[Brag] Don't Ask? Don't Get! $2000 saved.

[Shwa Girl]

In January, I saw an Alberta conference I wanted to attend. Work sometimes pays for education conferences, so long as they are in Ontario.

During my work review meeting, I mentioned the conference to my boss. Boss says, we can't pay for the whole thing, but if you link it to what you want to learn and improve plan this year, we could pay for something. Went to Alberta in May.

Conference fee - found an Ontario group that payed for the conference
Time off work - payed by employer
Hotel room - payed by employer
Flight - payed by friends as family as early 2015 Christmas gift
Meals - included in conference

Out of pocket - $20 for night out with people met at conference

Now planning for next year's conference in Manitoba. A tip from people I met at the conference is that if you help to plan the conference, you become a committee member and you go for freeeee.

Hey, if you don't ask, you don't get.

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view3/156...cable-me-o.gif

[dededi]

Awesome brag Shwa Girl.

[Shwa Girl]

Thanks dededi. I learned so much and they did and awesome job filling the time with great ideas that I could take back to share with my coworkers.

[frugallegemom]

Woot woot! Awesome brag! Very impressive. :D

[Anna P]

For education that is informative, fun, and free! Good for you for asking. I'm glad you were able to bring back the knowledge and share it with your coworkers. You have to love 'the gift that keeps on giving'.

[cath007]

Love the title!!! Awesome brag!!!

[Shwa Girl]

For education that is informative, fun, and free! Good for you for asking. I'm glad you were able to bring back the knowledge and share it with your coworkers. You have to love 'the gift that keeps on giving'.

Thanks. So true.
I also met a few people from Ontario that want to work with me and maybe do our own presentation about our work, at next year's conference.

This is a little scary because each year, people came from across Canada and the US to attend this conference.
On a positive note, it's increasing my network of colleagues and can go on my resume.

[walkonby]

oh wow! Nice strategy to get to go to that Conference Shwa. These educational trips must be a win/win for both the employer and the employee.

[Shwa Girl]

oh wow! Nice strategy to get to go to that Conference Shwa. These educational trips must be a win/win for both the employer and the employee.

Thanks walkonby.
You are so right! The employer does win. They can write it off on their taxes as an education expense.

If any body wants to use this brag for their education at work, remind your boss that the human resources department can use it as an education tax write off

[ashp]

Great opportunity for making connections! And you always win when you learn new skills and meet new friends!

[Lavender Lady]

Where there is a will, there is a way. My motto.Very nicely done!

[Shwa Girl]

Great opportunity for making connections! And you always win when you learn new skills and meet new friends!

Well, it looks like I will be putting those new skills to work as early as next month. One of our clients has asked for a new project next month, which uses the skills I learned from the conference. My boss will be happy with this return on investment

[walkonby]

^^ that was fast! Way to go!!

[vw_girl]

Awesome brag! I love work conferences. Keep it up and look for any opportunities you can! Last year I went to two and it was the only way I would have had a vacation otherwise as I did not have the savings to take a trip with airfare/hotel etc.

One was in Florida and started on Monday so I arrived Saturday night and had one full day to myself to explore. Took a a guided water taxi trip to explore the area then hung out at the pool and the beach during any down time. That was a fantastic location!

Then I had one in Nashville which in itself was awesome because I was able to use a bit of down time to explore and got to take in a concert Then I took a $100 flight to New Orleans which was on my bucket list and took a couple vacation days and worked it into 5 days there because it ran into a weekend. Work had to pay to get me home and my flight was cheaper from NOLA than from Nashville, so that was no problem at all. All in all it cost be about $500-700 including all my spending money in NOLA to finally cross a dream I had had since I was 14 off my bucket list.

Just getting registered for this years and one is in Phoenix....I am thinking Sedona or Vegas.....

[Little_Winter]

Awesome story !!! Congratulations !!!