Loading ...Understanding Your Job Perks
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When I first start a job I always like to check out some of the perks to the job. Since the company already considers that part of the ‘benefit’ package when they total up what they pay you, I want to make sure that I use it to it’s full benefit.
One of the perks is to be able to buy a computer up to $1500 and have it taken out of my paycheck (post tax) for one year. So that would be 1500/26 wks = 57.70 a paycheck. A nice ‘layaway’ option without interest and I get the computer right away.
Another perk is to get discounts on items I am already considering on buying. For instance, I will be considering on whether to switch from my current cell provider to another one at the end of my contract to take advantage of the 20% discount on the price plan. However, I have to take into account, I won’t get the $1 road-side assistance, but I will get a better price on text messages. So I need to way the benefits and see what deals I can get from my current provider (competition is good sometimes).
Then there is the school assistance, the adoption assistance and the discounts on cars and don’t forget 401K that are always there for me if I need it. Easily, thousands of dollars in savings if I should choose to use it.
Do you know what perks you have and do you use them?
additional reading:
Strikes and Money
7 Tips For Getting Through a Job Loss
Living on 12 thousand a Year
The Downside of Too Many Gifts
My last two employers have offered pre-tax money for which can be used for DC’s metro passes. That is, it’s from our normal paychecks, but the government’s initiative to get people to use public transit means that we don’t have to pay taxes on it if we take “Metrochecks” for $20 or $40 or more which we can then put on our Metro cards (SmarTrip) and use for the commute.
It’s a great benefit. (not quite a 401(k) match, but still…)
January 7th, 2008 at 8:51 pmThere are some cool perks at my workplace, such as discounted movie tickets ($5 per ticket), a free turkey at Thanksgiving, dibs on old computer/office hardware that are being replaced with newer models (I snagged a CPU for my boyfriend - he’s a tech geek so he loves working on those), the chance to win a $50 gas card (they have a drawing once a month - I won last month!), and last, but certainly not least, 401K matching (I’m sure many places do this)…
My boyfriend works for the cable company, so we get free basic cable, ALL movie channels for free, half-price pay-per-view movies, free internet (!), phone (the company’s version of Vonage) for $10 per month, not to mention additional perks such as free tickets to local hockey games! Living with a cable guy is pretty sweet!!
January 11th, 2008 at 12:23 am