It's literally a different economy. It plays by different rules and has different expectations.

Making the mental adjustment coming from a public college to a private company regarding money has been one of the most difficult transitions I've ever faced.

At the college I had a $250,000 annual budget for IT that had to be planned out to the best of my abilities nearly a year in advance of the actual physical year, get approval from 2-5 levels of management for the budget, and then be flexible on when the money became available to purchase depending on the states fiscal economic factors.

In a private company now, even when I volunteer to do something to save money, they say it's not worth my time and effort, pay someone to do it.

Purchases under $25,000 can be made without approval, over that I just have to ask my direct report for approval.

I'm still personal finance budget minded, so they don't have to worry about me buying gold plated toilet hinges or anything, but it's still financial whiplash even years later for how they do things.