I had naive dreams of going for an airline seat when I first started (in my mid-30s!), but after the reality check, my plan is now to slowly accumulate ratings so that I can perhaps instruct after I retire. Primary instruction, advanced ratings, maybe even type instruction in heavies. I've heard that airlines often use CFIs who are not necessarily line pilots; they mostly teach in sims but are checked out in the real thing and occasionally do check rides. ..  there's not a hell of a lot of competition for such work, and they're not subject to a lot of the limitations put on line pilots. That'd be a nice way to pad out the  little money I will have, even if it doesn't pay much.
Assuming inflation doesn't completely run away or the US dollar or US gov't doesn't cease to exist in the next 20 years, I figure I'll need at least a million to survive until I drop dead... sobering thought when I think of how little I have squirreled away. If I go for part-time instructing, it may not be enough.... I'll be  sleeping on park benches and eating out of dumpsters (I'll have to spend all my money on cab fare and clean shirts), but I'll be happy if I can get paid to fly... beats sitting around some crappy condo in Florida waiting to die.

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You are definitely not the kind of CFI I'd like to have

Drake dont take this the wrong way because i think your a sharp guy but i just want to illustrate a minor point about saying "real job"

What would you consider to be a real job? Im sure there are a lot of flight professional instructors out there who have quite a wide spread student base and great professional reputation who love what they do and make a fair wage at it who would argue with the "real job" comment.

not that i really took it as a snub. But you have to be careful who you say "real job" around.

After going into the FBO and unlocking the doors at 6:00 in the morning after a 30 minute commute. getting the class room ready, mentally preparing for the 8:00 - 9:30am ground school group, then spending 7 or 8 sweat soaked hours down low in the turbulence, getting puked on, only to wolf down a can of soup and a pepsi on your 20 minute lunch brake during which you have to occasionally give help to a student who is planning a cross country then having to changing your instructional technique 3 times on one student who just cant seem to understand a VOR navigation (because you seriously want to help him out), then just when your day is finished with the last student you fuel up the airplane, park it in the hangar, head into the flight school to lock up to go home and FINALLY - - -

the radio crackles with an inbound aircraft calling for an airport advisory - its an old student you passed 2 years ago out for a late evening flight and then they recognize your voice and say...

"Oh hey man whats up? your still here? i thought you were headed out to a REAL JOB?"

when that happens just sigh and think of something polite to say before you press the mic button

Sorry Ritter, I guess I wasnt thinking when I said that. I think it may have something to do with my flight school because most of the instructors are interns who are there building time and applying for other jobs. Its like these guys were sitting in a class with you last quarter and in one or two more quarters they will be gone, off to god knows where. The uper staff instructors dont instruct much, they do stage checks and a mountain of paperwork. The staff guys may or may not teach you, so it makes the whole thing seem really temporary. I suppose when I think outside my airport instructing is a real perminant job but here its kinda not.

Anyway, sorry to the full time instructors.

Who wants a real job anyway?

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Not me... I'm only in my current position  for the money, and the naive fools actually think I know what I'm doing...

The cost of flying is a problem for me too. I really want to be a flight istructor, but I dont know how I'm going to pay for a ppl course and other ratings. I suppose I will just have to take the same road as many others here and take lessons when i can afford it and be utterly broke all the time.

A somewhat unhappy Vulcan1.

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If you're thinking of flying in the RAF, than you'll be in for at least 12 - it's not something you can pick and choose over I'm afraid...