Heather Smith

I learned before I graduated that, if people are looking to make the big bucks and have the world kiss their butt because they’re an LA they’ll be greatly disappointed.
 
I did not think I was going to make big bucks…but no bucks? I mean, that is really what is happening here. And no, we were not taught that the profession was so unstable. That…[Read more]

I think what you say is very true. We have NEVER been able to get a job. Jon has applied at 150(???) firms at least!!! Three phone interviews and one interview…a week before the market crashed in 2008. So yeah…there is nothing else we know. We are so grateful to be thriving in our own design/build business…perhaps we have lower standards for…[Read more]

Past downgrading of credit worthiness in other countries actually DOES indicate this is a good time to buy in some instances. Buy LOW for long term investment. I have no extra cash…haha.

It isn’t about ego…it is about LEGALITY. If you advertise that you are a landscape architect…you are breaking the law. You cannot advertise landscape architectural services. My husband is an RLA in Idaho but not Washington and we live…2.5 miles from the border. He cannot advertise in Washington for landscape architectural services. It isn’t…[Read more]

There are always trees in Chinese and Japanese garden courtyards…maybe search images for those?

Run! haha…don’t get anymore student loans! This recession is going on what? 3 years…and counting? You will not be able to pay these back and are putting a heavy weight on yourself that you many never be able to get out from under! My advice…start your own business…contact classmates…build your own projects. You may be surprised at the…[Read more]

Denise,
I really feel your anger is misdirected. Frustration understandable? Absolutely. We own a design/build firm in Idaho and my husband was able to sit for his exams right out of college and actually be licensed. I know some will boo and hiss at this…but I don’t really care. If we had to wait for licensure IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN. Because as…[Read more]

The problem is that politics are so ugly right now that politicians use these sorts of policies to flex their muscles. With all the push for cutting deficits and not raising taxes on the rich…the money has to come from somewhere. So they are taking it from the people with the least amount of money to spare. We are trying to pay down our student…[Read more]

Thomas you SHOULD ride the rails and see who you meet…then write about it. You can be the next Keroauc. That might be interesting. I know people still do it…when I was in high school we helped at the shelter and met families riding the rails from WA to MT in the middle of winter!

Wheres mauibob in this and all his stocks? Looks like the stock market is breaking records again! Too bad it is the other direction.

This recession still has nothing on the Great Depression though…and we never made it to Stage 5. In fact, I think that human’s do better in crisis then when things are going well. To survive you often need to rely on each other…whereas when things are going hunky dorey you mosey on your own way. Even consider this website…if we were all…[Read more]

I agree Tanya. If nothing else at least appear to try to work together. On top of that, laying off thousands of government employees is hardly going to boost our economies.

We are keeping an eye on things…the only thing we can do is keep our heads down. We are fortunate to have work…grateful everyday. I’

Perhaps you mean grad loans? Where are higher…but your post seems to have its own political point to it. My dh paid 8% on some grad loans in 2007 I believe…perhaps that is what you mean.
http://www.finaid.org/loans/scripts/interest.cgi

No fed loan that I know of is that high. Are you meaning private loans? Stay away from those!
But I will say with amortization that you spend SO much more in the long run. I for one, do not plan on trusting politicians to keep their word. If they can cut social security…and be pretty glib about suggesting it…why trust that they won’t turn…[Read more]

Yes, but what about living expenses? Life cots a lot more then 3K. 🙂 Student loan debt has now exceeded credit card debt in our country…in some ways the marketing to attain more and more education seems like a racket to me. I bet you could start your own business and make more then you would starting out in an LA firm. We live in a small town…[Read more]

I am curious. Are you taking out more student loans? Those things are a…well you know. 🙂 I don’t think I would go for anything I wasn’t being paid to study.

I would save your money…and since we have just been trying to figure out the way to pay our loans off the best. Don’t take out too many if any student loans. Totally off topic…but I wish someone would have told me that. We could have worked our way through school and ended up ahead.
earthworker, may sound really dramatic but that is many…[Read more]

Thanks for the advice. Yes, we are still in the, “please love us” stage.

That is awesome Mark. Jon said he had some potential clients that he never heard from again…they were literally fighting in front of him about what they wanted. AWKWARD.