That’s right, I just made 10,834 new friends today. All with the first name George, last name Washington. Sure these “friends” may be inanimate objects (one dollar bills to be exact), but that doesn’t make them unimportant. In fact, they will be a GREAT asset for my future.
You know that $12,000 raise I have been talking about lately? Well I finally got it. I know what you are thinking, $10,834 is not $12,000. You are right, kind of…
On 12/31/09 my salary was $50,547. On January 1st, my salary was”adjusted for inflation” to $51,617. And today my salary is $62,451, making for a grand total gain of $11,904 in the last two months. If you don’t understand the government pay system you can see my breakdown of it here.
It’s hard for me to fathom a $24,255 salary increase in the two years I’ve been working. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t turn me on a little… okay A LOT!!!!
I don’t really plan to do anything different with my larger paycheck. I will likely just contribute more to my savings and continue paying down my student loan ahead of schedule. Even though my salary has increased, my standard of living hasn’t. And that brings me to today’s message: When one’s salary goes up, his/her cost of living does not have to follow suit.
Sure you could use the $4,000 bonus you got to buy 4,000 double cheeseburgers off the dollar menu at McDonals, but is that really necessary? Heck to the no it aint. Real wealth building occurs as salary goes up, but expenses don’t. Suck on that materialism.
Seeing that there was no real room for dialogue in today’s short message, I’m just gonna ask some questions that I hope you will answer…
1) What’s the largest raise/bonus you ever received and what did you do with it?
2) Would you stay in a position you LOVED even if there was slim to no chance of upward movement?
3) Do you have any suggestions for ways to make PDITF better?
4) What are you doing this weekend?
5) Can you “afford” her?…
Happy weekend all!!!
1. $1600 and I bought furniture with it.
2. Probably not. I would just find another position I love more…
3. More pictures of HER.
4. Giants spring training game! And working on my budget. And probably yoga.
5. I will trade you some foodstamps for her.
1. Largest raise was from $52,500 to $74,000. Largest bonus was $38,000. No major changes with the money. Taxes and retirement accounts.
2. Yes.
3. Just keep evolving, we will tag along.
4. Playing video games, relaxing, guys nite out harassing local debutants etc… (loving the wife of course;)
5. Yes.
$20K bonus. A couple of times we had planned home improvement projects..but once roofs were replaced, sewer was not backing up in the basement, and the furnice was no longer giving us CO poisoning, we put it towards mortgage balance.
1) What’s the largest raise/bonus you ever received and what did you do with it? $35K bonus. Saved it and used it to help finance two years of staying home full-time with my kids (then a newborn and a 2.5-year old).
2) Would you stay in a position you LOVED even if there was slim to no chance of upward movement? Absolutely. Especially if it provided intellectual challenge, and a good work/life balance. Would I stay FOREVER in that position? No, but I'd stay for as long as it worked for me.
3) Do you have any suggestions for ways to make PDITF better? nope
4) What are you doing this weekend? Kids sports games, church, work, visiting a friend in the hospital, family movie night, pot-luck with friends. The usual.
5) Can you “afford” her?…
1. Never really got a great raise. Switched jobs once and went from $44k to $80k, that was nice. Got a new vehicle with that (as well as a new life).
2. If I loved it. Money isn't everything; quality of life matters. Sadly, haven't been in that job yet.
3. Interactivity is good (like this poll idea).
4. Chillin! Weather finally nice. Watching the Mavs extend their win streak.
5. Can I *not* afford her?
1. Largest raise/bonus: well, I got 2 raises in a 4 month span. The first was a $10k raise, the second was a $20k one, so $30k in one year. I raised my standard of living by $5k, and have put the remaining funds toward aggressively paying off debt.
2. Would I stay in a position I LOVED if there was slim/no chance of upward movement? As long as I could pay my bills and save adequately for the future, yes. Not forever, but for a time I'd certainly be willing to do it.
3. Suggestions to make PDITF better? None.
4. Weekend plans: BF and I have been together 4 years tomorrow, so we're going to a couples massage place, making something yummy in a crockpot, and then going to a party in the evening. For Sunday, church, then we'll make brunch at home, and then we'll watch basketball. Lurves us some basketball.
5. Can you "afford" her? Ummm, do I want to?
1. Never had a really large raise/bonus. At this point, being able to find a job would be the biggest bonus in my life!
2. Yes! Happiness at work is pure gold…..and if the wage is livable…
3. I am an artist by trade. More funny drawings, please.
4. Weekend: work my ass off on multiple grad school projects, go running, do tax organizer, clean house, go for ski and sauna at a friend's.
5. Um, since I'm unemployed, I actually can't afford her! Haha!
1) What’s the largest raise/bonus you ever received and what did you do with it? 11K post taxes, so $19K pre-tax? ALL TO DEBT BABY. I'm better than all y'all. Not really, but it felt horribly satisfying at the time to stroke that check and get one of our creditors out of our lives forever & ever amen. Then the 2009 tax refund gave back the over-withheld $2.5k and it went…ALL TO DEBT BABY. I need to not have debt, to be better than all y'all I guess.
2) Would you stay in a position you LOVED even if there was slim to no chance of upward movement? Yes – for a while at least. Because I would love it in spite of it having no chance of movement.
3) Do you have any suggestions for ways to make PDITF better? a cartoon a day would be nice, but we want you to have time to perform & keep your new job, so I guess not.
4) What are you doing this weekend? Prepping for a camping trip – fo free (love company-subsidized travel!)
5) Can you “afford” her?…Why would I want to?!
1) We've had a number of windfalls over the years – one of my favorites was $6,000 and we bought a grand piano.
2) I am in that job right now!
3) I really like the current format of PDIT. Hope you can keep up posting so often!
4) I'm cleaning this weekend and working with a Scouting group.
5) I'll take her word (er, shirt) for it and not even try to afford her!
1) The largest raise was $6,000. I don't remember what I did with it. It was just an increase to my monthly paycheck. Stashed it away to savings, etc.
2) Yes, I would probably still stay in this position that I enjoy. I am right now eventhough my salary is only $73K.
3) You're doing a great job. Not suggestions.
4) Hanging out with friends and watching movie.
5) Eww no.
1. It was roughly $10,000 but I don't remember exactly anymore.
2. Only if I loved it and could see myself staying in that job for the rest of my career. That means, no. If I was within 10 years of retirement…maybe.
3. Love it.
4. Snowboarding.
5. um…I have a penny.
Great raise! That's big ballin and has confirmed my belief that there is simply NO RECESSION if one works for the government!
During the last 2 years, the # of gov't workers making over 100K rose from 14% to 17%! Awww yeah!
My raise was hefty this year, only b/c my bonus will be smaller commensurately. Net, net is a wash.
I guarantee you at your income level, you WILL have lifestyle inflation! It's all good.
BTW, Greg from Elimiinate The Muda looking for you if you want to join the Yakezie google groups.
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