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Go to school...get a professional certification that is valuable in your field...out work your co-workers...creatively think about ways to improve your efficiency and make the company you work for more money...start a business...there are MANY ways to make oneself more marketable/worth more.
But most will choose to make excuses about why they can't do those things and point the finger of scorn at the big bad rich people for "taking all the money" and feel they should just pay them more for simply existing...
So we’re still talking about the dirt bikes, right? The real way to buy a bike is find leftover bikes. There’s new bikes several years old sitting on showroom floors, that dealers want to move. For riding around local tracks, these are way more than any of us really need. $10K on a dirtbike right now is just too expensive for me. There are lots of people on here that have way more than that just lying around, but I don’t know too many in my circle. But I’m poor, so…
Are you serious?
If you don't make enough money, change careers to start at the bottom somewhere else? ⛔
If you don't make enough money, start a business with the money you don't have? ⛔
Go to school? The recent grad job market is awful right now according to news outlets and the experiences I hear from many people. If you already aren't making enough money, how will you pay for school? ⛔
Doing better at your current job, OK I can see how this could make sense in some situations, but there are only so many higher paid positions and could take years before you are financially comfortable (if ever). Then you have the companies that don't want to promote the high performers because they'll need to hire 2 people to backfill.
Like I said...most will make excuses...but some will figure it out and do what it takes to create the life they want (and its entirely possible...far from easy...but entirely possible...)
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I’m with you Titan.👍
When I started business in 2007, all I had was a £5000 credit card limit.
NOT £5000!! A credit card with a £5k limit… once that was spent, I was out of the game.
18 years later I have no regrets. Am I rich? No!
But I am in total control of what I do, when I do it & how I do it. Which results in me feeling very wealthy. It’s not easy though, but I’d do it all again. Only next time I know how to do it!
there's always been more than 1 answer to that question, but it typically requires more effort and motivation from the person wanting more $. Work harder or work smarter or both. Can't compare the average working stiff to all the hoes making millions by prostituting out their bodies for profit.
Especially considering AI obstructing your path from burger joint flipper to Coder!?
Don't go to law school neither, bc law firms won't be hiring entry level attorneys, which in turn leads to law firms running out of experienced lawyers. Less lawyers can't be a bad thing😉
trade schools are where it's at now after falling out of favor for those big expensive college degrees in basket weaving- and all the debt. After high school I always did some combination of going to school + working to support myself. I wasn't smart enough to get into a 4 year college right away and went community college a few years getting enough credits until I could transfer to 4 year. My Dad had saved a modest college fund for each of us 3 boys and asked us to come to him with written career plans and he would help us with some basic financial expenses while we worked towards the goal we signed off on. I chose AS degree program at community college taking 2 years on top of the Gen Ed certificate I got from all the credits I earned on my own. It was Computer Technology- starting in 1982 until I graduated in 1984.
Got low end shit pay jobs the 1st couple years but stuck with it and twice started side hustle businesses for extra living cash. Both fizzled after a short time, but I still worked as a tech the whole time. After a couple years decided I wanted a 4 year degree and on my own dime while working full time got a degree in Criminal Justice Administration and applied for law school. I also got married during that time and even started riding again because I quit after high school. Always lived within our means and didn't have kids on purpose. Bought starter or fixer homes to start with. Wife spent 30 years at same tech company working her way up and I jumped companies a couple times when better opportunities came along to upgrade my titles and pay. We both retired after 40+ years in tech in SoCal and live comfortably on Social Security and Company 401ks and IRAs we always contributed to when offered.
Never did go to Law School as it turned out I would have made less and worked more than I was as an Engineering Tech. Just got to play the long game and make you own luck along the way and not get caught up in keeping up with the Jones' or Kartrashians BS they bombard us with 24/7
Get more skills, more education, do things other people do not want to do, spend less time "gaming", smoking weed, having "me time". There is seven days in a week, 24 hours in each day, use them all. If you don't think you make enough money, there is nobody to blame except the person making the money. Nobody put you in your situation except you. There are literally people out there asking you to take there money. Do you think the answer is somebody who did find a way to earn money is for them to give it to you? I am certain you are as smart, as resourceful, and as determined as people who have found ways to get ahead, don't let yourself get in the way. Just go get it.
Don't pretend to know me, you have no idea.
No doubt it is tough out there. You want to look at the obstacles to success there is certainly plenty, that is why so few succeed in life. That is why most businesses fail within a few years, because life is tough, no doubt. But within all the obstacles there is opportunities if you are willing to find them. But I agree, it certainly is alot easier to say it can't be done and look at others who have made it and assume life gave them unfair advantages. Perhaps start with absolute, concrete goals, tape them to your bathroom mirror - refrigerator - anything, and if there are things in your day that do not further those goals find ways to further those goals and omit things that do not. Don't want your goals, or wish for them, or fucking "aim" for them, except nothing except achieving your goals at all costs. If you don't have that kind of focus, cool, it is easy to cry poor and life is unfair - most folks do, because yes life is not fair. This is America, there is no caste system though. You can be pretty dumb in this country and still succeed if you are dependable, answer your phone, don't lie, and are stubborn yet selfless.
So many think it is impossible, but the explanation for anybody who achieves success is some sort of elixir, magical incantation, or unfair advantage. Yet all these things that are professed to get success are only available to those millions that achieve it? There is no secret to it.
Amen
100%. I've been in the data center industry for 20+ years. I have a HS diploma, military experience, and some (older) technical certs. I make really, really good money w/o a college degree. We are dying for good workers in many locations around the country. Hillsboro, Ashburn, Atlanta, Dallas, SoCal, Bay area, and a lot more. Join the union, go to trade school, go in the military for 4-6 years. Come out with HVAC or electrical trade skills and I'll start you at $35-40 an hour. If you can read and write well, you will move up fast. A Chief Engineer will pull $75+ an hour. Doesn't matter what part of the industry you are in - design/construction or operations - there's a lot of jobs out there and good money. I run a shop of 15 guys and not one makes less than $100k a year with excellent benefits, RSUs, and 10-20% annual performance bonuses.
My kid took trade classes in HS and leaves for basic training in a month to be an F15 Crew Chief. After his tour I'll help him find a slot in my industry and he will be set for life. Trades are where it's at.
Starting HVAC guys at $35-$40 an hour?? You guys are generous. Man, you can’t find that in So Cal! I’m in HVAC but on the distributor side of things and the job listings I see and what I hear from customers, starting for someone new is $19-$23. Guys I know that have been working their tails off in the industry with endless amounts of knowledge and skills are barely making $35-$40.
Scale in Wichita for HVAC and plumbing is $40 an hour, that's the lowest you can pay a journeyman. Electricians and sheet metal are right there as well.
I see all the bravado “go do better” pull yourself up from your bootstraps stuff is cool in theory but it usually is not that black and white. While many people do choose not to pursue the diligence required to marry their desired QoL and actualized QoL, many people end up living in “real life”. Kids, location, situations, all factor in here.
Not to mention many people do “jobs of passion” which our country would collapse without that don’t pay well such as medical, law enforcement, fire, teaching, pastoral/ministry/chaplaincy, non profit, and so on. It’s a shame to see people in those roles get dunked on by some of you because your “success” (if you “have it”) is owed to many on that list that helped you pave that road.
Things are changing rapidly. “Get better, work harder” is not the answer for those 25 and under (ish). Frankly we don’t really know what the answer is in the current climate. What we do know is being told to “get good” by older generations is enraging and going to lead to a kind of class warfare in which no one wins.
Motocross is basically free compared to most motorsport. I spend more in 2 rounds of road racing than a season of mx.
Pit Row
Why can't you guys be happy that you got to generate wealth during a more prosperous time?
I wasn't working before year 2008, if I was, my reflection in the mirror would have netted me some nice loans.
I certainly understand these situations. I find it ironic. The whole premise and founding of this nation is by people who did not like what situation they were in and changed their situation dramatically, primarily meaning we have always been a people who move to greener pastures if need be. It is a principle that founded this nation. Starting with crossing oceans in leaky wooden boats, to overthrowing governments, carving a life out of undiscovered wilderness, to a civil war, to great migrations from the dust bowl, to southern to northern industrial migration, to the migration from the current rust belt to more prosperous southern locations. The recurring history of our nation's people has always been if where and what we are doing is not working we will change it somehow. At one time, that was in all our DNA. Our ancestors had the audacity to go to war with the greatest power in the world, to conquer a wilderness, the rocky mountains, to save the world from fascism and communism. Somehow, we lost that, we are now in an atmosphere where we "can't get a job in our field" or "housing in my area is outrageous". Perhaps we have been indoctrinated too much in the government helping us or solving problems for us, trading our freedoms for "safety". We have gone from a nation of people willing to do what has to be done to further ourselves, to a nation who looks at others to resolve our problems losing personal liberties along the way.
I think a lot of it also depends on location.
For example, I was born/raised in NC. Grew up racing D29 and had always worked "industry" jobs from high school through college and now in the performance automotive sector. Prices keep climbing on car parts - there's almost no way around it at this point. While, some spots will for sure be more cost effective and quality isn't quite there, but that doesn't mean those kinds of spots or products wouldn't be fruitful/beneficial for someone. Everyone has Pro Circuit taste with eBay budget these days.
Where I'm getting at, is that living in NC it was a bit different. Income tax, vehicle inspections/emissions testing and all that jazz. Whereas Florida, is a lot more lax on those aspects. But, the cost of living in FL has tripled since I moved here in 2018. There are things here in FL that are way more available and cost effective (E85 fuel, solar stuff, orange juice - Florida) that simply wasn't as abundant in NC. Heck, back in 2019 before Covid happened, it was incredible more cost effective to live in FL compared to NC.
Fast forward to now, my mortgage has doubled, car insurance is through the roof, property taxes are through the roof, home owners insurance is through the roof (hurricanes)...something's gotta give somewhere. We're starting to bring more manufacturing to our business (I work for a company called Import Image Racing - we specialize in Subaru performance, Bronco Raptor/Ranger Raptor and a few other areas) and invest in USA made stuff that wont be tariff'd.
TL/DR - shits getting more and more expensive. But, I think a lot of it will have to do with where you're located and what all you have/don't have access to. Demand is a hell of a thing.
Can you buy a house on $35-$40/h in any of those cities?
I think there's a big issue where some guys are saying that 40 an hour is a starting pay and other guys are saying I've been doing what I do for 10 15 20 years and 40 an hour is pretty good in my field. If you make it to 100k a year in most places and jobs you are doing pretty good and not a complete waste of space, but that 100k doesn't feel like what you think it should with the rising cost of food, shelter, transportation, insurance, taxes, any kind of entertainment, and if you have dependents it's just worse and there's not as much time or money left over to spend on moto as you'd like there to be. At the same time paths to leveling up or starting over in a different field are anything but clear at this time in this economy.
Ask 100 40 year old welders,electricians, plumbers,carpenters, pipe fitters etc.If they like their career. You may change your mind that trades are the best alternative.
There has never been a more prosperous time than now…so many young people have been brainwashed into believing they’ll never prosper, never own a home, etc…and that is wrong and misguided…it is literally the poverty cycle…it’s the same mentality that welfare folks have (those born and raised in government housing, on food stamps, welfare checks, snap etc.)…deck is stacked against me, there is no way out of here, and rather than take personal responsibility for their situation, they point their finger at anyone but themselves to place the blame. And if anyone tells them they can survive without the government, that they can create a better life they refuse to believe them and continue doing what they’ve always done and getting what they’ve always got and passing that mentality down to their children who “lather rinse and repeat” and pass it to their children it’s not true and it’s dangerous.
Depends on how much other debt you have….but $35-$40/hour will get you into a home in a lot of markets across America (probably not California).
When I look at my MTB/eMTB…& I then look at my RM125 or my KLR650 Adventure or my CRF450…?
I’m thinking,”WTF? How’d I get silly enough to spend motorcycle money on A BICYCLE?!” 🤣
I think it’s expensive as fuck.
No hockey kid pays 3-500 week to play hockey, soccer, basketball etc.
Bikes cost at least 30-50 per hour to run
Then there’s the cost of the bikes. No hockey equipment costs what moto helmets and equipment costs.
It’s an expensive as fuck sport second to vehicle racing.
And it’s gonna die
Needed a new mountain bike during peak of COVID cause I couldn’t get parts for my other. Pulled the trigger on a bike for 8 grand and it was only one of few in stock. Fast forward a year, that same bike was on sale for $5300 😣 don’t get me started on the used market!
Financing 250k on a house puts you at about 2 to 2500 a month all in or about half the take home on 35 to 40 an hour. Doesn't leave much left over for living an riding.
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