How has your degree improved your life?

[kevinmane]

Thanks tsimmns! And to answer your question, the job I had in 2011 is definitely not the one I have now. Once I got the degree, I was able to get the next job that was above the counter rep job. Since then I've been promoting every year. First to a tax collector to a entry-level auditor to then an Associate Auditor. There was always some negotiating involved that's a little complicated to explain, but I was able to get the max salary of the entry-level auditor job - so when I got promoted to the Associate level, I was already close to that particular job's max salary. So I kinda got lucky with those aspects, but I've been working hard to get promoted every year. The degree just basically opened the door for all these opportunities that I was able to get - still had to earn 'em and stuff. But before the BA, I wasn't able to "check off" that "Bachelor's Degree box".

Now I gotta work on the MA so I can check off that box so I can move up some more

Also, $80k sounds pretty good, but it's pretty expensive here in California, so I'm not "balling" or anything. My wife still has to work full time so we can afford everything we have. I'm trying to get to the point where she only has to work part time so she can be home more for our future kid. But I can't do that without that MA. So it's "go-time" again.