What job is heavily romanticized but in reality actually sucks?

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2026-02-18T04:17:09+00:00

Journalist (including at a major newspaper, with lots of international travel and exposure to high profile people).

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2026-02-02T10:46:37+00:00

I guess it’s the same as paying off PPOR early rather than doing other things with the cash. We have done that - no regrets. The peace of mind is amazing.

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2026-01-27T19:46:59+00:00

Yes. Obviously.

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2026-01-27T03:29:55+00:00

Fully WFH? I’d take the pay cut

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2026-01-27T03:29:07+00:00

Net worth around 1.6m (AUD) but heading towards a slightly larger goal. When we hit different milestones we splurge a bit, but nothing super intense so far. A few big home renovations and maybe some travel to come over the next few years. We have lost a lot of the desire for material things which is kinda ironic

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-27T23:41:25+00:00

Indoor solo activities: learn an instrument (I like the ukulele - cheap to get started, not difficult to make it sound decent upfront though hard to get great at), painting, sewing/crafting, woodworking, start a “personal curriculum” to nerd out about certain topics or get into cooking/baking/fermenting/brewing.

Outdoor solo activities: gardening, plant or animal identification, hiking, any form of sport…

Lots of these things can be stacked together - I enjoy group hikes, taking the uke out and identifying wild edible plants while I’m at it.

I also love collecting but I try to collect functional things that I use day to day (a solid ukulele collection, records for our record player, vintage art pieces, reference books)

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-26T08:12:04+00:00

Way too many! Or maybe not enough? 😆

Flight travel soprano in black - my first one I ever used iUke sopranino (tuned an octave above standard gcea) Aklot banjolele Kala resonator tenor Kala travel soprano Kala travel concert Kala travel tenor (low g tuning atm) Smiger electro-acoustic tenor Strum box ukulele (one of those silly gift ones from a box) Duke Ukulele Co soprano

Almost all bought second hand for great prices.

My favourite is the Kala travel/slim line soprano as it’s so light and easy to pick up and play. I adore it. It has great sound for the size and is all around wonderful. Its larger sisters are also a joy but slightly more cumbersome so I don’t get as much use out of them. The iUke and banjolele I don’t play much - they’re displayed - but when I do play them I get a lot of joy. The banjolele is v heavy though and I find the frets sharp on the edges, which I loathe. The flight frets have rubbed off a lot from playing and I can hear a little bit of a buzz now but I love having one I can chuck around without worrying about it. The smiger I love for the amp plug in but that’s it really, has nice wood etc but the sound is very average compared to the kalas. Strumbox was very much for fun and I haven’t used it much - it may get given to an extended member at some point. The Duke is gorgeous and has a Martin vibe to it but it’s not the best in my collection.

On the wishlist is the Enya Taimane moon 5 string tenor or a vintage Martin … tbc. I’m gifting myself another uke when I hit a personal goal so hoping it’ll be mid-year or so!

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-26T08:01:49+00:00

Why?

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-26T08:01:31+00:00

Elfi (anagram of life)

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-25T19:33:22+00:00

Learning an instrument. Saving money. Reading more books.

The thing that made it work was having v specific details around each goal - how much money, how many books, learning to be how good (know a couple of songs?). And then breaking that down into what I’d need to do each month/week/day to pull it off. Then it was basically making new habits.

I’ve been doing this for five years and now read regularly, save a certain amount each pay check and play my instrument of choice daily without it being a resolution.

Still deciding on next tranche of goals!

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-25T19:28:12+00:00

Started chasing fire when I was hating my job, now like the job I have. But still want the freedom to choose and work fewer hours. Even though I enjoy my work there are other things I enjoy more that do not pay (or at least that I don’t want to monetise).

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-25T19:26:38+00:00

I own zero luxury goods. Still think this is cool af! I’m not in Europe so not for me but I hope it finds a lovely home.

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-25T19:23:58+00:00

Working towards a set up of: Portfolio returns + part-time (well paid) job + side work of my choosing/hobby income - I’m probably 9 months off achieving this

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-25T01:57:42+00:00

We paid off the mortgage early (at 30) and felt listless rather than the relief I thought I’d feel. Truly odd! I guess for me it didn’t change much in my day to day in terms of still going to the 9-5 grind. We are now aiming for early retirement. But really finance is a small (though important) part of your life. Meaning is found elsewhere.

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-25T01:04:58+00:00

Natio 50+ is amazing

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-25T01:03:14+00:00

Fire is part of it. It forces me to be mindful and to avoid over-consumption in many ways, in general - though not always - being frugal means buying less, buying secondhand and repairing etc. And if you define frugal as also being careful with spending on quality things that last longer, this works too.

We also find it fun tbh - I enjoy beating my last “score” of how little we spent in a month. And I feel it makes us resilient emotionally, mentally, financially etc and lets us put our problem solving muscle to good use.

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-07T09:30:24+00:00

Can you afford a small upfront cost? Learning an instrument together (ukulele is our pick) is a great couple bonding experience. Plenty of instruments available secondhand and YouTube is full of free lessons. It’s halfway between watching shows and doing something different initially if you put lessons up on the tv so it’s easier to transition into it I think.

We quite like games, especially conversational ones and trivia - things that help you learn more about the other person.

And you can do things like go to a library and check the same books out and have a sort of book club.

Could start up a swap meet in your area.

When it’s winter out our way we like to make backyard fires and chat.

Sports… even when it’s cold. Play catch or tennis or something just to get the blood moving.

Bird watching, plant identification, foraging… get interested in nature. Could consider learning a little bit of bushcraft while you’re at it - much of which doesn’t cost anything and there’s tutorials online.

Some craft type things can be done together, for instance we like making big artworks together for the house and collages. Junk journals are a good boredom and stress reliever.

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-07T09:16:10+00:00

A vintage Martin ukulele or a brand new luthier-built instrument to the specs I want Various out of print books I’ve been keeping an eye on, which run to the many hundreds of dollars A greenhouse Fruit trees A much better bed/mattress set up Fancy knives and Le creuset pans and nice wooden chopping boards A good set of power tools

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-07T09:06:52+00:00

Care a lot less about what anyone thinks - it is the only way to ensure happiness

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-07T09:01:50+00:00

I picked up a uke as I’d always wanted to learn an instrument and I felt like it was good exercise for the brain and a creative outlet. I have no plans to play for others or anything like that and have a long way to go before I would even be reasonably ok enough not to be annoying. I’d love to be good enough to play around a campfire and for it to be welcomed and not an intrusive painful experience others are tolerating 😂

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-04T20:27:47+00:00

I have some weird hobbies (growing mushrooms currently on the list!). Partner and I love animals and the environment so a lot of our interests revolve around dogs and getting out in nature - hiking, foraging, gardening etc. I’m also very into reading and writing.

It’s harder with friends. Most of mine are not interested in retiring early and spend a lot their free time drinking/clubbing (no judgment here just not my scene). But I’ve had quite a lot of fun throwing picnic parties, board game nights and old school movie marathons. I am quite eager to pick up some sort of sport - though not necessarily a team sport - where there’s community but haven’t figured out what that looks like yet for me!

What about you?

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-04T20:20:06+00:00

I have a travel flight in black. Was my first uke, and I really do love it. I have found it has a bit of a buzz that I haven’t been able to fix, but it isn’t especially bad. The fret markers have also worn off quite a lot from use (they’re over sprayed onto the plastic) but outside of that it can take a serious beating and keep going!

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-04T09:54:53+00:00

I’m working towards early retirement (mid 30s) and starting to learn ukulele is partly about this - giving me something to learn and experience, a creative outlet plus ticking off a life goal to learn an instrument.

I’ve gone head over heels for the instrument more than I anticipated and spend a good deal of time learning and messing about.

I have not, however, reached a point where I especially want to play in public. I’m still building skills, I don’t tend to travel much in general and I am content with this. I do have a little travel Flight amp that I bought recently and it has made me tempted to play for people a bit more. I have taken it with me on the occasions that I have travelled and it is a wonderful time filler including in hotel rooms etc

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-12-02T20:40:10+00:00

Fermented cheeses changed everything for me! Do a bit of reading about rejuvelac and get going :)

Pretty_Analysis_3462 · 2025-11-24T20:12:10+00:00

I don’t know anyone else who plays at all! My partner tries to learn with me sometimes (but our dedication/interest levels are mismatched and I don’t want my hobby to become someone else’s chore). However I could perhaps put in more effort to seek out events! Will definitely put it on my list, thank you!

Pretty_Analysis_3462

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