Can confirm: earn more than my university educated age group; no education debt; have home and mortgage that I don’t struggle to pay; still have plenty of work during the down turn.
Have often thought about living on rice n lentils n going to university to get a degree, but this whole pandemic mess has made me realise: well and truly fuck that for a joke.
I think some people have huge expectations for what their degree will get them that just aren't reasonable. I picked a engineering major that would pay big but also fit my passion, got the job I wanted, and have constant work lined up for me for the next 5 years. I got very lucky at the university betting game. If I hadn't gotten into college or decided to drop out when I had to take an semester off due to grades, I probably would have decided to try trade school.
1. Work
2. Buy house
2b. Rent house out
2bb. Problem? Fix it with your carpenter skills or trade school buddies (plasterer, electrician, you name it, they know them).
3. Work a few years more
4. Buy second house
5. Get a few more houses.
This is what my carpenter buddies are doing. And I was the smart kid in my class. I guess they have the last laugh, they are all on their second houses now.