This will probably be long because I want you to have all the facts (just a heads up).
The Job Situation
I have a potential job offer coming up from the company I currently work at part-time and it could be one of those "life-changing" events for me. I'm 26 years old and have worked here full-time since I graduated college in 2006 until the beginning of 2010. I was just an assistant to the president making a "barely get by" paycheck while I spent my other time working on music opportunities (what I went to school for), but I was constantly taking on project after project that really had nothing to do with my position. I showed a high level of flexibility, a quick learning curve, and took a lot of pride in the quality of work I gave to the company, so even though I recently cut to part-time to pursue some other interests, they have basically asked if I'd be interested in a full-time, career-oriented position.
I don't have all the details yet (we're having a meeting tomorrow to discuss), but I made it clear to them that if I were to take on a position like this in a company like this, it would have to be for my long-term financial stability (retirement income/savings, comfortable living, etc). They agreed and I do know that the position will include full benefits (excellent benefits at this company) and a profit sharing plan that I've already been on for the past few years since I was initially full-time.
The Home Situation
I currently live at home in my parent's large house with two of my brothers where we all pay cheap rent. My parents split their year between here in CT and Florida where they have a place, so for 6-7 months out of the year, I basically rent a huge house with my two younger brothers. Three car garage, basement for my bike, huge yard and driveway, set far back from the road in a small town right next to a park. It's very nice and the cheap rent makes it very hard to give up.
I get along great with my parents and I actually didn't move out previously because my dad was counting on the rent to be able to keep both places. My girlfriend has her own place that I'm at quite a bit so privacy and stuff like that isn't really an issue even when they are in CT. The only thing that nags at me a little bit is that I'm heading towards my late 20's and still "living at home", even though it's not a cut and dry sort of situation.
Financial Situation
I don't know specifics on the salary they have in mind yet, but I do believe that they will offer me enough to meet my "minimum salary requirements" for taking the job. At this amount, I could afford a decent apartment on my own with utilities, cover my living expenses (food, gas, insurance, taxes, etc), student loan and motorcycle loan payments, put away some money for retirement, have a little spending money, and maybe have a small separate savings account. The student loan and fairly small motorcycle loan are my only debt as I paid off my new daily driver when I sold my Camaro.
So, The Debate
- There's a part of me that's going "You're 26 years old and getting into a career. It's probably time to move out so you don't have to say 'I live at home' when people ask and worry about privacy on those few occassions when when you do end up at your place with your girl."
- Then there's another part of me that's going "You could stay at home for another year or two with cheap rent, a huge garage, and a basement for the motorcycle. This would allow you to pay off your student loan and motorcycle loan, buy another 'fun car' with cash, and then move into your own place with ZERO debt owning a newer daily driver, a fun car, and a motorcycle outright. Plus by then you'll have had a raise or two and be in a position to chunk away some SERIOUS money for retirement, which you already started doing when you got the job because you didn't have all the expenses of your own apartment."
To be honest, the "move into your own place" argument really just comes down to an image thing. No one wants to be that guy who everyone thinks is living in his parents' basement because he doesn't have a job and can't afford his own place, so it is very tempting to move out as soon as I have the opportunity. On the other hand, being debt free, being able to buy another fun car since I had to sell my Camaro initially, and owning all three vehicles outright on top of being able to start saving more for retirement now just seems to make so much financial sense. Plus it's not like I'm in a bad situation right now "living at home". Like I said, for half the year it's like I'm just renting a huge house with my brothers and I don't mind helping my parents out with the rent I pay because it's cheap and they can use it. They would prefer I stay if anything so it's not like they're trying to get rid of me.
Anyways, thoughts? Opinions? Jokes? I'm open to whatever. Just thought I'd get some SVTP insight since I like to discuss financial stuff like this.
The Job Situation
I have a potential job offer coming up from the company I currently work at part-time and it could be one of those "life-changing" events for me. I'm 26 years old and have worked here full-time since I graduated college in 2006 until the beginning of 2010. I was just an assistant to the president making a "barely get by" paycheck while I spent my other time working on music opportunities (what I went to school for), but I was constantly taking on project after project that really had nothing to do with my position. I showed a high level of flexibility, a quick learning curve, and took a lot of pride in the quality of work I gave to the company, so even though I recently cut to part-time to pursue some other interests, they have basically asked if I'd be interested in a full-time, career-oriented position.
I don't have all the details yet (we're having a meeting tomorrow to discuss), but I made it clear to them that if I were to take on a position like this in a company like this, it would have to be for my long-term financial stability (retirement income/savings, comfortable living, etc). They agreed and I do know that the position will include full benefits (excellent benefits at this company) and a profit sharing plan that I've already been on for the past few years since I was initially full-time.
The Home Situation
I currently live at home in my parent's large house with two of my brothers where we all pay cheap rent. My parents split their year between here in CT and Florida where they have a place, so for 6-7 months out of the year, I basically rent a huge house with my two younger brothers. Three car garage, basement for my bike, huge yard and driveway, set far back from the road in a small town right next to a park. It's very nice and the cheap rent makes it very hard to give up.
I get along great with my parents and I actually didn't move out previously because my dad was counting on the rent to be able to keep both places. My girlfriend has her own place that I'm at quite a bit so privacy and stuff like that isn't really an issue even when they are in CT. The only thing that nags at me a little bit is that I'm heading towards my late 20's and still "living at home", even though it's not a cut and dry sort of situation.
Financial Situation
I don't know specifics on the salary they have in mind yet, but I do believe that they will offer me enough to meet my "minimum salary requirements" for taking the job. At this amount, I could afford a decent apartment on my own with utilities, cover my living expenses (food, gas, insurance, taxes, etc), student loan and motorcycle loan payments, put away some money for retirement, have a little spending money, and maybe have a small separate savings account. The student loan and fairly small motorcycle loan are my only debt as I paid off my new daily driver when I sold my Camaro.
So, The Debate
- There's a part of me that's going "You're 26 years old and getting into a career. It's probably time to move out so you don't have to say 'I live at home' when people ask and worry about privacy on those few occassions when when you do end up at your place with your girl."
- Then there's another part of me that's going "You could stay at home for another year or two with cheap rent, a huge garage, and a basement for the motorcycle. This would allow you to pay off your student loan and motorcycle loan, buy another 'fun car' with cash, and then move into your own place with ZERO debt owning a newer daily driver, a fun car, and a motorcycle outright. Plus by then you'll have had a raise or two and be in a position to chunk away some SERIOUS money for retirement, which you already started doing when you got the job because you didn't have all the expenses of your own apartment."
To be honest, the "move into your own place" argument really just comes down to an image thing. No one wants to be that guy who everyone thinks is living in his parents' basement because he doesn't have a job and can't afford his own place, so it is very tempting to move out as soon as I have the opportunity. On the other hand, being debt free, being able to buy another fun car since I had to sell my Camaro initially, and owning all three vehicles outright on top of being able to start saving more for retirement now just seems to make so much financial sense. Plus it's not like I'm in a bad situation right now "living at home". Like I said, for half the year it's like I'm just renting a huge house with my brothers and I don't mind helping my parents out with the rent I pay because it's cheap and they can use it. They would prefer I stay if anything so it's not like they're trying to get rid of me.
Anyways, thoughts? Opinions? Jokes? I'm open to whatever. Just thought I'd get some SVTP insight since I like to discuss financial stuff like this.
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