Tag: financial independence

Posted on

An Experiment With Minimalism Across the Pond

A new job gave me the opportunity to experiment with minimalism across the pond

Happy thirtieth birthday to me.

Let the death march begin.

It’s okay, I had fun in my youth. Shenanigans in my teens, going for something between goth and heavy metal. Dating a local musician, going to shows, becoming the unintended groupie. And my minivan really rounded out the persona.

I embraced the academic world, took a range of classes – philosophy, world religion, literature, biology, psychology, statistics. Even stayed up late reading great works, and made time to go to a few shows every semester. Slipped away and reunited with my high school friends over drinks and live music.

And then I became a corporate whore and suburbanite.

Continue reading “An Experiment With Minimalism Across the Pond”
Posted on

My First House and Settling for the Suburban Life

Buying my first house was a combination of luck and discipline.

The corporate Koolaid tasted delicious.

I broke my tooth six months into my new job. Paid time off was available to me to to visit the dentist, and insurance covered some of the cost. Every two weeks, a deposit came into my account like clockwork. It took a few months to stop thinking like an hourly employee, wondering if I’d have enough money for my bills, for my rent. Worrying that my schedule would be cut one week, hoping for overtime the next week.

Continue reading “My First House and Settling for the Suburban Life”
Posted on

Good Grades in College ≠ Job After Graduation

Study hard, but understand good grades doesn't guarantee a job

In college, I kicked ass. Unfortunately for me, I had no idea good grades don’t guarantee a good job.

I completed a dual major in four years, while working 20-30 hours a week. I was part of a few college organizations. Becoming the secretary, and eventually president, of the Student Psychological Association at my campus was particularly fun and challenging. I kept a 3.75 GPA and graduated magna cum laude. I completed an undergraduate research thesis (a project typically reserved for master’s students) to get first-hand experience implementing, analyzing, and reporting on psychological experiments. My research paper for this work was published, and I even presented the results at a couple of conferences. I found an entry-level position in “my field” during the last year or so of my college career to best position myself for my first adult job.

The entryway to my career. The path towards “success.”

Continue reading “Good Grades in College ≠ Job After Graduation”