The alternative to a degree is...

[Anonymous]

Ivy grad for business school. DH is a carpenter with no degree. Want to guess which one of us earns more?

[Anonymous]

I thought it would take longer before this turned into an us versus them. What a drag.

[Anonymous]

I'm very surprised no one has brought up military service. Despite the hardship and sacrifice involved, it is a great route to a solidly middle-class life as long as you plan properly and use it to learn an actual trade (as opposed to just being an infantry grunt).

(full disclosure: I went the college/career route, but have always respected and admired those who joined the military and used the experience to make something of themselves)

[Anonymous]

My mom is a hairdresser and makes 80k in Akron Ohio (aka where 80k is a nice life)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DS's AP History teacher was a lawyer, but loves history and has always wanted to teach. He says it was the best decision to change careers.

My ds also has a former lawyer as a middle school history teacher. UVA undergrad to Harvard Law, and absolutely hated being a lawyer.

Another lawyer here. If I ever switched careers, education is where I would go, too. I think a lot of lawyers enjoy academics and the transition for many makes sense.

My dad, a corporate lawyer, always said he wished he had gone to veterinary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom is a hairdresser and makes 80k in Akron Ohio (aka where 80k is a nice life)

Does she have to cover shop/booth costs, though? What is her net?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ivy grad for business school. DH is a carpenter with no degree. Want to guess which one of us earns more?

Me too! Because the Ivy business grad school offered me more money than the other grad schools that accepted me for "public policy." I now pull in about $150K/year, as does DH. Reading financial statements and squeezing additional pennies into profit margins holds absolutely no interest for me, despite the A's I earned in accounting and other classes, so I always figured I'd suck on Wall Street and never even looked for a job there.

I have two friends who started out on Wall Street: one left to start a french bakery, and the other now teaches (like others here, I see).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Learn to be a heating/ac guy. Start your own company . Join the 1 percent. When the heat / ac goes out doctors she'll out 10 grand in a heartbeat.

Same with
Plumbing
Electric
Garage door repair
Generator installation
Auto repair
Small business phone system diagnostics
Small business computer network setup and maintenance

All of those jobs can easily make you rich easier than any other way with determination, competence and dependability

I wish I'd gone into auto repair instead of law. I love working with my hands. My parents forced me into law. My Dad is a lawyer, we to Ivy for undergrad for and for law, as did I as a legacy. Dad got me my first job in law, but I really really hate it. I mske decent mone, can't complain about that but now I am married, my wife has expectations of a certain lifestyle and my parents have certain expectations too. It really sucks!

Mental Note: Don't marry a gold digger.

My take away is: Be your authentic self, especially when courting your mate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom is a hairdresser and makes 80k in Akron Ohio (aka where 80k is a nice life)

In my imaginary life I own a (down home, community) hair salon. No one would ever think that, to look at me.