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The B.E.S.T. Bulletin

Business Expense Survival Tips

- August 2009 -

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Helpful Ideas when Ordering Supplies

When making credit card purchases, you are encouraged to group together smaller orders whenever possible.  Rather than ordering something the minute you run out, keep a list of what you need and only order once a week or once every two weeks.  It is more cost effective for the university as well as the vendor if you place one big order rather than multiple small orders.  This also applies when running to a local store to pick up supplies – group multiple trips together.

When ordering office supplies, use CMU’s preferred vendor – Office Depot.  In order to get CMU contracted prices, you will need to set up an user account.  For more information on how to do this, visit the Contracting and Purchasing Services website and click on Contracts on the left followed by Office Depot.

  • Time Saving Idea - Once you have a user account established, you have the ability to create a personalized shopping list.  You can save on the items you are continuously ordering in “My Saved Lists”.  Rather than searching for the same items every month, you can just bring up your list and enter a quantity next to the item you want to order and it is added to your shopping cart.

Group Travel
In limited circumstances, lodging and business meals (within per diem) for large groups may be charged to one employee’s business card. This is only allowable for candidate search committees, set up crews for out of town events put on by University Events, theater/performing groups and Gear Up when traveling with large numbers of young children and chaperones. This does not include business conference travel and requires prior approval from Payroll and Travel Services.  If you have any questions, please call 774-3525.

REMINDER - Expiring Credit Cards
The majority of the CMU Business Cards have expiration dates of 09/09.  For those of you that have an expiring credit card, you can continue using it until 9/30/09.  Your new credit card will be delivered to the Payroll and Travel Services Office at the beginning of September.  We will send out an email when your new credit card is available for pickup. 

Statistics for the July Statement Period (6/25/09 to 7/24/09)

Total Spend                                          $623,010.60

Total Number of Transactions            3,652

Average Charge                                   $170.59

Open Credit Cards                               788

Cards with Activity                            498

 

To see past BEST Bulletins check out our website by clicking here.

 

Thanks,

Payroll and Travel Services

Cindy Smith     7363     smith1cl@cmich.edu

Chris Zalud      3525     zalud1ce@cmich.edu

Kim Wagester 7388     wages1ka@cmich.edu

Sara Yonkey    3797     yonke1sl@cmich.edu

Mary Hill          3481     hill1mm@cmich.edu