Pizza Hut Delivery Driver. Fun fact: don't let your car insurance company know you use your vehicle for work even though this is how man MANY delivery joints work.
Pizza Cook. Low pay but free food. Free food means a lot to me.
Baker. Donuts only. Felt like working an assembly line with only 5 or so different movements used through a shift. Learned a lot about back pain.
Aluminum wheel manufacturing. Hot side with the furnace. Clipping off odd bits of metal from orange glowing wheels about 11-13,000 times per night. Now THIS is assembly line work.
Cook. Spent a year at an elder care facility to pull together a resume that might land me a job in the tourism industry that calls for similar 3-meal-per-day approach to a captive audience. End of life care and noticing people my parent's age with dementia made me reevaluate how I spend my time. I kept remembering how the number one "deathbed regret" is whishing to have worked less.
Assistant Chef. Guest ranch by the big national parks. Free housing, food, electric, etc. This was the first time all that reading about ERE felt tangible. I was saving 85-90% of my pay.
Chef. Breifly, right before covid, I worked on a schooner in Maine. I meant to be a chef but ended up mostly sanding, painting, "fitting out" a boat. Man, the beds on those boats are small.
Kitchen Manager. Moved to town 30 minutes from the ranch. Burned out and saved less per month but I got too see how a small coffee shop can try to expand, add a new location, and tinker with menus.
Hospital cook. The pay was good enough to keep a 60-70% savings rate and people often threw returnable cans in the trash which are easily collected as I was the last person to leave the kitchen.
Catering Chef. I took on seasonal work again. This time in Alaska. It paid about double the hospital and lasted 6 months. Free housing, food, car+gas, flights in and out included. I must have saved over 90% of the pay.
Now I'm back at the hospital. They have been very kind to have kept me on insurance even when I'm out of state working a different job. I need 1 or 2 more years of work until I'm just barely in ERE territory. Alaska and Wyoming have been great places for me in terms of savings rates. Many jobs come with room and board as well as zero state income tax.
What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
12-15 cutting laws at $20 each.
16-19 grocery store night clerk/parcel. summertime manufacturing.
20-21 sales clerk electronics store
21-21 bank teller (great recession termination)
22-24 tech support and moved to insurance rep at call center
25-27 express care technician/write/driver
28 apprentice
28-32 tech advisor (during this time graduated from undergrad)
32-33 project manager, warehouse manager
33-current inventory/ops manager
16-19 grocery store night clerk/parcel. summertime manufacturing.
20-21 sales clerk electronics store
21-21 bank teller (great recession termination)
22-24 tech support and moved to insurance rep at call center
25-27 express care technician/write/driver
28 apprentice
28-32 tech advisor (during this time graduated from undergrad)
32-33 project manager, warehouse manager
33-current inventory/ops manager
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
My work history, which is fairly extensive given that I just turned 60, is also pretty odd in that there have only been 2 or 3 years in which I earned absolutely no income since I was age 10 (year I was a college student in very rural setting, year after my second child was born), but also very few years (5 or 6) in which I held a full-time job working for somebody other than myself. So, it's kind of like I have a collection of revolving interests, and once I've established a means by which to make some money based on one of these interests, it then becomes part of my revolving collection of means by which to generate some income, which I might pick up or put down in accordance with druthers and/or need for cash flow. And it is also the case that these same interests were involved in my preferred play activities prior to age 10.
1) Babies. I have always liked human babies in much the same general way that many humans like rescue animals these days. Before age 10, I would visit and play with the babies in my neighborhood, and some of the mothers started paying me to help around age 10. My sister and I created babysitting business cards when we were age 11 and 12 and distributed them to all the mailboxes in our suburban subdivision and the new one being built adjacent. When my own children were babies, I also provided care for one of my nephews, the babies of three different unwed female university students, and a neighborhood kid whose parents were highly dysfunctional. My going rate for these services was something like $2/hr and/or barter and/or gratis. I currently occasionally teach pre-school or kindergarten groups at semi-volunteer pay rate.
2) Entrepreneurial Ventures. Around age 10, I also started my first micro-business. I purchased cinnamon oil and toothpicks and manufactured cinnamon toothpicks which I sold on the playground at my elementary school. I also attempted some trade in giant size marbles, door-to-door sale of sunflower seeds, garage-based musical theater production, and neighborhood art gallery, but was less successful with these attempts. I successfully ran my own book business from around age 37 to 51, in partnership with my INFP sister after year 3, but at this juncture it has devolved to just part of an eclectic summer flea market booth venture with my INFP sister and my ENTp baby sister.
3) Treats. One of my favorite childhood books was entitled "Maida's Little Shop." Maida's mother was dead, and her father was a loving, but absentee Libertarian Industrialist. He bought Maida a candy store to run as a hobby, learning exercise, and social outlet. I taught myself how to bake cookies and make candy around age 10. My sisters and I still want to sell homemade pies as part of our flea market venture. From age 14 to 18, I worked part-time at ice cream shop/candy story/hamburger-stand/video arcade which was called The Yum-Yum Tree. I worked at a campus keg store during my college years, but I don't like beer myself, so maybe shouldn't be under this category. I have also been able to barter my general cooking skills for other goods such as free shelter over the years.
4) Books In elementary school, I was not the teacher's pet (too ADHD messy), I was the school librarian's pet. When I was 11, she took me with her on a book buying trip, and I selected many of the new YA titles, such as those by Judy Blume, for the library. When I was 11, I could usually be found after school walking to a babysitting assignment, the 5 and 10 candy store with one of my sisters, carrying home a huge pile of books from the library, exploring the creek or the woods in search of interesting creatures, attempting to build a vending machine out of cardboard and string in my basement lab, or in attendance at some class such as tap dancing or piano lessons. From age 31 to 37, I worked full-time with a few mini-retirement breaks in the mix at the alpha/beta-test location of a giant corporate giant book store chain. As noted above, I then started and operated my own internet based used/rare book business for the next 12-14 years, but rarely put in 40 hours/week. We specialized in books related to lost arts and crafts and science/math, because those were the areas in which our particular knowledge (we were both STEM majors under-grad) was usually greater than that of the other book dealers with whom we competed. Your typical male used/rare book dealer is most likely to hold expertise in the realm of History.
5)The Arts and The Crafts TBC
6) DIY and Frugality TBC
7) Math and Science/Tech TBC
8) Nature and Gardening TBC
9) Human Sexuality and Relationship Theory I think my first semi-conscious, semi-successful barter event in this realm took place around age 12. The kids who lived on my side of the creek running through our suburban subdivision were in a war over one summer with the kids who lived on the other side of the creek. Three brothers around my age had successfully built a quite solid fort on the bank of the creek right behind my house. one fact we knew about them was that their mother was a very large, scary yelling sort of woman. So, we decided that our next offensive move was to plaster their fort with pages from a couple copies of Playboy magazine we had found. on the assumption that their mother might then demand dismantlement of their fort. This move did not prove successful, and actually unexpectedly (clearly not in less naive restrospect) had the effect of causing the three brothers to desire more friendly relations with us. So, the oldest brother showed up on his bike one evening when I was attempting to get the two terrible little boys I was babysitting down from the roof of their tri-level house where they were running around in their Star Wars pajamas, and he helped me get them down. However, that was pretty much the extent of our interaction, because I didn't mature to the level of French kissing on the beach for another 2 years, even though my novel reading level was already quite adult due to the access to books provided by my many babysitting clients.
10) I think that's it. I don't think I have earned any money or engaged in successful barter in any realm I wasn't already interested or engaged in prior to puberty, but maybe I am forgetting something...? Maybe Economic or Ecology? But those are both clearly more abstract or systems-level extensions of Entrenpeurial/Math and Gardening/Science.
1) Babies. I have always liked human babies in much the same general way that many humans like rescue animals these days. Before age 10, I would visit and play with the babies in my neighborhood, and some of the mothers started paying me to help around age 10. My sister and I created babysitting business cards when we were age 11 and 12 and distributed them to all the mailboxes in our suburban subdivision and the new one being built adjacent. When my own children were babies, I also provided care for one of my nephews, the babies of three different unwed female university students, and a neighborhood kid whose parents were highly dysfunctional. My going rate for these services was something like $2/hr and/or barter and/or gratis. I currently occasionally teach pre-school or kindergarten groups at semi-volunteer pay rate.
2) Entrepreneurial Ventures. Around age 10, I also started my first micro-business. I purchased cinnamon oil and toothpicks and manufactured cinnamon toothpicks which I sold on the playground at my elementary school. I also attempted some trade in giant size marbles, door-to-door sale of sunflower seeds, garage-based musical theater production, and neighborhood art gallery, but was less successful with these attempts. I successfully ran my own book business from around age 37 to 51, in partnership with my INFP sister after year 3, but at this juncture it has devolved to just part of an eclectic summer flea market booth venture with my INFP sister and my ENTp baby sister.
3) Treats. One of my favorite childhood books was entitled "Maida's Little Shop." Maida's mother was dead, and her father was a loving, but absentee Libertarian Industrialist. He bought Maida a candy store to run as a hobby, learning exercise, and social outlet. I taught myself how to bake cookies and make candy around age 10. My sisters and I still want to sell homemade pies as part of our flea market venture. From age 14 to 18, I worked part-time at ice cream shop/candy story/hamburger-stand/video arcade which was called The Yum-Yum Tree. I worked at a campus keg store during my college years, but I don't like beer myself, so maybe shouldn't be under this category. I have also been able to barter my general cooking skills for other goods such as free shelter over the years.
4) Books In elementary school, I was not the teacher's pet (too ADHD messy), I was the school librarian's pet. When I was 11, she took me with her on a book buying trip, and I selected many of the new YA titles, such as those by Judy Blume, for the library. When I was 11, I could usually be found after school walking to a babysitting assignment, the 5 and 10 candy store with one of my sisters, carrying home a huge pile of books from the library, exploring the creek or the woods in search of interesting creatures, attempting to build a vending machine out of cardboard and string in my basement lab, or in attendance at some class such as tap dancing or piano lessons. From age 31 to 37, I worked full-time with a few mini-retirement breaks in the mix at the alpha/beta-test location of a giant corporate giant book store chain. As noted above, I then started and operated my own internet based used/rare book business for the next 12-14 years, but rarely put in 40 hours/week. We specialized in books related to lost arts and crafts and science/math, because those were the areas in which our particular knowledge (we were both STEM majors under-grad) was usually greater than that of the other book dealers with whom we competed. Your typical male used/rare book dealer is most likely to hold expertise in the realm of History.
5)The Arts and The Crafts TBC
6) DIY and Frugality TBC
7) Math and Science/Tech TBC
8) Nature and Gardening TBC
9) Human Sexuality and Relationship Theory I think my first semi-conscious, semi-successful barter event in this realm took place around age 12. The kids who lived on my side of the creek running through our suburban subdivision were in a war over one summer with the kids who lived on the other side of the creek. Three brothers around my age had successfully built a quite solid fort on the bank of the creek right behind my house. one fact we knew about them was that their mother was a very large, scary yelling sort of woman. So, we decided that our next offensive move was to plaster their fort with pages from a couple copies of Playboy magazine we had found. on the assumption that their mother might then demand dismantlement of their fort. This move did not prove successful, and actually unexpectedly (clearly not in less naive restrospect) had the effect of causing the three brothers to desire more friendly relations with us. So, the oldest brother showed up on his bike one evening when I was attempting to get the two terrible little boys I was babysitting down from the roof of their tri-level house where they were running around in their Star Wars pajamas, and he helped me get them down. However, that was pretty much the extent of our interaction, because I didn't mature to the level of French kissing on the beach for another 2 years, even though my novel reading level was already quite adult due to the access to books provided by my many babysitting clients.
10) I think that's it. I don't think I have earned any money or engaged in successful barter in any realm I wasn't already interested or engaged in prior to puberty, but maybe I am forgetting something...? Maybe Economic or Ecology? But those are both clearly more abstract or systems-level extensions of Entrenpeurial/Math and Gardening/Science.
-
robertfromtx
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2022 1:13 pm
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
9-20: cattle ranch hand and hay farmer
(Earned degree in Economics)
22-25: currency futures trader (fund closed in ‘09 due to redemptions)
— briefly taught math during the GFC to hold me over
26-29: credit analyst for a community bank
30-35: loan officer / AVP for a community bank (w/ ownership and stock options)
(Earned degree in Computer Science)
35-now: software engineer, working remotely.
Reached FI around age 39. Had I been a better saver in my 20’s I would have been FI much earlier in life but that’s okay.
(Earned degree in Economics)
22-25: currency futures trader (fund closed in ‘09 due to redemptions)
— briefly taught math during the GFC to hold me over
26-29: credit analyst for a community bank
30-35: loan officer / AVP for a community bank (w/ ownership and stock options)
(Earned degree in Computer Science)
35-now: software engineer, working remotely.
Reached FI around age 39. Had I been a better saver in my 20’s I would have been FI much earlier in life but that’s okay.
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
- 30 years ago: summer holiday student jobs
- 30 years ago-now: teacher; early start as a substitute due to a shortage in my field
- 15 to 10 years ago: freelance it consultant in parallel to teaching; very intense time combining two jobs
- 10 to 5 years ago: ran a small company; built and sold an innovative product Europe wide as opposed to most people, I actually learned from my mistakes
- 5 years ago-now: tiny, but profitable side gig
- 30 years ago-now: teacher; early start as a substitute due to a shortage in my field
- 15 to 10 years ago: freelance it consultant in parallel to teaching; very intense time combining two jobs
- 10 to 5 years ago: ran a small company; built and sold an innovative product Europe wide as opposed to most people, I actually learned from my mistakes
- 5 years ago-now: tiny, but profitable side gig
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
11: Blueberry picker
13-14: newspaper delivery boy
16-18: yard & garden maintenance
18-19: cook at a burger joint
---------(enjoyed the job, learned a lot)
19: cashier at a small market
19-31: UPS
26-29: double hung window restoration apprentice
28-31: organic small market garden farmer apprentice
---------(loved it for a while, got lonely eventually and didn't make enough $$)
31-38: public transit; bus operator/light rail operator
---------(was educational, stressful, sometimes extraordinarily - particularly the light rail; highest pay I have yet received)
36-38.5: micro farmer -> small farmer
---------(primarily garlic, dry beans, with some veggies thrown in)
38-40: UPS again
40 to Present: Custodian
---------(chill job, probably do this in one way or form until I hit semiERE)
13-14: newspaper delivery boy
16-18: yard & garden maintenance
18-19: cook at a burger joint
---------(enjoyed the job, learned a lot)
19: cashier at a small market
19-31: UPS
26-29: double hung window restoration apprentice
28-31: organic small market garden farmer apprentice
---------(loved it for a while, got lonely eventually and didn't make enough $$)
31-38: public transit; bus operator/light rail operator
---------(was educational, stressful, sometimes extraordinarily - particularly the light rail; highest pay I have yet received)
36-38.5: micro farmer -> small farmer
---------(primarily garlic, dry beans, with some veggies thrown in)
38-40: UPS again
40 to Present: Custodian
---------(chill job, probably do this in one way or form until I hit semiERE)
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
Not OP, but a distant acquaintance working in public transport mentions two important sources of stress:
- suboptimal management, meaning very uncomfortable schedule changes, lack of communication, rigid procedures. Etcetera.
- Passengers are both a source of joy and great stress. Some public transport passengers tend to be aggressive, not have a valid ticket and/or under influence of alchohol or other drugs.
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
In response to both @zbigi and @loutfard...
With the bus driving, the source of stress was primarily from not having enough time off, too many work hours (would do 60 hour weeks typically), and way too much customer service for my personality type. Add in the occasional verbal assault and lack of support from management. Overall, bus driving was not too stressful compared to the rail side.
With rail, it could be extraodrinarily chill and boring, at times. Then I might make a mistake and remember that I needed to have 100% concentration. At rail, one might be accustomed to working a particular shift, say nights, and then a schedule change is required and now one is working a splift shift starting at 4am-8am, with a split of 6 hours, and then a 3 hour train ride to get back to one's car so that they can drive 2 hours to get to their house that is on the other side of the metropolitan region! Other stressful things with rail included, more assaults/robberies/drug use (inc. hard drugs), trying not to obliterate people that might be standing or laying down on the tracks, having to do repairs on the train during rush hour with a full train of commuters that are none too happy about the delay.
One super stressful event I had was when I almost took down the overhead power lines at 2am. I couldn't sleep for two nights after that from elevated cortisol or some shit, I guess.
One of the more unnerving encounters I had was late at night. I thought I saw a fence where it should not be, so I slowed down a bit. As I got closer I saw it was a man pushing a grocery cart literally down the tracks. By that point I may have been travelling 30 mph. Had to hit the mushroom (a button that activates all of our braking systems in an emergency). Didn't hit the guy. No one on my train got injured. The guy didn't even leave the tracks! I picked him up at the next platform.
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
Hah! And I imagined driving the train will be much chiller than driving the bus (that's partially why I asked) - hardly anything happens plus you're insulated from the azzhole public. Turns out that's not the case 
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
Eh, just mine and some of my former coworker's experience. Most of the public were fantastic, but the sore thumbs really stick out. It also depends on what time of day one works. Nights are usually more chill, mornings, close to noon, and whatever the hottest time of the day/coldest time of the day is are usually the worst. I imagine there must also be some variability across regions/transportation agencies and time periods. In other words, YMMV.
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
Everything i ever got an income from, with aproximate lifetime income from activity.
Wine hand 10k
Soldier30k
Substitute teacher 6k
Researcher 100k
Construction hand 18k
Ranch hand 4k
Mover 15k
Childcare 400
Make peoples taxes 1k
Playing bass 400
Renting out house 100k
Wine hand 10k
Soldier30k
Substitute teacher 6k
Researcher 100k
Construction hand 18k
Ranch hand 4k
Mover 15k
Childcare 400
Make peoples taxes 1k
Playing bass 400
Renting out house 100k
Re: What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
I like this way of putting it.Jean wrote: ↑Sat Jul 05, 2025 6:22 amEverything i ever got an income from, with aproximate lifetime income from activity.
Wine hand 10k
Soldier30k
Substitute teacher 6k
Researcher 100k
Construction hand 18k
Ranch hand 4k
Mover 15k
Childcare 400
Make peoples taxes 1k
Playing bass 400
Renting out house 100k
Jean, I don't remember if you ever met my neighbour when you visited, but he had the rough number in his head when we talked. "Oh, I've earned about 80k in my life." The man has been a student in the UK and Canada, a resident volunteer on a mental health project in Canada, a factory labourer in the UK for a year to pay for a house in cash, and a house man in the Baltics for much of his life. He grows most of their food, home schools their three children and does the odd job around the house.