I continue to wonder how so many people I know, relatives mostly, manage to go through life relatively smoothly without ever having a real job or permanent residence. I think they mostly bum off each other in a big circle each time somebody gets a real income, until critical mass is reached and everything collapses again. How they get away with it into their 30's is the bigger mystery.
I've had real jobs. Let me be honest, it mostly sucked.
I haven't had a permanent residence last more than 4 years.
Here's the thing. Around when I was a 14 year old nerdlet emo kid, I decided I really wanted to discover the meaning to life. Something beyond studying hard, getting into a good uni, studying hard at uni, getting a good job, working that job until I retire, then die.
It just struck me as horribly depressing.
So my serotonin and dopamine-deprived self set off on a series of crazy comical mishaps to really "live" and thus you have where I am today.
I could never work less than a $20 an hour job doing soulless grinding work where a huge chunk of it goes to taxes. Some days I get paid $200 for 15 minutes of "work" to perform what I love spinning fire, and I get into the party free and free drinks if I care to indulge. I do ridiculous oddjobs to get by, like teaching hippies meditation and instruct people on how to dance and find their inner "flow" and happiness. I give technical support. I only have to pay income tax on it later, deductible because I run my own business, co-owned by my father so he can deduct on his taxes. He makes stupid money so he's actually taxed more under Obama, but he still votes democrat and gives to charities because he thinks those well off have a hand in helping the less fortunate.
Work smarter, not harder- is the name of the game.
And always invest in the future, in your future. It not just limited to money, but experiences. You can never get some of those again.
EDIT: You know what's the funny thing? The older I get and ridiculous experiences aside, the more I just want to settle down and chill out.