Thinking about dropping out of college despite having a full ride because the education is not worth the time investment, and I can train for running by myself. Does anyone here have experience with living in a very modest home/apartment, being single, not having a ton of material items, and making a small amount of money due to not working many hours? I could see myself living off $35K or less, but I live in a small state and that is probably pocket change for people in cali, NY, etc.
fine by me wrote:
Thinking about dropping out of college despite having a full ride because the education is not worth the time investment, and I can train for running by myself. Does anyone here have experience with living in a very modest home/apartment, being single, not having a ton of material items, and making a small amount of money due to not working many hours? I could see myself living off $35K or less, but I live in a small state and that is probably pocket change for people in cali, NY, etc.
Being poor doesn't have to mean being single. Look around you, man. The poors breed like bunnies.
It’s not really being poor if you live comfortably. It is just not a lot of money and many narrow minded people will call it poor. Now, not only do I not want to take care of another person or family, but they likely would not support my desired lifestyle anyway. I just want some stories/advice from people with experience.
College will be a long-term investment likely. If you are just thinking of your long-term financial future, keeping the full ride is the absolute best you can do. Your future earning potential gets a lot higher when you have a degree. There are always exceptions to the rule, but that's how it is. I wouldn't just think about how little money you can live off right NOW, because your decision to walk away from a full ride affects your lifetime earnings. You're literally making a decision that affects you on your death bed.
College is way more relaxed than working. You already have a full ride. Keep going until you graduate. Try working for at least a few years and see how you like it. You can probably get a pretty chill job and have a happy medium between time to run and enough money to do other stuff (and eat well). At least at that point you'll have the choice. If you quit now, you're 95% stuck. It's a lot harder to go back if you change your mind after quitting.
$35k for a single person is way more than enough.
I make $48k and support my wife and three kids no problem.
Poor by whose standards?
Go to Thailand outside of the cities. You will see extreme poverty coupled with the happiest people on earth.
I finished university and have a job working in Corporate America. I make around $80k annually in the Seattle area which has a high cost of living. I would consider myself something of a minimalist as I don't have an appetite for material wealth accumulation or status items. Personally, I would suggest finishing your degree to give yourself maximum flexibility in the job market. While you might be fine making a low salary for now, you might meet a woman someday or have something else happen that will incentivize you to increase your income.
If you have a path anything like mine, you'll pursue your hobbies and passions on the side for most of your fulfillment while working a stable salary position to pay the bills and save for your golden years. Fair warning to you though that people around you will constantly try to suck you into the corporate pyramid and materialistic vortex that they themselves are caught in. Think of the overweight, hypertense middle manager who hasn't had sex with his wife (or has an erection) for years, but backwards rationalizes his situation by wearing expensive clothes and driving a luxury car.
Your happiness is up to you. There was a time in this country when people were poor but very happy. In fact many people were poor but didn’t know it. I have read this in books about people who lived in the early/mid 20th century. I think we have become less happy as we have become more prosperous, but that’s another conversation entirely.
I missed the part about you having a full ride. If I were you, I would stick it out until college ends. Then you can do whatever you want. You can live on less, you can live on more. The point is, with that degree you have options. Without a degree, you have fewer options. Especially as you’re not paying for your college, there’s no reason in the world why you shouldn’t finish.
Not worth the time investment??? What’s the rush? You have the rest of your life to be an adult, working an adult job and paying adult bills. These are the golden years of your life so you might as well delay “growing up” as long as you can. Especially since college isn’t a financial burden for you.
Go talk to some old people who are poor. See how happy they are.
it's difficult being happy i you are truly 'poor' but a single person making 35k in a low-cost state has plenty enough to be happy.
the argument for college is that will make it much easier to live a low stress 'poor' lifestyle further down the road. It could become very very difficult to find a job that pays even 35k in some areas of the country very soon.
There are a ton of low stress reasonably paid jobs out there that require a college degree. Why limit yourself? Most people change careers several times in their life, so basing your choice off what you want to do now isn't always the wisest.
If the degree is free it makes plenty of sense.
besides, trolling doesn't really pay all that well either.
ChadBrad wrote:
Go talk to some old people who are poor. See how happy they are.
Conversely, go talk to some overstressed corporate climbers in management, see how happy they are.
I'm not sure I've met someone trying to aggressively climb the corporate ladder who is also happy, or even ended up happy. Not one.
Gotta find that balance.
do the math wrote:
ChadBrad wrote:
Go talk to some old people who are poor. See how happy they are.
Conversely, go talk to some overstressed corporate climbers in management, see how happy they are.
I'm not sure I've met someone trying to aggressively climb the corporate ladder who is also happy, or even ended up happy. Not one.
Proof that you haven't met any and are basing it on TV/hollywood depictions.
do the math wrote:
ChadBrad wrote:
Go talk to some old people who are poor. See how happy they are.
Conversely, go talk to some overstressed corporate climbers in management, see how happy they are.
I'm not sure I've met someone trying to aggressively climb the corporate ladder who is also happy, or even ended up happy. Not one.
Gotta find that balance.
COVID lockdowns actually helped. I started running again and playing with the kids more. Wife is still a crazy b!tch, though. Like Meatloaf says, two out of three ain't bad.
You can do anything you want if you set your mind to it. Don't worry about money!
-Boomer Bob
You should finish if on a full scholarship. Almost a free option for you later down the line.
do the math wrote:
ChadBrad wrote:
Go talk to some old people who are poor. See how happy they are.
Conversely, go talk to some overstressed corporate climbers in management, see how happy they are.
I'm not sure I've met someone trying to aggressively climb the corporate ladder who is also happy, or even ended up happy. Not one.
Gotta find that balance.
By your logic a world class runner shouldn’t push himself to be a Olympic champion. Too much hard work and competition! Just chill bro, find that balance between great and nothing. Think it’s called being mediocre. And if that’s cool for you, then it’s allllll good....
fine by me wrote:
Thinking about dropping out of college despite having a full ride because the education is not worth the time investment, and I can train for running by myself. Does anyone here have experience with living in a very modest home/apartment, being single, not having a ton of material items, and making a small amount of money due to not working many hours? I could see myself living off $35K or less, but I live in a small state and that is probably pocket change for people in cali, NY, etc.
One issue will be that “training” will cease to be all that rewarding in 10 years as you start to age. It should be a hobby, not your life, unless you are at least national class.
At some point you’ll realize that winning your local 5k is pretty darn insignificant. Not having a college degree will keep many doors closed down the road. You’ll have few options. Having options is a good thing.