Berlin

[lyl_devil]

Ok, couple of questions for my flist - and beyond.

I got my contract for Berlin today. In some ways good, in some ways bad.

Good - Berlin!! Contract is for 2 years, with option on another 3 (and a possible PhD). Pay is higher than what I'm making now.

Bad - Pay is only higher before taxes. After taxes - the unbelievable 45% taxes - I'm actually making less per month.

So, first - and biggest - question: Can I live in Berlin on under 1200 euro a month? (Take into account I have student loans and credit cards to pay off here, which would equal about 300 euro a month.)

Second: How feasible is a daily commute from Mitte/Tiergarten to Buch in Berlin (if you have no idea what I'm talking about, ignore this one)? Or should I look for a place closer to work - in Pankow?

Third: What could I expect to pay for cell service and internet (dsl) a month?

In case you haven't guessed, my decision is resting on the monetary aspects of this. If I stay in Ottawa, I have another year on my contract, and will be taking home more per month than I would if I go to Berlin. I'd get my debt paid off faster, mainly.

However, do I take the risk and go? Or play it safe in Ottawa? I kinda want to do both, but that may just be my nervous terror talking.

Comments

[kallie-kat.livejournal.com]

oh, big congratulations!!! That's really exciting. I have no useful advice other than to tell you to go for it, if at all possible. Hopefully someone will be able to give you a realistic idea of what your expenses will be. I'll cross my fingers that everything works out for you.

[lyl-devil.livejournal.com]

I keep waffling between deciding to go and not go - all based on my student loans situation. Basically, any options I had to lower payments or get Interest or Debt Relief, are gone if I don't live in Canada. (sucks!!) Grr.

I really want to go, and I know if I don't I'll always regret it, but I'm wondering if the smart thing to do is just stay in Ottawa and try to pay off my loans. ::sigh:: I'm conflicted and stressed.

[kallie-kat.livejournal.com]

Wow, yeah, I didn't realize that was part of the deal. I can understand why you're so conflicted.

Is there any room for negotiation with the contract, or are you pretty much stuck with what they offer you? Dang, I hope you figure out a way to make it work.

[lyl-devil.livejournal.com]

German salaries are pretty fixed. It's based on age, experience and status (ie. married, single...).

I keep deciding to go - then not to go - then go - then not go....usually after I've talked to someone about it. It's getting frustrating.

I like my life here - for the first time in years I'm happy where I am - but I know something like this won't come around again.

[kallie-kat.livejournal.com]

Well, if you really like your life the way it is now, maybe you're meant to stay. You can always visit Germany some time in the future. It won't be the same, but at least it'd be something.

[lyl-devil.livejournal.com]

Well, as a co-worker just said to me: you'll always have debt.

I'm leaning more and more towards going. The biggest stumbling block is the actually 'doing something'. I'm lazy and completely burnt out on the packing/moving thing. It takes too much energy. But it might be liberating to have a backpack, a suitcase and a box full of my possessions - and that's it.

Someone just needs to say "YOU'RE GOING AND THAT'S IT!!!", make me sign the contract and kick my ass across the Atlantic. ::sigh::

[kallie-kat.livejournal.com]

LOL...send me a ticket and I'll come up and do it!

[lyl-devil.livejournal.com]

*g*

You wanna know what the sad part of this all is? In addition to already planning out every little detail (without even having made a decision or signed the contract), I'm already planning on the 'Living in Berlin' blog I can start.

I need help. Or several plot bunnies to take my mind of this. Or, better yet, some nice, long, plot-and-smut-filled fic. In any fandom! (I've already blown through 2 1/2 books since Monday.)

[kallie-kat.livejournal.com]

LOL...I wish I could help you with the fic. Doesn't seem to be much out there in the pairings I like. But you sould definitely get yourself a plot bunny (or two) and write some juicy Spillow PWP. Or, a more complicated, dark Spillow. Or, just any kind of Spillow you want *grin*

[draconin.livejournal.com]

Can I suggest that you need to talk to a taxation accountant who's really experienced in overseas contracts? Because I find it hard to believe that there's no way to lower that 45%! I don't have experience with working overseas myself but a couple of friends who did all managed to end up paying *way* less tax than they would have earning the same money and staying home.

[draconin.livejournal.com]

Just a thought - ask your new employer (prospective). If they've hired you then they've probably hired other overseas workers. You could ask to talk to someone in their Financial section about it.

[lyl-devil.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we're sending emails back and forth to the people there (in personnel and finance), but it looks like that 45% is fairly standard. It's not just tax, but social security and health benefits and pension. (I think something like 10% of our monthly income goes into pension.)

At least, they say it includes health benefits, but some of the 'information' they've sent us says we have to go and find an insurance company, so I'm not sure what's up.

I want to know all this before I sign the contract, but they're so slow that I'm worried I won't get an answer anytime soon, and I need to start on getting a working visa/permit, so that it's ready for when I get there.

I'm seriously getting stressed about this whole thing, and not in the good way, either.