Starting over again at 34. Not as bad as it sounds.

[bruntstreet]

Hello all.  Im new here.  Just started reading Mr Money Mustache.  Really digging it.  I've used many of the money saving tips and lifestyle choices he has recommended in the past.  Went about 10 years without owning a car.  Walked and rode to work....Rent was dirt cheap.  I was bartending so I was able to save up quite a bit of scratch. 
I was living in Baltimore.  A less than desirable location.  A less than desirable lifestyle.

I got out.

Purchased a nice row home in South East PA with my lady.  Things are awesome in many regards.  Save for one thing.  I don't wanna go back into bartending.  Does anybody have any suggestions on possible career fields etc.  Im no stranger to working hard (Im currently unloading trucks at a warehouse now). I just don't want to go back into the service industry.  Spent years only seeing my women a few times a week.  She worked early in the morning and I worked until late in the evening.  Plus I have fallen outta shape in the past couple years some of it I blame on being in an environment where toxic food and booze was de rigeur.  The stress was a killer and my anxiety level was crippling at times.   

I realize that as a 34 year old guy without many marketable skill sets (no college) I may be a hard fit.  Flip side is I've travelled all over the country and in Asia.  Im pretty well educated for a guy that only went to 12th grade and have a pretty solid interest and knowledge of history (self taught).  I've been a laborer on construction sites etc. 

Sorry about the rambling question.  Oh do have savings set aside so that I am not completely destitute.  Im willing to tap them for the right reasons. 

[frugaldrummer]

So why don't you tell us a little bit more about your strengths and interests?  Obviously if you're a history buff, your reading (and presumably writing?) skills are good.  And if you could bartend, you're a good multi-tasker.  Any other special skills?

You've said you want a job with regular hours.  Anything you have dreamed about doing?  Besides the hours, what else didn't you like about your last job (and what DID you like?).  Anything you dreamed about doing when you were younger?

[bruntstreet]

My writing skills aren't bad overall.  Probably could use some polish.  Don't have any other special skills.  I can cook pretty well. Worked in kitchens for a long time too.  Thing is I like to cook and bake for the people I care about not John Q Public  I was a barista for a number of years.  I have a pretty solid foundation in the food service industry.  The only job I haven't ever held was that of General Manager.  I've worked a number of years in Record Stores.  Didn't really care for it.  Money sucked and dealing with guys that crawled outta their moms basement looking for Beatles test pressings on beautiful spring days will wear ya down.
I love going camping and driving around old rust belt towns.  Love shooting my 22.
I love riding my bike.  Though Im not a member of the spandex set.  I run a Biancchi fixed gear.  Don't like maintenance.  Not coordinated enough to change gears.
There isn't really much I've ever been called to do.  When I was a kid I wanted to be in the military or be a train engineer.  Couldn't join because of a bad leg.  A railroad career is outta the question because I would like semi normal hours. 
As far as aspects of my old job that I disliked:
Didn't like all of the drama of substance abuse on both sides of the bar.
Hated having to work when all of the people I cared about were doing things without me.
Work politics
Getting knives pulled on me by drunks
Breaking up fights
Dealing with management
Being talked down to because I was a bartender.
Being forced to be nice to total scumbags.
Having to explain the same thing over and over again in an evening (ie someone would want to quiz you on the wall of vodka that they can clearly see).  It is obviously part of the job but it became irksome as hell.  Just a pet peeve.
The stuff I liked:
The money could be pretty good though sporadic.
I was able to meet some really nice people. Members of the public and coworkers (in spite of the list above this).
I was generally left alone by management.  Most bartenders are.  You are kind of a freelancer.  If you do your job 9 out of 10 times your managers will stay outta your way.
Learning about food and booze was interesting.  Not that I wanted to talk about it 24/7.
It was never the same thing twice.
I met the love of my life.  Bartending.  6 years ago.
 

[frugaldrummer]

So.....you want a job where you don't have to work with drunks or addicts, or too much of the great unwashed public.

What kind of income are you looking for?  What did you make bartending?

Have you looked at the blog post on $50k jobs that don't require a college degree?

[bruntstreet]

Yes I did actually check out the jobs for 50,000K without college posts.  They are actually what led me to this forum....Some fodder for thought.  I just figured I would have some luck having a dialog with people that are walking the walk so to speak.  50k a year would be ideal. In my old life bartending I was pulling 35K-40K.  Not bad.  Certainly more than the 320$ a week I am pulling in now.  If Im lucky.   The economy in this area could be alot worse, but could be alot better too. 

[frugaldrummer]

How are you at math and computers?  Any interest in becoming a financial planner/ insurance salesperson and helping others make wise financial decisions?  You could start your own business.

Or meanwhile, how about trying to get hired at Costco?  Wages are way above average and people stay there forever (although you would still have scheduling issues to deal with).

Or, if you prefer being an employee, you might look into state/federal jobs that don't require a degree? 

 Or, since you have travel experience - how about importing and reselling goods online?

[Guizmo]

Train to be a plumber or an HVAC guy. Money is good, can't beat the satisfaction of figuring out a problem. And i can tell you that in philly almost all houses need work.

[moneysense]

A lot of former bartenders that I know go on to work as beer/liquor sales reps and love it. You could work for a distributor or at a brewery--using your knowledge, but not have to work with the public. One of my former bartending friends went to work as a sales rep for Sysco (wholesale restaurant supplier), since she was familiar with restaurants and their food/ordering; she loves it and makes more than $50,000.

[Rebecca Stapler]

Do you want to learn a trade like plumbing, electricity, or HVAC? The hours are going to be sporadic, but you have a lot of potential there not just in your hourly wage, but in owning a small business / working for yourself.

If you like computers, there are a lot of free resources out there to teach you how to code -- "Learning Python the Hard Way" is a good place to start. Python is an easy language to learn (so I've been told) and a lot of programmers use it. It's another area where you could work for a company or freelance / own your own business.

[Johnny Aloha]

Don't forget the post about education - MMM interviewed the CEO of Coursera.  Sounds like they offer job placement assistance on top of cheap training.  I'm a big fan of skilled trades (electrician or plumber) also.

[snuggler]

Another couple of options that haven't been mentioned:

Could you open up a bartending school? Put all that experience to good use?

Could you make your own brew and sell it? I have a friend who has been very successful at making a home hobby into a successful business. Lots of restaurants are looking for local independent breweries to feature.

[Paul der Krake]

Train to be a plumber or an HVAC guy. Money is good, can't beat the satisfaction of figuring out a problem. And i can tell you that in philly almost all houses need work.

This. There may be a city in this world where there is actually a surplus of skilled plumbers, but it has yet to be discovered. Even as an apprentice, you should be pulling more than $320 / week.

[bruntstreet]

Thanks for the great suggestions guys. Keep them coming!!!!
 I am applying at my local tech school to study as an electrician (wont be able to start until September of 2014).  Also the union apprenticeship test is coming up in February.  The apprenticeship would be PAID.  Gonna check out the Coursera interview later.  Looked into the state and federal government for jobs.  No luck so far.  Thanks again for everything and have a Happy New Year!