Payroll taxes.... Are you kidding me? (fit in, new house, job market) - City-Data Forum

AandD · 11-22-2008, 03:16 PM

So, here in Texas, I'm taxed at roughly 18%. I take 2 allowances. At 3000/month, I give up about 600 a month in taxes. I am getting a 10K/year raise for moving. So my income goes up to about 4000. According to the paycheck calculator (which is accurate for my current state), I will only bring home about 2700 a month, and that's with THREE allowances. (What is SDI withholding, anyway?) That's something like a 30+% tax rate! Is that accurate?

I was SO stoked about my first "real" job with "real" income after finishing my Masters Degree. And here I thought I'd finally have enough money for the month!

Hollytree · 11-23-2008, 06:15 AM

That sounds high---- taxed at 30%?? I do know that TDI (Rhode Island Temporary Disability Benefit Fund) is mandatory but is also tax deductible.
One thing to consider right off the bat is to set up a 401K type pretax deduction so you keep more of your own money and reduce your tax bite.
RI is highly taxed in some ways and lower in others compared to TX ( I've lived in TX). In TX, you don't have state income tax, but you have more levels of taxation, city, county, school, fire districts, etc. Water and sewer are higher. Property taxes are high in some cities like Austin. There are many factors to weigh. I'd say clothes are cheaper here, food about the same (esp. if you shop at Whole Foods hee hee). Utilities are needed in TX, AC and heat most months. Here you need heat 6 mos- can get by w/o AC if necessary or just use a window unit or two for a few weeks. Housing quality probably better in TX if you like big new houses and subdivisions. Here you will get more expensive, smaller and older to very old... I generalize of course....

AandD · 11-23-2008, 12:50 PM

Yah, I'm not trying to say "OMG RI is awful!" I'm aware there are trade offs, and many good things about living there as opposed to here (depending on your value scale and what matters most to you). In fact, we have been REALLY eager to leave TX behind and move to the northeast. I just wish I could do it with more of my paycheck in tact.

I am also, however, more than a little dismayed that a 10K/year raise will amount to 300 extra at the end of the month. That was kind of a bummer. But, overall, I'm super excited about my job. I love what I do, and am really excited that someone hired me to do it! (even if I am going to freeze to death the first 3 months!)

POhdNcrzy · 11-23-2008, 12:54 PM

AandD, welcome to Rhode Island !! (hee hee)

We don't like to here "Y'all" spoken in RI, but we love to eat "kawwhn on da kahhbb".

POhdNcrzy · 11-23-2008, 01:08 PM

AandD, are you the only breadwinner in your family?

If so that's fairly tight for RI, but probably do-able. It would really help if that job is very stable and unlikely to experience lay-offs. A lay-off or the "collapse" of the local job market for one's profession can really put the hurt on you in RI due to the high cost of living.

Goodbye, "The Alamo"

Hello, "Moonstruck"

AandD · 11-23-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POhdNcrzy

AandD, welcome to Rhode Island !! (hee hee)

We don't like to here "Y'all" spoken in RI, but we love to eat "kawwhn on da kahhbb".

Yah, I'm fixin' to start workin' on my vernacular lickety-split so I fit in. I'm working really hard to frown and be more stand offish, and I deliberately DIDN'T tell my grocery checker to "have a GREAT day!" as I left her line this AM.

I've discovered that I can either talk AND move my hands/arms or NOT sting together a coherent sentence because I'm concentratin' REALLY HARD on keeping my hands still.... I've decided the best bet is to always be carrying something during discussions so I'm not tempted (but learned that 'something' can't be my Starbucks because it's hot when it splashes on my hands after I forget to keep them still!)

I'm also workin' on asking for a sody-pop, rather than a "coke" (cuz every carmel-colored carbonated drink is a "coke" down here).

Can I still say I'm "goin' to town", or is that going to be a dead give-away that I'm from Texas (as if nothing else will, right?)

Dude, I'm pretty sure that at 2700/month I'll be poverty level in RI. Maybe I can get some free vittles...

AandD · 11-23-2008, 01:14 PM

Well, the only breadwinner thing is a bit tricky. The kids' dad will be staying behind in Austin for a few years to pay off our bills, get the house ready to sell, and finish his degree. We've already conceded that he will probably need to send about 600 a month to me in order to pay for all the bills. We'd probably be fine, actually, if I didn't have to pay for before/after school care.

My job is with the US Department of Veteran's Affairs, at the hospital in Prov. I think the Lord everyday that I'm employed where I am. Fed Gov't HATES to do RIF's, so my job will most likely be safe unless I get fired because it's just too dang cold to get out of the house. LOL.

POhdNcrzy · 11-23-2008, 01:15 PM

We don't say "pop" here like in the upper-MidWest, but we do say "so-dahh".

Example: "Kkiii git a so-dahh wit daht?"

Ohh moyy gawddd!! (hee hee)

POhdNcrzy · 11-23-2008, 01:19 PM

What is "RIF" ?? A government lay-off?

Good luck with the long-distance thing. When daddy visits that's gonna be a culture (and weather) shock each time!

AandD · 11-23-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POhdNcrzy

We don't say "pop" here like in the upper-MidWest, but we do say "so-dahh".

Example: "Kkiii git a so-dahh wit daht?"

Ohh moyy gawddd!! (hee hee)

Thanks! If I got up there with a TX accent saying mid-west things people really WOULD think ima freak!

RIF - Reduction in force