So, one of my many responsibilities at the moment is seasonal procurement. In my present company, this is primarily the clothing of the children (5yo boy, 9mo girl).
Since I've been doing this for a few years, I've come to know the vendors and their cyclical sales and reductions combined with offers made to preferred buyers (which I usually sign up for).
Gymboree is by far the best for this. While it is Gymbucks earning periods, I buy stuff on clearance and earn $25 in Gymbucks for every $50 I spend. Generally, I'm buying for the season we're finishing--but for next year. So in May, I spent about $400 buying next year's cold-weather clothing and earning $200 in Gymbucks. You can actually apply coupons to this purchase--which allows you to buy more clothing for less money (although you now have to buy more to earn more Gymbucks).
There is a specified period of time to redeem Gymbucks and redemption is the same: redeem $25 for every $50 you spend. So I had to rack up another $400 worth of items to redeem all $200 of my Gymbucks. My net cost for $800 worth of clothing is $600; and both kids are clothed for next summer with the 5yo also clothed for some of the fall. But really, I'm saving a lot more than that because MOST of the money spent (in the initial purchase) was on clearance.
Of course, this is risky business: if the children's growth trajectory goes off course, I'm left with clothing that will never get worn. The younger the child, the more likely this is (since they grow a LOT faster). But the good thing about Gymboree clothing is it's resale value. So I leave everything in the packaging it comes in (since I buy online) and if I can't use it next year, then I can resell it for nearly what I paid for it (since it was on clearance and it's new with tags--in packaging).
Then of course I have to network to find out about other cost-savings opportunities. This and groceries are my major recurring expenditures--so they require stealth bargaining skills. The 5yos remaining winter wardrobe was purchased during a spring sale at The Children's Place where every item was only $4.99 apiece.
I just have to outfit the baby for winter. Her growth trajectory wasn't really clear last year.
Of course, my boss is less than thrilled with the outlay of money to acquire these assets. There's a budget line item for this stuff so what difference does it make whether I spend a lot of it at once or here and there piecemeal? I spend it where it holds the greatest savings. He will, of course, probably require a CBA (Cost v. Benefit Analysis) to show that my method DOES, in fact, save more money--but that's more work than I need to do for this. I'll have to buy the baby's clothing without the benefit of "end of season clearance" buying. I'll have to show him those receipts.
*sigh*
Doesn't really matter how often I'm right... or how many times I do well, he's always going to question it. *eyeroll*
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
I still have my job...
So, as a former IT project manager in NYC I had a difficult time adjusting to being home. A REALLY difficult time. I went from having 42 plates in the air at all times and feeling like I was doing great things to... hmmm... laundry.
Enter child. Proceed to feel like a complete fish out of water SO much so that I actually take on a consulting assignment for a few months and when it ends, I know that working doesn't work for our child.
I have an aunt (who I love DEARLY) that talks about her job alot; but I don't understand her work and for a long time, I just couldn't participate in the conversation... until one day I'd had enough. Something snapped in me. I DO have a job. Granted, not one that most of America seems to value as WORK, but enough...!
I proced to commiserate with her about how some days I'm so busy I don't get to eat my lunch on time and that my boss is usually pretty understanding, but he doesn't DO my actual work every day--so really, he CAN'T "get it" until I'm out sick or on vacation (aka: trips to TX for court dates) and he has to actually DO my job.
Like today: I got up earlier than usual due to a headache. One of my direct reports (Matthew) who is always in the office early finally got a review session he's really needed for a week (violin practice). I grabbed some breakfast and since a morning meeting (Matthew's OT) was cancelled, I managed to catch up on some accounting (check processing for the organic produce coop) and procurement (buying the kids '10 summer wardrobe while Gymbucks redemption was in effect). Thank God that meeting was cancelled or I'd have been taking that work home with me and doing it after the kids went to bed.
I'd hired a temp (babysitter) for the afternoon who called out sick... so none of that planned work got done and it's going to definitely impact the timeline on that project (clearing out the house). So that sucks, but what can you do? People get sick and she's temped with us before so I know she's a good worker. I find out hours later that another temp we've used in the past was available unexpectedly. Ugh... I'm undoubtedly going to have to crash the project plan for that one (Crashing refers to a particular variety of project schedule compression which is performed for the purposes of decreasing total period of time--it's an actual PM term!). And since I'm good at my job, my boss is likely to ask about it but not complain. He at least realizes that I have a good track record. Bonus, because not all bosses (or husbands) do.
Meanwhile, I'm ditching a 5:30pm meeting (swim class) so I can meet a friend for dinner. The meeting wasn't critical nor was my attendance. My boss probably could've covered for me, but really--unnecessary.
And that's a day at my job...
I got stiffed for a raise last year. And the year before... but hey--I'm employed, right? (read: I'm grateful to be at home with my kids during a time when many can barely make ends meet with two parents working)
The thing is, now my job is 24/7 in a way my old job wasn't. With my old job, I got to a point where I was definitely "on call" 24/7... but nobody really called--ya know? Now, notsomuch. And even when I take a break, I can hear the covering co-worker over the cubicle wall struggling to do the work that I've just been doing with no problem (because I do it all the time). So it's easier for me to just do it FOR them and not have to hear everyone suffer.
My direct reports require constant redirection and support. (which really, isn't a whole lot different from when I had direct reports! LOL). And like a good manager, I'm always monitoring them and identifying opportunities to train them in something new or retrain them in something they're doing wrong before it becomes a habit. I have them enrolled in coursework relevant to their positions even when it's not in the departmental budget.
I feel like I never get time to take the training classes I need to do my job better (aka: read books and do research related to issues the kids have or our household needs). But I definitely hold my own in getting my work done. Of course, my boss is pretty supportive and more hands-on than most bosses. That being said, he lets me know when he's helping me too long. :) And I understand the constraints he is under, so I don't gripe much about the working conditions or benefits.
Occasionally I get a project that I can really sink my teeth into. What I love about my job is that with project management--it varies. The principles of project management don't change by the venue: you still have to research, plan, budget, execute, track and closeout. You still have to advocate for the needs of your goal to the Powers That Be. What I'm executing these days is more social services (foster care) as opposed to technology; and general management (tending to the house and it's various related tasks). I'm still deeply involved in a compliance environment since we have licensing to maintain for the state (as foster parents).
People look at me like I do SO MANY seemingly unrelated things. Like a "jack of all trades, master of none", and that's wrong: I have mastered my trade. In reality everything I do draws on the same exact skill set that served me well in corporate America. Seriously... I'm doing all the things I did as a manager and project manager. That translated REALLY well into teaching (because good managers are good facilitators of learning) and real estate (another place where helping people understand complexities and facilitating their transaction was key). Even being a foster parent is truly the same as project management. I loved my work likely because I was good at it, and I guess I'm decent at it now albeit a completely different venue.
And the perks are WAY different! ;)
--Heather
PMP, licensed teacher, mommy and foster parent
Enter child. Proceed to feel like a complete fish out of water SO much so that I actually take on a consulting assignment for a few months and when it ends, I know that working doesn't work for our child.
I have an aunt (who I love DEARLY) that talks about her job alot; but I don't understand her work and for a long time, I just couldn't participate in the conversation... until one day I'd had enough. Something snapped in me. I DO have a job. Granted, not one that most of America seems to value as WORK, but enough...!
I proced to commiserate with her about how some days I'm so busy I don't get to eat my lunch on time and that my boss is usually pretty understanding, but he doesn't DO my actual work every day--so really, he CAN'T "get it" until I'm out sick or on vacation (aka: trips to TX for court dates) and he has to actually DO my job.
Like today: I got up earlier than usual due to a headache. One of my direct reports (Matthew) who is always in the office early finally got a review session he's really needed for a week (violin practice). I grabbed some breakfast and since a morning meeting (Matthew's OT) was cancelled, I managed to catch up on some accounting (check processing for the organic produce coop) and procurement (buying the kids '10 summer wardrobe while Gymbucks redemption was in effect). Thank God that meeting was cancelled or I'd have been taking that work home with me and doing it after the kids went to bed.
I'd hired a temp (babysitter) for the afternoon who called out sick... so none of that planned work got done and it's going to definitely impact the timeline on that project (clearing out the house). So that sucks, but what can you do? People get sick and she's temped with us before so I know she's a good worker. I find out hours later that another temp we've used in the past was available unexpectedly. Ugh... I'm undoubtedly going to have to crash the project plan for that one (Crashing refers to a particular variety of project schedule compression which is performed for the purposes of decreasing total period of time--it's an actual PM term!). And since I'm good at my job, my boss is likely to ask about it but not complain. He at least realizes that I have a good track record. Bonus, because not all bosses (or husbands) do.
Meanwhile, I'm ditching a 5:30pm meeting (swim class) so I can meet a friend for dinner. The meeting wasn't critical nor was my attendance. My boss probably could've covered for me, but really--unnecessary.
And that's a day at my job...
I got stiffed for a raise last year. And the year before... but hey--I'm employed, right? (read: I'm grateful to be at home with my kids during a time when many can barely make ends meet with two parents working)
The thing is, now my job is 24/7 in a way my old job wasn't. With my old job, I got to a point where I was definitely "on call" 24/7... but nobody really called--ya know? Now, notsomuch. And even when I take a break, I can hear the covering co-worker over the cubicle wall struggling to do the work that I've just been doing with no problem (because I do it all the time). So it's easier for me to just do it FOR them and not have to hear everyone suffer.
My direct reports require constant redirection and support. (which really, isn't a whole lot different from when I had direct reports! LOL). And like a good manager, I'm always monitoring them and identifying opportunities to train them in something new or retrain them in something they're doing wrong before it becomes a habit. I have them enrolled in coursework relevant to their positions even when it's not in the departmental budget.
I feel like I never get time to take the training classes I need to do my job better (aka: read books and do research related to issues the kids have or our household needs). But I definitely hold my own in getting my work done. Of course, my boss is pretty supportive and more hands-on than most bosses. That being said, he lets me know when he's helping me too long. :) And I understand the constraints he is under, so I don't gripe much about the working conditions or benefits.
Occasionally I get a project that I can really sink my teeth into. What I love about my job is that with project management--it varies. The principles of project management don't change by the venue: you still have to research, plan, budget, execute, track and closeout. You still have to advocate for the needs of your goal to the Powers That Be. What I'm executing these days is more social services (foster care) as opposed to technology; and general management (tending to the house and it's various related tasks). I'm still deeply involved in a compliance environment since we have licensing to maintain for the state (as foster parents).
People look at me like I do SO MANY seemingly unrelated things. Like a "jack of all trades, master of none", and that's wrong: I have mastered my trade. In reality everything I do draws on the same exact skill set that served me well in corporate America. Seriously... I'm doing all the things I did as a manager and project manager. That translated REALLY well into teaching (because good managers are good facilitators of learning) and real estate (another place where helping people understand complexities and facilitating their transaction was key). Even being a foster parent is truly the same as project management. I loved my work likely because I was good at it, and I guess I'm decent at it now albeit a completely different venue.
And the perks are WAY different! ;)
--Heather
PMP, licensed teacher, mommy and foster parent
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