25 year old make 200K, has no savings

[Liberal_in_LA]

The $200,000-a-Year Mine Worker

Resources Boom Fuels Demand for Underground Labor, Spurs Skyrocketing Pay; a $1,200 Chihuahua.

MANDURAH, Australia—One of the fastest-growing costs in the global mining industry are workers like James Dinnison: the 25-year-old high-school dropout from Western Australia makes $200,000 a year running drills in underground mines to extract gold and other minerals.

The heavily tattooed Mr. Dinnison, who started in the mines seven years ago earning $100,000, owns a sky-blue 2009 Chevy Ute, which cost $55,000 before a $16,000 engine enhancement, and a $44,000 custom motorcycle. The price tag on his chihuahua, Dexter, which yaps at his feet: $1,200.



Despite having earned roughly US$1 million since he started, he has no savings and doesn't apologize. 'The mines are so dull, that when you get back here, everything is stimulation and excitement.'

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204621904577016172350869312.html

[virgogal]

1. Little Dexter is living proof that there is a sucker born every minute.

And I mean the kid,not the dog.

[onethatcares]

2. Does Australia have singlepayer healthcare?

or will Mr. Dinnison want the rest of the citizens to pay for his black lung?

[tammywammy]

3. I don't think he's mining coal.

As far as Australian healthcare: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Australia

[pitohui]

4. australia has great health care

please don't confuse australia w. america just because they both start w an "a"

yes, young men earning lots of money spend lots of money, it was ever thus, it is a statement about their confidence in themselves and in their country that they believe the money will flow forever

if he blows every penny so what? he's 25, he has time to start again, and he lives in a country that won't murder him if he gets sick at a time when he's temporarily embarrassed for funds

let him work hard and play hard, he's contributing to the economy from both sides so why not?

[pitohui]

5. also let me ask you how much savings YOU had at age 25???

almost everyone at that age has negative net worth because you are in the very beginning of your earning years, student loans or you buy a business or you buy a house or you have a child...if you have "savings" of more than a token amount in your twenties it isn't because of anything you did, it's because you picked your parents well, otherwise it's impossible through work to have "savings" at age 25 for the vast majority of the people

the ONLY reason this man has already worked his way up to earning 200K a year at his age is because he's a drop out and this has seniority built up, 7 years in the mines, trust me, for most drop outs to be where this man is HUGE...most drop outs have nothing and will never have nothing, he is making something of himself, don't crap on it because it isn't exactly the way we would do it

[onethatcares]

6. I apologize

I was once 25 and spending the hell out of my earnings too. Sadly I live in a country where they do kill you if you get sick at a time when you're embarrassed for funds. Never made 200K though.

As for my black lung reference, it's not only coal that settles in a persons lungs. I just used that as a reference.

[provis99]

7. it's nice a high school dropout can still have some hope.

He's working hard at a dangerous, soul-crushing job; I'd rather he get $200,000 a year than some right wing Wall Street asshole who produces nothing.

[Liberal_in_LA]

11. point taken. n/t

thanks whoever gave me the star!

[B Calm]

8. My employer hired a new truck driver two months ago. This stupid idiot

goes out and buys a new pickup, a new Dodge Charger. and a brand new Harley. Now he's complaining to the boss that he needs to work more hours.

[WinkyDink]

9. Am I supposed to care he's broke? Because it isn't happening.

[fishwax]

10. oy -- I should move to australia

:)