Just to save readers a couple of clicks, here's the original Ask HN to which this is a follow-up: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17087155
Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
31–40 of 95 posts
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#32Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes if all you think about is yourself then that works well.
> Yes if all you think about is yourself How does saving your own money preclude you from thinking about others?
It was implied in he commment, since commenter didn't add in a factor to cover donations to others.
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#33Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#34When I read stuff like this I'm so glad to live in a country (France) that doesn't let people without any money when they're fired or have serious medical issues. Nation-wide solidarity costs little to each person but gives a lot to those who need it. So sad that our public unemployment and health systems are getting destroyed piece by piece by successive governments (the current one is particularly agressive).
>Nation-wide solidarity costs little to each person Federal income tax in France is greater than 45%[1]. There's nothing cheap about that. I much prefer the freedom of saving my own money, especially when working in something as lucrative as tech. 1. https://tradingeconomics.com/france/personal-income-tax-rate
France also has a 20% VAT.
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#35When I’ve been depressed, here’s what worked for me. 1) long walks in nature 2) eat well 3) sleep (If necessary get a prescription for trazodone, they’re cheap $7.50 for 90 pills) 4) antidepressant meds
> "When I’ve been depressed, here’s what worked for me.
1) long walks in nature"
Interestingly "Doctors in Shetland are to start prescribing birdwatching, rambling and beach walks in the Atlantic winds to help treat chronic and debilitating illnesses for the first time. From Friday [5 Oct 2018], doctors working in the 10 GP surgeries on the islands will be authorised by the archipelago’s health board, NHS Shetland, to issue 'nature prescriptions' to patients to help treat mental illness, diabetes, heart disease, stress and other conditions." [0]
[0] https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/05/scottish-gps...
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Nation-wide solidarity costs little to each person Federal income tax in France is greater than 45%[1]. There's nothing cheap about that. I much prefer the freedom of saving my own money, especially when working in something as lucrative as tech. 1. https://tradingeconomics.com/france/personal-income-tax-rate
This is simply wrong. Income tax percentage depends on how much money you make, and it goes from 0% to 45%. You pay 0% up to 9807€ of income. Anything above that and under 27086€ you pay 14% on it. Then between that and 72617€ you pay 30% on it. And then between that and 153783€ you pay 41% on it. Finally, you pay 45% only if you make more than 153783€ per year and again, only on euros that you earn above this thresh…
No, this is right, you have wrong. You have your gross salary (brut) on which you and your employer pay taxes (routhly 30%). And then on top of that you pay the tax you describe with a progressive tax rate up to 45%. So on average, 45% seems good to me.
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
>Nation-wide solidarity costs little to each person Federal income tax in France is greater than 45%[1]. There's nothing cheap about that. I much prefer the freedom of saving my own money, especially when working in something as lucrative as tech. 1. https://tradingeconomics.com/france/personal-income-tax-rate
Wow, that's actually a great deal. The top marginal tax rate in the state of California this year is roughly 65% (and that's excluding employer contributions). 13.3% of all income (State) + 39.6% of all income (Federal) + 5.3% of all income (Federal double tax on State Tax - thanks, Donny) + 6.2% of all income (Social Security - Individual) ===== 64.4% Then of course your employer pays another 6.2% of gross earnings…
The top marginal tax bracket in CA is for single people making $1M+, and higher if married. That's a lot, even for software engineers.
A more realistic total combined tax for most people is well under 50%.
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Wow, that's actually a great deal. The top marginal tax rate in the state of California this year is roughly 65% (and that's excluding employer contributions). 13.3% of all income (State) + 39.6% of all income (Federal) + 5.3% of all income (Federal double tax on State Tax - thanks, Donny) + 6.2% of all income (Social Security - Individual) ===== 64.4% Then of course your employer pays another 6.2% of gross earnings…
The top marginal tax bracket in CA is for single people making $1M+, and higher if married. That's a lot, even for software engineers. A more realistic total combined tax for most people is well under 50%.
For the UK with the NHS that figure would be 32% for most single people and less for those with kids.
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is simply wrong. Income tax percentage depends on how much money you make, and it goes from 0% to 45%. You pay 0% up to 9807€ of income. Anything above that and under 27086€ you pay 14% on it. Then between that and 72617€ you pay 30% on it. And then between that and 153783€ you pay 41% on it. Finally, you pay 45% only if you make more than 153783€ per year and again, only on euros that you earn above this thresh…
No, this is right, you have wrong. You have your gross salary (brut) on which you and your employer pay taxes (routhly 30%). And then on top of that you pay the tax you describe with a progressive tax rate up to 45%. So on average, 45% seems good to me.
If you speak in gross rather than in net, then it is even a lot more than what you're saying. But then it is not income tax, which is the percentage of what was discussed.
If you want to account for everything that is removed from your salary between gross cost for the employer and your net after taxes, it will surely be between 50% and 60% in average. But then we can talk about the benefit of all this.
I don't know for you but I strongly prefer that and the ability for everyone to get an education, health, unemployment, retirement, infrastructures, etc. than doubling or even more my own salary. Viruses won't stop spreading if you have money. Health is a social and political issue, not a personal one. I like being able to drive everywhere and not just in cities where people are rich enough to pay for roads. I like that when a friend is fired from their job they can keep their appartement until they find a new job. I like teaching to everyone who wants to learn rather than to the children of people rich enough to pay for tuition fees. I like that my parents will get a retirement salary and won't be in my charge when I may also have kids to take care of.
Now of course our system is not perfect and I largely idealized it here. But it is far better than if everyone would get their gross salary, paid no taxes, and would be able to care only for themselves.
Re: Update to Ask HN: What to do if I’m about to lose my job to mental health issues
#40> My savings had already been wiped out by a car accident I am always amazed when I see statements like this coming from people in highly-paid professions. It seems like the OP has already figured out that financial insecurity contributes a LOT to stress and can force us into very sub-optimal decisions. Props to them for connecting those dots. I hope everybody reading this post takes a moment to review their financia…
I actually took out income protection insurance for just this reason. I'm a contractor and so being able to work is very important. My policy pays out after 13 weeks of incapacitation.