Quick Tip: Pay & Collect–She’ll Never Know
It’s Money Skimming Month (read the intro). The Donkey shares his secrets for surviving, even thriving, despite the meager allowance approved by The Wife.
The Pay & Collect Method
In this method you offer to pay for other people’s expenses on your credit card, and request that they repay you in cash. This works best when you are at a restaurant with your kids and your friend and his kids. Pay the entire bill and then collect the cash. This can be an overt operation if your friend knows your plight. This also works well if you and your friend go to the store to make some purchases. Buy his stuff on your card and then collect cash later. You will now have an extra $5-$15 to spend. Typically your wife will not scrutinize the receipt if the collection amount is small enough. If you get greedy though, you will blow your cover and get busted. It’s all about balance.
11 Responses to “Quick Tip: Pay & Collect–She’ll Never Know”
You have serious problems….. Wow….
By Anonymous on Oct 12, 2007
financial ones, yes. wouldn’t you with just $10/wk? Maybe I should be more gracious. I started out with $1/wk as a kid, so I guess I’ve had a 1000% increase.
By The Donkey on Oct 12, 2007
i like the idea, but what happens when the wife says hey, why did it cost $50 when you went out to eat with your friend? if you say you paid and he gave you cash, won’t she want the cash?
By phil on Oct 12, 2007
My mom has done that to me. She bought concert tickets for me and wanted the money back in cash. Which is ok with me since technically I was supposed to be paying for them. xD
By Jenny on Oct 12, 2007
Jenny, sounds like your mom is my kind of lady.
Phil, it sounds like you have not mastered this technique. $50 is too much to spend. That throws up a red flag. I recommend no more than $25, especially if you are eating fast food.You have to pick your opportunities wisely or you will be busted
By The Donkey on Oct 12, 2007
what if she asks how much something costs and says “if it cost $15 why did you spend $25 on the card?” do i say i put my friend’s on the card and he is giving me cash, this will burn me.
By phil on Oct 12, 2007
no way. it’s a matter of how much you charge. If she will question $25, then you can only go to $20. This way, she will think it sounds like the right price. You might also consider not getting yourself anything and just eating off the kids’ plates. That will lower the bill allowing you to bill more to your friend
By The Donkey on Oct 12, 2007
One advantage to her is that you can use your skymiles or cashback credit card. She gets a little bonus off of the additional spend. I might consider doing this, not to skim money, but to rack up the miles.
By Karlmalone on Oct 13, 2007
This could back fire if you know cheap people. If you buy them something they may not factor in the tax and that would cost you more in the long run.
By Anonymous on Oct 14, 2007
The tax is a small price to pay for ready cash. Think of it as cheap loan shark borrowing.
By BrianFH on Oct 19, 2007
@brianfh: I can tell you truly understand this concept. Way to go!
By The Donkey on Oct 20, 2007