Hi guys,
I really appreciate everything you've contributed from general advice to your own experiences as well as info (both good and bad) on jobs I've mentioned.
I'm still at my security job, which I'm liking more and more. There's been a ton of OT offered lately so for $22.50 I've been happy to sign up. I actually took a bit too much I think because from Dec 28th last year until Middle of last month I literally worked every single day, some days 12 hours instead of my normal 8. Anyway, there's been some changes ans while I can still get some 12 hours shifts (working one today in fact) I at lease get two evenings off a week, which I use to catch up on home chores or more often that not, picking up time with one of my other flexible jobs.
Between all jobs I brought in a little over 5 grand each month this year. I've put about half, sometimes more towards my highest interest CC and I'm going to have that sucker paid off a week from Friday and I'm STOKED! Seeing that progress has made me all the more excited about keeping up my current progress.
I've been using a debt snowball calculator that I think I got from another poster on these forums (
http://www.vertex42.com/Calculators/debt-reduction-calculator.html) if you want to check it out--it's pretty awesome! Anyway, I initially had some pretty conservative estimates in there so it was looking like I could pay off my debts (at the time in the 55k ballpark) in a little over five years. I've already reduced that with my current payments and my conservative payoff date is currently April 2022. If I keep my current pace though, I'll be able to pay off all my debts--2 cars, student loans, lasik surgery, 4 CCs--by Dec of 2020!
I still don't know what I want to "be when I grow up" but just getting rid of the debts is making me a) feel more hopeful I will find something and b) more able to afford to explore options once I get there. Without all the debt, I can take a pay cut if I need to start in the bottom of a new field and work my way up or have some savings to try out any other business ventures (without going into debt) or pay for any training or equipment I may need.
Truck driving is still an option I'm thinking, but my coworker's father has his own business as a pilot car, and it looks very similar/better? than truck driving. The per mile amount is higher generally, plus per diems sometimes for overnights etc. All you need in my state is a training course (good for several other states as well) a good pilot car with the required signage/lights, some extra gear and a CB radio. So I'm really thinking I might go ahead and try that. Plus with a big enough vehicle, I could outfit it with a bed and stuff so I could save the per diem money for hotels by living out of the vehicle instead.
Real estate is also possibly on the table, and I think with no debt I can probably save up for licensing fairly quickly and not go into any debt for that either.
Thanks again everyone! I probably won't be needing to update this thread again so I can probably let it die off now soon.