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Thank you! The hard part is that I'm not sure when we'll need the cash. We subscribed into a PE fund and need to be able to wire within 10 business of capital calls, which can happen at any time. Can I ask what bank your HYSA is through? Any complaints?

Open account with Fidelity and setup an automatic investment into FZROX which is is their total stock market index fund.

Vanguard is no good for this due to the high minimum initial investment on most funds.

What will happen is that the dr will determine the amount of permanent impairment you have, as a % of function of each part of your body. Each part of your body has a multiplier assigned to it for 100% impairment. So if your ankle is half permanently impaired, it will get half the multiplier. Then that amount is factored into a formula that includes your annual salary. All those add up to the total of your settlement. The WC insurance company will make an offer. If you think it's fair, you accept the offer, and then it has to be signed by a judge. Then you get a check, (tax-free) and go on your merry way.

If you don't agree with the degree of impairment, then you get an attorney to negotiate the offer.

This was my experience in TN and I am sure it is similar in every state, since it's all regulated by the US Department of Labor.

I got $13,000 in 2009, for a 7% impairment of my leg, after a fall in which my kneecap dislocated. I was making about $68k at the time. I was able to go back to my job with some short term restrictions, which were removed after about 6 months.

Don't forget to turn in your vehicle mileage for reimbursement. I took the dates of all my appointments and looked up the mileage on Google maps.

Another component of workers comp is vocational rehab. If you can't do your job you can get training to do something less physically demanding.

I'd have lost my ass if I invested $6,000 in my Roth on Jan. 1.

I actually thought about doing it...glad I didn't.

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Also, right now, OP is at a place where they can look and be picky. The best time to look for a job is when you have a job.

I just got that extra week this past year! Due to 10 years working for them.

Damn, I wish I had done that at your age. Congratulations, you are doing well financially.

One rule of thumb is to save half of every raise you get.

Another is to marry someone who is on a similar spending/saving path.

Then keep the finances on autopilot and live your life to the fullest.

I agree, this is really where it come down to OP's financial practices and what they value.

You'll want it's children to be as low tax as you can as well. Invest in the areas the government wants you to invest in and it's typically tax free or low tax.

Is there a home you can buy instead? $2800 is a lot towards a mortgage.

If you can qualify, your money would be better spent there.

My mortgage on a $256,000 home at 4.125% is about $1300 a month. Now rates and property values have gone up but $2800 is a lot every month. But I don't know where you are living.

If you did find another job there is good possibility that you will be replaced as it sounds like this type of job many moms would love. If things dont work out as you planned, it may not be possible to get your job back.

Not sure how much one could save with over half of the income including commission going to rent. Also the 4 months savings is RENT ONLY essentially. What about food? Utilities? Transportation? Etc. I think half of anyone’s income on rent is crazy especially when that’s counting commission income. But I don’t know the industry so maybe it’s more stable then I think.

Very true, thank you for the perspective!

The 30% rule doesn't make sense in all situations. Without any car payment, they can afford to go even a little over the 30% if desired, assuming they either don't need a car at all, or have a reliable one and aren't going to need soon.

When my husband and I were grad students, we spent well over 50% of our income (stipends) on rent, but had basically no other expenses other than groceries and textbooks (tuition was paid by fellowships/assistantships) and it was fine. No cars, no other expenses.

A rule of thumb assumes certain typical expenses, several of which OP does not have.

Here is the thing, if there is something you don't know and want to know, someone has probably wrote a book on it. The knowledge in a book is normally 10:1 from online content (in most books).

Spend some time digesting books on the topic of currency, economics and finance and you'll start to understand good places to invest.

Thank you, I'll look into that!

Ugh, I'm sorry that happened to your wife. :( Thank you for sharing I'm not alone in this, though.

Thanks, that is what I figured 😔

They net $3K/month from their first 55K gross salary. They net about as much again per month in commissions. So estimating about another 55K gross in commissions. which is ~$110K/year Gross or ~9K/month gross.

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Thank goodness!

Thank you!

Ah yes I see, I would still say that this is still pushing it for a 2800 rent, and I personally wouldn't do it.

This is why I like Washington state exempt salary laws that went into effect this year.

Minimum exempt employee salary wage: 65,478.40

Job Duties: executive, administrative, or professional worker, outside salesperson or computer professional. Requires advanced knowledge in an intellectual field such as science, law,
medicine, theology, accounting, or math, that the employee gets from
lengthy specialized instruction (such as a graduate degree, or a specialized
certification like a certified public accountant). The work must regularly
require the worker to use their discretion and judgment, and cannot be
routine or physical.