Why your paycheck could come up short in 2013, and experts' advice on adjusting
Reporter: Maggie Vespa
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - Looked at your paycheck this week?
Chances are, that bottom line is less than expected, and it's all because of the deal struck in Congress to bounce back after falling off the fiscal cliff.
It's a tale being told across the country
"I've added a second job," said Mercedes Gallerdo. "It's hard, you know to be working six days a week and only have one day off."
This as millions Friday saw their first paycheck, post-fiscal cliff, had been cut.
"It's just not fair," said Gallerdo, a home-care worker.
It's all thanks to Washington's eleventh hour deal, which put an end to a 2% payroll tax holiday.
Congressman Raul Grijalva calls the sacrifice essential.
"It was part of our compromise process to keep earned income tax credit there, to keep the child credit there, to keep the AMT ok," he said.
The extra cash, collected under FICA, or the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, goes to fund social security.
"Continuing to take away from that trust fund in the longterm hurts its solvency," said Grijalva.
And it's a long-term plan, that means short-term pain.
Now a worker making $50,000, will rake in $1000 less each year. It's a difference of $38 dollars every two weeks.
So what should you being doing now to compensate for the lost takehome pay?
"January is a good month to take a look at one's budget," said financial advisor Ed Zeches.
He recommends cut-backs start small.
"When you go out to dinner, ordering a coke or a sprite or what have you, maybe you're just ordering water," he said. "Instead of going out to dinner five times a week, maybe you're going out four times a week."
Next, look into your recent past, and divy up dollars spent.
"Separate, is it a need or or is it a want?" said Zeches. "Do I really need this, or do I have a desire and I want that?"
Advice he hopes helps families, desperate to make up the difference.
"Maybe the government or our system should stop robbing Peter to pay Paul because then Peter ends up with nothing," said Gallerdo.
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