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Some good money news!

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My husband has a start date for his change in placement at work. We are on a three week countdown until he is transferred to working on a government project. Government projects pay at a higher wage rate (prevailing wage) than the private sector and my husband’s pay will jump about 50%. He’s been scheduled for the transfer for a few months but project delays kept pushing back the date.

This new prevailing rate is temporary, 12 to 18 months at the most, but it will help us to become debt free and save 3-6 months worth of expenses.

Of course, there is a hitch. He will commute more than an hour each way to work while still maintaining a full time summer school schedule. We are going to have to double his gas/car maintenance budget and add to the food budget so he can grab something to eat between work and school if necessary.

Even with the added expenses, our debt reduction payment should jump between $500 and $1,000 per month.

Whew! We’re finally starting a downhill slide!


7 Comments

  • Reply Michelle |

    That is so cool! Is there any way that you can pack a lunch for your husband when he’s traveling between school and work? You’d save some money and the food would probably be better for him in the long run.

  • Reply Jenn |

    On nights when I go directly from my FT to my PT job I pack PB&J sandwich that can last safely from morning to supper without refrigeration – include a piece of fruit, veggie sticks and a cereal bar. You don’t want a big dinner before classes or you’ll start to nod off no matter how interesting the prof is. If you partially fill a water bottle and freeze it you can use it as an ice pack during the day and a drink at dinner. On days when I’l be having a sandwich for dinner I try to take something else for lunch (salad, leftovers, thermos of soup). Does he have access to a microwave at his day job? He could warm up something there before heading to school, even if it’s just canned soup, pasta, beans, etc it’s cheaper than eating out several days a week.

    PS. of course it’s understood that he can pack his own meals… packing lunches for anyone over 8 is completely unecessary. Chances are you’ll also be working both your jobs many days as well.

  • Reply Brian |

    That’s good news.

    On a different kind of note, I asked my contractor friend what “prevailing” means, and he said “higher”. Because that’s what he gets, a higher wage.

    The correct answer is “most frequent” or “common”. So why is it that prevailing wage is higher than private sector?

  • Reply Stephan |

    wow good fortune for you, congrats! i just hope the commute doesnt get to him, i hated commuting over an hour when i did it, and did everything i could to cut it down

  • Reply Jenn |

    Just for fun (and because I love to play devil’s advocate) think back to your post from last week….. “the lovely state of California sent his truck registration bill of $295 – the fee unexpectedly raised yet again from last year (Thank you Arnold Schwarzenegger).” I guess jacking up fees are one way to cover the cost of the government paying more way than the going rate for services.

    I’m not pointing fingers, believe me I’d have no problem being paid an extra 50% if someone was offering it, but it certainly explains why governments have trouble balancing their own books. Imagine what our bank accounts would look like if we all paid more than necessary. At least you’re getting to benefit from the government’s policy, not everyone gets to do that.

  • Reply Beks |

    Thanks everyone for the food suggestions!

    Jenn – I do pack his lunches. ; ) After dinner, I put the leftovers in tupperwear for the next day. He’s such a busy guy – I don’t mind.

    Jenn – Absolutely! I am against the prevailing wage laws here in California. They over pay on all construction jobs…but… it’s nice being on the other end – even if I don’t think it’s fair.

So, what do you think ?