In our world a Code 77 is when the cash in a register is a certain amount above the base fund (usually $200). Generally it's $700 and we are required to do a pickup.
It's usually all the hundreds and fifties and a fistful of twenties. Usually over $500 in twenties. We count these out, enter into the register how much we are pulling, and find someone (usually the cashier) to do a second count (and we all initial everything).
Lately I've noticed that just about none of the cashiers can multiply. That is they can't count a pile of twenties, multiply by two, and add a zero. They tend to make $100 piles. This is slow and less safe (with little piles of money on or under the counter). I actually am pretty sure just about anyone can multiply by two. I suspect they just don't trust multiplication (a pile of money makes some people nervous; especially if they have to initial the results).
I heard a T.E.D. Talk by a statistician saying that the lottery isn't a tax on the poor. It's a tax on the stupid (he may have used a kinder, more politically correct term).
Meanwhile our 401k signup rate (an easy, tax-free savings that the company matches in part) is very low. Our company foundation has a scholarship program giving away thousands of dollars. So far, in my four years at Borders, I don't know anyone who has applied. Free money, people!
But I can understand since most of our staff lives paycheck to paycheck (payday is a big deal, god forbid the checks are late!). And I've been thinking about Robin's cash-flow problems. If you only have ten bucks you might as well eat a turkey sandwich from Subway.
We try to teach the time-value of money (shocking that it's not taught in schools!). But when you're poor (including working poor) it's a non-starter (don't get me started on the bizarre prevalence of cigarette smokers in retail). HOWEVER, what youth do have in abundance is time.
Invest in learning something, starting a business, even volunteering. Create something.
Watching TV, shopping (ugh), hanging out with friends until dawn, sleeping until noon, obsessing over music, fashion, cars, video games... any popular culture time-suck is a big waste of time.
I know I'm out on a limb here when I'm saying hanging out with friends is a waste of time. And any of these in moderation are probably healthy, good, and positive. But let's not forget about work, LEARNING, and finding smart, successful people to "hang out" with (like in a class).
This comes someone who mispent his youth and now picks up other peoples money.
1 comment:
...and the other thing the young 'uns do is eat out all the time ~ never bringing food from home.
I did the same thing and I was poor then too and I also smoked and wasted many of those precious years. I think that's just part of the package. We probably learned more than we think we did.
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