CRAKOWSKI - the world is my playground » Fun

superannuation vs 401k

Rako — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:52:35 +0000

One incredible benefit of working in Australia is superannuation. Super is money set aside by your employer to provide for your retirement. It’s like a 401k, but much better.

A minimum of 9% of your salary is paid into a special retirement fund (think mutual fund) in addition to your salary. The program also allows you to built your super with your own contributions, which take advantage of super’s favourable tax treatment. Like a 401k, you choose the fund that the super money is paid into.

If like me, you are a temporary employee in Australia, you can claim the superfunds when you leave the country (minus some taxes). This benefit is HUGE. Sadly, I’ve read that many migrant works don’t know it can be claimed, so the funds are returned to the Australia Tax Office (ATO).

This allows anyone working in Australia to save 0% of their net wages and still have at least 9% of their total lifetime income waiting for them at retirement. Incredible.

So many firsts, so much fun

Rako — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:47:35 +0000

The past month was full of all types of firsts. Below are the highlights. Up next? Melbourne Easter weekend and Hunter Valley the following weekend.

Sydney

Manly Beach
Taronga Zoo
Aquarium
Mardi Gras (Harbour, Mardi Gras Party, Parade, Frisky, Love Muscle, Extra Dirty & Toy Box)

Cairns

Cape Tribulation
Daintree Rainforest
Diving & snorkeling the Great Barrier Reef

Fraser Island Camping

Maheno ship wreak
Eli creek
Indian head
Lake mckenzie
Lake boomanjin

Byron Bay

Dinner @ Balcony
Beach, beach and more beach

Gold Coast

Prodigy concert
Clubs & Dancing
Sirromet Wine Tour
Hotel party

Quick Update

Rako — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:38:04 +0000

As of this week, I’ve been living in Sydney for 6 months, which means I’ve been out of the U.S. for almost 9 months. Incredible how fast that time has gone.

Today was my last full week of work for a little over 3 weeks. Next week I have friends and family visiting, which I’m extremely excited for. Their visit is the catalyst for an incredible whirlwind of travel that looks like this:

Cairns > Port Douglas > Byron Bay > Tweed Heads > Noosa Heads > Rainbow Beach > Fraser Island

Oh, and there is this little event called Mardi Gras starting next week. Then I’m heading to Melbourne Easter weekend.

I get both excited and tired thinking about it. Somehow, I think I’ll live.

Beach / Blond Correlation?

Rako — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:16:50 +0000

This article in the Sydney Morning Herald and its comments provided incredible insight to the old (and tired) Sydney vs Melbourne debate.

More importantly, the author raises an incredibly interesting question whether more attractive, but less intelligent people tend to gravitate to beach cities like Barcelona, Miami and Sydney.

Hmmm…certainty worth pondering.

Sydney Update

Rako — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:41:10 +0000

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been in Sydney for only 11 days. It feels much longer, perhaps because I’ve I arrived on September 11th, started work on September 13th and spent the first 8 days in hotels while looking for an apartment.

Well, I’m happy to report that I’m now renting a room from a friend of a co-worker until I find something long-term. It’s in the Surry Hills neighborhood, which is just 2 min away from my gym and a 20 minute walk to work.

I have a local bank account, a gym membership and a new iPhone from Optus. Sydney is starting to feel a bit more like home.

Music Matters (and my top 17 songs of Summer09)

Rako — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 05:45:15 +0000

Music has the powerful ability to elicit memories. Personally, I love music that has a lot of vocals. I remember reading an article that said music preference is an excellent indicator to personality type. Specifically, it noted that most people that like vocal heavy music are extroverts. They feel more connected to people through the vocals. I find it’s true for me.

I’m instantly transported back to the dance floor by simply closing my eyes and listening to the powerful vocals of Millennium by Juanjo Martin and Rebeka Brown. In Celebration, Madonna promotes hedonism saying, “if it makes you feel good, then I say do it. I don’t know what you’re waiting for.” I’m reminded to live in the present in “Today is my day” by Tikaro, J.Louis & Ferran. The deep, filthy dirty base of Hoxton Whores “Devil Toy” would make anyone with a pulse bob their head or tap their foot. “Happy House by The Juan MacLean instantly puts a huge smile on my face.

So here they are…

17 dance songs that will forever remind me Summer 2009

Juanjo Martin & Rebeka Brown – Millenium (vocal remix)
Music Matters feat cass fox – Faithless (axwell remix)
DJ Nano & Vicente Lara – Gotta Tell You (Original Mix)
Madonna – Celebration
Partition – No May Gustah (dick ray remix
Serge Devant – Addicted (Sultan & Ned Shepard Remix)
Alexander Dennon – Pasito Por Janeiro (Original Mix)
Tikaro, J.Louis & Ferran feat. Clarence – Today Is My Day (Summer Tribal Mix) -
Hoxton Whores – Devil Toy
Faithless-Music Matters Feat. Cass Fox (Axwell Remix)
The Juan MacLean – Happy House
Deadmau5 Feat. Mc Flipside – Hi Friend (Vocal Mix)
Deux – Fight Again (Original Vocal)
David Guetta w/ Kelly Rolland – When Love takes over (Barletta remix)
Axwell, Angello, Ingrosso & Laidback Luke – Leave The World Behind
DJ Neo & Jocelyn Brown – Better Life (Matinee Remix)
Gabriel Cubero & Nicolas Ojesto feat. Marya – Last Night (Original Mix)

There you go…my 17 favorite dance songs of the Summer 2009. I want to hear from you…what were your favorites?