[austechwriter] Re: re working in other states withmanagementcompanies
- From: Erisa Linsky <slinka@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 04 Aug 2003 11:36:14 +1000
I dont think the $400 exists anymore. If so, with whom does it exist? The
allowance permitted by management companies for "living away from home" is
the actual rent paid, plus $120.00 something pw for xtra food. It's the
extra bits that get a bit arguable, like phone calls, bonds, advertising,
letting fees, sundry household appliances internet usage, etc/.
Then there is the travel allowance for anything less than 3 weeks. This
pays for more of the food. I realise the Goldcoast is much cheaper for
everything. I wouldn't attempt doing these jobs in a fully professional
manner, if I didnt have a proper wardrobe, heating, washing facilities,
quality food etc.
I was hoping I'd get a comparison of different management companies.
There's bound to be a few I haven't heard of.
Christine, your hyphen is very appealing! As in "Birtley-Kent by the Sea".
Erisa
----- Original Message -----
From: Christine Birtley-Kent <birtley_kent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, August 04, 2003 8:23 AM
Subject: [austechwriter] Re: re working in other states with
managementcompanies
> Re management companies, I think their knowledge base and service skills
> vary quite considerably between companies. I took a contract on the gold
> coast that required insurance I did not have. I started with one
management
> company who got very confused when I insisted that all I wanted was the
> insurance and nothing else. They insisted in turn that it could not be
> done. I switched to another company who were superb - they sorted out
weeks
> of accumulated mess and got money to me within a couple of days. I have
> decided that, for my next contract, I will experiment with the 'total
deal'
> with this company as I am so fed up with company administrivia. ERISA -
are
> you getting the $400.00 living away from home allowance?
>
> Re accommodation, I found that, on the Gold Coast, with the down turn of
> tourism, you can negotiate deals for 'tourist' rather than 'business'
> accommodation. If you are prepared to go 'down-market' you can get very
> good deals indeed. In addition, I am travelling with my dog, which
severely
> complicates things. I started in a fairly upmarket place near Surfers for
> $1000 for a month (normally $100.00 per night). I then advertised for a
> share house, got lots of replies, and moved into one for $100.00 per week.
> I didn't like that so moved to a very run down but clean and dog-friendly
> beachfront motel for $165.00 a week (normally $50.00 per night) - where I
> stayed for the rest of my contract.
>
> I think the key is to think creatively - break away from the normal
concept
> of 'business' accommodation - although I think this would be very hard
> without a car. Having my car with me was key to being able to take
> accommodation a bit out of the way. Having a dog with me may also have
been
> another key - I travel with the guides to dog-friendly accommodation.
This
> accommodation is often so far 'down-market' that no-one else wants to stay
> there. ;-)
>
> Regards, Christine
>
> Ph: +61 7 4958 3107
> Mobile: 0407 604010
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jean Hollis Weber" <jean@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "Australian Technical Writers List" <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 12:46 PM
> Subject: [austechwriter] re working in other states with management
> companies
>
>
> > Erisa Linsky wrote,
> > > If contracting in Canberra it is virtually impossible to be self
> > > employed unless you have a company... So you sign your contract over
to
> > > a management company who ... will charge you
> > >5% percent of your income... [followed by details]
> >
> > Erisa, I've never needed to use a management company, but 5% sounded
quite
> > reasonable to me -- thought not, of course, if they don't do a good job.
> > I'll be interested to hear from anyone else with experience.
> >
> > You mentioned they
> > >pay you your money, part in wages and part in reimbursements for
expenses
> > >incurred.
> >
> > This sounds good, in theory. Later you said they don't recognise as many
> of
> > your expenses as you think they should. In that case, can't you deduct
> > those expenses from your taxable income on your tax return? (I realise
> > that's not much help to your cash flow in the short term.) I would also
> > consult a tax accountant about the expenses of finding accomodation,
phone
> > costs, etc; quite possibly they are deductible too. Or have you done
that
> > and been told they aren't?
> >
> > You mentioned high accommodation costs in Canberra. I suggest you look
in
> > Queanbeyan, which is the town just across the ACT border to the east.
> Costs
> > are typically very much lower there than for any short-term
accommodation
> > in the ACT, and some motels have rooms with kitchenettes. I'm not sure
> > about serviced apartments as such in that area.
> >
> > Aside to Steve Hudson -- Steve we know you're a grot, but sleeping in
the
> > car in a Canberra winter? That's a bit much!
> >
> > Regards, Jean
> > Jean Hollis Weber
> > jean@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > The Technical Editors' Eyrie http://www.jeanweber.com/
> >
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