|
If you haven't read the first part, http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=370910 I suggest reading it as to follow the story a bit better.
So, the past 6 months I have been working at General Motors, I make pretty good money, $16.00 an hour fresh out of high school with only 4 college credits. I don't mean to complain, I realize how fortunate I am in this economy (especially in Michigan), but the place sucks. I work next to people double and triple my age, people who have grandchildren that are my age. And I can't help but feel a bit disheartened about what my future holds.
I have worked before, first as a volunteer tutor at the local middle school, which ended up being a paid (supervisor) position and starting a program that hadn't existed yet. Then I worked at a place called "Tropical Smoothie Cafe", where I made sandwiches, wraps and subs. But mostly put ice in the soda machine, and peeled bananas...yeah. I peeled bananas and got paid. If you are curious, I could take a bundle of bananas and peel it with the stem connected. We got a bad ass over here! I was there for about 2 weeks until GM called me.
When I first started at GM though, I didn't have a plan. I got my paychecks which grossed $800 dollars a week, brought home $500-700 depending on overtime. So, like any person (I think) that hasn't had much money before, to now having more money than I knew what to do with, I spent it on stupid shit. I bought $200 Beats by Dre headphones (which don't last long, used warranty twice now in 6 months). I was spending $60 dollars a week in fast food. I wasn't saving any of it.
I do live at home. That being said, my bills are:
Car insurance: $130/month (for 9 months 3 months "free")
Phone: $70/month
Gas: $400-500/month
So, 1 week of the month pays all my bills, with the other 3 weeks being used for whatever I want. At 19, pretty cool.
A couple months of this, I was getting depressed. I was working third shift 11pm-7am (waking up at 3pm and leaving at 10pm). The depression was caused by a lack of sunlight, which a lot of people in the northern hemisphere (Alaska/Canada) suffer from. I never saw my family, worked all the time, and was being depressed. I was at 212 pounds, wasn't eating right, etc. (If there is enough interest I can make another post about how I dealt with that.)
After two months, I realized that I need to save something, and have a goal, at this point, school wasn't a real option for me, I didn't want to pay for something I didn't feel confident doing. So, I started saving $300 a week, and going from the most liberal spender, to being a tightwad and living as if I was poor.
I knew one thing though, I didn't want to live at home anymore. I felt independent enough to venture out to my own.
Thanks for reading this far guys, the next part will be
"Leaving the nest"
 
|
On September 24 2012 00:53 Roonweld wrote:
When I first started at GM though, I didn't have a plan. I got my paychecks which grossed $800 dollars a week, brought home $500-700 depending on overtime. So, like any person (I think) that hasn't had much money before, to now having more money than I knew what to do with, I spent it on stupid shit. I bought $200 Beats by Dre headphones (which don't last long, used warranty twice now in 6 months). I was spending $60 dollars a week in fast food. I wasn't saving any of it.
Haha I spent 50 on a swiss backpack, 100 on my website and a whole bunch of other useless stuff. Ipod that doesn't charge. IOS development license that went to waste. Still spend a lot eating out.
|
good luck leaving home man! I think you should go "exploring" to different parts of the USA to pick out a place that you think would make a better home for you and that fits your interests and needs
|
Take vit D pills, should help with the no light issue.
|
On September 24 2012 02:11 StateofReverie wrote:
good luck leaving home man! I think you should go "exploring" to different parts of the USA to pick out a place that you think would make a better home for you and that fits your interests and needs
I have thought about that, and it's also part of my dilemma - I have this security now - but nothing to fall back on. If I move to another state (most states don't have GM facilities, I have no education, or any major skills to get another job. Will elaborate on next post. Thanks for the comment!
|
On September 24 2012 02:46 GoTuNk! wrote:
Take vit D pills, should help with the no light issue.
I'm currently on second shift now - have been for 1 month, and its definitely a ton better. Toward the end of my time on third shift, I started tanning (artificially) which I think helped a lot. Accompanied with my exercise, eating healthy, I felt more confident, and better about myself, which got me through that bout of depression.
|
If you REALLY wanna save money you would stay home still
|
On September 24 2012 03:30 Roonweld wrote:Show nested quote +On September 24 2012 02:11 StateofReverie wrote:
good luck leaving home man! I think you should go "exploring" to different parts of the USA to pick out a place that you think would make a better home for you and that fits your interests and needs I have thought about that, and it's also part of my dilemma - I have this security now - but nothing to fall back on. If I move to another state (most states don't have GM facilities, I have no education, or any major skills to get another job. Will elaborate on next post. Thanks for the comment!
Honestly use this as a real life lesson to learn how to manage money. maybe if you don't find anything and only get a 14$/hour job, you could treat that as how much money "god or other higher being" has given you to be responsible for. The more responsible you are, the more options you have with a lesser amount of money!
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
