I may have a bit of fall fever also and need some advice on taking some classes.
Right now I work as a personal/executive assistant. While I love it, its not exactly my dream job and I can't see myself being a personal assistant when I'm like 40.
I found some classes through our local technical/business school (which is an excellent, very renowned school) that are available online. All I would need is a computer/laptop and I can complete some business and finance courses in 3 months. Courses are less than $500 each. I wouldn't have been able to start this September but I could do it in January.
I don't really know what I want to be "when I grow up" but I figure that some business and financial courses couldn't hurt and would carry over through a lot of different industries. Our business manager at work one day talked to me about having me transferred to the finance department- "someone bright and hardworking like (myself) would be an asset to our department". With enough training and experience I could become a finance manager myself. But I doubt my boss would allow me to transfer department as I am his personal assistant and he wouldn't want to give me up.
Anyway, here's what I'm stuck on. I know I want to take these classes but I don't have a computer of my own. My bf has a laptop but I don't feel right about railroading it and it isn't private for me. Bf wants to buy a Mac for his home business. He said when he gets it he will give me his old Dell laptop for myself. Do I either: -contribute to bf's Mac (his is about $3500) and keep the old one -wait for bf to buy a Mac himself and keep the old one as per our agreement, however I'd have to wait until he does this -buy myself a cheapish new computer (like a Dell about $600) -buy myself a new computer I really want (Mac book $1150ish)
Also, my work will contribute $450 to a "personal development" expense- either a computer or training classes. However we have to get approval to take classes and I don't think as an assistant I could get approval for finance classes. I could pitch the $450 into a computer and pay for the $500 class myself.
All these ideas and options are giving me scrambled brains. Can anyone help me make heads and tails of this?
If I were you, while the option of a really cool Mac would be nice, I would probably just go with the Dell if you need it right away. That way you will not be out so much money at one time. Then I would talk to your work about getting money from them to use either for your computer or your class. Maybe if you have an HR department handy give them a call. I know at our company it doesn't matter what your position is at the time. They will pay for any classes that could pertain to any part of our company.
I know for sure that Dell offers a one-time student discount, maybe some other manufacturers do too? Also, since it's back-to-school time, some retailers may be offering discounts that could bring the nice computer you want down a couple hundred bucks. Definitely shop around first!
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To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment ~ {Ralph Waldo Emerson}
Personally, if I were in your situation, I would just look for sales on Dell (they have tons of them) and buy that for the time being to get you started in classes.