WHat the hell do you all do
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 252
Likes: 3
From: cape cod , Ma
As first person to reply to this after it being dead for a while, Id like to say Congrats! I was ready to reply until i seen it was about a year old. But since you have updated us I would like to join in. I work at a dealership (Ford) but we still get wholesale discounts with other manufacturers. That helps with a lot of the OEM stuff, which in turn I can use the saved money for stuff i cannot get through dealer channels. I have a wife, two kids, a dog, jeep, and a house payment. I dream more than I buy, but one day I will be where I want to be as far as my jeep goes.
JK Freak
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Lakeland, Florida
Industrial control system engineer. Dropped out of college at 19 and got OJT in industrial electrical and instrumentation. 3 months later got hired by a refinery in Louisiana (Shell). Didn't like being in bucket trucks doing live 13.8kv hot tie-ins so decided to specialize in instruments and controls. Had 2 kids. Quit refinery job during strike to work for another refinery (Marathon). Was so experienced by then (at 27) they gave me an engineer title. Lost 1/2 everything with first divorce. At 35 quit again to start my own company doing control integration in Louisiana. Got married 2nd time and acquired 2 wonderful step kids. At 48 sold the company to take a dream job offer in central Florida doing what I love, industrial controls, without the headaches of running a business. Divorced 2nd time and lost 1/2 again. 
I'm loving life in central Florida. Lots of controls work here between municipal water, waste-water, fossil, solar and nuke power, mining (phosphate), chemicals of all types, juice and food processing, natural gas pipelines. I also get to travel a bit. Last week working in Moorseville, NC (Race City USA), home of NASCAR.
The key is finding what you love to do and then putting all your effort into it. Never stop learning, especially from those with more experience than you. Get involved and promote your profession. Make a name for yourself. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Networking with sites like LinkedIn makes that easier than ever.
Making money is easy. I've never known a company that wasn't willing to pay well for quality work.
I'm loving life in central Florida. Lots of controls work here between municipal water, waste-water, fossil, solar and nuke power, mining (phosphate), chemicals of all types, juice and food processing, natural gas pipelines. I also get to travel a bit. Last week working in Moorseville, NC (Race City USA), home of NASCAR.
The key is finding what you love to do and then putting all your effort into it. Never stop learning, especially from those with more experience than you. Get involved and promote your profession. Make a name for yourself. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Networking with sites like LinkedIn makes that easier than ever.
Making money is easy. I've never known a company that wasn't willing to pay well for quality work.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio
I work for a security group guarding marijuana farms, probably around $26k a year after taxes...most of all my money goes to bills monthly. Wife stays at home with 2 kids. Bought a '15 Rubi, plan on putting money into it every income tax season ($~8k a year back from the government). If I made 250k a year I'd have a house paid off, rubi paid off, a hellcat sitting in the driveway and any and all mods I've ever wanted done in just a year.....it baffles me how some people say that is "ok" money. 1yr and I'd be debt free.....lmao. Then I'd work for about 5-6 more years and retire.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Pueblo, Colorado
When you pay more in taxes than the average person makes, save a big chunk in your 401k, pay an average persons income in school/dance/gymnastics, pay a mortgage and property tax (in Texas) on a 400k house the 250k goes quick. Before I made this kind of money I agreed with you, I lived in a 150k house and things were ok, but I had goals to be more successful than what I was doing and so instead of paying off my house and having a bad ass jeep and a GTR in the driveway I bought a bigger house. It was a better investment as I have already made 20k in property value in a year after I bought it. That wouldn't have happened with my sports car and a paid off house. Sorry for the rant but I've been on both sides and just giving my 2 cents!
You also stated you were in a 150k house but then upgraded to a 400k house. I have no desire for that kind of debt. Even if I was a millionaire I wouldn't buy nearly a half million dollar house. Just think of the long term investment, repairs, higher tax rate, probably even have to hire a maid. I'm too stingy for that kind of expenditure regardless of my bank status.
I also wouldn't pay for artifical entertainment and pay an exorbant amount for my kids to get exercise. My kids both have two working legs, and have lots of energy. They can go outside and play with the normal kids for free. I don't need that expenditure either.
I also have a different type of outlook on life though. I would invest in a smaller house if I was to ever do it again and it would be fully self sustainable with a woodburning stove for heat with full solar setup with battery banks galore and a couple of wells dug. No utility bills for me. I also would have it out in the country of Colorado in a high enough elevation where I would not need A/C.
These are all smart investments in my mind, but too many people see what hollywood folks have and want that. A jeep for the family, and a hellcat for shits and giggles would be about the extent of my splurging regardless.
JK Junkie
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 0
From: West Richland Washington
A 400k house is relevant to where you live. In my area of south East Washington state average prices are creeping to 300k. In so Cal a single bedroom apartment can run over 2k a month.
JK Newbie
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio
I know they take a ton of taxes out. I use to make nearly 100k/yr working on cell phone towers. But I also worked 2 weeks on straight and 3 days off. Money is not worth it for me to be away from my family any longer. I'll get where I want, albeit a lot slower than before. That's ok though....if I could work the hours I have now and make more money I'd be good with that. But it probably won't happen.
You also stated you were in a 150k house but then upgraded to a 400k house. I have no desire for that kind of debt. Even if I was a millionaire I wouldn't buy nearly a half million dollar house. Just think of the long term investment, repairs, higher tax rate, probably even have to hire a maid. I'm too stingy for that kind of expenditure regardless of my bank status.
I also wouldn't pay for artifical entertainment and pay an exorbant amount for my kids to get exercise. My kids both have two working legs, and have lots of energy. They can go outside and play with the normal kids for free. I don't need that expenditure either.
I also have a different type of outlook on life though. I would invest in a smaller house if I was to ever do it again and it would be fully self sustainable with a woodburning stove for heat with full solar setup with battery banks galore and a couple of wells dug. No utility bills for me. I also would have it out in the country of Colorado in a high enough elevation where I would not need A/C.
These are all smart investments in my mind, but too many people see what hollywood folks have and want that. A jeep for the family, and a hellcat for shits and giggles would be about the extent of my splurging regardless.
You also stated you were in a 150k house but then upgraded to a 400k house. I have no desire for that kind of debt. Even if I was a millionaire I wouldn't buy nearly a half million dollar house. Just think of the long term investment, repairs, higher tax rate, probably even have to hire a maid. I'm too stingy for that kind of expenditure regardless of my bank status.
I also wouldn't pay for artifical entertainment and pay an exorbant amount for my kids to get exercise. My kids both have two working legs, and have lots of energy. They can go outside and play with the normal kids for free. I don't need that expenditure either.
I also have a different type of outlook on life though. I would invest in a smaller house if I was to ever do it again and it would be fully self sustainable with a woodburning stove for heat with full solar setup with battery banks galore and a couple of wells dug. No utility bills for me. I also would have it out in the country of Colorado in a high enough elevation where I would not need A/C.
These are all smart investments in my mind, but too many people see what hollywood folks have and want that. A jeep for the family, and a hellcat for shits and giggles would be about the extent of my splurging regardless.
