Congrats Steve!
I'm happy for you.
Good Luck with the new gig.

but after working as a bar tender in a peeler bar, it's gotta be all downhill from there anyway?

Well, this is the beginning of my third day.

My old company did try to counter-offer, but it wasn't even close. They asked for a number that I would consider, I gave them one, and they countered way under that number. Supposedly, partially as a result of me leaving, they are going to revisit the payscale for my old group because we were below market. The bonuses this year were crap, but the raises were pretty good.

The first day here was a bit hectic, but things have smoothed out a bit. I was afraid that it was going to be boring, but I don't think it'll be boring for a while yet. THere are plenty of projects and things that need to be fixed. I got one on the first day, and then yesterday I was given another that has a higher priority than the first.

I'm driving into downtown Houston which could really suck, but I'm getting in really early, so the drive is pretty darn fast, 26 miles in 35 minutes. Getting home is another story, but it's still only taking 50-70 minutes, so it could be a lot worse.

I'm pretty excited. The work is similar, but different because before I worked for a service provider and now I'm working in the enterprise. It should be a little challenging and interesting, and, of course, it pays really well compared to my old gig. We should have our debt paid off and a considerable savings in 1.5-2 years.

I am sure it is a good move. BUT, as a consultant you're going to be paying both side of the payroll taxes. I hope you are structuring yourself as a corporation, so that you don't have to double pay on the payroll taxes.

Actually, no, this is a contract gig through a company, so I'm on as a W-2 contractor. According to some other guys that I know that work for the same contracting firm, it's pretty much the same as a regular job RE:taxes/paychecks.

They even have a 401k with matching. The contracting company has full benefits available, but the medical insurance is pricey. That's the main difference between it and any other job.

If you're a contractor, you suddenly have a LOT more tax deductions. ANYTHING that you own/purchase personally, but use for business use, can be a deduction. Mileage on the car, home office, computer, fax, etc. I spend a year as an engineering contractor, and my wife the accountant was able to come up with a huge number of deductions. However, you also pay some form of self-employment tax. I don't precisely remember, that's the wife's department.

Regardless, there are some pros and cons on the tax side. If you are indeed working as a contractor, you should strongly consider talking with an accountant so you can plan now for next year's taxes.

EDIT: nevermind, you posted as I was typing. Congrats on the new gig!

Nervous excitement is good!

agreed.

good luck, did you hear about the recall on the Jeep your daughter is rolling in?

So what do you do, anyways? After all that, I'm a little curious. I guess it's just assumed that you work in the oil/gas industry since you're writing from Houston. :cool:

Yep, we got a notice, and she took it in, thanks.

My last company provided service primarily for the oil and gas industry.

I'm a network engineer, not servers and MS. I work with routers, switches, firewalls, etc..., all of the stuff that allows computers to talk to each other.

I lust for a 1099 contractor job so I can incorporate and write off a lot of stuff. I hate working for the man too and my boss has definitely become the man.

Great, now I find out I've been looking at pictures posted by Dilbert.

hahaha, yep.

Hope your new job works out, but if the workload prevents you from posting pin-up girls we expect you to quit and go back to the old job.

And the pictures of the moon have to stop before you stop posting the girls. :)