I want to build and sell computers.

G80FTW said:
I never said I wanted this to be my main source of income. I said I just wanted to make a little extra on the side if I could. And I never said google was my credentials either. I stated I have 13 years experience building computers and that if there was anything I NEEDED to know, that I dont already, I can always look it up. Thats the advantage of todays information age. Just like people who come to this forum seeking help, its no different.

There are other ways to gain knowledge than school. While I would love to go to college for this particular field, I feel that the money it cost is not worth the information gained. While it might help me land a high paying job in the future, Im not prepared to throw away $20k+ and wait for a job that might take me years to get. And from what I hear, IT professionals dont all make that good of money. If we are talkin $50k a year, the $20k in college is hardly worth that when I make more than half of that now.
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Try getting a job in IT without any college education. You would be able to start off as a very basic tech if you really push your knowledge, making maybe $20-$30k a year, but you'd have to find the right job that hires from within and move up slowly. Even if you work there for a few years, applying for a higher position with only a few years experience with no college background won't get you that job. Also, $20k for college is not very much at all.

voyagerfan99 said:
Oh the customers at work. They're always like "Oh did you go to school for this?" All I'm doing is replacing a hard drive, removing a virus, or replacing hardware. No. I'm not going to school for this. I'm going to school to study NETWORKING! This is the easy stuff that I picked up and taught myself over the years when I first started getting serious about computers.

Also, IT professionals don't make 50K a year. They make a lot more as they move up the chain. Help desk probably makes that, if not less. But networking professionals such as myself make a lot more than 50K.
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G80FTW said:
So positions that would take years to get as I thought?
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voyagerfan99 said:
It won't take forever if that's what you're thinking. Once I get out in that field this coming summer I'll be able to tell you better.
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Similar to what I posted above, due to the economy there are lots of professionals with experience and education that are looking for jobs, so even right out of college you aren't going to get an IT admin/manager, or even tier 2/3 tech position. Most likely you'd start out as an entry level or slightly higher tech, unless you have personal connections with a company that's hiring and you can persuade them to take you on.

Just for an example, this is what happened to me in the IT field. Part of my college degree required me to get an internship, so I applied at the school district where that I attended and got it. They had an open position before I finished school, so they offered me the job for $28k with an increase to $30k once I finish school later that year. 2 years later a position opened up at the middle school, and I got a small bump to $35k, a year later there was a position at the high school and I got a bump to $47k, where I am now. The next step for me is to move out of the school district with 6 years of experience and a few certs, and land a job as a network administrator (which is what I do now at the school district, just with a different title).

The big money is in programming, security, and network engineers (among some others), all of which require degrees, certs, and experience.

Okedokey said:
$800 a month? My mortgate is $5K a month.
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And that's why $100k is not much for you. Short of having a family of 10+ or wanting to impress your friends and neighbors, you don't need a $5k mortgage to live well.
 
WRXGuy1 said:
Try getting a job in IT without any college education. You would be able to start off as a very basic tech if you really push your knowledge, making maybe $20-$30k a year, but you'd have to find the right job that hires from within and move up slowly. Even if you work there for a few years, applying for a higher position with only a few years experience with no college background won't get you that job. Also, $20k for college is not very much at all.
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Im makin $30k/year now. I think I will just ride where Im at right now until a supervisor position opens up and I can get $40k/year and just be happy with that.

I dont need to be rich I just wanted to work with computers for a living but like I said I feel like its pointless to spend $20k+ on college (or more as you said) then get out of college and make exactly what I make now only now I would I have a shit ton of student loans to pay for and I would be dragging in the dirt for years until I got up to make the real money. Or I could just stay where Im at, not get myself into $20k+ of debt, and MAKE money instead of spending it.

Ill just sit back and wait for my time to come. The company I work for right now knows what I can do, and they will move me up when the time comes.
 
G80FTW said:
Im makin $30k/year now. I think I will just ride where Im at right now until a supervisor position opens up and I can get $40k/year and just be happy with that.

I dont need to be rich I just wanted to work with computers for a living but like I said I feel like its pointless to spend $20k+ on college (or more as you said) then get out of college and make exactly what I make now only now I would I have a shit ton of student loans to pay for and I would be dragging in the dirt for years until I got up to make the real money. Or I could just stay where Im at, not get myself into $20k+ of debt, and MAKE money instead of spending it.

Ill just sit back and wait for my time to come. The company I work for right now knows what I can do, and they will move me up when the time comes.
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In several years you'd more than make up for the cost of college, even just an associates degree from a community college would help a lot.
 
G80FTW said:
Im makin $30k/year now. I think I will just ride where Im at right now until a supervisor position opens up and I can get $40k/year and just be happy with that.

I dont need to be rich I just wanted to work with computers for a living but like I said I feel like its pointless to spend $20k+ on college (or more as you said) then get out of college and make exactly what I make now only now I would I have a shit ton of student loans to pay for and I would be dragging in the dirt for years until I got up to make the real money. Or I could just stay where Im at, not get myself into $20k+ of debt, and MAKE money instead of spending it.

Ill just sit back and wait for my time to come. The company I work for right now knows what I can do, and they will move me up when the time comes.
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I think there's an aspect of having a college degree that you may be overlooking. In my experience (25+ years as a software engineer) those people without a degree are the first to be laid off and the last to be hired. I personally have 4 buddies that do not have a college degree (I have a BS in Management). Over the past 30 years all 5 of us have worked in the tech field. In that 30 years, I got laid off once, my friends have been laid off 3-4 times each. When I got laid off, it took me 10 months to find another job making approximately the same money but my friends often took 1-2 years to find another job making less money. I can't say that my degree is the only reason for the difference but I feel it is a major reason. I have talked to each of them and all state they regret not getting a degree.
 
Started building computers in 1995. Probably started building for customers around 1997. Parts were harder to find back then, before newegg or tiger and such. Used to order them from a local electronic store. Was serious about it back then. Wasn't as many computer makers and they were high. Plus the parts weren't that expensive. Could make pretty good money. But as more and more OEMs came out and price wars started the bottom fell out. Own my own business and have for the last 26 years. But I still do builds as a part time job. On my job I meet a lot of Lawyers/Doctors/CEO/Executives. They like having custom builds instead of off the self OEMs, plus end up building for their kids. Basically what I'm saying is, its hard to do it full time and make money because there are so many manufacturers out. Unless you do it as a part time job like I do and find a niche.
 
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strollin said:
I think there's an aspect of having a college degree that you may be overlooking. In my experience (25+ years as a software engineer) those people without a degree are the first to be laid off and the last to be hired. I personally have 4 buddies that do not have a college degree (I have a BS in Management). Over the past 30 years all 5 of us have worked in the tech field. In that 30 years, I got laid off once, my friends have been laid off 3-4 times each. When I got laid off, it took me 10 months to find another job making approximately the same money but my friends often took 1-2 years to find another job making less money. I can't say that my degree is the only reason for the difference but I feel it is a major reason. I have talked to each of them and all state they regret not getting a degree.
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I completely understand how companies look at people who have college compared to those that dont.

But I guess what it really comes down to is maybe I dont have the confidence it takes to hold a degree and present myself as a college graduate. And by that, I mean I struggle alot in interviews. I never really know how to present myself. I always figured good old fashioned hard work would be enough to get me where I want to go. Sadly though, alot of companies dont really care how hard you work or how good you are at your job or at doing other things, all they care about is that piece of paper.

But I think that things will be different with the company I am at now. I have a great relationship with all upper management and I think that will get me where I want to be when the time comes.

There is actually a position open at my company right now that I think would fit me perfectly, a mechanical drafter. Basically reverse engineering parts and making 3D models of them in CAD software. But they want 2 years of college which I dont have so I didnt apply for it, but upper management already knows I have basic experience in almost all computer programs I even listed my experience with Autodesk 3DSMax 2009. Which is as close to a CAD program I have used, Im sure what they use is different since that I think is more for game development.

If they re-post that position I might apply for it. I might even make a 3D model of a forklift to display my skill in the program which might be enough to get me the job alone hopefully. (The company I work for specializes in forklift and forklift parts).

That said someone who is in the field of IT and has been for years, a guy I used to work for at my old job, was telling me that web design and programming is where the money is at. So if I do go back to school I might go for that. He also said I can get some kind of certificate from Microsoft which cost a couple grand but is highly sought after. So I might just go that route.

I also regret dropping out of college. Had I stayed, I would already have a degree in computer networking. However, I feel that time has come and gone for me. I would have to spend all that money to go back to school for 4 years and by that time I will be almost 30 and the time it would take for me to make all that money back that I spent on college I feel I would spend alot of years chasing my tail.
 
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While web design and programming are indeed money makers, you have to enjoy working on a computer typing code all day. If you aren't the type of person who would enjoy creating programs at home during their down time, you probably wouldn't like being told to code for hours a day. I could not do that on a daily basis, no matter how good the money was. You have to live and breath programming to really do a good job coding.
 
I understood that perfectly. I used to code video games on my C64. In fact I sold one to Compute! magazine.
 
G80FTW said:
I completely understand how companies look at people who have college compared to those that dont.

But I guess what it really comes down to is maybe I dont have the confidence it takes to hold a degree and present myself as a college graduate. And by that, I mean I struggle alot in interviews. I never really know how to present myself. I always figured good old fashioned hard work would be enough to get me where I want to go. Sadly though, alot of companies dont really care how hard you work or how good you are at your job or at doing other things, all they care about is that piece of paper.

But I think that things will be different with the company I am at now. I have a great relationship with all upper management and I think that will get me where I want to be when the time comes.

There is actually a position open at my company right now that I think would fit me perfectly, a mechanical drafter. Basically reverse engineering parts and making 3D models of them in CAD software. But they want 2 years of college which I dont have so I didnt apply for it, but upper management already knows I have basic experience in almost all computer programs I even listed my experience with Autodesk 3DSMax 2009. Which is as close to a CAD program I have used, Im sure what they use is different since that I think is more for game development.

If they re-post that position I might apply for it. I might even make a 3D model of a forklift to display my skill in the program which might be enough to get me the job alone hopefully. (The company I work for specializes in forklift and forklift parts).

That said someone who is in the field of IT and has been for years, a guy I used to work for at my old job, was telling me that web design and programming is where the money is at. So if I do go back to school I might go for that. He also said I can get some kind of certificate from Microsoft which cost a couple grand but is highly sought after. So I might just go that route.

I also regret dropping out of college. Had I stayed, I would already have a degree in computer networking. However, I feel that time has come and gone for me. I would have to spend all that money to go back to school for 4 years and by that time I will be almost 30 and the time it would take for me to make all that money back that I spent on college I feel I would spend alot of years chasing my tail.
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You are going to potentially live for up to another 50-80 years. Why are you complaining about 4? If you want to do something with your life, just do it. You are pretty much listing off every excuse you can think of to justify your decision to do nothing. How does a company know you are a hard worker before they even hire you? They look at a piece of paper that took you 2-4 years to get. That's called dedication. No, it's not hard to get a degree, but it takes a lot of self motivation to see it through.
The fact that you are unwilling to go the distance you need to, to get where you want does not speak a lot for your determination or your work ethic. Not to mention it says to people that you are satisfied with where you are in life giving no one any reason to think you should move up in the world.

And just so you know, having school loans doesn't mean you'll be living on ends meet. Jesus, it doesn't take a $100k job to make the monthly payments.
 
Troncoso said:
You are going to potentially live for up to another 50-80 years. Why are you complaining about 4? If you want to do something with your life, just do it. You are pretty much listing off every excuse you can think of to justify your decision to do nothing. How does a company know you are a hard worker before they even hire you? They look at a piece of paper that took you 2-4 years to get. That's called dedication. No, it's not hard to get a degree, but it takes a lot of self motivation to see it through.
The fact that you are unwilling to go the distance you need to, to get where you want does not speak a lot for your determination or your work ethic. Not to mention it says to people that you are satisfied with where you are in life giving no one any reason to think you should move up in the world.

And just so you know, having school loans doesn't mean you'll be living on ends meet. Jesus, it doesn't take a $100k job to make the monthly payments.
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+1 on this. I was about to post a very similar statement.

I have a relative who went to school for 8 years to work with children who have special needs. Her schooling was roughly $32,000 a YEAR. She graduated and has been working a job in that career path. This career path doesn't pay well at all but guess what... she is getting by just fine financially. So for you to say it isn't worth it to pay $20,000 on a education because of the salary afterwards.... is a bit ridiculous.
 
Troncoso said:
You are going to potentially live for up to another 50-80 years. Why are you complaining about 4? If you want to do something with your life, just do it. You are pretty much listing off every excuse you can think of to justify your decision to do nothing. How does a company know you are a hard worker before they even hire you? They look at a piece of paper that took you 2-4 years to get. That's called dedication. No, it's not hard to get a degree, but it takes a lot of self motivation to see it through.
The fact that you are unwilling to go the distance you need to, to get where you want does not speak a lot for your determination or your work ethic. Not to mention it says to people that you are satisfied with where you are in life giving no one any reason to think you should move up in the world.

And just so you know, having school loans doesn't mean you'll be living on ends meet. Jesus, it doesn't take a $100k job to make the monthly payments.
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Maybe so. I do enjoy what I am doing now, and I like my place in the company. Im not exactly at the bottom, no where near the top either haha. I like where I am at because I have a direct impact on customer satisfaction. Which I enjoy having that kind of impact, the kind of impact I wouldnt really have being a supervisor or working at a desk.

I just dont enjoy debt. Any kind of debt. Id rather make $30k/year and not have any debt to owe anyone.

I do graphic design and stuff in my free time, hopefully someday I can turn that into a sort of freelance job and make money that way.
 
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WRXGuy1 said:
And that's why $100k is not much for you. Short of having a family of 10+ or wanting to impress your friends and neighbors, you don't need a $5k mortgage to live well.
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Are you guys tripping?

The median house price in sydney is nearly 700K. http://www.homepriceguide.com.au/Default.aspx

You want to only spend 350K??? Well how about a 2 hour commute living in the shit hole burbs... and still pay $2500 per month.

At going interest rates, just to pay the interest (not the principle), its over $4000 per month at 7%. Thats just the interest. So yeah, 100K isn't much.

G80FTW said:
Good for you. Not all of use feel like wasting our money on space we dont need. I am perfectly happy paying $800/month for a 4 bedroom house.
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I'd love to see your 4 bedroom house for 200 per week. Can you show me any rentals for that???
 
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Okedokey said:
Are you guys tripping?

The median house price in sydney is nearly 700K. http://www.homepriceguide.com.au/Default.aspx

You want to only spend 350K??? Well how about a 2 hour commute living in the shit hole burbs... and still pay $2500 per month.

At going interest rates, just to pay the interest (not the principle), its over $4000 per month at 7%. Thats just the interest. So yeah, 100K isn't much.



I'd love to see your 4 bedroom house for 200 per week. Can you show me any rentals for that???
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The United States and Australia are 2 completely different places with completely different economies....
 
Okedokey said:
Are you guys tripping?

The median house price in sydney is nearly 700K. http://www.homepriceguide.com.au/Default.aspx

You want to only spend 350K??? Well how about a 2 hour commute living in the shit hole burbs... and still pay $2500 per month.

At going interest rates, just to pay the interest (not the principle), its over $4000 per month at 7%. Thats just the interest. So yeah, 100K isn't much.



I'd love to see your 4 bedroom house for 200 per week. Can you show me any rentals for that???
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Troncoso said:
The United States and Australia are 2 completely different places with completely different economies....
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Exactly.

Do you want to live well in NYC? Expect to pay millions of dollars for a 2-3 bedroom apartment-style condo in Manhattan. Not everyone lives in the largest city in the country, around here in the north east of the US you can live in a suburb or semi-rural area only 5-15 minutes from the city easily for $250k. It all depends on where you live, and it's all relative - you make more, but you pay more.
 
Troncoso said:
The United States and Australia are 2 completely different places with completely different economies....
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Exactly. You cannot compare the two. What might get you along very nicely in one place might not suffice in another.
 
http://www.realtor.com/realestatean...Olathe_KS_66062_M89646-59361?row=4&source=web

This is the neighborhood I am looking to buy into. It says homes for $250k, this particular one is $309k. These are upper middle class homes in Kansas. Depending on my down payment, I could buy that for $800/month. But there is no way I am gonna put down $70k :D

It says that with $15k down (which is what I plan to save up for a house) I am looking at $1,500 a month. Which is a little out of my price range right now :cool: Maybe in another 2 years I could afford that, in which case I will just keep saving.

But again, you certainly dont even need $50k a year to live good in Kansas. Provided you are like me and single with no family, even this house would be a mansion for me. So I will probably aim for something smaller and more realistic and in my price range. Foreclosures are the way to go, I seen a house identical to this one for $140k. Had I had $15k to drop down on it then, I could have had a nice house for what most people here pay for rent. :mad:
 
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