₦airaland Forum

nitrogen:
@mackynaija, well done!

I would suggest you start thinking about wealth-building. This will go a long way in ensuring that your kids don’t take a dollar loan for education at any point and your retirement years are sorted.

Fatfire can help, even though it is clearly for retirement, but people use it to build massive wealth over their 20-30 year careers. You can have an overall objective of having say $7-10m in net worth by say age 55. Such that when you retire, the assets can generate sufficient passive income annually, e.g. 4% annual returns on $7-10m will comfortably give you between 280k and 400k per annum to live a good life without touching your assets.

Don’t think it’s still early, starting now ensures you capture value from compounding interest. As soon as you sort out your house, start investing passively (in ETFs and indexes) on a monthly basis and watch your net worth blow over the next 10-20 years.

Once again, well done, you are doing well!

My idea of being wealthy is when everyone around can afford a seat at the table - I give so much of my money away to family and friends for charitable causes, education and business ventures. Will revisit this below...

Inside the holy book, e get one verse wey talk say: "what shall it profit Mackynaija to save millions in $ while people around him are hungry and needy, then die and leave all the money in the bank?"

I arrived in the U.S a little late but I am not relenting - retirement savings is growing and projected to be over $1m IF retirement is at 60 years.
Saved 10% on every paycheck (even during covid) for the first two jobs from day 1 and currently doing 13% at my new job (this gets the amount close to the govt set annual limit of circa $19,500 for year 2021 as a result of my higher annual salary).
Will increase annually by 1% for the next two years and at 15% per paycheck, I should be hitting max limit. My company does 6% additional.

From projections, Worst case at retirement @ age 60 will be $1.5m but I will exceed this goal earlier (na my wife deh actively do FIRE that why she has madt money).
My income will grow exponentially as I have plans for future growth.

I earn too much now so had to cut short Roth IRA savings, will find time to research on "backdoor contributions" or something in that line.

My savings in October only for my newest job is bigger than my entire Nigerian retirement savings.
I no deh take retirement savings play, and since my future will be secure - I give away all of the "excess".


Thanks Nitrogen, an immigrant aiming for Financial.Indepence.R.E is a huge goal as there are mouths to feed in Nigeria + getting stabilized being in America.

pompeiimagnus:
1. Get on LinkedIn and create an alert for IE jobs. Review the job descriptions and start building your skills. Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn learning etc. can help you with this.
2. Use your university career services office to prep your resume and perform mock interviews. Then start applying and interviewing for summer internships from your first semester. E get why.
3. Choose your courses smartly, especially your multidisciplinary electives. Take classes in data analytics, lean manufacturing, optimization etc.
4. Attend conferences and career fairs at your university and organizations like NSBE and SWE.
5. Be social, make friends, take on class or school projects. Everything counts here.

The highlighted carries huge weight - "reverse engineer".
Pompeii dished it out just like I would have! We be twins??

Some jobs I got were from my contacts, they let you know where someone else got a job or what companies/roles they are not qualified for but believe fit your profile.

Peterpan100:
Thanks @MackyNaija.

No vex abeg, "person wey ask question no dey miss road"
You said something about embassy wahala, is it the normal Visa wahala process or na because I'm financing my study via a loan?

Mehn, I know no shit about this stuff, never knew one can be granted a Visa, then when you reach there you come begin hustle the loan. That sounds good o

My thought is this:

Under ideal conditions, students are meant to return to their countries after studies.
If you take $50k in loans in the U.S before leaving Nigeria, how do you intend to pay it back WHEN you return to Nigeria under the ideal case?

sbot:
Bless your heart boss.

Wow, so in this your case for instance, we’re looking at roughly a $40k?

Haha, at the consultation fees.

Concentrate on surviving the first year...

Find an inexpensive school (my school was like $7,500 per semester to the school) and get enough money or a plan for money to survive the FIRST Year.
If you don't drop out in the first year you'll find a way to complete the program.

Chloraseptic:
Thanks.

Ok let's say I'd like to get an American degree, how does someone without any form of Nigeria higher institution degree start a college in America...

Can a GED suffix

Yes Sir, convert you SSCE/WAEC to an American equivalent.

Next step, Associate degree - students can work and school. As someone said and I know Amaz0n, Walmar+ and T3sla will pay for you to school.

Then online or part-time BSc and you are good. It musnt be in engineering.

An in-demand field I know is Supply Chain management. Should be less stressful while working and schooling.

pompeiimagnus:
My way of deciding things like this is to look up job descriptions for both jobs at the same company. Then decide on which could be a better fit for me. E.g., look up job descriptions for manufacturing engineer and supply chain at Tesla. The skills needed for either of them are very different, but large companies like Cummins, Intel and Tesla always recruit for these roles.

Manufacturing and Process/Operations engineers suffer a lot for same pay I earn.

As pompeii said, reverse engineer job descriptions - superimpose your interests on them.

Do Supply Chain but with an Engineering degree - Industrial Engrg.

TEODIN:
Good morning MackyNaija, A friend of mine got admitted for spring 2022 for msc manufacturing Engineering and MSc Supply Chain Management. He has a bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and has good interest in both fields. He’s confused on which of them to choose (choose Industrial Engineering)

...considering ease of getting jobs, level of financial compensation (pay rates on average are close for similar fields) and demand of the profession in the labor market. He asked for my advice and I told him to wait let me ask you. Which of those 2 fields would you have chosen Manufacturing Engineering or Supply Chain management.. Thanks

Advice for myself:
Both fields can be done with an Industrial Engineering degree.
Choose any, get into the program and switch after the first semester.
My guy switched after his third semester!!! E get why..

What is his/her Nigerian job experience in?
Supply Chain is 'different' from Engineering pay - they'd earn less but hired as an Industrial Engr in Supply Chain, the pay is similar to other engrg roles.

Multiple guys from my school work in Micron Supply Chain with their Industrial Engineering degrees.
Multiple in Western Digital Supply Chain with their Industrial Engineering degrees.
Another set in Amazon Supply Chain...

'Every other person' is in Manufacturing - process, quality, Industrial engrg etc etc.


Abeg, everybody study Industrial Engineering oooo!!!
Otherwise study Computer Science or Electrical Engrg.
I took a lot into consideration before choosing that course... a whole lot! and it pays good!

My school cost about $25k per annum according to the i20.


But one can do...
Fees $7500 (fixed)
Living cost in a shared apartment (variable) ~$350 monthly, $4500 a year
Feeding $2000 a year (variable)
Misc $2000 a year (variable)
All of this amount is what makes the sum stated on the i20 - the amount you'll need to either pay the school and also need to survive.

Total is about $16k, if it exceeds that amount it wouldn't go beyond $20k but the i20 says $25k.



Not having this knowledge is why people delay starting the program sooner. Some people spend less - the school fee is the only fixed cost and the rest depends on the individual.

sbot:
Could you help explain this per annum? Per annum na PER ANNUM

Does it mean that’s the whole tuition? Pardon me if I’m wrong, are there no two annums?

Thanks in anticipation

Yes Sir, whole tuition amount you'll need to survive a full year - mostly two semesters (Spring and Fall).

As stated above, the school estimated $25k as what you'll need, my breakdown was to show you can use less.
Some parts are fixed - tuition and fees. For living cost - you can cut this down to bare bones.

For the second year of the program, you'll need an equivalent sum spent in the first year.

Hope I have been able to explain it and not confuse you more?
My hourly consultation fees high o, no try to come private.

Alexandre7:


If you use the Supercharger it only takes about 30 minutes to go from 20% - 90% charge.

If you use a home/destination charger it takes roughly about 4 hours to go from 20% - 90% charge. (Overnight charging, a home charger is in plans for when we purchase our place)

When I first bought my Model 3 I initially used the EV charging in our community,

Now that I added another Electric Vehicle a Chevy Volt I installed a charger in our garage.

Usually my girlfriend drives the Tesla to work since I work from home while I run errands with the Chevy Volt.

Nairalanders, make una come see the rich people wey we deh talk about!

I know how pissed off I get when my smartwatch dies while in use due to not charging it. [In my head I say - which kind stress be this sef!]
With time, when there are fewer problems in my life, I'll create one by buying an EV that needs charging. No be now wey my head deh hot.

sbot:
My people,
Anyone knows cheap schools in the US one can apply to for postgraduate degree, please?
Also, the total tuition fees.

There is a USA visa thread, find it for current information on schools, their requirements and steps for admission.

Peterpan100:
Hello house,
I see some real conversations going on here.
I need advice, and meaningful inputs will be HIGHLY appreciated.

So, I am a federal civil servant, I have this Black American girl (Akata) I'm dating online, she's a student (doesn't change much as they believe in unconditional love).

She doesn't have money to support my relocation to join her in the US (she can get a co-sponsor), I have been doing a lot of applications for jobs offering H1B visa sponsorship since last month (unless you are a programming pro, this might not fetch you much applying from Nigeria) Saw a LinkedIn post of a programmer recruited to Canada last month FROM Nigeria, I am now considering the option of applying for a Master's program (excellent plan), however the cost is high (you go survive ), I may have to settle for the student loan option (normal, even natural born Americans use student loans. Na our useless banks for Nigerian deh spoil our packaging - Indians have loans).

Please anyone here with first hand experience on the lending process for Prodigy and MPower loans? (when you arrive, you go do the waka. Last time I checked, Pr0digy can give you loans from Nigeria, problem then go be embassy).

Many of these fees cost around $40k annually, please anyone who successfully received a loan and paid up by working?? (There's a 3-month grace period after graduation after which you have to start paying back. If I am right, you'll pay interest only while in school).
Loan terms are flexible.

Thanks in anticipation of your response

Chloraseptic:
My question is can't these things be achievable if one decides not to go to college..

Isn't there some kind of IT certification Skills one can learn here or when they get there.

I'm just ruling out college for some personal reasons.

It depends on what you want in life...
I see how hard operators/techs/associates work for 'little' pay when compared to what I earn.

A degree is always necessary to move ahead, do the time in school and reap 'maximum' benefits.

An executive in my company with a top 10 MBA gotten less than 10 years ago is currently a VP.
My manager with a Bsc and about 30 years industry exp is currently a Director - still has the Sr Director huddle to cross before VP level.


I like long term benefits and would encourage you to get an American degree to make life here easier for you.

Chloraseptic:
@ Mackynaija, how much can get one a proper naija meal (pounded yam bushmeat and any soup) in Africa restaurant..

I don't check the prices (technically meaning I don't dwell on it), if anything hungry me, I buy am chop.

Na efo riro (Spinach soup) and designer stew I deh buy regularly for Hayward, Ca.

Predstan:
Bushmeat hard small. But I got Ogunfe, Snail and Better poundo yam in Texas for 40$. In Tennessee, goat meat with poundo is 17$

That 40$ for one meal big ooo

DisGuy:
Chei

These coin stuff, a friend was telling me about it when it was only 150 for ETH, back then bitcoin was the rave. Typical skeptical me ignored him only to jump on this year.

Atleast you made profit lol

I broke even after multiple cycles of sell low, buy high...
The volatility was messing with my job search and especially with my blood pressure so I had to quit!

Chloraseptic:
Mackynaija I must say you have been a fountain of knowledge and information to me and many other people here..

Fountain of knowledge?? I deh laugh o

See picture below for where my knowledge reach:
Current price for ETH is $3700+


I haven't shared this jist but I'll summarize:
***Around June/July 2020, I could bet with my life that Ethereum was going to make me very very good money in the future...

So I bought a fair amount and 'tried to HODL'...

the picture below is when I realized that -
It is better to be average financially and healthy..

Than to be wealthy with acute high blood pressure. Na doctor go still chop all the money


I sold, topped up the cash and made a down payment for my beloved liability: the 2018 Camry.

3. Since you mentioned starting from Nigeria:
Start learning computer skills in programming or analytics.

Arrive in USA, do a boot camp for less than 3 months and land a good paying job!

Most bootcamps have industry connections.
This field has lower educational barrier to entry, if your skills too sharp, you'll get hired without an American degree.

Or

Do an associates for longer (same fields so you can get an American degree), then an internship and then a job.


4. Finally, do nursing. Start with an Associates (naija OND).
Can make plenty money with longer hours. Opportunities plenty.

These two options give super lightning fast employment.

You can start working the next week after you arrive in the US. Enough money to keep body and soul together.

I know the Amz salary is around $17 per hr for T1.

Two or three associate tiers. T1, T2 maybe T3
The management tiers. L4 starting ($55k average). L5 ops Mgr 1 (good salary from $75k to $110k)
L6 over $130k (at this point, you don blow).
Levels from L7 and above na chairman.

Salaries above are for internal growth. External hires earn higher.

How do I know? I tried to get an L5 or L6 job.
Know people within those roles in Warehouse Operations Management.

2. Work for Amazon, direct employment as an Associate.
They have warehouses everywhere in the US.
Walmart has warehouses too- fast employment.

Amz will pay some part of your tuition and promotion is fast too.
Stay and grow or complete college and switch departments.

This method is good for the Supply Chain management career line.

Chloraseptic:
I'm coming as an unmarried son of a USC, currently awaiting interview at the NVC stage.

As for your first paragraph I'd like you to point at examples of such jobs so I could start building up the career here in Nigeria if possible..

Thanks.. you have motivated and given guys morale here more than Nigerian past and present presidents..

Do you have a degree from Nigeria?
Let me use myself as an example:- If I came in with your residency status and with what I know now, here's what I'd do:

1. With a BSc in mechanical, I'd go to recruitment agencies (in a big city, there are lots of them) and seek employment in manufacturing.

As an assembly operator, I'd easily get American manufacturing work experience.

Then apply for a part time or online MSC, apply for internships, resign if this cones thru,, see if I can do two over the course of the schooling.

This can easily translate to a full-time job at graduation.

Predstan:
You made me check mine. I’m on 3.5million naira. This is too much. Though my birthday gift this year was to complete my mother’s house

Na normal, no think am.
Never knew it was that much until I checked it two days ago.

Paccus:
Texas people and their big trucks .. The only thing wey dey tire me be say dem be Republicans and them get mouth online eh.. dem go dey say na Democrats dey run from their Democrats states dey come Republicans state while claiming say Democrats better pass.. Macky, E no Easy.. before December finish you may finally reach that 5 million oo Macky Abeg when you dey Naija your income reach to give out 5 million in a year??

Paccus, if I catch you ehn

I deh occasionally check my Stanbic naija retirement account... when I convert the money to $, laugh deh catch me.

Total Nigerian 5 years contribution + interest to date = ONLY this month's yankee 401k contribution

Another valid point why you need to leave that country if you like your future!


Those years, my mind deh cut unto say what if I lose my job, how I wan manage?

Na only polithiefcians fit dash this kind money o.

Poddy:
bros no vex, how you take calculate your own $21k to be #10M

Lukaku95:
e pass 10M sef.. check the current dollar rate.

Damn! See the kind of confusion associated with a country's currency

I was asked to pay #590 for $1 a few days back.
It will only get worse as the country is dollar hungry.

Lukaku95:
why does it cost so much ? Na new one ? That's like 10M here.. you for buy used one save money..

I just checked the 2021 Camry SE and it cost $26,500 approx, add $2,000 for buying at the dealership...

Then add financing cost and markup associated with scarcity..

It will end closer to $30,000.



I bought mine last year and cars were hard to find.

Paccus:
See as your car body fresh like new born baby skin..You no fit escape sending money to Nigeria.. Highest na to reduce am because Momcy go dey prize market now with the mind say her sweet son dey obodo oyibo oo, her alawee dey sure.. Your company suppose pay you for relocation na??I Thank God for you, you have been a blessing to others.. Naija no Dey smile oo

Na new motor na, How e no go fresh.
Still its a cheap one in American standards. Texas na home of $60k trucks

The expenses extend beyond nuclear family (this is where I spend the least), I know say hunger full Nigeria coupled with covid, insecurity in the North where food is grown, and the downward spiral of the currency value so I am just doing my little part.

Per relocation, they gave $5k taxed to $3k5 - it cost me almost $20k. Do the math.
As I said, the move na investment so I no deh complain.

Olumighty123:
Bros, thought you should be driving a tesla vehicle

Nah... No time to to go sit down somewhere deh charge motor.
Main - Camry 2018
Backup - RX 2008
Maybe when we build a home, we will set it up for charging EVs. My wife would like to own one.

yunqdady:
Thanks. Na RN work.
Always thinking with OT on RN one can make a bank.

You for quick talk. I hear say nurses like suffering from too much work
If this is the case, I don't think 80hrs is out of place, just try to rest in-between shifts as you wouldn't have any life outside work.

Pamelayoung:
I would like to share a personal experience with you. I have sent you an email message. Kindly respond

Hi Pamela, I don't hold discussions outside this thread.
Try to paste your concerns here so I and others can help address it.

Pamelayoung:
I am not into engineering, my interest and passion is in early childhood education. I have gotten acceptance but this people be bouncing someone anyhow. I'm getting tired don't know what else to do. I need help!

I do not have much experience in this field. Look for courses closer to the sciences, OR find a funded PhD in your intended course, OR keep going until you get the visa (most times though, they need to see a change in your status e.g a scholarship).

Around this time next month, I'll be celebrating completing the payment for my Camry!

$21k in total.... Paid a lump sum initially and then $1k monthly for 1 year. Omo, the expenses wan kill me! big man, big trouble!
That's why I broke coupled with sending money to Nigeria and my wife don save maddddt money in that same period!

I'll play WurID's birthday song and dance. E no easy.


I had thought that when our daughter is born, I'll stop sending money to Nigeria - I no know say I deh jonse myself.
Will try to reduce the amount. Adding the Camry, na $40k loss naim be this o. Didn't save shit for the whole year, move to Texas added debts

Las las... it's just an inconvenience, used the money to solve issues for others and Camry for myself .
Na when money no deh naim go be problem.

Fortunate25:
Just incase you want to send down anything at all down here, Please consider my offer. Thank you sir and keep on Conquering!!!!

There's no harm in shooting your shot...

I checked my naira account annual statement yesterday to see how much the country is bleeding me (need to save massively for our yankee house buying expenses)...

Just sticking to 'close' family and some friends has set me back almost 5m naira in 2021 alone,
That's an average of $1k monthly, I do NOT intend to keep that growing fatter.

Minus electronics purchased and sent, minus wire transfers, minus western union, minus other transactions that do not appear on the naira account.


Most immigrants from all over the world cannot escape this expense as long as their countries are being run by shit head leaders like those in Nigeria.
I remember someone wrote on this thread in 2017 - "leave the leaders alone" and focus on your life. How I go leave them when their stupidity in leadership is costing me $20k+ annually. I no get better thing to take money do??

DisGuy:
Na to stylishly ask if they will reimburse any staff that embarks on a relevant course.


True true you like book and be like say yankee employers like certificates well well

ezzylee:
I’ve heard of employees being reimbursed by their organization, money spent on certifications and trainings. You could ask your boss if they do the same.

It's not a hidden item; I have been told to official indicate interest and get approval.
We discussed this last Thursday. He said I should stop worrying and apply upfront, company go pay.

He also said he knows of instances where the company has gone beyond the $5k annual limit to fund 50% of the cost of an executive MBA.

UT Aust1n mba cost $110k.. go figure..

Chloraseptic:
I commend Mackynaija for keeping this thread afloat since he created it till date..

I just finished reading from first page to here.

Everyone keeps talking about bsc and msc, what about people that have neither of those things..

Do they even stand a chance at securing any job lucrative in America..

There are jobs for those without college degrees - lots of jobs where one can build a long term career and make good money.

You'll first need to worry about how to access the country.

That's why the sequence is admission, visa, and port/point of entry..
Otherwise, what other reason would you have for coming to the US?

yunqdady:
Kudos.
How great or small is a 100k usd pay?
Is working 14hrs 6days/ week pullable?

The average HOUSEHOLD income in America is about $65k so $100k you asked about is almost double that.

As we all know, body no be firewood...
You'll need days off. Normal weekly hours are 40 (8hrs by 5days).

If you wanna constantly do double that, your body go tell you say e abnormal except na clerical work you deh do.

Thinking aloud:
I too like book
Currently preparing for a certification, my company pays up to $5,000 each year for educational expenses and my manager has advised from Day 1 that I take advantage of it.

Problem:
I don't allow people to know when I am preparing for certifications or exams. Pressure deh deh higher.
How do I collect their money to write this exam and then not be pressured into passing?
Anyway, I need use their money

If na my money, pass or fail - I no send.

pompeiimagnus:
@MackyNaija. I'm graduating from Texas State this December and relocating for my job in Austin. Let's connect Bro.

Not a bad idea. San Marcos near here o. You go don enjoy this town tire.
I go collect your first paycheck??