Seeking Personal advice

[evangelist6589]

While we may not agree on all theological matters here, I admit in this area I am not all knowledgeable.

I have a ton of debt (mostly old SL debt) that have hung over my head for awhile. On top of that my income has not been the best, mostly it was because I was in an area of SC lacking of opportunities and full of low paying jobs. However living in Denver, CO for a year know I do not have that excuse as there seems to be plenty of opportunities out here.

Have worked with the same company for 10 months and the job is 1st shift and close by, and I get full benefits which are praises. However being a small company there does not seem to be many advancement opportunities, and I do not have any OT opportunities given my position. But the good news is that I can attend church every week and spend time with my wife.

But the income I make will not pay off my debts anytime in my lifetime, or perhaps when I am 70. I would work a second job, however my wife had a surgery recently and has some needs that would be difficult to meet if I were working 2nd shift, and besides I do not want to ruin my family nor relationship with the Lord by working a 70 hour a week schedule. I have considered better paying positions but the right one needs to pop-up for me to take advantage. I would love to go back to school to get more job skills, however I cannot take on anymore loans and money is tight, so unless an employer pays it I am out of luck.

So what should I do?

A. Stay put and wait for pay raises and or new advancement opportunities?

B. Keep searching the job boards for the better paying position working 1st shift allowing me time to spend with my wife and attend church. I have seen them before and ones where I would qualify?

C. Or perhaps I could work a full saturday in security and that would be an extra 8-10 hours of pay.

Thanks for your help.

 

[quantumfaith]

While we may not agree on all theological matters here, I admit in this area I am not all knowledgeable.

I have a ton of debt (mostly old SL debt) that have hung over my head for awhile. On top of that my income has not been the best, mostly it was because I was in an area of SC lacking of opportunities and full of low paying jobs. However living in Denver, CO for a year know I do not have that excuse as there seems to be plenty of opportunities out here.

Have worked with the same company for 10 months and the job is 1st shift and close by, and I get full benefits which are praises. However being a small company there does not seem to be many advancement opportunities, and I do not have any OT opportunities given my position. But the good news is that I can attend church every week and spend time with my wife.

But the income I make will not pay off my debts anytime in my lifetime, or perhaps when I am 70. I would work a second job, however my wife had a surgery recently and has some needs that would be difficult to meet if I were working 2nd shift, and besides I do not want to ruin my family nor relationship with the Lord by working a 70 hour a week schedule. I have considered better paying positions but the right one needs to pop-up for me to take advantage. I would love to go back to school to get more job skills, however I cannot take on anymore loans and money is tight, so unless an employer pays it I am out of luck.

So what should I do?

A. Stay put and wait for pay raises and or new advancement opportunities?

B. Keep searching the job boards for the better paying position working 1st shift allowing me time to spend with my wife and attend church. I have seen them before and ones where I would qualify?

C. Or perhaps I could work a full saturday in security and that would be an extra 8-10 hours of pay.

Thanks for your help.

With your SL debt, did you complete a degree or credential of some sort that has demand attached to it?

 

[evangelist6589]

With your SL debt, did you complete a degree or credential of some sort that has demand attached to it?

Bible degree so not marketable. However I did complete a computer AA degree back in the day and have an aptitude for this field. However I can't afford to go back to school to get caught up and most companies won't hire without recent experience.

 

[JamesL]

John,
let me tell you a true story. At first it will not seem to relate, but it just might

I am an electrician, and used to wire new homes - mostly 5,000-8,000 square feet. I had a habit, that any time I was wiring a brand new house I tried to ask what the owner did for a living. I was always intrigued as to what types of employment could afford someone the luxury of a $600,000-800,000 home.

As one might expect, I wired homes being built for doctors, lawyers, K.C. Chiefs players, business men (one owned a single McDonald's location, and that was his sole income). But I was occasionally surprised, such as the time I wired a home for our local news anchor. I couldn't believe a news anchor made that much money. But one time, there was a guy who didn't fit any of that.

This guy was in his late 40s, looked like a normal Joe who might have a minimum wage job, wasn't dressed too nice, ratty shoes, beat up truck, the works. His house wasn't near as lavish as some I'd wired, probably worth $150,000.

I still was curious what he did for a living; so I asked him, and he told me a very interesting story. He had worked for the Kansas City Board of Trade, dealing commodities. But over the course of his very stressful time there, he had several nervous breakdowns. After having two within 6 months, his doctor told him he had to find a career that didn't have all the stress attached.

So he quit his job the next day, without any clue what he might do for a living. He didn't have any skills, per se, but determined that he was going to have less stress. So, what was his big career move? He started cutting grass.

"Grass?" I asked him. Yup. Cutting grass. I was really caught up in his story, and I asked him "And how were you able to adjust to making so much less money?"

He asked me how I figured he made less money cutting grass. It only seemed natural to me, I guess. But he reminded me that I was wiring his brand new house. So how much was he making?

He told me that he was making $60,000 per year. And that was almost 20 years ago. Equivalent to making $95,000 now

What if you spent your Saturday cutting grass? You could probably make $200-300 per week

 

[Salty]

James

are you suggesting hard work?

 

[JamesL]

Salty. You just made me spew my coffee across the room

 

[quantumfaith]

AA? Associate in Arts?

There are many Associate Degrees in programs which provide for meaningful, and financially rewarding career paths, particularly in the medical field. Might I suggest programs in RN, Radiography or Physical Therapy. You could, in most instances, depending upon the course work you have already completed, finish those programs within 1-1.5 academic years.

 

[evangelist6589]

AA? Associate in Arts?

There are many Associate Degrees in programs which provide for meaningful, and financially rewarding career paths, particularly in the medical field. Might I suggest programs in RN, Radiography or Physical Therapy. You could, in most instances, depending upon the course work you have already completed, finish those programs within 1-1.5 academic years.

Sorry science. Yes perhaps I will need to look into this, but don't I wish community college costs were as low as they are in California?

I did sign up for a community college around here, but never bothered to enroll in financial aid or anything. I will need to do this. I also stopped by IT Technical Institute and they told me I would have to re-take some of my liberal arts classes which by their definition did not qualify, but they did for my BA degree, odd. However IT Tech told me I would not get by without student loans.

 

[evangelist6589]

John,
let me tell you a true story. At first it will not seem to relate, but it just might

I am an electrician, and used to wire new homes - mostly 5,000-8,000 square feet. I had a habit, that any time I was wiring a brand new house I tried to ask what the owner did for a living. I was always intrigued as to what types of employment could afford someone the luxury of a $600,000-800,000 home.

As one might expect, I wired homes being built for doctors, lawyers, K.C. Chiefs players, business men (one owned a single McDonald's location, and that was his sole income). But I was occasionally surprised, such as the time I wired a home for our local news anchor. I couldn't believe a news anchor made that much money. But one time, there was a guy who didn't fit any of that.

This guy was in his late 40s, looked like a normal Joe who might have a minimum wage job, wasn't dressed too nice, ratty shoes, beat up truck, the works. His house wasn't near as lavish as some I'd wired, probably worth $150,000.

I still was curious what he did for a living; so I asked him, and he told me a very interesting story. He had worked for the Kansas City Board of Trade, dealing commodities. But over the course of his very stressful time there, he had several nervous breakdowns. After having two within 6 months, his doctor told him he had to find a career that didn't have all the stress attached.

So he quit his job the next day, without any clue what he might do for a living. He didn't have any skills, per se, but determined that he was going to have less stress. So, what was his big career move? He started cutting grass.

"Grass?" I asked him. Yup. Cutting grass. I was really caught up in his story, and I asked him "And how were you able to adjust to making so much less money?"

He asked me how I figured he made less money cutting grass. It only seemed natural to me, I guess. But he reminded me that I was wiring his brand new house. So how much was he making?

He told me that he was making $60,000 per year. And that was almost 20 years ago. Equivalent to making $95,000 now

What if you spent your Saturday cutting grass? You could probably make $200-300 per week

Thanks James.

I do not have a lawnmower, however I can look into these kinds of jobs on craigslist for some PT work.

 

[evangelist6589]

James....

http://denver.craigslist.org/lab/4541583411.html

Well since I lack much experience in this industry James I would have to start at the bottom. And for the wages this add indicates and others have shown (I checked for people whom have little to no experience), maybe I am better off just upgrading myself and my position in the logistics industry of which I have 7 years experience in a variety of positions.

Last year I did have a logistics job paying 41-45K a year. However the hours were bad and they wanted me to be working every weekend and never see my wife so it was a bad fit.

 

[HAMel]

evangelist6589, if you wish send me a PM and I'll tell you my personal insights regarding debt.

 

[Don]

However the hours were bad and they wanted me to be working every weekend and never see my wife so it was a bad fit.

Make a decision, for pete's sake. Do you want the money? Then do what it takes to make the money. It's not forever; just until you pay off the loans. If there's only one phrase from Dave Ramsey that I actually agree with, it's "live like no one else, so that you can live like no one else."

Or do you want to spend time with your wife? Then accept the fact that you're not willing to do what it takes to make the money, and be content in whatsoever state you are in.

These periodic posts about your debt situation: Do you see what kind of bond slave your debt has made you? You constantly talk about it, meaning that it holds sway over you. Get right with God over the subject, not with us.

 

[padredurand]

Looks like application time for that Lordship thing you've been advancing. Is He Lord over this stumbling block? Have you surrendered this part of your life?

 

[InTheLight]

Make a decision, for pete's sake. Do you want the money? Then do what it takes to make the money. It's not forever; just until you pay off the loans.

You constantly talk about it, meaning that it holds sway over you. Get right with God over the subject, not with us.

I call it "paralysis by analysis". In other words, study it, talk about it, propose solutions for it, but ultimately don't take action.

 

[quantumfaith]

Sorry science. Yes perhaps I will need to look into this, but don't I wish community college costs were as low as they are in California?

I did sign up for a community college around here, but never bothered to enroll in financial aid or anything. I will need to do this. I also stopped by IT Technical Institute and they told me I would have to re-take some of my liberal arts classes which by their definition did not qualify, but they did for my BA degree, odd. However IT Tech told me I would not get by without student loans.

I would "caution" you to be exceptionally careful when considering "for profit" institutes and such. Most of the time, they do not deliver on employment prospects and they increase your debt greatly. I would suggest HIGHLY that you explore ALL financial avenues before even considering any further student loans. (Beans and rice..... to pay for your school should come before loans, particularly if you choose a major that does not confidently translate into a well paying career path. YOU must invest time, effort and energy into the admissions and financial aid portion of your college journey.....then you must invest yourself GREATLY into your academic work.

Science???? What is your objection?

In my almost 30 years teaching at the college level, I have noticed in recent years that students vastly overload themselves with student loans.....and OFTEN much of that borrowed money (other peoples money) is spent on things that were in no way essential to their obtaining a college education. I think that college education funding needs reform and controls. IMHO, money loaned or granted for an education should only go directly to education costs... tuition and books.

 

[quantumfaith]

http://denver.craigslist.org/lab/4541583411.html

Well since I lack much experience in this industry James I would have to start at the bottom. And for the wages this add indicates and others have shown (I checked for people whom have little to no experience), maybe I am better off just upgrading myself and my position in the logistics industry of which I have 7 years experience in a variety of positions.

Last year I did have a logistics job paying 41-45K a year. However the hours were bad and they wanted me to be working every weekend and never see my wife so it was a bad fit.

Evang,

This sounds, unfortunately, like you want to have your cake and eat it too. Many people have to forego comfortable and convenient work schedules for often YEARS in their industry before their performance and seniority grant them better options. I have many friends in the Nuclear Power industry who work rotating shifts sometimes for a decade or more prior to a more likeable "day shift". You must pay your dues....no matter where you go.

 

[evangelist6589]

Looks like application time for that Lordship thing you've been advancing. Is He Lord over this stumbling block? Have you surrendered this part of your life?

Yes and it's a work in progress. But worrying about it means disobedience on my part.

 

[evangelist6589]

Evang,



This sounds, unfortunately, like you want to have your cake and eat it too. Many people have to forego comfortable and convenient work schedules for often YEARS in their industry before their performance and seniority grant them better options. I have many friends in the Nuclear Power industry who work rotating shifts sometimes for a decade or more prior to a more likeable "day shift". You must pay your dues....no matter where you go.

I have a day shift position. But my wife has said she does not want a husband whom works all the time and does not spend time with family.

So my best solution is either to stay put at my job or find a better paying day shift job and yes they are out there.

 

[evangelist6589]

I would "caution" you to be exceptionally careful when considering "for profit" institutes and such. Most of the time, they do not deliver on employment prospects and they increase your debt greatly. I would suggest HIGHLY that you explore ALL financial avenues before even considering any further student loans. (Beans and rice..... to pay for your school should come before loans, particularly if you choose a major that does not confidently translate into a well paying career path. YOU must invest time, effort and energy into the admissions and financial aid portion of your college journey.....then you must invest yourself GREATLY into your academic work.



Science???? What is your objection?



In my almost 30 years teaching at the college level, I have noticed in recent years that students vastly overload themselves with student loans.....and OFTEN much of that borrowed money (other peoples money) is spent on things that were in no way essential to their obtaining a college education. I think that college education funding needs reform and controls. IMHO, money loaned or granted for an education should only go directly to education costs... tuition and books.

I agree with you. However in my boat I can't take on anymore loans so I need another option to getting the education. Remember this is not California with dirt cheap community college costs. Seems high in Denver.

 

[evangelist6589]

Make a decision, for pete's sake. Do you want the money? Then do what it takes to make the money. It's not forever; just until you pay off the loans. If there's only one phrase from Dave Ramsey that I actually agree with, it's "live like no one else, so that you can live like no one else."



Or do you want to spend time with your wife? Then accept the fact that you're not willing to do what it takes to make the money, and be content in whatsoever state you are in.



These periodic posts about your debt situation: Do you see what kind of bond slave your debt has made you? You constantly talk about it, meaning that it holds sway over you. Get right with God over the subject, not with us.

You may be correct. I want a wife and she does not want. Husband that works 70 hours a week or whom works a 2nd shift job.

So as someone told me unless God opens the door stop worrying about it nothing I can do.