LogFAQs > #921700340

I'm old, the world has changed, and it's generally harder for people just starting out now, but I have done a tone in my time. I would suggest the following for young people.

Stay in school and graduate, do it early like I did...but don't skip all of HS, I have always regretted that. Take your grades seriously and try and graduate with a 4.0 (or I guess there is better now).

If you get a scholarship, use it, but.......community college is just about free (or is free depending where you live) anyway. Don't just go to college right away though, make sure it's what you want, and that you have an idea what type of job you want.

I went to a trade school after I got out of the military (I joined at 17 the earliest you can, or well could). I highly recommend this even if you later decide to go to college. Mine was 9 months, 8 hours a day (40 a week). Graduated with an Electronic Techs degree. There are many options, and you can usually get a job right after graduation (most have good programs to help with that).

Even if you decide to go to college, you will have a decent income to help pay for it. You can pretty easily get your AA at a community college while working (I did back when Ds9 first aired....I went to night classes (Accelerated for some), while working during the day. Keep working whatever job you got from your trade school, and try and decide if you need/want anymore schooling, if there is a career you want (other then what your working in) or if you want to progress further in it (get a BA in your field for instance to move up in your company. Often jobs will help pay for college that furthers your knowledge of the field your working in, and will sometimes even hold a job for you when you graduate (or allow you to take the position before you get the degree even).

Avoid taking student loans. Don't rent your own place unless your field pays a ton, but instead have friends as roomates (good friends who you like hanging out with). Don't get anyone pregnant (I never did, but it's still important advice).

Invest money if you can. Back in my day (late 80's early 90's) EE bonds were SICK, 12-15% a year if I remember right. Sadly it didn't last long. You can't get as good investments anymore, but you can get 5% if you try....save money if you can (after paying for schooling, you can probably at least do that while getting your AA). That will let you hopefully pay for your BA between working and money you have saved without student loans (especially if your company helps as well).

Don't buy a new car, don't lease a car, get a decent car for about $1000 or so. If you don't know cars, have a friend who does help you find one. Insurance on it will be cheaper as well.

Get a credit card, even if you have to get a secured card (you deposit the money on the card) and start working on/building your credit. You can also buy a slightly more expensive car at a lot, on credit (payments are low and you can make more then the minimum, so if it's like $3000 total, you might pay a few hundred in interest by the time you pay it off). In all cases, always pay more then the minimum due for any credit cards, car payments etc. This builds your credit up, which you want to do asap. You can also take out student loans as long as you pay them off BEFORE you stop going to college (also builds credit...and no interest at all before you graduate).

Technically, in theory, you could take out student loans, invest the money, then pay them off before you graduate and keep any interest etc you made on the initial money as well (just don't spend it for fun!).

That is pretty much what I would do to be honest, you can skip the trade school, but honestly it's very worth it even if you only work in that field for a few years. The pay can be significantly higher. As an electronic tech I made $13 an hour (Base) and in 6 months got upgraded to lead tech at $16 an hour. Min wage when I was 19 was 4.25 an hour.
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