$/hr- Feel like you're making more because of no commute time?

[TheMetetron]

I feel like I'm making more per hour cause I couldn't make this much doing a normal job. I'm not worth this much to anyone.

I think for a single male in their 20s, which is a pretty common demographic in this forum, health insurance is worth $1/hour. It's not that expensive for healthy, young people and many employers charge you a portion of the premium anyway. I don't really see the big deal for many people. Obviously, milage will vary depending on ones health and medication needs. For families, it matters more, but in corporate america a lot of those expenses are out of pocket. In the government and academic sector, of course it's more valuable. However, I think people completely overrate the "lack of health insurance" as a huge downside to being self-employed or quitting a job. The real killer is the self-employment tax.

-dustyn

[Petomane]

Health insurance is the biggest scam. What is the insurance business doing in the medical profession anyway?
There is a minimal difference in being insured and uninsured. I've known a few people who got seriously sick while insured and went bankrupt anyway.
The only way for the health care system to be overhauled is for people to STOP paying medical insurance period.Maybe then medical procedures will become affordable.
My friend got a heart attack while uninsured. Now he's paying off $50 a month forever, which is cheaper than insurance.
Stop feeding the insurance companies - they're just siphoning off money and making health care expensive.

There is pros and cons to this. Obviously I would take a pay cut to not have to answer to a boss, make my own hours, work overtime when i need to, bla bla bla. I feel like my hourly wage is definately worth more(so far).

On a side note. Alot of places do not tax gambling winnings, and alot of countries in europe have free health care. those guys get mad perks.

[WarBus]

I am making more. Didn't get paid that well at my old job. Plus, now I can roll out of bed and be at work.

So I pay my own insurance. No biggie. I pay $75 a mo. for my insurance. Has a 5k deductible but I don't see the benefit of full coverage. I had a similar plan where I worked and paid $20 month. Not a big jump.

If my kids or I get sick, I just pay the bill. If you tell the doctor its out of pocket and not covered they will often lower and remove some of the charges. If not, after the bill goes through the insurace company the bill usually gets reduced as well.

[Benholio]

You also have to take into account that a 6-hour day of poker is more equivalent to an 8-hour workday at a real job. Not many people sit down at 6pm, instantly start running 4-(6,8,whatver)tables, and quit right at 12am and call it a 6-hour day. When you take into account breaks, posting hands/reading hands, database maintenance, withdrawal/deposit/bonus overhead, you are really working an 8-9 hour day when you work 6 hours.

This is part of the common mistake that pro-hopefuls make when they look at their hourly earn and try to multiply that out by 40-50 hour workweeks.

[ebaudry]

and:

no drycleaning/lower laundry bills.
clothes are cheaper.
MUCH better for the environment.
Less car repair.
Lower insurance.
Lower car maintenance.
Less time "getting pretty for the man".
Less child care costs.
Lower therapy/antidepressant costs from no road rage / no boss.
Lower car purchase costs from caring less about how nice your car is.
Lower coworker related costs (coffee, smokes, xmas gifts, stupid holiday parties)

and many, many more.

Additionally, i don't know about you, but about 1/3 of the time i'm playing, i'm doing something else. The first 20 minutes of STTs i'm cleaning my apartment, making lunch, exercising, etc. much more than i'm playing poker. Just clicking fold, fold, fold and then getting paid quite nicely for the brief time i'm actually making tough decisions.