What are some of the best practical advice that you received?

Don’t cheap out on anything that separates you from the ground.

Shoes, tires, mattress, etc.

Someone pointed me at a book called "Discover What You Are Best At" by Linda Gail.

It's a series of self tests you can knock off in an afternoon. Then you compare the results with a list of jobs using the skills you have. For example, both a hair stylist and a paramedic need good people skills and good dexterity. Two wildly different jobs with the same skill set.

I ended up with a job I actually enjoyed going to.