How I’m Living My *Almost* Dream Life as a Millenial (In My Late 20’s).

It’s possible, even in the terrible conditions we’ve been passed down.

I did what I was told to do to become ‘successful.’

Go to school, get good grades, go to college, keep up the good grades, and then a ‘dream’ job will land on your lap after graduation.

Then you’ll have nothing to worry about. And guess what?

I even got my Master’s (because I was told it would help me land an even better ‘dream’ job), yet there was no sign of this supposed job in sight by the time I graduated.

I also pursued the ‘get a secure job’ route.

After realizing life insurance sales wouldn’t get me where I wanted, I found a job as an account manager (don’t be fooled by the title; the job was basically being a doormat for angry customers).

When Covid struck, everything went up in the air. And as we all know, massive layoffs started happening.

I was fortunate to keep my job through the majority of the lockdown.

But my luck ran out at the start of 2021 (I was thrilled it did).

Being laid off was a blessing in disguise.

For once, I had no idea what was next.

And that opened a world of opportunities and options.

I allowed myself to think I could pursue something completely different. I gave myself time to try new and different jobs to see which one I hated least.

(Let’s be honest. Most of us don’t love our jobs. We tolerate them).

Eventually, I landed in a position I didn’t expect. But oddly enough, it helped me accomplish some of the biggest dreams I had at the time.

And I’m still going.

What I do love about my job is that the stress of it doesn’t come home with me.

Whatever happened that day stays there once I walk out of those doors. And tomorrow will be a new and different day.

This frees up mental space and energy to think about what I want to do once I am home.

And that’s what’s helping me move forward and accomplish things I only dreamed of a few years ago.

So what’s this job I have?

If you’ve read my previous blogs, you know I work as a bartender/server.

Before you click out of this blog, let me ask you a couple of questions.

Are you not making enough money and feel like you’re not moving forward with your finances?

Are you constantly stressed because even after you leave your place of work or log out of your computer, you’re still thinking about work and what you’ll need to do tomorrow?

Do you feel miserable and tired of doing something you genuinely know isn’t helping anyone but the owner/shareholders?

If you do, maybe looking into a job in the service industry is your answer.

I’m not saying quit your job, but if you are struggling financially and need a second source of income ASAP, maybe working as a server/bartender during the weekends may be an option for you.

This is how I started bartending.

Eventually, I turned to it full-time because I was laid off a second time from another supposedly ‘secure’ job.

(I found a job as a data entry clerk while trying different fields).

I’ve been depending solely on my bartending/server income for a year and a half.

And it’s been one of my best years yet!

It’s hard work but worth it, and the payoff is almost immediate (Tips and hourly pay).

If you’re someone who can’t sit still for too long, this is a great option.

If you like variety and don’t like to do the same thing every single day, this is also a great option.

If you’re struggling financially and need extra money NOW, this is a great option.

If you’re tired of feeling miserable, tired of feeling stuck in a cubicle like you’re going nowhere, and every day is the same, and you’re just fed up with working for someone who could lay you off at any second, this is also an excellent option for you.

Bartending and serving, in combination with my budgeting skills and my discipline to stick to it, is what has allowed me to live independently for almost two years now (in New York).

It’s what’s allowed me to buy a car in cash.

It’s what’s allowed me to pay off my student loans and become debt-free (I’ll be completely transparent: my mother did help me along the way, but I did shoulder 95% of the financial burden).

It’s what’s allowed me to live life on my terms and not anyone else’s.

If that’s not the dream, I don’t know what is.

It’s what’s allowed me the energy to pursue writing online and dream of other options.

I know bartending and serving isn’t sustainable.

Unfortunately, it’s not something I can do into my fifties and sixties (and I don’t want to).

But while I’m young and on the journey to building the life and career of my dreams, it’s a great job to keep me afloat and succeeding financially.