Dilemma

[Destind4]

I've mad a few posts here and there, but I haven't introduced myself. I'm a 25 year old who works in the insurance field. My mom passed unexpectedly last year & I'm still getting acclamated to life without her here. I'm living with my father while saving about $500 every two weeks. I work in sales, and I'm uncertain about my future within the company. I have little to no debt and looking for other options as far as employment. Any suggestions?

[Scanner]

Nice to meet you.

Employment or a career?

Tone can be lost on the internet so don't mistake me for being preachy because actually, I am quite liberal about kids co-habitating with parents, esp. when there is a goal in mind.

But. . .but. ..you seem directionless.

I'd get out a little on your own, rent a 4 BDR house with 3 other roommates.

I don't think you are going to get direction from us here, as well intentioned as we may be.

A 4 BDR house around me rents for about $1600/month. . .so $400/month + 1/4 utilities/ins. . .you could be the leader on that. . .you should be able to cobble a living with 2 or so jobs while you find direction. Of course, fall back on your father for a safety net.

[Destind4]

Trust me, I have plenty of direction. The whole reason for living with my father is to save cash. Renting is the exact opposite that I'm looking to do.

[disneysteve]

I'm uncertain about my future within the company... looking for other options as far as employment. Any suggestions?

Trust me, I have plenty of direction.

Tell us more. What do you mean when you say you have "plenty of direction"? What is it you see yourself doing professionally? And when you say you've been living with your dad to save cash, save cash for what exactly?

[Destind4]

I have a decade worth of restaurant experience to add onto my insurance experience. I picture myself doing one or the other, or maybe both while I save up to purchase my first home.

[disneysteve]

I have a decade worth of restaurant experience to add onto my insurance experience. I picture myself doing one or the other, or maybe both while I save up to purchase my first home.

So you aren't necessarily looking to leave the insurance field but just the company you are currently with. Are you actively seeking other jobs in the field? Or in the restaurant field?

Buying a home is certainly a worthy goal but don't do it just to do it. Make sure that you are settled in a particular geographic area first, which typically means having stable work that you anticipate staying at long term. Before buying a house, make sure you have a 20% down payment and a 6-8 month emergency fund. Purchase price should be no more than 2.5-3 times your annual income.

I'm still not really clear on what your question is though. What type of advice are you looking for from the forum?

[Destind4]

I'm not saying I'm looking for another job, but the current status at my job is uncertaint. I'm well aware of what type of safety net I need before I purchase a home. I have about 13k saved up but I won't be purchasing one anytime soon. However, when I do I will be renting at least one room out to cover some expenses. I guess I was looking for any popinters or advice, but I digress.

[Firstofmanysteps]

You have too many directions. I'm not sure exactly where you are in the insurance business, but out of all your choices, that seems to be the safest and easiest way to go. Some of the people I know worked for insurance agents or were starting out as agents. The difficult part was mostly in the beginning. Once they had a decent clients list, they could sit back, relaxed and watched the money rolled in. Oh yeah, and dump the actual tedious work on some low paid assistant.

[frugalredhead]

I'm not really sure what kind of suggestions/advice you're looking for either, but I'll try to help! I'm sure you don't need me to tell you, since you've been in the restaurant business before, that it is a tough field for a career if you want a family or any kind of social life. Working evenings, weekends, holidays... my uncle was a chef for years and he missed everything, and he didn't even have kids. At age 40ish, he decided he wanted out, and hasn't really had a "career"-type job since, since he had no education/degree to do anything else. So try and think ahead to what kind of life you envision for yourself in the future. Do you want to get married, have kids? If this is really the career you want, have you looked into any degree programs in the field (culinary arts, hotel/restaurant management, etc). Maybe you already have a degree, you didn't say.

If you can be more specific, we have lots of people on these boards with lots of different career/life experiences who would be happy to help!

[Destind4]

Nevermind just forget it. I mentioned my mother passed & everyone seems to focus on how "directionless" I seem right now.

[cardtrick]

Not sure why some of you insist that he/she move out on his/her own. How is that going to help at all?


You are in sales and you're wondering what you should do? Stay in sales if you're any good at it. Find another employer/product/service to sell. There was someone on here without an education who sells medical devices for a living and was making nearly $500K a year. Try getting a sales job with a tech company that is either in the food or insurance space. That might be easy for you since you have experience in sales and in the industry. And keep applying. Sooner or later, someone's going to give in and give you a job. : )

[Scanner]

Nevermind just forget it. I mentioned my mother passed & everyone seems to focus on how "directionless" I seem right now.

Well, you are correct that maybe I jumped to conclusions too fast but incorrect I based it off of your mother passing (and my sympathies)

You wrote:

work in sales, and I'm uncertain about my future within the company. I have little to no debt and looking for other options as far as employment. Any suggestions?

I don't know. . .it's like me saying, "I'm looking for suggestions on women to settle down with. I have dated a brunette, but I am uncertain about other options with women."

Maybe it's just me, but your question seems wide open ended. That's teh only reason I suggested getting out and renting. Your roommates, you network better I think. . .I dunno. You have goals/dreams, but you don't seem to have direction on the goals is all, like I will do X, Y, and maybe Z to achieve it. We all have been there and revisit there so it's not a judgment on you (well, I guess it is, but ti's not meant in a lecturing spirit)>

[Scanner]

Not sure why some of you insist that he/she move out on his/her own. How is that going to help at all?

I didn't insist. I suggested.

Look, here's my philosophy with MY kids. Stay with me. . .the door revolves; that's fine. In fact, I have a great relationship with all my sons so in a way, I would LOVE it. . .bachelor pad.

But I think as they will naturally crash with me throughout their lives (and me with them), I"d like it to be a re-grouping for 3-6 months following a set-back, or change, or whatever and then, "I"m saving so I can change a career to this and get my own place, share a flat. . .yadda, yadda."

In other words, what's the plan? Any plan.

I am not sure how I would respond if they came to me and asked, "Do you have any ideas for employment?"

Um, yeah, baker, butcher, candlestick maker. . .pick something and change every 3-5 years. Or work in it for 40 years. It's all good.

We have enough money as a family you can be anything you want to be. We don't have enough money that you can never work. (EDIT: not that you aren't working. . .I mean we don't have enough money that we can't have a plan for too long, any plan)

[disneysteve]

Nevermind just forget it. I mentioned my mother passed & everyone seems to focus on how "directionless" I seem right now.

I'm not sure where this comment came from. I didn't say anything about you being "directionless". I was trying to understand what you meant and what type of advice you were seeking. Honestly, I still don't know what your question is. We're happy to help and offer advice and share some life experience. We just aren't clear on what it is you're looking for help and advice with.

[Scanner]

I fear I may have implied it. . .I didn't mean to sound crass and I apologize.

I thought about this some more and here's maybe a better analysis.

I know at age 25 I didn't have $13,000 saved for a house. So I applaud that. He/she has accumulated a significant asset. But I fear at age 25, if you get in a rut and live with your parents, you lose out on another asset that's got INTANGIBLE value - relationships.

Business relationships. Casual relationships. Friendships. Networks.

To help you sort through things like this. I guess at age 25 I was richer on that side of the equation. Maybe this is more diplomatic than the way I phrased it. Just get out, stretch your wings a bit, yes. . .it may not "help" with accumulating a downpayment but it still may be the correct course of action.

Good luck.