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Doing without the perks... 13 days to go
Old 04-17-2008, 07:41 PM   #1
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Doing without the perks... 13 days to go

.. continuing my thoughts as I approach ER
If you are interested, you can see my previous posts here:
http://www.early-retirement.org/foru...-go-34602.html

Doing without the perks

My work comes with some pretty good perks that I will have to do without. Since I work from a home office, my phone, cell phone/pda and internet access expenses are reimbursed. My company provides a new car every other year and for a modest sum covers insurance, maintenance and gasoline, and allows personal use. I travel a fair bit for work, so I stay at decent hotels, eat at decent (and sometimes very nice) restaurants. The airline & hotel frequent-user programs help with vacation expenses. And then there are the majority of the people I work with who are wonderful, smart, dedicated.

I'll miss all these perks. I will not miss the stress.

What are the perks you'll miss most?
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Old 04-17-2008, 07:43 PM   #2
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Electronic access to a University library.
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Old 04-17-2008, 07:48 PM   #3
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Coffee grounds
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Old 04-17-2008, 07:50 PM   #4
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all of those frequent flyer miles I 'earned' traveling all over the world for megacorp.
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Old 04-17-2008, 08:30 PM   #5
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I am 18 months retired from a programming career.

While I enjoyed most of my career, and found it very low stress, the only
thing I miss is Free Pizza Friday once a month.
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Old 04-17-2008, 08:55 PM   #6
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Honestly I have been TRYING to think of great perks that I'll miss when I retire next year. I am probably just an ungrateful wretch! I don't like traveling, and I do "get to" travel a frequently. I also "get to" dress up in formal meeting attire and spend long hours with top researchers in my field and various dignitaries, on occasion. I just don't happen to appreciate these perks.

The best perk that I came up with is that I get $22/month off my gym membership. However, my gym charges about that much less if I can go during working hours. Also my cubicle is air conditioned, so I can turn down the A/C at home when I go to work in the morning.
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Old 04-17-2008, 09:04 PM   #7
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Gosh - I just don't remember any perks! Of course it's been almost 9 years......

Maybe paid-for health insurance?!!!!! LOL! I guess that's the biggie.

I hated that daily commute so much - and it was only 20 mins each way! But for some reason, that was really what I hated the most. Perhaps it is symbolic of the huge time obligation/sacrifice of full time work.

Audrey
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Old 04-17-2008, 10:25 PM   #8
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Health insurance is about all I can think of. Since I telecommute, I don't use anything on-site. Having internet paid for is a minor expense. Years ago I got a personal laptop so as to keep my personal stuff off the work computer.

Can't really think of much else, other than some social interaction.

I got unofficial approval to go part-time this summer. I'm torn between keeping part of a paycheck and benefits, and just getting out of here. I guess I will give it a try. Pretty stressful week, not a good one to make such a decision.
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Old 04-17-2008, 11:22 PM   #9
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I'll probably miss the take home company car (suv actually)
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Old 04-18-2008, 12:57 AM   #10
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Yeah, the free car was nice. What's this crap that I have to pay for my own gas and tires?
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Old 04-18-2008, 05:05 AM   #11
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1. Access to tens of thousands of dollars in investments software, (bloomberg, Thomson, M*, Centerpiece, etc.)

2. Free food and booze, lots of it

3. Frequent flier miles
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Old 04-18-2008, 05:46 AM   #12
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I miss the gas card and vehicle allowance.
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Old 04-18-2008, 06:22 AM   #13
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None. My company didn't have perks.
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Old 04-18-2008, 06:39 AM   #14
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How could I have missed listing Health Insurance considering what it is going to cost me in ER!

I too had some great access to news (eg. WSJ) and other online content. They took away the gym subsidy a few years ago.
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Old 04-18-2008, 06:39 AM   #15
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Laptop upgrades every few years.
FF miles.
Cell phone expense.

Oh, met DW ... probably the biggest perk.
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Old 04-18-2008, 09:28 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tryan View Post
Oh, met DW ... probably the biggest perk.
hopefully you didn't lose that perk!

Audrey
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Old 04-18-2008, 09:30 AM   #17
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Coffee grounds
compost bin in your office?
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Old 04-18-2008, 09:48 AM   #18
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Megapharma perks

Company card for all expenses while away from home
Free great resturants & drinks after work
company car, new every 2 years
gas,insurance, maintainance paid
fully paid health insurance 80/20 from 1st dollar-$2500. max out of pocket
cell and office phone paid
internet paid
401K match
The perks were great and helped me get to FIRE.

But the work got to toxic and never ending - the stress, travel and 2Xdaily conference calls were gonna kill me - miss the perks....that it!
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Old 04-18-2008, 12:21 PM   #19
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compost bin in your office?
Brought them home for my compost bin.
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Old 04-18-2008, 12:27 PM   #20
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None. My company didn't have perks.
Does free parking for my MC count? Otherwise I'm in the same boat...

DD
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