I'm here to tell yoooo....

[Chillylulu]

Nolatoolguy, it sounds like you have your head on straight.
A bit of advice, and I bet the crew here will agree:  start saving for retirement now.  And never stop until you get there.  Enjoy your job, love and provide for your family, serve your community and fellow man, and look to the future.
If you waste your money on junk now, you won't be able to waste it on tools when you retire ;-)

+1
No matter how poor I was, I always contributed to retirement / future.  401k plans are great, but so many don't join in.

I contributed when I made $5.00 per hour, and I still contribute now.

I started at 18, I never played with my funds. I made more in interest and dividends last year than my paycheck.  One fund had $12, 000 in it 15 yrs ago -now that one is just shy of 50k. And it is the smallest one that I have.  Its the opposite of credit cards, and at some point it kinda takes off.

Always save a bit, always share some if what you get with those less fortunate than you are, and build upon whatever talents you have. It won't matter if you are in the shop or in the boardroom. I've been in both, but I always spent some time in the shop. I honestly couldn't tell you where I have been happiest,  but my worst days were in the boardroom.

Amy's (Mrs. Chilly's) grandpa started at 16 sweeping floors at a meat packers (Cudahy Bar-S.)  He retired as the president of the company and as one of the owners.
And he was married to the same gal he met as a teenager.

I am sure he would have been happy with just enough as he was with a little extra.

Chilly

[Northwoods]

Aunt Phil, I have to take umbrage with your last sentence.  I have two degrees--three, if you count Cpl., USMC--and Mrs. Northwoods has three.
They have served us very well.  At least they don't seem to have done us any harm.

[Papaw]

The point is that college and degrees are not for everyone. Practical experience serves many better than higher education.
I have two degrees and could say that I don't benefit financially from either, but the experience of college served me well in all endeavours and some of the knowledge gained is still used by my brain and intellect.

[Northwoods]

Agreed!

[Aunt Phil]

I'm eschewing responding to the turn this thread has taken in the interest of preventing Papaw from a severe state off Dyspepsia, so he doesn't feel it incumbent upon his Moderator position to send me a PM.

Rest assured I'd enjoy responding to those with receipts for tuition expended in pursuit of months of study of beer, dope and getting their sexual needs serviced.

I have Government paperwork that clearly states I am retarded and can't speak English issued by a College Diplomated Licensed Professional in Government Employ.  I shall temporarily withdraw from this discussion in the interest of Papaw's digestive health.

[Yadda]

It goes both ways.  I work in an office.  My brother owns his own Heating/cooling company.  We have similar salaries.  I have a degree, he doesn't. 

[krusty the clown]

i'm guessing a college diploma is like an ASE certificate. it doesn't mean anything but you can pass a test.

[Branson]

Well, my step sons still come to me for tools, but I have to go to them for computer stuff.  But they are interested and attentive in learning just about anything.  The older one wants to learn about blacksmithing.  I'm proud of both of them, the more so because neither one is too good or too educated to pick up a tool and get dirty.  Or listen to people who work with their hands.  I've seen the other sort, though.  I'll never forget the 22 year old back around '85 who was telling me that after he got his MBA he wouldn't consider taking a job that paid him less than 100 K a year.

[gibsontool]

It could well be that he's still looking for that job.