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For one, they bought a deep freezer, which allowed them to buy in bulk and freeze meals that Colflesh cooked in large batches — a purchase he believes will save them money in the long run. They also grew some of their own produce in a vegetable garden and smoke-cured store-bought bacon at home to cut grocery costs. Additionally, the family decided to stop using one of their two vehicles and dropped the insurance on it — a choice that was feasible because Colflesh wasn’t commuting to work.
Colflesh added that YouTube videos helped him handle basic car maintenance himself, so he could save money on mechanic bills. And because he was home more, he was able to help care for his children, which reduced his family’s childcare expenses. Colflesh said taking these steps helped him feel less pressure during his job search.
A positive mindset helped him persevere
In 2015, when he was 34, Colflesh quit his job in the customer service industry to pursue a college degree, hoping it would help him with career growth. Six years later, he held an associate degree in physics from Holyoke Community College in Massachusetts and a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
But Colflesh said the additional education didn’t seem to help him much in the job market and saddled him with student loans. Despite applying to more than 100 jobs, he struggled to find work, he said, which led him to pause his search for a few months at a time.
Colflesh said he tried common job search strategies, such as tailoring his résumé and cover letter to each role, but nothing seemed to work. Then, last year, a friend referred him for a job at a tech company that would involve answering phones, scheduling, and triaging customer support tickets. He said the referral helped him land an interview, and by May 2024, he’d accepted a job offer.
“This isn’t really what I was looking for, but it’s far from the worst job I’ve had,” he said.
During his job search, Colflesh managed stress by hanging out with friends, engaging with his hobbies, and spending time with his family. While he felt discouraged at times, he did his best to retain a positive mindset, which he said was key to staying motivated.
“Staying positive has to be a choice the person makes,” he said. “Waiting for the situation to create positivity will likely cause you to feel unmotivated and upset. You keep moving forward because what other option is there?”
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Dan Colflesh, 43, found a job after going back to school and searching for four years. Dan Colflesh
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