02-15-2019, 01:07 PM
(02-15-2019, 10:56 AM)D_Eclipse9916 Wrote: We talked a little about this on the groupme. Everyone is different so it's tough to say.
#1 While college was fun, the real world is far more fun. It's harder, it's terrifying; and sometime it just sucks; but the freedom it entails is worth it.
If you are *thinking* about moving somewhere after college, DO IT. Don't wait! It's easy to get stuck someplace because the next "promotion" is around the corner or the guy you just networked with is offering you your next sweet gig...in the area. You will never have the time to just check out other areas then your early 20s. And it really doesn't stunt your career unless you have specific objectives. I didn't even think of moving anywhere else so I don't regret not doing that. IF it's on your mind and you don't do it; you'll regret it.
Plenty of "free" time to choose what you want to do. Choose to hammer down and do 60 hour work weeks and every night out networking/barhopping? Sure, if that's your thing. Work 8 hours then smoke a joint and play video games all night? Sure. You'll have the choice to do whatever you want, you are your own guide.
Money? The realization bills are expensive, retirement planning is expensive, just living is expensive. I never was paycheck to paycheck and never felt super tight since I lived at home socking away money for a house, but certainly the idea of a $30k car was completely out of my realm the first few years out of college. While I didn't max out my 401k the first couple years (If you can afford to put away $18.5k post tax on a $40-$60k gross job you are better than I am); make sure you are at least socking away a good portion of it.
FYI I did 2-3 HPDEs a year until 2 years out of college. I didn't just up and go racing the day I got a job. Hell I didn't go racing until almost 3 years after graduating in a M3 with bilsteins, a plywood splitter, and a OMG I just blew my budget $1k wing. I maybe had $14k into the car by then with a $16k Yukon and $1500 trailer...... 3 years after graduating.
100% this.
(02-15-2019, 12:13 PM)Sijray21 Wrote: There's always that 'grass is greener' syndrome with getting out of NoVA. (are we opening that can of worms again...?)
No, there isn't. Everyone who's left doesn't regret it and the only people saying there is are the people who are still there. I honestly think it's impossible to evaluate the place until you've lived somewhere else for a year or two.
'76 911S | '14 328xi | '17 GTI | In memoriam: '08 848, '85 944
"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth
"Here, at last, is the cure for texting while driving. The millions of deaths which occur every year due to the iPhone’s ability to stream the Kim K/Ray-J video in 4G could all be avoided, every last one of them, if the government issued everyone a Seventies 911 and made sure they always left the house five minutes later than they’d wanted to. It would help if it could be made to rain as well. Full attention on the road. Guaranteed." -Jack Baruth