My paperless story so far
After years of studying I finally landed my first job! I'm in the construction market. Since the financial crisis it has been a hard time acquiring a job in any sort of niche in the construction market, because beside banks, insurance businesses and pension businesses it was one of the first sectors that got a direct hit from the crisis.
I have started with this job the first of november 2011. So it has been merely a couple of weeks ago and I already love it. I am working together with about fifty people you work alongside who are very nice, friendly, casual and genuine. I hate it when there are people around me who are merely kissing butts. But they did not so you won't here me complain!
Finally a week in which Gina and I had peace of mind. We just sat at the couch all week not doing too much but watching television playing some games and we even did some wii fit together. I particularly loved cooking dinner together and having a romantic evening. It was a long time ago that we were focused on one another this much so this was the perfect timing.
I was feeling terrible last few months that my girlfriend had to pay for all the costs that we were making. Finally I could also take care of us both with my new job. I had to calculate how much salary I would have left after taxes. I used a paycheck calculator as a tool to establish how much of my paycheck would finally end up in my pocket, but I needed some info on the w4 form which I got there. I must say that I am pretty ok with the amount that I need to pay. I expected it to be way worse.
My girlfriend is still happy with her job. She has been doing community work at two different schools and at at an institution for disabled kids. She likes it over there but it can be rather hard. What is crazy is that she is working there for a long time already and I just had a new job, yet I earn extra money than she did. How fair can life be? I was smiling, but she was certainly not enjoying it.
I did notice something about taxes in the US that I have read recently and that I was actually amazed with. Initially evidently the social security taxes are there for one year. It was a one-year only reduction and I thought it would stay for a longer while. That's a 2% extra deduction down the drain. If you were thinking of adopting a youngster you have two weeks left. Why? Because the refundable tax credit for adoption will lead to 2011 as well. Talking about a dreadful year aren't we? And finally there is a change in the alternate least tax. I am glad that I missed that boat, because I finally got a job and make enough money to pay too much money for the minimum tax anyway. For the few people who are making the bare minimumÖ stay strong.
So with the tax stuff rising and everything becoming more expensive I have been looking at our major expenses in 2011. We want to save some cash to purchase a new car as we really want a bigger car for our future kids. We've been looking at a ford, Toyota and Volkswagen. Our main expenses were: rent (which now became a mortgage naturally), going out for dinners, gas for the automobile, vacation, clothing, insurances and our present car and finally medical care. That is just about inline with the national average. I looked that up at Wikipedia.
There are lots of tools, which you can use to track your costs on a day-to-day, weekly or monthly basis. I have tracked this for 6 months and it used to be a great way to establish. I just recently heard of mint which apparently is a site where you can also make a link with your bank account. This way it is easier to keep track of all the amount paid you are making during your life. I meanÖ I remember when I did it. It took me about 2 hours a week to keep track of everything. The first two months I was actually using basic pen and paper, but I switched to Excel fairly quickly. In excel you can easily make a tab with your revenue, a tab with your expenses and and overview of your earnings minus the costs. This way you get an evident view of your net amount monthly. I required to do this, because our income was pretty low and I just required to be free of any debt.
Next week we'll continue carrying out the house. There are a few things that need to be done in order to completely finish. I know what you are thinking "a house is never finished". This might be the case at our place as well, but we currently have the feeling that if we do the last few changes we're really getting somewhere near perfection. The garden is one of our main concerns. It is a junkyard now. There are many kind of piles with dirt, wood and metal. There is scarcely and grass and the shed that we've will not survive a light sea breeze. Thankfully we've a very handy father-in-law who can make a shed for us with some wooden panel, some nails and too much free time. I think we should ask a tiny donation from him. Because we are keeping him busy in his free time haha!
I have started with this job the first of november 2011. So it has been merely a couple of weeks ago and I already love it. I am working together with about fifty people you work alongside who are very nice, friendly, casual and genuine. I hate it when there are people around me who are merely kissing butts. But they did not so you won't here me complain!
Finally a week in which Gina and I had peace of mind. We just sat at the couch all week not doing too much but watching television playing some games and we even did some wii fit together. I particularly loved cooking dinner together and having a romantic evening. It was a long time ago that we were focused on one another this much so this was the perfect timing.
I was feeling terrible last few months that my girlfriend had to pay for all the costs that we were making. Finally I could also take care of us both with my new job. I had to calculate how much salary I would have left after taxes. I used a paycheck calculator as a tool to establish how much of my paycheck would finally end up in my pocket, but I needed some info on the w4 form which I got there. I must say that I am pretty ok with the amount that I need to pay. I expected it to be way worse.
My girlfriend is still happy with her job. She has been doing community work at two different schools and at at an institution for disabled kids. She likes it over there but it can be rather hard. What is crazy is that she is working there for a long time already and I just had a new job, yet I earn extra money than she did. How fair can life be? I was smiling, but she was certainly not enjoying it.
I did notice something about taxes in the US that I have read recently and that I was actually amazed with. Initially evidently the social security taxes are there for one year. It was a one-year only reduction and I thought it would stay for a longer while. That's a 2% extra deduction down the drain. If you were thinking of adopting a youngster you have two weeks left. Why? Because the refundable tax credit for adoption will lead to 2011 as well. Talking about a dreadful year aren't we? And finally there is a change in the alternate least tax. I am glad that I missed that boat, because I finally got a job and make enough money to pay too much money for the minimum tax anyway. For the few people who are making the bare minimumÖ stay strong.
So with the tax stuff rising and everything becoming more expensive I have been looking at our major expenses in 2011. We want to save some cash to purchase a new car as we really want a bigger car for our future kids. We've been looking at a ford, Toyota and Volkswagen. Our main expenses were: rent (which now became a mortgage naturally), going out for dinners, gas for the automobile, vacation, clothing, insurances and our present car and finally medical care. That is just about inline with the national average. I looked that up at Wikipedia.
There are lots of tools, which you can use to track your costs on a day-to-day, weekly or monthly basis. I have tracked this for 6 months and it used to be a great way to establish. I just recently heard of mint which apparently is a site where you can also make a link with your bank account. This way it is easier to keep track of all the amount paid you are making during your life. I meanÖ I remember when I did it. It took me about 2 hours a week to keep track of everything. The first two months I was actually using basic pen and paper, but I switched to Excel fairly quickly. In excel you can easily make a tab with your revenue, a tab with your expenses and and overview of your earnings minus the costs. This way you get an evident view of your net amount monthly. I required to do this, because our income was pretty low and I just required to be free of any debt.
Next week we'll continue carrying out the house. There are a few things that need to be done in order to completely finish. I know what you are thinking "a house is never finished". This might be the case at our place as well, but we currently have the feeling that if we do the last few changes we're really getting somewhere near perfection. The garden is one of our main concerns. It is a junkyard now. There are many kind of piles with dirt, wood and metal. There is scarcely and grass and the shed that we've will not survive a light sea breeze. Thankfully we've a very handy father-in-law who can make a shed for us with some wooden panel, some nails and too much free time. I think we should ask a tiny donation from him. Because we are keeping him busy in his free time haha!
writingwithoutpaper - 23. Dec, 18:01
