I'm the most successful millennial in history!

[AshleyAshes]

Or so the media would tell me!  What the heck is happening!?  Today after some wrangling I made the move from my employer's stereo conversion department to the new VFX department.  ...Monday I'll make 25% before tax than I did today.  I'm doubling the rate at which I'm paying what's student loans and it'll be paid off in eight months.

...So I went to college, racked up student loans, got a job out of college, lost that job, found another job before my last two weeks ran out, earned a lot of OT at the new job, kicked my loan's butt, and now I'm moving to a much better paying department while padding my resume to the point that in two years I could work anywhere in VFX in the city.

I sit here with $4725 in student loans currently, I have no other debts, no consumer debt, a TV the size of a pool table, a rent controlled apartment, a good job, and a resume full of highly employable skills...  I was a loser high school dropout for 10 years... How the fuck did I unfuck this???

[Guest]

Congratulations. 

Quote

How the fuck did I unfuck this?

Status, luck, location, people you know, knowledge, talent, right place, right time, where you were born, skills, time. Most likely an amalgam of it all. 

[AshleyAshes]

1 minute ago, Lemon said:

Congratulations. 

Status, luck, location, people you know, knowledge, talent, right place, right time, where you were born, skills, time. Most likely an amalgam of it all. 

I'm pretty sure that it actually just isn't real and that i'm dead and I just haven't realized it yet. D:

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, AshleyAshes said:

I'm pretty sure that it actually just isn't real and that i'm dead and I just haven't realized it yet. D:

Good things happen to those who work for them... 60% of the time. The rest is status, luck, wealth, who you know, location and being at the right place at the right time to make up for 100% success. 

[Feelwell]

magic

Video effects magic.

[Vallium]

 

2 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

 I was a loser high school dropout for 10 years... How the fuck did I unfuck this???

Sheer dumb luck

 

That's how I describe the few good things that somehow happened in my life,

...of course you have way more of it than I do because I passed high school with above average grades and still managed to be kind of a loser who didnt scrape much of anything out of college and is getting by on higher-than-the-minimum minimum wage and trying to get back into college part tres.....all on my own.

And shits like you get rad jobs being loser dropouts for 10 years, fuck my life :v But yeah, congrats!

[AshleyAshes]

4 minutes ago, WolfNightV4X1 said:

of course you have way more of it than I do because I passed high school with above average grades

On technicality, I actually finished high school yeeears later at an 'Adult High School' that really was a high school, operated under the public school board, it was simply a high school that didn't enroll those under the age of 18.  So I actually did 'finish' high school and got a full Ontario High School Diploma rather than a GED, with above average years for the later credits.  ...The transcript just has, eh, a biiiiiiit of a gap, and a large disparity of grade quality on either side of that gap.

[Falaffel]

luck is the wrong word
Every time you "happen upon something," you still did something to put yourself in that situation. 
Luck is just something people use to discredit achievements or underplay faults.

You're doing well in life and you should feel good about that. Really, congratulations. 

Though as a side note, modesty also goes a long way. You're more or less bragging to a bunch of loser furries, lmao.

[Toshabi]

21 minutes ago, Falaffel said:

 

Though as a side note, modesty also goes a long way. You're more or less bragging to a bunch of loser furries, lmao.

Onichaan~! Konichiwa! Welcome to your typical Ashley thread!

 

[AshleyAshes]

Hey!  Somebody has to keep the economy going!

...Also I struggle with impostor syndrome which I self-medicate with consumerism.  ...And the literally stepping over homeless people downtown as I walk from the subway station to the office gives me... issues.

[Zaraphayx]

1 hour ago, AshleyAshes said:

Hey!  Somebody has to keep the economy going!

...Also I struggle with impostor syndrome which I self-medicate with consumerism.  ...And the literally stepping over homeless people downtown as I walk from the subway station to the office gives me... issues.

>modifying your gait to accommodate for the poor
>not just stepping on them or beating them aside with your walking stick
>calling them 'people'

[Endless/Nameless]

That quite the thread title you got there

Really reeled me in 

[Toshabi]

I'm super successful :3

 

Just gotto step over these mountains of poor people though 3:

Maybe I should buy them burgers or something from Tim Hortons :3

 

Hi homeless person. I have hardly any debt and a lot of cash flow! OWO

Have a burger! *offers burger and Tim Hortons* ^w^

[AshleyAshes]

Toshiabi is stalking me, he knows about the Tim Hortons I walk past after exiting King Station. D:

[Conker]

Congrats Ash.

I'm also in that weird spot where my student loans are completely under control--in my case, paid off already--where all of my peers are kinda freaking out. Some dead grandparents left me money and I decided not to be a dumbass with it.

Dont' have much else to add.

[AshleyAshes]

36 minutes ago, Conker said:

I'm also in that weird spot where my student loans are completely under control--in my case, paid off already--where all of my peers are kinda freaking out. Some dead grandparents left me money and I decided not to be a dumbass with it.

I have seven months to go before I need to figure out what to do with the $700/mo from my budget for loans will go to next.  Obviously the answer is 'invest' but how/where/why/ect is the big thing.  There's a LOT of ways once can start investing and preparing for retirement and such and a lot of ways to do it less efficiently or outright fuck it up.  In the meanwhile, aggressively pay student loans is the EASY choice.  Pay off as much money as possible, reduce how much interest you pay.  You really CAN'T do that wrong, it's always a very smart move and it's simple to do.  Once it's paid off though... I have no idea. D:

[Dr. Doggo]

send me money

[AshleyAshes]

6 minutes ago, Sir Gibby said:

send me money

What's your rate of return?

[Dr. Doggo]

Just now, AshleyAshes said:

What's your rate of return?

somewhere in the negative

i can send carbon dioxide emissions

[WileyWarWeasel]

On 22/04/2017 at 9:42 AM, AshleyAshes said:

Or so the media would tell me!  What the heck is happening!?  Today after some wrangling I made the move from my employer's stereo conversion department to the new VFX department.  ...Monday I'll make 25% before tax than I did today.  I'm doubling the rate at which I'm paying what's student loans and it'll be paid off in eight months.

...So I went to college, racked up student loans, got a job out of college, lost that job, found another job before my last two weeks ran out, earned a lot of OT at the new job, kicked my loan's butt, and now I'm moving to a much better paying department while padding my resume to the point that in two years I could work anywhere in VFX in the city.

I sit here with $4725 in student loans currently, I have no other debts, no consumer debt, a TV the size of a pool table, a rent controlled apartment, a good job, and a resume full of highly employable skills...  I was a loser high school dropout for 10 years... How the fuck did I unfuck this???

A combination of factors were involved, hard work alone wouldn't be enough as there's plenty of people working hard for next to nothing.

Nevertheless,

1 hour ago, Sir Gibby said:

somewhere in the negative

i can send carbon dioxide emissions

Carbon dioxide is good for capnophiles.

#RememberTheCapnophiles

[FlynnCoyote]

Holy shit, a millennial that learned that work = payoff.

Who'd have thunk it?

[Strongbob]

12 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

I have seven months to go before I need to figure out what to do with the $700/mo from my budget for loans will go to next.  Obviously the answer is 'invest' but how/where/why/ect is the big thing.  There's a LOT of ways once can start investing and preparing for retirement and such and a lot of ways to do it less efficiently or outright fuck it up.  In the meanwhile, aggressively pay student loans is the EASY choice.  Pay off as much money as possible, reduce how much interest you pay.  You really CAN'T do that wrong, it's always a very smart move and it's simple to do.  Once it's paid off though... I have no idea. D:

I am not a financial advisor, but there is some logic in starting to invest sooner and paying off the student loan debt slower.  I know it would feel good to be out of debt, but depending on the interest rate and tax deductions, starting to invest asap generally pencils out better.  

As for the actual investing, if you want to do it yourself just get into some low cost index funds.  These generally performe well in the long term and have low fees. Other than that, picking a few solid stocks on the side is never a bad idea.  As an example, I purchased some Disney stock a few years ago and it has performed well.  Say what you want about Disney, but you can't argue that it's not a solid company. 

 

[Vallium]

On 4/21/2017 at 9:41 PM, AshleyAshes said:

On technicality, I actually finished high school yeeears later at an 'Adult High School' that really was a high school, operated under the public school board, it was simply a high school that didn't enroll those under the age of 18.  So I actually did 'finish' high school and got a full Ontario High School Diploma rather than a GED, with above average years for the later credits.  ...The transcript just has, eh, a biiiiiiit of a gap, and a large disparity of grade quality on either side of that gap.

*whispers* there's still hoooope

 

Pretty cool that you dusted yourself off and tried again after the high school thing, not many do and end up as good as you are years down the line!

[Conker]

16 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

I have seven months to go before I need to figure out what to do with the $700/mo from my budget for loans will go to next.  Obviously the answer is 'invest' but how/where/why/ect is the big thing.  There's a LOT of ways once can start investing and preparing for retirement and such and a lot of ways to do it less efficiently or outright fuck it up.  In the meanwhile, aggressively pay student loans is the EASY choice.  Pay off as much money as possible, reduce how much interest you pay.  You really CAN'T do that wrong, it's always a very smart move and it's simple to do.  Once it's paid off though... I have no idea. D:

Yeah I'm basically just hording my money in a savings account right now while everyone tells me that that's stupid but no one really tells me what's smart.

Once the dumb video game I'm working on is done and out, I'll figure out what to do with it after.

[Zeke]

On April 22, 2017 at 1:03 AM, Falaffel said:

 

Though as a side note, modesty also goes a long way. You're more or less bragging to a bunch of loser furries, lmao.

So basically a reverse "Whatshisface" thread...but with less bitcoins attached to it?

[Falaffel]

1 hour ago, Zeke said:

So basically a reverse "Whatshisface" thread...but with less bitcoins attached to it?

wrong
rassah entertains me

[Zaraphayx]

Rassah unironically didn't brag he just triggered a lot of insecure poor losers with his reluctance to feign modesty or signal guilt for his affluence.

Which is kind of funny because his ancap ideology is puerile and ridiculous but it always took a backburner to salt about him "flaunting his wealth"

[AshleyAshes]

1 hour ago, Falaffel said:

wrong
rassah entertains me

It's true. I don't even entertain me.

[WileyWarWeasel]

3 hours ago, Zaraphayx said:

Rassah unironically didn't brag he just triggered a lot of insecure poor losers with his reluctance to feign modesty or signal guilt for his affluence.

Which is kind of funny because his ancap ideology is puerile and ridiculous but it always took a backburner to salt about him "flaunting his wealth"

Don't forget his warped version of "wilderness".

2 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

It's true. I don't even entertain me.

You don't have to entertain when you can slap on some fancy VFX ^__^

[AshleyAshes]

7 hours ago, WileyWarWeasel said:

Don't forget his warped version of "wilderness".

Welp, I clearly missed a post by him, cause even I don't get this reference.

[WileyWarWeasel]

6 minutes ago, AshleyAshes said:

Welp, I clearly missed a post by him, cause even I don't get this reference.

Through the magic of a search on "wilderness" I came across this post:

https://phoenix.corvidae.org/topic/3132-universal-basic-income/?page=4#comment-116400

 

Here is my reply to that:

https://phoenix.corvidae.org/topic/3132-universal-basic-income/?page=4#comment-116420

 

[AshleyAshes]

1 hour ago, WileyWarWeasel said:

Through the magic of a search on "wilderness" I came across this post:

https://phoenix.corvidae.org/topic/3132-universal-basic-income/?page=4#comment-116400

 

Here is my reply to that:

https://phoenix.corvidae.org/topic/3132-universal-basic-income/?page=4#comment-116420

 

Ahhh... Classic Libertarian Boat Cities That Will Never Be.  Kinda cliche, really.

[Rukh Whitefang]

Ive run into two groups of millennials, either its the "I'm entitled to everything" type of people or extremely hard working people. They never seem to fall in the middle though. I find that interesting. I just fired a millennial who thought the world revolved around him a couple weeks ago. Dude's credit score was under 400 and he was 27 years old. Had zero financial skills (why don't they teach this in high schools?).

 

As far as debt, paying off student loans is a great feeling. I paid mine off 2 years ago. But, I also bought a house and renovated it (still ongoing). At least this is building equity though. Never thought I'd get to this point after the recession pulled the rug right out from under me. Took years to dig out of that and get back into stability.

[AshleyAshes]

On 4/24/2017 at 6:54 PM, Zeke said:

So basically a reverse "Whatshisface" thread...but with less bitcoins attached to it?

On that note, this week I recruited others and started aggressive efforts to unionize the 280 or so workers at my office... I'm officially the Anti-Rassah.

[DrGravitas]

22 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

On that note, this week I recruited others and started aggressive efforts to unionize the 280 or so workers at my office... I'm officially the Anti-Rassah.

lol, ok now this I'd like to hear about. I've always wondered how successful such a thing would be in certain tech fields. Some seem more likely than others and from what you've told us before, I suspect yours would be. However, it has a variety of interesting challenges, too. I can't imagine it will make it off the ground, but it would be fascinating to watch an attempt.

[AshleyAshes]

Just now, DrGravitas said:

lol, ok now this I'd like to hear about. I've always wondered how successful such a thing would be in certain tech fields. Some seem more likely than others and from what you've told us before, I suspect yours would be. However, it has a variety of interesting challenges, too. I can't imagine it will make it off the ground, but it would be fascinating to watch an attempt.

Oh 'Off The Ground' has already been well accomplished.  The company pulled some stuff that basically upset EVERYBODY.  Few are opposed to any idea of unionization.  Not that there isn't a good number who feel apathy or fear of the employer, but no one is like 'Yeah, everything is AWESOME here' by a long shot.  However, the real catch is getting at least 40% of around 280 to sign unionization cards, from there the government steps in and there's a vote on unionization run by the government.  The VOTE doesn't concern me.  The collection of cards to 40% is the real challenge.  So yeah, off the ground we are, the real question is if we an stick the landing.

[WileyWarWeasel]

3 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

Oh 'Off The Ground' has already been well accomplished.  The company pulled some stuff that basically upset EVERYBODY.  Few are opposed to any idea of unionization.  Not that there isn't a good number who feel apathy or fear of the employer, but no one is like 'Yeah, everything is AWESOME here' by a long shot.  However, the real catch is getting at least 40% of around 280 to sign unionization cards, from there the government steps in and there's a vote on unionization run by the government.  The VOTE doesn't concern me.  The collection of cards to 40% is the real challenge.  So yeah, off the ground we are, the real question is if we an stick the landing.

Perhaps this will inspire you:

 

[Crazy Lee]

I find it interesting and disheartening that a lot of the millennials I know are people who work retail, service, or other low wage jobs. It seems to be such a common thing that I debate whether millennials either have a terrible job market (the biggest growth does seem to be in the service sector), or whether most millennials are just really bad at completing college and getting better jobs. It's actually refreshing to see some people succeed at life (while myself works full time at a damn warehouse).

It could just be that I need better friends. I could tell stories of friends (and I do care about them) who whine about being broke and then show up at a furry con, or say they're struggling and then buy $300 of swag. Priorities people, and no your furry porn, video games, and waifu material is not something you NEED.

On 4/24/2017 at 8:21 PM, Zaraphayx said:

Rassah unironically didn't brag he just triggered a lot of insecure poor losers with his reluctance to feign modesty or signal guilt for his affluence.

Which is kind of funny because his ancap ideology is puerile and ridiculous but it always took a backburner to salt about him "flaunting his wealth"

Rassah didn't even flaunt his supposed wealth. A non-new prius? A ratty old 80s-era single engine small plane? The only thing I dislike about the guy is his insane ancap views. If you remember I defended him over the plane thing. Everyone was acting like he went out and bought a brand new business jet like he's worth billions and instead he posts pictures of something that looks like the wings are about to fall off and I personally wouldn't even fly until a professional airplane mechanic looked it over.

[Vallium]

Ashley and Rassah comparisons again? 

Time to bring out the cringey ship art!

[Fantasma]

Yeah Rassah isn't a dick and didn't make threads to show off his wealth. I mean, people talk like he is a millionaire... he's just good with money.

 

Just sayin.

[AshleyAshes]

5 hours ago, Crazy Lee said:

Rassah didn't even flaunt his supposed wealth. A non-new prius? A ratty old 80s-era single engine small plane? The only thing I dislike about the guy is his insane ancap views. If you remember I defended him over the plane thing. Everyone was acting like he went out and bought a brand new business jet like he's worth billions and instead he posts pictures of something that looks like the wings are about to fall off and I personally wouldn't even fly until a professional airplane mechanic looked it over.

Oh he bragged at times.  Like how he boasted that he was going on vacation on a tropical island and would rent a Ferarri or something and then do Uber calls with it?  ...Granted he then spent that ENTIRE weekend on the island arguing with people on the forum which was like, really sad.

 

...On that note, HOLY HELL Unions have resources.  No shit, I am now better equiped than my employer's understaffed, overworked HR department.  I got expensive lawyers who I can call if things go crazy sideways.  People doing corporate research.  They'll rent event space and pay for the drinks to run FAQ sessions near work.

Also this'll be a longer slog than hoped.   Convincing 40% of 300 people, most of whom are millennials and been in the work place for less than a year, whom are just glad that they aren't working retail/fast food, most of who make only $5.60 above minimum wage while living in one of the most expensive cities in the nation, that they need to take an active, vested interest in their futures... ...Is not the easiest of tasks.  No shit, those getting the rawest of deals are the most resistant to change.  It's counter-intuitive.

I bet this story ends with 'Ashley and the others tried really hard but just didn't get there, but she was highly employable with the appropriate skills for a competitive market place that she was totally fine for the rest of her life anyway.'

[WileyWarWeasel]

3 hours ago, AshleyAshes said:

I bet this story ends with 'Ashley and the others tried really hard but just didn't get there, but she was highly employable with the appropriate skills for a competitive market place that she was totally fine for the rest of her life anyway.'

Sounds pretty boring, you should put a dragon in there somewhere.

[Silo]

On 5/2/2017 at 9:30 PM, AshleyAshes said:

Oh he bragged at times.  Like how he boasted that he was going on vacation on a tropical island and would rent a Ferarri or something and then do Uber calls with it?  ...Granted he then spent that ENTIRE weekend on the island arguing with people on the forum which was like, really sad.

He had the means. Should've just let him be, 

I don't really see the point of being pissed off at someone taking a vacation, even if it's more luxurious than average. If he was trying to compensate for something - such as the possibility of having a lonely vacation, I could understand why they would return to the forum, hostile or not. That being said, cut him some slack. He's not even here to give you a proper response.

Edit: Holy shit, I couldn't be more wrong about that.

Edited May 6, 2017 by Silo
Idiots tend to make the largest assumptions.

[AshleyAshes]

6 hours ago, Silo said:

He had the means. Should've just let him be,

Yeah, it doesn't work that way.  When one goes on vacation, this forum doesn't knock on ones hotel room and say 'hey, we need to talk', making the forum the 'bad guy'.  One chooses to access the forum while on vacation because... Okay, I can't think of a motivation but it happened.

 

But if I was on vacation I'd only use the internet to post photos on Facebook to convince people that my life is better than theirs.  :3

[Crazy Lee]

If there were times when Rassah bragged hardcore about his wealth, besides the airplane thing, I must have missed them all. I don't even know about the whole tropical island event. Going on a vacation on a nice island doesn't necessarily make you rich, either. The Ferarri is a stretch but he did only rent it, not buy it.

[Fossa]

On 5/2/2017 at 8:55 PM, Fantasma said:

Yeah Rassah isn't a dick and didn't make threads to show off his wealth. I mean, people talk like he is a millionaire... he's just good with money.

 

Just sayin.

You know, its odd, but I think I met him at this furry dinner meet, maybe 5 years ago? (We both live in the Baltimore area) Was sorta boring, but I'm pretty sure he was there. Anyway, it was at a fairly fancy Thai restaurant, and I recall him wanting to split up the bill to the last penny, using some odd arrangement of payment methods, and, as somebody who waited tables for many years, I thought: geez, the poor waiter. I was more than happy to chip in $5 or $10 extra, if only so he'd put that damn calculator away. I can't be sure, but the more I ponder it, I'm almost certain it had to have been him, having read what I have here...I could be wrong, but if not, a sorta arrogant, aloof type who could warm up to those who admired his glory. Also, a rather frugal! Didn't seem like a bad fellow, by any means, just very remote. I always meant to ask if he'd gone to any of these dinner events they used to have, maybe I will; even the name seems familiar, and the furry world is rather insular, in many ways, smaller that it seems.

As for the OP: Glad you managed to make it, and those loans are almost paid off...those can be a killer! Good luck there!

 

[Lopaw]

The massive debt university degrees burden people with is the main reason I've got myself on a level 4 course that according to the engineering council is rigorous enough to get me the title of incorporated.

This course only costs me £5400 and only runs a day each week so I can fit a part time job in if need be. Getting a BEng degree costs £9000 a year and those go on for 3-4 years and get you the same title.

Too many still think Uni is the be all and end all but I think with the millennial debt issue I think a mass waking up is starting, I can see election promises being made over this in the coming decades.

[WileyWarWeasel]

5 hours ago, Lopaw said:

Too many still think Uni is the be all and end all but I think with the millennial debt issue I think a mass waking up is starting, I can see election promises being made over this in the coming decades.

If there's one thing that civilization has no shortage of, it's promises.

[Lopaw]

10 hours ago, WileyWarWeasel said:

If there's one thing that civilization has no shortage of, it's promises.

I remember Blair saying 50% of school leavers should go to university. Looking back on that statement I face palmed.

The government here also likes to promise introducing an new qualification that is promised to smarten everyone so our schools can be on par with those in Germany.

At one point it was "the diploma" now it is "T levels" due to changing parties in power few if any of this gets to classrooms.

 

[WileyWarWeasel]

3 hours ago, Lopaw said:

I remember Blair saying 50% of school leavers should go to university. Looking back on that statement I face palmed.

The government here also likes to promise introducing an new qualification that is promised to smarten everyone so our schools can be on par with those in Germany.

At one point it was "the diploma" now it is "T levels" due to changing parties in power few if any of this gets to classrooms.

 

At least UK healthcare is still alright ^__^