If you had 17k to spend on tuition, at 39 yrs old, what would you pick?

Q

Quagmire

Catholic
I am face with an option right now to accept a layoff with 50 weeks pay and 17k in training funds to any registered learning institution. I have a degree in business and I dont really want to continue doing business. I've never liked it and only did it so I could support a family. My wife is leaving me (rejected the faith, wants child support for guaranteed income) and I have this opportunity ro retrain.

Currently looking at agriculture, carpentry / masonry generalist, master of theology, laptop / cellphone repair technician.

A job that pays in cash sometimes would be nice...

Any other ideas?
 
Quagmire said:
I am face with an option right now to accept a layoff with 50 weeks pay and 17k in training funds to any registered learning institution. I have a degree in business and I dont really want to continue doing business. I've never liked it and only did it so I could support a family. My wife is leaving me (rejected the faith, wants child support for guaranteed income) and I have this opportunity ro retrain.

Currently looking at agriculture, carpentry / masonry generalist, master of theology, laptop / cellphone repair technician.

A job that pays in cash sometimes would be nice...

Any other ideas?
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Oh man this is a rough break.

Crane operators make a lot of money if you're interested in that space ... You can make over 100k doing that. You often work 14/ 14s or 28/ 28s (28 days on 28 days off)

There are several schools that provide this training.
 
Get2choppaaa said:
Oh man this is a rough break.

Crane operators make a lot of money if you're interested in that space ... You can make over 100k doing that. You often work 14/ 14s or 28/ 28s (28 days on 28 days off)

There are several schools that provide this training.
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Very interesting idea, thank you. Ill consider this.
My lawyer says my wife will likely get a 60 percent cut of my after tax income for a looong time because we have e small children, so making figures isn't what I really wanna do. I need something that will support my own life on 40% of the ticket price. Carpentry for example, would help me build / maintain a tiny home. Farming would help me grow my own food, theology would help me stay at peace and close to Jesus.
My wife is leaving for financial reasons, not abuse or infidelity.... I don't even want to make money tbh. I struggle with knowing I was rug pulled by someone I loved...
 
This new member doesn't pass the smell test for me.
Registered here only 20 days ago, username of a sex crazed character from a jewish made degenerate cartoon, and 12 posts so far which are all way too personal and intimate for a newbie. I predict him stirring up forum drama in less than 30 days.


radar-love-search.gif
 
Caduceus said:
This new member doesn't pass the smell test for me.
Registered here only 20 days ago, username from a jewish degenerate cartoon, and 12 posts so far which are all way too personal and intimate for a newbie. I predict forum drama from him in less than 30 days.


radar-love-search.gif
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The name Quagmire for me is a reflection of my life situation, not a cartoon homage. The personal details are because I'm facing difficulties and have a need to get input on *those difficulties*, I chose this forum because its a Christian forum. I'm not here to cause anything.

If you had almost 20k to reskill at 39, what would you do with it? Your own contribution would be valuable to me.
 
Quagmire said:
Very interesting idea, thank you. Ill consider this.
My lawyer says my wife will likely get a 60 percent cut of my after tax income for a looong time because we have e small children, so making figures isn't what I really wanna do. I need something that will support my own life on 40% of the ticket price. Carpentry for example, would help me build / maintain a tiny home. Farming would help me grow my own food, theology would help me stay at peace and close to Jesus.
My wife is leaving for financial reasons, not abuse or infidelity.... I don't even want to make money tbh. I struggle with knowing I was rug pulled by someone I loved...
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You gotta find something that pays money most of all.

I've been down that road and gotten a divorce. It's a shit show until you start making money and find someone new who treats you right.
 
With a business background the trades would be a good way to go. Carpentry and masonry are both good ideas. Electrician or plumbing too. You could set out a goal of starting your own business or buying a business. There are plenty of variations of construction opportunities out there between residential and commercial.
 
The overall sentiment seems to be favoring trades, which is sort of my gut feeling as well. Electricians seem to do very well, light on tools required which is especially nice, but where I'm more concerned with having the ability to do my own physical dwelling type work, it leans toward carpentry / masonry generalist. Im looking at programs now.

I would like to thank Get2chopaaa for the crane operator idea, that was unique and a trade I hadn't considered. Any other ideas welcome!
 
FrancisK said:
It would probably benefit you to find a profession where you are receiving some income in cash wouldn't it?
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Yes!! Absolutely. Thats a big factor in the decision process...
I coyld do a transfer to the regular army as a construction tech and get a very generalized education in construction including carpentry, masonry, roofing, but the thing is, the pay is pretty high and it would reward my wife for essentially destroying my life's work and family, which I dont want to do exactly. This 17k I am entitled to as layoff relief would be enough for a year program somewhere. I'm leaning hard into a carpentry program but the 17k is only for tuition, books and fees, which means I'd have to come up with the ovong allowance on my own.
The income split, since my wife refused to work the whole marriage is 60/40 of my after tax income, so that would make my pay about 29.6% of the gross pay. Imagine working a 100k job and having 29.6k to your name. How can a man even live??? I absolutely need cash on the side... general laborer, farm worker (work on exchange for housing) i just dont know.
I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries on the rosary this morning so I'm feeling grace and peace right now, but I know there's a train wreck coming. Also, not being there to raise my own sons and daughter? What life is this. Only the welfare state and family laws incentive this behaviour... zero zero zero sense in this frivolous divorce
 
Had a friend from the UK whose wife divorced him about when the last kid was finishing high school. Of course she got the house and moved in her new man, so my buddy was supposed to pay alimony and get his own place, but it turns out that if you leave the country (this was 2013), they can't demand you pay alimony.

I know the USA is different, you can't escape alimony (easily) by leaving the country, but I'm not sure about Canada. Of course you'd have little contact with your children unless you were perhaps in the USA and could hop back and forth, or on those French islands off the coast of Newfoundland, the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
 
Read_Lives_of_Saints said:
Had a friend from the UK whose wife divorced him about when the last kid was finishing high school. Of course she got the house and moved in her new man, so my buddy was supposed to pay alimony and get his own place, but it turns out that if you leave the country (this was 2013), they can't demand you pay alimony.

I know the USA is different, you can't escape alimony (easily) by leaving the country, but I'm not sure about Canada. Of course you'd have little contact with your children unless you were perhaps in the USA and could hop back and forth, or on those French islands off the coast of Newfoundland, the archipelago of Saint Pierre and Miquelon.
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Alimony is small potatoes, its the child support for 16 year for three children that the government will track you down over. I've looked into it... alimony is less money paid out overall and I would only have to pay 3 years of it max because of a short marriage (6 years). The child support though, Canada has treaties with most countries - id have to live in argentina or russia. Russia has a shared values visa. I speak Russian at a A2/B1 level but in order to not have my passport cancelled I'd need citizenship fast, which can be fast tracked with serving in the SMO. I don't know that I'd be that willing to do it. Argentina, I could teach english, you can apply for citizenship after 2 years, but the contact I have there is only offering 4000 pesos per month, with free room and board in a host house, with three meals a day. 4000 Argentinian pesos is 4$ Canadian. Its not a great option for that reason...
I just got off the phone with a college in my parents hime town, I can learn carpentry there for 2 years, do a co-op program, buy a bunch of tools, and it'll all be less than 17k. I could probably get my kids in the summers too.
I'll apply tonight...
Thank you to everyone in this thread that contributed ideas and was supportive to a brother in need. I'm still interested in any ideas I haven't considered yet. If someone knows a magic trick I could do, please indulge me.
I considered the French foreign legion as well, but I age out of that possibility this month, and I dont think I'd really want to do that.
 
Quagmire said:
Alimony is small potatoes, its the child support for 16 year for three children that the government will track you down over. I've looked into it... alimony is less money paid out overall and I would only have to pay 3 years of it max because of a short marriage (6 years). The child support though, Canada has treaties with most countries - id have to live in argentina or russia. Russia has a shared values visa. I speak Russian at a A2/B1 level but in order to not have my passport cancelled I'd need citizenship fast, which can be fast tracked with serving in the SMO. I don't know that I'd be that willing to do it. Argentina, I could teach english, you can apply for citizenship after 2 years, but the contact I have there is only offering 4000 pesos per month, with free room and board in a host house, with three meals a day. 4000 Argentinian pesos is 4$ Canadian. Its not a great option for that reason...
I just got off the phone with a college in my parents hime town, I can learn carpentry there for 2 years, do a co-op program, buy a bunch of tools, and it'll all be less than 17k. I could probably get my kids in the summers too.
I'll apply tonight...
Thank you to everyone in this thread that contributed ideas and was supportive to a brother in need. I'm still interested in any ideas I haven't considered yet. If someone knows a magic trick I could do, please indulge me.
I considered the French foreign legion as well, but I age out of that possibility this month, and I dont think I'd really want to do that.
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These french legion type scenarios are silly. Don't waste your time.

Just hang in there. How old are your kids?
 
Carpentry is a good idea if you're thinking you want to do a lot of cash/under-the-table work. If you can supplement that with some basic electrical/plumbing/HVAC/drywall knowledge, you could start a business as a local handyman. If you develop a good reputation (this should not be difficult given your competition - literally just show up sober, speak English, and do the job competently and you will receive glowing reviews) then you should be able to keep yourself fairly busy based entirely off referrals. There are tons of retirees and single women who will gladly pay you very well to do things like replace doors, hang new ceiling fans, patch drywall, change out toilets, etc... And they will pay in cash if you ask for it.
 
Any self employed work can be done in cash. Not necessarily trades. Trades are rough specially in winter.

If you ever stop over europe. Send me a dm. Might give you temporary housing. To work as a carpenter I know of an old man who is always looking for help. Southern Europe based. 100% cash.

I could fly over to Canada just to fix this mess. The women will regret her decision.

Try to pay things directly for your kids. And not let the women manage the money. Maybe through your parents. They advance the money and you give it back to them. Don’t let kids suffer for mother retardness.

A user called Kona in rvf was always looking for help also. Based in Hawai. Obsessed with lawns. From what I remember.
 
Quagmire said:
Yes!! Absolutely. Thats a big factor in the decision process...
I coyld do a transfer to the regular army as a construction tech and get a very generalized education in construction including carpentry, masonry, roofing, but the thing is, the pay is pretty high and it would reward my wife for essentially destroying my life's work and family, which I dont want to do exactly. This 17k I am entitled to as layoff relief would be enough for a year program somewhere. I'm leaning hard into a carpentry program but the 17k is only for tuition, books and fees, which means I'd have to come up with the ovong allowance on my own.
The income split, since my wife refused to work the whole marriage is 60/40 of my after tax income, so that would make my pay about 29.6% of the gross pay. Imagine working a 100k job and having 29.6k to your name. How can a man even live??? I absolutely need cash on the side... general laborer, farm worker (work on exchange for housing) i just dont know.
I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries on the rosary this morning so I'm feeling grace and peace right now, but I know there's a train wreck coming. Also, not being there to raise my own sons and daughter? What life is this. Only the welfare state and family laws incentive this behaviour... zero zero zero sense in this frivolous divorce
Click to expand...

Okay, I probably wouldn't be the right person to take advice from in regards to which specific trade to go into that's very regionally subjective with a lot of variables.

But in regards to the overall aspect of it you're going to want to lean heavily towards a trade that has residential application, not just commercial. Commercial is rarely going to pay cash and commercial can lead to trouble down the road with the tax man as they are going to claim your invoices even if they did pay cash. Whatever trade you choose I would assume that you're going to start with a large company to learn the ropes and hone your skills, so for a little while cash jobs aren't going to be happening. When you're confident enough I would take all the small side work you possibly can and offer a cash discount, this is a common accepted practice. While doing this you're also building a client base to hopefully go off on your own and get away from a company income where you wouldn't be able to hide or write off anything. Don't forget to keep track of the contact info for every single job you take with whatever company it is, down the line that will come in handy.

You have a bit of a road in front of you until you get to a good place where you are secure and comfy but it won't be as long as you think, two years sounds like a reasonable time frame once you start working. You seem to have ambition and work ethic which is more than most these days and that will serve you very well. Not to mention competence alone is extremely valuable these days. I know some real deal retards who have done very well for themselves in trades simply because they were willing to work and didn't screw shit up.

God Bless you brother, you'll get there I promise you will.
 
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