do you ever feel this way about work?

[brianmanahan]

Making at least 100K isn't even remotely close to getting you away from "the work thing" or significantly shortening your earning years.

it does help - as long as i can keep making close to that amount and assuming it can keep up with inflation, i expect to be able to retire around age 45. i am able to live on about 30$k per year.

While you're out there earning you also have to live and you will also want to spend when you're living. Just living is going to eat up most of your income and your lifestyle is almost always commensurate with your income. I've heard many people say "No, I'm going to live way below my means, save all my money and then retire early!" I suppose there have been those whom have done that but I don't think its very realistic. The more common situation is that the person making that assertion has never actually earned decent money and hasn't experienced any real level of living.

there are plenty of people that do it! see early-retirement.org

Work as a function of earning to live is part of our society. The best bet is to try to get some perspective and keep your head right. Otherwise you'll probably end up not liking anything, work or non work.

i have tried to get that perspective for 5 years, but every time ive been promoted or moved to another project i have liked work less and less and it has had a more detrimental effect on my non-working life. this is why i am now shooting for retiring as early as possible.

 

[TechAZ]

Pretty much a daily occurence that I pick out where I would get in an "accident." On the way too work. I love my job so much that some days I actually have it cross my mind to look for a semi to drive under.

Scary, but I'm doing everything I can to get out now. Here you all are bitching about IT and i'm trying to get in lol...

Healthcare middle management is fucking awful just in case anyone was wondering.

I am in the exact same position. I never want to work in healthcare again, and I never want to manage people as a job again....ever.

 

[Imp]

it does help - as long as i can keep making close to that amount and assuming it can keep up with inflation, i expect to be able to retire around age 45. i am able to live on about 30$k per year.

If you have enough money to yield $30k/yr on investments, you could supplement that with a shitty, mindless job in retail, fast food, or even "proper" restaurant. At minimum wage, that may add an extra $10k to get you a "normal" income.

That's my plan. If I win the lottery, I live off investments, work a shitty and mindless part-time job, have fun the rest of the time.

 

[brianmanahan]

been working since noon today... been 13 hours so far. may have to pull an all nighter... bus just hit me now 🙁

 

[cuafpr]

every day as a civy...... so miss being in the military 🙁

 

[SampSon]

Red Squirrel I'm not sure how much experience you have with earning and the business world, but 100K really isn't that much money. From your post it seems as if you're possibly rather young and just starting out? If you're not then I'm not sure where your opinion would stem from. I suppose if I net 100K cash after taxes it alters that, but still not significantly.

When you make six figures you're not going to live like you make 30K. You don't have to live far beyond your means and blow the money, but you're not going to live the same way you do making less than 30% of that level. I've worked my way from that entry level to the levels were talking about now. I don't see more than a small fraction of people getting to a certain level and saying "yea I wouldn't mind going back to the socioeconomic status at 21". Show me someone who believes that.

My suggestion to you is to not start a business with the opinion you have about how to run one. Most businesses run during business hours and if you're not going to run during those hours, then you're not going to be in business very long. Running a business takes some practical approach even if you have some incredible groundbreaking product/service. You mentioned some IT/hosting which usually has its strongest role in supporting other businesses, which likely operate primarily during business hours (weird how they are called business hours, right?).

Your last paragraph reads like a discontented hippie book. People still farm a lot (87% are owned/operated by individuals/families) and the overwhelming majority of businesses in America are small businesses. I'm not sure the people living "100's" of years ago would agree that it was more rewarding and I'm nearly 100% positive that data doesn't support it being anywhere near as healthy as we are today.

brianmanahan over 10 years ago in my 20s I could 'live' on 30K. There is no way I could live on anything remotely close to 30K now. I suppose if I planned on being single, living in an apartment and wearing the same underwear for 5 years on end then it might be possible. Otherwise it's a no go.

I know there are plenty of people who manage to do some form of early retirement like you refer to. I also know from experience with people involved in that scene is they are obsessed with saving money. To the point where it's detrimental to their current lives. I'm not sure what numbers you're lookng at but retiring at such an early age is incredibly difficult. I would have to save a solid 75K/year to 'retire' at around 45. That is assuming I'm getting a modest return and I'm only living on 30K/year.

If you can manage that than good for you. It's going to take you a solid 20 years of working constantly, saving every possible penny and living at the same nominal level that entire time. It seems from your last line that you may not have the gumption to do that. You dislike work more and more and cannot keep a healthy mental perspective. That's a recipe for disaster.

I don't see completely denying yourself for a couple decades during your youth just to retire to the equivalent of a 30K year income as being a sweet plan. You'll have a whole lot of time to do very little because of the paltry draw you have to live on. If that's what you think you want then all the power to ya. I can only fathom that plan working if you want to live like a 22 yr old bachelor.

Happy saving!

 

[mistercrabby]

entitled - i do not think it means what you think it means

1. entitled
An attitude, demeanor, or air of rudeness, ingraciousness, or combativeness, especially when making excessive demands for service (usually used following the word "acted")
The foreign student was extremely rude and acted entitled when she came into the International Students Office, snapping her fingers to get the attention of the help desk volunteer.

This rich asshole came into the store and acted all entitled, barking commands at me like a butler. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=entitled

 

[IndyColtsFan]

If you have enough money to yield $30k/yr on investments, you could supplement that with a shitty, mindless job in retail, fast food, or even "proper" restaurant. At minimum wage, that may add an extra $10k to get you a "normal" income.

That's my plan. If I win the lottery, I live off investments, work a shitty and mindless part-time job, have fun the rest of the time.

LOL, I was just telling my wife this weekend that I need to find something easy and mindless to do. I went from a corporate environment where management was stupid and clueless (but the work was laid back) into a consulting gig where as a new employee, I was given two weeks to fix a botched migration and make it go live on 10/5. I did it but damn was that stressful. The much larger paychecks only help ease the pain a little.

 

[brianmanahan]

1. entitled
An attitude, demeanor, or air of rudeness, ingraciousness, or combativeness, especially when making excessive demands for service (usually used following the word "acted")
The foreign student was extremely rude and acted entitled when she came into the International Students Office, snapping her fingers to get the attention of the help desk volunteer.

This rich asshole came into the store and acted all entitled, barking commands at me like a butler. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=entitled

please cite example of said behavior in thread

 

[rudeguy]

LOL, I was just telling my wife this weekend that I need to find something easy and mindless to do. I went from a corporate environment where management was stupid and clueless (but the work was laid back) into a consulting gig where as a new employee, I was given two weeks to fix a botched migration and make it go live on 10/5. I did it but damn was that stressful. The much larger paychecks only help ease the pain a little.

You need a hardware guy yet?

I promise to only make Android Manning jokes on Tuesdays

 

[xanis]

I used to think that at my last job. It got so bad that I stopped giving a shit and my performance tanked. I got fired. I just started a new job at a 15% raise with better benefits with some amazing coworkers and the exact type of work that I want to be doing, without the shit that I hated at my last job. Everything worked out I think.

 

[RedRooster]

Why would you want to get in a car wreck on the WAY to work? I'd rather find a way to hurt myself AT work, get on the comp train. I just need to find something that doesn't damage my hands, legs, internal organs or brain too badly.

 

[KeithTalent]

Every day, except I walk to work. More likely to be run over by a cyclist in my neighbourhood anyway.

KT

 

[Rage187]

Coworkers are important. I work with a team of rock stars who all appreciate each other. That at least gives us some friends in the foxhole.

Plus, I think days suck more when I don't have much to do. The days we are busy, I feel useful and fulfilled. If you have time to think about how much your day sucks, it can't be that bad.

 

[mammador]

depends. we all have to work to survive, so that's the only true justification for it. a job today is like how ancient people hunted and gathered. it will change when we invent machines to do our bidding hehe..

 

[VulgarDisplay]

Coworkers are important. I work with a team of rock stars who all appreciate each other. That at least gives us some friends in the foxhole.

Plus, I think days suck more when I don't have much to do. The days we are busy, I feel useful and fulfilled. If you have time to think about how much your day sucks, it can't be that bad.

This is why middle management sucks. You're stuck in the middle. I have 30 rejects with no ambition under me complaining about anything and everything, and a boss over me who expects them to perform rocket science at my bidding.

Employee's don't appreciate me because I'm the boss, and my boss doesn't appreciate me because my employee's are all morons.

 

[Rage187]

This is why middle management sucks. You're stuck in the middle. I have 30 rejects with no ambition under me complaining about anything and everything, and a boss over me who expects them to perform rocket science at my bidding.

Employee's don't appreciate me because I'm the boss, and my boss doesn't appreciate me because my employee's are all morons.

I feel the pain of anyone that has to manage Generation Y. As in:

Why do I have deadlines?
Why do you keep saying I need improvement?
Why can't I be VP after 2 years in my career?
Why can't I text all day long instead of working?

It really is like Idiocracy.

 

[rudeguy]

I feel the pain of anyone that has to manage Generation Y. As in:

Why do I have deadlines?
Why do you keep saying I need improvement?
Why can't I be VP after 2 years in my career?
Why can't I text all day long instead of working?

It really is like Idiocracy.

I realized today when I saw some punk in a TDI Jetta wagon take a turn at 35 that I am old. I flipped him off and told him to get off my lawn (no really)

 

[brianmanahan]

I feel the pain of anyone that has to manage Generation Y.

well im gen y and have been working 70 hrs a week to hit a deadline

i do it but i dont love it