What do you buy for use at work with your own money?

[Deleted]

Teachers are famous for spending their own money on supplies - how about you?

I bought myself 2 24" LCD screens for my office at work.  Work provided 2 22" screens, which doesn't sound like much smaller, but they had a lower resolution also.  The new LCD's gave me a lot more usable space.

[resolution]

I provide my own pc, printer, internet and land line. Plus my own office space, heating cooling, etc. They would mail me office supplies but i just buy my own so they don't waste more money shipping than the supplies are worth.

[8 Bit WWBG]

A fan, and my own water.

[justme]

A heater. 

I need to get something to raise my monitors up at least 6 inches to be all ergonomic...not entirely sure whether work will spring for it or not since they're coming down on overhead. 

[Ombud]

When I worked for the government, I bought my own pens, notepaper, briefcase, desk supplies. It was easier than jumping through all the hoops to get the requisitions through. Also would bring in my ien hammer and nails to fix things. Did you know a requisition can pass through 3 desks and take all morning to have a loose screw tightened? Easier to close the door (so the union d/n know) just do it

[taz157]

My old office: 19" TV, office decorations including pictures, any office supplies (e.g., pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.) that I liked better than what was provided

When I left last year, I took everything I purchased with as I loved what I had gotten

Current office: Any office supplies I like that aren't already provided, small space heater. If I am promoted on June 30th and get my own office, I'll probably use a little of my prior office decorations as it would be a smaller office.

[msventoux]

A nice attache bag to take supplies when I go out to clients, a pencil holder and calculator for the bag.  I've stocked the bag with company supplied office supplies (notepad, pencils, paperclips, etc.). 

I have issues though.  I don't keep anything personal at work in the event I want to quit immediately or get fired.  I want to just walk out the door, not try to remember what I should be taking with me.  I've worked in the same office over 10 years, but you never know what might happen. 

[chiver78]

Jun 19, 2014 20:34:39 GMT -5 justme said:

I need to get something to raise my monitors up at least 6 inches to be all ergonomic...not entirely sure whether work will spring for it or not since they're coming down on overhead. 

do you have a copier, w/paper stock? grab a ream or two and see what works for ya!

personally, I buy my own pens and notepads. I don't like the stuff that's stocked in the supply cabinets, and really - a $2 notepad and a $4 box of pens are not going to break my bank.

[justme]

Jun 19, 2014 21:16:22 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Jun 19, 2014 20:34:39 GMT -5 justme said:

I need to get something to raise my monitors up at least 6 inches to be all ergonomic...not entirely sure whether work will spring for it or not since they're coming down on overhead. 

do you have a copier, w/paper stock? grab a ream or two and see what works for ya!

personally, I buy my own pens and notepads. I don't like the stuff that's stocked in the supply cabinets, and really - a $2 notepad and a $4 box of pens are not going to break my bank.

Ha! I actually just did that today. 5 reams later (two monitors) it's somewhat decent. It'll probably bother my coworkers more than me just keeping it like that. 


As for other supplies, I might buy my own if I wasn't the one that bought them for my office so I buy what I like. 

[Cookies Galore]

Specifically for work to leave at work I have my water bottle, tea stash, a sweater, and New Kids lunchbox full of snacks. The pen and pencil supply at work is awesome, and some pens may or may not have fallen into my purse.

[kjto1]

A fan.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Wait, so am I allowed to answer? 

[formerroomate99]

I've bought keyboard wrist supports, mousepads, pens, paper, technical manuals and other little things.  A coworker of mine bought her own office chair, since she had back problems and wasn't standard size. 

And at nearly every job I've had, my monitor(s) have been on 3-4 reams of copy paper. 

 

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Jun 19, 2014 20:07:48 GMT -5 @mmc said:

Teachers are famous for spending their own money on supplies - how about you?

I bought myself 2 24" LCD screens for my office at work.  Work provided 2 22" screens, which doesn't sound like much smaller, but they had a lower resolution also.  The new LCD's gave me a lot more usable space.

Everything.  But I buy everything for 70 cents on the dollar.

[Deleted]

I brought in a small fan, a small refrigerator, and a toaster oven also.

[ZaireinHD]

I am very spoiled! I have to purchase nothing.
I also see some of our Techs use our corp cards to spend $.78 for parts

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I bought a nifty desk chair since I loathed the one that they have.
And I bought my own desk-top fan.
I also bring in my own pens, because they always seem to disappear.
I also bought a shelf for our coffee mugs, and my wonderful DH hung it up for us.
Oh, and a flyswatter.


(My "job" is a full-time volunteer position with a non-profit. I'm in charge of fundraising for the non-profit, and it was just simpler to buy these things than try to raise more $$, LOL)

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Any office I've worked in (mostly it was Engineering or Accounting fields) has supplied pretty much everything needed as far as office supplies.

(I've also had some pens or mechanical pencils/leads, post-its, etc accidentally fall into my purse when I wasn't looking.)

About the only thing of my own I've ever brought in was a coffee mug.

[bimetalaupt]

Everything: yes I am self employed. Now to be fair I also the worst Dempsey Diver you have every meet.  I feed my worms Cardboard boxes from the Dempsey, paper from the Store, coffee grounds from my AM pot of coffee in the leaf litter from the trimmings and grass Cuttings with oil-sand   from the Ranch.  

How is that for Cheap? Sell Worms? Yes $2.00/12 of the very large E. Hortensis or $2.50 for 12 super large L.Terrestris.

If they do not sell: I go fishing.

[Happy prose]

They really bought me everything I need, including a fan and heater. The only thing I brought from home is a knife to cut bagels when we have them and a different knife for cake. 

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2014 23:39:00 GMT -5 formerroomate99 said:

A coworker of mine bought her own office chair, since she had back problems and wasn't standard size. 

That should be covered under ADA- I had a coworker with back problems and they bought her a special chair. When she left for another job she called the guy in charge of logistics and asked him to send it to her new job.

In the last months before I left my job I brought my Bose headphones.  I was in Cubicleville and working with some pretty hairy programming and needed to focus.  The co-worker on the other side was on phone calls with clients- a lot.  Not her fault at all- she was brilliant, and good with clients, and they needed her on those calls, but it made it was horribly distracting.  The Bose phones didn't cut off noise completely but it deadened the sound to the point that I couldn't make out the words, which was a huge relief.

[midwestlily]

Jun 20, 2014 7:09:24 GMT -5 @athena53 said:

In the last months before I left my job I brought my Bose headphones.  I was in Cubicleville and working with some pretty hairy programming and needed to focus.  The co-worker on the other side was on phone calls with clients- a lot.  Not her fault at all- she was brilliant, and good with clients, and they needed her on those calls, but it made it was horribly distracting.  The Bose phones didn't cut off noise completely but it deadened the sound to the point that I couldn't make out the words, which was a huge relief.

My job involves listening to audio files, so they've provided me with a set of AKG headphones.  But they come in handy for blocking nearby conversations when needed.  Also, there was a woman who used to work here who looked for any excuse to talk endlessly and tediously about her life (her menopausal symptoms, her son's drug-addicted wife, you get the idea), so whenever I saw her passing my desk, I put the headphones on.  Luckily that discouraged her from talking to me.

As for things I've bought:  I donated an old microwave to our kitchen, because at 700 watts it was still more powerful than the ancient one they had when I got here.  I bring in a clean sponge at the beginning of every month (not this month because I'm irritated about probably not working here next month).

Also, I bought myself a MacBook Air to take to meetings and conferences.

[Nazgul Girl]

   When I worked in a cubicle, I bought (at various times ) a fan, a ceramic space heater, pens that "flow" better for my carpal tunnel wrist ( Paper Mate Profile ), an ergonomic keyboard to take with me when I left to replace the one the company bought me and was worn out, gloves with no fingertips because they were not turning the heat on in the winter, a Bose headset, cds, an ergonomic stapler, and some decor for my cube (pictures, etc. ).   I took it all with me in January when they wanted my cube for a new coder.   

[kittensaver]

Tea bags. The office finally got a water filter, so no more hauling in water.

In my office, routine supplies are easy to get - walk over and take what you need out of the cabinet. Nobody abuses this and the cabinet is kept well supplied Guess I'm lucky

[Cass]

I'm on my feet all day so I go through an endless supply of shoes and socks.

And coffee, because theirs sucks

[Nazgul Girl]

Jun 19, 2014 20:37:50 GMT -5 taz157 said:

My old office: 19" TV, office decorations including pictures, any office supplies (e.g., pens, pencils, highlighters, etc.) that I liked better than what was provided

When I left last year, I took everything I purchased with as I loved what I had gotten

Current office: Any office supplies I like that aren't already provided, small space heater. If I am promoted on June 30th and get my own office, I'll probably use a little of my prior office decorations as it would be a smaller office.

   Good luck, taz, I hope that you get the promotion !!

[wvugurl26]

I buy pens because it is hit and miss if they buy what I like. Hiliters too because they buy cheap ones. I catch the ones I like on sale $1 for a 3 pack. I also brought in a pen holder I already had. I bought a pair of scissors in but those are mostly used for personal stuff like cutting shipping labels. Sharpies are the other thing. And Clorox wipes for wiping down the desk. 

For working at home I bought a number keypad because my laptop doesn't have a dedicated one. I also have a mouse pad I had that I threw in my laptop bag. 

[Deleted]

I came SO close a month back to buying a short throw projector for my office and mounting it above my whiteboard.  I was then going to buy an e-beam device to turn it into an interactive whiteboard - www.e-beam.com/home.html

Then I convinced my management that we need to build a conference room around Microsoft's Perceptive Pixel display.  www.microsoft.com/office/perceptivepixel/

I'll have to schedule the room of course to use it, but that's fine.  It is superior to what I would have put in my office and won't cost me anything.

The 82" Perceptive Pixel display is about $20,000..  

[Deleted]

My lunch!  That's about it.

[cktc]

Other than tea, and mugs I don't really buy things "for" the office. I will bring in something I already own that I think would be handy in the office like a certain kind of envelope, printer paper, reference book or headphones. Occasionally I'll use my own stamps or Kleenex if the office supply is low or too much hassle to locate.