Moral issues in trying to reduce debt

Wordsmith

Maybe it's just me, but although I need to do all I can to become debt free I feel uncomfortable when reading other people's posts that in order to reduce their outgoings they are happy to "lift" things from their workplace (batteries, stationery, milk etc.) or to charge their mobile phone using work electricity. I know all these things are small fry, but to my over-developed sense of justice I can't help thinking that this is nothing other than stealing. Also, the amount of time some people seem to spend on the Internet for personal use (e.g. reading the MSE web site!) seems also to be a "theft" in terms of they are being paid to work during this time.

This isn't meant to be a judgment on others and I am not making myself out to be holier than thou (far, far from it), but I just wondered what other people's thoughts were on this.

Merlinexcalibur

I know what you mean but doesn't bother me in the slightest as I have plenty of personal time. Which is mine and mine alone. If someone wanted to pay me, though, I wouldn't say 'no'. I more or less work for myself eg 'freelance'. So my PC, no one will tell me what to do or where to be on it. I am my own person. So guess that means I am stealing my own time.

boredofbeingathome

Personally i think you do have a point Wordsmith. I would only charge a mobile at work with permission to do so, and i always offer remuneration just in case.
I have never even thought about taking stuff either. You do have me thinking now as a lot of stuff i just don't actually think about when reading it.
Good points.

Merlinexcalibur

But, in another line of work where it was part of my job to take notice of such things, I was amazed how much people did remove things not belonging to them. Small things, which they probably didn't think others would notice being missing.

Now, the other thing being is how would you dissiminate between those who are doing what you say on MSE and those who don't? I haven't seen anything here for example where people have admitted to that. I mean, you wouldn't know, surely unless somebody said? Sorry if my thoughts aren't in line with what you may have wanted to hear or anyone elses here but I do very often take another viewpoint. Which is, really, what debate is all about. As I am sure you are already aware.

Right, time to go watch TV I think.

boredofbeingathome

Merlinexcalibur wrote: »

But, in another line of work where it was part of my job to take notice of such things, I was amazed how much people did remove things not belonging to them. Small things, which they probably didn't think others would notice being missing.

True Merlin, a place i used to work at regularly had toilet roll go missing. It got so bad they would regulate everyone..but we tended to bring our own in anyway.

Wonders why anyone would think blue bog roll was worth nicking, even IZAL went..:o :rotfl:

cassy

i must admit i do charge my mobiles at work take pens home, use works stamps sometimes, oh and i have took the milk home on a friday before,

BUT i do go shopping for work on my days off when im in town, banking for work in my own time so it evens out

i think if a company is that small minded over little things like that then you need to find a better company. my office is only small but the manager is more bothered about the welfare and happiness of the staff and not if they have took a stamp and not paid for it

Wordsmith

I remember reading in a paper once (and therefore it must have been true!) that a ten-year-old had been caught nicking pencils from a shop and his dad said that he was mystified as to why his son had done this as if he had just asked he would have got him some from work!

dotstar24

never judge others on this site. if people want to offload stuff they've done in the past in desperation, let them do it. Lets not set up a thread devoted to people, and families who've done everything they can to survive...not scrounge...just to keep going. x

10past6

Should this thread not be in the "Money Savers Arms"?

Wordsmith

I am not (absolutely one hundred per cent not) judging and I know that desperation leads one to do things that one wouldn't normally do. Of course people have to do what they have to do to survive, but it is not those occasions I am asking about. Let the thread drop.

boredofbeingathome

cassy wrote: »

i must admit i do charge my mobiles at work take pens home, use works stamps sometimes, oh and i have took the milk home on a friday before,

BUT i do go shopping for work on my days off when im in town, banking for work in my own time so it evens out

i think if a company is that small minded over little things like that then you need to find a better company. my office is only small but the manager is more bothered about the welfare and happiness of the staff and not if they have took a stamp and not paid for it

That is also a good point of view. I suppose if we added up all the extra hours we have worked for nothing it does make you think.

The company my hubby works for now, makes checks on employees and as manager he has to go through bags, pockets and stuff which he finds appalling. But the one he works for is small minded.