Life dilemma

[Ensano]

ok well I was just forced to drop out of school for funding reasons so I find myself looking for fulltime work without an education in a town that has had it's major city employer (large minning town) have a strike for the last 9 months. so good jobs are scarce...

here's my situation. my rent+bills+food come up to roughly $1400 a month (that's everything including laundry money).

my g/f clears about 1600$ and for my manliness I would like to earn at least as much as she does...

I can go get a job... well prob 2 partime jobs and earn min wage (9.50) and work 40 hrs a week doing some random thing.

OR

I can get a gov't check (at least for a little while) of around 600$ a month.

now I swore to myself before that only idiots want to be pro poker players and all that but here's a thought that i've had.


If i put in a 40hr work week..
2 - 4hr sessions each day for 5 days (taking say sat/sun off cause g/f has those off also)
I could do 9am -1pm 1hr lunch 2-6pm EST..
right now I'm 8tabling and getting roughly 400H/hr
so I'd be looking at roughly 65k hands a month

needing 1000$ a month

stars VPP calc says I'd earn roughly 17600FPP so 176$ bonus
1000-176 = 824..

so all I'd have to do is beat 25NL for 2.54 ptbb/100 to be +EV
without the check I'd need 4.4 ptbb/100 to be EV.

but there isn't any risk here in a sence. g/f will be able to cover cost is things should happen.

also I was thinking I could experiment by seeing if i can even do the grind while still looking for work.


honestly don't hold back.. how terrible is this idea?

[jeffonline]

Please post picture of girl friend we may be able to assist.

[miaowmiaowchowface]

+1

[BMiller1980]

No question, it could work. I think the real issues are: How serious is this relationship, and how understanding is your girlfriend? If you make the decision to do this, and fail, then you might lose more than just your girlfriends money. But, if you have a girlfriend that supports your decision, you may have a keeper .

If you do end up going the poker route, just make sure you aren't playing with scared money.

Either way, good luck, whatever decision you make!

[REDMAN]

Making money when it is your only source of income is a lot different than when it is for fun. I was in a simmilar situation and I actualy stoped playing because I new I would be playing scaired. The best advice you will get is find a job.

[jimmer]

Sorry to hear about your studies.

I lost my job on 17th december 2008. I usually find work straight away, but due to the industry i was in (international sales) and the banks f**king up, there wasn't much around.

About March 2009, I had a bit of consultancy work, but not enough to pay the bills, so I decided to try and supplement my income by playing a little poker. I use to be a pro sportsman, so thought I would be able to handle the pressures of 'having to succeed to pay the bills', but poker was totally different.

I too, ended up like Redman. As soon as it became 'a job', my outlook changed. I don't know what it was, but I never played my 'A' game. In a perfect world, i would of taken a step back, spent time reviewing all the factors and then trying again. Of course, when this became 'my income' this became alot harder.

As it happened, I picked up a job working for a local charity, and haven't had much time to play poker since (I think I've played about 20hrs total since November 2009).

The advice I have for you though is; speak to your girlfriend, agree some ground rules and give it a go.

Make sure you are honest to yourself (and her) though. Don't go hiding your losses one day just because she had a bad day at work, or you hit the wrong button because you were tired. These are all the little things that you have to include in your long term evaluation.

Knowing you as i do (through the forum only) you seem pretty level headed, so this could work well for you.

Let us know what you decide and good luck eitherway

[Ensano]

I've posted this on 2+2 also and I've gotten quite a few replies also...

here's an update on my pro poker plan (still sounds stupid saying it out loud)..

I'm currently looking for work so besides emailing resumes and keeping an ear to the group I'm going to use up my spare time playing so see if I can even do the grind. (figured this would be better than just watching porn all day... really... it's not healthy)

so basically this is my schedule..

according to 2+2 fultimers the best times to play are between 10am-5pm EST so...

I'm up at 7.. walk down to the gym (haven't gone in a long time but know working out will be +EV lifewise)

back home by 830-9ish

shower, breakfast, etc, on comp playing 8 tables by 930

1230 1 hr lunch break..

130 - 430-5 done for the day playing (totalling roughly 3k hands)..

g/f gets home between 330-550 (3 different schedules depending on the week)

chill with g/f, supper, movie and cuddling, etc,

9 she's half passing out I hit the comp for a 2hr sesh review/poker strat reading.

11.. bed and repeat taking sat/sun off (same days as g/f)..

sounds like a long day but it's really only 2 -3 hr sesions and a bit of strat reading later on...


also a reg on 2+2 has offered to work with me 1 on 1 so i think we're going to try to make a quick run up to 50NL so I can be a reg there instead of at 25NL... that would make a world of difference in my $/hr..

[Ensano]

oh... forgot pics...






and a little something extra...

[jeffonline]

LOL. Bananas are a good cheep source of vitamins and minerals, it good to see your gf preparing for the hard times. It is bothersome that you are not bankrolled, that is what is missing and it is the most important consideration. You have a plan and that’s a good thing. Good luck.

[REDMAN]

Good luck! I have found that poker is as much about your competition as it is about you skill level. I would not dismiss playing on weekends and evenings this is when recreational players play. If you can find a few drunken players on a Friday or Saturday night it will help a lot. I would also focus on table selection. If you are going to grind it out find extra loose tables. Also consider purchasing a program like Poker-Edge. Google it.

[Ensano]

I hear what you say about nights and weekends. that's primariy when i've been playing.

the prob that that though is my g/f works days 730-330 or 930-530 depending on the week. with sat/sun off

If I was to do this fulltime and put in 6+ hrs at night plus sat/sun we might as well not see each other..

according to PS VPP calc I need 33 hrs a week to make platinum every month so i'm thinking 2 -3hr sesh mon-fri with a final 3hrs fri night..

that would be easier to coordinate with the g/f and keep her happy which is always important if I want her to support this idea.

big -poker EV big +life EV

[jimmer]

It sounds like a plan to me. Go for it.

Putting my business development hat on though, one thing i would include in your forecast is the 20/20 rule.

For the first few weeks or months, you may face teething problems that you haven't yet thought of (or are out of your control, but may crop up).

So, with every positive calculation, take away 20% and with every negative calculation add 20%.

It won't make a massive differance to your decision, but it will help you plan for nasty surprises.

For example:

.......... done for the day playing (totalling roughly 3k hands)..

What happens if you only get time to play 2.4K hands for 4 days a week, instead of 3K for 5days?

sounds like a long day but it's really only 2 -3 hr sesions and a bit of strat reading later on...

How about if it was 3 -4hr sessions?

I know I've exaggerated a few things to an extream, but hopefully you get my point.

GL

[Phil14312]

FWIW I play professionally.

Don't forget to factor in the opportunity cost of playing poker now. How serious are these funding issues with school? The problem w/ going for poker right now is you are likely unable to grow your bankroll at all and have a fairly low ceiling for future wages. Finding a job (or moving somewhere for a job) that may pay less/similar as poker but has skills that can move you up in the world will be far better 5-10 years down the road.

With my education I was looking at realistically making 40-45K coming out of school and would not have played poker if I didn't think I could at least realistically double that.

What are you doing about health/dental/vision insurance? Do you have 6 months of living expenses saved up? How many buy-ins is your bankroll (whatever it is should probably be double it)?

I really think you should be looking with due diligence for a real job that will teach you trade skills, allows job growth, or go back to school while playing poker in the interim. Otherwise you might be doing yourself a disservice.

[Felting]

Um, move to Vegas, get g/f a job at the rhino. Then you'll be able to play 10/20 live on what she makes on monday.

[Ensano]

Um, move to Vegas, get g/f a job at the rhino. Then you'll be able to play 10/20 live on what she makes on monday.

strongly considering this but I don't think it'll work bacause I'm a Canadian citizen and to my understanding the US doesn't just give out work visa's to people who don't have a tranferable skill.

Although I should look into maybe getting a student visa those are 2years aren't they?