I'm back after a short slumber.

[MrPrena]

Extremely unhappy wife with attitude= new wife*

* only applies when we have little to no wealth like me.

[Gman]

Kids also complicate that equation.

[jenznat0r]

I took the sense of everyone on here and realized I have no fallback plan to move to Colorado. I sat my wife down and told her pretty much what everyone more or less said on here about it being a bad idea without any logistical reinforcement. Emotions aside she agreed. Have I totally given up on the idea? No, but not without a massive bulletproof plan to move with jobs/apprenticeship/trade school in line. I've considered finding out more about the CO School of Trades in Lakewood, if that route takes us there. My wife wants to visit her family this May when school gets out for me for the semester for a week or two, might not hurt to just feel out my options when I am physically there. We shall see. I love it here, and my wife even admitted was have some autonomy out this way. But it's just a tough time for us right now all in all.

My gut feeling is staying with her family in that cramped house for one or two weeks is going to make her miss our current living arrangement in Idaho.

I know I'm smart. School has taught me if I could take away anything from it how to read, write, communicate professionally, and think better (and use the Oxford comma). It's not like I'm not doing my homework, going to classes and committing to the work, etc. But the format of traditional school has been a mixed bag for me trying to get the grades and taking tests. I've learned more from someone showing me how to do something one-on-one, versus sitting in a class/listening to a Professor/reading a textbook. When I first started school I was actually going to a community college trying to become an automotive mechanic. I loved it. But my parents said that was a flunky career, and the pressure from them made me switch from a hands-on career to a more academic one I've honestly hated to this day. I love using my mind, but I honestly get more reward from working with my hands.

[Great-Kazoo]

Why look in to the school of trades, when you haven't finished any other schooling you've started ?

[ray1970]

Ok. Since I was sort of a dick in your other thread, guess I?ll keep that trend going.

I commented that at your age and having a family that you should probably be working full time and hopefully beginning your career. Some people thought I was wrong or that my thinking was harsh but I?m sticking to my guns.

So, regardless of where you and the Mrs. choose to live, my advice remains the same.

Either get through that education and get to work or just get to work and wait on the education until you reach a point in your life where it makes more sense.

In a nutshell, it?s time to shit or get off the pot.

I do wish you all the best.

[Irving]

I don't think you're being an ass. More speaking truth. School does NOT teach you how to make money, or how to be an adult. It teaches you how to be a corporate employee. If the model doesn't work for you, quit wasting your time, and your wife's income, to get the same result you have now. Also, don't ask for advice if you aren't prepared to take it.

[MrPrena]

^
I think of it this way.
School teaches how to use more tools, and produce more efficiently. They also bring in more opportunities by recognizing the potential much in dept and faster.
Corporate at least taught me ideas and explore the market (some says niche mkt) to make money by having a little possible business ideas.

[FoxtArt]

We can get philosophical and debate the value of school ad infinitum, but it won't change the reality of the rules our society exists within. If you want to be upper-middle class, you either need a degree - not because of the education it provides, but because of the "minimum requirements" of every such job - or you need to be licensed in a trade.

Trades are often very hard work, there are few people that enjoy their work, even if they thought they might going in.
The "degree" work is often also despised, but certain careers aren't, and can still entertain a lot of outdoor work.

"degree" option also opens pathways to government employment, pensions after 20-30 years, six figure salaries, etc. IF YOU CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE.
Trades can occasionally earn high five figures towards the peak of their career, but by far and large they fall in the middle of the spectrum.

Not choosing either leads to an almost certain lower to middle class income level until retirement, with no real way to break out.

[Gman]

Usually it's degree or relevant experience. If you've demonstrated that you can do the job, I think it's a better determination of ability than if you got a piece of paper from academia.

[FoxtArt]

Usually it's degree or relevant experience. If you've demonstrated that you can do the job, I think it's a better determination of ability than if you got a piece of paper from academia.

That was true until perhaps 2005. However, we have a reality where every decent job ($60,000+) has several applicants, and some of them always meet the minimum requirements (e.g. they have a bachelors, and any field related certs on top of it)...and have work experience on top of it. So while yes, many jobs list that way, in reality your chances of getting hired solely on "relevant experience" is incredibly low, with very rare exceptions for certain incredibly understaffed, in-demand careers. On top of it, if you did happen to get hired, they know they can do so at a severe discount because your options of lateral movement are limited. The pragmatic reality is your new job will be sending applications to hordes of companies and never hearing back w/ no income.

TLDR: There are far too many people with degrees in 98% of professions that normally require them for you to have any chance at competing on "relevant experience". Even if you did, you'd be forced to accept a lot lower, less-than-competitive pay after spending god-awful amounts of time job hunting.