Spending money
Discussion
This is a serious question, although it can sound like a rant!
Do you behave differently when spending other people's money than your own? Of course you do, but why do people feel able to waste public money with such vigour when I am sure if it were their money they wouldn't dream of 1) paying over the odds 2) getting ripped off 3) puting up with shoddy goods or service 4) buying stuff they know in their heart they don't need or won't use.
It is as if it ceases to be real money. Why is that? It can't be because they are just tossers, because I have met some of them and they seem decent people, just they donn't seem to see it as 'real' money.
Sounds odd, but had this debate last night over dinner about the way public services spend money. Somehow public money seems to have less value and people throw it about and waste it. I know that when I spend my company money I am slightly more extravagant, but it is my company and I certainly don't waste it: I work too hard to get it.
Is it that it is because public money is seen as 'nobodies' money or because the people they give it to spend are incompetent?
Every penny I spend of my own money I see as X hours work and I try to see public money the same way. When dear Prince Andrew takes the helicopter to play golf doesn't he think "some poor sod on £6 a hour had to work for weeks to pay the taxes to do this for me"? When some council oficial signs a wage cheque for £2000 each month to pay for our local 'dance development officer' (true) don't they think about the guy in the factory working his/her nuts/tits off to pay their £160 a month council tax. When concillors spend tens of thousands to put parking bays that people didn't ask for, where do they think the money comes from?
Does it just make them feel warm at night to think that they have slowed trafic and may save a life by spending vast sums on a one way system or trafic calming nobody asked for or wants????
Do you behave differently when spending other people's money than your own? Of course you do, but why do people feel able to waste public money with such vigour when I am sure if it were their money they wouldn't dream of 1) paying over the odds 2) getting ripped off 3) puting up with shoddy goods or service 4) buying stuff they know in their heart they don't need or won't use.
It is as if it ceases to be real money. Why is that? It can't be because they are just tossers, because I have met some of them and they seem decent people, just they donn't seem to see it as 'real' money.
Sounds odd, but had this debate last night over dinner about the way public services spend money. Somehow public money seems to have less value and people throw it about and waste it. I know that when I spend my company money I am slightly more extravagant, but it is my company and I certainly don't waste it: I work too hard to get it.
Is it that it is because public money is seen as 'nobodies' money or because the people they give it to spend are incompetent?
Every penny I spend of my own money I see as X hours work and I try to see public money the same way. When dear Prince Andrew takes the helicopter to play golf doesn't he think "some poor sod on £6 a hour had to work for weeks to pay the taxes to do this for me"? When some council oficial signs a wage cheque for £2000 each month to pay for our local 'dance development officer' (true) don't they think about the guy in the factory working his/her nuts/tits off to pay their £160 a month council tax. When concillors spend tens of thousands to put parking bays that people didn't ask for, where do they think the money comes from?
Does it just make them feel warm at night to think that they have slowed trafic and may save a life by spending vast sums on a one way system or trafic calming nobody asked for or wants????
king lentilists. Thats the root of all these problems. 
dont forget, some of us in the public sector see this wastage (f**k me? 22 quid for a bl**dy spanner?), but have no way of challenging it.its not malicious, some of it is just not knowing there is a better way, or if we do, the bosses have put a bloody stupid contract out, and the fees to buy your/our/the tax payers, way out are even more wastefull.
Carrera2 said:
Does this not also happen in private industry? People travelling first class when they would not dream of paying to do so themselves.
The difference there being that the person travelling makes more money [than they earn] for the business.
The difference is that private industry does not have a huge pool of "customers" who are legally obliged to fund endless waste.
The really stupid thing about public sector spending is the budgeting.
They get their budget for the year and decide they can't afford to do important, useful stuff like training. They place bans on people working overtime as they can't afford to pay them. Then it gets to the end of the year and they find they haven't spent their budget. So then they have to waste it on frivolous crap like new office furniture or their budget for next year will be reduced. Then they get their budget for the next year and do it all again, cos they're stupid.
They get their budget for the year and decide they can't afford to do important, useful stuff like training. They place bans on people working overtime as they can't afford to pay them. Then it gets to the end of the year and they find they haven't spent their budget. So then they have to waste it on frivolous crap like new office furniture or their budget for next year will be reduced. Then they get their budget for the next year and do it all again, cos they're stupid.
Carrera2 said:
Does this not also happen in private industry? People travelling first class when they would not dream of paying to do so themselves.
The difference there being that the person travelling makes more money [than they earn] for the business.
And couldn't possibly earn as much if they went standard class.
minicity said:
minicity said:
Does this not also happen in private industry? People travelling first class when they would not dream of paying to do so themselves.
The difference there being that the person travelling makes more money [than they earn] for the business.
And couldn't possibly earn as much if they went standard class.
If one travels long haul for work depending on the schedule at the destination then business can be an absolute god send.
My mind is just not on the ball if I have had to spend 9 hours in cattle class whereas the relative comfort of club or premium economy means that I can be much more effective.
Plotloss said:
Carrera2 said:
minicity said:
Does this not also happen in private industry? People travelling first class when they would not dream of paying to do so themselves.
The difference there being that the person travelling makes more money [than they earn] for the business.
And couldn't possibly earn as much if they went standard class.
If one travels long haul for work depending on the schedule at the destination then business can be an absolute god send.
My mind is just not on the ball if I have had to spend 9 hours in cattle class whereas the relative comfort of club or premium economy means that I can be much more effective.
Agtreed. Try working in cattle class. I travel at odd times to be able to travel first for the cost of peak cattle class. Got fed up with kids, old people smelling of urine, students and drunks looking over my shoulder and asking stupid questions
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