General Adulthood, Planning for the Future: Business, College, Budgeting, Investments, etc! $$$ - General

[QUOTE=Levelog;51994576]Speaking of 401k's, I now qualify for my work's. They match up to 5% so I obviously am wanting to do at least 5% but I'm trying to do the math right now. The one thing I really am trying to make sure of, I have about $300 a paycheck reimbursed from expenses like miles driven, parking, etc. The 5% that I put pre-tax from my paycheck is just 5% on my base pay, right? Not that the extra ~$30 will be a big deal a month but I've got my extra money pretty well balanced out between savings and donations that I can write off so I want to be sure.[/QUOTE] Not sure how it works for you guys but here in the UK, your private pension i.e. the matched contribution is taken pre tax so you actually pay less income tax and it gets matched.

Curious what you think guys, I'm (hopefully) off the Canada in the near future but I loathe office spaces, I don't mind them - they're a very solid and consistent workplace but I want more time to be able to mill around & kind of have freedom, be out during the day and still able to focus on my talents while making money. My current idea was to get a job at one of the studios there, but I'm finding less and less that I want to be stuck in a fluorescent lit room for 9 hours a day, I've considered getting jobs at the ski resorts so I'm out and about, but also spend the evenings keeping my artwork updated and getting better. It's only started getting better now, since when I finish work it's bright, but that's only a few months a year. Do you know any middle ground? Stable income, but with free time to work on artwork.

[QUOTE=hakimhakim;51970205]Hey guys I need your opinion. My friend had a degree. He's currently unemployed, and wishes to work with either 7-11 or KFC/Mc Donalds at retail/grunt position. He refuses to try managerial position because he prefer not to take substantial responsibilities for the time being. He asked me whether he should present his degree at the interview. I told him no because there's some stories among my clients that they would avoid showing their degree/master when applying for menial/low position jobs, because the middle-management guys would not prefer someone 'smarter' than them to come aboard the ship, or acting smart. They would prefer silent slave-worker. The problem is that he's not exactly a fresh graduate. After graduating, he took another degree that he likes (?marine biology). Currently he's 27-28? The employer will bound to ask him what is he doing after he graduate from high school. What is your opinion regarding this? Should he bring along his degree for the interview?[/QUOTE] your post is two weeks old but tell him to get a job literally anywhere else other than KFC/Maccas worst fucking thing I've ever done and I'd never recommend it to anyone.

When I turn 18 and graduate, I want to move out of my house as soon as I can, and move to Colorado from North Dakota. I'd like to go to a college there, blah blah. I was just wondering, how difficult is the process of leaving as soon as you can, and getting a college loan? How would stuff like that work?

[QUOTE=ZombieDawgs;52034075]Curious what you think guys, I'm (hopefully) off the Canada in the near future but I loathe office spaces, I don't mind them - they're a very solid and consistent workplace but I want more time to be able to mill around & kind of have freedom, be out during the day and still able to focus on my talents while making money. My current idea was to get a job at one of the studios there, but I'm finding less and less that I want to be stuck in a fluorescent lit room for 9 hours a day, I've considered getting jobs at the ski resorts so I'm out and about, but also spend the evenings keeping my artwork updated and getting better. It's only started getting better now, since when I finish work it's bright, but that's only a few months a year. Do you know any middle ground? Stable income, but with free time to work on artwork.[/QUOTE] I recently found success in ridesharing. Specifically food delivery. I have an extremely cheap, small, efficient car that can park anywhere but can still hold all my catering bags (Toyota IQ), so my business expenses are minimal, and I net anywhere from 600 to 1000 dollars a week depending on how much I want to work. It gives me lots of time to fuck around if I want and I like driving. Being out all day experiencing the sun and the outside is great. Or at least it's been great so far. Even in shitty weather it's still fun. If you need to be able to dictate your own minimal schedule and still make decent money, it's an option.

[QUOTE=VeXan;52034508]When I turn 18 and graduate, I want to move out of my house as soon as I can, and move to Colorado from North Dakota. I'd like to go to a college there, blah blah. I was just wondering, how difficult is the process of leaving as soon as you can, and getting a college loan? How would stuff like that work?[/QUOTE] well first youd have to get accepted into a school, then apply for FAFSA, see how much grants u qualify for, then loan the rest. i wouldnt suggest doing that unless u have a pretty good idea of what u want to study and ur career prospects. u can also do work study programs to lessen ur loan amount and hopefully find a few intern / coop positions that u can use to help pay for subsequent years.

Aboute five years ago, my dad and I were bankrupted after a multi-year legal battle with the city. That's what slumped us right back into poverty after having finally crawled our way up into the middle class while I was in highschool. The premise of the legal battle was an eroding cliff face encroaching on our property. The back deck fell over, the fence line was starting to go, several huge trees were leaning drunkenly over the edge -- threatening to take most of the yard with them when they went. We were fighting to have the city recognize the problem and either fix it or condemn the property and pay us fair market value for it. After several years, dozens of geological surveys, etc, the city still refused to budge. Independent surveyors, hired at our expense, confirmed that the erosion was severe and that we were at risk staying on the property, but the city's people had given a conflicting report that stated that there was no imminent risk. We were unable to afford to take the issue further in courts, and dad saw little other choice but to cut his losses. It wasn't safe to live in the property, and he couldn't justify continuing to pour money into a doomed home. He allowed the bank to reclaim the property, and shortly thereafter declared bankruptcy. Fast forward five years, a new family has purchased the home -- unaware of the extent of the threat. Our neighbor a few doors down has kept in touch. The erosion has continued advancing, taking slow bites out of the property. The fenceline eventually went, as did a couple small trees. The back of the yard was roped off with caution tape. Finally, the erosion reached a breaking point, and in a massive sudden avulsion event, the entire treeline collapsed over the cliff, taking almost the entire yard with them. The sewage system ruptured, flooding the property, and the house was devastated. [I]Finally[/I], the city accepts that there is an issue. Our old property, and our neighbor's property, has been condemned, and the owners given notice to vacate. It's nice to finally have some sense of vindication over the whole thing, but it sucks that our financial well being was destroyed because of it. We knew that the home was at serious risk, and that we were at risk living there, but the city just flat out refused to do anything about it because they didn't want to spend the money to alter the creekbed that was eroding the cliff (a multimillion dollar project, according to the surveyors and contractors we hired), or to purchase and condemn our property (a considerably less expensive proposal) Our lives were [I]fucked[/I], and we have never truly recovered from that financial hit. Not only that, but now a second family has had their entire lives upended because of this (and a third, counting our old neighbors). I guess I don't really need advice or anything, just to vent the frustration over this whole thing, and say a little "I told you so!" to nobody in particular.

Is the city at least doing right by the current residents

It has promised to pay them fair market value, but has not given a number yet. I have an ugly feeling that they will base their offer on the tax assessment value as opposed to a a comparative market analysis, which would result in tens of thousands less than they actually should receive. I'm going to be heading over on Monday to talk to the current owners, both as a former resident in the property and a real estate professional. I want to see if I can help them out. I'll even waive my commission if need be.

Just got turned down for a job I really wanted - I guess this isn't really something new for anyone around here, and apparently they had over 60 (qualified) applicants for the three positions, but yeah I guess I'm just not used to be turned down. Not really an issue economically, and I can get other work, but I'm pretty disappointed to be honest; looked forward to perhaps getting it.

[QUOTE=GoDong-DK;52041835]Just got turned down for a job I really wanted - I guess this isn't really something new for anyone around here, and apparently they had over 60 (qualified) applicants for the three positions, but yeah I guess I'm just not used to be turned down. Not really an issue economically, and I can get other work, but I'm pretty disappointed to be honest; looked forward to perhaps getting it.[/QUOTE] Sometimes things like this can work in your favour, so as long as you didn't build too much on getting the job, you'll be just fine :smile:

I'm getting some concepts together to hopefully pitch a proposal for a solo juried exhibition up in Brooklyn. I'm super nervous about it because the proposal is due on May 1 and I wanna have at least two pieces done by then which only gives me a month to do them. I've never done anything like this before but I'm getting encouragement from people I know so I'm hoping it'll work out. Even if not I think I could put together a decent local show with the concept too. I'm just worried that I won't get enough done in time to submit the proposal. I'm trying to get my art out there and apply for some big things but it's always so nerve-wracking.

[QUOTE=Pascall;52046576]I'm getting some concepts together to hopefully pitch a proposal for a solo juried exhibition up in Brooklyn. I'm super nervous about it because the proposal is due on May 1 and I wanna have at least two pieces done by then which only gives me a month to do them. I've never done anything like this before but I'm getting encouragement from people I know so I'm hoping it'll work out. Even if not I think I could put together a decent local show with the concept too. I'm just worried that I won't get enough done in time to submit the proposal. I'm trying to get my art out there and apply for some big things but it's always so nerve-wracking.[/QUOTE] As long as you have faith in your work, things tend to work out for the best. Good luck and no matter what happens, remember that trying and giving it your best is still better than letting self-doubt eat you and never having taken the shot at all.

Hello fellow adults. I need your opinions on something... To put it as direct as I can; what is a job I can get with minimum acceptable income that does not toll heavily on my mind, emotion or physical capacity? Jobs such as the professions - doctors, teachers, are out, as they took too much out of one's life. I need all the time and energy I can get to work on my side projects. I think I can make do with minimum salary jobs, supplement that with passive income from my inestments, and probably can live a non-stressful mid-lower society class life. So, what are the best options? (supposing I'm 27, have a degree, zero debts)

Freelancing, probably? Do you have any basic skills? What kind of degree do you have? I do some academic writing every now and again to get some money and it's not a mega money maker or anything but if you're good at writing or something like office work, virtual assisting, or data entry, you can always put your skills up for hire. Other than that, most people have to start in retail or food service. If you pick a slower restaurant or a smaller store, those are usually a little easier to handle while working on other things.

Looks like I finally got a job through family friend connections as a bartender in a fairly popular and well known hotel. God I hope I don't fuck up as I purely got the job because of a friend of my dad, and I don't want to let them down

[QUOTE=Pascall;52065679]Freelancing, probably? Do you have any basic skills? What kind of degree do you have? I do some academic writing every now and again to get some money and it's not a mega money maker or anything but if you're good at writing or something like office work, virtual assisting, or data entry, you can always put your skills up for hire. Other than that, most people have to start in retail or food service. If you pick a slower restaurant or a smaller store, those are usually a little easier to handle while working on other things.[/QUOTE] I have a medical degree, and can program(but no official qualification), so I'm making games in my free time. Right now I'm looking at 7-Eleven or KFC, but given that I'm living in a small town, probably even those jobs are not as readily-available as they are in the cities. So probably people here can point out other jobs that I'm not aware of.

[QUOTE=BITBITBIT;52065701]I have a medical degree, and can program(but no official qualification), so I'm making games in my free time. Right now I'm looking at 7-Eleven or KFC, but given that I'm living in a small town, probably even those jobs are not as readily-available as they are in the cities. So probably people here can point out other jobs that I'm not aware of.[/QUOTE] Fast food completely clashes with this [quote]that does not toll heavily on my mind, emotion or physical capacity?[/quote] It's a stressful, irritating, shitty job and I highly recommend staying far away from it. This is coming from personal experience.

Yeah I definitely wouldn't do KFC. 7-11 would probably be a little less taxing. But man you can totally do something with a medical degree. What sort of medical degree? If it's a high enough degree can you maybe teach college part time? Not sure what things are like where you are. But there are a lot of colleges that employ part time teachers here so it could be a possibility? I'm not sure.

[QUOTE=Pascall;52065733]Yeah I definitely wouldn't do KFC. 7-11 would probably be a little less taxing. But man you can totally do something with a medical degree. What sort of medical degree? If it's a high enough degree can you maybe teach college part time? Not sure what things are like where you are. But there are a lot of colleges that employ part time teachers here so it could be a possibility? I'm not sure.[/QUOTE] I think to teach in college, I had to take a master in a more specific thing (like Physiology, ect) or be a medical specialist. My degree afaik is only good for starting to be a doctor. Not sure if other unrelated jobs would consider that degree, so I'm just considering the non-stressful low end jobs for now, just to get money to live a frugal life. I just finished my medical internship, and supposed to be transferred to the edge of the country for a permanent position. But dang if it isn't the most stressful, time consuming, life-voiding, emotional stomping, with 0 balance in work-life, not to mention dangerous physically. Still not sure if I should show up. Previously in my teenage years I've worked at some mobile phone stores, it's like a little heaven compared to now.

ok question, why did you go med track if you don't want to be a doctor

[QUOTE=LordCrypto;52068725]ok question, why did you go med track if you don't want to be a doctor[/QUOTE] Because I thought the study/job will suit me? It kind of does, even kind of interesting, but all of that were killed with unreasonable working hour and work load. In hospitals usually I'd work ~70 hours per week, running all over the place. Unreasonable working hours = less sleep + less life + less mental and physical health. A lot of them develop some kind of mental disorders. 1 in 5 doctors quit each year. it's rare to see a happy-go-lucky doctor because of that. I've been trying to get a position in a health clinics which have better working hours, but no luck so far. Got fed up after applying several time, it's been a year. The irony is that healthcare is the field that cares about their staff health the least.

[QUOTE=BITBITBIT;52072154]Because I thought the study/job will suit me? It kind of does, even kind of interesting, but all of that were killed with unreasonable working hour and work load. In hospitals usually I'd work ~70 hours per week, running all over the place. Unreasonable working hours = less sleep + less life + less mental and physical health. it's rare to see a happy-go-lucky doctor because of that. I've been trying to get a position in a health clinics which have better working hours, but no luck so far. Got fed up after applying several time, it's been a year. The irony is that healthcare is the field that cares about their staff health the least.[/QUOTE] everyone knows that attendings do hilariously long shifts it's not like it's some big secret they tell you once you get your coat at the end of residency

Knowing is different than experiencing it firsthand i guess. Just being told that the hours is long is does not give us the real weight of what it entails. Also people will usually try to do their best and ascertain the situation themselves. After they experience the job for a time, they will decide if it's worth it, in their own specific circumstances. I've been tried to explain how lack of sleep has been detrimental to the administration on several occasions in some conversations with them, and from their response I can tell that they have zero idea of the real weight of the situation, simply because they are just working 8-5 desk jobs. Most of the time they will think we are just spouting shit.

in my opinion, you've backed yourself into a corner. you're 26 with a medical degree. now if you go take that to any place that isn't a hospital they'll wonder why you're overqualified to work doing data entry or w/e. if you don't show them a degree, then they'll wonder what you've been doing with your life for 8 years

What about medical assisting? That's what my sister does.

Haha I think a person with medical degree is even less qualified than a person doing some sort of management/business for office jobs. I had no specific dream job either, so I guess anything that I can balance with life is good. To be honest, before I went into university, I kind of wanted to be a librarian of some sort. But I don't think there are any vacancies anywhere. Since the prime minister Najib debacle ended up wasting the country money, the gov sort of slowing down on hiring new people. That means they will not hire more doctors too, which means the workload won't be improving anytime soon. So i just wanted a simple job for now. My strategy is just to be honest. " I worked for 2-3 years in hospitals previously, it's a nice job but I was posted somewhere really far, and I don't plan on working in the hospital there. I think this place had a nice working environment, and I had some experience related to it, so I would like to apply" or something like that [QUOTE=Pascall;52072221]What about medical assisting? That's what my sister does.[/QUOTE] Like a Medical Assitant? I think they require specific degree/diploma, can't use my degree.

I mean I was in a similar position to you for a little bit. I completed 2 years of medical training then realized that it wasn't for me and dropped out. There is other things you can do with this, though, that does not involve training to be a physician. At the moment I work as a community responder while attending university to train as a music therapist. I know some people who ended up dropping out of the medical course proper and went into biomedical sciences as well. I dunno the exact ins-and-outs of your degree but there should be elements within it that are useful.

Too bad though, I don't think our community has advanced service like emergency responder or music therapist. Developing coutry like us just focus on the necessities, although some other service is there (complementary medicine, massage) In May, I think I'll go and try again to coax the state medical department where I'm supposed to go to, to place me at a health clinic. If not, then I'll just go apply for 7-11 in the surrounding districts. Man, reading this sure makes me look at myself like a loser lol (because it is :v: )

Well community responders normally fall under EMT/paramedic territory, so that might be something to consider. It's definitely not an easy ride, though, but it's a great job imo. I don't know your exact qualification but you should be able to get a foot in the door as a lower-grade EMT, at the very least. Maybe more. Sciences are always another option. You must be adept at science if you completed a medical course.