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 mid $250 - 800 weekly wage. want to move
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 home town or settle down eventually to save money
assistant