Expensing an umbrella
 

At the old job I would just use my generous per diem to cover this. The new job wants receipts for everything!
Went to Washington, DC last week. Weather reports said no rain. Then while I was there the weather said rain for my last day so I stopped into a nearby CVS and bought an inexpensive (about $13.50) umbrella. Since this isn't something I needed to eat or to do my job is there a category for this? (I'll probably just call it lunch with a lost receipt.)
I guess the question is how to expense something that may not really, really be a necessary item or something you buy that would fall under a personal/reuseable category.
By the way, I have accumulated about two dozen inexpensive travel umbrellas. (Maybe I should start bringing one with me all the time?)

I probably (though not necessarily definitely) wouldn't expense it, frankly.

Readers may find this old thread of interest:

What's the strangest thing you've expensed?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=297158

#40 on the posting actually discusses the expensing of an umbrella.

If it's not covered under the policy, then expensing it would be dishonest and petty theft. It's yours. If the company ever starts looking for a reason to fire you, you've given them one.

I bought a pair of tiny $10 umbrellas by Totes for Mrs BamaVol and I. They can't be any longer than 6". I keep mine in my computer case which means it travels with me although I may not always have access to it when the rain starts.

We could usually put this under incidentals and attach a receipt. This is also how we got our aircraft power adapters paid for since IT wouldn't give them to you!

I would classify it under "other expenses," which requires an explanation but is usually pretty forgiving. The reimbursement people where I work are pretty merciful, thankfully.

I might go with "Office Supplies" and list the umbrella as the detail. If the company doesn't think that's appropriate they can question or deny that line. I wouldn't lie about it.

Office Supplies is kind of a broad category when out of the physical office. Think of it as a shorter version of the phrase "Accessories I need to do my job properly that aren't covered by other categories."

I wouldn't expense it for a trip to the airport, but if I was going to be exposed to the rain on my way to meet a client, then I might.

Regardless, I wouldn't go to the wall to fight for this expense from the company.

Cromely.

Wow, that's like four or five times what an umbrella costs on the streets of manhattan (price of course depending on the weather, more if it's raining).

I wouldn't expense an umbrella, it's not like you will turn it over to the company when you get back or anything, it's yours.

From the don't be dumb department, don't be dumb.

The murderer usually doesn't get caught at the crime scene, he gets caught for expired license plates. I'm not suggesting in any way that you have done anything else wrong, but it is always the small stuff that seems to get people into trouble.

Don't be dumb. $13.50. Dumb is relying on a weather forecast to determine whether you pack appropriately figuring you can expense missing items if you mis-packed.

Sorry to be so blunt, but don't be dumb.

Do what is reasonable and customary.

Where I work it's "misc" or you generate a taxi ride.

Check the boondoggle website Find-The-Boots for stories and tips. Disclaimer: I post a lot of stuff there.

I have expensed an umbrealla in London with no problem - but then we don't have a per diem nor did I require a receipt for it (IIRC).

Yeah, you should! ;) You might even pack one permanently in your briefcase and/or carryon

And on the original topic: not to point out the obvious, but you could ask someone at work what the policy is on expenses of this nature. @:-)

Back in my hustlin' days, I used to stock up on cheap umbrellas at the dollar store and sell them for $10 in tourist areas when it rained.

Entrepreneurship at its finest! ;)


Don't expense the umbrella - always keep several cheap dollar ones handy, like in your briefcase for occasions like this.

They shouldn't care what you spend your per diem on. Isn't one of the points of a per diem that they give you an amount and don't audit it? That's the way I treat my employees anyway. If they spend less, they make money, if they are extravagent, it's out of their pocket.

You should definitely look at your companies expenses policy to see what they will and will not cover. If it is not clear from that then put it down but be totally clear what it was and why you had to buy it. The worst they can do then is say no. If you try to hide it then you are open to dismissal and possibly criminal prosecution. My company has a zero tolerance policy on fraud and anyone caught deliberately manipulating their expenses will be dismissed and prosecuted (A high price to pay for a $13 umbrella).