I always thought that at age 24 (almost) that I'd be making more money

[AmbrNrgy]

Perhaps I just had a very skewed vision of the world when I was in high school and college. Maybe I should get a part-time job as a stripper. :p :lol: Ok kidding!

[RayJ1977]

I'm 28. I thought so too.

[shimmer728]

I'm 25. I never entered my profession with the notion that it would pay me decent money, but I still wish things were different. The sucky thing is that, overall, I like what I do. I do have a tough time imagining doing something else.

[wordsmith]

Same here, shimmer. No illusions, there. Although I CAN imagine myself doing something else, it pays no better, as it turns out.

[biodork]

my parents filled my head with thoughts that being in science automatically meant making tons of money. Pfff. Yeah right. But that's not to say I'm not happy with my job. I totally am! In fact I was pretty much informed today that the type of fellow I am means that my main job is to get into a grad school, that's the whole point of the fellowship. lol. looks like i'm working towards that!

[winneythepooh7]

My field for the most part doesn't pay a whole lot. If you get into admin, the pay goes up, but that often takes years, and lotsa bureacracy. You can make a decent living though however by doing P/T work/stuff on the side. I do feel though for that the first time in my life, I am finally beginning to be able to stand on my own two feet financially.

[asian_goddess]

at the age of 25, I can say that I am making more money.. but its not the kind of money that can liberate me and make me stand on my own.. I need to have another business, a small one perhaps, to stabilize me

and this pressure is getting to me, big time

[Bruiser]

I was under the impression that companies shovel money at consultants, and my company would pass that money to its human capital. HA! I'd rather be union and have guaranteed pay increases every year and have my job clearly defined and delineated, instead of the "all things to all people so long as we come in on schedule" SuperTech Geekazoid that I am today.

[jrwilheim]

I never had some fixed dollar amount in my head that I thought I'd be making at 24. But I thought that at 24, I'd have achieved some real financial independence. That I wouldn't have to beg my parents to pay my ticket home at Thanksgiving. That I'd be able to come up with enough for first, last, and security on an apartment without having to borrow from my grandmother or empty my savings account. That I'd really be able to do it on my own, without constantly being propped up by my family.

That's the really depressing thing about all of this--my has have poured so much money into me since graduation, it's not even funny.

First there was $3,000 combined from my parents and grandmother as a graduation present. Then there was $3,000 my mother spent sending me to a career counselor. Then there was $7,200 ($1,200 a month for six months) they spent making it possible for me to live in absolute squalor in Washington Heights while I looked for my first job. Then there was about $1,500 my grandmother sent me during those months because she understood how impossible it is to get by in New York on $1,200 a month. Then there was $800 they spent buying a mattress as a housewarming present when I finally moved out of that hellhole to a nicer place in Brooklyn. Then there was $700 my parents gave me when my computer died at the worst possible time and I didn't have any money to replace it. Then there was $2,000 my grandmother gave me for Christmas (she sent a check for $1,000 and when it didn't arrive and didn't arrive, she had $1,000 wire transferred into my bank account--and when the check did finally arrive, she told me to keep it--she's just like that). Then there was the $5,000 my grandmother gave me to tide me over when I lost my job.

Added together, that's about $20,000 in outright gifts and assistance. That's not even counting the $1,500 my grandmother lent me last year to buy furniture that I'm pay back at about $65 a month and this year to pay first, last, and security on an apartment I'm beginning to think we can't possibly get, or the money my parents spent supporting me while I was at home in Kansas for six months following graduation. I never thought I would end up being such a drain on my family this way.

The results of all this investment have been one job at $38K a year plus overtime that I hated so much that I got myself fired from it, and another job that pays $35K plus overtime that I'm still easing into. My family keeps telling me not to worry about all this money, that's it's an investment, etc., but I delayed going to graduate school because I wanted to prove to myself that I could support myself, and instead I feel like I'm just a constant drain on my family.

Is anyone else in this kind of a boat?

[wordsmith]

Well, I don't make much, as you all know, because my field doesn't pay much. Even four years and three raises in, I'm below where most of you started, probably. But I have to honestly say that even so, I've never been in the position where I've had to take on loans or credit card debt to take care of myself, and I've only had to ask my parents for help once, when a couple hundred dollar emergency car repair cropped up shortly after my savings were depleted by oral surgery I had to pay for out of pocket.

I had no illusions about making a ton of money, true, and so I've also had no choice but to be realistic about what kind of lifestyle that affords. It's meant making the choice to live in a place that I can truly afford (speaking both of the general region and specific apartment). Yeah, it would be awesome to live in an urban area again...but it's not a good choice based on my salary. A flashier car would be nice...again, not a responsible choice for me. But by being realistic about what exactly my lifestyle can be, I'm able to take care of myself okay...not worry-free, but definitely head above water.

I feel like you CAN learn to support yourself on even a very small salary. It can be done. It does take being VERY realistic about what you can and can't afford, ways you can and can't afford to live, places you can and can't afford to live. It means making some tough decisions and changing some expectations, though.

[Brillo25]

I got my social security statement in the mail this week and it was depressing to look at my salary history. I'm 29, and I've never made 30K a year and have only three years where I've made more than 20K, because I've been in college full time for all or part of all but three years out of my 20s, all for an advanced journalism degree that promises me nothing in terms of future financial security and a lot as far as long-term debt goes.

[lilyflower]

my parents filled my head with thoughts that being in science automatically meant making tons of money. Pfff. Yeah right. But that's not to say I'm not happy with my job. I totally am! In fact I was pretty much informed today that the type of fellow I am means that my main job is to get into a grad school, that's the whole point of the fellowship. lol. looks like i'm working towards that!

Scientists make absolutely nothing unless they work in industry. Sad, but true. The amount that even PhDs make in government and academia is disgusting. (Unless you're one of the few who can pull in mega grant money). Call me a sell-out but I like being able to afford to live somewhere where I don't have to worry about being shot.

That said, all things considered, I think I'm doing pretty good for myself at 25, at least, I'm on track to where I WANT to be (career-wise and financially).

[Empressallie]

I find it frustrating that i know someone interviewing for jobs like 10K more than mine - and they didnt go to college! I have loans and a low paying job. yeah me! And she has no loans and is making more...somehow this doesnt add up. GRanted, publishing is a low paying field, but when i look at how much our books cost i just don't understand. I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

[biodork]

Scientists make absolutely nothing unless they work in industry. Sad, but true. The amount that even PhDs make in government and academia is disgusting. (Unless you're one of the few who can pull in mega grant money). Call me a sell-out but I like being able to afford to live somewhere where I don't have to worry about being shot.

That said, all things considered, I think I'm doing pretty good for myself at 25, at least, I'm on track to where I WANT to be (career-wise and financially).
Oh believe me, I definitely will NOT be working for the gov't again!

And you know what's even funnier? My mom absolutely believes I should be making more money just because I'm working for the gov't. Uh no. Stop calling me to tell me what other gov't workers make mom, it's not gonna happen.