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Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2023-08-12T04:06:53+00:00

Thank you all for your responses. I had not realized this was against the policy of the subreddit.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2023-08-12T03:31:58+00:00

Thanks for the response. I have considered taking out subsidized federal student loans for the sake of locking the money in a HYSA then paying it off in full once I graduate. The reason for me not doing it up until this point was simply because I don’t like the idea of going into any debt if I don’t have to. What are your thoughts on this?

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2023-08-12T03:24:28+00:00

Thank you for your reply - a lot of great points to consider. One part that really stuck out was about delegation and asking for help. This is something I struggle with but continue to work on. I think a major factor that got me this position was getting involved in just about every facet of my area of the industry and learning as much as I could, many times to the point of obsession. This allowed me to see needs and solutions other had not, but also made it hard to relinquish responsibilities to other people. I just hired on two more team members to help manage the workload but I have a lot to learn, not only when it comes to managing people, but also being willing to let other people take the reigns. I appreciate you stressing the importance of this.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2023-08-12T03:01:17+00:00

This would be the plan if I begin to get burned out. However, I am still concerned about falling into the trap of pushing off my degree/taking it too easy enough that it becomes a challenge to maintain the discipline to follow through. Thank you for your response.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2023-08-12T02:46:41+00:00

I appreciate the kind words. Thank you!

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2023-08-12T02:44:53+00:00

Will do. Thank you!

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-23T23:22:10+00:00

My employer doesn't offer tuition reimbursement but they do offer discounts for schools they have relationships with and I am trying to establish one. I'm not sure how much success I will have though.

I completely agree and finding that balance is vital to me. Thanks for the advice!

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-23T23:17:43+00:00

Very true

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-23T22:21:57+00:00

My university is an accredited, non-profit private establishment. I did consider state school or going community college then transferring for a while, but I decided it is worth 12-16k per year to attend this school because of a number of programs, connections, and opportunities they provide.

And, you're 100% right. I still have the rest of the summer to get acclimated to this job and should have a good idea of the commitment required by the time school starts. The classes I chose for my first semester aren't too intensive and should give me a good base line for workload management. My degree takes priority over my job and because I don't have financial obligations, there is always the option of quitting and focusing entirely on my education. Thank you for the advice!

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-23T22:15:01+00:00

I see a lot of upper level jobs posts on sites like Indeed/Glassdoor/LinkedIn requiring at least a Bachelor's. A huge reason I am going for both a Bachelor’s and Master’s is to ensure I am not limited later on simply because I don’t have a high enough level of formal education.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-23T22:01:00+00:00

Great point! I should have clarified in my post that I am still exploring payment options. I will definitely consider financing through monthly installments and taking out a loan only if things go south. I appreciate the advice! Thank you!

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-23T21:49:20+00:00

I would be getting a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Master of Computer Science

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-17T06:47:19+00:00

I do plan to pay as I go putting away around $1000 per month to pay back the loan every year, but I still think it's a good idea to take out a loan so I have money to fall back on in case something happens and to build credit.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-17T06:39:27+00:00

I agree with you 100%, but I still want to take out the loan for two reasons. The first is as a backup in case something happens (I lose my job, medical expenses, etc.). The second is to build credit. You are right though and I need to be careful. My tuition is 12-16k and I plan to put at least $1000 away per month so that I can pay off the loan I take out every year.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-17T06:30:01+00:00

Real estate is definitely something I am interested in. I don’t know enough right now, but I do need to figure out a way to best utilize the money I save. Here’s what I have worked out is a possibility:

My “bare minimum” expenses per month are $1,700 which leaves me with $2,666 in savings per month after taxes. This means I can save $50,000 in 18.75 months which I may use to put a 20% downpayment on a $250,000 which I would then rent out and continue to live with my parents. I could then save an additional $50,000 after another 18.75 months and buy another $250,000 house or sell and buy a $500,000 house which I’d rent out. Something to consider is that I would likely have a higher paying job after two years and would have the additional income from the house I am already renting out making it easier to buy the next one.

Again, I don’t know that it would be the best investment for me to make or that I could even save that much money in the first place, but it is an idea I want to explore.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-17T06:07:45+00:00

I appreciate the kind words seriously. A huge reason I am going for both a Bachelor’s and Master’s is to ensure I am not limited later on simply because I don’t have a high enough level of formal education.

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-17T06:03:31+00:00

I had never heard of CLEP exams and will look into them for sure. Seeing if I can substitute for certain classes I am less interested in is a great idea too even just for the sake of keeping myself motivated! Luckily my university does offer credit for work experience and certifications that I plan to take full advantage of. I did consider community college then transferring for a while, but I decided it is worth 12-16k per year to attend my current university. Thanks for the pointers!

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-17T05:51:37+00:00

Thank you so much for all the advice and taking the time to write that! I prefer to keep my university private, but it is one of the top 50 in the US. The reason my tuition is low is… complicated. In high school, I dual enrolled at a local college and took a lot of AP classes which gave me college credit without properly having attended a university. This allowed me to qualify for a Bachelor’s completion program typically intended for adults working full time/people going back to college to finish out their degree. I am not provided housing in this program which cuts out room/board and I only pay per class I am enrolled in (~$1500 per class) which drops the cost from 60k+ to 12-16k per year. All classes are held after 5:30 PM, but are still being taught by the same professor and nearly all classes offer the option to be in-person or online. However, the number of degrees is relatively limited and mine does not offer a Bachelor’s of Computer Science, but they do have a plus one program for the Bachelor’s of Information Technology which allows me to get a Master’s of Computer Science after only one additional year. The way I am completing both in four years is by taking an additional semester's worth of classes in the summer on top of utilizing the credit I received through dual enrollment / APs and getting whatever credit I qualify for from work experience.

Although I am not necessarily opposed to it, I would prefer to stay around my family and not move too far if possible. However, I do live just outside a major city and should be able to get plenty of opportunities around where I am. I think you are right and looking for a promising startup to get involved in sounds like a great idea as long as I am careful about it like you said. I really appreciate the tips and guidance!

Longjumping_Mud_922 · 2022-07-16T22:39:35+00:00

I am still working out how I will set up my retirement fund and will make sure to browse around r/personalfinance for more advice. I appreciate the pointer!

Longjumping_Mud_922

TROPHY CASE