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This is an intrusive personal question

Potvin63 said:
I had previously responded to this thread several weeks ago and have an update on my job status, possibly for the better.

I currently work in the Legal department for a major corporation in NJ as a contract employee and have been here for over a year. My engagement with them will likely end at the conclusion of this month. However, I got a call a few days ago about a contract job for an even bigger company, based in NJ, that's closer to home and that will pay me $10 more an hour than what I make now for performing similar work.

Contract jobs aren't ideal but the staffing firm that would be paying me offers better and cheaper benefits than I have now and I enjoy working 40 hour weeks because it allows me time to do things I enjoy. Just thought I'd keep everyone posted and will return once I know for sure I have a new gig and boost in income...
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Great to hear that things looked up for you :)
 
I make 420k after taxes (last year made 502k after taxes, and 2008 made 559k a year). I work from about 7am to 10pm 6 day a week, 90-110 hours a week. Income includes patents, stocks, and lecturing money. Some times I work until 1 am or 2 am. I can and do work from my apartment. Don't really have a choice in the hours, I work until there is no more work. I really don't have a life.

I have a phd and post doc in computer science, specializing in wireless communications and server configurations.

Oh and for the record, I only pay about 20%-ish in taxes. While my co worker make 50k a year and 43% in taxes. I should pay more, for how much I am making. And I have no problem with the money the governemnet takes, as long as it helps americans and not used outside of the united states.
 
RiverOfIce said:
I make 420k after taxes (last year made 502k after taxes, and 2008 made 559k a year). I work from about 7am to 10pm 6 day a week, 90-110 hours a week. Income includes patents, stocks, and lecturing money. Some times I work until 1 am or 2 am. I can and do work from my apartment. Don't really have a choice in the hours, I work until there is no more work. I really don't have a life.

I have a phd and post doc in computer science, specializing in wireless communications and server configurations.

Oh and for the record, I only pay about 20%-ish in taxes. While my co worker make 50k a year and 43% in taxes. I should pay more, for how much I am making. And I have no problem with the money the governemnet takes, as long as it helps americans and not used outside of the united states.
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What do you do exactly River? I would have said you're a professor...but they don't really make that much O.o
 
APDell said:
Its an unfair thing. Every man I know or have heard of who has fought for custody except for one, has gotten pummled.

A woman can get child support and welfare and never have to work and be making more than a person who has a job and kids and is single...

Unreal. How broken is the system...
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What kills me, is not every situation is the same, but the outcome usually is the same. It kills me cuase I have heard of guys that quit thier jobs just to get a low child support and then go get a good one after.....

Yet I tried to do the right thing, turned in all my paperwork, and am always there for my kids and everything, and BAM, got slammed in court. It just doesn't make sence to me.
 
RiverOfIce said:
I make 420k after taxes (last year made 502k after taxes, and 2008 made 559k a year). I work from about 7am to 10pm 6 day a week, 90-110 hours a week. Income includes patents, stocks, and lecturing money. Some times I work until 1 am or 2 am. I can and do work from my apartment. Don't really have a choice in the hours, I work until there is no more work. I really don't have a life.

I have a phd and post doc in computer science, specializing in wireless communications and server configurations.

Oh and for the record, I only pay about 20%-ish in taxes. While my co worker make 50k a year and 43% in taxes. I should pay more, for how much I am making. And I have no problem with the money the governemnet takes, as long as it helps americans and not used outside of the united states.
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WOW. That is a lot of hours. I agree with the taxes part too. I just hate when it goes to people who refuse to help themselves.. ya know?

Thanks for the input!
 
9to5cynic said:
River, you wouldn't be interested in clearing a bamboozled college student's debt would you? :D
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You can make it through! I hope I did not offend you when I said I felt that some college students were being bamboozled. I guess it was my way of making sense of it all. I am sure you are intelligent! :)

jjbova said:
What kills me, is not every situation is the same, but the outcome usually is the same. It kills me cuase I have heard of guys that quit thier jobs just to get a low child support and then go get a good one after.....

Yet I tried to do the right thing, turned in all my paperwork, and am always there for my kids and everything, and BAM, got slammed in court. It just doesn't make sence to me.
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I hear you. A close friend of mine is going thorugh some rough times right now with his baby's mama. The thing that drives me insane when I hear about it is that the baby girl is sucha sweety. SO dang cute. Its just not fair to her.
 
APDell said:
You can make it through! I hope I did not offend you when I said I felt that some college students were being bamboozled. I guess it was my way of making sense of it all. I am sure you are intelligent! :)
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Not offended at all. Just re-raised some concerns of my own. ;)
I consider myself moderately intelligent. :D
 
coldfuzion said:
My situation isn't really similar, but I kind of feel your pain. I'm a mechanical engineer (24 yrs old) ,(graduated college in december 2009 with a BS in mech. engr. ) , finally got my first engineering job (as an intern) in september 2010 making 15 dollars an hour. When they finally put me on salary in early 2011 (after telling me once they were going to do it a few months earlier, then finding out that my boss's boss, the owner of the company, didn't think they should... what a confidence booster that was... )

So currently i'm the only person with the title "Mechanical Engineer" at our company (we only have maybe 25 employees) my boss is one too, but his title is VP of operations,
I went into my yearly review with hopes of negotiating a salary (somewhere in the 50-60k range is average for starting mechanical engineers) , but instead, my boss tells me "You're making about 31[k per year] right now , so we'll bump you up to 33."
and that was the end of it.
(so, just for comparisons's sake, that's approximately 2750 a month before taxes , take-home pay being almost exactly 2000 after all is said and done) benefits include a 401k plan (my company doesn't have the money to match controbutions) , high deductable health insurance (3000 dollars I think?) , health spending account, and one week paid vacation per year (more after working there for like 5 yrs I think)




Our company designs/builds/sells outdoor products (outdoorrooms.com is the web address if you want to see specifically what i'm talking about) like fire pits, fireplaces, custom bbq grill islands, currently we're working on some new stuff involving gel fuel for indoor/outdoor portable fireplaces and tabletop units. Nothing super high tech, although we do have some unique products and patented technology.

Currently I do a lot of CAD drawings for new and existing products, I do google sketchup renders of grill islands for potential customers, create framing drawings to be used in a steel "roll former" machine (similar to those machines that make custom length gutters , except that this one does steel studs for building structures) , I write-up instruction manuals for new products and re-write crappy chinese ones from products we've outsourced to China, If I have time, I brainstorm ideas for new products and modifications to existing designs, as well as help out around the office with my computer knowledge (doesn't take much to know more than everyone in your office when you're the youngest person working there by a few years) , etc...

the hours I work are generally 40 a week, although its kind of expected that if they need more from me, I'll do it (sucks not getting overtime anymore...)


I'm currently living with my parents still (I know, lame...) so I can't really complain as far as money goes, but I'm moving out within the next few months and am not quite sure what that'll mean for my financial situation considering I already pay about just over 400 dollars a month to my student loans, among a few other bills I now have, such as car payments , insurance, cell phone, (and a few other bills that if it came down to it, I could probably cut out all together if need be)

I feel like maybe its greedy of me to want more than what I'm making, considering some people would be happy to be making as much, but it just sucks when you're making less than a lot of people who skipped college and just went into a trade such as heating and AC installation, construction, etc. Those people didn't end up 50 grand in debt, 4.5 yrs behind in making a steady income, and can now afford to live better than myself.


i feel like i'm starting to ramble here... this has been something that's been frustrating me for a long time, but the work keeps me busy and I do enjoy the people I work with , and , for the most part, the work I do there.

as everyone says though , (this is directed at you, OP)
if you don't like what you're doing , find something you do, becuase you spend too much of your life working to not enjoy it, considering , (depending on your religion I guess) you only get one chance to enjoy your life.


having said that, I realize how tough it is to just switch jobs in this economy considering a lot of companies are STILL laying people off and not a lot of new jobs are being created in any field (except maybe suicide prevention, but that might be a volunteer job...lol)


for a comparison though, I have an acquaintance from college who graduated a year after me, got offered a job straight out of college with goodrich (sensors and systems) as an electrical engineer starting at 68k per year.
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I'm guessing a long distance move is out of the question for you, but if not, with the way the oil field is booming right now (Midland, Tx has a 0% unemployment rate right now...literally) I know of multiple companies that would hire you assuming your grades in college were not atrocious. My roommate is a junior majoring in ME and managed to land a $34/hr INTERNSHIP with Chevron for the summer. Couldn't hurt to apply around down here and see what happens.

I, myself, am a Petroluem Engineering student right now, but this summer I worked as a roustabout on a saltwater diposal project. Put in 65-75 hours per week at $15/hr which really isn't something that I'm going to complain about, though it definitely will not be something I do for the rest of my life. Spent 30+ consecutive days out in 100+ degree heat and it was more than enough motivation to make me want to graduate.
 
coldfuzion said:
I'm currently living with my parents still (I know, lame...) so I can't really complain as far as money goes, but I'm moving out within the next few months and am not quite sure what that'll mean for my financial situation considering I already pay about just over 400 dollars a month to my student loans, among a few other bills I now have, such as car payments , insurance, cell phone, (and a few other bills that if it came down to it, I could probably cut out all together if need be)
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Just by the way you are talking you definitely need to move out.

Older than 21/22ish it really sucks living at home there are no 2 ways around it and you aren't going to find a girlfriend living at home either.

Sure the $$ saved and home cooked meals can be nice but boy will you be so much happier being independent. You miss out so much in life living at home with your parents.

You can't put a value on independence and unless you simply can't afford it, you'll be a much happier person if you make the move.

Even if you can't afford your own 1 bedroom, you can find nice people renting for 400-600 per room including cable/utilities. Cut down all of your bills and get rid of unnecessary expenses.

Life is short and when you realize you tried to save a couple bucks by living at home for 5 years of your youth you'll be sad in the end.
 
^ male prostitute by night lol

fail-owned-kool-aid-fail.jpg
 
I make a measly $9.40 an hour working for Bob Evans putting in my 36-40 hours a week. I just ended a long-term relationship and have taken on the bulk of the care for our son. Ended up returning to my parents because I'm pretty badly damaged financially right now. All in all, I think I'm the lowest guy posting here. Hooray for me....
 
Drhyde said:
I make a measly $9.40 an hour working for Bob Evans putting in my 36-40 hours a week. I just ended a long-term relationship and have taken on the bulk of the care for our son. Ended up returning to my parents because I'm pretty badly damaged financially right now. All in all, I think I'm the lowest guy posting here. Hooray for me....
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*hugs* I hope things turns for the better for you soon DrHyde.
 
Drhyde said:
Thanks I need as many hugs as I can get. That and painkillers, but the hugs are much easier to come by.
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Plus, hugs are much better for your system than many pain killers. I've found hugs to actually be pain killers, for many types of pain. Not all, of course. But many. :)
 
I make about $0 as a college student. Not really a chance to work when I'm putting in 18.5 hours with 3 lab classes; I spend around 24 hours in classes a week and anywhere from 24 to 36 hours studying a week. I do some computer work for under the table money, but it isn't even close to being able to pay for college. Luckily, the government decided to cut $14k of my awarded (not need based, awarded) scholarship money over the next four years. /sarcasm I have 7 more years of this for a MD not counting residency.
 
drdoom said:
I make about $0 as a college student. Not really a chance to work when I'm putting in 18.5 hours with 3 lab classes; I spend around 24 hours in classes a week and anywhere from 24 to 36 hours studying a week. I do some computer work for under the table money, but it isn't even close to being able to pay for college. Luckily, the government decided to cut $14k of my awarded (not need based, awarded) scholarship money over the next four years. /sarcasm I have 7 more years of this for a MD not counting residency.
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Tell yourself that once you're done school, you will reap the rewards of the 9 years (11?) you put into school/residency.
 
Roze said:
Tell yourself that once you're done school, you will reap the rewards of the 9 years (11?) you put into school/residency.
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Most definitely. If being a surgeon wasn't enough of a motivation, $250k or more a year sure is. :D
 
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