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Lone_Star_Dem

(28,158 posts)

143. I had a two year degree.

Fri Aug 31, 2012, 10:07 PM

Aug 2012

I once thought it would help me earn a living wage. To be honest, it did. Once.

I now have a four year degree and am still taking classes to diversify my skills. It's time consuming. I'm long past my majority, and I'm still in school. Why? Because the bar keeps getting higher to make a living.

I'm fine. I save every penny I can and reinvest it into my education. Right now I'm fine. However, I'm currently a small business owner, this means I'm not putting away what I should for my age for retirement. I won't be able to retire. That's my reality.

What do I do, stop trying to make sure I'm employable if/when I'm back on the hunt for a job? Or focus on my retirement?

My financial adviser is stumped on what I should do, beyond keeping my interest below inflation. Maybe you know?

I am what used to be the middle class. I'm currently making a living wage, but I'm locked into either working for the rest of my days or facing poverty in my retirement.

I don't know what to do.

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Few working at Staples make a living wage. [View all] longship Aug 2012 OP

then either don't take the job or quit blueamy66 Aug 2012 #1

When these are the only jobs available GObamaGO Aug 2012 #2

+1 Sherman A1 Aug 2012 #6

then don't take the job or quit blueamy66 Aug 2012 #7

you should get slammed. Texasgal Aug 2012 #13

I think this one took a left turn instead of a right turn GObamaGO Aug 2012 #27

Post removed Post removed Aug 2012 #112

If there is nothing else available GObamaGO Aug 2012 #19

You're not seeing the whole picture here. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #26

+1 GObamaGO Aug 2012 #33

That's a temporary situation, right? This is a rough patch the person is going through? Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #49

Actually, this is based on more than one person I know. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #53

Are you in Texas, Lone Star? I am, too. Where in Texas is the economy that bad? Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #58

This is just on the outskirts of Austin. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #67

If you don't think that educated people Texasgal Aug 2012 #126

Did you mean to say this to me? Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #133

That is not what I said. HE said there were lots of "ivy league" MBA degreed people were Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #142

How do you not believe that? Texasgal Aug 2012 #146

Yes, it's hard to change your circumstances. Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #165

This where I have always have lived. Texasgal Sep 2012 #167

when the economy is no longer based on good jobs, there won't be another good one for most people CreekDog Aug 2012 #82

How does that get done CreekDog? Mimosa Aug 2012 #118

+1 forthemiddle Aug 2012 #140

You swipe toilet paper and light bulbs from public areas! MADem Aug 2012 #52

No, it's not realistic. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #55

It's always been hard for non-college educated people to get good paying jobs. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #61

where do you get the idea marions ghost Aug 2012 #72

I'm a nurse. The waiting list for LPN classes was so long it was done away with. Same for RN classes Heddi Aug 2012 #86

So you agree with me... marions ghost Aug 2012 #90

absolutely in agreement with you Heddi Aug 2012 #132

Well, my my my. There is absolutely NO answer for anyone to get ahead besides someone giving Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #138

You can get an RN in 2 or 4 years Heddi Aug 2012 #157

I see I'm speaking to a wall. You don't want someone to get better... Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #164

Two words: Musical Chairs. reformist2 Sep 2012 #166

No, it hasn't always been hard. There used to be strong unions Gormy Cuss Aug 2012 #88

Only if you live in a place with large employers, like factories. It has ALWAYS been hard for Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #139

No, it hasn't *always" been hard, and union jobs could be had in the teamsters, on railroads, etc Gormy Cuss Sep 2012 #168

bullshit. my millworker uncle & his non-working wife supported 5 kids & bought a new car HiPointDem Aug 2012 #97

Before the 1970s life for working people was better Mimosa Aug 2012 #120

it has gotten worse since reagan, immeasurably. at the time you thought it was temporary & HiPointDem Aug 2012 #122

Your uncle was lucky enough to live in an area with a mill. You're thinking every place is like Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #144

no, it's you who doesn't get it. you want to talk statistics? HiPointDem Sep 2012 #160

I'm sorry...I don't see the chart comparing college degreed w/those w/no ed. Honeycombe8 Sep 2012 #163

You didn't say "it's always been harder for non-college than college-educated." You said: HiPointDem Sep 2012 #171

Now it's hard for college grads to get jobs - is the answer more education??? reformist2 Aug 2012 #99

I had a two year degree. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #143

The only way IT was possible was by former-republican Aug 2012 #63

They have to take what they can get and hope for better days. Even if it's that shitty Staples job MADem Aug 2012 #65

+++++ marions ghost Aug 2012 #91

Okay, so we finally get to go home tomorrow after being in free hotel rooms for 4 nights cause blueamy66 Aug 2012 #129

Hey, why don't you just go get a job Texasgal Aug 2012 #131

Post removed Post removed Aug 2012 #149

+1 Starry Messenger Sep 2012 #161

I'm not in the least bit upset with you. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #134

+1 tilsammans Aug 2012 #147

the big tent of the new democratic party HiPointDem Aug 2012 #96

So what you want is a minimum wage world and we should all set back and take the kind of business jwirr Aug 2012 #102

You would fit rignt in nadinbrzezinski Aug 2012 #128

Did his friend pass up a job as lead curator at the Smithsonian? Dash87 Sep 2012 #158

Some people are clueless as to how hard good jobs are to find. Incitatus Aug 2012 #10

+1,000 upi402 Aug 2012 #141

Are you serious? Texasgal Aug 2012 #3

Maybe they shouldn't have accepted the job in the first place. blueamy66 Aug 2012 #14

Uhhh...maybe they need to feed their family? Texasgal Aug 2012 #20

Thank God we have minimum wage laws. reformist2 Aug 2012 #21

do you not get it? Terra Alta Aug 2012 #29

when it's the only job available to you Terra Alta Aug 2012 #4

For Christ sakes, you don't get it, do you. longship Aug 2012 #16

no, that poster doesn't get it, they post conservative crap all the time CreekDog Aug 2012 #83

What a horrible post. Alduin Aug 2012 #46

Surprise Surprise obamanut2012 Aug 2012 #66

+1 n/t tammywammy Aug 2012 #74

Oh gods. Starry Messenger Aug 2012 #68

considering how much you complain about things here, and *children* chief among them... CreekDog Aug 2012 #77

Funny That She Stays Given She So Dislikes So Much Of What DU Has To Say HangOnKids Aug 2012 #105

I had no idea you had an account on DU, Mrs. Romney. LeftyMom Aug 2012 #89

"Big tent". Romulox Aug 2012 #93

Right, because demanding more is for Martians only. closeupready Aug 2012 #94

Channeling Ann Romney? MindPilot Aug 2012 #103

Free Republic is thataway >>>>>>>>>>> kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #114

Not so smug now, huh? Starry Messenger Sep 2012 #162

Bix Box stores are turning ALL retailing jobs into crap... UNIONS are the only answer. reformist2 Aug 2012 #5

Precisely Sherman A1 Aug 2012 #9

unions? I worked at AT&T for 10 years. blueamy66 Aug 2012 #12

If you look at the balance sheets of any of the big box stores GObamaGO Aug 2012 #23

Staples: $920 million profit. 51,000 employees. You do the math. reformist2 Aug 2012 #30

I know! GObamaGO Aug 2012 #35

With the internet, I am amazed we haven't seen a revival of unionization yet. reformist2 Aug 2012 #38

I agree GObamaGO Aug 2012 #41

40 years of people like that poster saying "it's your own fault! pick yourself up by your boot- HiPointDem Aug 2012 #125

"They should've been happy with what they got." Robb Aug 2012 #31

My guess is this one is not a fellow liberal. GObamaGO Aug 2012 #37

"How are business owners to make money?" brentspeak Aug 2012 #36

LOL - I can't believe someone actually posted that! reformist2 Aug 2012 #42

Let's talk reasonably about unions. I'm down with that. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #48

anti union too? CreekDog Aug 2012 #76

Those big corporations make LOTS of money. But it's nice to know you are so supportive of them in kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #108

I good question for you. Jamastiene Aug 2012 #156

few working at any store make a living wage fascisthunter Aug 2012 #8

Which is sad, growing up, our next door neighbor was Produce Manager at a local Safeway. haele Aug 2012 #100

Thank you - it's anecdotes like this which show how far we've fallen. reformist2 Aug 2012 #107

Gripe, gripe, gripe! He got a discount on paper clips didn't he? Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #11

I would like a nice job with decent bennies blueamy66 Aug 2012 #17

Yep. Really. Lone_Star_Dem Aug 2012 #28

I just checked, Staples has a profit of $920 million. If just 50% was shared by employees... reformist2 Aug 2012 #15

Was that profit sharing offered when the job was offered? blueamy66 Aug 2012 #18

Profits will be shared, once they unionize! reformist2 Aug 2012 #22

How about a living WAGE? Texasgal Aug 2012 #25

WHAT is WRONG with you? DiverDave Aug 2012 #98

Just because.......what? Just because they WORK? Just because they are the means by which the kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #109

Just because they made the business profitable? lumberjack_jeff Aug 2012 #124

Why should employees get a share of the co profits? I mean, on what basis. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #39

Profit sharing gives everyone a stake in how the company does GObamaGO Aug 2012 #44

There are companies that do that...I know of them as retirement plans. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #137

The only people making money are the big Texasgal Aug 2012 #130

That's not what my post was about at all. nt Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #135

Okay, I am willing to understand. Texasgal Aug 2012 #136

That's the maximum possible? longship Aug 2012 #40

Their wages could be $10,000 higher, and Staples would still be hugely profitable. reformist2 Aug 2012 #50

Profit sharing former-republican Aug 2012 #24

Obviously, minimum-wage laws protect against no paycheck. But treat profit-sharing as a bonus. reformist2 Aug 2012 #32

Depends former-republican Aug 2012 #43

Only under certain rather limited conditions.. n/t Fumesucker Aug 2012 #92

That co. isn't doing well, I think. Those employees need to look elsewhere. nt Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #34

Retail GObamaGO Aug 2012 #47

Then the workers need to change vocations. If everyone changed.... Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #56

I know someone who works in HR at a Target Store GObamaGO Aug 2012 #57

I don't believe that, actually. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #64

You can choose not to believe it GObamaGO Aug 2012 #71

Where is that happening? And what did people w/MBAs do before the recession? nt Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #80

Stop bashing people and realize there aren't enough good paying jobs to go around. reformist2 Aug 2012 #73

Stop bashing people and realize that you didn't answer the question. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #78

They certainly are obamanut2012 Aug 2012 #75

Where? nt Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #79

funny - I posted about a 70-80k office job with great benefits here 6 mos ago dmallind Sep 2012 #159

where do you live dhol82 Aug 2012 #60

I live in Dallas. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #70

where do people get money? lots of them don't get enough and live in poverty CreekDog Aug 2012 #104

You don't understand. In this thread we have a Texas conservative and an Arizona conservative, kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #113

Yep CreekDog Aug 2012 #115

I really hope you are not speaking about me. Texasgal Aug 2012 #123

I'm not. kestrel91316 Aug 2012 #155

I am neither cold nor insensitive. I have been homeless myself... Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #148

When you address me, you are speaking to the working poor, the homeless, the uninsured... Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #153

My sister is in a nursing home on Medicaid, having had a stroke at a young age. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #145

Do you want the people's situation to get better, or not? Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #150

Most fields and schools are flooded davidn3600 Aug 2012 #81

+1 Incitatus Aug 2012 #85

Nothing is ever "fine" in the short term. It takes years. It's not RW to DO something Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #152

We just hired several paralegals and a secretary. Jobs are hoppin' here in Dallas. Honeycombe8 Aug 2012 #151

But that is part of the problem...it's a catch-22 davidn3600 Sep 2012 #172

Damn! This thread brought 'em out the woodwork! Nt xchrom Aug 2012 #45

Thanks, xchrom. longship Aug 2012 #51

I used some of the responses, starting with the very first, to tune up and coalition_unwilling Aug 2012 #54

Same here! Blecht Aug 2012 #127

Shaking my head here GObamaGO Aug 2012 #59

Shocking. Texasgal Aug 2012 #62

+1000 Starry Messenger Aug 2012 #69

one wonders why they spend so much time with us when it's clear they don't think much of us CreekDog Aug 2012 #84

Yeah, she's definitely a freeper. closeupready Aug 2012 #106

I get so furious every time I hear a Republican claim liberal_at_heart Aug 2012 #87

Corporations have record profits. They can afford to give their peon employees raises. reformist2 Aug 2012 #95

. Liberal_in_LA Aug 2012 #101

It's the OWNERS who deserve all the money! The OWNERS! moondust Aug 2012 #110

So true. The more you think about what ordinary people do, the more equal you want pay to be. reformist2 Aug 2012 #111

Employment income is "three legged" - Entrepreneurship, Private Sector, Public Sector - haele Aug 2012 #116

That's big corporation strategy in all retail Mimosa Aug 2012 #117

I used to be a GM at Staples. I left 7 years ago to become a teacher. Pale Blue Dot Aug 2012 #119

These are not good jobs Romney created. The jobs they replaced applegrove Aug 2012 #121

the local store where i go has 100% turnover rate madrchsod Aug 2012 #154

Bigot RW owner of Staples considers it an accomplishment no doubt lunasun Sep 2012 #169

oh yeah and this kind of crap from owner Stemberg re: ACA aka obamacare lunasun Sep 2012 #170