Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
My plan was to go to law school, which would have provided the marketable skills, but the cost of law school had skyrocketed and the economic return on investment had become dubious. SoI decided to quit while I was behind, instead of going hopelessly over my head in student loan debt.
A minor in comp sci was my backup plan, but its usefulness was eclipsed by the emerging PC. I have a marketable skill but can't use it as long as the drunk and I are in the same house.
My friend's dad and mom are Albanian immigrants with nothing more than a HS education. His dad came here with not much money (I suspect), but was able to start a restaurant before eventually selling. He has a house, works 2 jobs, and sent all their kids to college. A guy he used (or still does) works 2 jobs too and he is either an immigrant or a 1st gen immigrant. Neither of them have been stuck in min wage jobs. Yet somehow, you, an American born citizen can't compete with immigrants because?... What? Zoning laws?
My friend's dad and mom are Albanian immigrants with nothing more than a HS education. His dad came here with not much money (I suspect), but was able to start a restaurant before eventually selling. He has a house, works 2 jobs, and sent all their kids to college. A guy he used (or still does) works 2 jobs too and he is either an immigrant or a 1st gen immigrant. Neither of them have been stuck in min wage jobs. Yet somehow, you, an American born citizen can't compete with immigrants because?... What? Zoning laws?
Big city? Suburbs?
I'm pretty sure he didn't start out in a college town or a hip city with an endless surplus of un(der)employed young college graduates. Remember Mircea's 1,539 local economies. Some economies have an endless surplus of minimum wage workers and no need to give raises.
I'm confused as to how this problem does not make you work more rather than less. If I were in that situation, I'd be doing 70 hours a week to spend the day away from these crazies.
That would require the ability to get relevant employment, but I have no marketable skills and employers prefer younger burger flippers.
I did not choose to make this house unlivable,. I did not choose to be raised by drunks and consequently have related issues. I do not choose to get and stay plastered and to intermittently blow up and get into fights. I did not choose to plop his girlfriend outside my room where she stays 24/7 because she has no job and doesn't want to venture out.
No, you don't choose what others do. However, you do choose what you do. Move. Do whatever it takes to scrape the money together to M-O-V-E. Can't possibly sell your inventory without a workstation? Can't possibly set up a workstation in either your room or your storage unit? Get a second job. Can't possibly get a second job? Sell your plasma.
That would require the ability to get relevant employment, but I have no marketable skills and employers prefer younger burger flippers.
You do what you can. Mow lawns, house-sit, whatever. Some skills can be acquired fairly easily these days. The resources available at your local public library can be leveraged. Check out some computer books and learn to fix some more common problems (on a friend's computer if need be.). Once you can fix computers, you'll be able to put that to use fairly easily. No matter where you go, people need somebody to do it, and I know someone who made up the gap between his main job and his (super HCOLA) bills by fixing computers on the side.
I'm pretty sure he didn't start out in a college town or a hip city with an endless surplus of un(der)employed young college graduates. Remember Mircea's 1,539 local economies. Some economies have an endless surplus of minimum wage workers and no need to give raises.
They are originally from MI. Detroit, maybe a suburb I think. They live in Chicago now. I have no idea where the friend was from or came from. His parents probably came from Mexico though. The guy still has a Spanish/Mexican accent.
My point is your woe is me tale doesn't support the premise that you had absolutely no opportunities.
No one doesn't always have to be poor. My family was extremely poor several generations ago. People worked hard. Some went to college. Some started their own business. Those who didn't want that type of life style worked their way out of it. It takes hard work and determination. There are no excuses. Anyone can get out of poverty if they try. My grandparents did. My grandfather quit school in 4th grade and my grandmother in 8th grade. My other grandmother lived in Germany during Hitler's reign. None of them lived off the system. They all worked hard and owned their own house in good neighborhoods. So there are no excuses.
No one doesn't always have to be poor. My family was extremely poor several generations ago. People worked hard. Some went to college. Some started their own business. Those who didn't want that type of life style worked their way out of it. It takes hard work and determination. There are no excuses. Anyone can get out of poverty if they try. My grandparents did. My grandfather quit school in 4th grade and my grandmother in 8th grade. My other grandmother lived in Germany during Hitler's reign. None of them lived off the system. They all worked hard and owned their own house in good neighborhoods. So there are no excuses.
How very true.
I could have remained poor.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
