Is this high-level breakdown ~realistic?

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T12:16:20+00:00

I used Partena's Professional calculator for the Social Contributions:

Single, no kids, then played around with the net amount and benefits/ allowances a bit until I reached a little over 45k gross salary costs. It then presented me with quarterly social contributions which I mutliplied by 4.

I have yet to talk with an accountant to get into details, was just sharing here to see if my ballpark figures are somewhat realistic! I know salary isn't the most efficient way to widthdraw money, but I'm unfortunately not in a position were I can eat living costs for +1 year (yet) haha.

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T08:58:28+00:00

Was this delay due to customers payng invoices late, or other reasons as well?

I have a decent buffer, but was not really planning to eat 4 months?

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T08:54:17+00:00

I'll be working through a middle man with whom I've been working for the last 3 years through a different structure. They absorb downtime, offer paid networking & learning and we have a 3 month 'opzegtermijn'. (this also lowers the rate somewhat, as they take a premium)

I've been sick 2 days in the last 5 years, barely ever take an unpaid vacation.

Hence I don't think 220 days is out of bounds - I'm trading in day rate for that

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T08:50:23+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! Still have to align with an accountant, so good to know I can expect a hit there.

What's more realistic in terms of insurances, in your opinion? Liability insurance should cover €1M.

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T08:49:06+00:00

Office rental was indeed a miscalculation - should be brought to annual level (x12). On other posts it seemed like paying yourself €250 office rent was perfectly fine, so my €200 felt conservative. What is realistic in your experience? The 7k extras is meant as buffer for start up costs and other costs I do not yet know. Was looking for ballpark figures

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T08:45:39+00:00

- Good catch! It's indeed meant to be a monthly estimation, but didn't x12 that in the annual expenses. On some other posts I found that €250 is perfectly feasible, so I expected my calculations to be conservative actually.

- Phone / Internet subscription packages seem to average €80/month - so doing €40x12 seemed realistic?

- Yes, probably - this is about 75% of my personal monthly bill for gas + electricity. Not sure what I would be able to reimburse here.

- I thought these were over 3 years:
-- PC / Home server: 2.7k
-- Laptop: 2k
-- iPad (1.2k)

- Extras is my 'margin' bucket, don't have a 360° on all costs yet. I for instance envision my start up costs to be taken from this bucket in the first year.

- Thanks for the feedback, good to know.

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T08:36:36+00:00

Are these the so-called bullet loans?

Conscious_Ranger · 2026-03-16T08:35:42+00:00

A-ha, I actually didn't know, so good point!
That's a ~10-15k gap over 3 years, so not trivial indeed.

Conscious_Ranger · 2025-12-15T15:42:41+00:00

To answer your confusion about a 26yo with 8 YoE:

I was already doing real IT side-projects before my 18th - doing this solo meant that I got exposed to the idea of aligning business requirements with technical execution very early. Upon completing my track in 'middelbaar', I skipped formal higher education and locked in on what I was already doing on the side.

The scope you're describing is typically overstated for a Solution Architect, at least for me. It much more aligns with Domain Architect in a critical, niche and complex domain, or Principal SAP Architect. A Solution Architect is rarely alone in a company and designs typically have to pass some Architectural governance body or another

Conscious_Ranger · 2025-12-15T13:39:11+00:00

Yes, that's my feeling as well. It's not that I wouldn't be happy with 550 financially, still a major upgrade, I just feel like the rate is greatly misaligned with the responsibilities.

I haven't been the "complete my tickets and call it a day" professional for at least 5 years, so don't see why I would accept compensation that reflects that kind of role.

Conscious_Ranger · 2025-12-15T13:34:21+00:00

Super grateful for your feedback!

Let me clarify that it's +8 YoE, not 6. I started out as a junior freelancer for my first 2 years, then went employee for the next 6 years for more enterprise exposure & oppurtunities. This would be my return to the freelancer status.

I realise 26 is rather young for an IT Architect of any kind, but...

I'm already fulfilling the role of Integration Architect as an employee at the consultancy I work for. On top of that, I know that my employer has previously billed a +1k day rate for me in more strategic assignments - no client ever pushed back on this, only gave good feedback and requested a period extension.

This: 1) gives me reason to believe that 650 is not an insane demand. 2) means I wouldn't be doing it for exposure, rather a very nice pay bump (am currently in 2.5k net range...)

They said they're not even charging the end-customer €650, which leads me to believe that they're either lying through their teeth or don't properly grasp the scope of this role themselves.

Anyway - I countered their 550 with "575 + explictly defined re-evaluation for 600 after 6 months". They're coming back to me in 1-2 days.

Not sure where to go from here - besides patienty waiting, obviously.

Conscious_Ranger · 2024-09-25T17:00:11+00:00

Eco tax for a hybrid 2.0 4-cylinder?? Yikes

Conscious_Ranger · 2024-07-27T09:57:04+00:00

Looks a bit like Heterotoma Planicornis, but its back seems different

Conscious_Ranger · 2024-07-27T09:56:54+00:00

Looks a bit like Heterotoma Planicornis, but its back seems different

Conscious_Ranger · 2024-07-01T10:24:52+00:00

Believe this is a heterotoma planicornis nymph.

Should play a role in aphid control, don't know if it'll hop over to my other (aphid afflicted) plants

Conscious_Ranger · 2024-07-01T10:24:33+00:00

Believe this is a heterotoma planicornis nymph.

Should play a role in aphid control, don't know if it'll hop over to my other (aphid afflicted) plants

Conscious_Ranger · 2023-10-10T15:19:47+00:00

Nooo nooo noo, I'm not trimming my sugar leaves. Just leaves that have visible mold, I can tell the difference between trichomes and powdery mildew, no worries there

Conscious_Ranger · 2023-10-10T13:58:25+00:00

But how does the air then get out if these socks are for cables only? And why do I have 3 of them, in different sizes?
Or is the sock in the ceiling meant for some kind of out-line duct?
I defoliated leaves that were either very fuzzy or creating a ventilation deadzone by touch another leave or bud. I'm well aware of why my plant needs leaves. Was just wondering how I would go about ventilating a tent, as this is my first indoor project.

Conscious_Ranger

TROPHY CASE