Tag Archives: Money

Tax Man

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Tax Man – Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

I filed our taxes today. They are pretty simple nowadays, since we don’t itemize anymore. We spent a little less than the year before, which was also less than the year before that. This is a good thing, what with inflation raising its ugly head again after so many years. I always try to file as early as I can, to avoid tax fraud scammers and I would have filed even earlier, except for a delay in receiving a needed W-2 form. Well actually, it was a 1099 form for my 401K, but I figured that more people are more familiar with W-2s than they are with a 1099. My former employer had decided to get out of the business of managing my 401K and shipped those duties out to a brokerage firm that I happened to already be doing business with. That was convenient. What was not convenient was that this transfer kind of balled up the whole tax filing process, but they got their part done within their legal time limit, so I shouldn’t be complaining too much. We’re due another big fat refund, marginally fatter than last year, by $22. So, all-in-all 2021 was a good year, at least financially. Actually, it was a good year all around, we got to travel again. I got to see all my family in California and there was Maren and David’s wedding, followed closely with their joyous announcement that they are expecting a baby, our first grandchild. Plus, both Anne’s and my 90+ year old lived another year,

My Leap Paycheck

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White Lantern Globes

White Lantern Globes

I’m going to get a “leap paycheck” this year. I get paid every two weeks, or normally 26 times a year, but once a decade the stars, or more importantly the calendar aligns and I get a 27th annual paycheck. This year my last payday falls on December 32nd. “Wait a minute”, I hear you say, “December only has 31 days.” This is correct, payday is scheduled for January 1st, 2015, or next year, but in the event that a payday falls on a holiday, I get paid the day before, or in this case December 31st. I’ll anticipate your next question too, because I’ve heard it often enough, this does not mean that I will only get 25 paychecks in 2015. It truly is a leap paycheck. I could look upon this paycheck as a ~4% bonus (27/26 -1). A bonus, because I won’t be getting another leap paycheck next year. I have already checked, there are only the usual 26 paychecks next year and for many years to come. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, this unexpected windfall should be tidings of great joy, this ~4% bump will increase my annual salary, a good thing, but will also likely boost me into a higher income tax bracket, a bad thing and it will help with my pension calculation, a good thing. Ultimately though, it is just an accounting gimmick, I get paid every two weeks, no matter what time of year it is. I’ll have to ask my tax preparer what to do. Anne?

African daisy

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African daisy

African daisy

According to the online job matching company, The Ladder, the shorter a person’s last name is the more money they are likely to make. In a study from last year, they found that all other things being equal, a Dave will make more money than a David and a Dan will make more money than either a Daniel or even a Dave. They’ve even quantified this effect. On average, each extra letter in a person’s first name costs $3600 per year in lost income. All of this begs the question, why would someone add an extra letter at the end of their name, when it is a silent letter. If one went by Ann instead of Anne that would equate to over $150,000 in extra wages over the course of person’s career.

Power of the Purse

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Purple Purse

That’s what this post is all about, money. You’ve got it and I want it. I’m talking at you Mister 1%. You with your big black Escalade, I be fiending on you. No matter how much you claim you produce, you’re just a net-oxygen consumer.

“The best things in life are free, but you can keep them for the birds and bees. Now give me money, that’s what I want, yeah!” – Money, Beatles

Medicare will go bankrupt when I am 70 years-old. Social Security will follow when I’m 79. I’ll be an old man and you’ll still be crying out for more tax cuts. I’m guessing that you will have stolen my 401K by then and looted my pension too, leaving me either destitute or dead, or both.

“Money, get away; get a good job with more pay and you’re okay. Money, it’s a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.” – Money, Pink Floyd

Thirty years ago, you Mister 1% were content to earn forty times your lowest paid employee. Now you’re only content with almost 400 times that same poor employee. You are probably on a first name basis with her by now and wish her “Good evening, Gladys”, on your way out the door. She of course replies with respect, “Good night, Mister 1%”.

“Money, money; lie for it, spy for it, kill for it, die for it.” – Money, Michael Jackson

The power of the purse is traditionally a ruling power. Purple is a royal color. There is a referendum this year, an election. Mister 1% has nominated one of his own, Mitt. The incumbant has been less than effectual, the banks are bigger, the rich are richer and the poor are poorer and more numerous, but do we have any other choice, or chance?