Getting Out of My Day Job

[Account Closed]

I am currently in a Job that I do not really enjoy. It does not challenge me or bring me any sense of achievement. It is a good job with good coworkers. Pay is fair with opporutiny for advancement, although very incremental. Most people in good positions have been there over 20 years. The only thing making me questioning staying is that it is an ESOP(Employee Stock owenership Plan). And its a good esop. This being my first year I did not know what to expect, but today I found out it will be over $6000 per year into my retirement. And the contribution is based on my pay. The problem is that I need money now. THe retirement is great, but my student loans are eating me alive today and I can not afford to go on vacation or do anything remotely exciting. My  wife enjoys the stability of a steady paycheck although it is steadily not enough(in todays world I believe stable job is an illusion). I have been planning to get my license this winter and still plan to do so but getting the news about my ESOP has me second guessing myself. I really want to be in a career where my income depends on me. Working my *** off is not an issue. I understand that unpleasant truths about getting into real estate. Just wanting some feed back to my particular situation. Here are a few numbers. If you added my Total income, my bonuses, and the ESOP it wouldnt come to $40,000. I know I am worth more than that. I know I am capable of more.