I made a major improvement in my ability to not give a fuck about my job.
I work in American retail.
Don’t give a fuck about it. Get a skilled labor job. Retail is soul-sucking. You want to be the guy who can build a work shed out of a pile of wood, not the guy who knows where the aisle of tuberware is.
Can’t I just not be a guy and be done with it? Lol, my boobs would thank me for sure.
Sorry I didn’t mean “guy” like male, but that isn’t an excuse I should have chosen my words more carefully.
There is nothing wrong with women in the trades. I was in Bangkok for vacation this year and saw an army sized group of women working a construction site. All of them much physically smaller than I am.
Do they make as much money over a lifetime as a Washington DC based economist? Which one adds actual value to the world?
i made a person
I made the decision to go back to school. There were various life reasons why I was unable to make that decision in my 20’s, but I am happy to have the opportunity to learn again with a renewed sense of drive and direction.
Hey there, I went back at 33, and it took me 4 years to get my AA. But I did it, and got a job that more than doubled what I was making before.
You’re going to love classes in your 30s! It’s so fun to learn, and you’ll make friends with your teachers. It was hard at times, but it felt really good to accomplish! If you need support to talk about it, r/backtoschool was a great place for me to vent or ask for advice.
First, let me say thank you for this kind comment. Oddly enough I also happen to be 33, so it really means a lot to me to get that encouragement from someone else who was literally in the same boat, and made it out the other side successfully. If you don’t mind me asking, what did you study when you went back?
I’m happy it was helpful! I love that we went back at the same age! :)
I went back for drafting and industrial design. I got a job as a CAD drafter at a Substation engineering firm, and was promoted to a designer about 8 months in. Been there for 1.5 years now. Best job I’ve ever had. :)
My parents officially cut the life line – I didn’t need their money anymore and they’re retired now.
But it made me take stock of my expenditure in a way I hadn’t previously.
I wish my parents-in-law would cut our life line. They’re retired, too, and have a lot of time to make recommendations about your finances when we use a zero-based budget. They don’t know the particulars of the budget…but that doesn’t stop them from expecting impossible stuff. I just want to be free again…
So, my folks gave me a chunk of cash along with it.
It was basically “hey, economy is maybe going tits up. You’re doing fine. Here’s you’re lifeline in cash. It’s you when you were unemployed during the pandemic before the govt funds hit x 3years. Do with it whatever but we can’t predict the future and you’re doing ok and we’re gonna need to budget the rest ourselves.”
It’s funny because in the same breath they were like “Christmas is gonna be slimmer this year. Don’t expect much for gifts.”
I’m super grateful. But it made me realize: I wish they calculated this number fucking 10 years ago. I know I woulda fucked up a chunk of it but Im sure I’d be better off today.
So, my advice to someone in a situation I was in a year or three ago would be to have an honest conversation with your parents. If you’re financially responsible and debt free or at least able to save while making clear progress on that debt…
"Hey… Listen… I don’t need an exact number. But I have a proposal. So be conservative here: what amount of my lifeline would you reach out and say “hey what’s going on?” To get info?
Let’s just say it’s $250 in 1 month.
"Okay… How long are you planning on … keeping this here for me? Until you die? You’re what 70? Okay, so if you live til 90, then it’s what? $60k? I’m asking you to just wire me 60k and let me start taking more responsibility.
Hell, make it 40k! Go on a wild vacation!"
Or suggest the two of you sit down with his or your own financial planner. Talk about how best to handle this, instead of taking advice from some dude named foggy on the fediverse.
I met a wonderful woman. We are dating now
