But it turns out it's not a viable option for gift cards above $100 anyway. To buy a Visa gift card, it seems you either have to go in person to a national chain bank (who will only sell you a gift card if you have an account there, and since we use a credit union, it's not an option for us), over the internet (pay a fee + shipping costs), or go to a Safeway (and just pay a $5.99 fee). However, it turns out the $5.99 fee is per card, and the highest denomination sold at my Safeway was $100, making the whole thing not worth while. (Who wants to buy 5 gift cards and lose $30 in the process?) In the end I just bought a series of golf lessons and went to the salon. I've submitted them for reimbursement, so hopefully it'll all be resolved soon enough. Actually, my reference to Safeway was as a place to buy Visa gift cards, not a place to spend $500 on groceries. But it turns out it’s not a viable option for gift cards above $100 anyway.

To buy a Visa gift card, it seems you either have to go in person to a national chain bank (who will only sell you a gift card if you have an account there, and since we use a credit union, it’s not an option for us), over the internet (pay a fee + shipping costs), or go to a Safeway (and just pay a $5.99 fee). However, it turns out the $5.99 fee is per card, and the highest denomination sold at my Safeway was $100, making the whole thing not worth while. (Who wants to buy 5 gift cards and lose $30 in the process?)

In the end I just bought a series of golf lessons and went to the salon. I’ve submitted them for reimbursement, so hopefully it’ll all be resolved soon enough.

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-106698 Jonathan Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:18:53 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-106698 Groceries? That's no fun. I guarantee you'll never get a "bonus" like that if that's the kind story you tell them ;) A meal at the French Laundry! Might even have enough for two. Groceries? That’s no fun. I guarantee you’ll never get a “bonus” like that if that’s the kind story you tell them ;)

A meal at the French Laundry! Might even have enough for two.

]]> By: Angie Hartford http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-106418 Angie Hartford Sat, 01 Sep 2007 20:35:47 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-106418 I would buy groceries, then put $450 from my grocery budget into savings, and spend $50 on doing something fun with my family. I would buy groceries, then put $450 from my grocery budget into savings, and spend $50 on doing something fun with my family.

]]> By: Ricemutt http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-102113 Ricemutt Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:08:19 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-102113 True, but reality is that I work in CA and Silicon Valley, and no one dresses up where I work :) True, but reality is that I work in CA and Silicon Valley, and no one dresses up where I work :)

]]> By: Peg http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-102098 Peg Sun, 19 Aug 2007 17:39:25 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-102098 Well, I personally would look at that kind of reward as exclusively fun money. I have a rubberstamping hobby and always can use supplies/goodies for that so that would be one option but must admit that $500 in clothes would be really nice too. Do you have all you need in your professional wardrobe? It's like a mini What Not to Wear spree... Peg Well, I personally would look at that kind of reward as exclusively fun money. I have a rubberstamping hobby and always can use supplies/goodies for that so that would be one option but must admit that $500 in clothes would be really nice too. Do you have all you need in your professional wardrobe? It’s like a mini What Not to Wear spree…

Peg

]]> By: Ricemutt http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-102094 Ricemutt Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:59:48 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-102094 Hmm. I don't know the answer to the tax question. Maybe I'll ask "Don't Mess with Taxes" and see what her take is. Hmm. I don’t know the answer to the tax question. Maybe I’ll ask “Don’t Mess with Taxes” and see what her take is.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-101930 Patrick Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:10:32 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-101930 That's an interesting way of giving an award, but I guess it works out for everyone involved. (Is it legal to give an award in this manner, i.e. no one paying taxes? Or will you still have to pay taxes on your end, just not the company?) The Safeway idea is a good one, because it is something you would have spent money on anyway. I would buy a computer because mine is almost 5 years old. Other than that, I have no major expenses looming. So I would do something similar. That’s an interesting way of giving an award, but I guess it works out for everyone involved. (Is it legal to give an award in this manner, i.e. no one paying taxes? Or will you still have to pay taxes on your end, just not the company?)

The Safeway idea is a good one, because it is something you would have spent money on anyway.

I would buy a computer because mine is almost 5 years old. Other than that, I have no major expenses looming. So I would do something similar.

]]> By: New Reader http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-101919 New Reader Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:22:30 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-101919 If it'd be completely fun money, I'd buy a plane ticket to either LA or Chicago, and get a Palm TX, probably from ebay. If it’d be completely fun money, I’d buy a plane ticket to either LA or Chicago, and get a Palm TX, probably from ebay.

]]> By: dimes http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/18/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/comment-page-1/#comment-101913 dimes Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:06:09 +0000 http://www.experiglot.com/2007/08/19/you-have-500-to-spend-on-anything-and-then-get-reimbursed-for-it-what-would-you-buy/#comment-101913 This week I would get car maintenance. I could use a replacement battery, windshield wipers, pretty much all the fluids, and possibly some new tires. It might not quite add up to $500, but it would be something that needs done. This week I would get car maintenance. I could use a replacement battery, windshield wipers, pretty much all the fluids, and possibly some new tires. It might not quite add up to $500, but it would be something that needs done.

]]>