Quote from @Paul Gupta: Hi, in California, For jobs requiring a license, there was CSLB (contractor state licensing board) which would give either a General Contractor license, or specialty licenses by trade (~60 specialties such as concrete, welding tile, ) https://www.cslb.ca.gov/about_us/library/licensing_classific...My Q: does Maryland and DC area have similar requirements? 

Note, I speak of this as an immigrant household.To expand on #3; international trade is good.

Investing does need to be approached more like a business than just a simple stock trade.

I don't eat out a lot or go on fancy vacations (I do travel), I don't buy a new car every 4-5 years (I do keep it up, but my first car was ~20 years old when I traded it in this spring). 

If you want appreciation, identify markets with expanding industries, positive growth trends, and bright economic forecasts. 

Always curious how others weigh that trade-off.

I kind of traded my 20s for the freedom of not working that started at 41.

We have trades we use on jobs and know what they will charge which is often considerably less than what Joe Homeowner would pay for the same job . . . the trades know we will be using them again and again. 

I've done this so many times it is crazy, so speak with experience.Also in small towns trades can be tricky. 

Unless of course you are in the trades and need something like a work van.