Comments on: Early Reflections on a Career Change http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:44:30 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: clevelis http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-218532 clevelis Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:10:54 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-218532 Congratulations! I'm excited for you and your family. You will be an even better father and husband b/c you are following your dreams. I can only hope that more people will do the same. And yes, I'm speaking as one who has and is doing the same. All the best to you! Congratulations! I’m excited for you and your family. You will be an even better father and husband b/c you are following your dreams. I can only hope that more people will do the same. And yes, I’m speaking as one who has and is doing the same. All the best to you!

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-217362 Trent Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:46:41 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-217362 "I agree with another poster you should have continued doing this part time" That's the problem - I wasn't doing this part time. Here's what a normal weekday looked like for me: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/06/how-do-i-spend-my-time/ That's not sustainable over the long haul. It's essentially working two full time jobs, and with the personal commitment I have to my kids and the basic life management that people need to do, something had to give eventually. I chose The Simple Dollar and writing. Maybe it's not the choice you would make, but it's the choice I made. “I agree with another poster you should have continued doing this part time”

That’s the problem – I wasn’t doing this part time. Here’s what a normal weekday looked like for me: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/06/how-do-i-spend-my-time/

That’s not sustainable over the long haul. It’s essentially working two full time jobs, and with the personal commitment I have to my kids and the basic life management that people need to do, something had to give eventually.

I chose The Simple Dollar and writing. Maybe it’s not the choice you would make, but it’s the choice I made.

]]> By: Trent http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-217354 Trent Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:41:06 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-217354 Health insurance: we use my wife's health insurance. I've been on my wife's health insurance for a long time because it was far better than the insurance I had at my "real" job. My wife's choices: my wife is doing the job she's wanted to do since she was a little girl. She loves it and it fulfills her in a deep way, much like writing does mine. She does not want to stay at home, even though we had the perfect opportunity for her to make that choice if she wanted. Household chores: The household chores are split basically 50-50 - if anything, I carry a bit more of them. Over the last week, for example, she's fed our baby more than I have, but I've cooked dinner all but once. The $4,000 computer: My entire professional career is tied up in the computer, and because of that, it's more important to get a system that maximizes what I actually need. I think you guys got hung up on the dollar amount - the $4,000 amount was the result of spec-ing out the highest-end system I could find in an effort to maximize efficiency. That's part of the purchasing process - determining what you actually need. I ended up purchasing a unit for barely over $1,000 after discussing my needs carefully with a person at Apple. Income: As I've said many times, even with the loss in salary, we're still earning far more than we're spending each month. I wouldn't have made the decision to make this leap otherwise. Health insurance: we use my wife’s health insurance. I’ve been on my wife’s health insurance for a long time because it was far better than the insurance I had at my “real” job.

My wife’s choices: my wife is doing the job she’s wanted to do since she was a little girl. She loves it and it fulfills her in a deep way, much like writing does mine. She does not want to stay at home, even though we had the perfect opportunity for her to make that choice if she wanted.

Household chores: The household chores are split basically 50-50 – if anything, I carry a bit more of them. Over the last week, for example, she’s fed our baby more than I have, but I’ve cooked dinner all but once.

The $4,000 computer: My entire professional career is tied up in the computer, and because of that, it’s more important to get a system that maximizes what I actually need. I think you guys got hung up on the dollar amount – the $4,000 amount was the result of spec-ing out the highest-end system I could find in an effort to maximize efficiency. That’s part of the purchasing process – determining what you actually need. I ended up purchasing a unit for barely over $1,000 after discussing my needs carefully with a person at Apple.

Income: As I’ve said many times, even with the loss in salary, we’re still earning far more than we’re spending each month. I wouldn’t have made the decision to make this leap otherwise.

]]> By: Questions unanswered http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-217333 Questions unanswered Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:25:41 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-217333 You purchased a new home, but in another post one where you were talking about having a third child you said you could save 29,000 which is a little less than your wife makes if she were to stay at home, in Iowa that may be fine but you also mention living in an expensive part of Iowa (is that even possible). How are you putting $500 a month in your investments? Because now is the time to get started, compounding interest, I think that a quote from some post a while back. You also mention a $4000 computer, now you are showing your inexperience and immaturity in life and apparently have not learned from your meltdown, do with as little as possible to be comfortable, then you talk about eating beans. Spend less then you make, maybe you are doing great with your blog, but I doubt if it's that great. I also think your task list should be rethought, must do, dishes, like to get done, research? Are you a writer trying to succeed or a guy who read a book and wanted a reason to spend more time at home with his kids? Please don’t get me wrong, I loved your blog in the beginning, read it every day wishing I knew then what you appeared to know now, up until this life changing book. Now I wonder what you have really learned, you have saved $8000 by leaving your job when you could have saved $29,000 if your wife left hers, why the difference in amounts. You wanted a third child, now that will be virtually impossible. You debt to income ratio is probably now through the roof depending only on your wife’s salary and I think you will go through that one year nest egg faster than you thought, even without eating out, driving to work, those little expenses associated with work and putting your kids into daycare part time. I wish you the best I honestly do, but how well thought out was your decision? When I was your age I thought I could live on love, our only difference is you think you can live on beans. I want to see you get published, I want you to succeed, but I agree with another poster you should have continued doing this part time and not quitting your day job because you have a good following in your blog. I hope this all works out, but maybe you should consider a part time job to help out the wife who seems to love you even at the possible expense of your home and family life. There is no real success without risk, but calculated risk and I think your calculations maybe off some. Please answer the questions the posters have, insurance, income, what your wife thinks, life is short, I agree, but too short to go through another meltdown when you had it all together. You purchased a new home, but in another post one where you were talking about having a third child you said you could save 29,000 which is a little less than your wife makes if she were to stay at home, in Iowa that may be fine but you also mention living in an expensive part of Iowa (is that even possible). How are you putting $500 a month in your investments? Because now is the time to get started, compounding interest, I think that a quote from some post a while back. You also mention a $4000 computer, now you are showing your inexperience and immaturity in life and apparently have not learned from your meltdown, do with as little as possible to be comfortable, then you talk about eating beans. Spend less then you make, maybe you are doing great with your blog, but I doubt if it’s that great. I also think your task list should be rethought, must do, dishes, like to get done, research? Are you a writer trying to succeed or a guy who read a book and wanted a reason to spend more time at home with his kids? Please don’t get me wrong, I loved your blog in the beginning, read it every day wishing I knew then what you appeared to know now, up until this life changing book. Now I wonder what you have really learned, you have saved $8000 by leaving your job when you could have saved $29,000 if your wife left hers, why the difference in amounts. You wanted a third child, now that will be virtually impossible. You debt to income ratio is probably now through the roof depending only on your wife’s salary and I think you will go through that one year nest egg faster than you thought, even without eating out, driving to work, those little expenses associated with work and putting your kids into daycare part time. I wish you the best I honestly do, but how well thought out was your decision? When I was your age I thought I could live on love, our only difference is you think you can live on beans. I want to see you get published, I want you to succeed, but I agree with another poster you should have continued doing this part time and not quitting your day job because you have a good following in your blog. I hope this all works out, but maybe you should consider a part time job to help out the wife who seems to love you even at the possible expense of your home and family life. There is no real success without risk, but calculated risk and I think your calculations maybe off some. Please answer the questions the posters have, insurance, income, what your wife thinks, life is short, I agree, but too short to go through another meltdown when you had it all together.

]]> By: Tracy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-216758 Tracy Mon, 31 Mar 2008 02:58:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-216758 My hubby and I are both self employed. Have been for years. We buy our medical & life insurance. Call an independent agent and shop around. Because more people are self employed, there are many more plans available now than ever before. We pay $300/ month for medical for 3 people. That's less than some people pay for the coverage they get from their employer. Don't stay in a job you hate just to save about $300/ month. And, yes, you have to pay both sides of FICA but you get to deduct your business expenses which helps. My hubby and I are both self employed. Have been for years. We buy our medical & life insurance. Call an independent agent and shop around. Because more people are self employed, there are many more plans available now than ever before. We pay $300/ month for medical for 3 people. That’s less than some people pay for the coverage they get from their employer. Don’t stay in a job you hate just to save about $300/ month. And, yes, you have to pay both sides of FICA but you get to deduct your business expenses which helps.

]]> By: Ro http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-215378 Ro Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:21:14 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-215378 We have no idea whether or not Trent's wife has any desire to be at home with her children, so the last few posts seem a bit harsh. It's possible that she wouldn't stay homw with her kids even if she could. She is obviously in agreement enough with him for him to do this. Trent has often spoken of the fact that he believes his children need to be in daycare at least part of everyday anyway. Whether we agree with this or nor (and I don't, not at all), we can't assume that if offered the choice, his wife would chose to stay at home with her babies full time. We have no idea whether or not Trent’s wife has any desire to be at home with her children, so the last few posts seem a bit harsh. It’s possible that she wouldn’t stay homw with her kids even if she could. She is obviously in agreement enough with him for him to do this. Trent has often spoken of the fact that he believes his children need to be in daycare at least part of everyday anyway. Whether we agree with this or nor (and I don’t, not at all), we can’t assume that if offered the choice, his wife would chose to stay at home with her babies full time.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-215348 Lisa Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:29:28 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-215348 Basically, you are now a houshusband, or a "stay at home" dad. You have never said anything about medical insurance. I assume you have coverage through your wife'S outside employment. So basically, your wife's labor in the world of work is enabeling you to stay at home and color easter eggs. Don't we all get tired of working at some point? Wouldn't we all love to chuck it all to "fullfill my lifelong dream". Could you do this if your wife were a housewife? NO. You are able to do this because she goes out to work everyday, while you decide wheather or not to join a "stay at home dads" club. Give me a break! Why not let your wife stay home, take care of the house and kids, and you "fullfill" your dream on the week-ends and in the evenings? Your job is to support your kids. Why are you making your wife do everything? How much have you earned from your writing this year? This blog is all about you, you, you. Your wife deserves kudos for putting up with you! Basically, you are now a houshusband, or a “stay at home” dad. You have never said anything about medical insurance. I assume you have coverage through your wife’S outside employment. So basically, your wife’s labor in the world of work is enabeling you to stay at home and color easter eggs. Don’t we all get tired of working at some point? Wouldn’t we all love to chuck it all to “fullfill my lifelong dream”. Could you do this if your wife were a housewife? NO. You are able to do this because she goes out to work everyday, while you decide wheather or not to join a “stay at home dads” club. Give me a break! Why not let your wife stay home, take care of the house and kids, and you “fullfill” your dream on the week-ends and in the evenings? Your job is to support your kids. Why are you making your wife do everything? How much have you earned from your writing this year? This blog is all about you, you, you. Your wife deserves kudos for putting up with you!

]]> By: LLC http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-215316 LLC Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:38:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-215316 i'm brand new to this blog, so you may have explained this elsewhere. i would really like to hear more about what you are doing for health insurance. i also agree with other commenters that hearing about your wife's situation would be helpful. thanks. i’m brand new to this blog, so you may have explained this elsewhere. i would really like to hear more about what you are doing for health insurance. i also agree with other commenters that hearing about your wife’s situation would be helpful. thanks.

]]> By: ML http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214964 ML Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:33:11 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214964 Pat and largemarge, You miss the whole point of a blog. A blog is from one's own perspective. It's almost like an online diary most often related to a specific topic (in this case, personal finance). Travis, I agree with you. I do not come here for personal finance advice. The fact that most of us come here, is proof that we are already financially responsible or somewhere on the path to restructuring our financial house. I keep coming back because Trent truly inspires and motivates. In so many aspects of my life, I have been afraid to take a chance or make a change, especially on the professional front. I feel that coming here has kind of been the kick in the butt that I need to once again become an active participant in my own life. Trent, has shown how with careful planning and research, we do not need to be a slave to our 9 to 5 job. We can dream. However, The Simple Dollar, is about translating our realistic dreams, hopes, wishes and desires into pure action. Trent, keep up the good work! Pat and largemarge,

You miss the whole point of a blog. A blog is from one’s own perspective. It’s almost like an online diary most often related to a specific topic (in this case, personal finance). Travis, I agree with you. I do not come here for personal finance advice. The fact that most of us come here, is proof that we are already financially responsible or somewhere on the path to restructuring our financial house. I keep coming back because Trent truly inspires and motivates. In so many aspects of my life, I have been afraid to take a chance or make a change, especially on the professional front. I feel that coming here has kind of been the kick in the butt that I need to once again become an active participant in my own life. Trent, has shown how with careful planning and research, we do not need to be a slave to our 9 to 5 job. We can dream. However, The Simple Dollar, is about translating our realistic dreams, hopes, wishes and desires into pure action. Trent, keep up the good work!

]]> By: DNA http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214895 DNA Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:55:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214895 I was also kind of shocked to read the enthusiastic recommendation for readers to strike out on their own if inclined when you're only 2 weeks into the experience. Your "natural confidence" is wearing really thin. I was also kind of shocked to read the enthusiastic recommendation for readers to strike out on their own if inclined when you’re only 2 weeks into the experience. Your “natural confidence” is wearing really thin.

]]> By: Jon http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214818 Jon Sat, 29 Mar 2008 01:47:08 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214818 @Paulette Stalling I think that there will be some people who stop reading this blog. My take is that I was hoping this blog would not turn out to be like all the others I have found. They start out strong enough but then end up just going around in circles without really saying anything new. I've been an avid reader since almost the beginning of TSF, but without new content its harder and harder to get up the energy to come back. There is a difference between complaining and offering a valid critique of the content. @Paulette Stalling

I think that there will be some people who stop reading this blog. My take is that I was hoping this blog would not turn out to be like all the others I have found. They start out strong enough but then end up just going around in circles without really saying anything new. I’ve been an avid reader since almost the beginning of TSF, but without new content its harder and harder to get up the energy to come back. There is a difference between complaining and offering a valid critique of the content.

]]> By: Still wondering http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214690 Still wondering Fri, 28 Mar 2008 22:27:10 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214690 As far as I can tell you still haven't mentioned how your wife feels about your decision to be on your own. I would like to know maybe what to expect if I were to go out on my own, what would my other half feel, happy, stressed (being the only one with a job), wondering what happened to his/her dreams, I don't want this to sound like a negative post but there is a lot more to consider then a hug from your son. Don't feel you have to post this comment( I would just get my butt jumped anyway), just write a little article about your home life and how it's changed. As far as I can tell you still haven’t mentioned how your wife feels about your decision to be on your own.
I would like to know maybe what to expect if I were to go out on my own, what would my other half feel, happy, stressed (being the only one with a job), wondering what happened to his/her dreams, I don’t want this to sound like a negative post but there is a lot more to consider then a hug from your son.
Don’t feel you have to post this comment( I would just get my butt jumped anyway), just write a little article about your home life and how it’s changed.

]]> By: flybabymom http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214628 flybabymom Fri, 28 Mar 2008 21:12:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214628 Congrats on the new "job," Trent! All the best for the future. Congrats on the new “job,” Trent! All the best for the future.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214615 Lisa Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:53:55 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214615 It's great that you are home coloring easter eggs with your son, but what about your wife? She's hard at work while you do this. Don't think she would like the opprotunity to be a home with her kids coloring easter eggs instead of at work? It’s great that you are home coloring easter eggs with your son, but what about your wife? She’s hard at work while you do this. Don’t think she would like the opprotunity to be a home with her kids coloring easter eggs instead of at work?

]]> By: Jeff R. http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214562 Jeff R. Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:58:34 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214562 Yes - a very good and interesting post. For me, the timing of this post is perfect. I just gave my two weeks notice at my stable job with a very good salary. I have not felt any passion there, and there was too much stress that didn't fit to where I want my life to be headed. I don't have another job lined up, and I have a wife and two small children to provide for. Nevertheless, I feel that this is the right thing to do in my heart. I plan to take 2-3 months to soul search as to what my life's calling really is. Yes – a very good and interesting post. For me, the timing of this post is perfect. I just gave my two weeks notice at my stable job with a very good salary. I have not felt any passion there, and there was too much stress that didn’t fit to where I want my life to be headed.

I don’t have another job lined up, and I have a wife and two small children to provide for.

Nevertheless, I feel that this is the right thing to do in my heart. I plan to take 2-3 months to soul search as to what my life’s calling really is.

]]> By: Diane http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214521 Diane Fri, 28 Mar 2008 19:19:35 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214521 I've seen a couple of mentions of my primary question here - how are you dealing with Health Insurance? I assume you have a wife with a job to provide health insurance for you and the kids - that's something you definitely should have mentioned as part of the equation. Not many people can afford to quit a primary job and go out without health insurance unless there's another member of the family working to provide it! I’ve seen a couple of mentions of my primary question here – how are you dealing with Health Insurance? I assume you have a wife with a job to provide health insurance for you and the kids – that’s something you definitely should have mentioned as part of the equation.

Not many people can afford to quit a primary job and go out without health insurance unless there’s another member of the family working to provide it!

]]> By: Rob Madrid http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214488 Rob Madrid Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:41:08 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214488 I've read every single post Trent has written (got in about the halfway point)and inspite some 4000 posts so far and two postings a day I haven't really got bored of what he's had to say. Now days I tend to skim the artcle and if it's of interest I read it if not I pass it over, but I still read 80% of his posts. Personally what makes a blog great/interesting are the comments, even negative ones. Sometimes I skim the post and read just the comments. I do that alot at GRS skip the post and read the comments. There are other blogs I follow that have very few readers yet I enjoy them just as much for different reasons, mostly I'm following there life's story. If your serious about investing there are some top notch blogs out there, skip the investing books and stick with blogs. I’ve read every single post Trent has written (got in about the halfway point)and inspite some 4000 posts so far and two postings a day I haven’t really got bored of what he’s had to say. Now days I tend to skim the artcle and if it’s of interest I read it if not I pass it over, but I still read 80% of his posts. Personally what makes a blog great/interesting are the comments, even negative ones. Sometimes I skim the post and read just the comments. I do that alot at GRS skip the post and read the comments.

There are other blogs I follow that have very few readers yet I enjoy them just as much for different reasons, mostly I’m following there life’s story.

If your serious about investing there are some top notch blogs out there, skip the investing books and stick with blogs.

]]> By: Red http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214433 Red Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:45:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214433 Congrats on making the leap, I'll be interested to read the follow up to this post on March 14th, 2009, when you've been w/out consistent income for a year. Congrats on making the leap, I’ll be interested to read the follow up to this post on March 14th, 2009, when you’ve been w/out consistent income for a year.

]]> By: junkcafe http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214404 junkcafe Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:12:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214404 Trent clearly states the mission of TSD in the About page: "What is The Simple Dollar? The Simple Dollar is an exploration of personal finance from the perspective of a late-twentysomething who just realized that he needs to get a grip on his money. I used to be a spending maniac. I’m doing better. Sometimes." With that said, I respect Pat's forthright critique of this blog's content which started this healthy discussion. Over the years, I've been a consumer of personal finance advice -- both free and paid -- to help guide my decisions. In the pre-blog era, we had a choices of the following: (1) print media (books, mags, newspaper), (2) tv/radio, (3) your friendly neighborhood fee-for-service CPA, CFP, attorney, and (4) friends/family. Today, we add PF blogs to the mix. The quality of advice ranges from the lousy to life-changing. As for me, TSD is a unique source of information: an extraordinarily personal and honest account of an individual's experience with PF issues. Like Trent, TSD readers (29000+) are exploring and it's good to share it with a community. I think we enjoy reading that the road less traveled is just that. Trent - I'm sure you are open to critiques of your blog. However, the last thing you need is to be like everyone else. The charm of TSD is that it is not generic. Like I stated in my earlier posting, this site does not offer nuts and bolts advice. So, don't run out and get certified :) Trent clearly states the mission of TSD in the About page:

“What is The Simple Dollar?
The Simple Dollar is an exploration of personal finance from the perspective of a late-twentysomething who just realized that he needs to get a grip on his money. I used to be a spending maniac. I’m doing better. Sometimes.”

With that said, I respect Pat’s forthright critique of this blog’s content which started this healthy discussion. Over the years, I’ve been a consumer of personal finance advice — both free and paid — to help guide my decisions. In the pre-blog era, we had a choices of the following: (1) print media (books, mags, newspaper), (2) tv/radio, (3) your friendly neighborhood fee-for-service CPA, CFP, attorney, and (4) friends/family. Today, we add PF blogs to the mix. The quality of advice ranges from the lousy to life-changing. As for me, TSD is a unique source of information: an extraordinarily personal and honest account of an individual’s experience with PF issues. Like Trent, TSD readers (29000+) are exploring and it’s good to share it with a community. I think we enjoy reading that the road less traveled is just that.

Trent – I’m sure you are open to critiques of your blog. However, the last thing you need is to be like everyone else. The charm of TSD is that it is not generic. Like I stated in my earlier posting, this site does not offer nuts and bolts advice. So, don’t run out and get certified :)

]]> By: John http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/comment-page-2/#comment-214383 John Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:50:19 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/03/27/early-reflections-on-a-career-change/#comment-214383 What about health insurance? On your own that is very expensive. john b. What about health insurance? On your own that is very expensive.

john b.

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