I need help getting life started

[meteorologyman]

How to make long story short...........? I'm working at fast food restaurant at (KFC). in Florida making approx $7/hr, minimum wage is 6.60. Been working there for a year. For 1st time I actually worked my butt off of total approx 40 hrs in 2 weeks and got paycheck of $288.00. I did it again this last 2 weeks and made about the same. However I am not too happy for the fact that I am trying to save money to buy a car that's not too beaten up and now I have to help my dad pay for insurance, or I lose my permit (I dont have a license yet) b/c he can't keep up w/ it, they charged him $90 more b/c I turned 19. I feel like I'm getting no where. any advice would be appreciated. Thank you

I wil be starting college soon, which usually tends to give people higher income, but that something that I'm trying to look for now, not 4yrs down the road which it would take to get meteorology degree that I'm seeking.

[CajunMama]

Many insurance companies give good grade discounts which is a substantial reduction if you make a certain gpa. They will carry that deduction after college also until the driver turns 25.

[HurricaneBill]

Well all you need is a man and a woman who really love each other and.....

Er.....I think I read the thread title wrong.

[tropicana]

so many people don't have jobs and expect the world to give them stuff on a silver platter. Thats what so many people do.
But you are there, working hard, trying your best, have a steady job for at least a year (which says a lot about your character) that gives you 20 hours per week, and you have a vision of what you wanna do in life. It is an admirable trait.
Do not give up. Keep on keeping on, and only good things will come your way.

-justin-

[Dionne]

Two things. Make sure you go to college. And make darned sure you get away from KFC. If your going to work your way through college......get a job at an Outback Steakhouse. The money is better......they make good tips and you also have the opportunity to begin in lower level management positions while still in college.

My daughter worked for Outback during her 5 years pursuing a degree in graphic communications. She made enough money that she never touched her college funds we had set aside.

Shortly after she completed her degree.....Outback recruited her into key management. Her entry level exceeded 40K with a nice benefit package.

[H733Driver]

Maybe my response is based on some degree of bias...so bear with me...

that being said...considered USCG Reserves? Marine Science Technician (MST), among other things, is involved in the following:

As a Marine Science Technician, you will conduct marine safety activities such as investigating pollution incidents, monitoring cleanups, conducting foreign registry boardings to enforce pollution and navigation safety laws, conducting harbor patrols and facility inspections, supervising explosives loading and serving on the National Strike Force.

Among your scientific duties are observing and forecasting weather for air stations and icebreakers, and operating the Marine Safety Laboratories.

Qualifications:

An aptitude for mathematics. Training or experience in environmental sciences is tremendously valuable. School courses in algebra, trigonometry, chemistry and physics are helpful.

I am by no means a recruiter - that's who you really should talk to - I'm just laying out some facts since I work with MST's daily. Plus, before I joined the CG, I was in the Army, and they paid for my college...and that monthly weekend drill pay went towards my car, etc...

Just a thought...

[DanKellFla]

Forget fast food. Dress yourself in a professional manner and apply for jobs at nice restaurants/hotels in the area. They will love that you are going to college. You will make a lot more money being a busboy at a fancy place than you will at a KFC. But, you will work your behind off. Also, try to stay out of debt. Debt service is just money tossed out the window.

[H733Driver]

and almost forgot...I can give you some links to websites/CG and MST-related forums...will PM the info...not sure what constitutes inappropriate endorsements of other websites, etc...

LT, USCG sends...

[Tropigal]

Lots of good advice here already in this thread, like stay away from credit and definitely FINSIH college. The years will go by fast! Here's another tip, apply, apply and reapply for student scholarships and grants, that might help out with extra money.

[H733Driver]

Lots of good advice here already in this thread, like stay away from credit and definitely FINSIH college. The years will go by fast! Here's another tip, apply, apply and reapply for student scholarships and grants, that might help out with extra money.

Ditto...finish college...by any means necessary...There's federal student loans as a last resort, you don't have to start paying those back until 6 months after graduation and they offer ridiculously low interest compared to some of those rip-off college loan ads you see on TV (praying on the financial fears of parents)...Check out U.S. Dept of Education's website...and not to harp on the military thing, but you can get credit for military training, etc. - spend less time in school = less likelihood of needing a lot of student loans - between 14 years of Army and CG, I have roughly 42 hours of credits I'm tucking away for a second degree...

Once that's finished, many more doors will open up...delay it, you may get off course and never find "good water" back into the channel again...

I think back now...If I didn't start/grad from college...first, I wouldn't be where I'm at now...second, there's no way I could begin to imagine trying to go back to school at 31 years old, married, two kids, etc...catching my drift?

Bottom line, there's no one-size-fits-all answer to your college dilemna, instead you're looking at multiple pieces of an expensive puzzle...but sooner or later, it'll all come together.

Either way, best of luck to ya'...

LT sends...

[Janie2006]

Depending on your future goals, Air Force ROTC might be something to examine too. The Navy and the Air Force are always recruiting meteorologists (so it seems) and you can get a nice ROTC scholarship package. Universities generally have an ROTC program for one branch of the service or another.

[gtalum]

For starters, get a different job. You need to be working full time if you want more money.

[Ptarmigan]

For starters, get a different job. You need to be working full time if you want more money.

Very true.