Comments on: How I increased my income 62% in 14 months… http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/ Saving, Earning, and Investing Money Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:22:17 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Is 2X Your Salary a Good Retirement Goal? http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-13785 Is 2X Your Salary a Good Retirement Goal? Fri, 14 Sep 2007 16:55:08 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-13785 [...] for the crossover point, a year ago, I might have been closer, but with the increase in my income over the last year, I fall short. I’m almost exactly at 1X my income. I’ll happily postpone my retirement [...] [...] for the crossover point, a year ago, I might have been closer, but with the increase in my income over the last year, I fall short. I’m almost exactly at 1X my income. I’ll happily postpone my retirement [...]

]]> By: The Financial Blogger » August Top Ten Post http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-12742 The Financial Blogger » August Top Ten Post Mon, 03 Sep 2007 11:04:35 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-12742 [...] #7: How I increased my income 62% in 14 months… [...] [...] #7: How I increased my income 62% in 14 months… [...]

]]> By: mylifeandart.typepad.com http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11383 mylifeandart.typepad.com Tue, 14 Aug 2007 02:56:12 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11383 I love this blog. I remember the time when I cried because I couldn't get a job, any job. My husband would get on the phone and call around for me....(because I was so down that I couldn't do it myself) When I recovered a bit, I bought a used thermal-paper fax machine for $15 and faxed my resume until I got a job at $8 per hour in a software company. They gave me a raise to $10 per hour in two weeks on the job. LOL.. It was Haven. I thought I will work there till the day I am ready to retire.. LOL... Was I wrong.. I got bored very quickly... A couple jobs later, I was lucky to lock into my own micro-small business and I am now a full time special event entertainer.. By the way, it could be a great part-time gig too, if like this kind of things. As for me, I am a full time balloon artist. I am paid to do what I do best, goofing around.. How much do I make? $100-$250 per hour and I work on improving these numbers. The best things is, I am in total control here. My previous employers tried to re-hire me back. But, I wouldn't work for anyone where I am not in total control now... I recently gave away that fax machine on Freecycle to someone who is desperately trying to get employed at any job.... I felt her pain... I love this blog.

I remember the time when I cried because I couldn’t get a job, any job. My husband would get on the phone and call around for me….(because I was so down that I couldn’t do it myself) When I recovered a bit, I bought a used thermal-paper fax machine for $15 and faxed my resume until I got a job at $8 per hour in a software company. They gave me a raise to $10 per hour in two weeks on the job. LOL..

It was Haven. I thought I will work there till the day I am ready to retire.. LOL… Was I wrong.. I got bored very quickly…

A couple jobs later, I was lucky to lock into my own micro-small business and I am now a full time special event entertainer.. By the way, it could be a great part-time gig too, if like this kind of things.

As for me, I am a full time balloon artist. I am paid to do what I do best, goofing around.. How much do I make? $100-$250 per hour and I work on improving these numbers.

The best things is, I am in total control here. My previous employers tried to re-hire me back. But, I wouldn’t work for anyone where I am not in total control now…

I recently gave away that fax machine on Freecycle to someone who is desperately trying to get employed at any job…. I felt her pain…

]]> By: Harm http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11381 Harm Tue, 14 Aug 2007 01:59:44 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11381 I have to say, living in the Bay area would be worth a lot in terms of quality of life.... btw, I hope you aren't paying too much to pfblogs, they just aren't accessible any more. I have to say, living in the Bay area would be worth a lot in
terms of quality of life….
btw, I hope you aren’t paying too much to pfblogs, they just
aren’t accessible any more.

]]> By: story http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11370 story Mon, 13 Aug 2007 17:10:04 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11370 Thanks for sharing all this. I think the coolest thing about it all is that you and your wife are both so brave to take consistent action toward getting what you want. I think often taking any kind of action can make a huge difference. Thanks for sharing all this. I think the coolest thing about it all is that you and your wife are both so brave to take consistent action toward getting what you want. I think often taking any kind of action can make a huge difference.

]]> By: Flexo http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11358 Flexo Sat, 11 Aug 2007 05:54:04 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11358 Thanks for sharing these experiences. My company is pretty stingy about raises, but they're usually pretty good with low-to-average automatic increases as long as you "score" a 3 out of 5 (no one ever gets a 5, people rarely get 4s) on the annual review. It's worse working for an expense center rather than one of the money-making businesses of the company. Anyway, glad the blogging is working out for you, too. The bulk of my income increases over the last two years has come from my blog. Thanks for sharing these experiences. My company is pretty stingy about raises, but they’re usually pretty good with low-to-average automatic increases as long as you “score” a 3 out of 5 (no one ever gets a 5, people rarely get 4s) on the annual review. It’s worse working for an expense center rather than one of the money-making businesses of the company. Anyway, glad the blogging is working out for you, too. The bulk of my income increases over the last two years has come from my blog.

]]> By: MoneyNing http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11357 MoneyNing Sat, 11 Aug 2007 00:18:04 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11357 I live 1.2 miles from the office. I need to forward this article to my boss! I work for a small company and we usually get a review where it's standard practice to get an automatic raise. Actually, my boss has once told me that if the employee doesn't get at least 3% raise, he wouldn't be working here anymore. It sounds like not all employees should expect an automatic raise every year from what you are saying but can you confirm? I live 1.2 miles from the office. I need to forward this article to my boss!

I work for a small company and we usually get a review where it’s standard practice to get an automatic raise. Actually, my boss has once told me that if the employee doesn’t get at least 3% raise, he wouldn’t be working here anymore.

It sounds like not all employees should expect an automatic raise every year from what you are saying but can you confirm?

]]> By: Lazy Man http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11355 Lazy Man Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:42:59 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11355 I'd be asking for a 3% cost of living raise. If that's a fireable offense I probably don't want to be working there anyway. I’d be asking for a 3% cost of living raise. If that’s a fireable offense I probably don’t want to be working there anyway.

]]> By: Lazy Man http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11354 Lazy Man Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:42:11 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11354 By asking for a raise, it would probably be more like asking for an annual review. It's been my experience that it's unusual to stay at the same price range for more than a year. If nothing else companies typically realize that inflation happens and can at least give a 3% raise. It's not like I'd be asking for 15%. I would just like to be recognized for being there a year and being much more valuable than I was 8 months ago. Of course I'm not at a year yet, so it's a moot point. The job market in Silicon Valley is my leverage. I can very easily find a new job and/or we can survive quite well on just my wife's income. My situation is probably different than most people, so yes, people should ideally have another job lined up before asking. If asking for a cost of living raise is a fireable offense, I'm better off getting out of there anyway. By asking for a raise, it would probably be more like asking for an annual review. It’s been my experience that it’s unusual to stay at the same price range for more than a year. If nothing else companies typically realize that inflation happens and can at least give a 3% raise. It’s not like I’d be asking for 15%. I would just like to be recognized for being there a year and being much more valuable than I was 8 months ago. Of course I’m not at a year yet, so it’s a moot point.

The job market in Silicon Valley is my leverage. I can very easily find a new job and/or we can survive quite well on just my wife’s income.

My situation is probably different than most people, so yes, people should ideally have another job lined up before asking. If asking for a cost of living raise is a fireable offense, I’m better off getting out of there anyway.

]]> By: Dong http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11353 Dong Fri, 10 Aug 2007 20:10:41 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11353 I've never asked for a raise, but I do think if you ask for one you should ideally have another job that you would take lined up already. Leverage both ways is important. I’ve never asked for a raise, but I do think if you ask for one you should ideally have another job that you would take lined up already. Leverage both ways is important.

]]> By: Patrick http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11351 Patrick Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:12:45 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11351 Congratulations! It's always great to see your income grow. Especially with something like your blog, which you put so much work and soul into. Congratulations! It’s always great to see your income grow. Especially with something like your blog, which you put so much work and soul into.

]]> By: Midg http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11349 Midg Fri, 10 Aug 2007 17:59:35 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11349 Shadox: Read your post "Asking for (Another)Raise". I think you are right on target. I'm not worried about my pay. I've always been paid at the high end or over the scale for the work I do. Part of the reason is I am good at what do and part is I will to do whatever it takes to get the job done. I like the company I work for. It's one of the best places I have worked. The only reasons I'd consider leaving right now is to get a shorter commute. I live in South San Jose and commute to Oakland. If you are underpaid you should ask for a raise or find another job. You have nothing to loose in either case. I was saying be careful because I have seen people let go right after asking for a raise. I wasn't in any of those meeting so its possible the person asking did something bad like say give me a raise or I'll quit or find another job. When asking for a raise stay calm, have you facts straight, and be polite. Shadox: Read your post “Asking for (Another)Raise”. I think you are right on target.

I’m not worried about my pay. I’ve always been paid at the high end or over the scale for the work I do. Part of the reason is I am good at what do and part is I will to do whatever it takes to get the job done. I like the company I work for. It’s one of the best places I have worked. The only reasons I’d consider leaving right now is to get a shorter commute. I live in South San Jose and commute to Oakland.

If you are underpaid you should ask for a raise or find another job. You have nothing to loose in either case. I was saying be careful because I have seen people let go right after asking for a raise. I wasn’t in any of those meeting so its possible the person asking did something bad like say give me a raise or I’ll quit or find another job. When asking for a raise stay calm, have you facts straight, and be polite.

]]> By: Lazy Man http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11348 Lazy Man Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:10:35 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11348 Shadox: People still haven't discovered your wonderful site? I added you to my blogroll maybe it will bring you a tiny bit of love. Jonathan: I believe Facebook offers $600 for living with a mile. I don't know why there's extra money for living close. Maybe it's because there are studies done that show if you live closer, you get more work done rather than fighting traffic. Shadox: People still haven’t discovered your wonderful site? I added you to my blogroll maybe it will bring you a tiny bit of love.

Jonathan: I believe Facebook offers $600 for living with a mile. I don’t know why there’s extra money for living close. Maybe it’s because there are studies done that show if you live closer, you get more work done rather than fighting traffic.

]]> By: Tim http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11345 Tim Fri, 10 Aug 2007 12:56:36 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11345 ok, i'm never going to read this blog again...come on!!! quoting aerosmith? ok, i’m never going to read this blog again…come on!!! quoting aerosmith?

]]> By: the baglady http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11343 the baglady Fri, 10 Aug 2007 09:08:11 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11343 This post made me laugh because I found out about my coworkers' salaries too at one of my jobs. The CFO put everyone's salaries and offer letters on the network drive under a shared folder called public/companyname. It was pretty sad because I was an engineer but got paid less than the newly hired front desk lady. Also we found out that the women engineers definitely got paid less than the men. That really pissed me off so I actually told one of the company founders about it. He was really surprised by all of that and gave me a 11% raise and gave a lot of other engineers raises too. Then they had the CFO move all those important files to a folder with more security permissions. I left the company shortly after that and got another raise at the new company. In the Valley I guess you just get the most raises by changing jobs. This post made me laugh because I found out about my coworkers’ salaries too at one of my jobs. The CFO put everyone’s salaries and offer letters on the network drive under a shared folder called public/companyname. It was pretty sad because I was an engineer but got paid less than the newly hired front desk lady. Also we found out that the women engineers definitely got paid less than the men. That really pissed me off so I actually told one of the company founders about it. He was really surprised by all of that and gave me a 11% raise and gave a lot of other engineers raises too. Then they had the CFO move all those important files to a folder with more security permissions. I left the company shortly after that and got another raise at the new company. In the Valley I guess you just get the most raises by changing jobs.

]]> By: Shadox http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11342 Shadox Fri, 10 Aug 2007 08:21:45 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11342 Here is another vote for the Bay Area. Midg - I don't know what you are talking about when you say be careful in asking for a raise. I think that you may be working for a really lame company. I would seriously consider looking for another place to work, if you are worried about ASKING for a raise. Lazy Man - this is a great post. I too was underpaid (still somewhat am), and have received about a 30% raise in the past 7 months. It's almost worth it to be underpaid! ;-) On the blog side - my blog makes about $2 a month. Sweet, sweet income... Here is another vote for the Bay Area.

Midg – I don’t know what you are talking about when you say be careful in asking for a raise. I think that you may be working for a really lame company. I would seriously consider looking for another place to work, if you are worried about ASKING for a raise.

Lazy Man – this is a great post. I too was underpaid (still somewhat am), and have received about a 30% raise in the past 7 months. It’s almost worth it to be underpaid! ;-)

On the blog side – my blog makes about $2 a month. Sweet, sweet income…

]]> By: Jonathan http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11341 Jonathan Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:57:22 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11341 Congrats on the catchiest post title of the day. Oh, and taking action, having a kick-butt wife, and all that extra money too. :) I think you should look for another job soon if you're not satisfied, all my friends in the Bay Area got at least $10k more for each job jump, even if it was from a failed startup to another failed startup. "If you live within 3 miles of the office you’ll get some extra money in your paycheck." What's the reasoning behind this? Save the earth? Or that fact that you can be called to work easily? Congrats on the catchiest post title of the day. Oh, and taking action, having a kick-butt wife, and all that extra money too. :)

I think you should look for another job soon if you’re not satisfied, all my friends in the Bay Area got at least $10k more for each job jump, even if it was from a failed startup to another failed startup.

“If you live within 3 miles of the office you’ll get some extra money in your paycheck.”

What’s the reasoning behind this? Save the earth? Or that fact that you can be called to work easily?

]]> By: The Digerati Life http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11340 The Digerati Life Fri, 10 Aug 2007 05:50:57 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11340 Nice! Now you know why I live here. I love the weather too! Nice! Now you know why I live here. I love the weather too!

]]> By: Midg http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11339 Midg Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:15:53 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11339 Congrats on such nice increase in income. Hopefully you will see more nice increases living in the Bay Area. Salaries can be quite nice here. I've lived and worked as a software engineer in the Bay Area most of my life. A group I worked in was down sized at one company and a coworked decided it was time to look for a new job. A week later he started a new job with a 20% raise. The day he started that job he got a job offer at another company for 20% more than his new job. He gave 2 weeks notice that day. He ended with a 44% pay increase. My luck usually runs the other way. I've had only 2 pay raises in the last 7 years. But I've kept my job when hundreds of others around me were laid off. I've survived 10 lay-offs in the last 8 years. I'd advise you to becareful about asking for pay-raises in the Bay Area. That can work if you have backup but I have seen many shown the door who have tried. Congrats on such nice increase in income. Hopefully you will see more nice increases living in the Bay Area. Salaries can be quite nice here. I’ve lived and worked as a software engineer in the Bay Area most of my life. A group I worked in was down sized at one company and a coworked decided it was time to look for a new job. A week later he started a new job with a 20% raise. The day he started that job he got a job offer at another company for 20% more than his new job. He gave 2 weeks notice that day. He ended with a 44% pay increase.

My luck usually runs the other way. I’ve had only 2 pay raises in the last 7 years. But I’ve kept my job when hundreds of others around me were laid off. I’ve survived 10 lay-offs in the last 8 years.

I’d advise you to becareful about asking for pay-raises in the Bay Area. That can work if you have backup but I have seen many shown the door who have tried.

]]> By: The Financial Blogger http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/comment-page-1/#comment-11338 The Financial Blogger Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:12:41 +0000 http://www.lazymanandmoney.com/how-i-increased-my-income-62-in-14-months/#comment-11338 That's really good! However, did your available cash flow increased? When I finished my university degree 5 years ago, I took the first job I saw. Then, I looked around and my salary increased by 23% just by changing job (2 blocks away from my previous one). Then, I worked as hard as I could for my 3 months probation and I got another raise. Within a year, I increased my income by 40% without having my expenses increased. Unfortunately, my situation was like you ; I was simply underpaid. I do not think I would be able to reproduce the same increase next time! Was the $24 for being a PFblogs.org friend worth it? That’s really good! However, did your available cash flow increased?

When I finished my university degree 5 years ago, I took the first job I saw. Then, I looked around and my salary increased by 23% just by changing job (2 blocks away from my previous one). Then, I worked as hard as I could for my 3 months probation and I got another raise. Within a year, I increased my income by 40% without having my expenses increased. Unfortunately, my situation was like you ; I was simply underpaid. I do not think I would be able to reproduce the same increase next time!

Was the $24 for being a PFblogs.org friend worth it?

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