Hey there r/personalfinance! 

I'm a 32 M with an associate's degree working as a server in an upscale restaurant. I just started about a month ago and it's a really great gig and I feel I'm getting really good at it, but I'm only pulling down about $250 a week because summer is our slow season. My co-workers tell me that from October to May I can expect about $500 - $800 per week depending on the shifts I get. I'm also eligible for the company 401k starting in October. 

After some thought I've realized that a long term goal I have is to move back to my home town, or a town like the one I grew up in. Problem is, houses in that area go for anywhere between 350 - 750k (right up to a million). I don't really want to get into managing a restaurant because I don't like the work load/salary trade off. I'm willing to work my butt off, but I don't know if the service industry fits my 5-10 year goals. 

What's more so, I am completely debt free and hesitant to go back to school unless it's for something considered a pretty safe bet. I don't have a lot of people in my life who are older and wiser than me, and so I'm not sure how to plan out my next career move. I was thinking about saving money and heading back to community college, but I have no idea what for. 

I guess I'm posting this because I'm hoping to find someone who has been in a similar situation and come out the other side. I want to start looking for professionals to network with in my community to get input and contacts, but again, I don't really know how. Has anyone here done something similar to what I'm trying to do? Again, I'm willing to work hard for a few years to achieve my goals, I just don't want to compound my issues with student debt if I don't have to.

I should mention I also have retail management experience and I am planning on being functionally fluent in Spanish by December. 

Any advice is truly appreciated. Thanks!
user
32 m with associate's degree working in high end restaurant for
assistant
Hey there r/personalfinance! 

I'm a 32 M with an associate's degree working as a server in an upscale restaurant. I just started about a month ago and it's a really great gig and I feel I'm getting really good at it, but I'm only pulling down about $250 a week because summer is our slow season. My co-workers tell me that from October to May I can expect about $500 - $800 per week depending on the shifts I get. I'm also eligible for the company 401k starting in October. 

After some thought I've realized that a long term goal I have is to move back to my home town, or a town like the one I grew up in. Problem is, houses in that area go for anywhere between 350 - 750k (right up to a million). I don't really want to get into managing a restaurant because I don't like the work load/salary trade off. I'm willing to work my butt off, but I don't know if the service industry fits my 5-10 year goals. 

What's more so, I am completely debt free and hesitant to go back to school unless it's for something considered a pretty safe bet. I don't have a lot of people in my life who are older and wiser than me, and so I'm not sure how to plan out my next career move. I was thinking about saving money and heading back to community college, but I have no idea what for. 

I guess I'm posting this because I'm hoping to find someone who has been in a similar situation and come out the other side. I want to start looking for professionals to network with in my community to get input and contacts, but again, I don't really know how. Has anyone here done something similar to what I'm trying to do? Again, I'm willing to work hard for a few years to achieve my goals, I just don't want to compound my issues with student debt if I don't have to.

I should mention I also have retail management experience and I am planning on being functionally fluent in Spanish by December. 

Any advice is truly appreciated. Thanks!
user
32M with associates degree working as server, want to move back
assistant