Should I drop out of the labor force?

I've been underemployed for 4 years post graduation from my computer science degree. People are baffled as to why I never got interviews when I've had my several resumes looked at. I never wanted big tech, I would've been content working for state government. But no replies. Which is sad, when I've been told you don't really need much of anything outside of a degree there.

I'm not interested anymore after this. Random online certifications arent helpful without experience in the specific field. I haven't been able to leverage my customer service experience to get a bank teller/any type of sales job interview or anything similar, I haven't been able to leverage my limited menial labor experience to get an ,entry manufacturing or factory job interview. I had one programming internship 7 years ago, but that's not important anymore

I'm fortunate enough to be with my parents so I've been able to save every penny these last 4 years, meaning I have $150k in savings. That could have been $300k if I worked retail for the four years I f college instead. If I worked \*less hard\* I could've set myself up for a very cushy retirement by now without needing to have worked a day more in my life. Alas, opportunity costs, opportunity costs.

I quit the job last month. I've come to understand that working for anything under $60000 in this economy just isn't worth the time. Times have changed from when I was 18.

Even with those circumstances, I won't be paying a penny for education to get another type of education. That type of advice is the same as "if you're homeless just buy a home". Without my parents, I'd be homeless. The job pays a homeless wage.

I have no tangible skills outside of coding. Problem solving, critical thinking and all, I do, but that's not tangible, nor can I put that on a resume without being laughed at.

Even if those issues are resolved, I don't know why I want them to be. I've ruined my 20s by never having moved out. I have had no social life. I haven't gone out a day in my life for fun, as that costs money. I don't have a car, as that costs money. I get paid a homeless wage, and I'm "lower class" because of that.

I don't want to really spend money on anything. Not anymore. I've been too traumatized by 4 years of auto rejections to even open a job application, and I've been too traumatized by this economy to spend a dollar.

Life has worn me down into close to nothing.

Posted Jul 11, 2026, 8:54 PM UTC

10
Loading comments…