I think in this day and age a university education is overrated. There are too many university grads with a useless degree, who would have been better off learning a trade. Being an unemployed university grad doesn’t get you any money. Being an unemployed plumber or electrician gives you many opportunities to make money.
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Semi retired lifestyles
- Thread starter bigpoppa
- Start date
That's an over-generalization. Not all university degrees are the same.
An engineering degree from UW will make you a lot more employable than an Arts History degree from Carleton...
Within the white collar industry, there are still jobs that require a BA for you to even get a first interview. Sure, you can start out in the mailroom with a high school degree, but your rate of advancement and trajectory up in the company will not be as quick as a university grad.
Best to plan your post-secondary degree education with the career you have in mind. You don't need an Iron Ring to be a plumber.
Let me expand my answer. If you don’t plan your post-secondary education with a good degree likely to get you a well paying job, then going to university is a waste of time. One of my daughters took a science degree and is well established making well into 6 figures. The other got a waste of time degree, and has been employed in jobs she could have had with a grade 12 education. Lack of planning there!
bigpoppa
Well-known member
curious, is she in a science related field? My understanding is a science degree is only good if you intend on going further with a masters or a PHD
J_F
Guest
taking a break from the site
but as you tagged me and consider you a friend, BP
I'll chime in
for me anyway, my first decade of travel I was paid to do it
after I had been in my industry for 20 years and got good at it
if the expat lifestyle is of interest, like LC suggests, marry well
or find a way to get your employer to pay for it
the overseas gigs that I've had, on your time off
will fly you to your country of hire or anywhere of similar cost
if my time off coincided with winter, seeya in summer Canada
if you get to the point where your life is simple - divorced and kids grown
btw, constant travel for work is a great way to organize a divorce
you can downsize, ie: get rid of stuff, and really sock away some dough
I did nothing but work for 15yrs, invested well, and now taking a few years off
I loath the R word...it's a death sentence for most
take some time off to smell the roses while you're young enough to enjoy it
last piece of advice: take some scouting trips to see what you like
always thought I'd like to end up in a beach town
they are great for a week or two vacation
long term the heat, humidity, bugs, noise, tourist BS
all of it gets to be too much...and the beach is always there if you need some sun
I'm really enjoying being at 8,500 ft ASL in a perpetual spring like climate
and no one here gives a crap about a gringo in the street
500,000 of them too busy with their lives to care
edit: BP, as to your question of where you go
I haven't stayed at a resort in well over 10 years
airbnb, VRBO and some other resources I prefer
and if you're staying longer term, the deal is way better
I'm currently in a furnished 2 bedroom house with private yard
nice, safe neighborhood, all utilities included....350/month
but as you tagged me and consider you a friend, BP
I'll chime in
for me anyway, my first decade of travel I was paid to do it
after I had been in my industry for 20 years and got good at it
if the expat lifestyle is of interest, like LC suggests, marry well
or find a way to get your employer to pay for it
the overseas gigs that I've had, on your time off
will fly you to your country of hire or anywhere of similar cost
if my time off coincided with winter, seeya in summer Canada
if you get to the point where your life is simple - divorced and kids grown
btw, constant travel for work is a great way to organize a divorce
you can downsize, ie: get rid of stuff, and really sock away some dough
I did nothing but work for 15yrs, invested well, and now taking a few years off
I loath the R word...it's a death sentence for most
take some time off to smell the roses while you're young enough to enjoy it
last piece of advice: take some scouting trips to see what you like
always thought I'd like to end up in a beach town
they are great for a week or two vacation
long term the heat, humidity, bugs, noise, tourist BS
all of it gets to be too much...and the beach is always there if you need some sun
I'm really enjoying being at 8,500 ft ASL in a perpetual spring like climate
and no one here gives a crap about a gringo in the street
500,000 of them too busy with their lives to care
edit: BP, as to your question of where you go
I haven't stayed at a resort in well over 10 years
airbnb, VRBO and some other resources I prefer
and if you're staying longer term, the deal is way better
I'm currently in a furnished 2 bedroom house with private yard
nice, safe neighborhood, all utilities included....350/month
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Mad Mike
Well-known member
There have always been to many grads with useless degrees. If you treat University like 4 more years of high school, that's all you get from it. The degree might be useful sorting your resume for job applications, but you're not going to be paid like a specialist if you aren't one.
I guess it depends on your definition of what semi retired is. I’m early 50s and working in a sales role of account management and work from home.
Like any sales role, there are ups and downs and when you are seasoned in a given industry, you can manage your time pretty well and pic your spots to take on what ever you want.
I can’t imagine retiring from what I do. I don’t make big money but I make a decent living.
If I wanted more money, I could put in the effort or direction to do it. But I don’t want to be tethered to my phone 24/7 like some others are.
I found a balance and as long as I can keep doing it, keep the lights on and my spouse is happy, going to keep chugging along.
I found what you want in your 20s/30s evolves as you move into your 40s/50s.
And toys are fun but they are not the end all, be all.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Like any sales role, there are ups and downs and when you are seasoned in a given industry, you can manage your time pretty well and pic your spots to take on what ever you want.
I can’t imagine retiring from what I do. I don’t make big money but I make a decent living.
If I wanted more money, I could put in the effort or direction to do it. But I don’t want to be tethered to my phone 24/7 like some others are.
I found a balance and as long as I can keep doing it, keep the lights on and my spouse is happy, going to keep chugging along.
I found what you want in your 20s/30s evolves as you move into your 40s/50s.
And toys are fun but they are not the end all, be all.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mad Mike
Well-known member
Not so. My daughter has a BSc, as do her 3 Uni room mates. One works in the coroner's office as a Forensics Lab autopsy technician, one sells pharma for Baxter, the third is teaching high school science in the eastern Ontario boonies. All three are killing it financially. My daughter wanted to be a nurse practitioner, she used her BSc as a stepping stone into a highly competitive med program.
kruzuki
Well-known member
I retired last June at 58.
I’m not wealthy but I’m rich because i have everything I want and need (2 bikes, yay!), no debt, smart investments, and I never have to work again if I don’t want to. Kid just finished university with a bright future so no worries about him. He takes care of my place while I travel.
I consider myself lucky, but I worked hard for it. I wake up every day and say “What would I like to do today?” It’s a good feeling.
Covid has put a damper on my plans for world travel but I did a lot of riding last year. Now I ride my bicycle every day (even in the snowstorm this morning!) and I’m planning my world travels for when travel is possible again. Otherwise, I get through every day without getting bored. I have a few good friends in the same position as me.
Next travel goal- ride SE Asia on a motorcycle and go to the MotoGP in Thailand!
I’m not wealthy but I’m rich because i have everything I want and need (2 bikes, yay!), no debt, smart investments, and I never have to work again if I don’t want to. Kid just finished university with a bright future so no worries about him. He takes care of my place while I travel.
I consider myself lucky, but I worked hard for it. I wake up every day and say “What would I like to do today?” It’s a good feeling.
Covid has put a damper on my plans for world travel but I did a lot of riding last year. Now I ride my bicycle every day (even in the snowstorm this morning!) and I’m planning my world travels for when travel is possible again. Otherwise, I get through every day without getting bored. I have a few good friends in the same position as me.
Next travel goal- ride SE Asia on a motorcycle and go to the MotoGP in Thailand!
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BigEvilDoer
Well-known member
They make $50-60 per hour depending on where they are...
easy to make $100k there.
BigEvilDoer
Well-known member
@bigpoppa --- my girlfriend used to be one. Her friends still in the business make the same, except in Vancouver it's $65/hour.
kiley
Well-known member
57 here.
I'm hoping this is the last winter I work in Ontario.
My plan is to get a van and rig it out and do the vanlife thing working remotely.
Work will let me do this...I only want to work 32hrs a week anyway.
I'll rent out my condo in the winter months and head south if possible.
If this works and I'm happy I'll do this to 65.
I've been blessed with travel the last 10 years.
But there's still so much I want to see.
I had an eye-opening experience this past September.
It helped to solidify this decision.
I'm hoping this is the last winter I work in Ontario.
My plan is to get a van and rig it out and do the vanlife thing working remotely.
Work will let me do this...I only want to work 32hrs a week anyway.
I'll rent out my condo in the winter months and head south if possible.
If this works and I'm happy I'll do this to 65.
I've been blessed with travel the last 10 years.
But there's still so much I want to see.
I had an eye-opening experience this past September.
It helped to solidify this decision.
ScorpionT16
Well-known member
Interesting to read everyone's stories and perspectives on this.
Out of curiosity, how many here are first gen Immigrants? ie, moved here and started from scratch?
Out of curiosity, how many here are first gen Immigrants? ie, moved here and started from scratch?
bigpoppa
Well-known member
Immigrants dont take vacations, we must work ourselves to death
Been doing the Summer in Toronto, winter in Asia/Australia for the past 10-15 years or so. I "retired" around 35, simply because I don't really care for building wealth or leaving legacies. The sole reason that I come to Toronto is for family and friends but since have decided to move my mom to Singapore with me so I'll just come to Toronto for one month in summer rather than spend the entire summer here.
This lifestyle suits me, but scares the hell out of most of my friends. If you have the itch, scratch it. Try a little by little and see as there are tons of resources available for the "nomadic" lifestyle. Be rich or be lucky, if neither, hustle and flow baby.
-First gen immgnt...
This lifestyle suits me, but scares the hell out of most of my friends. If you have the itch, scratch it. Try a little by little and see as there are tons of resources available for the "nomadic" lifestyle. Be rich or be lucky, if neither, hustle and flow baby.
-First gen immgnt...
Like your approach. 
Evolved my business and staff over the last 20 years as the technology improved so I could spend 4-5 months away but still engaged actively while travelling and living a few months each year elsewhere, first South Africa for 3 months each year, then Australia 3-6 months with partner.
50 years+ my own boss ...35 in the Mac biz, the travel is part of the marketing.
Just got my permanent visa for Australia after getting chased out of Chile by Covid. This had been the longest stretch away from Aus in a decade.
Cleared quarantine now ...no idea when I'll get back to Canada but happy to be in one of few effectively "back to normal" societies....no lock down, no cases - only contact tracing which means pointing your phone at a Q-Code. If you don't - no service.
Partner has stopped working tho not completely retired and we are plotting trips around Aus and New Zealand over the next while. We are on the Gold Coast for a few days and I'm looking forward to getting back home and on the KLR in Cairns in the tropics. Work a few hours at night ...ride daily.
Got very lucky getting here ...even my return flight in May has been cancelled already.
Rich in experience if not in traditional wealth....the adventure continues.
500px.com
11th gen Canuck now expat.
Evolved my business and staff over the last 20 years as the technology improved so I could spend 4-5 months away but still engaged actively while travelling and living a few months each year elsewhere, first South Africa for 3 months each year, then Australia 3-6 months with partner.
50 years+ my own boss ...35 in the Mac biz, the travel is part of the marketing.
Just got my permanent visa for Australia after getting chased out of Chile by Covid. This had been the longest stretch away from Aus in a decade.
Cleared quarantine now ...no idea when I'll get back to Canada but happy to be in one of few effectively "back to normal" societies....no lock down, no cases - only contact tracing which means pointing your phone at a Q-Code. If you don't - no service.
Partner has stopped working tho not completely retired and we are plotting trips around Aus and New Zealand over the next while. We are on the Gold Coast for a few days and I'm looking forward to getting back home and on the KLR in Cairns in the tropics. Work a few hours at night ...ride daily.
Got very lucky getting here ...even my return flight in May has been cancelled already.
Rich in experience if not in traditional wealth....the adventure continues.
500px
11th gen Canuck now expat.
Nurses in gta will be 6 figures with OT. Easily.
Dental hygienist making $49/hr is not the norm in my experience.
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