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3 Aug 2015
Work / Polish Salary and Tax [43]
There is already such a law if you need to employ someone from outside the EU.
There is already such a law if you need to employ someone from outside the EU.
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3 Aug 2015
Work / New business start-up in Poland - opinions and ideas [32]
The only sensible idea here so far is renting flats - yes it does come with some pitfalls but far less risk than any of the other ideas. essentially you have only one risk to manage - finding decent tenants. However you wont get that return from a place that cost PLN 150k - rather think of borrowing some from the bank and getting a modern place you can rent to a young family, in my experience they are the best tenants as the mum will always try and avoid upheaval and they don't have to time to drink or party.
With a transport company or a café there are far more moving parts and things that can go wrong. As for gambling for a living well good luck with that.
ps. if you are within striking distance of Krakow then your wife could learn book-keeping, some kind of IT skills or a slightly off beat language like Dutch or Swedish and there would be plenty of choice of jobs in a shared service centre.
The only sensible idea here so far is renting flats - yes it does come with some pitfalls but far less risk than any of the other ideas. essentially you have only one risk to manage - finding decent tenants. However you wont get that return from a place that cost PLN 150k - rather think of borrowing some from the bank and getting a modern place you can rent to a young family, in my experience they are the best tenants as the mum will always try and avoid upheaval and they don't have to time to drink or party.
With a transport company or a café there are far more moving parts and things that can go wrong. As for gambling for a living well good luck with that.
ps. if you are within striking distance of Krakow then your wife could learn book-keeping, some kind of IT skills or a slightly off beat language like Dutch or Swedish and there would be plenty of choice of jobs in a shared service centre.
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3 Aug 2015
Work / Polish Salary and Tax [43]
I am guessing its an IT job and yes those salaries are high at the moment but I'm sure if Poles were able to fill the jobs then they would get offers at the going rate (assuming they speak English).
I think there are plenty of Polish IT specialists getting that money now - you can't compare the wages of farm hands, cleaners or parcel packers.
I do admit the whole shared service center thing is a bit weird - they get grants from the EU and Polish govt and Polish municipalities to start that and then they end up employing Indians there.
I am guessing its an IT job and yes those salaries are high at the moment but I'm sure if Poles were able to fill the jobs then they would get offers at the going rate (assuming they speak English).
I think there are plenty of Polish IT specialists getting that money now - you can't compare the wages of farm hands, cleaners or parcel packers.
I do admit the whole shared service center thing is a bit weird - they get grants from the EU and Polish govt and Polish municipalities to start that and then they end up employing Indians there.
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30 Jul 2015
Real Estate / How to buy an apartment in Poland - can I pay in full cash? [20]
you should be OK but just make sure both the notary and seller know in advance you are not taking bank finance and that you have proof of funds with you when you go to the notary.
I once had a very bad experience with that - negotiated for a building, at the last minute decided to pay cash and not take finance (it was taking too long to arrange). When I got to the notaries we got in a bizarre Mexican standoff - I would not transfer the money until the akt notarialny was signed and they would not sign it until I transferred the money - obviously an individual's promise is worth less than a banks and the notary instead of being independent decided to funish them with lots of tales from the 90s of people who had lost their houses that way. It took about 9 hours to resolve - including showing them my bank statement, putting my bank manager on conference call etc.
If you don't speak Polish then I would take a lawyers advice - will only cost a few hundred zloty.
you should be OK but just make sure both the notary and seller know in advance you are not taking bank finance and that you have proof of funds with you when you go to the notary.
I once had a very bad experience with that - negotiated for a building, at the last minute decided to pay cash and not take finance (it was taking too long to arrange). When I got to the notaries we got in a bizarre Mexican standoff - I would not transfer the money until the akt notarialny was signed and they would not sign it until I transferred the money - obviously an individual's promise is worth less than a banks and the notary instead of being independent decided to funish them with lots of tales from the 90s of people who had lost their houses that way. It took about 9 hours to resolve - including showing them my bank statement, putting my bank manager on conference call etc.
If you don't speak Polish then I would take a lawyers advice - will only cost a few hundred zloty.
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28 Jul 2015
News / The financial burden of the SKOK system in Poland [4]
I don't think its a Polish problem alone - the mutuals and mom and pop savings banks have got in trouble all over the developed world - Caixa in Spain, some of the Sparkasse in Germany and Austria, the Food Co-op bank in Britain and of course the US is the daddy with the MSB crisis in the 80s. The model doesn't really fit into modern capitalism any more buy I don't think its as simple as letting them go bust - it would hit small town Poland hard - might only be 1% of assets that's still a lot of marginal wealth and of course there are thousands of people employed there.
What I do think was bad was the way the PO govt made Pekao etc prop them up, still acting as though those banks were govt property when in fact they now have mostly private shareholders.
I don't think its a Polish problem alone - the mutuals and mom and pop savings banks have got in trouble all over the developed world - Caixa in Spain, some of the Sparkasse in Germany and Austria, the Food Co-op bank in Britain and of course the US is the daddy with the MSB crisis in the 80s. The model doesn't really fit into modern capitalism any more buy I don't think its as simple as letting them go bust - it would hit small town Poland hard - might only be 1% of assets that's still a lot of marginal wealth and of course there are thousands of people employed there.
What I do think was bad was the way the PO govt made Pekao etc prop them up, still acting as though those banks were govt property when in fact they now have mostly private shareholders.
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26 Jul 2015
Life / Is Warsaw the most developed city of Poland? [5]
i spend time in both Warsaw and Lyon
lyon is better for food, drink, shopping and museums. Warsaw is better for work, nightlife and if you sre single. transport is pretty good and cheap. warsaw has great opportunities at the moment in my view.
i spend time in both Warsaw and Lyon
lyon is better for food, drink, shopping and museums. Warsaw is better for work, nightlife and if you sre single. transport is pretty good and cheap. warsaw has great opportunities at the moment in my view.
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22 Jul 2015
News / Dunkin Donuts to come to Poland [46]
80% of Polish paczki are awful - too greasy, fried in stale fat, too doughy inside and not helped by sitting on the counter all day. When you get good fresh ones they are really good but I would go for DD everytime and I also really like the coffee from DD. Boston Crème !
80% of Polish paczki are awful - too greasy, fried in stale fat, too doughy inside and not helped by sitting on the counter all day. When you get good fresh ones they are really good but I would go for DD everytime and I also really like the coffee from DD. Boston Crème !
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21 Jul 2015
Food / Where to go for the best steak in Warsaw? [77]
So I finally got to Merliniego and can report back.
As a venue I think its great - classy decoration, good wine list at OK prices, good service, clientele were a good mix - some expats, mostly Poles, some business, some casual, some women.
The steak was very expensive - I had a ribeye and it was something like 45 zloty per 100g. That's high even by London or NY standards. It was good but I would not put it in the top 20 steaks I have had in my life. Gorgonzola sauce was great, not enough fries.
Certainly would go back there as there were plenty of nice looking things on the menu but in terms of the perfect steak in Warsaw I think the search goes on :)
So I finally got to Merliniego and can report back.
As a venue I think its great - classy decoration, good wine list at OK prices, good service, clientele were a good mix - some expats, mostly Poles, some business, some casual, some women.
The steak was very expensive - I had a ribeye and it was something like 45 zloty per 100g. That's high even by London or NY standards. It was good but I would not put it in the top 20 steaks I have had in my life. Gorgonzola sauce was great, not enough fries.
Certainly would go back there as there were plenty of nice looking things on the menu but in terms of the perfect steak in Warsaw I think the search goes on :)
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20 Jul 2015
Genealogy / Gleesau apud Posen, Polonia Silesia [35]
could Varzze be a Polish person trying to say "father" for the first time ?
could Varzze be a Polish person trying to say "father" for the first time ?
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19 Jul 2015
Law / What is the procedure of immigrating to Poland as a spouse of a Polish citizen? Citizenship through marriage. [11]
What nationality are you ?
What nationality are you ?
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8 Jul 2015
News / Prime Minister of Poland, Ewa Kopacz, shops at.... Biedronka? [20]
Its called freedom - she can shop where she wants and spend her money how she wants
Its called freedom - she can shop where she wants and spend her money how she wants
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18 Jun 2015
Work / What is the average accounting/auditing salary in Poland? [42]
Dom is well meaning but not on his home court.
Salaries - double what is stated here. A new joiner in a big 4 would get about 4k maybe a bit more in Warsaw - managers would start around 10k and finish around 20k per month + bonus. But tax is quite high at those levels (32% plus social security charges).
Yes there is huge demand for qualified Polish speaking accountants at the moment outside the firms and earning potential can be high once you have proved yourself. If you are already a CPA then concentrate on getting your Polish up to scratch - if you are part of a Polish community in the US then that should be easy.
Sectors where you are most likely to find well paid work would be real estate, shared service (boring), FMCG, finance - all of which are short of good people. There is a good chance to advance quickly - often faster than you would in a mature economy, and that can outweigh a short term earnings hit.
In terms of living costs Warsaw is more expensive than most of the US but its much cheaper than the major markets for CPAs in the US - New York, DC, SF.
Yes there is a very intense busy season - most Polish companies have their accounts signed by 31st March and tax statements at the same time. All the Big 4 will give you shorter hours or extra holiday in the summer however.
Make your own mind up. My experience is that as a young newly qualified I took a pay cut of almost 40% from what I was earning in NY but had more fun, saved more, got promoted quicker, met my wife here (she's a PolAm too), had some great opportunities and have done well here financially (this is my second spell here). That was 20 years ago however so try and get some feedback from people your own age.
Dom is well meaning but not on his home court.
Salaries - double what is stated here. A new joiner in a big 4 would get about 4k maybe a bit more in Warsaw - managers would start around 10k and finish around 20k per month + bonus. But tax is quite high at those levels (32% plus social security charges).
Yes there is huge demand for qualified Polish speaking accountants at the moment outside the firms and earning potential can be high once you have proved yourself. If you are already a CPA then concentrate on getting your Polish up to scratch - if you are part of a Polish community in the US then that should be easy.
Sectors where you are most likely to find well paid work would be real estate, shared service (boring), FMCG, finance - all of which are short of good people. There is a good chance to advance quickly - often faster than you would in a mature economy, and that can outweigh a short term earnings hit.
In terms of living costs Warsaw is more expensive than most of the US but its much cheaper than the major markets for CPAs in the US - New York, DC, SF.
Yes there is a very intense busy season - most Polish companies have their accounts signed by 31st March and tax statements at the same time. All the Big 4 will give you shorter hours or extra holiday in the summer however.
Make your own mind up. My experience is that as a young newly qualified I took a pay cut of almost 40% from what I was earning in NY but had more fun, saved more, got promoted quicker, met my wife here (she's a PolAm too), had some great opportunities and have done well here financially (this is my second spell here). That was 20 years ago however so try and get some feedback from people your own age.
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13 Jun 2015
Real Estate / Poland: Swiss Franc loans come back to bite [37]
wroclaw boy, the average interest rate on świss francs was 1.10 percent during the last 15 years. In Polish zloty the average interest rate was 6.5 percent over the same period.
And no I don't think these things are arranged by "the capitalist class" on the golf course.
wroclaw boy, the average interest rate on świss francs was 1.10 percent during the last 15 years. In Polish zloty the average interest rate was 6.5 percent over the same period.
And no I don't think these things are arranged by "the capitalist class" on the golf course.
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9 Jun 2015
Food / Where to go for the best steak in Warsaw? [77]
I stop the butter from burning by adding a little oil around the butter - not olive oil, rather something neutral.
2 minutes each side, glass of hungarian red and a good tomato salad :)
I stop the butter from burning by adding a little oil around the butter - not olive oil, rather something neutral.
2 minutes each side, glass of hungarian red and a good tomato salad :)
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2 Jun 2015
Food / Where to go for the best steak in Warsaw? [77]
Anybody tried that Merliniego place ? Gets good reviews but I never seem to get a chance to go.
Anybody tried that Merliniego place ? Gets good reviews but I never seem to get a chance to go.
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19 May 2015
Love / My Love Story: my 'good' family vs her 'bad' family in Poland [25]
My god that is awful. If you are really so shallow and care more about what your family's outdated view is, then this is not the girl for you. Hopefully she can find someone sincere to love her.
My god that is awful. If you are really so shallow and care more about what your family's outdated view is, then this is not the girl for you. Hopefully she can find someone sincere to love her.
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10 May 2015
Work / Why English Teachers stay long term in Poland [30]
Don't bring me into it Jon - I'm CMS and this guy is CMC :)
My take is that there are many English teachers who have come here and after a few years of TEFL done other things - journalism, web design, remote working, media, advertizing etc and probably have as comfortable life as they would back in the US, UK, Oz or wherever. I certainly don't look down on those people and in fact I often envy them - more free time than I get, full lives, cute women. Yes they might worry about the future and pension and stuff but there are plenty of people back home with underfunded retirement pots.
And yes there are jarheads, junkies, people with personal problems but there are in every profession !
Don't bring me into it Jon - I'm CMS and this guy is CMC :)
My take is that there are many English teachers who have come here and after a few years of TEFL done other things - journalism, web design, remote working, media, advertizing etc and probably have as comfortable life as they would back in the US, UK, Oz or wherever. I certainly don't look down on those people and in fact I often envy them - more free time than I get, full lives, cute women. Yes they might worry about the future and pension and stuff but there are plenty of people back home with underfunded retirement pots.
And yes there are jarheads, junkies, people with personal problems but there are in every profession !
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5 May 2015
Work / Job opportunities for junior actuary in Poland??? [9]
Fall without speaking Polish and with no work experience it would be very tough for you. I recruit a lot of finance people myself and I am an open minded person but would never bring in someone who could not communicate effectively with his colleagues unless he had special skills.
your best bet would be to try Spanish banking or real estate businesses like Santander and Neinver and do some kind of intern / general work and try and learn Polish in the meantime.
Actuarial profession in Poland is very closed shop - you need to find a good contact in the profession. See if you are able to do that by linkedin or via a Big 4 firm but it will be a hard road for you.
Fall without speaking Polish and with no work experience it would be very tough for you. I recruit a lot of finance people myself and I am an open minded person but would never bring in someone who could not communicate effectively with his colleagues unless he had special skills.
your best bet would be to try Spanish banking or real estate businesses like Santander and Neinver and do some kind of intern / general work and try and learn Polish in the meantime.
Actuarial profession in Poland is very closed shop - you need to find a good contact in the profession. See if you are able to do that by linkedin or via a Big 4 firm but it will be a hard road for you.
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4 May 2015
News / Footie hooligan punch-up thwarted in Poland [47]
Polonius, lots of these guys would not have a Dad anywhere close to hand - absent fathers are one of the root causes of this idiocy. I don't think that news from Ferguson has much impact on Knurow - there has always been a serious hooligan problem in Poland since the end of Commie times. I remember reading about live rounds being fired at Gdynia once over the heads of the rioters and I was at an amazing riot between Legia and Polonia in 97 when Legia fans were throwing javelins and shot puts at the police after breaking into a sports pavilion.
Polonius, lots of these guys would not have a Dad anywhere close to hand - absent fathers are one of the root causes of this idiocy. I don't think that news from Ferguson has much impact on Knurow - there has always been a serious hooligan problem in Poland since the end of Commie times. I remember reading about live rounds being fired at Gdynia once over the heads of the rioters and I was at an amazing riot between Legia and Polonia in 97 when Legia fans were throwing javelins and shot puts at the police after breaking into a sports pavilion.
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3 May 2015
Study / Is the University of Warsaw good? [26]
Its a pretty good university, has a good quality student body even if the teaching aint great. You will have fun and you will get laid. If you learn Polish and come out of there with a degree you would be well set up for a reasonable career in Warsaw in a bank, insurance etc
i give it a few hours before Dom B is on here telling you to become a petrochemical engineer and safe some money for your future kids.
Its a pretty good university, has a good quality student body even if the teaching aint great. You will have fun and you will get laid. If you learn Polish and come out of there with a degree you would be well set up for a reasonable career in Warsaw in a bank, insurance etc
i give it a few hours before Dom B is on here telling you to become a petrochemical engineer and safe some money for your future kids.
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21 Apr 2015
Work / Moving to Lublin from the UK - any financial assitance, benefits or free healthcare available in Poland? [17]
Surely there is an excellent gap in the market here
buy these peoples houses for 15.999 and then sell them back to them in a few years - take a cut of the benefits (say 1.500 per year) - its already a 10% return and if it goes wrong you still have a house you can resell to someone else ?
wouldn't use my own capital as it involves too much reliance on politics, forex etc but just thinking...
but the rule is stupid - how can the benefits be so large compared to your salary that its worth to jack your job because of that ? I don't think that's right - doesn't the minimum wage in the UK cover living expenses ?
Surely there is an excellent gap in the market here
buy these peoples houses for 15.999 and then sell them back to them in a few years - take a cut of the benefits (say 1.500 per year) - its already a 10% return and if it goes wrong you still have a house you can resell to someone else ?
wouldn't use my own capital as it involves too much reliance on politics, forex etc but just thinking...
but the rule is stupid - how can the benefits be so large compared to your salary that its worth to jack your job because of that ? I don't think that's right - doesn't the minimum wage in the UK cover living expenses ?
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11 Apr 2015
Law / Paying tax on UK I.S.A. in Poland? [20]
If you cash in your ISA then you would need to pay Polish tax on the benefits, assuming you meet the Polish residency test.
If you dont cash it in and only have paper gains then you are OK and have no tax to pay.
the ISA follows residency not citizenship and thus I think you are barred from making new contributions to the ISA while you are not tax resident in Britain.
You should check all of the above however - i had the same experience when leaving from a work tour in Britain. Its now very difficult for US citizens to open a new ISA even if they are long term residents of Britain.
all that said for the amounts involved I dont think it would be worth engaging an accountant - just ring up the people managing your ISA and ask them.
If you cash in your ISA then you would need to pay Polish tax on the benefits, assuming you meet the Polish residency test.
If you dont cash it in and only have paper gains then you are OK and have no tax to pay.
the ISA follows residency not citizenship and thus I think you are barred from making new contributions to the ISA while you are not tax resident in Britain.
You should check all of the above however - i had the same experience when leaving from a work tour in Britain. Its now very difficult for US citizens to open a new ISA even if they are long term residents of Britain.
all that said for the amounts involved I dont think it would be worth engaging an accountant - just ring up the people managing your ISA and ask them.
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28 Mar 2015
Work / Moving to Poland to work installing fire sprinkler systems [8]
You could not live off the interest you save unless you had about 2 million dollars cash - that would give you about 20k dollars after tax.
If you have a skill and speak polish then come over and enjoy yourself
You could not live off the interest you save unless you had about 2 million dollars cash - that would give you about 20k dollars after tax.
If you have a skill and speak polish then come over and enjoy yourself
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26 Mar 2015
Law / Questions regarding pregnancy laws / maternity and paternity leave in Poland [18]
Could somebody reference me the proper Polish lawcodes concerning this so I can tell them to **** off and leave my GF in peace? :-)
You are legally in the right but I would avoid doing that - she has a good job and if someone, not even married, did that to me in reference to one of my own employees then I would first of all tell them to put a ring on it and then wonder why a qualified banker is not able to look after her own affairs.
Could somebody reference me the proper Polish lawcodes concerning this so I can tell them to **** off and leave my GF in peace? :-)
You are legally in the right but I would avoid doing that - she has a good job and if someone, not even married, did that to me in reference to one of my own employees then I would first of all tell them to put a ring on it and then wonder why a qualified banker is not able to look after her own affairs.
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26 Mar 2015
Law / My permanent residence card is being cancelled due to divorcing within 2 years of receiving it [19]
If you have kids then that will be strongly in your favor.
Ditto if you speak Polish and can get some kind of letter of support from your HR dept that you are a valued employee and that you are passing on valuable skills to Polish staff etc.
If you have kids then that will be strongly in your favor.
Ditto if you speak Polish and can get some kind of letter of support from your HR dept that you are a valued employee and that you are passing on valuable skills to Polish staff etc.
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12 Mar 2015
Love / Want to ask a Polish girl out? [27]
Good luck !
Just be confident, look her in the eye and stand up straight (you are a big guy :) - all Polish girls like that - dont hassle her if she says no but smile and say you are glad you asked her - she might remember that for the future. And if she says no don't change your routine if thats where you've been getting your takeout since you were a kid.
Good luck !
Just be confident, look her in the eye and stand up straight (you are a big guy :) - all Polish girls like that - dont hassle her if she says no but smile and say you are glad you asked her - she might remember that for the future. And if she says no don't change your routine if thats where you've been getting your takeout since you were a kid.
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12 Mar 2015
Life / Best selling womens items at daily and weekly markets in Poland? [11]
You could get a new baby body or t shirt for under 10 zloty in any small town in Kaufland, Pepco or Tesco - why would you buy second hand ?
You could get a new baby body or t shirt for under 10 zloty in any small town in Kaufland, Pepco or Tesco - why would you buy second hand ?
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12 Mar 2015
Life / Best selling womens items at daily and weekly markets in Poland? [11]
I'm here right now. I live here, have kids here and I actually know a good deal about the issue.
At the time I wrote that email I was visiting family in the US.
End of conspiracy theory ?
I'm here right now. I live here, have kids here and I actually know a good deal about the issue.
At the time I wrote that email I was visiting family in the US.
End of conspiracy theory ?
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11 Mar 2015
Life / What's the best way to send money to people in Poland? Other than bank transfer, Western Union and Moneygram. [13]
I think with Ria you can cash out at an ATM but you need to check that.
There are some quite big, wire services dealing with specific PolAM markets - especially Chicago, Toronto and Jersey - that have deals with supermarkets in East Poland. Can't remember the names of any of them but google would help you.
I think with Ria you can cash out at an ATM but you need to check that.
There are some quite big, wire services dealing with specific PolAM markets - especially Chicago, Toronto and Jersey - that have deals with supermarkets in East Poland. Can't remember the names of any of them but google would help you.
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9 Mar 2015
Life / Best selling womens items at daily and weekly markets in Poland? [11]
Its a bit of a time consuming way to raise money - bring it from Turkey, pay duty, hold it in inventory, all for the sake of a hip replacement.
Surely it would be easier to collect the cash put one third in the bank, one third on the stock market and one third on a horse ?
If your message is serious then I think that Polish women shop less and less at outdoor markets for clothes. There are 3 or 4 quite cheap chains now with clothing and they are cheaper than the market plus you can return your product if its a bad fit.
Its a bit of a time consuming way to raise money - bring it from Turkey, pay duty, hold it in inventory, all for the sake of a hip replacement.
Surely it would be easier to collect the cash put one third in the bank, one third on the stock market and one third on a horse ?
If your message is serious then I think that Polish women shop less and less at outdoor markets for clothes. There are 3 or 4 quite cheap chains now with clothing and they are cheaper than the market plus you can return your product if its a bad fit.