Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

As you havent visited I suggest you do some research into the cost of living.

With the job expect to take home about 65% of the cash after taxes and other deductions.

Check how much properties are listed for rent at, utilities etc.

Who knows... The pay could be good by UK standards, but suck locally!

Re: Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have convictions
 

Thanks yes I have already done that and done the tax calculator, on paper seems amazing money but really not much better off than in the UK well quite a lot but because I have to pay my own accomodation I've allowed $1400 including bills a month for it which gets me an apartment the size of my house. They have great healthcare and dental 80% contribution €181 per month. Transport to work is 150 a month but I will be a walking distance of work phone bill is $150 a month but work pay for it after 2 months. Then after the above I have $2000 a month after tax for anything else. I made it clear to them I didn't want to be scraping the barrell each month and I wanted money left over to pay for flights home and for friends and family to visit. I also get 35 days holiday including public holidays. I plan to come back to england for 14 days every 6 months. Fly a friend or family member out 2-3 times a year so shouldn't get to home sick. That take home pay excludes quarterly bonuses which I should hopefully get one and after 3 and 6 months I get a pay review

Re: Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have convictions
 

*$181 per month....interesting though you say 65% take home think some of the calculators were saying 75% anyone know of a reliable tax calculator for Chicago? Or what take home on $57500 a year would be a month?

Re: Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have convictions
 

Did the 75% factor in 401-K, IRA, HSA or any other voluntary (but definitely should) deductions?

Re: Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have convictions
 

Will double check! Thanks

Re: Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have convictions
 

Not sure where you're looking at for phone bill at $150. I pay $43 x 2 for me and my wife.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

$1400 including utilities for an apartment in Chicago the size of a house? Which part of Chicago is this?!?! Have you considered what your heating bill alone would be in the winter? Chicago gets a lot colder than the U.K. Considering $1400 included heat there's not much left for rent in that figure so the place must be tiny or in a less than desirable area.

Walking to work? So is the apartment in downtown Chicago? I theoretically live walking distance from my office but there are no pavements, no streetlights and it would involve crossing an interstate. Plus it snows a lot. This country is not designed for people who walk.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Hi the size of my house, I live just out of London my bedroom is 8x6ft my kitchen alot smaller and my shower room is like a closet so the size of my entire downstairs the point is alot bigger than what im used to they call it a studio apartment over there. Maybe tiny to Americans or people from outside South East England but to me its more than enough. Thanks I will make sure heating included is priority they are going to show me the safe neighbour hoods. Cool well I have included $150 for the subway travel and I'll look into walking routes if I am buying something based on walking location. Thanks Tom I will shop around further I only looked at AT&T so far

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

You say this is a 'job of a lifetime' and then you state an income of $57,500. For Chi-town, that's probably not much above poverty level and certainly not enough to earn that title!

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Calculator shows $3622.16 take home a month. Www.goodcalculators.com/us-salary-tax-calculator

Money isnt the main reason but obviously I need enough to live comfortably

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

You seem to be still working on around 75%. Stick to around 65% that has been recommended as it will be nearer the truth in terms of take home rather than simply focusing on tax deductions.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

I'll be surprised if you find somewhere safe to live in Chicago for less than half of your net pay. Then take out food and household consumables @$250/mth, and a vehicle @ say $250/mth finance, $250/mth fuel and maintenance, and $150+/mth insurance, and then money for vacations and/or return flights to the UK, and you may soon find that you have little left for fun and entertainment. :(

For $1,400 you may find something that is walkable and affordable, but probably not in the best area, and I suspect that you might not be able to find somewhere in Chicago that is safe, walkable and affordable.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Why not be factual for a change. $57,500 is no where near the poverty guidelines for a single person. In fact it is probably 3-1/2 times over it.

A job of a lifetime need not be a high paying position. The job of a lifetime could be the opportunity to live and work in a foreign country. It could be the opportunity to work in a department or field that is a bit different than what you normally have done but are looking to try.

Not everything is about MONEY. $57,500 is enough for a single person to live on in NYC and I assume in Chicago. Studio apartments can be quite large and enough for a single person to call home. A single person's needs are not anywhere near the needs of a family man/woman. Food costs around $75 a week; cable with phone and internet around $125 a month; no car means no car insurance costs or maintenance or gas bills; utilities for electric and perhaps gas around $100 a month. Most apartments in apartment buildings include the cost of heating in the rent and is not a separate charge. A/C might be separate and raise the electric bill during summer months but then that is only 4 months out of 12.

It is not justifiable to equate your style of living to be the end all way of life. Each person has their own needs and we can see by the OP that his needs are not anywhere what you or even I require to live.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

As has been mentioned before, there is a huge difference between scrimping and making do in your home country and moving 3,000+ miles to scrimp and make do in a country that is unfamiliar to you, without friends and family to help out with secondhand furniture and a truck to move it, etc. and with a social network of friends and contacts.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

I'm not out to change anyone's opinion on lifestyles. I am not narcissist and don't feel that everyone has to live as I do, think as I do, or behave as I do. I can understand the OP and offer him support in living in the US on $57,500 in the Chicago area. Personally, I feel that it is more than enough for him to live comfortably. No area is crime free when you live in a large metropolitan city. He can find a place in an area that is not in a gang area or a section 8 apartment complex, I'm sure.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Hi,

I won't be driving for a few months, I should get a minimum $10,000 of bonuses and a $10,000 pay rise after 6 months. I am very good with money I come from a poor background so I won't waste it on much. (I work in central London and live off £20k) Of course I will hopefully do fun things and new experiences, but I have seriously just came for the training to save money up and develop my career. I will be working and sleeping, most apartments will have a gym. So for fun in my spare time I will be going to the gym and watching TV/Xbox and skyping friends and family.

If I have a good month and get a bonus I can do treats. I know I am young but I am quite boring nowadays lol. Yes it appears that I won't get something walkable!

I also enjoy the job, so it's not too bad I am fortunate. Alot of my work will include taking clients out for expensed meals and drinks and learning which is fun too.

My manager has predicted even if I do just alright at the job I will be on $80,000 per year with in the first 6 months, but $57,500 per year is worse case scenario if I don't meet any targets and be complete useless lol!

I plan on flying down twice a year, I get vacations paid for with my work! So won't need one anyway only local Las Vegas, New York but will be great

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Yes I think I would kick myself if I did not work abroad ever in my life when I have the opportunity to, will be great for my development and all my friends family and lecturers said I should, I don't want to look back in a few years when I may have dependents and regret it. I have a dead end job I have been in for 2 years, I have nothing to lose.

Thanks all the above are a good guide line figure, I haven't looked at food costs yet

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Food costs are very much an individual thing. Someone mentioned a figure of $250 a month. That's a good place to start. I find that good food is much more expensive here than the U.K. but bad food is much cheaper. We buy organic food and from local producers where possible to reduce the food miles. I know that we spend more than other people because of this but it is our choice to live like this. We also buy eco-friendly cleaning products and other consumables.

If you are going to be eating out on the company's nickel that will save some food money but you will need to factor into your budget a good wardrobe. Wearing a Primark (or equivalent) shirt for a hosted dinner with clients won't cut it.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

I agree - I also find good food to be more expensive here than it was in the UK. Also, I find some staples such as milk to be more expensive.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Milk can be expensive, but our BJ's membership pays for itself several times over with the money we save buying milk.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Wow! personal attacks! Looks like I need to quit this forum again - for good this time, if I can't offer an opinion without being attacked!

For information, my point is that a 'job of a lifetime' should not just be above the breadline. Where I live, $60k would be a wonderful salary, but in Chicago, it's not so good and certainly not 'opportunity of a lifetime' money. Sure, not everything is about cash, but there's living and there's surviving. That kind of money if Chicago is closer to surviving than it is to living!

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

In manhattan I paid $4 for a pepper once.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

What are you man or mouse? ;) I may be missing it but I don't see a personal attack in the replies to your post. :confused:

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

I am inclined to agree with your perspective, but have you lived in Chicago? I don't believe that Rete has (either), so it looks like you two just have different opinions, each expressed robustly, and you both have very diffent personal historys (based on posts on BE) so I don't see anything for either of you to get your panties in a wad over. :lol:

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Chicago has 5th Most Expensive Rice (white), (1kg) in the World (out of 332 cities). See More Price Rankings for Chicago, IL
The price of Eggs (12) in the year 2012 in Chicago was 2.34$. See More Historical Data in Chicago, IL

Not sure how accurate these prices are, but 1700 / month for a 1 bed apartment is going to eat into the OP salary a reasonable amount.

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/in/Chicago

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Sensitive? I was not attacking you but your statement that $57,500 was just above poverty guidelines for a single person.

If you can't take being corrected on misinformation, then guess it is time to leave.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

I agree that money is not everything when it comes to a new job opportunity and that there is more than money to be gained from moving overseas to a whole new life. But unfortunately this particular job is in a country where money is everything. Everything has a price. Even basic healthcare. I see that he has healthcare from his employer but with a 20% deductible. Even a small percentage deductible is a huge amount if you have a serious illness or injury. It's something us Brits never have to consider until we leave the country. We come from a society where we are looked after a lot better and where there are more safety nets. The US may be a great place to live but it's a terrible place to be poor. Especially as an immigrant with no access to public funds (e.g. benefits) if he should fall on hard times with very little support network. I was briefly unemployed in the U.K. in 2009 and received dole at £64 a week. But I got through it with family and friends pitching in - a meal cooked for me by my brother one day, a bag of groceries from my sister another day, and so on. Money rules here, unfortunately. After all, this is a country where they will arrest you for bouncing a cheque. On the U.K. you'll get a polite letter from the company in question hinting at a slight oversight on your part. In the few months I've been here I've noticed how much more people's lives are controlled by how much or how little money they have.

Many people can live simply and on very low budgets. Good for them. But while the OP has the chance to live in another country it would be a shame if he never saw beyond the Chicago city limits because he couldn't even afford a plane ticket to another city. It would be a shame if all his free time was spent at the apartment gym or on the Xbox because he couldn't afford a theatre ticket or art classes (or whatever hobby he likes). He could stay in the U.K. and work out and play on an Xbox. And have more annual leave and no healthcare costs to boot!

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

There are ways of saying things and 'Why not be factual for a change' does not qualify! It implies that I never use facts, which, IMO, is a personal attack - and from someone I never expected it from!

...and then to follow it up with 'If you can't take being corrected on misinformation, then guess it is time to leave', well, there are no words!

My last little spat was resolved and we now have a mutual respect for each other, which surprised me as much as it would some others on here. This is out of the blue, and if I can't express an opinion without being jumped on, then it really is time to leave.

I don't know who pissed in your cornflakes this morning, Rete, but you've managed to achieve one less person to argue with.

Goodbye.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Not quite the same, but it's possible to do a lot of travelling and not see much. If all you see is an office, hotel room and the airport, it doesn't count as travelling.

This could end up being a similar kind of experience if money is so tight.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

You really need to take a read back through your posts. Some of your comments are quite caustic and uncalled for. People in glass houses and all that...

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

JG. If you're going to pile on, remember that it should be one rule for all and not selective like it is now!

If that's how you see me, then it's a good job that I'm going. Looks like the forum will be better off for it.

Oh, and for the record, I've only ever tried to be honest and straightforward. To the best of my knowledge, I have NEVER been caustic or uncalled for on purpose.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

You give as good as you get...like many of us do. You also give out good information/advice...like many others. Stick around...I would miss seeing your ugly green face if you left us. ;):lol:

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Hi All,

I haven't been offended by anyone's comments or opinions it is better for me to have mixed views.

Yes in Chicago you might go one place and a Pepper is $4 but you can go 10mins down the road to the mexican supermarket and it is $1 Cigarettes vary from $5-$15 they are going to show me all the cheapest shops.

Also so assuming I get taxed 35% I know it will be less anyway as I'm not in that bracket = $3114

A serviced apartment all bills included is $1275+ so say $1400

Healthcare and Dental $181

Phone bill (company pay for)

Car I get a rental car for work which I can use sometimes for free

Flights I get one flight a year return paid for me and I can claim tax back on extra flights if I pass the London Office

Subway $100

This will leave me after with at least $1433 for food, toiletries, social activities and flights. I fail to believe that this is not enough for a single person to live on?

I think the first few weeks may be harder, but once I learn the right shops to go to (which I'll be shown)

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Not in what bracket? As a single person with no children you will have proportionately the highest tax deduction possible from your salary. There are allowances for each dependent. So the person sitting at the desk next to you who is married and has three children will be paying less than you in taxes even if you are earning the same gross salary.

Then there is 401k. They will be deducting from you each month for that too.

Cigarettes for $5 a pack? You know what's going on there when the cost is less than the tax on a regular, legal pack.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

IMO 35% is a good high estimate of taxes and compulsory deductions. My deductions are about 35% including my 401k, though I have mortgage interest to deduct, as well as a dependent child.
They may come from an Indian reservation and/or be excluded from the settlement a few years ago with "big tobacco". In recent years there have been numerous start-up cigarette manufacturers which can legitimately exploit one or both loopholes to significantly undercut the the price of the main big-brand cigarettes.

That said, the OP might want to think about quitting, in my experience far fewer people smoke here in the US, especially in non-industial/ non-manual occupations and wandering off for a cig-break is much less common than it was even when I arrived 14 years ago.

It is also possible, if not likely, that smoking will cost you more for your health insurance - many employers now provide cash rebates for employees who have healthier lifestyles, specifically including not smoking, not drinking excessively, keeping their weight under control, and having an annual physical check-up.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

401K is not mandatory. It can help offset tax liability by placing you in a different tax bracket or in some now rarer cases be employer contributed to as well but for someone who is only going to be in the US for 1 to 5 years, they might not want to participate in this program.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

I know nothing about Illinois but here in Washington state you have to a tribal member to buy the cigarettes without tax and buying that way for re-sale is not permitted.

But I don't even smoke so it doesn't bother me. They can be $100 a pack as far as I'm concerned.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Certainly valid for my insurer. I believe if caught lying about not smoking they will charge for the prior months.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Illionois income tax for someone earning $50 is just over 35%

https://smartasset.com/taxes/illinoi...tor#ODcei7YScp


rent looks like it's $900 + for 1 bed, but I don't know good or bad areas. Plus bills.

https://chicago.craigslist.org/searc...labilityMode=0

You will probably want to get renters insurance.10$ / month
Internet and TV starts from $50 for basic internet , up to $200 if you want medium TV package/internet deal.
If you do ever have to buy a car, insurance in the US is expensive.Car payments and insurance can easily get to be $1000 a month.

It's quite easy to rack up medical/dental expenses , especially if you have a high deductible plan. It costs me around $300 to see a doctor until my deductible is met. This may vary by region.

I'm sure you will be OK, people tend to manage on what they have.

Re: Off topic posts removed from Job Offer of a Life Time! But I have co
 

Didn't that guy in New York get killed for selling illegal cigarettes?

New York man dies after chokehold by police - CNN.com

if you're honest you may want to pay the use tax on unstamped cigarettes.

Form RC-44, Cigarette Use Tax Return, is filed as needed, on a per-purchase basis, to pay tax on unstamped cigarettes purchased from a seller and is due within 30 days of the purchase.

http://tax.illinois.gov/Businesses/T.../cigarette.htm

I doubt if anyone pays this, same as in Washington when people buy cigarettes in Oregon.