Did someone mention raise?!
Okay so if you're not dealing with a salary freeze, you received some type of increase- either a raise or a cost of living increase. Do you really need the extra money? As you may have figured out by now, once you get accustomed to a higher living style it is really difficult to go back. Thus, keep your living style to the basics and put your raise in a 401K account. You won't really miss the extra trip to a restaurant and you'll be thankful when you are able to retire earlier.
Showing posts with label On the Job. Show all posts
Showing posts with label On the Job. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24
Tuesday, January 20
Travel from DC to NY for $2 RT
HAPPY INAUGURATION!!!
Now how will you return home?
I feel like everyone knows about Chinatown buses to get from Washington to New York for $40 (roundtrip) but there is a relatively new company called BoltBus which is pretty incredible.
Basically Bolt's tickets range from $1 (yes they offer at least one $1 seat per bus) to approx $25 each way to NY from Washington. The best part of Bolt though is not that it can be cheaper than Chinatown buses but that these buses have wireless internet free of charge!
Bolt also has a reward program - travel 8 times, get a free trip.
Bolt also travels to Philly, Boston, and Cherry Hill. Check out their schedules here.
While you're at it, save your company money and take Bolt instead of Amtrak! Plus those work trips will count towards your rewards.
Now how will you return home?
I feel like everyone knows about Chinatown buses to get from Washington to New York for $40 (roundtrip) but there is a relatively new company called BoltBus which is pretty incredible.
Basically Bolt's tickets range from $1 (yes they offer at least one $1 seat per bus) to approx $25 each way to NY from Washington. The best part of Bolt though is not that it can be cheaper than Chinatown buses but that these buses have wireless internet free of charge!
Bolt also has a reward program - travel 8 times, get a free trip.
Bolt also travels to Philly, Boston, and Cherry Hill. Check out their schedules here.
While you're at it, save your company money and take Bolt instead of Amtrak! Plus those work trips will count towards your rewards.
Monday, December 29
Save your company $$ on conference calls
Most companies, even non-profits, continue to spend thousands a year using conference call services. This is crazy!! FreeConference.Com gives you access to your own dedicated call in number & password that you can use for FREE 24/7. Registration takes less than 5 minutes and is free. To get your dedicated number, click here and then click on "sign up."
While the number they give you is not toll free, remember that most people use cell phones and cells phones charge the same amount of minutes for toll free calls as they do for long distance.
I use this service and love it! Your company will love you too for using it.
While the number they give you is not toll free, remember that most people use cell phones and cells phones charge the same amount of minutes for toll free calls as they do for long distance.
I use this service and love it! Your company will love you too for using it.
Tuesday, December 16
It's not too late: Sign up for Flex Money!
Tax free money. Happy sigh.
Yes I'm a Democrat but I still enjoy tax free earnings!
Most employers offer medical flex accounts which shouldn't be ignored! Basically you guess how much money you will spend out of pocket on medical expenses for the following year and the amount you elect is saved in a medical account for you tax-free. "Medical expenses" is broad and includes products such as contact lens solution (although CVS recently offered contact solution as its free product two weeks in a row so no one should need contact lens solution for another year or two).
Anyway you spend for co-pays or allergy medications or prescription drugs or lasik and then mail your receipts into the flex company and they'll send you a check back!
While overestimating leads to potentially losing the money at the end of the year, there is a grace period that allows you to continue spending your flex money for the first few months of the following year. Plus you can always stock up on pharmacy products if you overshoot by too much.
I know a lot of people who wait until December to mail in all their receipts at once. I wouldn't recommend this. First of all, if you request the money as soon as you spend it you can make interest off of the $$. Second, you never know when they will reject what you feel is a valid medical product so it's better to know what you'll get reimbursed for sooner than later.
One last important piece of info- the minimum amount you need to put in your flex account varies based on your organization's plan but can be around $240 for the year and the max is $5,000. Hopefully you keep all your expenses in a budget so you actually know what you spent on medical products and services in 2008 to help you predict for 2009!
Send questions to funandfrugal20s@gmail.com.
Yes I'm a Democrat but I still enjoy tax free earnings!
Most employers offer medical flex accounts which shouldn't be ignored! Basically you guess how much money you will spend out of pocket on medical expenses for the following year and the amount you elect is saved in a medical account for you tax-free. "Medical expenses" is broad and includes products such as contact lens solution (although CVS recently offered contact solution as its free product two weeks in a row so no one should need contact lens solution for another year or two).
Anyway you spend for co-pays or allergy medications or prescription drugs or lasik and then mail your receipts into the flex company and they'll send you a check back!
While overestimating leads to potentially losing the money at the end of the year, there is a grace period that allows you to continue spending your flex money for the first few months of the following year. Plus you can always stock up on pharmacy products if you overshoot by too much.
I know a lot of people who wait until December to mail in all their receipts at once. I wouldn't recommend this. First of all, if you request the money as soon as you spend it you can make interest off of the $$. Second, you never know when they will reject what you feel is a valid medical product so it's better to know what you'll get reimbursed for sooner than later.
One last important piece of info- the minimum amount you need to put in your flex account varies based on your organization's plan but can be around $240 for the year and the max is $5,000. Hopefully you keep all your expenses in a budget so you actually know what you spent on medical products and services in 2008 to help you predict for 2009!
Send questions to funandfrugal20s@gmail.com.
Thursday, November 27
Negotiate a Higher Salary
Women- I am mostly talking to you.
Women make less than men and part of why is that women are less likely to ask for a raise or to negotiate a salary when taking a new job. Even in the current economy if you are making very little your company can probably afford to pay you more, especially if you are a huge asset.
Here are some tips:
Women make less than men and part of why is that women are less likely to ask for a raise or to negotiate a salary when taking a new job. Even in the current economy if you are making very little your company can probably afford to pay you more, especially if you are a huge asset.
Here are some tips:
- Before your annual review, make a list of all your major accomplishments this year to show what an asset you are.
- Print out salary comparison charts to show where you fall along the range (if you are in the 30% or less range you have a stronger argument). Also see if your college has salary ranges for recent graduates (Georgetown MBA Career Service Offers this Online for Gtown Grads) (Go Hoyas!).
- Don’t wait until December to ask!! Most companies start the budget process as early as August or September so that is when you need to mention the idea of a raise to your boss.
Good luck!!
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