New Job + reduce housing expenses = humble brag for me!

[maginvizIZ]

Hello!

Current Salary: $68k
New Salary (I start Monday): $85k + 15% bonus paid out quarterly ($97.75k).  They will also give me a debit card loaded with $3900 for the year as subsidized lunches ($15 per day, x 5 days a week, x 52 weeks)...

Current Rent: $650 a month for a 1 bed 1 bath (I currently live in the cheap part of utah)
New Rent: $400, utilities included... I will have 3 roommates (I'll live in the expensive part... 5 min from work :))


$3k housing expense + ~$30k in total compensation = WIN.

100% of these savings with go to my fidelity account. Surprisingly, it didn't shave much time off my FIRE date (rough numbers on firecalc told me 1.5 years shaved).

Humble brag... But I'm so happy I made the decision to interview elsewhere. I'm happy about making the decision to live with roommates (living only would have been $900 a month near my work, getting 3 roommates is resulting in $6k in savings).  We will see how it goes living with roommates... I'm month to month, so I can run away if I hate it.

FYI annual expenses: $25k.  I'm trying to get closer to $20k.  MMM lifestyle is addicting.

[jps]

That's awesome, nice work!

Also, what kind of place of work gives you a pre-emptive everyday lunch reimbursement? I need to start working for one of those companies. I LOVE eating out but have really cut back after starting here.

[maginvizIZ]

That's awesome, nice work!

Also, what kind of place of work gives you a pre-emptive everyday lunch reimbursement? I need to start working for one of those companies. I LOVE eating out but have really cut back after starting here.

A FinTech company.  I bet there are other startup tech companies that do perks like this... :)

[lakemom]

This is an older post, but with $15 per day for lunches I'd be hitting up the closest store and buying enough food for days each work day.  You may be able to cut your grocery budget in half or more by doing this and then packing your lunch daily from home.  Or can the card only be used at certain restaurants?

[maginvizIZ]

This is an older post, but with $15 per day for lunches I'd be hitting up the closest store and buying enough food for days each work day.  You may be able to cut your grocery budget in half or more by doing this and then packing your lunch daily from home.  Or can the card only be used at certain restaurants?

Asking HR, they do not have the time to verify what we use these cards on...  "You can buy disneyland tickets for all we care".

It hurts me to use it, due to the idea that my budget will look out of whack (Unless I can link the card to my mint account? hmmm). II'm such a nerd. haha

I've used it twice so far.  Going out to lunch with coworkers, where I normally would have just packed a lunch.

It's been a little over 3 weeks... I'm happy with my decision to get roommates (I never see them, we are all busy).  I'm thrilled with my new job too (especially the salary portion too)

[BicycleB]

Well done, @teltic!

Hey, $15/day for groceries 3x/week... you could have a grocery bill of zero, plus limit the "out with coworkers" to 2x/week to keep the addiction in check.

Former per diem user here. If you do like going out with coworkers, doing it when the company pays is a good way. You have to use your own judgment about lifestyle inflation and its effect on your psyche, of course.

[maginvizIZ]

Yeah I need to reel in the going out with coworkers.  I'm 3 weeks in, and originally felt like I "needed" to go to lunch with everyone to fit in/get them to like me.  Sounds silly I know...

I'll start packing lunches and blame it on a diet or something. haha. :)