Hi folks.
I engaged with this forum a good amount a few years ago but fell off the wagon when I moved to California on a whim following a few months of traveling. I'm happy with my move for a number of reasons, but find myself once again thinking in a more balanced long-term.
I'm 26 and just got married. I have "good" credit, but have had no major loans (no cars or bigger). I carry $8k in student loan debt and no credit card debt. I have about $4k in cash and somewhere in the ballpark of $15k in assets between tools, my truck, and backpacking gear. It's not much.
My wife has no debt, but also has no credit score. We're both college grads and are living a wonderful life in the mountains. We'd like to make a life here.
In three weeks I'll be turning away from pursuing bachelor's requiring degrees and will start working as a carpenter's apprentice for a well-known contractor who's been in the area for 30 years. I'll start out making $22.50 an hour. No health insurance, but I will be able to get on my wife's HI.
She's currently making $14.50 an hour but will start a job with the park service in May at $16.50 an hour with HI and good benefits. Initially it will be seasonal work, but she has a reliable off-season job at $15/hour locally and will work as much as I do.
We take about a month off a year because, well, we love to backpack and camp. Financial freedom is important to us both, but we're not willing to budge on this much. Why live if you're not enjoying it? (Especially when the way you enjoy it is pretty much free).
Currently we share an apartment with a friend and pay $600/month plus utilities. Utilities stay low because we don't use AC and burn wood we harvest ourselves for heat. Electric is $75ish a month, $15 for shared internet.
I know trucks can be sore subjects here, but I have to have one for work. It's a full-size Tundra. I'd sell it for a more fuel-efficient Tacoma, but I bought it cheap and couldn't find a better truck for less. My commute is maximum 10 miles a day but does require I bring the truck. My wife has a '98 RAV4 which we use for longer trips to save gas, but she does not have to commute currently.
What's next? We'd like to buy a home in the next two years. Our savings rate tends to be pretty good. Currently our jobs/location are non-negotiable- we're happy. But we want to cut the fat and fast track a home and some land. Thanks to my degree and previous work experience, I'll be able to get a contractor's license in three years and can start my own business. We'd love to have a home by then.
Thanks in advance!