Poker as a living. How to deal with my family?

[rtadoyle]

As a recent college grad, who is still unemployed, here's my opinion: get a job, play a little on the side, and establish a nest egg.

There are so many expenses that you have to deal with- health insurance, car insurance, food, rent, etc - that you want guarenteed income so you can budget accordingly. You need to make sure you are secure before you start doing a job where you might not get paid for weeks at a time. As you start succeeding in poker, then you can slowly reduce your hours, but still, get a decent job to assist you. You will be able to move up in limits faster if you have another catalyst besides your poker to increase your bankroll as well.

I am trying to get a job right now, and I don't think I will have a problem doing so, due to work experience and a degree from a good institution. Note how I didn't say career - I'm trying to find something now to just pay bills, and get some experience. Once I am financially stable, I will look for a beter job or a career while still employed - which is perhaps the best piece of advice I can give the originaly poster:

The best time to look for a job is while you have one.

Work a regular job, or go back to school. That doesn't mean you can't play poker at the same time - you'll just be playing less of it. Get something to fall back on.

Off to pick up a suit for an interview on Monday!

[steve968574]

You are seeking useful, genuine advice, so you shouldn't resent this blunt assessment of the situation: How can you be so confident in your poker game when you need on-line hand-holding just to stand up to your parents?

I think you're a skillful player who needs to shore up his game and his economic situation before making the leap. It's not that hard to finesse the 40-hour week to make it work toward your ends...a no-brainer job that will give you benefits and your own place, with a minimal investment in responsibility and brain fatigue, is very do-able. Don't flee the full-time work thing--if you are smart you will find a way to manipulate it and use it as a springboard to get the life you want.

[bobdibble]

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Don't flee the full-time work thing--if you are smart you will find a way to manipulate it and use it as a springboard to get the life you want.

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[Adam22]

i dropped out of school and i've been playing 3/6 and 5/10 for about a year now successfully with no job. it's not always easy but it's a hell of a lot better than having a job. if you want to do it, do it, move out so that you don't have to answer to your parents.

[bobdibble]

[ QUOTE ]
i dropped out of school and i've been playing 3/6 and 5/10 for about a year now successfully with no job. it's not always easy but it's a hell of a lot better than having a job. if you want to do it, do it, move out so that you don't have to answer to your parents.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is incredibly stupid and short sighted. Most of the comments on this and other threads already talk about why.

Also, you mention that you are having a hard time doing this. Well, let me provide this counter example. I work full time, and started playing poker just over a year ago. I now have more than enough of a BR for playing 30/60 because I didn't have to withdrawl from my BR (although, I did pull some for extra fun money.)

I plan on retiring in 3-5 years with enough money to pay off my house, plus 1 years reserve, plus 1000BB. Then, I will turn pro. If the games dry up, it may not happen, or may take longer. However, contrast that to your current small stakes struggle.

I should point out that I am not a particularly good player either, but the combination of job + poker lets me save at an incredible rate. I also get all the benefits of a a real job, including insurance, matching retirement funds, etc.

Get a job.

[Adam22]

yeah, that's exactly what i'll do. i'll get a job with no formal education that will pay me half a BB an hour. you've done a good job of pointing out the errors of my ways.