I need some validation on my next moves. I am considering to start building a house at 25 years old.
I started working at an early age in tech (at 19-20). The job is not my passion, but it’s passable. I earn 2x the average salary working mostly from home. I also have some tax reliefs due to age. So overall, it’s fine, but…
I recently came to the conclusion that this is it. I am young, but this feels like my plateau. I may have some career progression, but it won’t change things much. I had some ambitions, but I stopped believing in “career” as any meaningful or attainable goal with the current state of things – the industry is f*cked and I don’t intend to be a part of any sort of the rat race. If you know the industry you should know what I am talking about.
The outlook for the industry looks bleak in my eyes, and I don’t intend to grind extra hours for diminishing returns, even stagnating salary (despite inflation – all of my raises of the last few years have been eaten by it), or just to ensure employment. I am ambitious and hard-working, willing to put extra effort to improve my well-being, but demoralized by the industry & corporate world in general and I am generally pessimistic about the next 5 years or so (both industry, but in general, economy wise).
In the past, I was considering moving to the US, but I ultimately dismissed it after recent elections. It was hardly attainable anyway. I can’t see any other country where my living standards could actually improve as an IT professional.
I have searched for some alternatives to change industries. But I came to the conclusion that there are no better options to voluntarily change to – everything seems to have its shades of grey. Other white-collar options are a “No” for me. Trades or nursing can earn similar or even better money, have long-term job security, but be much more exhausting. The only plausible option seems to be medical school, but to attempt to become a doctor would be a risky & very huge sacrifice of my life and it feels like the ship has sailed for it for me.
Real estate market. It’s f*cked too. Even though I would argue that it’s insane compared to the local economy, the issue is worldwide. All this time I have been frugally living with my parents (still do, living on a separate floor) and saved good money. I could move out, but the options suck.
To wrap it up, I come to the conclusion that no greater thing awaits me than what I have in life currently. And my life is ok. I have family, friends, and fiancee here. My country is definitely not perfect, with lots of problems, and vulnerable to geopolitical issues, sharing border with a certain warmongerish country. But I sort of realize I have no better viable option.
I own a small plot of land in a town nearby (inheritance), and as things grow, I start to consider building a house here soon. I have enough money saved to build a ~100-120m2 sealed shell without a mortgage, and afterwards I could try financing it or saving up on the run. I am sort of afraid that 25 me will make some poor design decisions and 35 me would change its taste… but I see a 35 me having less time & energy for such undertaking as well. I would like to build as much as I can on my own in my spare time so I can save money and learn stuff (also, maybe I’ll learn something marketable as a plan B to the tech industry by the way).
To sum it up, I have doubts, and need a second thought. To build a house seems like the opportunity to learn a lot, and possibly the only occasion to ever own a property big enough to start a family. Also the option to rethink life once I move out, fully embrace a simpler, slow life, and the feeling of satisfaction because I did something worthy. But it’s also a risk, and I will put all of my savings into it. On the other hand, the more I think of it, it feels like there is no better option to go further with my life.
Thoughts?
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I will talk about the tech part in a second, but it sounds like you are doing the physical house building? Or are you going to contract it out? Building a house is no small feat and one that will require a lot of patience, a lot of learning, and also dealing with building codes in your area.
The tech part thing is hard to solve. I am also in tech as a team/tech lead. Basically a super IC who does some people management. The salary I currently make is the highest I’ve ever had. I don’t have a college degree so I can’t pivot. I am super burned out on tech, tired of chasing the hot new thing, and of course tired of management not knowing what they want when we go to build something. However it’s the best I can do. It doesn’t help I live in a HCOL area and even a 25% reduction in salary will be felt. For the tech part I would try to find things in tech that interest you (business sectors, the tech itself) and do your best to get a job with those things. Yea the market sucks but I also see a lot of people hiring so it’s not that bad. Also make sure you have hobbies that aren’t just more computer time. Gaming is cool but also go read a book, hike, learn how to use a camera, learn how to roast coffee, or something else. Something that doesn’t require a computer. Create some space in your life.