I'm a happy camper

Had my first review at work today folks. Been working for the company since October, and I was promoted to a manager 2 weeks ago.

My review went something like this:

1 - you're doing an outstanding job
2 - we're going to continue to pay the rent on your apartment until the end of the year
3 - we're giving you an extra $5k per annum.

This equates to a salary of $60,000! Not bad for a 25 year old :cool:

Next year i'll have to start paying the rent out of my wages, but my gross will become $60k.

And I get to see my girlfriend for the first time in 4 weeks on Sunday \:D/

Floating on air at the moment :D

Congrats!!!!! Good news all around sounds like!

Be careful on the company supplied apartment. I had a company which paid rent on a house for me for a year (it was a killer house too), and come federal tax time, I found out that I had to report the amount of money the company paid for rent as income for myself and pay taxes on it... Suprise!

Woo Hoo congrats.... Maybe I should move to CA.....

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Originally Posted by cicide

Congrats!!!!! Good news all around sounds like!

Be careful on the company supplied apartment. I had a company which paid rent on a house for me for a year (it was a killer house too), and come federal tax time, I found out that I had to report the amount of money the company paid for rent as income for myself and pay taxes on it... Suprise!

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Oh, ok. Thanks for the tip :) I'll keep an eye out for that one...

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Originally Posted by Beerknurd

Woo Hoo congrats.... Maybe I should move to CA.....

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If you can stand the heat, do it!

What's the state tax in Texas? It's ~7.5% here...

Congrats spikey richie. Living up to your handle now!? Rich by name, Rich by wealth :lol:

Enjoy it and have fun. :)

That is awesome! I was thinking about moving down to CA from WA after I finish school ... of course I got the GF that I don't want to leave behind.

It seems like there are 10 times as many jobs down south as there are up here too, and I LOVE the heat!

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Originally Posted by spikey_richie

What's the state tax in Texas? It's ~7.5% here...

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Damn it's 8.25% here. And can I stand the heat. Texas is hot!!!! I guess your in Southern California.

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Originally Posted by Beerknurd

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Originally Posted by spikey_richie

What's the state tax in Texas? It's ~7.5% here...

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Damn it's 8.25% here. And can I stand the heat. Texas is hot!!!! I guess your in Southern California.

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Yeah, San Bernadino County. A little city called Colton.

Knowing the Internet I'd give it a week before the whole of Colton know what you're earning! ;) ;) :lol:

No more free steak for you sonny Jim! :lol:

haha - I'm probably the only white guy in Colton too, everyone else is mexican or well taned.

Congrats man. I'll have to wait at least 9 more years before I get a real job. But the payment will be worth the wait :D

BTW, don't complain about taxes because in Belgium it's 21%.

Here it's 22% and 40% :-( :-( :-(

You always have the odd ones (mostly the English :lol: )

13% here in BC now. Was 14%, but the PM lowered it 1% on Canada Day (July 1st). He said he'll lower it another percent later.

Just to clear something up about the taxes in the good ol' USA when making comparisons...

These guys were talking about State taxes. Now there are different kinds of taxes. Each state has their own sales and/or property tax and most states have their own income tax. Now, I don't know specifically which tax they were talking about (I suspect state sales tax), but the rates they mentioned are not high enough to include both.

Within each state are counties and most counties have property taxes, and most towns and cities within the counties have property taxes (double taxation anyone?). Then there is the federal income tax - which tends to be the largest tax burden for most Americans. To add to the confusion there are various "sin" taxes on tobacco products, liquor and other products. There are fuel taxes, excise taxes, federal communication taxes (internet, cable, DSL and cell phones), hotel taxes, death taxes (taxes on what someone leaves, when they leave - that they already paid taxes on no less - and more double taxation), etc. Added to this are a whole long list of nickle and dime fees, surcharges, penalties and other means to squeeze the blood out of the working citizens. Woops; don't forget Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

For most middle class working Americans, when all taxes fees and other charges from the varied sources are added they equate to 30% - 40% of the average worker's gross salary. So when George W. sends me back my check for $500 to stimulate the economy I say "Thank you very much for the tip." and go buy foreign fuel from supporters of fundementalist radical terrorists and products from communist China - to stimulate someone's economy.

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Originally Posted by Steve Lux

Just to clear something up about the taxes in the good ol' USA when making comparisons...

These guys were talking about State taxes. Now there are different kinds of taxes. Each state has their own sales and/or property tax and most states have their own income tax. Now, I don't know specifically which tax they were talking about (I suspect state sales tax), but the rates they mentioned are not high enough to include both.

Within each state are counties and most counties have property taxes, and most towns and cities within the counties have property taxes (double taxation anyone?). Then there is the federal income tax - which tends to be the largest tax burden for most Americans. To add to the confusion there are various "sin" taxes on tobacco products, liquor and other products. There are fuel taxes, excise taxes, federal communication taxes (internet, cable, DSL and cell phones), hotel taxes, death taxes (taxes on what someone leaves, when they leave - that they already paid taxes on no less - and more double taxation), etc. Added to this are a whole long list of nickle and dime fees, surcharges, penalties and other means to squeeze the blood out of the working citizens. Woops; don't forget Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

For most middle class working Americans, when all taxes fees and other charges from the varied sources are added they equate to 30% - 40% of the average worker's gross salary. So when George W. sends me back my check for $500 to stimulate the economy I say "Thank you very much for the tip." and go buy foreign fuel from supporters of fundementalist radical terrorists and products from communist China - to stimulate someone's economy.

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Well said!
Don't forget the death tax if you get something when someone dies. :roll:

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Originally Posted by jugraham

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Originally Posted by Steve Lux

Just to clear something up about the taxes in the good ol' USA when making comparisons...

These guys were talking about State taxes. Now there are different kinds of taxes. Each state has their own sales and/or property tax and most states have their own income tax. Now, I don't know specifically which tax they were talking about (I suspect state sales tax), but the rates they mentioned are not high enough to include both.

Within each state are counties and most counties have property taxes, and most towns and cities within the counties have property taxes (double taxation anyone?). Then there is the federal income tax - which tends to be the largest tax burden for most Americans. To add to the confusion there are various "sin" taxes on tobacco products, liquor and other products. There are fuel taxes, excise taxes, federal communication taxes (internet, cable, DSL and cell phones), hotel taxes, death taxes (taxes on what someone leaves, when they leave - that they already paid taxes on no less - and more double taxation), etc. Added to this are a whole long list of nickle and dime fees, surcharges, penalties and other means to squeeze the blood out of the working citizens. Woops; don't forget Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

For most middle class working Americans, when all taxes fees and other charges from the varied sources are added they equate to 30% - 40% of the average worker's gross salary. So when George W. sends me back my check for $500 to stimulate the economy I say "Thank you very much for the tip." and go buy foreign fuel from supporters of fundementalist radical terrorists and products from communist China - to stimulate someone's economy.

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Well said!
Don't forget the death tax if you get something when someone dies. :roll:

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My bad you done said death tax. :oops:

In Belgium, roughly half of your wage is taken by the Belgian state. It can be more but that depends on your wage. I'd call that stealing if you'd ask me.

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Originally Posted by Frederic Brillouet

In Belgium, roughly half of your wage is taken by the Belgian state. It can be more but that depends on your wage. I'd call that stealing if you'd ask me.

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And I thought I was getting robed! :shock:

About 60% of my parents' wage is taken by the state :mad:

If I had to pay that in taxes I think I would go Postal! :evil:

Most of our taxes are also multi-tiered based on income. I remember when Jimmy Carter was the US Prez there was a 75% tax rate for our wealthiest citizens. Of course the wealthiest had the resources to pay for counsel that could help to significantly reduce the tax burden through loop holes and sheltering. I have long been a proponent of a semi-structured flat tax rate. This would destroy the tax councilling industry (advisors, consultants and lawyers), something that wouldn't hurt my feelings one whit as they don't create national wealth nor do they contribute to our society.

Anyhow, I'm certain we have all heard our own tax horror stories of abuse, cheating and graft, but what makes me feel worst of all is that our IRS, legislature and courts have created and continue to support an antagonistic environment where the government is every citizen's enemy in the year leading up to, and especially as you get nearer to, the 15th of April. I have no problem with paying my fair share, provided it actually is my fair share and if only we didn't have to expend so much time and effort attempting to protect ourselves and our assets from our own governments.

Several countries have nationalized medical/dental programs. Typically about 7-10% of American middle-class gross income goes to pay for our own medical/dental/prescription insurance. Some union jobs pay for all medical, but co-pay is the trend that is replacing the no-pay programs. Medical costs are simply too high for many companies to fully support and stay profitable much less competitive. For retired or self-insured people the costs can be significantly higher (15 - 20% of gross income) because they don't have the barganing power of employee group numbers on their side and/or because they are a higher risk.

Anyhow, if Belgium has nationalized medical/dental programs that would account for some of the added tax burden.

As Steve suggested, I was referring to the sales tax when I quoted ~7%.

The tax I pay on my gross is ~28-30%

In the UK it was 22%, but then sales tax (VAT) is 17.5%

But still, 99.9% of things in the USA are cheaper.

For example gas/petrol in the USA is 1/2 of the price the UK pay.

I just want to mention congratualtions on a job well done spikey_richie. Nice promotion in pay helps when someone notices your doing a good job.

I am still waiting for the tremndous boost of getting paid a salary for what I do! Soon it will happen, nice going on the Raise! :D

As for Sales Tax: Pennsylvania charges 6% sales tax, and wages average about 28 to 30% off the top of your wages. Additional charges are what we call the breathing tax this is just $10 per year till your over 72 then it is free. School taxes are very high, property taxes are simply outrageous.