Life Advice (30 Years Old, Living With Parents, Unskilled, $200,000 in the Bank)

Lscalpel on 14/03/2017 - 18:37

Where to from here? 2017.

Worked as a baker's assistant for around five years after completing year 12. For the past eight years have worked as an office clerk in a small office which will be closing up soon.

Looking back, I didn't really care for either job.

Recently took a uni entrance exam which I failed! From what I understand this means that I will be unable to try again until March 2018.

I want to get out. Get my own place, get some direction.

I have my own car, computer, and a decent amount of furniture. No loans.

I like the idea of job security. At my age and with the current economy, I don't want to be relying on unskilled work going into the future. It would be great to have an official qualification of some kind that I could fall back on as well as give me that confidence to move forward.

So what would you do in my situation? What would be the best way to make use of my savings at this point? Buy? Rent? Study?

Since failing my uni exam, I've briefly contemplated getting into the miltary. From what I understand I could acquire some kind of qualification there that could be transferable. Something paramedical perhaps? It also sounds like most of the training etc is paid for too, so that could be an option.

In a way, the only thing that separates me from being a complete stereotypical loser bum that still lives with their parents is my bank account. But even then, it's not that much of a difference.

Few other points that I can think of; I am fit, hold an automatic licence, and have no convictions. Thanks for listening.

Education & Work

Comments

  • onetwothreefour on 14/03/2017 - 18:43
    +93

    Stay with your parents til you get a million in the bank.

    • srhardy on 15/03/2017 - 08:01
      +28

      then inherit the balance

    • ens1402 on 19/03/2017 - 10:21
      -7

      WTH is this kind of advice? Yes I am that worked up by this comment and all the pluses. Wait till u got kids then u understand… Not even funny!

      • onetwothreefour on 19/03/2017 - 11:00
        +4

        Calm down, I have 3 kids.

        • Munki on 19/03/2017 - 22:00
          +1

          So Peppa, George and who's the third one?

        • onetwothreefour on 19/03/2017 - 22:10

          @Munki: i had this wild night with Miss Piggy, i regret it but i have kept up with my piglet support payments.

        • Munki on 20/03/2017 - 00:12

          @onetwothree: Does…Does Mummy Pig know?! This is all very coincidental considering I'll be taking my two kids to see the new Peppa Pig movie soon! I hope this affair isn't in the movie.

        • patinadiary on 20/03/2017 - 10:10

          @Munki: They adopted the dinosaur.

  • CyberMurning on 14/03/2017 - 18:45
    +16

    Army. They are highly needed in Australia. I wish I can.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 16/03/2017 - 11:43
      +29

      Mobile Infantry made me the man I am today.

      • c0balt on 16/03/2017 - 15:37
        +11

        Who needs a knife in a nuke fight anyway?

        • tonyjzx on 18/03/2017 - 20:57
          +7

          service guarantees citizenship

        • nimnomnimy on 19/03/2017 - 21:37
          +1

          @tonyjzx: everyone is doing their part, are you?

        • causeimbatman on 20/03/2017 - 14:54
          +2

          Would you like to know more?

        • yarbles on 20/03/2017 - 23:12

          @causeimbatman:
          Nuke em from orbit only way to be sure . wait what ?

      • Bargainkappa on 17/03/2017 - 12:53
        +4

        Completely incorrect

      • BexForHeadache on 17/03/2017 - 17:15
        +4

        WTF is a Doctors medicine anyway???

        • gorge on 17/03/2017 - 17:26
          -7

          one that is not panadol or ibuprofen

        • BexForHeadache on 17/03/2017 - 18:29

          @gorge:

          So I take it you mean strong painkillers?

        • gorge on 17/03/2017 - 18:45
          -4

          @BexForHeadache:
          no, i mean prescribed medicines

        • dantione on 19/03/2017 - 13:04

          witch doctor. voodoo and stuff

      • Liqqeh on 18/03/2017 - 11:52
        +3

        CAN CONFIRM: This guy has no idea wtf he is on about. There are men and women in there who are diabetic, on BP control, on thyroxine, etc…

        The need for a medication does not reflect a person's overall level of fitness. These aren't BMI 35, unfit people you see in a GPs office. Just regular folks who need something managed.

        • gorge on 18/03/2017 - 13:21

          nah mate. you have it wrong. here are the nurses literal words to me: "you don't want to be out bush somewhere and for whatever reason not have the medication you require"

        • Scrooge McDuck on 18/03/2017 - 16:36

          @gorge:

          What if you get your period out bush?

          Do you have a bandolier of tampons?

        • gorge on 18/03/2017 - 17:06
          -2

          @Scrooge McDuck:
          you can make makeshift tampons - you can't make makeshift medicines.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 18/03/2017 - 19:27
          +2

          @gorge:

          From Cherokee hair?

    • womz on 17/03/2017 - 21:44
      +4

      Military can surely train you in some way, skill and mind, however it may not provide you the positive outcome you wish.
      I do not mean that you should not consider - as I was thinking the same but was into Air Force when I graduated from Uni in my mid twenty.
      Nowadays, from my experience, I will reconsider to advise people join up military. The reason behind is related the "outcome" - too many physical damage unless you are willing to put up with it in your life.
      In addition, you may not want deployment far away from your loved one if you decided to have a family in the new few years.
      Military has required number of years of service.

      I was in similar situation as your current state, and this situation made me struggled.

      Glad that you look for public advice, also suggest to discuss with your parents and your trusted elderly.

      Sorry to hear that you failed to get into Uni. As for me, Uni is great but is not the only channel. Consider taking up certificate course in Tafe. It may be more practical. At least you don't need to wait for another year.

      Do not waste your time anymore, you will feel strong and full of energy in early 30s, but it won't stay for long.
      Good luck.

    • J6 on 19/03/2017 - 12:26
      +6

      yeah army. Travel the world, learn great new skills, meet interesting people…and kill them.

    • [Deactivated] on 19/03/2017 - 22:59

      Gotta need every able body when the war with China broke out.

  • loulou1 on 14/03/2017 - 18:50
    +5

    what about an apprenticeship? Learn and still earn.

    • mskeggs on 14/03/2017 - 18:53
      +11

      Also what I would suggest. The military does apprenticeships too (although I don't know if they do mature age ones).

      Note paramedics around Australia are graduating faster than job opportunities arrive so it is hard to find a job.

      • Oofy Doofy on 15/03/2017 - 09:27
        +4

        People last about 7 years as parameds before moving on.

        • mskeggs on 15/03/2017 - 10:05
          +3

          Yes, it is tough on the back and knees, and often the head.
          My sister-in-law has been doing it for a long while and she tells stories about colleagues who are clearly burned out.

        • Oofy Doofy on 15/03/2017 - 15:39

          @mskeggs: from what I was reading, people tend to up-skill and move into other roles instead of being first responders. Makes sense

        • serpserpserp on 18/03/2017 - 16:22

          @Bamboozle:

          You are already skilled up to be the first responders. You can usually just move into a good nurse role straight out of a paramedics job if you want.

    • airzone on 14/03/2017 - 23:08

      My brother became an apprentice mechanic mid 30's. He did well.

    • XVX on 18/03/2017 - 08:25

      I just recently moved to the Gold Coast/Brisbane area and I have been trying to gain an apprenticeship at age 21, but most the time they tell me it will be too expensive to put me on being 21.

    • Thaal Sinestro on 18/03/2017 - 19:45

      Tradesmen make a fortune, but young people these days are snobby, pampered princesses who don't want to get their hands dirty and look down upon anyone who does real work. Kids want a job where they sit behind a big desk, in a big office, occasionally sign documents, and get paid $100+ an hour for doing so.

      BtW, congratulations on saving $200,000 dollars. Some people in your position would squander the money. I recommend using it as a deposit for a home. In Australia, money is nothing, Property = wealth.

  • Banana on 14/03/2017 - 18:58
    +3

    Just heard on the radio that Australia is experiencing 'tradie draught'.
    If you are into technology, perhaps looking at learning some programming languages. I recently had a career change to IT and I am currently attending university. But honestly,I don't think you need to.

    • fossilfuel on 14/03/2017 - 21:55
      +1

      You're getting paid less than a 17 year old KFC worker if you take on an apprenticeship (apparently what I heard on the radio this morning) and this is one of the main causes for the 'tradie draught'. Unless you're happy with making under minimum wage for a couple years, there's really no incentive to stay in a trade for long.

      • Banana on 14/03/2017 - 22:58

        I guess so. But OP can,financially speaking, afford to be underpaid for a couple of years. I know a guy who went straight into electrician after HS,worked his arse off for 7 years or-so, completed a B.Sc with plenty of money to spare…

      • Sheez on 15/03/2017 - 17:42
        +7

        Sure, but it depends how you look at things.

        Consider how much you get paid for studying 5 years at university? Nothing, in fact you have to pay for the course so you have negative income.

        You probably have a better chance of a good paying job at the end of the apprenticeship than you do from uni.

        • fossilfuel on 16/03/2017 - 18:52
          +1

          Yes but there'll be less physical risk and physical toll on your body in your future career for most uni degrees. For trades, people can stuff up accidentally and that might cost them their lives or career. For example, an electrician might electrocuted due to faulty wiring, a carpenter might accidentally run his hand through a saw, a welder might accidentally burn himself with the equipment, an aborist might get his leg lobbed off by a chainsaw. All these physical risk factors add up. Then there's the negative connotations/stigma associated with going to TAFE or doing a trade - people in this day and age view trades as inferior to a bachelors/masters degree (which I disagree as long as the profession adds value to society).

          Say if you do a 3 years bachelors + 2 years masters in education, you get paid ~$65k a year with yearly increments until it peaks at $100k. Or even doing a 3 year commerce/finance degree, if you can land a grad job, that'll start in the mid $70k a year and it'll easily surpass $100k within a few years. Not much physical risk/toll to the body, although normally you have to take work home with you. You can also do internships (paid and unpaid) during the summer holidays to give you experience and boost your skills so that you're ready for future employment.

          If they want to increase the tradie population, the public needs to be told that people can do wonderful things coming out of TAFE and apprentices need to be paid waay more than what they're getting now. I know I'd prefer doing a part time gig that pays more than minimum wage, get experience and learn some skills while finishing off my degree and starting a relatively well paid job with minimum physical stress in the future.

        • Sheez on 18/03/2017 - 20:06
          +2

          @fossilfuel:

          There are actually physical risks with university degrees that get overlooked, and they are more significant than most people give them credit for. "Skilled" uni workers often end up in sedentary office jobs which have a negative impact on your health, and as you mention they often work really long hours which is also a huge negative. Unlike trades you need to do extra physical activity out side of work to stay healthy. I dare say the result of this has a higher impact on the health system than any physical risks from trades.

          It is worth considering some of your points though, yes the work is more physical (not that this is a bad thing), in some cases there is a risk to life (but really it's pretty rare and doesn't only happen in trades).

          As for the negative connotations, I don't think there is much of that these days aside from the few immature people that will always be like that to some groups. People know tradies make a good living and have a lot of respect for those professions. Even if there was, you shouldn't be choosing your job based on what other people might think of you.

          Anyhow, I was primarily addressing the pay factor for people complaining about the low pay apprenticeships get, when the reality is compared to university it's actually much better.

      • phor8 on 16/03/2017 - 12:58

        I spent 2 years doing a tool making apprenticeship, but they let me go halfway through because of disagreements, I wasn't able to find another host company in an appropriate location to complete the apprenticeship, so it was a waste of time.

        • womz on 17/03/2017 - 21:46
          +1

          feel sorry for your… let go because of disagreement.
          I hope that the skill you learnt will become useful one day.

      • esty on 17/03/2017 - 14:37
        +1

        and then when you're fully qualified, earn more than most of the uni graduate these days…a mate is a sparky and clears 200K a year.

      • Harold Halfprice on 19/03/2017 - 13:33
        +1

        Yeah, but it's an apprenticeship. You're not qualified, you're learning.

        I don't get paid shit to learn at uni, in fact it costs $10K a year..

      • joelmuzz on 20/03/2017 - 16:58
        +1

        Its only 4 days a week, 5th is TAFE, full time employee holiday and sick leave perks too. On the job training, much better value than a $40k uni debt and being unemployable due to no practical experience.

    • gorge on 16/03/2017 - 17:52
      +2

      by tradie draught wouldn't they have meant a lack of people willing to work as tradies? not lack of tradie jobs?

    • 4foxache on 17/03/2017 - 11:38
      +13

      Tradie draught? Is that similar to Carlton draught?

      • Bargainkappa on 17/03/2017 - 12:58
        +28

        The situation is very hard and leaving people in Victoria Bitter.

        • allegiance86 on 17/03/2017 - 14:15
          +6

          It was hurting my eyes reading "draught" instead of drought

        • eug on 17/03/2017 - 23:32
          +13

          Say goodbye to your favourite tradie then. Wish him luck as he moves on tooheys new job.

        • TheBigBadCow on 18/03/2017 - 00:16
          +9

          Better hope he Fosters some good relationships on the way

        • eug on 18/03/2017 - 00:22
          +4

          @TheBigBadCow: Some useful ones, not just XXXX ones.

        • Ayedeevee on 20/03/2017 - 13:47
          +3

          And he grows a little bit older and a little Budweiser.

      • customundo on 19/03/2017 - 08:33

        If I knew before going uni how much tradies make on weekends and shift work I would have been sol a long time ago

    • prinsenhof on 20/03/2017 - 19:38

      is that a new type of australian beer?

      Pretty good name for it. mmmmm tradie draught.

    • TheButLover on 28/03/2017 - 21:21

      @Banana: How did you transition to IT? Im looking to do the same, I'm an electrician with experience in communications with a cert 3 in IT

  • AlienC on 14/03/2017 - 19:01
    +4

    I'd do something like robotics at uni or a self taught software engineering online or random course and start my own development company. Good skill to have I suppose and fun always changing career. Can even do self taught if going the software engineering path.

  • aussieprepper on 14/03/2017 - 19:02

    Apprenticeship its much easier when you are a little older. Depending on the job you could be on the same pay as now.

  • ms_caz on 14/03/2017 - 19:17
    +23

    Investigate TAFE options - most TAFE's these days offer associate degrees which means you may do two years at TAFE of a Diploma/Advance Diploma course, and then pathway across to a final year or two years at an associated university. Not sure where in Australia you are but if it is Victoria let me know and I can talk you through some options and/or provide you with some websites to investigate.

    Paramedical options which don't require a University entrance include nursing, all of the ward and theatre technicians, clerks etc, laboratory assistants, instrument technicians, venepuncture, dental assistant/hygienist, plus all of the aged care assistants, disability care workers etc. Massage therapy, sports therapy etc fit in here too. And then also Occupational Health and Safety is an entirely different field that is still somewhat related. The Health and Community Services industry is the largest in Australia and is predicted to continue to increase at a significant rate for the next five years, so you will be sure to find some kind of employment in this sector. OHS fits into the Public Admin and safety sector (as does the Armed Forces) and this is also growing.

    On another hand altogether, the Logistics industry is always looking for people who have a clerical background but with a good sense of processes. Being able to control a fleet of trucks etc and to know where stock is in the supply chain is an essential skill and if you are able to think like that, then you are going to be very highly sought after.

    • scalpel on 15/03/2017 - 12:27
      +2

      Thanks for all of the information in this post. Feels good to know that my options aren't as limited as I first thought. I am in Perth, but haven't ruled out moving (or anything yet really). Have a brother that lives in Melbourne.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 16/03/2017 - 11:50
        +5

        What are your passions?

        There's a lot more to life than a job.

        • Rocket6 on 17/03/2017 - 12:09
          +2

          There is - but the hours that we spend at work every week make it important that we enjoy our employment.

        • cameldownunder on 17/03/2017 - 15:48
          +1

          Don't ! Keep your passion as a passion, not as a job. You are going to hate your job, sooner or later, and then you also will have lost your passion.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/03/2017 - 15:49

          @Rocket6:

          Not necessarily, the payment for unenjoyable employment may make up for its displeasure if it facilitates an enjoyable lifestyle.

        • bbtt on 18/03/2017 - 07:29

          you should find a job that fulfils you.
          Success without fulfilment is the ultimate failure

  • ChillBro on 14/03/2017 - 19:23
    +17

    the only thing that separates me from being a complete stereotypical loser bum that still lives with their parents

    Because you didn't waste 30-50k and 4 years of your life on a degree you may never use? Or because you don't want to trade the next 30 years surviving on bread every meal for a 1 bedroom apartment?

    I think you're in a pretty good place right now and have a lot of opportunities with the amount you've saved. If I was in your shoes, I'd keep saving up and go somewhere like Brisbane. Could probably do it right away if you had a partner.

    • scalpel on 15/03/2017 - 12:01
      +2

      Sorry, I could have said that better. I just get down on my situation whenever I think of it WITHOUT the savings. Possibly a subconscious reason why I've been reluctant to do anything with it so far. So in that way I'm kind of no better off than when I finished high school, or even worse off when you consider my age.

      • ozbjunkie on 15/03/2017 - 17:01
        +6

        Gotta agree with chillbro.

        Degrees aren't everything, and so often are basically not worth the time and money you spend on them.

        You have a solid work history, a good work ethic, know how to save and live within your means, can manage a decent relationship ship with your own family. These are lacking in many people who have their own place.

        I reckon tafe, trades, and the military are all good longer term plans.

        I think the best thing to do with your savings is to keep it - there are all manner of private colleges which would love to take it from you and they are less worthwhile than uni degrees.

        Want an active job or a desk job? Work alone, small group, or as part of a big organisation? Start with what you want your day/life to be like and work backwards from there.

        Edit- trades IN the military are also a good bet.

        • Harold Halfprice on 19/03/2017 - 13:47
          +1

          Degrees aren't everything, and so often are basically not worth the time and money you spend on them.

          You're definitely right. It's not worth pursuing a degree for the sake of it, if it's not someone you genuinely want a career in.

          But at the same time, I think a lot of people find their degrees to be useless because they simply never put in any effort. They think they can do the bare minimum to just scrape a pass every semester, and once they get their degree they'll be sweet. The amount of time I've heard the phrase 'Ps get degrees'…

          I find that half the people that claim degrees are worthless are also the ones who spent 5 years trying to complete a 3 year degree in something like business, preferred to party than learn anything and then for some weird reason had difficulty finding a job.

          Of course that's not the case with everyone, and some people genuinely tried and just got unlucky with finding a job. But in most cases, a degree is what you make of it. If you put in the effort to do well, learn as much as you can and ensure you're as employable as possible then you shouldn't have a problem getting a job.

      • JH100 on 15/03/2017 - 17:12

        You could always prep for uni entrance next year and meantime check military for dentist sponsorship.

        I am currently having work done by a 5th year (final) student at a dental training hospital who is contracted to the military for 3 years to pay back for their sponsorship. They paid his fees basically.

      • AlanHB on 16/03/2017 - 17:26
        +1

        Yeah I have to agree with scalpel and disagree with ozbjunkie here.

        So basically scalpel has $200,000 in the bank, which is great. However he (a) hasn't learnt to live independently and (b) likely has little chances for progression in his career or life.

        If things continued as they were, scalpel could live with his parents until they die, and he'll still be an office clerk. I'd be down on myself too.

        But on the plus side, it sounds like you've identified that you'd like to have something more from life and stop acting so passively about your current situation. So:

        (a) figure out what you would like to change; and
        (b) take steps to achieve that change.

        Most people can do (a). Most people give up on (b) when they realise it's harder than they thought. But that's one of the interesting quirks of life - usually the hardest option is the right one.

        • BartholemewH on 17/03/2017 - 21:04
          +2

          I'm a glorified office clerk (with a degree to match). I earn in excess of 100k plus car (of my choice within reason). I live in a place where 400k 4 bed houses are common. It takes me 6 minutes to get to work.

          I know people the same age with the same degree that earn less in huge firms. Can you enlighten me as to which part of being an office clerk I should be down on myself about or do you have a habit of generalising?

        • AlanHB on 19/03/2017 - 22:59

          @BartholemewH: I'm sure your job, even though you downplay it, requires a higher level of experience or corporate knowledge than that of the OP.

          My "generalisation" is based on the average wage of an office clerk - around $45k, as well as OPs comments www.payscale.com/research/AU/Job=Office_Clerk,_General/Hourl…

        • BartholemewH on 22/03/2017 - 14:56

          @AlanHB:
          Well, I am a professional mushroom if it helps.

      • Dsquall on 17/03/2017 - 18:48
        +2

        You're in a pretty solid situation.

        Personally, I'm at the tail-end of what most people would think is a pretty lucrative degree. However, I'm 25, do about 60-80 hours a week (And no I'm not just a whinging uni student, what I do every day is work) for which I don't get paid, have about 100k of debt and won't be making what a decent tradie makes until I'm probably in my late 30s.

        So in short,going to uni and getting a degree isn't the key to financial success. Unless you really are interested in a specific field I would go and learn a trade and look to start a business later on.

        • hahaboy on 19/03/2017 - 01:12
          -1

          medicine?

        • Jinster on 20/03/2017 - 18:43
          +1

          @hahaboy:

          Don't know why you got downvoted. It certainly sounds like he/she is doing med. And really will have nothing to worry about come his mid/late thirties.

          I think for making good money early on, trades would be the way to go. But obviously you have got to at least partially enjoy what you do in trades. I, for example, would loath to be a general plumber. But that's probably also why they can charge high hourly rates by comparison to an officeworker's salary.

          I think the OP needs to have some goals and not just ask what should he do.

          Set the goals first. Want money early? Go trades. Want big money later? Go specialty profession like med/law/actuarial. Want fun and party? Go be a bartender in Europe. Want to be able to express self? Go be an artist.

          If artist is too poor, then strike artist off the list and go back to ask the goal question again. So on and so forth.

          Not that hard really.

          As for the $200k, leave it in a high interest bank account for now. When you have a stable job, use it to buy a house (not apartment) hopefully near where you work.

          Continue to live off your parents for now if able. Otherwise a shared house can be very fun and cheap if you join a group of good housemates. Join a drug house, and you will stuff up your future by influence or at the very best have nothing to gain. Join a group of people with direction, and you will benefit from the general vibe.

  • ihbh on 14/03/2017 - 19:28
    +7

    Maybe on the side or as a career down the track, teach people about financial management. Well done on saving $200k with the jobs you've had.

    • modsec802 on 14/03/2017 - 19:35

      It doesn't say OP saved the money, it could have been a gift or inheritance for all we know.

      • railspider on 14/03/2017 - 21:57

        Living at home while working for 12 years…with interest that'd only be saving $10-$15k a year. Could very easily all be savings.

        • scalpel on 15/03/2017 - 12:24
          +5

          Pay board weekly at home and spend a bit, but mostly on tangible things that could be considered assets. Have $100k saved with a couple of months to go still in current job, plus potential redundancy, long service, holidays owing etc (haven't looked into).

          All of a sudden discovered I am to receive a further $100k passed on from a recent inheritance, which I am very grateful for and looks to being the real difference.

          Even without the inheritance, would be looking to move out anyway before the end of the year as most would agree, it's well past time.

        • ThithLord on 16/03/2017 - 08:46
          +8

          @scalpel: Even $100k is a pretty large amount. Don't go selling yourself short

        • fryandlaurie on 17/03/2017 - 21:59

          @scalpel: If you don't mind me asking, how much board do you pay on average every week?

  • [Deactivated] on 14/03/2017 - 19:36
    +23

    inb4 disabled user

  • Oofy Doofy on 14/03/2017 - 19:58

    Open up your PM.

    • subywagon on 14/03/2017 - 21:44
      +26

      Planning on bamboozling the OP?

      • Oofy Doofy on 14/03/2017 - 23:18

        I'd prefer a private conversation in this instance. I think it'd be more helpful.

        • scalpel on 15/03/2017 - 12:40
          +15

          Open for bamboozling.

        • Bnjam3 on 15/03/2017 - 21:41
          +8

          @scalpel: Beware of any prince promising you money :)

        • Kangal on 16/03/2017 - 00:10
          +2

          @Bnjam3:
          …but…but…Royals do not lie…

    • stirlo on 16/03/2017 - 09:33
      +8

      AMYWAY Alert!!! Seriosuly if he's mentioning anything about Multi Layer Marketing then run!!! @scalpel

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