Wednesday, December 26, 2012

A Bratty Post

I already know this is going to sound bratty.  Just putting it out there.

My boss tends to be very generous at the holidays.  In the almost 5 years I have worked there, we have always gotten a Christmas bonus (always in the form of cash).  And usually food in some sense, typically a lunch or dinner for staff.

This year our staff has grown tremendously.  But being the generous boss he is....he still made sure we all had something for Christmas.  However, this year he chose to get us all Target gift cards.

*enter Bratty Mysti*

I was really looking forward to cash.  My girlfriend is coming to visit in a few weeks, and I had *planned* on using my bonus towards our fun weekend!  I wasn't going to feel guilty about it, as it was *bonus* money.  I already knew that my Christmas bonus wasn't going to cover ALL my expenses, but I figured it would probably cover about half (based on a guess of what he was going to give....which for the record was correct). That plan is now thwarted.

I love Target, and when I am ready to re-do the playroom or living room, I will have fun finding some accessories there (no, I am not going to use it for day to day purchases).

But now I have to figure out how to pay for my girly weekend.  I have some money that I had earned from blogging, which I was hoping would go toward our new furniture (someday!).  That will probably be the bulk of my spending money for the weekend, and hopefully I will be able to make it stretch.

I also have a 3-paycheck month in January, although the first paycheck will be a smaller one due to holiday time off (I don't get paid when the office is closed, which it is for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day).  And then the following paycheck will have New Years Day off too.

And I am still coming off of all my small paychecks in November and early December from my trip to my parents, Thanksgiving, etc.

I know that I sound like a brat.  I am truly grateful for my job, the wonderful people I work with, and a generous boss.  I shouldn't have counted my chickens before they hatched.



24 comments:

  1. I think that's just it exactly... "Don't count your chickens before they hatch!" ;) When I'm counting on "extra" income, I have tentative plan for it, but it's always a "will be helpful" type of plan. Hope you're able to figure out your weekend away!

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    1. Not exactly a weekend away. She (and another person) are coming here for the weekend. She booked a room at one of the casinos (her idea, not mine) for one night because she and her friend are big BINGO addicts.

      I will have to figure out my share of the hotel room, BINGO money, and whatever else money for being out. The "casino" night will run at least $150 for the room and BINGO (one session).

      This was a spur of the moment trip, so I haven't had time to plan for it. And no...I can't say "go without me." She is flying all the way here to see me.

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    1. For the record...it was $100. While a lovely gesture, and, beleive it or not, appreciated....it isn't a BONUS like some people get.

      I just figured if I got $100 cash for Christmas, plus a little here and there....I could scrape by. Now my $200 I WAS going to put in the furniture saving fund will probably go to my weekend.

      I will have fun....just wish I had a little more time to plan!

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    2. meant to hit reply and hit delete. Not enough coffee in my system. sorry.

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  3. Why not try buying Visa gift cards with your Target card?

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    1. It is a thought....not sure if you can buy a gift card with a gift card though.

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  4. Well, there's some honesty in that! True, cash may have been easier, but I wonder if perhaps they got a deal allowing your boss to get cards for all employees, or something. I hate hate hate counting my chicks before they hatch because if I do that, they will be gone before sunrise. Always. That's why my part-time job's check is never accounted for, because it's so sporadic and not a done deal, that when I was counting with it and it didnt happen, it hurt. So now I ignore it and become pleasently surprised when it does come. Could you trade the $100 giftcard for $100 in your budget cash and use it as grocery money (if your Target sells groceries)? I sometimes play with such trades, as long as equal amount of money is exchanged.

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    1. ooo if that is possible, that's a great idea Tanner.

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    2. If I had made the same suggestion, I probably would have been told to butt out. ;o) But anyway, I would be irked by a Target giftcard. I'd prefer a VISA-type giftcard or cash.

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    3. Oh, wait - I see it was someone else replying. Anyway, I also would not like a girls' weekend. Substitute a male and it might be different. I guess I really should butt out at this point.

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    4. 444...I am confused. Substitute a male??

      My girlfriend lives in WI, and she came into a windfall of money, and is coming to visit. I only see her MAYBE once a year, and not at all on some years. So I am happy she is coming....not as happy that she wants to go to the Casino....but happy to see her.

      I typically don't shop at Target for groceries, as the Target is 15 min away, and the price is the same as the grocery store I typically shop. Plus, they don't have the same variety. Tanner gave a good suggestion to repurpose the card. I hadn't thought of that....and I might do that.

      I know my post is a little bratty. Just that at the core...that is the reason I am not a gift card person. I don't like to tell people where they have to spend their money.

      And on the flip side...I have a ton of gift cards that are worthless to me because I never go to those stores. I had a card for GAP for 4 years because I NEVER shop there. I have various food cards...a few places went out of business...or they aren't local.

      I have cards from stuff I have returned to stores and they would only give me a gift card. I don't shop in those stores....so again, the card sits.

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    5. You can sell unused gift cards on sites such as Card Pool and Plastic Jungle. You must have at least $25 on the card. You don't get face value, but something is much better than nothing.

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    6. Sell the gift cards - see my last comment. I've done it and you get a check in the mail really quickly - like within a week.

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    7. I will look into selling. I know several cards have under $25, so I am still "stuck" with those.

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  5. It is so easy to count chickens and I do it all the time. So frustrating when you plan and it does not materialize especially with money!

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  6. "I love Target, and when I am ready to re-do the playroom or living room, I will have fun finding some accessories there (no, I am not going to use it for day to day purchases)."

    This is really the reason for the cash crunch, right here. This says you are spending the bonus twice. Once on your girls' weekend, once on playroom/living room accessories.

    If you had received cash, would you be setting it aside for playroom/living room accessories? If no, then why is the gift card different?

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    1. No, not spending it twice.

      If it was cash, then I would use it for girl's weekend. If there were no girl weekend, it would have gone in the furniture saving fund (which won't be at Target).

      Now that it is a gift card to a specific store, unless I can "repurpose it" as Tanner mentioned, I am forced to use it for something I can get at that store. Namely, accessories.

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    2. Does your local Target have groceries? My local Target has a grocery section now. Fresh produce, meat, etc. Good quality and good prices.

      If you use the gift card towards groceries, you could then pull $100 from your grocery money to use towards your girls' weekend.

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  7. Oh, wait - I just thought of the best idea yet. You can simply sell the gift card. I've done it lots of times. You will lose a certain percentage of the value, but you'll get plain old cash in return, and you can use it anywhere. So it'll be like you got a $85 or $90 cash gift instead of $100, but at least you won't be "forced" to buy accessories with it.

    I just looked it up, and you can get $87.00 from Cardpool (we used them and it works well.) $92.00 if you mail them the card, but I just cashed in a card online and paid a little more, just to get the transaction expedited. http://www.cardpool.com

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  8. I am mystified by your wasting gift cards at shops you never usually use... okay, so, by choice, you don't go to Gap. Me neither, but if I was given a gift card for the shop, I'd certainly go and find something to buy, even if it was only underwear, or a piece of costume jewellery or a gift for someone else. Your attitude of "I never shop there (usually) so the gift card is wasted" seems really bizarre. Why not take the chance of going and finding something lovely? Unless of course, there isn't a Gap store nearby...which might make a difference. I hope you have a great time with your girlfriends.

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    1. Here is an example with Gap (which again, is not local)....I am overweight. Stuffing myself into something just for the sake of using the card is a waste if I won't use the item. I don't really wear alot of accessories...so again, it is a waste.

      I have cards with little value (nothing like returning something that didn't fit....) and only getting a few dollars for it (in hindsight, I should have just donated the item). Then I would have to spend money to be able to get a small item that I really didn't want just to make up the difference.

      I have cards for stores that aren't local (such as department stores at the mall.....I very rarely shop at a mall). Those sit because I never think about them....because I don't go to the mall!!

      You are right...I could find something. But isn't it still a waste when you are spending a gift card just because you have it when you really don't need or want the item?

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    2. Fair enough. Gap isn't made for big gals (as I know as well) and of course, if shops aren't local then it is much harder to justify spending there...and I get your last point too. Maybe using the cards to buy gifts for others would be the best way of not "wasting" them.

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  9. How about taking some of those gifts cards and buying clothes for the kids? I know Gap has stuff for kids and most department stores do too.

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