Ten cents? Nah.

Ten cents mean a lot to me. My team was having a meeting together and we were wondering how to get more volume for our weekly coffee tasting. When we finally decided that the reason was that it was not catchy enough, we wanted colour printouts, and not the dull black and white copies our store could produce. I was in charge of that and the team wanted me to print it. They wanted me to pay for it. "It's only ten-cents"

I was pissed. Not only was my idea not taken at many intervals after so many unnecessary times, they made me feel like I can't even spend ten cents. I reasoned to myself, I'm here to earn money, not to contribute to society because I'm too embarrassed or unable to claim.

I could have confronted them and make a strong suit about how I wouldn't pay it no matter how they forced me but I thought otherwise. It did bug me even though.

Along the way, I was fuming. Who are they to say that? I really wanted to tell them, of the extent I go just to save ten cents, and then here they are, telling me, it's only ten cents.. you mean you can't afford it?

A ride from my station to the airport direct is $1.70 in terms of fare and easily takes 1hr and 10 mins maximum. A ride with a transfer would probably take 45 mins maximum and cost $1.81. If I am not in a rush, I would take the former. Now tell me the difference for the extra 25 mins of journey.

I see every bit of money as important to me and I try very hard to limit my expenditure. I really wanted to blast out at them then(it's my life values being attacked and challenged), but I recognised being professional and kept it to myself.

Finally I realised what I should have said instead. Hey guys, I know it's only 10cents, but I'm really tight and every cent matters a lot to me, so I can't really print it in full colour. You all okay with my other suggestion on using the store printer?

I think it would be much better than the silence I caused trying to ignore that particular comment/