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Get ahead by not shooting yourself in the foot

piszek.com

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Re: Get ahead by not shooting yourself in the foot

#61
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, most of these things are indeed different in Germany (and I knew of most of the situation in the UK, I know people who lived or live there and the differences are wild). For example: > You often can't decorate much. No issue unless you fix it back up when you move out. > Can't fit better windows, and windows where I've rented have usually been poor quality. There must be laws in Germany, because I don't remember…

> No issue unless you fix it back up when you move out. You can be completely prohibited from "damaging" things, including painting, in many jurisdictions. You also may have to match whatever grade of paint the landlord used. Some will use very expensive paints, or totally inappropriate paints, knowing it will lead to large deposit forfeiture, or the ability to collect excessive monies from the tenant. > There must b…

I was certainly not wealthy or high income, as a student with no money, my parents not chipping in for rent, food, or university supplies, and keeping afloat with part time jobs.

But this was the mid-2000s, so things probably changed. Even with the exorbitant rent in Munich back then already, I wouldn't know with how it would work now with what the rents have become since.

Re: Get ahead by not shooting yourself in the foot

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you mean early retirement or starting your own business?

I'm leaving it purposely ambiguous because I don't want to put any expectations on myself. If I end up starting a business then that's great but I'm also ok with the idea of living a completely unproductive lifestyle. My only requirement is that I do what I feel like doing!

It's interesting how 9-5PM M-F now seems unreasonable in our industry. What a time to be alive.

There's lots of talk of 4-day work weeks or starting a business. Or like you say -- to just exit out completely.

Re: Get ahead by not shooting yourself in the foot

#63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm leaving it purposely ambiguous because I don't want to put any expectations on myself. If I end up starting a business then that's great but I'm also ok with the idea of living a completely unproductive lifestyle. My only requirement is that I do what I feel like doing!

It's interesting how 9-5PM M-F now seems unreasonable in our industry. What a time to be alive. There's lots of talk of 4-day work weeks or starting a business. Or like you say -- to just exit out completely.

(I should clarify I'm in favor of cutting down hours or starting your own thing.)

Re: Get ahead by not shooting yourself in the foot

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting how 9-5PM M-F now seems unreasonable in our industry. What a time to be alive. There's lots of talk of 4-day work weeks or starting a business. Or like you say -- to just exit out completely.

(I should clarify I'm in favor of cutting down hours or starting your own thing.)

Out of curiosity would you be in favor of someone living an unproductive lifestyle? If not, why?

Re: Get ahead by not shooting yourself in the foot

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(I should clarify I'm in favor of cutting down hours or starting your own thing.)

Out of curiosity would you be in favor of someone living an unproductive lifestyle? If not, why?

I'm also super curious by what you mean by unproductive. My answer will depend on our definition of it.

Re: Get ahead by not shooting yourself in the foot

#66
The best way to get ahead is to start budgeting properly. Get an app like YNAB and get to the point where you can go for a few months without a job. Then, when a company decides to go dark-side, you can afford to leave and spend some time looking elsewhere. The stress reduction is insane. All of a sudden, losing your job isn't the end of the world.

The reason employers have so much leverage is because their workers are living paycheck to paycheck. If workers could just leave at any time for months on end then they would be in a much better situation to negotiate for better pay.

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