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No mortgage, kids and no responsiblity?

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:07
by danza
Ok, so if you had no mortgage, no children, no debts and no responsibility and ?10k in the bank (or enough to take a year off), yet still had all the PO knowledge that you have today what would you do for a living?

Would you retrain and if so to become what and why???

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:11
by Andy Hunt
Probably set myself up as a 'green home makeover consultant'.

Get a bunch of suppliers, set up bulk discount deals with them, and make a living off the difference between their prices and normal retail prices, providing a service for householders specifying 'green' measures for their homes.

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:13
by Ballard
I think I would move to NZ first, then aim to work in the renewables sector.

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:16
by danza
Andy - couldnt you do that now or are debts/ kids and responsibility holding you back?

Ballard- How would you get into the renewables industry e.g do a course and then start in a trainee position?

Re: No mortgage, kids and no responsiblity?

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:17
by clv101
danza wrote:Ok, so if you had no mortgage, no children, no debts and no responsibility and ?10k in the bank (or enough to take a year off), yet still had all the PO knowledge that you have today what would you do for a living?

Would you retrain and if so to become what and why???
Good question - that's where I am and wondering the same! What's the most useful-for-the-future thing one can learn in a year without spending silly money?

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:22
by Andy Hunt
danza wrote:Andy - couldnt you do that now or are debts/ kids and responsibility holding you back?
It's something I'm constantly mulling over, however my current job probably pays significantly better than I would do being a 'green home makeover consultant'. Plus I do still have a small mortgage (?21K between myself and my OH, not a lot I grant you). It's maybe something I could do if I ever lose my job though.

Otherwise - it's something I think I'd really enjoy doing. I'd include a permaculture makeover for the garden in with the package.

Re: No mortgage, kids and no responsiblity?

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:36
by SunnyJim
danza wrote:Ok, so if you had no mortgage, no children, no debts and no responsibility and ?10k in the bank (or enough to take a year off), yet still had all the PO knowledge that you have today what would you do for a living?

Would you retrain and if so to become what and why???

Start a security company. Hire large violent types and guard mansions..... 8) :wink:

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:37
by clv101
If oil is going to increase in value, become more labour intensive to find/extract/process, and with the average age in the oil industry 48. Maybe something along these lines is best? Only problem is that there isn't much oil left in the UK and I don't much fancy working in Iraq or Nigeria!

Heriot Watt Univ.:
Msc Petroleum Engineering

Univ. of Aberdeen:
Energy Futures (Oil & Gas) - MSc
Energy Futures (Renewables) - MSc
Oil and Gas Enterprise Management - MSc

If the UK goes nuclear, and even if not there's still the decommissioning, maybe something like this:

Univ. of Sheffield:
MSc(Eng) Nuclear Environmental Science and Technology

Univ. of Manchester:
Nuclear Science & Technology MSc

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 14:48
by danza
Sunny Jim,

Thats all well and good but I think when TSHTF, the large violent types would soon be running your company....by force!


Clv101 - Instead of doing an Msc in oil or nucleur wouldnt it be an idea to learn how to independently trade on the oil markets and make a living by pre empting oil stocks etc. Much more fun/ but much more risky. I still think though that a sharp cookie could clean up if they knew what they were doing.

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 15:17
by JohnB
No mortgage, no children, no debts and no responsibility? That's me :D. Buy a van and go travelling while you have the chance, but at the same time look for a suitable place to settle and some like minded people to do it with :D.

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 15:24
by RenewableCandy
I think I might go and live at the CAT doing/teaching stuff about energy.

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 15:32
by oilslick
I think I'd watch Trainspotting for tips on visiting a much nicer reality for a while :-)

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 15:47
by SunnyJim
danza wrote:Sunny Jim,

Thats all well and good but I think when TSHTF, the large violent types would soon be running your company....by force!


Clv101 - Instead of doing an Msc in oil or nucleur wouldnt it be an idea to learn how to independently trade on the oil markets and make a living by pre empting oil stocks etc. Much more fun/ but much more risky. I still think though that a sharp cookie could clean up if they knew what they were doing.
Yes, my comment was a bit tongue in cheek. However, I'm not sure you theory follows. I mean Terry didn't take over from Arthur in Minder did he? :wink:

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 15:53
by RenewableCandy
oilslick wrote:I think I'd watch Trainspotting for tips on visiting a much nicer reality for a while :-)
What, the Worst Toilet In Scotland :D :D :D ? Oh wait a minute that was when he was coming down...

Posted: 17 Dec 2007, 19:19
by Miss Madam
Well I'm gonna be debt free by the summer having finally paid for my MSc at CAT, and the debts I racked up doing it. My plan is to stop giving money to my useless toad of a buy to let landlord, and buy a narrowboat. I have lots of friends on the canal here in Oxford, and fingers crossed, with our latest planning battle victory (did anyone see the Observer yesterday - apparently there was a big article on it and I missed it - bugger), the community boatyard may soon be up and running again in some semblance. Once esconced onto said narrow boat, I'm going to cut down my work hours, do a little freelancing for other green consultancies on climate change stuff, and have time to learn things. Plus maybe pick up a PO aware fella who doesn't mind living in a home with little in the way of running water and limited electricity.... i.e. someone with a bit of foresight!!!! :wink: