Comments on: The One Hour Project: Dig Into Your Job Benefits http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: the camera lady http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-374304 the camera lady Sun, 14 Sep 2008 03:30:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-374304 Note re: the tuition benefits

If the amount of the benefit received for graduate exceeds $5250 per year, then the excess has to be reported as income and you have to pay tax on it. Keep this in mind if you use tuition remission for a graduate program at an expensive private university.

]]> By: Minimum Wage http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71423 Minimum Wage Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:34:36 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71423 Okay, that took me less than one minute. What shopuld I do with the other 59+ minutes?

]]> By: MVP http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71330 MVP Fri, 14 Sep 2007 18:38:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71330 Great ideas. I work for a fairly large company, but unfortunately our single, overworked human resources employee is usually too busy to return an email, let alone dig up paperwork on our benefits. It’s like pulling teeth to sign up for that free life insurance you’re talking about. But on the up side, we’ve got an on-site fitness center that’s barely ever used. Yes, it’s second rate, but it’s convenient, offers the basics and helps me stay in shape – oh, and it’s FREE! Also, for those of you who’ve worked for the same employer for more than a couple years, it may pay to revisit your updated benefits package. Often, employers add perks here and there, then don’t bother to tell employees about them.

]]> By: Dan http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71310 Dan Fri, 14 Sep 2007 17:45:59 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71310 I have worked for a couple of larger companies that have Employee Assistance Programs. These programs can help with all kinds of things, including substance abuse, counseling, finding daycare and/or eldercare. One even offered to screen childcare providers for me!

The other money-saving benefit we have from work is the ability to use our corporate discount on shipping (UPS and FEDEX) and rental cars for personal use. These discounts are usually about 25% cheaper than if I had to get them on my own.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71172 Kathy Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:01:41 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-71172 Are corporations getting reluctant to offer things like reimbursement on college classes?
My first job was with a big corporation, and I did take full advantage of it and got a two year degree. A lot of other employees poo-pooed it… took maybe 2 classes and quit. I guess they figured they had enough job security and didn’t need it. I think there were maybe 3 or 4 employees who actually saw it thru to the end.

After downsizing and getting a job elsewhere, I find that my new employer doesn’t really get behind us at all on this. Years ago, I was told, they actually did.

Maybe just another sign of our rapidly deteriorating economy?

]]> By: Matt http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70991 Matt Fri, 14 Sep 2007 05:09:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70991 I don’t have any benefits whatsoever at work, which was clearly stated to me when I took the job(sometimes you just REALLY need a job.) I believe I’ll spend this hour finding a better job.

]]> By: Mariette http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70970 Mariette Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:27:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70970 I was the same way at my first corporate job with a 401k. I had the insurance options and the 401k plan, which was quite the novelty at the time but I didn’t take advantage of anything else – including the FSA (flexible spending account.) I was a bit overwhelmed by it and had no idea how much to put into it. People should at least put some money into this as it’s pre-tax and you can buy all sorts of things with it including aspirin and contact lense solution (not to mention any doctor bills.)

]]> By: Jessica http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70920 Jessica Fri, 14 Sep 2007 01:02:49 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70920 I can take courses for free because I work at a university. I haven’t taken any yet, because of the time commitment involved, and also because the master’s program I’d love to do requires you to attend half time, which I wouldn’t be able to do while working full time (some people do it, but I value my free time too much). I may take one or two job related courses though.

]]> By: guinness416 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70897 guinness416 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:26:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70897 Professional organizations are another place to look. I get a discount on home insurance through mine, and would get a car insurance discount too if I had one.

Job function can impact perqs too. When I worked for a mid-sized contractor as an estimator I got a lot of Yankees tickets, Rangers tickets, and gift cards etc from subcontractors as a matter of course, as well as freebie home reno plans at one point.

]]> By: Elaine http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70874 Elaine Thu, 13 Sep 2007 22:40:51 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70874 This is an easy one for me! I get one benefit. They pay for my BC Medical Services Plan (i.e. basic health care, which is $54 a month).

]]> By: Rae http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70847 Rae Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:47:40 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70847 My favorite job benefit ever was when I worked for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and got a museum employee discount. Basically, my work ID got me (and often a guest) into any museum FOR FREE. A lot of co-workers didn’t take advantage of this, but I probably saved hundreds of dollars visiting museums and aquariums. I always had cheap options for entertaining friends and family, and got a lot more culture than I would have otherwise!

]]> By: Fabulously Broke http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70843 Fabulously Broke Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:44:06 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70843 Great post.

It took me forever before I found out (via many many website links) that my cellphone plan was reimbursable (grr).. And that I’d get extra money to go towards paying for benefits, that would mean less out of pocket cash which equaled a fatter paycheck every month.

Guinness: You’re right – most big corps only have these kinds of perks.. but at least you have less overhead and admin telling you what you can and cannot do. That’s something you just cannot put a pricetag on. I always have to triple and quadruple check my expense reports to make sure I don’t make a mistake, or it’ll come back and haunt me via my manager.

]]> By: guinness416 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70833 guinness416 Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:23:46 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/09/13/the-one-hour-project-dig-into-your-job-benefits/#comment-70833 Sounds like you work for a giant corporation. Benefits office? A small or medium sized company like the ones I’ve always worked for professionally, is unlikely to have “hidden” benefits you have to dig to find. But on the other hand what they do have is flexibility. I can ask for more time off, get bonuses like restaurant vouchers, put a lot of stuff on my expense report, etc without it having to go through a HR drone or be told such things aren’t in this quarter’s TPS report.

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