I'm 34, and tired of working.

[sze5003]

Even at 26 I pay 156 a month for one car full coverage. One accident not my fault. Clean record otherwise. It depends on the city..Philly is expensive. If you live out in the boonies maybe it's a lot cheaper. When I was under 25, I paid almost $230 a month for full coverage.

 

[Rakehellion]

I've been self-employed since I was a teenager. I've never had a 9-to-5 all my life.

Now I'm approaching age 30 and I don't need to work anymore.

It's 2014. With the sheer volume of services people need these days, it's easier than ever to start your own business and stop making your boss rich.

Also, If you can afford it, invest in something like an IUL so your money becomes an asset.

 

[AViking]

Trying to retire early by only spending $7000 a year or whatever is being discussed is ridiculous. If you want to save $50K a year you need to make over 6 figures. Otherwise you're never going to make it. How do you propose working for 15 years with no girlfriend, no friends, nothing to do in your free time other than eat ramen and go for walks? It ain't happening. Not unless you're crazy.

 

[purbeast0]

lol @ living off of $7k/yr.

 

[AViking]

I couldn't live off $7K a year in college. You'd have to have the most minimalist lifestyle, that I can't even imagine, to get that done.

"Hi, would you like to go out sometime? I make $75,000 a year, live in my parents house, don't have a car, and eat ramen. Our dating will consist of walks in the park and free museum days once a month. You driving? Don't worry though since after we date for 15 years I can retire and then we can think about starting a family."

 

[KoolAidKid]

I find that most people operate by a very simple rule with these things:

If the consequences of maintaining the status quo (safety, reliable salary, self-hate, job dissatisfaction, being able to support your family, etc.) are preferred to the consequences of change (uncertainty, unreliable salary, self-actualization, being less able to support your family, etc.), then people will not make a change. Otherwise, they will.

In other words, people always make the choice that they prefer. Hating your current job is one of the negative consequences of the choice that you have made.

There are lots of rewarding, non 9 to 5 careers out there, OP. You just have to decide if the effort and uncertainty associated with getting one of them is worth it to you.

 

[AViking]

I find that most people operate by a very simple rule with these things:

If the consequences of maintaining the status quo (safety, reliable salary, self-hate, job dissatisfaction, being able to support your family, etc.) are preferred to the consequences of change (uncertainty, unreliable salary, self-actualization, being less able to support your family, etc.), then people will not make a change. Otherwise, they will.

In other words, people always make the choice that they prefer. Hating your current job is one of the negative consequences of the choice that you have made.

There are lots of rewarding, non 9 to 5 careers out there, OP. You just have to decide if the effort and uncertainty associated with getting one of them is worth it to you.

I read something years back about how people have something like 6 basic personality sliders and depending on where they are it really affects where you end up in life. One of those was how willing you are to take risks for example. I think another was how well you did with change.

Someone like me is very comfortable with risk and change. Others might not be and they'll most likely end up doing the traditional go to school, get a job, buy a house, get married, have kids, work for 40 years at the same place, retire, and die route.

 

[Hacp]

Trying to retire early by only spending $7000 a year or whatever is being discussed is ridiculous. If you want to save $50K a year you need to make over 6 figures. Otherwise you're never going to make it. How do you propose working for 15 years with no girlfriend, no friends, nothing to do in your free time other than eat ramen and go for walks? It ain't happening. Not unless you're crazy.

You'll only live like that for a few years until you earn more money. View it as extending your college life for an extra few years.

 

[nixium]

I read something years back about how people have something like 6 basic personality sliders and depending on where they are it really affects where you end up in life. One of those was how willing you are to take risks for example. I think another was how well you did with change.

Someone like me is very comfortable with risk and change. Others might not be and they'll most likely end up doing the traditional go to school, get a job, buy a house, get married, have kids, work for 40 years at the same place, retire, and die route.

I'm in the minority here apparently but I actually like work. I love coming in everyday and it's a cubicle job. If I won the lottery tomorrow I probably would still come in to work.

Well maybe not, but I certainly wouldn't stop working and have a 24/7 party lifestyle.

OP, it's a balance of everything. I don't think quitting your job and 24/7 backpacking around the world would make you happy in the long term. You got to figure out the balance of activities that make you happy. And you have to *work* toward them - to be honest, that's half the fun.

Random google but maybe you should try this:
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/05/27/how-to-be-a-renaissance-man/

We get only one life, and my belief is the typical slave-your-day/house in the burbs/kids/slave away till they get to college/slave away more/die is the wrong way to spend it.

 

[Golgatha]

I find that most people operate by a very simple rule with these things:

If the consequences of maintaining the status quo (safety, reliable salary, self-hate, job dissatisfaction, being able to support your family, etc.) are preferred to the consequences of change (uncertainty, unreliable salary, self-actualization, being less able to support your family, etc.), then people will not make a change. Otherwise, they will.

In other words, people always make the choice that they prefer. Hating your current job is one of the negative consequences of the choice that you have made.

There are lots of rewarding, non 9 to 5 careers out there, OP. You just have to decide if the effort and uncertainty associated with getting one of them is worth it to you.

Pretty wise words, although I would add there are also positive consequences associated with changing alongside the negative ones, whereas if you maintain the status quo, you're guaranteed to only be as happy as you are right now. Either way though, you are right about your current situation being a choice. Only dependent people think their current situation is unchangable, whereas independent people proactively make things happen for themselves.

 

[AViking]

You'll only live like that for a few years until you earn more money. View it as extending your college life for an extra few years.

I think you're naive or suck at math. $7000 a year is pretty much impossible even in college but out of college? If you're in the Midwest you could probably get by for $15,000 a year in some places. Unfortunately for the vast majority of the country if you want the high paying jobs you have to live in the expensive cities. Or do you propose getting up at 5am to take the bus to work? I suppose you could get that great job in Chicago and take a train to work each day from Harlington, Texas.

The problem with most people is that they pull in $75K and save nothing. Going to the other end of the spectrum though and suggesting that people spend $583 a month is absolutely insane. That would be splitting rent and living like a college bum, not eating right, not doing anything fun, not having a car, not buying clothes, not having a phone, etc.

Lets get this topic back to reality.

 

[Engineer]

-There is a 5% dividend tax, but none for salary.
-Remember, this is your first year's salary. So its ok if you miss the mark by a small amount. Just make up for it the next year, or the year after that
-Finally, 7k is plenty to live off of if you live as a college student. Remember in college when 7k meant something? Just have that attitude for the first few years.

Who is paying for college?

 

[purbeast0]

I'm in the minority here apparently but I actually like work. I love coming in everyday and it's a cubicle job. If I won the lottery tomorrow I probably would still come in to work.

Well maybe not, but I certainly wouldn't stop working and have a 24/7 party lifestyle.

OP, it's a balance of everything. I don't think quitting your job and 24/7 backpacking around the world would make you happy in the long term. You got to figure out the balance of activities that make you happy. And you have to *work* toward them - to be honest, that's half the fun.

Random google but maybe you should try this:
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/05/27/how-to-be-a-renaissance-man/

We get only one life, and my belief is the typical slave-your-day/house in the burbs/kids/slave away till they get to college/slave away more/die is the wrong way to spend it.

i enjoy work as well. i hate getting up early but once i'm up i really don't mind being at work for 8 hours, and i'm in a cubicle (similar to a cube) myself. i have worked at a place where i had my own office for 5 years too, and tbh, the cubicle does not bother me one bit. i actually now realize how much of a waste of space big offices are lol, especially when i was getting paid much less at that place.

but i think it is just doing what you enjoy. i enjoy coding a lot because it's never the same and it is problem solving. problem solving is just gives me a good feeling when i'm finished with it. in general i like to build things. i just always have and always do. i'm also always learning something new. there really are no 2 days that feel the same since you're always working on something different. it's not like those jobs where every monday you do X, every tuesday you do Y, etc.

but i probably would not like my job if i was forced to work 50-60 hours a week. i simply do not work more than 40 hours a week and enjoy my free time away from work. gotta have that balance.

 

[purbeast0]

Who is paying for college?

i bet it's either the tooth fairy or the easter bunny. possibly santa clause.

 

[Engineer]

In other words, people always make the choice that they prefer. Hating your current job is one of the negative consequences of the choice that you have made.

There are lots of rewarding, non 9 to 5 careers out there, OP. You just have to decide if the effort and uncertainty associated with getting one of them is worth it to you.

But you're living in a static world where nothing changes. Things change. Bosses change. Companies change. Over time, even a job that you love can change. I, at times, STILL love what I do. I love watching a machine come to life and produce parts. Maybe I'm just tired and need a break...not sure why the sudden need to feel like I need to retire.

*shrugs*

 

[Mai72]

I think you're naive or suck at math. $7000 a year is pretty much impossible even in college but out of college? If you're in the Midwest you could probably get by for $15,000 a year in some places. Unfortunately for the vast majority of the country if you want the high paying jobs you have to live in the expensive cities. Or do you propose getting up at 5am to take the bus to work? I suppose you could get that great job in Chicago and take a train to work each day from Harlington, Texas.

The problem with most people is that they pull in $75K and save nothing. Going to the other end of the spectrum though and suggesting that people spend $583 a month is absolutely insane. That would be splitting rent and living like a college bum, not eating right, not doing anything fun, not having a car, not buying clothes, not having a phone, etc.

Lets get this topic back to reality.

Have you ever seen Extreme Cheapskates? People on the show spend little to almost nothing on items.

You can spend almost nothing if you:

*Dumpster dive for your food. Or better yet, go to local restaurants and ask people to give you the food that they aren't eating.
*Stop buying toilet paper. Use a hose for your bottom.
*Don't buy a car. Use a bicycle to go to your destination.
*Stop buying clothes! Salvation army has some really nice clothes.
*Want a salad? What's wrong with picking greens from the local park?
*A dishwasher can be used to wash both dishes and your clothes.
*My uncle spray paints his old sneakers. They always look like new.
*Barter for your items. A young guy bartered for a doughnut and a haircut and got both free! He also bartered for his wedding a few years ago and paid a reduced price. A $25,000 wedding was reduced to less then $2,000

I'm sure there are a lot of other ways to save money.

:awe:

 

[sze5003]

Have you ever seen Extreme Cheapskates? People on the show spend little to almost nothing on items.

You can spend almost nothing if you:

*Dumpster dive for your food. Or better yet, go to local restaurants and ask people to give you the food that they aren't eating.
*Stop buying toilet paper. Use a hose for your bottom.
*Don't buy a car. Use a bicycle to go to your destination.
*Stop buying clothes! Salvation army has some really nice clothes.
*Want a salad? What's wrong with picking greens from the local park?
*A dishwasher can be used to wash both dishes and your clothes.
*My uncle spray paints his old sneakers. They always look like new.
*Barter for your items. A young guy bartered for a doughnut and a haircut and got both free! He also bartered for his wedding a few years ago and paid a reduced price. A $25,000 wedding was reduced to less then $2,000

I'm sure there are a lot of other ways to save money.

:awe:

Some of those episodes are ridiculous. Like the lady trying to save on electricity by having one light bulb moving it where she needs it every time she goes to a different part of the house.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Have you ever seen Extreme Cheapskates? People on the show spend little to almost nothing on items.

You can spend almost nothing if you:

*Dumpster dive for your food. Or better yet, go to local restaurants and ask people to give you the food that they aren't eating.
*Stop buying toilet paper. Use a hose for your bottom.
*Don't buy a car. Use a bicycle to go to your destination.
*Stop buying clothes! Salvation army has some really nice clothes.
*Want a salad? What's wrong with picking greens from the local park?
*A dishwasher can be used to wash both dishes and your clothes.
*My uncle spray paints his old sneakers. They always look like new.
*Barter for your items. A young guy bartered for a doughnut and a haircut and got both free! He also bartered for his wedding a few years ago and paid a reduced price. A $25,000 wedding was reduced to less then $2,000

I'm sure there are a lot of other ways to save money.

:awe:

You are assuming reality TV is real. And it's not. These people are low paid actors that are forced to do stupid shit.

 

[bignateyk]

Some of those episodes are ridiculous. Like the lady trying to save on electricity by having one light bulb moving it where she needs it every time she goes to a different part of the house.

😕 Isn't that what light switches are for??

 

[AViking]

😕 Isn't that what light switches are for??

My girlfriend rented an apt from a guy who only had one light fixture when she moved in. I think it was some kind of crazy attempt to minimize electricity costs since it's impossible to have the lights on in more than one room.

Some people are crazy.

Is that what we're going for here? What kind of crazy shit can we do to get our bills down to $200 a month so we can retire at 40?

 

[sze5003]

😕 Isn't that what light switches are for??

Her point was no need to buy light bulbs and this way you can't forget to turn out lights in other rooms.

 

[Ares202]

I agree. Euros work to live, and Americans live to work. They are happy to have less income and spend more time with friends and family.

Your all viewing from the outside looking in, I think you need a perspective of someone who lives in Europe.

You get much more holidays in Europe, where I live (UK) you have 22 days holiday as a minimum as a full time worker. I get quite a bit more as I've negotiated a lesser salary for more holidays.

Healthcare is free. I can't believe you guys don't have this.

But

You're likely to be paid less than the equivalent job in the USA, worse still your essentials (gas, electricity, water food, petrol/diesel) will cost 1.5 x 2.0 what your likely to be paying in the USA.

You're likely to also work long hours as you already do, Yes you have to sign a waiver for working over a 48 hour week, but my job like many has this waiver as part of my contract, no waiver no Job unfortunately. I've been known to work up to 90 hours a week.

Benefits whilst a plus on paper has many negatives, i.e people will choose to have 5+ kids instead of a career and live off child benefit, meaning higher taxes for people like me. For me to claim benefits I have to wait 6 weeks, then I can claim only around $55 per week in your money (No kids no mortgage) which I simply cannot live off, the system is bloated and totally unfair in the country I live in.

 

[AViking]

Your all viewing from the outside looking in, I think you need a perspective of someone who lives in Europe.

You get much more holidays in Europe, where I live (UK) you have 22 days holiday as a minimum as a full time worker. I get quite a bit more as I've negotiated a lesser salary for more holidays.

Healthcare is free. I can't believe you guys don't have this.

But

You're likely to be paid less than the equivalent job in the USA, worse still your essentials (gas, electricity, water food, petrol/diesel) will cost 1.5 x 2.0 what your likely to be paying in the USA.

You're likely to also work long hours, Yes you have to sign a waiver for working over a 48 hour week, but my job like many has this waiver as part of my contract, no waiver no Job unfortunately. I've been known to work up to 90 hours a week.

Benefits whilst a plus on paper has many negatives, i.e people will choose to have 5+ kids instead of a career and live off child benefit, meaning higher taxes for people like me. For me to claim benefits I have to wait 6 weeks, then I can claim only around $55 per week in your money (No kids no mortgage) which I simply cannot live off, the system is bloated and totally unfair in the country I live in.

I've never met anyone who worked 90 hours a week. Not in China. Not in India. Not in the US. Not in Europe. I suppose the exception is business owners starting up but I don't think that's what you're talking about.

That's 13 hours a day everyday.

You're getting royally hosed.

 

[sze5003]

A friend of mine moved to Poland. He and I are pretty much best friends and went to college together..I had a job right after school and he didn't because he didn't like programming but later got an entry level programming job.

He then decided to move to Europe out of nowhere and got a job with a US company that has a headquarters near where the company he worked for here was located.

He says he makes peanuts compared to me but is much happier. He goes to the office at 8, leaves around 3pm..gets 21 days of vacation and he hasn't even been there 11 months.

What he does is easy though since I have helped him before. Nothing like what I do even though my job says entry level and I'm doing senior level if not intermediate work half the time and still not getting paid what this type of work entails compared to the type of programming he does.

I don't think he has plans on coming back.

 

[Griffinhart]

BS!

Euro's have job stability, a safety net if unemployed, and universal health care. They also have 6-8 weeks vacation, more holidays & 38hr work weeks!

We also refuse to live at home with 3-4 generations of family under one roof. So maybe it is true, we spend so much on rent/housing.

We work so much because we are in fear of getting laid off and there being no safety net - none of us want to move back in with Mom & Dad and unemployment will not over most peoples living expenses for 2-weeks let alone a month.

You have a rather inaccurate view on this. Euro's have a much higher unemployment rate than in the US. 7%+ vs 12%+ (for the EU as a whole). Germany has a lower rate at 5.4%, but then you have Spain at 24%, Greece at 27%, Italy and Ireland over 12%, France over 11%. So, the idea that there is more job stability is laughable.

The US has a higher per capita income than any EU nation with the exception of Luxembourg and Norway. The US also has a lower cost of living than most EU countries.

The Lawn in the US may have it's brown patches, but the grass certainly isn't greener in the EU.