Navie Perhaps?

[Yossarian]

I'm a young man in his early twenties from California who has been out of “real” work for sometime. I had major surgery in July of 2012 which I was forced to pay for out of pocket due to lack of insurance coverage. Since then I'd been living off of my savings which have dwindled.

Luckily having a roof over my head is the one stable thing in my life or I'd be in serious trouble right about now.

I'm back to 100% and I have been looking for stable work but things just don't seem to be going my way. I'm at an impasse. Surviving off of beans, rice, and pasta isn't the best but it'll do. I could go to my parents for financial support but I refuse to be a burden on them. I don't want to be a burden on anyone.

I've been losing hope and in order to combat that I have been setting some plausible goals for my life and trying to look on the bright side.

I've never had a job that paid more than 15k a year. Pathetic I know but I really loved last my job and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

Over the next five-ten years I want to try and make of minimum 25k a year. As I have no real obligations (kids, car payments, bills, etc) I think this is totally reasonable and can see myself surpassing that.

I then want to buy a small house in another state, I realize at that price range I'd have to make some improvements. I own my own tools and I'm proficient enough with construction that it wouldn't be an issue. I could live in it and save up some more. As I would own my house and wouldn't be weighed down by a mortgage I could begin saving for a different house or other ventures.

I absolutely refuse to go into debt for anything. I don't have a credit card nor will I ever seek to acquire any bank assistance.

Am I being naïve here and setting myself up for failure? I've always been a relatively easy to please person that doesn't require much and a hard worker but I admit my life experience is rather limited.

Any advice or input would be appreciated.

[97guns]

give home depot or lowes a shot, i worked for home depot in the late 90's for 4 years and i really made my mark through them. now times have changed and i dont know if they're hiring full time and giving benefits but they do have an employee stock purchase plan that i did very well with

[Wino]

Move to where the jobs are. If you can fog a mirror (and can pass a drug/alcohol test), they'll hire you in North Dakota for the shale boom. Also, Texas unemployment is very low. Honestly, $15K is $7.50 per hour full time, and that's barely above minimum wage. If you're in a high-unemployment area, move.

If you can read, write, and speak comprehensible English, you should be able to get a job around $10 per hour without significant effort.

I got my first job while Jimmy Carter was president, unemployment was at today's type of level, and interest rates were so high that no one was building anything new. I did it by moving to where the jobs were and then dressing in my best suit, smiling during my interviews, and actually acting like I wanted to work.

[MonkeyMama]

You are different, but I don't think necessarily naive. I live in California and I think $25k income would be more than ample if I wanted to remain single and childless. If you aren't into running with the herd, and all the material trappings. All you need to do is spend less than you make. (There are several in my family who have done very well with very little).

That said, I do think that $25k is probably aiming pretty low. In the short run the economy certainly isn't the greatest. But, in the long run, it's hard for me to imagine making that little with brains and a strong work ethic.

You may find it more economical to rent in California than it is to have a paid-for mortgage in another state. Unless you can find a place with solid wages and a low cost of living. It's a hard mix to find. California may be expensive, but there is also tons of opportunity. Regardless, be more focused on overall economy than just "price of housing" when seeking out cheaper havens. If you do decide to move anywhere, do very serious homework. {For reference, we did move to an area of the state that was about 70% cheaper. The job market here is terrible compared to what I am used to. But I knew people in the area that we moved to, and we knew what to expect. Between that and lucking into the right industry - we have done well}. I have watched many friends move out of state and then come crawling back. Because they didn't do the most basic of research. Sure, housing may be cheaper but the property taxes were 4 times as much. Stuff like that will get you, but is easy to avoid those problems if you do just a little research. Always talk to people who live where you are moving to.

It's also wise to rent for a while in a new place - make sure you actually like the area before you commit to a home. Homes in other areas may be cheaper, but they also may be much harder to sell if you change your mind.

[Yossarian]

give home depot or lowes a shot, i worked for home depot in the late 90's for 4 years and i really made my mark through them. now times have changed and i dont know if they're hiring full time and giving benefits but they do have an employee stock purchase plan that i did very well with

I've given Lowes and Home Depot shots but I seem to be doing poorly on their ridiculous online personality assessment tests; I am dyslexic, so obtaining an interview is proving difficult. I know if I had one I'd be hired on the spot. I'm one of the most honest people that I know and would fair pretty well in costumer service, especially if I felt like I was really helping someone but even though I can read and write proficiently I have a hard time.

Move to where the jobs are. If you can fog a mirror (and can pass a drug/alcohol test), they'll hire you in North Dakota for the shale boom. Also, Texas unemployment is very low. Honestly, $15K is $7.50 per hour full time, and that's barely above minimum wage. If you're in a high-unemployment area, move.

If you can read, write, and speak comprehensible English, you should be able to get a job around $10 per hour without significant effort.

I got my first job while Jimmy Carter was president, unemployment was at today's type of level, and interest rates were so high that no one was building anything new. I did it by moving to where the jobs were and then dressing in my best suit, smiling during my interviews, and actually acting like I wanted to work.

If I could afford to move, I would do so. As it stands now I can barely afford to buy bread. I live in an area where the undocumented population is rather high and I don't speak Spanish. I have to look for work in other cities.

I've been contacting recruiters for trucking jobs. A lot of them offer CDL training and employment afterwards. I can pay for it using scholarships I earned during my last employment, so paying for it isn't an issue. If I can get in and hold onto that job for at least a year for experience (which shouldn't be an issue)I can search for jobs in other places if need be.

You are different, but I don't think necessarily naive. I live in California and I think $25k income would be more than ample if I wanted to remain single and childless. If you aren't into running with the herd, and all the material trappings. All you need to do is spend less than you make. (There are several in my family who have done very well with very little).

I could live in a tent and be happy lol. I don't know why but I don't see creating a family or even having a significant other in my future. I think it's kind of odd but I see myself being "alone" and I'm alright with that.

That said, I do think that $25k is probably aiming pretty low. In the short run the economy certainly isn't the greatest. But, in the long run, it's hard for me to imagine making that little with brains and a strong work ethic.

I've been "poor" my whole life. So honestly I don't know what it looks like to have money. To me 25k is A LOT, even to have as a minimum, and I'm slowly starting to realize that it really isn't. I guess I've been conditioned to it. You never really notice you're poor until your struggling.

You may find it more economical to rent in California than it is to have a paid-for mortgage in another state. Unless you can find a place with solid wages and a low cost of living. It's a hard mix to find. California may be expensive, but there is also tons of opportunity. Regardless, be more focused on overall economy than just "price of housing" when seeking out cheaper havens. If you do decide to move anywhere, do very serious homework. {For reference, we did move to an area of the state that was about 70% cheaper. The job market here is terrible compared to what I am used to. But I knew people in the area that we moved to, and we knew what to expect. Between that and lucking into the right industry - we have done well}. I have watched many friends move out of state and then come crawling back. Because they didn't do the most basic of research. Sure, housing may be cheaper but the property taxes were 4 times as much. Stuff like that will get you, but is easy to avoid those problems if you do just a little research. Always talk to people who live where you are moving to.

I've started doing some basic poking around as I want to completely ditch the city. I was born into the wrong family. They are all happy to be city dwellers where I just want to be out in the middle of nowhere. I'm looking for rural; it doesn't have to be completely though. I tolerate living in CA pretty well but I'm really starting to hate it for a couple of reasons.

I don't know much about owning a home, I'll give you that, but I have been making sure to check out the estimated property taxes and what "commodities" are in the nearby communities.

It's also wise to rent for a while in a new place - make sure you actually like the area before you commit to a home. Homes in other areas may be cheaper, but they also may be much harder to sell if you change your mind.

I'll keep this in mind when I decide to start actively shopping. If I happen to get into the trucking community it'll be difficult to really live in a place to feel it out, as I'd be gone much of the time.

My aversion to renting stems from not wanting to owe people money, especially if I don't have to. I'd rather live in a tent or my car than rent.

--

Thank you all for reading and taking the time out to reply. It really means a lot to be able to share these ideas with people who maybe have come from the same place I'm in and got out or who at least know what it's like to be in this position.

[bjl584]

It's hard to tell if you are naïve or not. You are laying out a life's worth of planning and goals in a few short paragraphs. I'm sure your life is a lot more complex and there is much more going on with you than what you posted. But, there is no reason that you can't make it on a small income, remain debt free, and have a few of the things that you want in life. It will just take discipline and patience.

[Yossarian]

It's hard to tell if you are naïve or not. You are laying out a life's worth of planning and goals in a few short paragraphs. I'm sure your life is a lot more complex and there is much more going on with you than what you posted. But, there is no reason that you can't make it on a small income, remain debt free, and have a few of the things that you want in life. It will just take discipline and patience.

I assure you, it isn't. I have to pay for car insurance, which I pay off completely as soon as possible so I don't have to make payments, any needed repairs, and food at this point in my life.

I don't count 5 to 10 years as a life's worth. I have plenty of recreational things I want to pursue, gardening, some hiking trips, etc but none of them are very expensive and many can be done for free.

It just seems "too easy". I've never had a problem with saving, which is why I've been able to be out of work for so long without too much of an issue. I'm currently making the very little that I have work.

[hamchan]

Check out some of the smaller cities in Washington. Minimum wage is $9 and something. Cost of living in many cities is quite low. No income tax. Tacoma, Yakima, and Spokane might be good places to look into.