Good grief!
This is why I post pictures of my paycheque online.
People are so incredulous that I could earn $130/hour that they don’t even understand that consultants (IT and business ones) can charge up to $450 – $500/hour.
Sure, I’m surprised to be earning that kind of money, but talking to other people, $130 is nothing. It’s “reasonable”!!!
And keep in mind I am a person who does NOT work 50 weeks a year, 40 hours a week. If I work 3-4 months, that’s good enough for a year but it may be all that I get in terms of a contract.
Anyway, I’m not going to bother telling you what I do.
A) I don’t want to out myself and/or have you people stampeding my job.
B) You can read about it on the right hand side of my blog and have read that I’m an IT professional.
Done.
- About Me: My Career and Education
- Want to know who the top whores would be?
- Am having a great time…!
- This is my projection of earnings for this week
- Work less, get less. France isn’t the solution.
mountain rose
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 12:08 PM:
I’m not sure who finds that hard to believe, because its quite common in IT. A junior programmer from a top university gets anywhere between 60 and 70$ an hour. Considering your experience and considering your field, I’d say thats about right – or maybe a little less than what you should be charging.
Anyone who is not in IT or computer science does find it hard to believe, i’ll agree to that.
Anonymous
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 12:36 PM:
I find your attitude to your readers very strange. You love to throw out things like ‘you people’, etc, and make sweeping (often very rude) comments referring to all of us, when you’re responding to something one person has said, as if we’re all a bunch of idiots in awe of your high earning power and success.
I’m not going to read this blog anymore – something I’m sure you won’t care about. I have watched your attitude change for the worse over the last few months. When I first started reading this blog, I would think to myself ‘wow, this girl is really going out and doing it. Good for her.’ Now I think that however sucessful you may be, you need to remember that a little bit of good grace goes a long way.
I’m sure you’ll publish yet another rant about how if people don’t like this blog they can get lost (as usual), but I just wanted to give my impressions before I remove you from my reader. This has nothing to do with jealousy, as you will probably like to think. I used to read this blog for fun. Now all I see is someone with a very high opinion of herself and a bad attitude.
I know that I’m not the first person to express such an opinion. Maybe you’ll think about what I’ve said, but I doubt it.
Stranger Danger
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 12:59 PM:
People are incredulous because most people (including me) who have college degrees, high IQs, excellent work ethic, and sterling performance reviews have never made over 12-15 bucks an hour.
I graduated in the top of my class in college (granted, a theatre/English double major), I have an IQ of 154, I’ve never missed a day of work and have helped increase profits at my company by 41% in the first year, and have recommendations from every single one of my past bosses and I only make $9.00 an hour.
I live on 9 dollars an hour, 30 hours a week (if I’m lucky), with an apartment in a major city. Every month I sink deeper into debt because I can barely afford to pay transportation + food + rent. I don’t spend money on frivolous things…
$130 dollars an hour, to me, even for a short period of time is just awe inspiring. I cannot even imagine what I would do with that money…
Laura
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 2:09 PM:
They’re incredulous because they’re accustomed to earning something more like $10 – $30 an hour. And they’re jealous.
Here’s the deal, y’all. Most corporations get IT services like what FB provides from large firms. At large firms, the firms charge out their employee’s services to clients at set hourly rates depending on the level of the employee. When I was in consulting, I was junior staff member with NO EXPERIENCE and they charged my time to clients at $175 an hour, and paid me exactly $22.50 per hour for that work. For my boss, who was two levels above me, they charged her time out at $350 an hour, I believe. That’s how it goes.
FB is making a high amount because she’s cutting out the middleman: the firm. So she gets all of the money that the firm is willing to pay, instead of just a fraction. And the company wins because they are still paying less than firm prices.
If you’re jealous, maybe you should try consulting
Living Almost Large
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 2:35 PM:
I dunno. It’s like small business owners, they could be feasting or famine. Some make $10k/week! Then some weeks $0. Depends on if their clients pay.
At least that’s what a friend told me, I was like holy cow! Clearing $100k month, but then bad times can happen too she said.
Karissa Dee
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 5:23 PM:
You don’t have to justify your livelihood. I think it’s fantastic. Keep up the good work!
Squawkfox
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 5:59 PM:
Consulting within the IT industry does indeed have it’s ups and downs. Many don’t realize contracts can be few and far between. Skills are specialized in IT, so many consultants have unique or rare experience that many companies will pay for. Plus many consultants get paid more per hour since they don’t get health and other benefits. Kudos.
Fabulously Broke
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 6:22 PM:
Thanks everyone. I could’ve sworn I already repeated myself blue in the face but… *shrug*
Anon: It’s precisely correct. I repeated myself blue in the face about how this works, and no one takes the time to listen or read about it, but instead asks the same damn question over and over again instead of reading the past posts.
I’m just sick of repeating myself. Get it?
Glad you’re stopping. It won’t be good for your blood pressure to get worked up over a blog and someone’s writing style.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. No personality in the blog? No one reads it. Too much personality? People hate it.
I’ve already decided to write and answer any damn way I want.. and if you had read the posts on the right sidebar, you’d have known that before starting to read the blog.
I shouldn’t need to have to put disclaimers for people who are overly sensitive to GENERAL remarks.
Fabulously Broke
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 6:23 PM:
Oh, and we do live in a world of idiots if you haven’t noticed. Hello? Economic crisis?
stackingpennies
on Dec 1st, 2008
@ 6:30 PM:
1 – people don’t work in fields where this is possible
2 – people work in salaried positions, where $130/hr is really quite rare in almost all fields.
3 – Just a few months ago you were making…. 40/hr? It is eye opening to see the difference.
Sam
on Dec 2nd, 2008
@ 3:52 PM:
FB,
Instead of taking the high road and taking the ANON post into consideration, you went for a direct attack – something that we have seen too much in this blog. ANON did not say anything that you haven’t heard before and wasn’t verbally assaulting you so why do you get so worked up from criticism? Is it because you can’t take negativity and that you’re too stubborn to take your readers’ suggestion? 85% of your blog goes to how much you’re earning and the complains about your life. Like you said in the previous post, we ARE facing an economic crisis and many of us are getting laid off. Now all you can do is gloat at how much you make per hour? You need to be grateful because Karma will come back. Most of us are struggling. I come to your blog because I want to know how to keep up with my savings. The do’s and don’t's for my financial situation. This blog now entails posts for bragging purposes. If you really need to keep up with your blog, you need to write posts that will be beneficial for its readers.
Regards,
Samantha
Liza
on Dec 3rd, 2008
@ 12:03 PM:
Sick of repeating yourself?? You never seem to get sick of repeating how much money you make. And I don’t think anon was getting worked up, at all. Just giving her opinion. If you don’t want people’s opinions, why write a blog?
Anonymous
on Dec 4th, 2008
@ 11:08 PM:
People in IT can indeed make a ton of money. To make it to the top, you have to have specialized technical skills in a number of areas, excellent people/management/organizational skills. My husband is one of these people. He also works very long hours, odd hours, and sacrifices personal time. Part of the reason he does this is because I am an invalid with numerous disablities and illnesses, and in the US, my health care costs a small fortune.
We do not discuss his salary. Except of course, with the IRS, who are working overtime to take their portion, and the large number of charities we support.
My husband and I realize that he is probably vastly overpaid compared to some of the people who work very hard, such as nurses, social workers and teachers. It is a humbling feeling. My brother is currently without a job and he is as qualified, smart and hard working as my husband. Part of making good money is being able to help family, and strangers.
Anonymous
on Dec 6th, 2008
@ 10:12 PM:
i must agree with anon also – it used to be a bit of fun reading your blog but now it just kinda seems aggressive. no probs mentioning how much you make but it’s the WAY you do it. there’s a negative defensive tone now. you don’t seem like a particularly agreeable person these days. i hope i’m wrong.
i shall remain anon, as you are.
and p.s. i shan’t go into what i think of IT consultants as a rule….;)