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I'm open for advice.
11 years ago
I'm offering free, unfiltered, unbiased, unreserved advice. It can be anything. Relationships, breakups, career choices, job searches, etc. One warning though: I will be real. This may cause anger, sadness, fear, etc. Come at me bro.
1) Eventually I plan on upgrading my gaming pc, aka, the beast from hell. But other than changing out the video card and memory sticks, I have NO knowledge of building a pc or anyone I can just turn to and ask for help around here- any advice for a novice? (note- not building it anytime soon since I'll have to save up for parts but I'd like a guide to go by so I can start prepping)
2) I have awful luck when it comes to finding real life friends, furry or just regular folks. Most people in my age range are either: in school, busy with work, or married/tied down with their families. And I'll be blunt, I find most (not all) people in my age range tend to be immature or twits that are hard to tolerate at times; and I guess they can read that because it's been a while since I've had anyone local to just hang out with or I have an intellectual or witty conversation with. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with having online friends (that's how I seem to meet my best friends nowadays) but I'd like to branch out so I have actual people to interact with outside of work, lol. Any advice to meeting or befriending people- that doesn't require going out to clubs or bars?
2) Meeting people is a difficult thing to do when you don't go out and meet anyone. I don't do bars/clubs anymore, but I find the best place to meet people is at local conventions, fairs, and even some stores where you share common interests. I've met a few people at Gamestop even. The biggest thing is to be able to approach people. If you want to meet someone, you see people all the time. Take your pick next time you're in Gamestop/PetSmart/etc, approach someone with a "Hello" and "That's awesome, I like such and such game/dog as well" If it fizzles, don't get discouraged. You'll run into the one person that will keep the conversation up. At the end of it, they'll probably walk away not thinking, but you should initiate a communication line (ie phone number, facebook, twitter, etc.). I would use the time talking to decide if you want to exchange information. I'm up in Shreveport if you want a local contact. I spend a lot of my time working though, but I find time to hang with the few people I do.
Firstly, financial stuff bit me in the tail and wiped out most of my savings. I'm starting with a mostly clean slate and a few major goals in mind, but I don't really know how to go about them at this point. I don't want to do too much in the way of disclosing what I make and what I spend, but I make roughly $1800-2000 per month between two jobs and about $750 in bills, not counting food and fuel. I don't really have any debt at this point, though my credit's pretty much wrecked after some hard times; at least I don't owe anything anymore. The foremost goals I want to achieve are vehicle-related; I want a second car for winter/business use and some improvements/minor repairs on my current vehicle.
I currently have a '95 BMW 540i/6. 300 HP, RWD V8 with no traction or stability control. Even with snow tires it is a handful, and I'd rather keep it safe when it gets very nasty out. However, I admit I am extremely picky about what I drive, and don't mind upkeep, maintenance, and fuel. There's two choices I'm looking at, both vehicles I've owned and really liked before.
Choice one is an old AWD sports car, made in very limited numbers. Parts were hard to find when I owned this car ten years ago, it is very hard to work on(though I know how to do most anything to it other than pull the engine), and finding one in good shape is next to impossible. When they come for sale a good one will command between $4-6K; not that much but for the age most people balk. I have an extreme sentimental attachment to this car, but understand that finding one that isn't someone's failed project will be neigh near impossible.
Choice two is a much newer, high end BMW. Two engine options; a V8 and a V12. The V8 version is a slightly improved engine to the one in my 540i, but has some weak points that mine doesn't. The V12 is mechanically more reliable, but maintenance is pretty astronomical(not to mention laughable gas mileage). Both cars are extremely comfortable cross-country cruisers with plenty of room. They have traction and stability control; I went through a winter with my old one without any issues on good snow tires. I'm looking between $6-10K for a good one with records; I won't repeat my last mistake and buy anything that's been ill maintained.
I'm slightly open to other suggestions, but like I said I'm just plain picky about what I drive and there's plenty out there that I just don't like. If it's not rare and fast, I don't really want it, for example. The first car I listed is the one I'm aiming for. Even if I have to eventually get the engine replaced for a newer version with better parts availability, I figure I'll have enough money to have it done. There's other things I need to get done; namely some new furnishings for the house, the local furcon in a couple of months and some improvements and minor repairs on my current car, but after some of that I'd like to save up for the car in earnest. The problem is... which one?
Secondly, I'm lost as far as long term goals are concerned. I really don't know what I want to do with my life beyond what I'm doing. At this point I have absolutely no patience for college; especially not after getting a job in my chosen career field and being told I knew more than the people they interviewed with degrees. I don't want to ride the debt train again; especially when it just gets me a piece of paper that I think will be trumped by my job experience anyway. My other job is with the family business, which I've been doing for over 15 years. Plans to take over probably won't happen, and while I do like what I do at my other job I'm not really liking the corporate environment. I've been toying with seeing what I can bring in by running my own business in the field, but I haven't really pursued much over a couple of frequent clients. I've been single for over three years now and have absolutely no interest in dating. I also don't want children, so the typical goal of marrying and starting a family isn't one I want to pursue. I'm 31 and have everything I need and most of what I want. However, I don't want to get bored of life. I really need things to work toward that aren't cars or computer gaming, but I don't know where to start. I'm not there yet, but my living situation has been the closest to stable as it's ever been. I just don't know what I need to concentrate on going forward. I know that my job can't be all I do in life, but I don't really see what else is out there -besides- work.
No problem.
Firstly, financial stuff bit me in the tail and wiped out most of my savings. I'm starting with a mostly clean slate and a few major goals in mind, but I don't really know how to go about them at this point. I don't want to do too much in the way of disclosing what I make and what I spend, but I make roughly $1800-2000 per month between two jobs and about $750 in bills, not counting food and fuel. I don't really have any debt at this point, though my credit's pretty much wrecked after some hard times; at least I don't owe anything anymore. The foremost goals I want to achieve are vehicle-related; I want a second car for winter/business use and some improvements/minor repairs on my current vehicle.
Roughly 42% of your income is on bills, and what you spend on food. May try to save up for a personal secured loan to help repair your credit. It normally only costs you 3%, but keeping one opened and making payments is a lot better than using a credit card to build credit. Also, on credit applications it shows up as a debt [I don't understand why that's good, but it is.] and it's basically paid for money.
I currently have a '95 BMW 540i/6. 300 HP, RWD V8 with no traction or stability control. Even with snow tires it is a handful, and I'd rather keep it safe when it gets very nasty out. However, I admit I am extremely picky about what I drive, and don't mind upkeep, maintenance, and fuel. There's two choices I'm looking at, both vehicles I've owned and really liked before.
It's alright to want to drive what you drive and not make do with something.
Choice one is an old AWD sports car, made in very limited numbers. Parts were hard to find when I owned this car ten years ago, it is very hard to work on(though I know how to do most anything to it other than pull the engine), and finding one in good shape is next to impossible. When they come for sale a good one will command between $4-6K; not that much but for the age most people balk. I have an extreme sentimental attachment to this car, but understand that finding one that isn't someone's failed project will be neigh near impossible.
Might I ask what make/model? I personally always lean towards this route due to having something unique and awesome at the same time. Finding parts/having parts made is the fun of these projects. Swap meets are some fun places to find neat things.
Choice two is a much newer, high end BMW. Two engine options; a V8 and a V12. The V8 version is a slightly improved engine to the one in my 540i, but has some weak points that mine doesn't. The V12 is mechanically more reliable, but maintenance is pretty astronomical(not to mention laughable gas mileage). Both cars are extremely comfortable cross-country cruisers with plenty of room. They have traction and stability control; I went through a winter with my old one without any issues on good snow tires. I'm looking between $6-10K for a good one with records; I won't repeat my last mistake and buy anything that's been ill maintained.
Personally, I don't go towards these everybody can be a circuit racer type cars they have been producing recently. New isn't bad at all, but I do not think that the long term satisfaction would suffice, especially given your unique freedoms.
I'm slightly open to other suggestions, but like I said I'm just plain picky about what I drive and there's plenty out there that I just don't like. If it's not rare and fast, I don't really want it, for example. The first car I listed is the one I'm aiming for. Even if I have to eventually get the engine replaced for a newer version with better parts availability, I figure I'll have enough money to have it done. There's other things I need to get done; namely some new furnishings for the house, the local furcon in a couple of months and some improvements and minor repairs on my current car, but after some of that I'd like to save up for the car in earnest. The problem is... which one?
I'm going to speak from my gearhead side: You need a fridge for food, stove to cook, bed to sleep, and a place to use the restroom. The rest is for the cars. Ha. Find an old R32/R33/R34 Nissan Skyline AWD w/ 4 wheel steer. You'll have lots of fun and traction. I personally like the DET/DETT models.
Secondly, I'm lost as far as long term goals are concerned. I really don't know what I want to do with my life beyond what I'm doing. At this point I have absolutely no patience for college; especially not after getting a job in my chosen career field and being told I knew more than the people they interviewed with degrees. I don't want to ride the debt train again; especially when it just gets me a piece of paper that I think will be trumped by my job experience anyway. My other job is with the family business, which I've been doing for over 15 years. Plans to take over probably won't happen, and while I do like what I do at my other job I'm not really liking the corporate environment. I've been toying with seeing what I can bring in by running my own business in the field, but I haven't really pursued much over a couple of frequent clients. I've been single for over three years now and have absolutely no interest in dating. I also don't want children, so the typical goal of marrying and starting a family isn't one I want to pursue. I'm 31 and have everything I need and most of what I want. However, I don't want to get bored of life. I really need things to work toward that aren't cars or computer gaming, but I don't know where to start. I'm not there yet, but my living situation has been the closest to stable as it's ever been. I just don't know what I need to concentrate on going forward. I know that my job can't be all I do in life, but I don't really see what else is out there -besides- work.
I understand this a lot. I fight boredom all the time due to my lifestyle. I work a lot, make a lot of money, and typically things just work out well for me. I opened a business for a while here in Shreveport. I ran a car shop in the evenings and it was decent. Things to plan for is everything you make for the first four months, put everything back and save it. You won't be doing so hot for at least the first year or so of business. It will pick up. Maintaining another job does help with this. When your business gets going, segregate it from your life and file for an LLC. This will save you from going down with your business, should the need arise. You need to keep business assets with the business and logged cent for cent for audits. Understand overhead cost, outsource cost, emergency cost, insurance cost are all important to ledger. Keep physical ledgers as well as digital. Sometimes if you don't like a career choice, you should try something different/difficult. The oil/natural gas field is booming and it's a good place to get physical with your work[less you get an engineer/accounting/hr position]. Something to make you feel like you're earning your dime. As far as the boredom, I buy cars/trucks/investments for fun. I try to go out into the world and visit places that have architecture/light houses/ghost tours/waterfalls/etc to change scenery/perspective. Another thing is to learn something new. I plan on taking flying lessons soon and give that venture a go. Anything else I may have skipped over?
The AWD car is an '88-'89 Toyota Celica GT-Four, or Alltrac as they're known here. Only 10,036 were made, about 2,500 were imported here and out of those about 600 are believed to still be around. Engine is the 3SGTE, later put into the MR2 Turbo... however the first-generation unit in the '88-'89 cars are almost impossible to find parts for. I -could- eventually swap to a couple of newer engines, but some parts are pretty much impossible to find. Enthusiasts are trying to get custom-made parts in cases where they are needed. However, it is the trying to find one in decent shape that's the real tough one. While your suggestion about the Skyline is a good one, I think that at this point only '89 models are legal to import at this point. That doesn't stop gray market imports(I've seen a couple of R32s and I knew a guy who had an R33), but I got the same head-turning 'how is one of THOSE on the road here??' reactions when driving my GT-Four on the occasions it was running. :D
The BMW I was thinking about is the older(but still 'new' in my eyes; anything that was sold in this century still qualifies as 'newer' to me, haha) E38-chassis 740iL/750iL. Thankfully before the Bangle Era. I had a '99 740iL for a short while, before transmission issues caused by an incompetent rebuild by the previous owner put it out of commission. It handles well and has decent power, but it's still a limo. I liked the comfort and gadgets, I must admit. That and it somehow managed a pretty good 32MPG highway. I wouldn't consider the newer 7ers, but I'd probably still rock an E38 if I got the chance to.
Sound advice on the business idea, and that's the route I'm definitely taking. I don't know if it'll be successful or not, but I do plan on holding onto my day jobs while doing it. This is definitely my 'something different.' Computers are another major hobby of mine, and considering I've done well enough to keep my job in the field despite not being thrilled at the whole corporate rigmarole, I might have a chance at being a mobile technician.