Freaking out - 2 kids in daycare and a PAY FREEZE?

[Anonymous]

The problem with entitlement programs is that EVERYONE feels entitled to them. Trust me, when you are 65 (or 70) and you've been paying into those programs for the last 50 years, through thick and thin, you will be MIGHTY pissed off when they discontinue them and you don't get your share of the pie.

but this is exactly what is going to happen in about 3 decades.

once again we're paying off seniors with another "250.00 'one time benefit'" (for all income levels) because no one in washington--right or left-- wants to take on the AARP (or rather, lose its support).

[Anonymous]

OP, you are probably not still reading this after getting totally slammed, but I just want to say that I feel for you. I am not a federal employee but I didn't get a raise last year and it sucked. I'm hopeful to get one this year. But if someone told me my salary would be frozen for 2 years I would get a little panicky, despite the fact that I am grateful to have a job.

I also appreciate that many federal workers give up the higher salaries and bonuses they could get in the private sector for the stability of a fed position, but part of that stability is gradual salary increases rather than big payouts when the economy is good.

Anyway, in case you peek back at this post, just wanted you to know that not everyone thinks you are selfish jerk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are probably not still reading this after getting totally slammed, but I just want to say that I feel for you. I am not a federal employee but I didn't get a raise last year and it sucked. I'm hopeful to get one this year. But if someone told me my salary would be frozen for 2 years I would get a little panicky, despite the fact that I am grateful to have a job.

I also appreciate that many federal workers give up the higher salaries and bonuses they could get in the private sector for the stability of a fed position, but part of that stability is gradual salary increases rather than big payouts when the economy is good.

Anyway, in case you peek back at this post, just wanted you to know that not everyone thinks you are selfish jerk

I'm not the OP, but thank you. This was well said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know, honestly! Come over to the private sector. We haven't even seen COLA in 2 years much less any step increases or bonuses!

Cost of Living Allowance? Isn't that what you get when you take a government job in an area where the cost of living is really high? Do you mean a cost of living raise and not COLA?


OP don't freak out because it's not as serious as you seem to think it is.

[Anonymous]

COLA is a cost of living adjustment. You get locality pay for living in an area with a higher cost of living.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:COLA is a cost of living adjustment. You get locality pay for living in an area with a higher cost of living.

That's the Cost of Living Allowance not a yearly increase because of the rising cost of living. It seems these people are talking about the cost of living increase and calling it something it's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:just wait until the deficit reduction commission report on wed. then you'll see some real cuts. Of course, political division in washington means nothing of significance will happen.

I really wish we'd means-test Social Security and curb Medicare spending. It's really sick that people over 65 get such huge entitlement programs. So many working families are struggling, really suffering to make ends meet...

The problem with entitlement programs is that EVERYONE feels entitled to them. Trust me, when you are 65 (or 70) and you've been paying into those programs for the last 50 years, through thick and thin, you will be MIGHTY pissed off when they discontinue them and you don't get your share of the pie.

I hate the use of the word WORKING FAMILIES when people are whining about freebies or heavily taxpayer subsidized stuff. Case in point is SACC. Afterschool care in FCPS. Full day kindergarten cost taxpayers far more per school for 12-3 pm than SACC. One item but they all add up.

Other people work also and your tot care shouldn't be at the expense of everyone else. Those 65 and 70 year olds had to find and pay for their own childcare or do it themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are probably not still reading this after getting totally slammed, but I just want to say that I feel for you. I am not a federal employee but I didn't get a raise last year and it sucked. I'm hopeful to get one this year. But if someone told me my salary would be frozen for 2 years I would get a little panicky, despite the fact that I am grateful to have a job.

I also appreciate that many federal workers give up the higher salaries and bonuses they could get in the private sector for the stability of a fed position, but part of that stability is gradual salary increases rather than big payouts when the economy is good.

Anyway, in case you peek back at this post, just wanted you to know that not everyone thinks you are selfish jerk

I'm not the OP, but thank you. This was well said.

Yes, thank you! I'm a Fed, and I think it was ridiculous how we got increases in COLA the past few years (I knew this was coming, anyways - it happens with new administrations) so I'm ok with staying put. Plus my kids will both be turning a year older in the new year so daycare will get cheaper (hooray!). But private sector folks, you get a lot of perks that we don't when the economy is good. Like, no ridiculous travel hoops to jump through (crappy ticket class, only economy airport parking, price limit on hotels, etc.), no holiday parties or company retreats, no big bonuses, no coffee in the office (seriously! we have to buy our own coffee machines and dish soap!), no paid maternity leave or short term disability, no stock options, etc. Let's just not forget that there are pros and cons for working in the govt and the private sector.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But inflation is eroding the future value of the dollar.

And taxpayers are footing the bill for the federal government, and alot of those taxpayers are unemployed, so just be happy you have a job and cease griping.

I think if you aren't employed then you aren't paying taxes.

[Anonymous]

Also, if you think deflation is a problem, then freezing federal employee pay is only going to make it worse. (And we all know that around here, preschool tuitions, daycare costs, housing costs, are only going up, so it's a meaningless distinction.)
I don't really mind the pay freeze per se. But I mind the rhetoric about it and the way it was done. But telling us we're overpaid is just politically throwing us under the bus, and it's stupid.
I'm a government lawyer, and I could make easily 3 times what I make if I were private sector. That's a sacrifice I've already made. And I don't work 40 hour weeks. My husband (also a govt lawyer) works more like 90 hour weeks, and I work about 50-60. Of course, we get no overtime pay -- pay is the same regardless.
Also, the calculation of how much money it will save -- I wonder if that accounts for the lost income tax revenue? After all, if you ain't paying it to me, you ain't taxing me on it either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you are probably not still reading this after getting totally slammed, but I just want to say that I feel for you. I am not a federal employee but I didn't get a raise last year and it sucked. I'm hopeful to get one this year. But if someone told me my salary would be frozen for 2 years I would get a little panicky, despite the fact that I am grateful to have a job.

I also appreciate that many federal workers give up the higher salaries and bonuses they could get in the private sector for the stability of a fed position, but part of that stability is gradual salary increases rather than big payouts when the economy is good.

Anyway, in case you peek back at this post, just wanted you to know that not everyone thinks you are selfish jerk

I'm not the OP, but thank you. This was well said.

Yes, thank you! I'm a Fed, and I think it was ridiculous how we got increases in COLA the past few years (I knew this was coming, anyways - it happens with new administrations) so I'm ok with staying put. Plus my kids will both be turning a year older in the new year so daycare will get cheaper (hooray!). But private sector folks, you get a lot of perks that we don't when the economy is good. Like, no ridiculous travel hoops to jump through (crappy ticket class, only economy airport parking, price limit on hotels, etc.), no holiday parties or company retreats, no big bonuses, no coffee in the office (seriously! we have to buy our own coffee machines and dish soap!), no paid maternity leave or short term disability, no stock options, etc. Let's just not forget that there are pros and cons for working in the govt and the private sector.

Okay, I'm with you on the coffee - that is a nice treat. But we aren't doing a holiday party of any kind this year (and last few years it's been in the conferece room, though it is appreciated) andw when I travel for work it bites - luckily I don't travel often but it's coach all the way. But I work for a nonprofit. My husband works for a for profit company and he does get some nice damn travel perks! But they aren't doing a holiday party either. He gets a bonus but I've always worked in nonprofit and never gotten a bonus. We both have nice 401k plans however and I appreciate our health benefits. And I am most thankful for our excellent onsite daycare through his company. It is not cheap, but it is an incredible facility and I know others are paying a lot more (though it is based in the burbs and not the city so that is a help I'm sure).

What I am taking from this is that it is really tough out there for many of us, and though I will be bummed when I don't get the promotion I was promised or any pay raise , we could be doing a lot worse and I'm trying to gain some perspective. Very thankful to have a job.

[Anonymous]

11:14, when do you see your husband? 90 hour weeks is 13 hours a day every day. WTF job requires this type of commitment? And if you work 60 hour weeks, what do your kids do? How do you afford all the childcare you must need?

[Anonymous]

The free company coffee is almost always muddy swill. No reason to envy that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in a small TH and daycare prices went up at least 5% this year and seem to go up at least that every year. Don't pass judgment unless you walk in someone else's shoes.

Full-time day care is time limited - 5 years per child in less you are continuing to have kids and want to have 3-6 kids and in that case, you clearly can afford it or you wouldn't have multiple kids. And, it may increase, but day care rates change as the staff to child ratio changes with ages and usually goes down.

Yep, this.

And what does living in a small townhouse have to do with anything?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But inflation is eroding the future value of the dollar.

We are at near zero inflation.