Sod the MP's expenses, I'm more concerned about news readers I've never seen before earning £90,000. It's a lot of money for reading an autocue and looking pretty. Its no wonder our TV tax keeps shooting up.

In my first permanent job, we were given a set amount for meals and incidentals - if you didn't spend it all, you kept the difference. However, that didn't last long and was replaced by a receipts system. I know some people "bent" the system a bit, but not by much.

She's not just a news bimbo, though.

Carrie Gracie profile

£92k is a lot for someone paid for out of the TV tax, but the Beeb would argue they have to pay a going rate to get the best people. *shrug*

I'd say for those sort of messed up hours, you'd probably be looking for one hell of a payout compared to an 'average job' where you've a bit more 'stability' day to day. And who wouldn't take that pay if someone was stupid enough to offer it to you?

The expense system at work was basically "You tell us what you think you spent, we'll have a look and see it's about right, yep, here's your money back". Now it's "Receipts! No receipt to money!"

Ditto.

A few pens. I usually stick one in my coat pocket, forget about it, and then take it out when I feel it as I put my seltbelt on. They collect in my car, but most of them end up back on my desk at work, although a few make it home. None of it is intentional, and I do work from home some evenings and weekends, so I wouldn't class it as stealing.

I don't think it's worth risking your job or future employment prospects for the sake of pinching something from work.

As for expenses, everything requires a receipt, so it would require a concerted effort to fiddle. Not worth bothering for a few quid, IMHO.

I once entered a toll expense incorrectly into the spreadsheet and ended up claiming €340 instead of €3.40. This honest mistake came to light years later and I had to repay the amount back, which was fair enough.

When one of our old offices closed down, I cheekily asked my boss what I could take. I still have the hundreds of rolls of parcel tape, the guillotine, the photocopier and so on!

Peter.

I could list the items my boss has borrowed and is still yet to return. His answer when I ask if he's finished with them is "just get another one, I'll sign the form"

These days there's more stuff I take to the office from seminars etc.

Al

There is one thing about the "here's what you can spend" system - whereas before you used to spend as little as possible and pocket the difference, now you try and spend as close to the limit as possible. I've spent many a night in a hotel knocking back Macallan until I'd spent my allowance. The best place was a hotel in Donegal - open fire in the bar, room overlloking the Atlantic....those were the days.

I'm intrigued by all these different expense systems.

There are no obvious limits or policies at my company, it's all fine provided it is reasonable. They require some sort of receipt for more expensive claims, such as hotels, but meals or tolls are fine without one.

Peter.