Monday, August 25, 2008

What To Do With A Raise?

I got a 4.5% raise. Just a tad more than inflation. After taxes, insurance, 401k and giving are deducted, I am left with the generous amount of...$94 a month.

Now what shall I do with it? My boss suggested subscribing to Netflicks. That's his answer for everything. What's the meaning of life?...Netflicks. I don't need any more entertainment right now.

I could buy something I have always wanted. Hmm, my want list says birkenstocks, a sun hat, wallet, and shorts. Not very exciting really. Plus if I buy myself everything I want what will I ask people to buy me for Christmas?

How about more travel money? Too bad I don't have more vacation time.

I can spend more on food so people at work won't make fun of me for eating the same thing all week. But who wants to be just like everyone else?

I could save up for a new paint job for my truck. It has some scratches and peeling spots. But then I will worry about every new ding and scratch. Everything here has thorns. They don't call them Arizona pin-stripes for nothing.

How about re-decorate the RV? Those pink curtains are quite dated. But I've lived with them 8 years, I think I can survive a few more years.

I could put some money in to my poor car that was chewed on by pack rats, get it running again and sell it. But I'm emotionally attached because it was my first car and I'm not ready to sell it yet.

Ok ok, if you've been reading this blog for more than one day you can probably guess what I will be doing with my new found riches. That's right...it's going towards the mortgage. Predictable, I know, but this raise (and hopefully next years raise) will take a whole month off of my mortgage plan(as long as no other unexpected bills show up). How could I pass up the possibility of being mortgage free a whole month sooner? I think I'm obsessing but I like it!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Focus is good!

Anonymous said...

That's exactly what we would do with our raises! Focus is good :)

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

Well done Daizy, I never doubted you for a minute!

Birkenstocks are good too though, the last forever and meen you can keep on your feet all day. I have office ones, garden ones and mooching about at the weekend ones.

Did I read somewhere you only get 2weeks holiday a year? Is that legal????

Daizy said...

Thanks all for the encouragement!

Yes 2 weeks is the depressing norm. It is actually 10 days but if you count the weekends it is 2 weeks. We also get 2 personal days so that's a little bonus I guess. Sick days get accrued each month but can only be taken with a doctor's note. We get 10 holidays too. At my last job I worked 4 days a week, 10 hours a day so I had 3 day weekends plus they let us work on holidays and save those days for later. I miss that job!

How much vacation do you get lizzie?

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

Hi Daizy.
I get 23 days straight holidays (used to be up to 26 depending on length of service but this has stopped with my new contract). Also 3 days extra holiday at Christmas - has to be taken then as we close the building from Christmas Eve until after New Year. On top of that we get 8 bank holidays (national holidays). I also get the chance of flexi days where you can accrue extra hours and take a day off - this is one per month, so 12 in total. I work loads of extra hours, far more than this so I can always take these if I need them. We get paid full salary for the first six months of any illness, but with a doctor certificate after the first week. If you are still sick then the next 6 months is discretionary by your manager.
For some reason I am feeling both lazy and spoilt!

Lizzie @ her homeworld said...

I forgot to say my working week is 37 hours, core hours for flexi are 10-12 & 2-4. Used to be 35 but again I had to lose a bit when i went for my new contract.
New contract pays much better ofcourse, or I wouldn't have given up my hours and days leave quite so easily!

Daizy said...

Wow! I'm jealous of your schedule Lizzie. After 5 years I will get 15 days of vacation. I doubt I will make it that long. I'm only on year 2.