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Getting a job...

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
Well, I came to the decision that I have to get a job this summer, after the cattle shos, fishing trip and the week of camp (Youth outdoors and leadership skills) north of PA I won, which will be late july/early August. The vast majority of this money is going towards the 2004 Polaris 600 Switchback I want to get, and it will run me $4000.

My question is, how long will it take me to earn the money, will I be able to quit in time for hunting season?

Also, What was everyone's first summer job?
 

Canadian_Cowgirl

Well-known member
If the wage is $6.70 were your workin you will have to work 597 hours to get $4000. If my calculations are right. Have fun! My job for the summer has always been workin round here!


Katy
 

IL Rancher

Well-known member
Well, not knowing how Canada's tax system works, I will go with it taking your whole summer to make that much money as a youngun.. Sorry, just the facts.. My first for real job, besides doing yard work and stuff like that for multiple folks, was as a paint stripper in a 1880's mansion restoraton. The job.. Well, it sucked, lol but the pay was darn good for a kid without a lot of expenses except the gas to get there and than of course, the girlfriend which ate up a lot of them money. I got 10 bucks an hour, but that was in a much more urban area where the wages are a lot different than they are out here. I made about 500 a week and worked for 12 weeks so that was 6000 dollars right there... I could have worked more hours but the thought of working 12 hours a day 6 days a week didn't appeal that much to me and between the chemical burns and heat gun burns well, I was pretty burn at 5 pm after getting there at 7.. Don't know how OSHA would have thought about us kids doing that labor but oh well, we were mostly happier than pigs in....
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I know, its going to be a looong summer, but well worth it!

the minimum wage is 7.75 here, I THINK, dont quote me on it lol.

I'll sell some cattle so I wont have to make all of that, prolly a fat steer for butcher, a 4h steer and a breeding heifer :D:D
 

John SD

Well-known member
Well, as they say the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys. You're growing up to be a fine young man, ACS!

Hmmmmm.... $4K for the sled .... gas and oil for the sled .... don't forget maintenance and repairs ..... now we might need to buy a pickup to haul the GF and/or sled to further destinations ..... fuel, maintenace, repairs, and insurance for pickup .... $$$ to buy the GF hot cocoa and pizza to warm her up after the sled ride ..... man, this is gettin' spendy! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Seriously ACS, the work time to buy the sled is going to cut into your sledding time and your hunting time! But ya gotta start somewhere. My first "job" was fencing for, I think, $3/hr. When I was your age I could put in a good 12 hour day in the summer. The money was pretty good for a kid starting out eons ago. I'd say $3 back then probably would buy more than $6.70 does now.

I hate to say it, but your $4K sled, as fun as it is/will be, is a money pit. It costs to run it and even though you maintain the sled meticulously it likely will depreciate and lose value.

Do as you wish and I realize a guy has to have some fun along the way or life ain't worth it. What I would suggest is to work and earn your $4K and put it into buying cows or into a bank account or mutual fund to save for college or tech school.

$$$ earned are better spent on things that will make you money or appreciate in value through interest or dividends. Of course making money with cows or investments aren't guarnteed to be a sure thing. But still more likely to put you financially ahead later in life rather than buying a sled. That's my 2 cents, FWIW. Your mileage may vary. Good luck!
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
:D:p

The repairs aren't going to be bad, we do most of them, and we (me and dad) fill one of our big fuel tanks here at the farm, and use that. Oil we got a discout on so were good for years lol.

The pickup and girlfriend are for alter, dad said he will help me fund a girlfriend, cause I am pretty easy on $. lol.

I think Im going to work till I have 2500-3000 then quit. It should be mid september. still good for bow season and not enough snow to go sledding yet, the summer sales will still be going. lol.

We dont usually sell the sleds, we have three now. My sister is getting to the age she cal almost drive the little '81 440, my brother can have the 500 i use now and dad has his 700.

And the pickup, I dont have my license yet, and im gonna be a rich rancher, so I don't need to worry about that..... I wish :lol:.


Thanks you guys!
 

IL Rancher

Well-known member
Going to sell something that actually brings in money (one would hope the cows are bringing in money) in order to buy something that costs money wouldn't be my first choice but to each their own.... John is right, you are only young once, might as well enjoy it as much as you can.

You think the repairs won't be bad ACS.. You think, you never know... Your choice man but you never, ever know really.. Personally, would never buy a sled but that is more because I know we would never use it.. The Quads are bad enough and will probably end up selling those eventually as well.. All though the guys who work for me might not like that idea, lol.
 

John SD

Well-known member
Angus Cattle Shower said:
And the pickup, I dont have my license yet, and im gonna be a rich rancher, so I don't need to worry about that..... I wish :lol:.


Thanks you guys!

I could have worded what I wrote before better ACS. My point in a nutshell was/is the best way to get rich later is to live poor now.

ILR is right about unforeseen costs. Doesn't matter whether it's a sled, pickup, or GF. They can all cost a lot for upkeep! :D :lol: Just got to pick a good one and treat her right if you want her to be dependable at minimal cost and keep her around for a long time. That goes for the sled, pickup and GF too! :D :D :lol: :lol:
 

Cowpuncher

Well-known member
Unless someone is going to give you a college education or give you a ranch, money in the bank is a good thing to have.

My theory is that everyone will have to be frugal at some point in their life. It is a whole lot easier to do it when you are young than when your options are limited.

We have friends and relatives who are retired or near it and don't have a damn thing other than some social security and they have to take government handouts.

We are very comfortable. drawing social security, making a hundred grand or so from our ranch and much more from investments. We are setting up college funds for six grandchildren. We haven't made a car payment for 30 years.

Do as you like, but a long look ahead won't hurt.

By the way, my first job paid 35 cents an hour.
 

jigs

Well-known member
keeping up with the Jones' is the fastest way to go broke!!

do what you love, with the cheapest means possible, and pretty soon you will be living your dream!!!

the borrower is a slave to the lender!! easing into it is a lot easier than big notes, and high blood pressure!
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
I'm probably going to get jumped on for this kiddo...but do you realise when your done high school,you will probaly work for the rest of your life.You will never again have a summer free from 'having' to work.Think about just how important it is to have this sled...I don't know if a summer job is really nessasary.
 

Judith

Well-known member
Angus,
My first job was at the age of 7. I made sheet metal cleats for my dad. A penny a piece. Now of course this was back when dinos roamed the earth but. At 10 I was a framers helper and made really good money being a go-fer. By 13 I was framing with the guys on construction jobs. Construction can be really good coin. Don't be tempted to flip burgers, I swear I lost money working those kinds of jobs. If you can get onto a framing/painting crew or do landscaping the moola is quite good. Just keep your mouth shut and have a yes sir how high attitude on the job site. 8) Construction crews are busy and they do not like to here about life from young people. Anyone I have ever given this advice too has done well. The ones who didnt pay attention to those details were off the crews in less than a week. I was super quiet as a teen and I work really hard, as a result I often got promoted before the fellas did.
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I know ALL about unexpected costs, like a new shock that should have only ran me $50 but they sold it to me for $100, and I couldnt find another place with oen like it :mad: lol.

Il, If I can make the greater end of the sum I need, I won't have to sell much, another $1300 will be more than enough, and I dont spend much of my money, most of it is in my savings account for university lol.

About the girlfriend, I think I found a real easy keeper, quiet too :lol:. I asked her to come sledding saturday (She has a POLARIS too lol) so we will see :p :lol:

I think that I really want it, and I've learned that, if you want something, you have to work for it. I am ready to work for it, because lots of the kids I know are having their parents pay for it, I want to do it all on my own, with no help from mom and dad.

Jigs, there is only one guy I know with a sled like this, and beleive me, hes not one I want to keep up with lol.

Mrs. Greg, Im not going to work when I get out of highschool, Im going to go to university and Im going to be a Farmer (can't call it work because it is something I love), and I talked to dad's uncle who runs a feedlot and said he can talk to some of the people he knows about a job Id like lol.

Judith, I work and say nothing, and I know I have it GOOD, nothing to complain about, other than lower than average cattle prices, and the little thing inside of me thatis still upset about the parents.

Compared to some, Im darn near royalty, and campared to others, Im nothing, but in my own eyes Im going to be all that I can be.
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
Well kiddo..I don't know anyone who had ALL thier university tuition payed for. And if just because you "love" farming...trust me ITS work,at the moment its your dad paying the bills not you...Oh and university takes work.....think about just how important a sled you can only drive for a small amount of time is worth...I think working for and with your dad for the summer,looking after your cattle will be worth WAY more then a summer job....JMHO
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I know it is a lot of work, but I love farming. I got paid to do the work of a hired hand this fall when we were short. There are some jobs I HATE with a passion, but you have to get them done before you can do anything fun, like sort cattle, get a crop in, or go baling. I can't truck because I dont have my license, but from the way they fight over who gets to do it, I am sure I will like it. lol.

This sled will be going for a good 10 more years, I think it will serve it's purpouse and a little more, I really think that it is a good idea, and Dad said it was too, he said it will, and I quote, "It will keep you out of my hair so I dont have to worry about the next stupid stunt you'll try to pull" lol.

With me switching to crossing my angus with shorthorn, I think I should be able to pay for a good chunk of my tuition :wink: of course, Im not factoring in a girlfriend. ang, this is getting expensive lol.
 
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