Registered: Jan 2008
Location: SC
Posts: 302

I am in college now and trying to decide what to major in. Obviously, money is a factor but I like working outside and with my hands. How much money do you think one would need to live comfortably, that is paying the bills without worring, buying a decent house, decent vehicle, and being able to hunt? (Not aiming for the lavish lifestyle here) I am a conservative person... Thanks...lol

Last edited by DSKennels on 03-26-2009 at 11:29 PM

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Registered: Nov 2008
Location: Pinckneyville, IL
Posts: 959

I am a construction foudation foreman and draftsman for a custom home building company in IL. I have a wife, 3 kids, and am 32 years old. Have my own ranch house with full finished basement, '05 Chevy truck and my wife's '05 minivan. I have NO debt. I make between 45,000-50,000 a year but that's working 50-60 hrs per week. My wife is staying home with the kids until they are in school then she'll go back to school teaching. I love my work which makes it good. But to have a family, house, decent vehicles on my wages takes spending discipline and hard work for both me and my wife. But you say you want to be able to pay the bills without worrying about it, that hasn't happened to me yet, but I'm a worrier by character. Oh and by the way, Kids are awesome but very expensive!! I once read that the average kid from birth to 18 (not including any college expense) costs around 160,000!! And I have three?!?

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Registered: Sep 2007
Location: ackerman,ms
Posts: 2229

not to sound like a smart alleck but its not how much you make but what you do with it....hope whatever you do your happy with it

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Registered: Jan 2008
Location: JERSEYVILLE , IL
Posts: 71

My husband is a field mechanic for a John Deere construction dealership and I work part time for a kennel for show dogs. We make approx. 60,000 a year. We live in a 2,000 square foot home on 10 acres. We have a 2001 chevy diesel and a old ford festiva and we own 10 dogs and 3 cats, but not children as of yet. And we have hardly any debt. We dont have a hard time paying the bills but we work very hard to keep it that way. Its all about the budgeting. Good luck with whatever field you choose to go into.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Weyers Cave Va
Posts: 13415

I think it depends more on the region of the country you live in.. Around here it takes more to live than it would in SW Va.

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Registered: Jul 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 2162

Don't worry too much about money at this point. Plenty of time for that later. But, don't get into credit card debt.

Major ? What do you like the best. What do you have the greatest interest and aptitude in. They often go hand in hand. People tend to be at their best when immersed in something they are truley interested in, and passionate about.

Of course, some computer classes and business classes are always advisable in todays and tomorrows world.

When you do get your degree (in whatever field you choose), it is not the end of your education. It is your credential to BEGIN your education in your chosen field. Education is a life-long process (and most of it doesn't come from formal schooling).

The so-called "hot fields" of today may not be the "hot fields" in 10 or 20 years. 20 years ago, the idea of posting on the internet, sendong e-mail, using a cell phone would have been considered as sci-fi (Star Trek type of stuff). The next 20+ years will probably bring even greater changes!

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: SC
Posts: 1012

I've kind of run into the same situation in the past couple years. When I graduated high school in 2003 the only school I applied to was Clemson, and I went there for animal science. Life happened, I had to get a job and go to a tech school for a year or so, and when I went back to Clemson I changed my major to agricultural education. It was a program I liked, especially since I still got to take equine classes, but as of yet I'm not quite done with it and I doubt I ever will be. In 2007 my mother had the chance to open her own finance business, so I have been working with her ever since with the hopes that in a year or so I'll be able to open my own office closer to MY home. It's not a business that I absolutely love, but it does interest me and I'm pretty decent with it. Not to mention when I start working for myself I'll make more money even in the first year than I would have with a Master's degree in my original field. From the time I was a little girl it was my dream to breed and train Quarter Horses, but once I got into "the real world" I figured out it takes an awful lot of money to get started in that! I hope having my own business will allow me to save the money to get started in that. I believe in doing a job you love, but when it really gets down to it I don't mind doing one I LIKE if I can do it well and make more money. JMO.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Lyons, GA
Posts: 1014

Sounds like you need to think about an environmental engineer. You will have both office and field work. In 4 years you should make 60k to 80k at a good firm. Working for the government you should make around 45k to 50k in that time. Become partners in a firm or start your own and the sky is the limit. But then you will have more headaches than you have ever known. Make sure you co-op while your in college.

I'm a civil/environmental engineer, email me if you want to know more about it. caseyjonespoole@yahoo.com


If you can handle all the math and science in college then go for it.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 3234

Good question DKS, its tougher today than ever. Its hard to speculate on how much you will need. Fact is when you start work you will have to live on what you will make. First rule of thumb is to always strive to better yourself but most important find a peice of mind. I cant give good advice on what to major in. I think todays most dependable field is medical.
Rules to remember. "Never" use credit cards. Buy used vehicles with cash youll save huge on interest and insurance. Pay off your college debt (if you have it) asap. Always keep debt at a minimun. The only debt one should have is a morgtage. Sounds easy but its not. Good Luck
It takes more money to live today than ever.

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Los Angeles, MN
Posts: 4236

Dont make this more complicated than it is...

Live on what you make, dont spend more than you make.

Some people cant figure out how to live on 300,000 a year while others live comfortably on 20,000.

Going from school to the working world is probably one of the biggest learning curves in life, dont sweat what you cant controle, put your efforts on things you can.

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Registered: Oct 2008
Location: plainwell,mi
Posts: 65

The answer to that cannot be answered in a poll like this because it is all relative...

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: michigan
Posts: 2573

I've always found the more I make the more I spend. If you like something you're much more likely to be good at it but beware of likeing it because it's easy. There's a world of difference between working to live and living to work.

Last edited by Dale Young on 03-27-2009 at 05:42 PM

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Registered: Oct 2008
Location: plainwell,mi
Posts: 65

I completly agree dale i want to work to live not live to work!...

quote:

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Originally posted by Dale Young
I've always found the more I make the more I spend. If you like something you're much more likely to be good at it but beware of likeing it because it's easy. There's a world of difference between working to live and living to work.

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Registered: Sep 2007
Location: Western Pa
Posts: 3377

get yourself a decent job and stay away from the women! that will keep your pocket books full all the time and not empty! lol

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