Hedge fund accounting? So you got/get to see the sausage being made eh?
Welcome CityGirl, you'll fit in quite well here.
What kind of work/job do/did you guys all do?
Yes, and let me tell you, it was/is gris(t)ly...! It is hard to be surrounded by the insanely greedy and stick to my principles. I do slip up now and then (yes, I bought a fox poncho last year after bonuses were paid, but I paid CASH and I live in MN so, really a necessity more than a luxury... 
, but by and large maintain my 'low standard' of living. The funny thing is, 85% of the people here could absolutely afford ERE right NOW but they like their stuff too much. Hedge fund people are the antithesis of the ERE crowd. It wears me out most days.
, but by and large maintain my 'low standard' of living. The funny thing is, 85% of the people here could absolutely afford ERE right NOW but they like their stuff too much. Hedge fund people are the antithesis of the ERE crowd. It wears me out most days.Housewife since 1993...I guess that's early retirement! Before then: graphic design, newspaper production, sign making, retail, silviculture assistant, draftsman, security guard, author. My university degree was a B.A.
Since becoming a housewife I've homeschooled my children for the first 12 of those years through high school to university. We were not homeschooling for religious reasons, but for academic ones.
Now they've left home I tutor ESL students and run what amounts to a non-profit through our church. I love the diversity of lifestyles and variety of people on these forums.
For what it's worth, I'm an ENFP and I haven't looked up ZenHabits yet.
Though I will admit my first foray was into 'alternate' lifestyles was homesteading, then frugal living, then simple living, then early retirement. I've been reading on early retirement for the last 5 years now. My husband is set to retire early with a full pension in 2 years at 62. Not really ERE, but if I had it to do over, I'd be heading for serious ERE for sure!
We've had to live the ERE lifestyle though, to get by with one income and still provide for the children's education.
Since becoming a housewife I've homeschooled my children for the first 12 of those years through high school to university. We were not homeschooling for religious reasons, but for academic ones.
Now they've left home I tutor ESL students and run what amounts to a non-profit through our church. I love the diversity of lifestyles and variety of people on these forums.
For what it's worth, I'm an ENFP and I haven't looked up ZenHabits yet.
Though I will admit my first foray was into 'alternate' lifestyles was homesteading, then frugal living, then simple living, then early retirement. I've been reading on early retirement for the last 5 years now. My husband is set to retire early with a full pension in 2 years at 62. Not really ERE, but if I had it to do over, I'd be heading for serious ERE for sure!We've had to live the ERE lifestyle though, to get by with one income and still provide for the children's education.
I am currently a physician (internal medicine). Almost ready to retire next year at age 38. Currently spending an average of $20,500 per year over the last 3 years. With my home now paid off, and invested assets at 680K, I can cover my current expenses with a 3% withdrawl rate. I plan to work another year to allow for some cushion.
Farmhand
Dishwasher
Cook
Security Guard
Teaching Ass't
Adjunct Professor
Software Consultant
Car Rental Agent
Engineering Technician
Environmental Scientist
What environmental scientist means is that I help clean up other people's messes--mostly at old gas stations. I'm the guy who gets to go in first to collect samples. I've been poisoned, frozen, burnt, and shot at along the way.
Lately I've been removing a lot of underground storage tanks. You'd be surprised about how little is known about the location of your local underground utilities.
My wife has a good job that she likes, our kids are almost finished with college, we have no debt, we own our home on 5 acres, and have $200k in the bank, so sometimes I'm not sure why I'm still working
Dishwasher
Cook
Security Guard
Teaching Ass't
Adjunct Professor
Software Consultant
Car Rental Agent
Engineering Technician
Environmental Scientist
What environmental scientist means is that I help clean up other people's messes--mostly at old gas stations. I'm the guy who gets to go in first to collect samples. I've been poisoned, frozen, burnt, and shot at along the way.
Lately I've been removing a lot of underground storage tanks. You'd be surprised about how little is known about the location of your local underground utilities.
My wife has a good job that she likes, our kids are almost finished with college, we have no debt, we own our home on 5 acres, and have $200k in the bank, so sometimes I'm not sure why I'm still working
Military Officer/Pilot (Air Force) 12.5yrs-7.5 to go!
Been lucky enought to fly 8 airplanes for/in the Air Force-T-37, T-1, KC-135R, BE-200, BE-1900, U2S, T38A and MC-12.
Circled the globe and visited many countries in the last few years. Been lucky enough to live an adventurous, yet furiously paced traveling lifestyle.
Currently living in 49sq ft plywood shack in Afghanistan for four going on six months and somewhat liking it-minus the rocket attacks at bedtime.
Plan is to ER at 42 if Congress doesn't take away my pension in the mean time.
Been lucky enought to fly 8 airplanes for/in the Air Force-T-37, T-1, KC-135R, BE-200, BE-1900, U2S, T38A and MC-12.
Circled the globe and visited many countries in the last few years. Been lucky enough to live an adventurous, yet furiously paced traveling lifestyle.
Currently living in 49sq ft plywood shack in Afghanistan for four going on six months and somewhat liking it-minus the rocket attacks at bedtime.
Plan is to ER at 42 if Congress doesn't take away my pension in the mean time.
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Sam Gribley
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:37 pm
I am a concert pianist, kitesurfer, and gardening/landscape architect. For paid employment, however, I am an Air Force pilot I have NO desire to fly for the airlines and make "the big bucks." I have zero debt less the mortgage that my renter pays 80% of (thanks!). I am inspired by the thought of independence (backyard homesteading and all the interesting hobbies related --beekeeping, beer brewing, bread baking, etc.) and interdependence (a whole bunch of backyard homesteaders making community).
I have NO desire to fly for the airlines and make "the big bucks." I have zero debt less the mortgage that my renter pays 80% of (thanks!). I am inspired by the thought of independence (backyard homesteading and all the interesting hobbies related --beekeeping, beer brewing, bread baking, etc.) and interdependence (a whole bunch of backyard homesteaders making community).Well, studied occupational therapy, then because I´m fluent in Dutch translated webpages for a touroperator, started to work for that touroperator as a Thailand-specialist, was the first heavy user of new software for planning the trips and for the CMS for the websites.
Then became involved in our online-marketing. In my freetime I followed the education-program to become a Feldenrkais teacher. That was costly, so I got interested in saving money for that. After reading several well known money-saving blogs I landed here and wonder if I can turn around my savings so that I can follow the courses I want to and still become FI.
Being 35 ERE appears to be not feasible - we will see what will happen. I´d like to give more Feldenkrais-lessons and earn good money with that.
Oh and I´m one of the european based ERE-readers - maybe that´s interesting also?
@Sam Gribley: my mother is a beekeeper-hobbiest, the honey is delicious.
Then became involved in our online-marketing. In my freetime I followed the education-program to become a Feldenrkais teacher. That was costly, so I got interested in saving money for that. After reading several well known money-saving blogs I landed here and wonder if I can turn around my savings so that I can follow the courses I want to and still become FI.
Being 35 ERE appears to be not feasible - we will see what will happen. I´d like to give more Feldenkrais-lessons and earn good money with that.
Oh and I´m one of the european based ERE-readers - maybe that´s interesting also?
@Sam Gribley: my mother is a beekeeper-hobbiest, the honey is delicious.
I work in the Charity Fundraising Industry, have done since graduating from University with an Economics degree and not wanting to work in the corporate machine.
The past 8 years have been great, i've worked with so many great people who had different views on how to live outside of the mainstream. As i've risen up to senior management i meet more of the type of people i went into the charity sector to be away from! Even so the work has a super warm fuzzy feeling and the crowd is generally very unmaterialistic and alternative.
The past 8 years have been great, i've worked with so many great people who had different views on how to live outside of the mainstream. As i've risen up to senior management i meet more of the type of people i went into the charity sector to be away from! Even so the work has a super warm fuzzy feeling and the crowd is generally very unmaterialistic and alternative.
Software developer. Specifically, customized administrative systems for small businesses... or if I'm hungry, I'll take whatever the next gig offers. Been at it for almost 4 years now, before that there were more dead end jobs than I care to remember!
Unlike many of you here, I do not carry an advanced degree (or any degree!), just a natural affinity for writing code. I would love to obtain a degree (not necessarily in C.S.) but I screwed around too much in high school for a scholarship and refuse to take on student loans. I have paid out of pocket per semester but found that teaching myself from the required textbooks (and the internet) gets me the knowledge quicker anyways. C'est la vie.
Been at it for almost 4 years now, before that there were more dead end jobs than I care to remember!Unlike many of you here, I do not carry an advanced degree (or any degree!), just a natural affinity for writing code. I would love to obtain a degree (not necessarily in C.S.) but I screwed around too much in high school for a scholarship and refuse to take on student loans. I have paid out of pocket per semester but found that teaching myself from the required textbooks (and the internet) gets me the knowledge quicker anyways. C'est la vie.
I'm a Web developer, currently working for a small company that makes bespoke sites for clients. I have a degree in Computer Science, but most of what I use at my job is stuff I taught myself as a teenager rather than learned during my degree; however the degree certainly looks good on my CV and got my foot in the door for my first couple of jobs, and it gave me plenty varied programming experience and some good theoretical knowledge which I'm sure helps.
Web development isn't the best paid work in the computing field; I could probably make more money and actually use the skills from my degree if I got one of the "hardcore" programming jobs, the ones where they give you day-long interviews filled with logic puzzles and algorithm questions, but I decided that these weren't really for me and I enjoy the Web stuff more. Being a creative person I take a lot more satisfaction from seeing a pretty-looking and well-working website than from seeing financial transactions run an order of magnitude quicker. Web work also has plenty of scope for working freelance and/or with smaller businesses, and there's always demand for people who can do it well, which is all nice.
Web development isn't the best paid work in the computing field; I could probably make more money and actually use the skills from my degree if I got one of the "hardcore" programming jobs, the ones where they give you day-long interviews filled with logic puzzles and algorithm questions, but I decided that these weren't really for me and I enjoy the Web stuff more. Being a creative person I take a lot more satisfaction from seeing a pretty-looking and well-working website than from seeing financial transactions run an order of magnitude quicker. Web work also has plenty of scope for working freelance and/or with smaller businesses, and there's always demand for people who can do it well, which is all nice.
Hi, I am a Microsoft System Engineer since about 15 years.
One year ago I started working as freelancer.
I have a degree in retail traiding but quit this kind of work early in my life. Indeed it helps a lot to have these soft-skills in order to work with people.
I can recommend working as freelancer in IT.
Here in Germany it´s comparative easy to find a project, if you are able to work abroad.
One year ago I started working as freelancer.
I have a degree in retail traiding but quit this kind of work early in my life. Indeed it helps a lot to have these soft-skills in order to work with people.
I can recommend working as freelancer in IT.
Here in Germany it´s comparative easy to find a project, if you are able to work abroad.
I'm unemployed but have worked at over a dozen different places. I've mostly been a pizza delivery driver and library assistant at various libraries. You can look down and laugh at pizza delivery, but I used to earn around $1700 a month working 20 to 25 hours per week (after factoring in taxes and car costs) and saved around $1000 per month.