conversation: User (ragenaut): "Title says it all. I'm currently working as a legal assistant at a small legal services company for $15/ho. I've essentially plateaued there and have been searching for new positions elsewhere. I'm currently in-line for a job making $20/ho at a loan company, but there's no guarantee that I got it. Even if I do, It's only one small step forward.\n\nCost of living here is very high, and as such, I'm still living at home. I save about $1,000 to $1,500 a month, and currently have $10,500 in the bank. My goal is to be able to save enough for a down payment on a home within the next 2-3 years. I have excellent credit, with a current score of 788.\n\nI have several paths from here I can take. Military and law enforcement are constants, but both have pretty big negatives. Military would remove me from my home and my family, and law enforcement is difficult to get into, especially with five traffic tickets on my record in the last few years.\n\nGoing back to school is another big step I want to take, but there are so many options, with so few ways to know which will pay off the best. I have a BA in English from the Cal State University program, which is largely useless, and it's preventing me from being able to go back into a Bachelor's program. As such, I would need to either get into a trade school or an AA program. I've considered paralegal, computer science, and business, while leaning pretty heavily towards computer science.\n\nI also intend to start making use of Khan Academy and other free resources to build a knowledge database for business and programming, but have no idea how applicable my accomplishments with those programs will be for getting a job.\n\nPlease offer me any advice, big or small. I welcome all of it. Feeling like I've wasted my life up to now and have no idea where to go."
  Self: "Since nobody else has mentioned it, I would consider moving to a lower cost of living area. If you could get a $15/hr job in Indiana with $10,500 saved up and a good credit score, you could get a house right now. I don't know the cost of living elsewhere but I'm inclined to believe there is someplace closer that is similar. It isn't the income that is killing you, it is the cost of living."
  thursdayparty (thursdayparty): "I'm going to go ahead and say I can't stand the Midwest. I'd rather try and make it on a coastal area, especially if you're young. Less depression. "
  dragonjock27 (dragonjock27): "I live in Wisconsin, and let me tell you...everywhere here is a coastal area. Lakes everywhere, and the Great Lakes are nearby. Going to them is pretty much the exact same as going to the ocean in my book. Just a little colder."
  thursdayparty (thursdayparty): " Meant coastal meaning the major cities along east and west coast."
  