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YAY! Taking this job was the best thing!!
I just started a new job in mid-August in the international education office of a university, which just happens to be my alma mater. I REALLY like my job, in so many ways, but the financial perks are the biggest benefit. Taking this job is really going to help us dig out of our debt.
I'm now making $13/hour compared to $9/hour before. Although I only work 11 months out of the year (I get July off, unpaid), I'm still making $500/month more than I was before. This, obviously, lifts a HUGE burden. SAVINGS: $500/month
We had been signed up under Mark's health insurance plan, which costs about $132/month for both of us. However, the university offers FREE health care for the employee (not spouse). So I signed up for that and will be dropped from Mark's plan. SAVINGS: $79/month
The university offers some free computer services to employees. One of those services is a free membership for VTC Online, offers online tutorials for every computer program under the sun. We actually had a subscription to VTC already for our own personal use, and were paying $30/month for it. Now we get it for free! SAVINGS: $30/month
University employees get discounts on meals from the dining hall and other eateries on campus. Lunch at the dining hall costs $4.75. They just renovated the dining hall and the food selection is excellent. Considering that I used to pay $7 or so to have a fruit salad for lunch every day at my previous job, $4.75 for a balanced meal is a bargain! SAVINGS: $50/MONTH
There are other ways I'm able to save in this job that I couldn't in my last job, but there isn't a fixed savings amount. For instance, at my last job I had to be employed an entire 12 months before I could even think about a retirement plan. At this job, though, I can immediately start making my own contributions; I just started contributing 4% of my pre-tax income last week. After 12 months of employment, the university starts making a 5% base contribution, plus up to 5% in matching contributions. By the time the university starts contributing, I will already have $1900 in my retirement account. That's $40/week that I won't miss from my paycheck, but the savings will really add up in the long run.
I get discounts on tons of cultural and academic events sponsored by the university, such as theatre and music, speakers, athletic events, art exhibits, etc. Our office runs the international film series and that's free (Mark loves artsy-fartsy movies, too!). Recreational facilities are free. Some other events are free as well.
Both Mark and I are eligible to take up to 5 non-credit courses per calendar year through the university's School of Continuing Studies for FREE. These courses can be academic (foreign language, history, fiction writing, etc), work-related (computer programs, web design, public speaking, etc) or just fun (floral design, dance, aerobics, photography). It's difficult to gauge how much the savings would be because the course prices vary so much. But still, the opportunities are there if we want to take advantage of them!)
And of course, the library and all it has to offer is free as well. Books, DVDs, CDs, computer usage, etc. All FREE.
The more I think about the benefits this job has, the more excited I get. It's just fantastic!
We're already seeing the savings add up, and I've been there less than 2 months! YAY!
~ Jenney
I'm now making $13/hour compared to $9/hour before. Although I only work 11 months out of the year (I get July off, unpaid), I'm still making $500/month more than I was before. This, obviously, lifts a HUGE burden. SAVINGS: $500/month
We had been signed up under Mark's health insurance plan, which costs about $132/month for both of us. However, the university offers FREE health care for the employee (not spouse). So I signed up for that and will be dropped from Mark's plan. SAVINGS: $79/month
The university offers some free computer services to employees. One of those services is a free membership for VTC Online, offers online tutorials for every computer program under the sun. We actually had a subscription to VTC already for our own personal use, and were paying $30/month for it. Now we get it for free! SAVINGS: $30/month
University employees get discounts on meals from the dining hall and other eateries on campus. Lunch at the dining hall costs $4.75. They just renovated the dining hall and the food selection is excellent. Considering that I used to pay $7 or so to have a fruit salad for lunch every day at my previous job, $4.75 for a balanced meal is a bargain! SAVINGS: $50/MONTH
There are other ways I'm able to save in this job that I couldn't in my last job, but there isn't a fixed savings amount. For instance, at my last job I had to be employed an entire 12 months before I could even think about a retirement plan. At this job, though, I can immediately start making my own contributions; I just started contributing 4% of my pre-tax income last week. After 12 months of employment, the university starts making a 5% base contribution, plus up to 5% in matching contributions. By the time the university starts contributing, I will already have $1900 in my retirement account. That's $40/week that I won't miss from my paycheck, but the savings will really add up in the long run.
I get discounts on tons of cultural and academic events sponsored by the university, such as theatre and music, speakers, athletic events, art exhibits, etc. Our office runs the international film series and that's free (Mark loves artsy-fartsy movies, too!). Recreational facilities are free. Some other events are free as well.
Both Mark and I are eligible to take up to 5 non-credit courses per calendar year through the university's School of Continuing Studies for FREE. These courses can be academic (foreign language, history, fiction writing, etc), work-related (computer programs, web design, public speaking, etc) or just fun (floral design, dance, aerobics, photography). It's difficult to gauge how much the savings would be because the course prices vary so much. But still, the opportunities are there if we want to take advantage of them!)
And of course, the library and all it has to offer is free as well. Books, DVDs, CDs, computer usage, etc. All FREE.
The more I think about the benefits this job has, the more excited I get. It's just fantastic!
We're already seeing the savings add up, and I've been there less than 2 months! YAY! ~ Jenney
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