If you could improve your standard of living earning a degree, but

[closeupready]

it would take 2 years, and a budget of only $20/day, would you do it?

In other words, you'd have to struggle by for those two years, but your standard of living at the end of that time would go up DRAMATICALLY?

[magical thyme]

1. I essentially did that when I went for the MLT degree

(already hold a BS in liberal arts).

Big mistake because after frying myself to a crisp putting it all on the line, the promised work and income weren't in the pot at the end of the rainbow. It was a pack of lies. I strongly recommend against it in this economy, given the vast amount of corruption and flat out lies that exist everywhere.

[closeupready]

3. Good cautionary advice.

Esp. given this is your first-hand experience. Thanks.

[artislife]

2. I am good at process and strategy

Take strength finders test. .really good. I help people and I want something that I can do with very little traffic. So I found a very popular software that only businesses that are doing well would buy. It needs one person or a team to maintain it. I am now ready to work in infusion soft..which is selling by leaps and bounds
What I did do before was talk to successful VAs..about what I should study. They matched me to the software and with an eye to making money. I then waited until a fantastic course came up.
Basically. .is it in your skill set. .is it something you like to do or find intuitive and thirdly are people really making a living at it

[femmocrat]

4. Yes.

Who doesn't struggle while earning a degree? Two years is not that long of a commitment. Just remember that there are no guarantees of jobs or income when you do graduate.

Does the $20 a day include rent? You could eat well on $20 a day. Rent and other expenses (books, commuting, whatever) could eat up your budget in no time.

[closeupready]

12. $20 is food, entertainment, and miscellaneous other costs.

[femmocrat]

14. Go for it!

Sounds like you are OK financially and advancing your education will look better on your resume! Best of luck to you!

[closeupready]

15. Thanks, hon!

Appreciate your encouragement.

[clamshells]

26. oh, sure.

The $20 apparently does not include rent, medical, taxes, etc., just food and unnecessary stuff? For sure I could do that, and even save money.

[IrishEyes]

5. Yes, absolutely.

I already live on less than that. I struggle every day already. I wish that I could afford to go back to school and get a masters or a second bachelors degree. At least I would know that it is only two years. Hopefully, I will find a better paying job soon.

[closeupready]

13. Good luck to you!

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. I did it

the budget was lower
the tuition was lower then
and I ended up going all the way to a Master's because of degree inflation.
It paid off.

Dunno if the same could be said today.
I certainly would do some careful research before committing to a degreed job which may or may not be around down the road.

a technical degree in plumbing or electrical or nursing would be of great value in these times.
It is damn difficult to find a competent plumber or electrician in our area, has been, for years.

[closeupready]

16. At one point, I thought about a trade.

I don't regret NOT doing a trade school, because the trades can be hard on the body, but I'm also smart (IIDSSM, lol) so I'd like to use my mind for a career, as well.

[Heddi]

7. I did it. Got an ADN for nursing school

came out of school with a base salary of like $45k, up to $50k with weekend and night shift differentials. 10 years in and I've more than doubled that salary, and will just be finishing my BSN in December.

prior to nursing school, I worked in newspaper sales, hubby was a graphic designer. Highest combined household income prior to school was $47k before taxes.

Best decision I ever made. Such a good decision my husband went to nursing school, too

[Initech]

8. I am in the process of getting a degree.

My major is in accounting and I'm going about getting my AS degree at a snail's pace but I hope to finish next year. I want to transfer and eventually become a CPA but that's a pipe dream at the moment.

[RebelOne]

9. My daughter did it while she was earning her

masters degree. Once she had that in hand she had a huge jump in salary.

[closeupready]

17. That's what I'd like to see unfold too.

[UTUSN]

10. My 2 degrees helped *nothing*. The 1 thing that helped: *typing*

[elleng]

11. Did it, pretty much: JD.

[closeupready]

18. I'm goal-oriented, so that when I set a firm goal and follow the steps,

there isn't much that can keep me from achieving the ends.

It's just the distractions that can sometimes send me off-course. lol

[Xyzse]

19. If there is a guarantee that my standard of living improves, fine.

Otherwise, I prefer to work and study at the same time.
Well, work and more work is what I do, but that is about it.

Haven't had the time and haven't figured out what I actually want, so...

[Avalux]

20. I didn't go back to school and ended up making more $$ than if I had.

I made my decision based on quality of life (how I felt), not necessarily standard of living (money). Funny thing about that - once I decided to not go back to school and I was satisfied with where I was, doors opened up.

[Marty McGraw]

21. A little bit, the same here

along the way it was still pretty cool taking a few different courses along the way.

Now days, it would seem, that a lot of studying can be done on line (I have the 'mother' of all mook(s) sites bookmarked on my home workstation I will have to add to this when I get home) And if one is really diligent, one could have a lot of knowledge from on-line studies and test-out with state board exams and/or Union work (Like the entry exams to get in with the IBEW )

[Iggo]

22. Who's payin' the rent?

'Cause it ain't comin' outa that 600 bucks.

[closeupready]

23. No, that's just for food, entertainment, and miscellany - rent is student housing.

[Iggo]

24. Oh shit yeah. If someone's paying my bills, I can live on 20 bucks a day, easy.

[OriginalGeek]

25. I'm mostly self taught in my field

I can do the same things my managers can do but I will never even be considered for management because I have no degree.

Which is fine. Who wants those headaches?! I get paid enough to eat and sleep and play almost as much as I want to and if I do decide I want more money, I can pick up and take my skills to private industry for a pretty big bump in salary. I don't, though, because I work for a not-for-profit and have quite a few non-monetary incentives. Not the least of which is that my company does good things for my community and I feel proud of what we do. I'd enjoy my work anywhere but I especially feel good about going to work knowing we help people who who need us.