Dear Prudence,
I work for a small, family-run business and all the employees are very
close. Almost no one brings their lunch and we don't make coffee in the
office. Whenever someone leaves to get coffee, a drink, or snacks from
the shops nearby, they ask if anyone wants anything and inevitably that
person ends up paying for all the drinks. The next day, it is someone
different and we all just figure that what goes around comes around.
Lately, however, I have been strapped for cash and have been buying only
for myself. This afternoon, when a co-worker found out I was going to a
food truck he gave me money to buy him something, and when I came back
everyone was upset that I hadn't offered to pick something up for them.
What do I do to make sure I am immediately reimbursed, in cash, for
purchases, and not in Gatorade and Fritos down the line?