Expenses more than freebies
but you'll see where I'm going with it in a minute.

I do a lot of work abroad, which naturally entails running up bills for hotels, meals, flights, equipment etc. which can run into the thousands. Here comes the interesting bit...

Before I go on each trip, I purchase a small amount of the local currency at as bad a rate as I possibly can. I then purchase everything on credit card (which has a better exchange rate by about 5% at times) then submit the receipts, but at the worse exchange rate.

This means that, on average, I'm making 5% profit on every expense I run up. My last set of flights (last week) were just under £1,500 and the total expenses bill for the contract was £13,000-ish. 5% of this is £650, which goes free (of cost to me, and certainly guilt free) straight into my pocket. I'm a bad person.

EDIT: As if to teach me a lesson, my baggage was lost on my last trip, and I still haven't got it back. At least this means that the insurance will buy me new stuff!
( M3rx likes the Asian ladies, Tue 13 Nov 2007, 12:38, 5 replies)

I like this
I must remember the technique for my next overseas work trip!

[makes notes]
( K2k6 has a proper job these days, Tue 13 Nov 2007, 13:34, closed)

do you
purchase the stuff with your own credit card? or the company's?
(papa bouba slap your face, Tue 13 Nov 2007, 13:48, closed)

My own credit card
for which I get cashback or airmiles, depending on which I use.
( M3rx likes the Asian ladies, Tue 13 Nov 2007, 13:49, closed)

papa bouba -
if he used the company card, they'd spot the fraud straight away. But let's hope they do an audit, and find out anyway.
(haberman is singing in the changes, Tue 13 Nov 2007, 14:10, closed)

haberman
That's a little harsh isn't it? It's not like he's making anything up. If he just paid at the bad rate in cash for everything, the company wouldn't be any better off, something he's entitled to do unless told otherwise
(alpha2omega, Tue 13 Nov 2007, 18:38, closed)