IRS Rates in Portugal

EastCoastLife, a fellow blogger I´ve meet trough Entrecard and whose Blog I enjoy reading, commented my previous post about IRS season:
"I wonder how much is the personal tax rate in Portugal?"
Once the answer to her question can be of other reader´s interest too, I´ve decided to write this post including 2009 IRS rates in Portugal (continental only):

Until 4 755.00 Euros - 10.50%

Between 4 755.00 Euros & 7 192.00 Euros - 13%

Between 7 192.00 Euros & 17 836.00 Euros - 23.50%

Between 17 836.00 Euros & 41 021 Euros - 34%

Between 41 021 Euros & 59 450.00 Euros - 36.50%

Between 59 450.00 Euros & 64 110.00 Euros - 40%

More than 64 110.00 Euros - 42%


Reference: Deco Proteste Editores( Nov/Dez 2009), Guia Fiscal 2009, ed. 96.

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Mizé Journey Logo

Many Mizé Jouney visitors already know that I´m a member of Entrecard, an international blogger´s community. Trough Entrecard I´ve meet many great blogs about different topics and became friend with a group of bloggers I admire.
Laane, from Laaneloves gently made me the square above so I could use it as Mizé Journey EC logo. Thanks Laane! It was very kind of you.
So, from now on, I´ll be using the logo above when blog-hopping trough EC.

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Taxes: IRS Season

It´s time to gather my papers and all receipts to fill my IRS form.
In Portugal, there are two IRS seasons.
The first season is exclusively for those who work for a third part or live of pensions. For those who present the IRS forms in paper, the first season started in February 1 and will last until March 16. For those who use the Internet the first season is from March 10 until April 15.
The second IRS season is for those who have other types of revenue. For those who present the IRS form in paper, the second season will start in March 16 until April 30. For Internet users it will be from April 16 until May 25.
This year, I´m included in the second season because I sold the plot in December 2009. My profit from this sale is considered what the government calls "Mais Valias".
This means I will have to pay my profit´s tax. The amount I will have to pay depends on my total revenue and expenses. My job´s revenue and this sale´s profit will be computed together. After paying the plot´s bank loan I kept most of my profit money in my savings account. This way I´m ready to pay my taxes and won´t be caught by surprise when the bill arrives.

Image: http://www.photosearch.com

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My Daughter´s Birthday Party

The pictures above show what I´ve made for my daughter´s birthday party, last February 7.
My daughter wanted a fruits birthday cake so I ordered it one week before the party.
Now I know exactly how much I spent in the party. I bought some items in January and the rest a few days before the party. I bought the cake, bread, cheese and ham in the same day as the party to assure everything was fresh. I spent a total of 53.35 Euros.
I also took my daughter and her best friend to lunch out and spent 20.85 E. This makes a total of 74.20 E.
I won´t include this value in my supermarket budget challenge results because it´s a "once in a year" extravagance. I consider this extravagance as money well spent. Instead of buying her a birthday present such as a video game or some sort of toy she would quickly forget, I made a birthday party. My daughter and her friends had a good time and I´m glad I could come up with a nice party.

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My Job: Contract Renewal

As I explained before, I work full time by shifts as a contracted assistant in my town´s hospital. I have a one year contract that can be renewed up to three years.
Last week, I had a conversation with the chief nurse about my performance. She gave me positive feedback and asked me if I´d like to continue working there. My answer was "off course". She said she would give good information of my performance to the hospital´s direction board. This means my contract will be renewed for another year. Good news for me :)
I don´t earn much and I have studies for a better position but my region´s unemployment rate is so high that it´s very difficult to find a steady paying job like mine. Working for the government has it´s advantages, they don´t miss one single payment. Plus, I only work 35 hours weekly while many people have to work over 40 hours to earn less than I do. The hospital is five minutes from where I live (very low transportation costs), they pay me 4.27 E daily for meals and make my social security discounts, plus I have health-care for free. I also earn more in weekends, nights and holidays and I have two days off each week. If you sum that all up, I think my wage isn´t that bad considering the other jobs available in my region.
My job isn´t heavy and I feel useful to be working in health, my studies area. In Portugal, the minimum wage is only 450.00 Euros.
My first one year contract will end next April 1st. Now I´m waiting to receive the renewal letter to make it official. After two contract renewals they can decide to send me home (and then I will be unemployed) or make me a no limit time contract. I´m working hard to keep this job until I can find a better one. Well, at least I know I will have a job for another year. I´ll be 37 next April, not an age for taking many risks. I´ll only turn down this job for another full time steady paying occupation in my studies area: Psychology.

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Supermarket Shopping

Yesterday, it was my daughter´s birthday. As usual, I organized a party at home for her friends.
Last time I shopped I bought some items for the party but last week I had to buy the rest. Sunday I picked the birthday cake previously ordered, bought fresh bread, ham and cheese for sandwiches.
The first picture above shows all items I bought in Lidl. My cat Nina is also in the picture. I spent 38,56 E. This total includes not only things for the party but also items I was needing.
After, I went to Jumbo and spent 11.23 E in coffee and breakfast cereals (the second picture). I went to Jumbo as a distraction for my daughter (she loves going there, it´s a big mall) and also because Lidl doesn´t sell the coffee brand I enjoy and I had none at home.
In Sunday I shopped in Modelo. I had two discounts: 6.65 E (10% off in my card from previous shopping) and 1.37 E from the gas station. In Modelo, I spent a total of 15.28 E but only paid 7.26 E. I earned 0.95 E in my card to spend next time I shop there.
Each time I shop over 30.00 E in Modelo they give me a discount coupon for Galp gas station and when I use that coupon Galp gives me a coupon to use in Modelo. I always try to use both discounts for maximum profit. Modelo also gives me 5.00 E in my fidelity card each time I spend 500.00 E.
I spent a total of 30.90 E in the birthday cake, bread and 250 gr of assorted cakes.
So, this week I spent over 50.00 E because of the party. I spent a total of 87.95 E but it was worthy. If it wasn´t for the party I would have spent much less but the kids loved it and all had a good time. My daughter´s smiling face and happiness is really priceless.

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