I don't care what you think about Mr. Obama as Commander-in-Chief of the United States.
You have to admit one thing about the Obama's....
they're a model family for America. Ms. Obama's insistence on an 8pm bedtime and chores in the White House is a great way for children to be raised. Especially considering the type of life these young girls lead.
I hope many American families will adopt some of their child-rearing tactics.
Inspiration from this NY Times article.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
April Trip
Part of being a teach means getting a week off at Easter (read: Spring Break).
My travel itinerary needs to be completed.
I need ideas/suggestions. My current list (not exclusive):
- Hong Kong/Taiwan. I have a good friend who lives here. Flight is expensive but the cost once there is quite cheap.
-Croatia. Always wanted to go. A driving tour would be possible. Not cheap to get there though but once again cheaper upon arrival.
-A tour of the parts of Germany I've never been to. Perhaps dip into Switzerland.
-Budapest/East Europe
-Italy
Last year I didn't really do what I wanted to do. I want that to be different this year.
My travel itinerary needs to be completed.
I need ideas/suggestions. My current list (not exclusive):
- Hong Kong/Taiwan. I have a good friend who lives here. Flight is expensive but the cost once there is quite cheap.
-Croatia. Always wanted to go. A driving tour would be possible. Not cheap to get there though but once again cheaper upon arrival.
-A tour of the parts of Germany I've never been to. Perhaps dip into Switzerland.
-Budapest/East Europe
-Italy
Last year I didn't really do what I wanted to do. I want that to be different this year.
Monday, February 16, 2009
ISA Convention
This week New York City is hosting the annual International Studies Association Conference & Convention.
This convention brings together the top minds in International Studies (everything from higher education to discussions on maritime law) in a forum of learning, discussion and networking.
I am not there and I couldn't be more jealous of those that area.
Next year.
This convention brings together the top minds in International Studies (everything from higher education to discussions on maritime law) in a forum of learning, discussion and networking.
I am not there and I couldn't be more jealous of those that area.
Next year.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Things that I miss in my life
As much as I like living abroad in Europe, I miss a few things about home. Here is a quick list.
1. NPR. National Public Radio. Public Radio in America is amazing. People do not appreciate NPR/PR enough. If I had more money, I'd really like to donate money to keep their programming amazing.
2. Sunday shopping. I don't need to go out shopping for clothes on a Sunday, but what I really need is for grocery stores to be open and a few other things (laundromats, etc) to be open as well.
3. Mexican food. Enough said.
4. I miss my friends. Really. I don't see them enough.
5. My car.
6. The ease of getting working permission.
In my ideal world, I'd be able to combine a bit of Europe and America together...but I can't yet. I'm working on it.
This list is by no means conclusive...and I reserve the right to change it accordingly.
1. NPR. National Public Radio. Public Radio in America is amazing. People do not appreciate NPR/PR enough. If I had more money, I'd really like to donate money to keep their programming amazing.
2. Sunday shopping. I don't need to go out shopping for clothes on a Sunday, but what I really need is for grocery stores to be open and a few other things (laundromats, etc) to be open as well.
3. Mexican food. Enough said.
4. I miss my friends. Really. I don't see them enough.
5. My car.
6. The ease of getting working permission.
In my ideal world, I'd be able to combine a bit of Europe and America together...but I can't yet. I'm working on it.
This list is by no means conclusive...and I reserve the right to change it accordingly.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
If he can do it, so can you
In this mornings' Washington Post, business columnist Steven Pearlstein brought an interesting story to business readers.
A community bank in the heart of the deep-south of South Carolina has devised a clever and creative scheme with their $20.5 million bailout package from Uncle Sam. Citizens South Bank in SC is offering below market cost loans to customers who wish to buy a house or house lot and is cooperating with area developers to to fund closing costs and things like that.
The president of the bank earns about $500,000 a year (well, $250k but with tons and tons of benefits including a car, stock in the bank, annual bonus and his country club membership). Wall Street bankers should take heed of such a program and perhaps get their MBA buddies to create a similar program. Reducing the salaries of said CEO's and bank managers should be a required step before any of you touch taxpayer money. I'm tired of paying for your private Gulfstream Jet.
For more on the story,read the full article here.
A community bank in the heart of the deep-south of South Carolina has devised a clever and creative scheme with their $20.5 million bailout package from Uncle Sam. Citizens South Bank in SC is offering below market cost loans to customers who wish to buy a house or house lot and is cooperating with area developers to to fund closing costs and things like that.
The president of the bank earns about $500,000 a year (well, $250k but with tons and tons of benefits including a car, stock in the bank, annual bonus and his country club membership). Wall Street bankers should take heed of such a program and perhaps get their MBA buddies to create a similar program. Reducing the salaries of said CEO's and bank managers should be a required step before any of you touch taxpayer money. I'm tired of paying for your private Gulfstream Jet.
For more on the story,read the full article here.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
New Found Confidence
Last Thursday I had to sit in my company car in zero degree (Celsius) weather waiting for the ADAC (Germany's AAA) to come and two me back to Aachen.
I was in the boondocks when my company car died. The clutch (I had noted a problem and told my bosses something needed to be fixed...the problem instead was ignored) died and I wasn't able to move the car a foot. On the phone with my boss he told me I would be financially compensated for the time spent waiting for the ADAC to come tow me. Good.
2.5 hours after my class ended I got home. And all was taken care of. Monday was payday and I was expecting to see some sort of financial bonus in my paycheck....I however, was disappointed. Today I approached my boss about the subject...for the first time discussing financial discrepancies. Now...there are many (we aren't paid anywhere near enough compared to industry standards and our vacation time is also not legally computed) problems when it comes to finances with my firm but normally I don't raise them as long as I get what I expected for that month. I am quite proud of myself for the way I handled the situation. He offered me a number and I told him that it needed to be higher....and he agreed.
I'm proud to see myself standing up for my rights and what I deserve. This is a welcomed changed.
I was in the boondocks when my company car died. The clutch (I had noted a problem and told my bosses something needed to be fixed...the problem instead was ignored) died and I wasn't able to move the car a foot. On the phone with my boss he told me I would be financially compensated for the time spent waiting for the ADAC to come tow me. Good.
2.5 hours after my class ended I got home. And all was taken care of. Monday was payday and I was expecting to see some sort of financial bonus in my paycheck....I however, was disappointed. Today I approached my boss about the subject...for the first time discussing financial discrepancies. Now...there are many (we aren't paid anywhere near enough compared to industry standards and our vacation time is also not legally computed) problems when it comes to finances with my firm but normally I don't raise them as long as I get what I expected for that month. I am quite proud of myself for the way I handled the situation. He offered me a number and I told him that it needed to be higher....and he agreed.
I'm proud to see myself standing up for my rights and what I deserve. This is a welcomed changed.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Danke Schön Bundestag!
In 2008, the German Bundestag (Parliament) passed new insurance/unemployment laws.
Members of Germany's Krankenkasse (anyone employed full-time, earning less than €48k annually), the public insurance system now pay 15.5% of their monthly income to their health insurance company. Of that 15.5% I pay 8.2% and my employer 7.3%.
Regardless of which company you are with (there are currently 17) you pay the same price at each one. In exchange, unemployment taxes were lowered.
For many people, this spelled only bad news as you may be paying more for your health insurance and perhaps even loosing some cherished services. The edge of competition may be taken away.
However...not for me. I just computed my January salary and....I am now saving a whopping .02% a month! This will probably range from about €6 to €15 a month.
What is a boy to do with this influx of cash?
Thanks Bundestag!
Members of Germany's Krankenkasse (anyone employed full-time, earning less than €48k annually), the public insurance system now pay 15.5% of their monthly income to their health insurance company. Of that 15.5% I pay 8.2% and my employer 7.3%.
Regardless of which company you are with (there are currently 17) you pay the same price at each one. In exchange, unemployment taxes were lowered.
For many people, this spelled only bad news as you may be paying more for your health insurance and perhaps even loosing some cherished services. The edge of competition may be taken away.
However...not for me. I just computed my January salary and....I am now saving a whopping .02% a month! This will probably range from about €6 to €15 a month.
What is a boy to do with this influx of cash?
Thanks Bundestag!
Yearly Income Analysis
First of the month always means payday for me.
First month of the year also means updates tax codes, W-2 (Jahresgehaltsbeschenigung), etc.
Percentage wise....
I paid 20.8% of my yearly income into the German Social System (including health care).
I paid 15.9 % of my yearly income to my landlord for my 42sq meter apartment.
I paid 16.3% (approximate) of my yearly income to creditors (student loan & credit card).
I paid 11.3% (approximate) of my yearly income to various grocery stores/restaurants/bars.
I paid 9.3% (approximate) of my yearly income to travel related costs (flights, hotels/hostels, rental cars).
I paid 4.7% (approximate) of my yearly income to telecommunication costs (cell, internet, VoiP).
I paid 2.9% of my yearly income to my fitness club.
I contributed about .08% of my yearly income to my savings account. I paid an equal amount to the German media tax (Gebühreneinzugszentrale).
That leaves approximately 17.2% of my yearly income for other disposable means.
Suppose that we provide my numbers listed as 'approximate' with a 4% +/- margin of error. That would then leave me with approximately 13 % of my income for other things.
Other things may include (but not limited to):
-Home decor (I invested at least €400).
-Magazines/other forms of media
-Gifts
-Clothing
-Daily items (contacts, toothbrush, paste, aspirin)
-Bus fare & parking fees not covered by work
-Fees (bank, visa/passport fees, etc)
-Personal care (haircut, medical co-pay, etc)
Points to consider:
I am considerably under the average for housing costs (by about 50%).
I'm approximately 2% under the US national average for food/beverage costs.
Personal savings contributions were way too low. Inflation in the Eurozone peaked at nearly 4% in autumn 2008 this was tied to extensively higher energy prices. Currency conversion rates between USD, EUR and GBP (all currencies used in 2008).
Prediction for 2009:
I foresee a slight decrease in contributions to creditors as debts are paid off. Communications (cell phone) will reduce by about 25% as I've reduced my mobile calling plan in Germany. Inflation in the Eurozone is expected to decrease as central banks continue to slash rates. Lower energy prices will lead to hopefully lower food costs, etc. I am expecting a major change in location (cost will depend on end location). I have no reason to expect a substantial change in salary levels (perhaps slight increase) through August. I have opened a savings account in Germany and plan to contribute to both German and American accounts with more frequency.
I'm really happy I spent the last hour doing this. Now I think I am better financially prepared for 2009. I recommend you doing the same.
First month of the year also means updates tax codes, W-2 (Jahresgehaltsbeschenigung), etc.
Percentage wise....
I paid 20.8% of my yearly income into the German Social System (including health care).
I paid 15.9 % of my yearly income to my landlord for my 42sq meter apartment.
I paid 16.3% (approximate) of my yearly income to creditors (student loan & credit card).
I paid 11.3% (approximate) of my yearly income to various grocery stores/restaurants/bars.
I paid 9.3% (approximate) of my yearly income to travel related costs (flights, hotels/hostels, rental cars).
I paid 4.7% (approximate) of my yearly income to telecommunication costs (cell, internet, VoiP).
I paid 2.9% of my yearly income to my fitness club.
I contributed about .08% of my yearly income to my savings account. I paid an equal amount to the German media tax (Gebühreneinzugszentrale).
That leaves approximately 17.2% of my yearly income for other disposable means.
Suppose that we provide my numbers listed as 'approximate' with a 4% +/- margin of error. That would then leave me with approximately 13 % of my income for other things.
Other things may include (but not limited to):
-Home decor (I invested at least €400).
-Magazines/other forms of media
-Gifts
-Clothing
-Daily items (contacts, toothbrush, paste, aspirin)
-Bus fare & parking fees not covered by work
-Fees (bank, visa/passport fees, etc)
-Personal care (haircut, medical co-pay, etc)
Points to consider:
I am considerably under the average for housing costs (by about 50%).
I'm approximately 2% under the US national average for food/beverage costs.
Personal savings contributions were way too low. Inflation in the Eurozone peaked at nearly 4% in autumn 2008 this was tied to extensively higher energy prices. Currency conversion rates between USD, EUR and GBP (all currencies used in 2008).
Prediction for 2009:
I foresee a slight decrease in contributions to creditors as debts are paid off. Communications (cell phone) will reduce by about 25% as I've reduced my mobile calling plan in Germany. Inflation in the Eurozone is expected to decrease as central banks continue to slash rates. Lower energy prices will lead to hopefully lower food costs, etc. I am expecting a major change in location (cost will depend on end location). I have no reason to expect a substantial change in salary levels (perhaps slight increase) through August. I have opened a savings account in Germany and plan to contribute to both German and American accounts with more frequency.
I'm really happy I spent the last hour doing this. Now I think I am better financially prepared for 2009. I recommend you doing the same.
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