My co-worker informed me that for the past couple of days she has been meaning to stop by the store and get some flowers for her Easter dinner table… but she decided to think of me and instead pick flowers and roses form the bushes around our work.
I mean my co-workers know I’m saving money for a condo because we have had conversations about it because my boss is also looking to buy now… and they know I bring my lunch to work and cook often—in fact I’ve brought my lunch everyday to work since I started here when I was 16. They know I cook all the time and bring leftovers because they always comment on how good the food I bring in is (you know, wow—that looks really good… did you make that?)… and a few co-workers have asked me to explain some investment options and run the numbers on what their retirement accounts would look like if they retired next year… but those things are just because I’m better with computers and money formulas….
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But I kind of took her comments as an insult because she was saying thinks like, “I kept thinking that you would never spend 15 dollars on a thing of flowers, you’d probably pick your own.”
This isn’t true as I do occasionally buy fresh flowers. I’m starting to wonder what kind of image I’m portraying at work. Does it bother me that people think I’m cheap or imply it?
I guess this is what happens when you keep business strictly business and not allow it to interfere with your social life outside the office.
But it does bring up the question… Do I care what people think of me? Normally i'd jump and say no without thinking... but for some reason that comment reallty bugged me.
Hi, I just started reading your blog, and it was an influencing factor for me starting my own. Does your coworker know how far you've come from your car payment days? I think seeing those numbers would make anyone think twice about picking rather than buying flowers, those little things do eventually add up big!
ReplyDeleteThere is a girl at my work that is really really cheap to the point where it's "cheap" not "frugal". Usually people say little comments here and there to her about it. It's usually when someone crosses the line into offensive territory. Like if they dress ridiculously to work just to save money, or are party poopers to save money etc. Other times it could be jealousy and they just wanna give you a hard time for doing better than they are doing.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't worry too much about what people think. Generally you don't want to seem cheap but frugal is okay. There mayb be a fine line but it's what you do with your money that counts, not what you don't do :)
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