Comments on: Ted’s Dilemma: Planning For The Future On Minimum Wage http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sun, 22 Nov 2009 01:08:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: rodgerlvu http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-663106 rodgerlvu Fri, 15 May 2009 06:59:24 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-663106 thanks. you are the most intelligent person i ever met... thanks. you are the most intelligent person i ever met…

]]> By: Chas http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-431573 Chas Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:50:52 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-431573 Sorry to hear about Terry's situation. I've enjoyed all the recessions since 74. This will be my first with skills and a stable job. I really appreciate the article dealing with these limitations. Most stuff on the web talks to people I guess I can't relate to with the 3.00 latte issues. The bottom line is hard work and sacrafice. It isn't pretty and pretty out of style but, if you are not put off by hard work and it taking several years (like 3-5) it can work. Also reevaluating everything you have rather than feeling victimized by what is against you really is a great change of perspective. Been there done that. The article Desperate Nutrition reflects some of the levels and ingenuity and innovation needed to overcome in these types of situations. Thanks for dealing with my part of the Real World. Sorry to hear about Terry’s situation. I’ve enjoyed all the recessions since 74. This will be my first with skills and a stable job.
I really appreciate the article dealing with these limitations. Most stuff on the web talks to people I guess I can’t relate to with the 3.00 latte issues. The bottom line is hard work and sacrafice. It isn’t pretty and pretty out of style but, if you are not put off by hard work and it taking several years (like 3-5) it can work.
Also reevaluating everything you have rather than feeling victimized by what is against you really is a great change of perspective. Been there done that. The article Desperate Nutrition reflects some of the levels and ingenuity and innovation needed to overcome in these types of situations.
Thanks for dealing with my part of the Real World.

]]> By: katy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-421403 katy Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:13:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-421403 this is my second pass at this article and I see so clearly how some people (i.e., FT) just don't think. Terry is in a real bind. I hope things have gotten better for him - and all of us. this is my second pass at this article and I see so clearly how some people (i.e., FT) just don’t think. Terry is in a real bind. I hope things have gotten better for him – and all of us.

]]> By: Margaret http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-57898 Margaret Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:02:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-57898 If you are going into a trade, eg welding, you may not need financial aid. You are paid for you apprentiship (after all, all it is is a job where you are accumulating hours in your field), and then the school portion is only something like 2 months of the year. Apprentices (at least in the trades I know about) make more than minimum wage, and could save for their school portion. Good luck. If you are going into a trade, eg welding, you may not need financial aid. You are paid for you apprentiship (after all, all it is is a job where you are accumulating hours in your field), and then the school portion is only something like 2 months of the year. Apprentices (at least in the trades I know about) make more than minimum wage, and could save for their school portion.

Good luck.

]]> By: jake http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-5480 jake Wed, 07 Feb 2007 03:23:56 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-5480 Terry, I am sorry if I do sound harsh, which is not my intent, but with your situation you have to examine what got you to where you are now. You say that a health issue caused you to lose your income but that was about 2-3 years ago. What were you doing before that? If you had been paying closely to your finances it shouldn't have been that bad. You need to examine what you did wrong financially in the past and how you can improve it for the future. I am a student worker for helpdesk in my work place. My supervisor is one of the most brilliant minds when it comes to technology and computers. Guess what his degree was in? History. I know many people in similar situations. Where they were completely far from their major. You should broaden your horizon and look just beyond a "liberal arts" major. You're 50ish, the average life expectancy these days for males is about 80 years old. You have close to 20-30 years ahead. That's a lot of time. Someone once said "personal wealth is a marathon not a sprint." No matter how old you are. Terry,

I am sorry if I do sound harsh, which is not my intent, but with your situation you have to examine what got you to where you are now.

You say that a health issue caused you to lose your income but that was about 2-3 years ago. What were you doing before that? If you had been paying closely to your finances it shouldn’t have been that bad. You need to examine what you did wrong financially in the past and how you can improve it for the future.

I am a student worker for helpdesk in my work place. My supervisor is one of the most brilliant minds when it comes to technology and computers. Guess what his degree was in? History.

I know many people in similar situations. Where they were completely far from their major. You should broaden your horizon and look just beyond a “liberal arts” major.

You’re 50ish, the average life expectancy these days for males is about 80 years old. You have close to 20-30 years ahead. That’s a lot of time.

Someone once said “personal wealth is a marathon not a sprint.” No matter how old you are.

]]> By: MillionDollarJourney.com http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-1552 MillionDollarJourney.com Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:19:20 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-1552 If you want the money bad enough, it will come. Do you have family that you can borrow from? Get a second job? Find a higher paying job somewhere else? Get your resume polished and start looking. Sorry to be so blunt Terry but it's time to get out of your comfort zone. FT http://www.MillionDollarJourney.com If you want the money bad enough, it will come. Do you have family that you can borrow from? Get a second job? Find a higher paying job somewhere else? Get your resume polished and start looking. Sorry to be so blunt Terry but it’s time to get out of your comfort zone.

FT
http://www.MillionDollarJourney.com

]]> By: Terry http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-1533 Terry Thu, 21 Dec 2006 03:52:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-1533 Well there is the little problem of money...because my student loans are in default (almost ten years to payoff) I cannot get any sort of federal financial aid, i.e. I can't even borrow to go back to school. Well there is the little problem of money…because my student loans are in default (almost ten years to payoff) I cannot get any sort of federal financial aid, i.e. I can’t even borrow to go back to school.

]]> By: MillionDollarJourney.com http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-1511 MillionDollarJourney.com Thu, 21 Dec 2006 00:30:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-1511 Hey Terry, Too old? No, you are definitely not too old to get back on track. Go back to school and get a marketable trade (1-3yrs). If you're not afraid to get your hands dirty, Alberta is DYING for labour, and they'll hire just about anyone. I would say the average wage for a laborer up there is around $25-$30/hour. The opportunites are out there, you just have to get out of your comfort zone and go after it. FrugalTrader http://www.MillionDollarJourney.com Hey Terry,

Too old? No, you are definitely not too old to get back on track. Go back to school and get a marketable trade (1-3yrs). If you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, Alberta is DYING for labour, and they’ll hire just about anyone. I would say the average wage for a laborer up there is around $25-$30/hour. The opportunites are out there, you just have to get out of your comfort zone and go after it.

FrugalTrader
http://www.MillionDollarJourney.com

]]> By: Terry http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/comment-page-1/#comment-1500 Terry Wed, 20 Dec 2006 22:00:24 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/12/20/teds-dilemma-planning-for-the-future-on-minimum-wage/#comment-1500 Okay, now I'll jump in and ask a question: I am fiftyish, have a liberal arts degree, and earn my state minimum wage. I am also paying $100 per month toward repaying student loans in default. I work in a convenience store with effectively no internal advancement path. (One of the two managers would have to leave, and that is not expected for at least a decade - both have been here more than a decade and neither appears likely to go anywhere.) My credit is in the tank due to the student loans plus an extended illness several years ago during which I was in hospital two months and unable to work for a year after that. (As I had lost my income, I could not pay any bills, all of my creditors charged off my accounts, and I had to relocate to live with relatives until I could return to work.) As a result, getting a more desirable retain job is unlikely. Even if I returned to school and acquired a marketable skill, I suspect my age has already rendered me unemployable. Okay, now I’ll jump in and ask a question:

I am fiftyish, have a liberal arts degree, and earn my state minimum wage. I am also paying $100 per month toward repaying student loans in default.

I work in a convenience store with effectively no internal advancement path. (One of the two managers would have to leave, and that is not expected for at least a decade – both have been here more than a decade and neither appears likely to go anywhere.)

My credit is in the tank due to the student loans plus an extended illness several years ago during which I was in hospital two months and unable to work for a year after that. (As I had lost my income, I could not pay any bills, all of my creditors charged off my accounts, and I had to relocate to live with relatives until I could return to work.) As a result, getting a more desirable retain job is unlikely.

Even if I returned to school and acquired a marketable skill, I suspect my age has already rendered me unemployable.

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