A dollar a day: the Hickman way

The PENny Saver
By Rod Hickman
YACA Secretary

It’s no secret: the state’s budget problems are immense, requiring all state employees to “pitch in” and cut costs. That’s where my “Dollar-a-day” (DAD) program comes in. If every employee in the Youth Authority and Corrections follows a few simple guidelines, their efforts will result in a net savings of a buck each workday. Multiply that by 22 workdays, times 12 pay periods, times some 50,000 employees and it adds up to thousands of dollars in no time!

Unfortunately, old habits are hard to break. We have become accustomed to wasteful procedures. We may not recognize them as such and, therefore, miss the obvious in terms of corrective action. By way of assisting staff in meeting their DAD quotas, this column will become a monthly feature containing tips, suggestions and success stories from our more conscientious employees.To get the proverbial ball rolling, I offer the following suggestions for your consideration and implementation:

Fold, don’t bunch-Extensive studies by the National Hygiene Association (NHA) indicates that folding toilet paper prior to use, versus wadding (or bunching), requires an average of 17% less paper per session. Refolding and applying the unused surface increases the savings by up to 28% per evacuation. Assuming an average of 1.3 sessions per employee, per day, the budget crises’ end is within our reach. We will wipe out that deficit in no time.

Don’t “clip” the taxpayers-Staples cost about one cent per dozen. Paperclips range in cost from $.02 to $.56 each, depending on the type and size. Of course, paperclips may be re-used, however, the potential savings are lost when we include them in mailings or otherwise permit them to be removed (unlawfully, I might add) from state grounds. Further, staff often unbend paperclips for use as makeshift toothpicks and earwax extractors. This isn’t just wasteful; it is destruction of state property and cannot be tolerated! For multi-page documents, diagonally fold the upper right-hand corner, tearing a “notch” in the middle of the fold. Bend the resulting “tab” away from the fold to securely lock the pages together. Saliva or any other ‘free’ liquid may be used to cement the tab in the locked position.

Let them eat cake-The Correctional Food Manager’s Association of America (CFMA) estimates that the cake-crumbs and icing dollops wasted per baking sheet amounts to 3 full servings. Henceforth, these “leavin’s” are to be served in the form of pound-cake. Simply scoop up a handful from the sheet and pound it into a cake. Voila!

Let there be dark-We all know to turn out lights when leaving a room. But what about while we are IN the room? Do we always need the lights on? For example, in the staff restroom it makes sense to turn on the light upon entry. However, once you are on the toilet it is a waste to leave the lights on. Why not keep a flyswatter or broom handle beside each commode so staff can reach over and turn the switch off from the seated position? Once your ‘duty’ is done (don’t forget to fold!), flip the switch back on. Also, by way of saving water (and money), forgo washing your hands. Instead, rub them together vigorously to create free, germ killing friction-heat. Some staff may want to use soap and water until they have mastered the use (and folding) of toilet paper in the dark.

These are just a few of the ways we can make DAD a reality. Let’s all do our part to save this great state.

Next Month: New uses for those old soap slivers
Extra life from spent ink-pens
How to make 3 thin rubber bands out of 1 thick one