How Do You Afford This Addiction?

[fxsales1959]

Broadcast video equipment sales. I am the SE regional manager for a company that makes cameras and monitors and other digital equipment. We make the cameras in "pylon cam" for the NFL, all the images seen from SpaceX are from our cameras. I cover all territory from Memphis , south and East to Key West. www.marshall-usa.com .
Anything else I write will seem geek-ish. Stadiums, TV stations, churches and anybody else that uses a video camera for display or to tell a story. Kirk out.

 

[ifitsdeadsmokeit]

I am a geotechnical (foundation) engineer/business owner. 18 months to go until part-time semi-retired. I doubt I have worked with ifitsdeadsmokeit before, but I do a LOT of bridges, walls, buildings, lots of grain structures (bins/elevators) cell towers, etc. etc. If it is connected to the ground, I have probably worked on something similar.

You can't see what I do for a living if I do my job right (foundations are buried).

I cant remember working with a firm from central mo. Have with most of the bigger firms, terracon, shannon wilson, geotechnolgy, tsi, … etc. Always looking for quality companies to do work with. I lived in JC for almost seven years before moving to CO for 22. Been back in MO now for six.

 

[normanaj]

Somehow I missed this one.

For me after I got out of the AF in 1990 I went to work in a kitchen for 2 years and started painting on the side.I then started full time with what would eventually become one of the largest residential builders in RI and spent 18 years there.It became an environment that I eventually grew tired of so I struck out on my own and ended partnering with a fellow painting contractor and worked with him until my dad's passing last April and by that point the addiction was in full swing but I pretty much had everything I thought I needed until this past Winter.We've been purging our house of lots of useless stuff including junk cooking implements and things we didn't use much and replacing with higher end longer lasting equipment to which at this point we're in a good spot and don't need anything but we all know how that works with the Enablers on this site!Right now I've been working part-time and doing small jobs for locals,going back to full time painting after doing it for 30+ years just isn't in me anymore.

 

[homebeerbrewer]

I'm a retired firefighter/paramedic. My main hobby is brewing beer, and that takes up most of my hobby money. My hobby money comes from my part time job at a liquor store.

During my time as a firefighter, I worked part time as a tow truck operator, worked a bit as a mechanic, and my worst Idea ever: worked part time at an ambulance company. If you're gonna do something full time, don't do it part time as well.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Started working on a dairy farm during summer break while in highschool... Did a few years of HVAC installation on new homes.. They moved me into doing change outs in existing homes.. climbing around in hot attics in Fl wasn't for me... Got a job on a stucco crew... lasted about a year.. not for me... Went to a place that built 12V automotive batteries for about 7/8 years... they closed down... Got a job at our local Port in the maritime industry as warehouseman operasting heavy equipment.. We handle bulk fertilizers for the Mosaic company... After about 10 years they moved me up to Maintenance... Am now a Master Mechanic working on conveyor belts and everything else associated with the conveyance of bulk material... Been here for 35 years now... Only 1 year and 7 months to go until retirement... I enjoy it... It's just the hours are REALLY long and not much time to spend with family or the smoker...

 

[millerbuilds]

Commercial Development, mostly on the construction side building and renovating retail properties across the US. We do some work abroad as well, mostly office space to support US businesses. Right now working on a project in Portland, OR and soon starting an office buildout in Pakistan.

Grew up learning how to do with what you had, and do it yourself, amazing to me what people pay for that they don't need or could do it themselves.

- Jason

 

[JC in GB]

Started working in a green house at 16. Joined the Army at 18 as an air defense radar operator. I used the Army college fund to go to tech school to get an electronics tech degree. After that, I got my start as an electronics tech working on industrial 3 phase motor controllers. Then moved to Kohler generators working in the design lab for power generators. I am now working at a casino repairing electronics components that run slot machines. Been at this job for over 20 years. Am looking forward to retirement if SS is still around. If not, I will be working until I am dead.

JC

 

[okie sawbones]

I was a brothel inspector. It had its ups and downs.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I was a brothel inspector. It had its ups and downs.

View attachment 715490

Lol, more ups than downs I’m sure.

 

[texomakid]

42 yrs chasing drilling rigs all over the world. First roughnecking job in Oklahoma September 1981 and finish my last drilling project in November 2023. I've worked on 4 continents & 14 countries. 17 years of international work. I spent more time aways from home than at home during that time. At one point I had worked 8 Christmas/New years in a row abroad and I'm pretty sure I worked more holidays than not during that 42 years. In the 80's we didn't have days off. 7 days a week unless the rig stack out. Did various other things during those slow times in the industry but I always went back because the money was so good. My parents were worker bees as well. My mother worked at the same Job for over 40 years and my dad clocked in over 50 at his job. I was told as a young kid to make a hand & to save your money, and I did both.

I'm now retired @ 63. It was a good run.

 

[hondabbq]

30 years currently as a chef with 3 years 4 months till retirement. Worked at private clubs and fine dining establishments . Been at the current gig for almost 20 years with a pension( thats where the 3y 4m comes into play.)
Have had several side gigs. Have a BBQ sauce company that has been going for 20 years. Bought and sold music memorabilia. Had a booth at the local farmers market selling the sauces and made to order iced teas and food items like pulled pork sammies. That was very lucrative. Did private dinners for big wigs through word of mouth (dont do that anymore) and make tourtiere at Christmas time for 5 weeks selling hundreds and hundreds of pies, which they allow me to make at work after hours, as long as I grease the wheels with a few pies for the big boss. last Christmas was 469 pies.

 

[okie sawbones]

42 yrs chasing drilling rigs all over the world. First roughnecking job in Oklahoma September 1981 and finish my last drilling project in November 2023. I've worked on 4 continents & 14 countries. 17 years of international work. I spent more time aways from home than at home during that time. At one point I had worked 8 Christmas/New years in a row abroad and I'm pretty sure I worked more holidays than not during that 42 years. In the 80's we didn't have days off. 7 days a week unless the rig stack out. Did various other things during those slow times in the industry but I always went back because the money was so good. My parents were worker bees as well. My mother worked at the same Job for over 40 years and my dad clocked in over 50 at his job. I was told as a young kid to make a hand & to save your money, and I did both.

I'm now retired @ 63. It was a good run.

That's a tough job on those rigs. I hope you got away with all of your fingers.

 

[JckDanls 07]

42 yrs chasing drilling rigs all over the world. First roughnecking job in Oklahoma September 1981 and finish my last drilling project in November 2023. I've worked on 4 continents & 14 countries. 17 years of international work. I spent more time aways from home than at home during that time. At one point I had worked 8 Christmas/New years in a row abroad and I'm pretty sure I worked more holidays than not during that 42 years. In the 80's we didn't have days off. 7 days a week unless the rig stack out. Did various other things during those slow times in the industry but I always went back because the money was so good. My parents were worker bees as well. My mother worked at the same Job for over 40 years and my dad clocked in over 50 at his job. I was told as a young kid to make a hand & to save your money, and I did both.

I'm now retired @ 63. It was a good run.

Gonna have to change your name to Tommy (Landman)

 

[texomakid]

That's a tough job on those rigs. I hope you got away with all of your fingers.

I've got em all but they're worn out. At times it was brutal on my health and well being but nobody cares as long as the checks keep hitting the bank. I'm paying the price now for the abuse I put my body through.

TBH I loved what I did and don't regret a thing.

Gonna have to chaqnge your name to Tommy (Landman)

lmao I've never watched that show but I've heard some in the industry really slam it for inaccuracy of our industry.

 

[thirdeye]

I'm a retired welding inspector and worked mostly in oil & gas, surface mining, and structural industries.

 

[BGKYSmoker]

I was a deesl-fitter.

 

[clifish]

Had a commercial printing and promotional products business, shut the plant down when Covid hit. Now I work from home and broker out the work. My wife is 32 years for the same health insurance company and is Director of account management. She also works from home now as well.

At 57 YO I would like to be retired in a couple more years but the cost for health really sucks to pay out of pocket.

 

[normanaj]

Had a commercial printing and promotional products business, shut the plant down when Covid hit. Now I work from home and broker out the work. My wife is 32 years for the same health insurance company and is Director of account management. She also works from home now as well.

At 57 YO I would like to be retired in a couple more years but the cost for health really sucks to pay out of pocket.

At 56 I finally had to give it up being a full time painting contractor and go easy on myself.The wife is 41 years at her insurance company and works out of the house but did that long before covid,our insurance is thru her at this point but that's coming to an end sooner than later.

 

[clifish]

At 56 I finally had to give it up being a full time painting contractor and go easy on myself.The wife is 41 years at her insurance company and works out of the house but did that long before covid,our insurance is thru her at this point but that's coming to an end sooner than later.

I get her insurance, which is no bargain considering she works there. We have hit our high deductible for the last 3 years.

 

[normanaj]

I get her insurance, which is no bargain considering she works there. We have hit our high deductible for the last 3 years.

My wife's insurance company she works for is auto/home but we learned quite some time back not to use it but that's its own story,we have USAA.But her health plan is not to bad so we stick with it but she's 5 years older than I am so when she goes on Medicare I'll switch to VA for my last 5 years and then if everything works out we'll have enough in retirement for advantage plans to supplement Medicare.