Comments on: Your calling doesn’t necessarily fund your retirement by itself

By: Funny about Money

Funny about Money — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:28:24 +0000

One of the commenters at Trent’s site remarked that a social worker’s job is so all-consuming that no time is left to build side-stream income. The example that was given certainly made it sound as though writing a blog or working a second job would be out of the question.

Some vocations (in the sense of “calling”) do consume all of the devotee’s life. If that’s what you have to do to feel right about yourself, then that’s just what you have to do…and maybe part of it is, in effect, taking a vow of poverty. For myself, I wouldn’t want to face the outcome in old age, and so I would put off the good works until after I’d built some degree of financial independence with a 20-year career. However, some people feel God provides. And maybe She does.

As for those of us who have no entrepreneurial bent, it doesn’t take a Steve Jobs to organize a yard sale. My neighbors used to collect junk — often bought cheap at thrift shops, other yard sales, and even collected from dumpster-diving — and about every three months they’d throw a monster yard sale. They’d collect several hundred dollars every time. Not exactly a business, but it raked in a fair amount of under-the-table cash, which could be used to buy groceries while the grocery budget in their visible, taxed income from the Vocation went into a Roth.

By: LeanLifeCoach

LeanLifeCoach — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:50:48 +0000

You make great points but no everyone is destined or has the skillset to be a business owner.

Even so remaining poor is still a decision. MSN had a great story of a guy that grew wealth on 20K/year. http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/StartInvesting/GettingRichOnA20000DollarSalary.aspx

It’s not what you make it’s what you keep!

By: Alison@This Wasn't In The Plan

Alison@This Wasn't In The Plan — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:27:42 +0000

I agree! These are worthy professions, but if a person cannot make a living doing it or cannot save for retirement, the “calling” needs to take a back burner (or at least sit on the side) while a “profession” that will provide those things is sought out.

By: Paul Williams @ Provident Planning

Paul Williams @ Provident Planning — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:24:44 +0000

I think Trent’s article would have been much better if he had included your advice here, MBH. Just because you don’t earn much at your “regular” job doesn’t mean you’re doomed to never make much money. If your income from your job doesn’t cut it, then do something about it rather than resigning yourself to poverty.

By: Ron

Ron — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:30:03 +0000

It was dumb junk like that that caused me to stop reading The Simple Dollar in June of 2008. Haven’t missed it a bit.

By: Mr. GoTo

Mr. GoTo — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:03:51 +0000

Well said. My second son was a psych major who works in social services for a non-profit. He does great work but makes very little money. He is now working on developing a personal side business to compensate. I am proud of him.