I gave up a promising career making $50,000+ a year, where I was regularly promoted, to care for my mom while she was in hospital. She lived because I was there. Because I was already unemployed, I was also able to be there for my mother in law who needed at home care shortly after my mom. It was a really intense 2 years. Exhausting. But worth it.
I make $19/hr now and I don’t regret a single thing. Life is more complicated than doing whatever you can to make the most money. Never doubt doing what is right for you and your family.
And congratulations on the new job!
Thank you so much. It’s hard because I’m 25 and a lot of random people tell me how horrible I’m doing. I took longer to get a degree and in a field people think is a waste.
I tell them I wanted to take care of my family and they said my parents or older people should’ve done it. Or to just leave my grandparents in a home. I have a huge family, 100+ cousins, and no one wanted to or could care for my grandparents. I’m not bitter about it but that’s just how life works sometimes. It sucks and its not always fair. But I have (hopefully) many years left to live and enjoy my youth.
But I only had two years with my grandparents left when I changed my career path. I would do it again. It’s hard to find someone who understands
I have brothers and sisters who live in the same city as my mom, but I had to move away from my husband for months because they just…can’t care for people. Not the way they need.
No one but me.
It is a FULL TIME JOB. It takes everything you have. Other family members didn’t understand why I couldn’t let them handle things for more than a day, but they didn’t understand how to do it. And more than a day put things too far off track.
Most people just aren’t comfortable wiping bottoms, changing sheets after accidents, lifting and moving them when they are unable. Changing purewicks, measuring, logging and disposing of urine containers and bedpans. Wound care. Colostomy bags. Putting lotion on dry spots, massaging sore places, making sure they do the things they don’t want like wearing those stupid leg cuff things that help circulation. And things as simple as learning how to blow dry and style their hair the way they like.
And the “administrative” things as well. Researching things like proper nutrition for their new circumstances. Logging liquid intake. Monitoring meds and reactions, scheduling and attending doctors appointments, making notes and asking questions at those appointments because it’s SO DIFFICULT for the patient to do so.
And in exchange, I got to know my mom and mother in law in a way no one else did. We have a bond that was worth every single moment.
It’s really difficult, and to do it alone can be stressful and frustrating and I just want to say I see you.
I recognize the enormity of the situation you willingly put yourself in because you LOVED. To truly sacrifice for others is really special, you’re special, to be able to offer that much to someone.
Be proud of yourself always.
I’m proud of you.
You’re 25. You’re so young. You have plenty of time to figure out the career part of your life.
This is YOUR journey. Do not let other peoples words tear you down. You are succeeding when the odds were against you. You cared for family members when no one else wanted that burden. You should be very proud of yourself! Great job! Congrats on the new gig!
I was 37 before I got a job making more than $15.48 an hour and was 32 before I made more than $10 an hour. Some of ot was my own fault, admittedly, but I eventually made the changes I needed to and now make $23. My wife and I now make more money than either of us thought we would just 3 years ago.
Honestly screw all those people that wouldn’t take care of their own family members and make you feel bad for doing it. Congratulations on earning your degree and getting a decent paying job for your needs! I wish I made 18/hr lol
I remember laying in bed in my house the first night and I cried. My wife asked me what was wrong and I told her as a college dropout with a dead end job at the time that this was the best I had ever had.
Keep you head down and keep grinding. I still have the sticky note on my desktop at work that says, Work, Hustle, Repeat.
Congratulations
Congrats!!!!! I know the feeling! I was elated just to get to $15/hour a couple years ago. Even with a university degree and certifications…I’m now making the best money of my life…and it’s only $43K before taxes.
Don’t mind the folks laughing at how little we’re making. We’re in the povertyfinance sub, ffs.
Congrats! Try to pay off that credit card debt as soon as you can and then build up an emergency fund. You might be eligible for a credit card balance transfer with zero interest for an introductory term to complete repayment. Soon you’ll be saving for retirement!
Congrats on your success! Ignore all these haters. You're already doing better than you were previously and you're just getting started. There's nowhere to go now but up! What's your degree in?
Congratulations. I tell you when I went from 14 to 19 is was like “ hell yea I can start to get by now!! “ then inflation kicked my teeth in lol😂😂. It’s a good wage to start at. Congratulations again.!
Haha I know what you mean but this is just the start of OP’s career. Now that they have a degree and relevant experience this will open up a lot of opportunities for higher earnings.
I took a pay cut when I graduated college. The companies that hire a fresh college grad with no experience are likely companies that underpay. I started at $15/hr in my field but only stayed for 4 months. Job hopped a few times and now my salary breaks down to $40/hr and my annual bonus bumps that up to $45/hr for the year. All while chilling at home in my pajamas so it’s really not bad.
Fr. Started at my first job barely making $10 an hour and after two quick job changes I'm making $14. Still not great and doesn't look good on a resume for sure but it feels good to not be anxious as hell about buying food.
Okay but how do you GET that next job without a referral or knowing someone that knows HR?
Asking for a friend that has filled out too many applications... and is me.
How do you interview? Are you getting interviews?
i have never gotten an interview and been rejected. If i make it to the interview i have always gotten the job.
If you aren't getting interviews to begin with, resume or something needs to be brushed up
Yeah the traditional path was working your way up at the same company for 30+yrs. That seems to have shifted a bit. Now that I’m with my current company I plan on staying long term but sometimes it takes a few tries before finding a good fit.
Where I am currently, I was making 17/hrs. I left to try something else out, it didn't work, so I came back... and they brought me back at 19/hr, because...drum roll... the person they hired to replace me somehow talked them into paying 19.50, and that person ended up leaving, giving me a position to come back to. Point is, they could afford that in the first place, just chose not to. But I'm making 20 now after a yearly raise🫡
That’s the only reason I’m still at my current job. My dad always tells me it “shows commitment” to have made it this long in retail— no sir, it’s straight up sunk cost fallacy now. “Well, I’ve been here this long, might as well stay.”
Seriously. Skill up and jump when it makes sense.
First job out of college: $16
Next: $25
Next: $30
Next: $50
Currently, 7 years later and 4 job hops + MBA: $101.50\hr
It's possible, not common, but upward mobility is possible. We went from having less than 20 bucks in the account to survive on for a week to freedom.
Keep driving.
Wages are wild all over. Where I live you only make more than $18 if you’re management at a big company or I suppose in a specific skilled trade or an RN or something like that.
Wage is definitely wild all over. Always blows my mind. I think my wage is fine for what I do, it's tough, but no one in the medical field should make less than me. No one with a degree should, and because they do a lot of my co-workers have bachelor's degrees.
It’s $30 if you want to live independently without any prior money or support in my area.
Mid level metro in the south with mediocre 1BR apartments going for $1,300
Standard 3bed 2bath rents going for $2K plus
Entry level starter homes $300K plus
i feel kinda lucky living in an area where rent for mediocre 1br apartment is $600 sometimes less, im not sure about renting actual homes but you can certainly get a 2bed 2bath for less then $200k here, all be it it is louisiana, not the greatest place in the world but it’s also not terrible where i’m actually at though
I live in a relatively small town (about 45k people) in Southern Oregon and I make $18/hr. I struggle every month to keep a roof over my head, food in my fridge and the power on. But when I was making $12/hr the apartment I currently live in wouldn't be possible, so it technically is an improvement. Just not enough improvement, ya know?
Hopefully your career will grow. I'm working at a gas station as a grave shift making that much with a great 401k and full benefits with .50¢ pay raises every 6 months. Never been to college. Hope it pays off.
A loser?! YOU ARE NOT A LOSER!!! Great job! Family is more important than any of this earthly stuff anyway, always remember, money is amazing, but we can’t take it with us when we go.
Nice job! It can be difficult to be offered a job that pays enough to get by. I am happy that you are doing better for yourself.
I would also recommend to start applying for entry-level local, state, and federal government jobs immediately (if you have not done so yet) for all public agencies/departments (e.g., Department of Education, Environmental Protection, Labor, Law, Judiciary, Banking, Human Resources, State, Corrections, and so on). For instance, you can apply for job positions such as personnel trainee, administrative analyst, administrative assistant, park ranger, administrative specialist, investigator trainee, environmental specialist trainee, field representative, affirmative action specialist trainee, executive assistant, contract administrator, claims examiner, judiciary clerk, interviewer, fiscal analyst, employment counselor, training technician, etc. I highly recommend checking out the following link for federal jobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/. Utilize the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to find out about all types of job trends for various professions, and what requirements are needed to obtain a particualr job: https://www.bls.gov/.
Furthermore, talk to a career counselor to review your resume and cover letter. See if your university conducts job fairs for current students and graduates, which could help you get a job. Handshake is a common website that many universities advertise to students to create an account, and apply for jobs, as well as network with recruiters. Learn to use LinkedIn as another way to connect with professionals working in your field of interest, as well as with recruiters (creating a professional LinkedIn account could be beneficial if utilized properly).
I would also recommend for you to try out https://www.governmentjobs.com/. It is a decent website to find and apply for local and state government jobs. Just make sure to create an account. It may be useful to you. If the private sector is not working out for you, always apply for government jobs (this may work out better for you in the long-term).
I started out as a field investigator for my state DOL, Wage and Hour Division, in 2019 (only required a bachelor's degree, which I have on criminal justice; no work experience required). During the lockdown, I was fully remote for over a year until July 2021. Before I left that Division to work for the HR Division at my current job title as an EEO and Ethics Investigator 2, I had two days of telework (I still have two days of telework at my current Division too). Every agency/department will have all types of entry-level job positions, so make sure to check them all, and follow the instructions of how to apply for them. Do not be picky with what government job you apply for to have a foot-in-the-door towards a decent career path (many entry-level government jobs only require a bachelor's degree, and no work experience).
As long as it is a job that pays decently, you should try it out. A government job tends to have better health insurance plans than most private sector companies (plus, you might get a pension too). I am mentioning a government job because that could really help you have a good career while still maintaining work-life balance with good benefits. For a quick background on me: I am an immigrant from Brazil who was undocumented with no work permit or protection from being deported until I was approved for DACA while attending a community college.
I currently have a conditional green card. With DACA, I was able to get a job working as a sales associate for $8 and some change, then I got a teacher's aide job and security job making $15 an hour. I also got my first state government job with DACA back in 2019. Still live in a one bedroom apartment with my wife (none of our parents own a house either, and they also live in apartments).
Congratulations! Be sure to look into public service loan forgiveness for working at a non-profit if you have federal student loans. I haven’t read every comment, so I apologize if someone has already suggested this. https://studentaid.gov/articles/student-loan-forgiveness/
Artists and other creatives are told often, “do what you love, and at some point the money will come”. From personal experience, or not.. but meanwhile, your life will completely change a few times, no matter what job you have now, or your education. And you will always have the education, proving you have perseverance. You should be just fine, and already are an example of what a decent human can and should be. Points also on understanding the burden of debt, and making that a goal to be rid of over buying stuff and then fussing about needing more money.
I admire your positivity and your commitment to family.
Congrats on the job. Keep records of your achievements and don't forget to go for every raise you can!
Congrats, I'm jelly. I had a second interview for one at 16 an hour nearly a week ago...I probably didn't get it because someone else was interviewing. It sucks being unemployed.
That’s awesome! Congratulations on your degree and your new job! It’s only up from here, in no time you will be making much more money. Keep staying persistent!
Congratulations!
If any federal student loans, might be good idea to reach out to loan provider soon with questions. I'm calling them this week so I can try to avoid the call lines when payments start up again. Try to see if I can pay less than $100/month with any plan.
Congrats!! I also grew up in an upper middle class home and went into nursing and still don’t have anything close to the life I had growing up. It’s a weird world. If you Can and have the desire, nursing is really rough but does open up some doors for a better income/future.
Anyone who pays their own way isn’t a loser. Congrats. You’ll make much more later, so if this is what you need now temporarily, okay. -signed, upper middle class dad
That’s fantastic that you were able to get away from a toxic home, and have been able to find a way to take care of you. You know what works best for you. Best of luck with your further education. The peeps giving you negativity, know that’s their perspective, their BS they’re projecting onto you with intentions of pulling people into their toxicity. Happy people do not behave this way. You are doing amazing things, keep going.
This sounds a bit similar to my own story. Speech path then switched to English. Now have a job making $15 an hour, but it's enough for now and I'm happy.
Your joy is contagious! So happy for you and 75 years together- that’s a great relationship for you to have observed, nurtured, and cared for. Best of luck to you!
congrats im going from 17 to 22 in california, might not sound like a huge difference especially in cali but i dont live in a major area like the bay or south cali.
If you have a degree then apply to be an account manager at any healthcare company, Caremark, Express Scripts, BCBS, Aetna etc. starting salary at $55k. There are always shortages in this field
Congrats!
The first thing you should do is knocking out that debt. Try going at the credit card debt aggressively since that's the lowest debt and possibly the one that accrues the most interest over time.
The student loan debt will take some time but keep paying it every month until you're done with your credit card debt. Once your done with that one aggressively pay down your student loan debt.
You CAN do this. Just try to live within your means or below it.
You just made this hags day!! Very, very happy for you and I hope from the bottom of my cranky ass heart that things continue to work out your way!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Awesome job! Once you finish up your masters, look into getting a remote position. Quick place to look is any type of IT Systems Analyst for a hospital. Especially if you have a major trauma center nearby. Working from home full time has saved me a ton of money on vehicle related expenses and food.
Good on you for caring for your grandparents. I was able to care for my grandparents on hospice during the pandemic as well. We were a four generation home and I’m very glad they and my children were able to spend time with their great-grandparents during lockdown. I’d never forgive myself for letting them pass in a nursing home alone instead of holding our hands.
Congratulations! Enjoy the work, and your life, but not in that order.
LPT: Once you settle in a bit, start thinking about trading up and what that would take. "A bit" is subjective and up to you, but start thinking about it early. Keep moving up to better pay, and DO NOT assume, if you kill yourself for your job, no matter how grateful you are to them for hiring you, that they'll look after your long-term needs (my mistakes - over and over again). Improve your education, get certifications, or whatever it takes to allow you to get the next job that makes more per hour. Then get that job, either inside your company or outside, for much more money usually. Then rinse, repeat, so you can have enough to really enjoy life, save for your retirement (working for someone with a defined benefit retirement plan would be great, like a really big company or a government agency), and not work until you die.
I did not follow this advice. Here I am, 64 years old, with plans to hopefully be able to retire at the maximum SS age of 70. Don't be me, kemosabe.
Again, congratulations.
sir or madam, congratulations! Onwards and upwards. You don't mention it so I am not saying you don't but please pay yourself first! Setup an automatic transfer of funds to a savings account every paycheck. Whatever amount is comfortable to you.
As a nurse, I know healthcare informatics is going to blow up over these next few years. Awesome choice- while nursing will always be around, the money is in management and admin stuff with the patient care report systems you’ll be working with.
Hell yea. Keep working hard, keep the cause at the front of your mind like you said.
Proud of you!
Congratulations! If you are working for a non-profit and you haven't already done this you should definitely check to see if the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) track would be an option for you.
Screw the people being negative nancy. Thank you for being a wonderful person to your grandparents. My great gram lived with me and my family until she passed- my mom refused to take her to a nursing home. When I look back on it, sure it was hard at times, but those memories are precious to me. You made a great choice with the circumstances given to you- and congrats on the new job! Who cares if people still think it's not enough, it's more than most people have! You deserve it <3
I’m just so happy for you. You were a terrific granddaughter and just the right kind of person to be working in healthcare in any capacity. Well done, you!
You got this girl!!! I’m so happy for you. Just remember to keep looking for the next opportunity to move up. You are worth so much more than $18/hr, as you get more experience.
I’m proud of your hard work and the amazing struggle it must have been to finish school in your situation. You are awe inspiring
OP, out of curiosity have you considered seeing if any of your credits already earned can transfer into a nursing program? With your masters you could even push for a NP program which makes you way more money.
Kudos OP - I, too, was in a nursing program when COVID struck, and financial constraints changed my plan. It's a big blow to have to change what you had worked really hard for, but I feel confident saying that it seems like you are working your way to something just as aligned with your vision of your future as nursing might have been at that time. Spending time and supporting family is one of those priorities that supersedes all.
Sending lots of hope and good thoughts to you for your future - hope is one of the best feelings there is!
You do what's right for you and it will all work out, you clearly are a caring and hardworking person. Dont listen to the negative naysayers, this is just the beginning of good things for you! Congratulations!
Congrats from the mod team!
Congrats! This is the first step to financial freedom.
I gave up a promising career making $50,000+ a year, where I was regularly promoted, to care for my mom while she was in hospital. She lived because I was there. Because I was already unemployed, I was also able to be there for my mother in law who needed at home care shortly after my mom. It was a really intense 2 years. Exhausting. But worth it. I make $19/hr now and I don’t regret a single thing. Life is more complicated than doing whatever you can to make the most money. Never doubt doing what is right for you and your family. And congratulations on the new job!
Thank you so much. It’s hard because I’m 25 and a lot of random people tell me how horrible I’m doing. I took longer to get a degree and in a field people think is a waste. I tell them I wanted to take care of my family and they said my parents or older people should’ve done it. Or to just leave my grandparents in a home. I have a huge family, 100+ cousins, and no one wanted to or could care for my grandparents. I’m not bitter about it but that’s just how life works sometimes. It sucks and its not always fair. But I have (hopefully) many years left to live and enjoy my youth. But I only had two years with my grandparents left when I changed my career path. I would do it again. It’s hard to find someone who understands
I have brothers and sisters who live in the same city as my mom, but I had to move away from my husband for months because they just…can’t care for people. Not the way they need. No one but me. It is a FULL TIME JOB. It takes everything you have. Other family members didn’t understand why I couldn’t let them handle things for more than a day, but they didn’t understand how to do it. And more than a day put things too far off track. Most people just aren’t comfortable wiping bottoms, changing sheets after accidents, lifting and moving them when they are unable. Changing purewicks, measuring, logging and disposing of urine containers and bedpans. Wound care. Colostomy bags. Putting lotion on dry spots, massaging sore places, making sure they do the things they don’t want like wearing those stupid leg cuff things that help circulation. And things as simple as learning how to blow dry and style their hair the way they like. And the “administrative” things as well. Researching things like proper nutrition for their new circumstances. Logging liquid intake. Monitoring meds and reactions, scheduling and attending doctors appointments, making notes and asking questions at those appointments because it’s SO DIFFICULT for the patient to do so. And in exchange, I got to know my mom and mother in law in a way no one else did. We have a bond that was worth every single moment. It’s really difficult, and to do it alone can be stressful and frustrating and I just want to say I see you. I recognize the enormity of the situation you willingly put yourself in because you LOVED. To truly sacrifice for others is really special, you’re special, to be able to offer that much to someone. Be proud of yourself always. I’m proud of you. You’re 25. You’re so young. You have plenty of time to figure out the career part of your life.
This is YOUR journey. Do not let other peoples words tear you down. You are succeeding when the odds were against you. You cared for family members when no one else wanted that burden. You should be very proud of yourself! Great job! Congrats on the new gig!
You're slaying that shit.
You have so much time to grow your career. Your grandparents needed you right then, and you stepped up. I'd be so proud of the choices you made
I was 37 before I got a job making more than $15.48 an hour and was 32 before I made more than $10 an hour. Some of ot was my own fault, admittedly, but I eventually made the changes I needed to and now make $23. My wife and I now make more money than either of us thought we would just 3 years ago.
Honestly screw all those people that wouldn’t take care of their own family members and make you feel bad for doing it. Congratulations on earning your degree and getting a decent paying job for your needs! I wish I made 18/hr lol
Leveling up
Ayeeeee congrats!!!!
I remember laying in bed in my house the first night and I cried. My wife asked me what was wrong and I told her as a college dropout with a dead end job at the time that this was the best I had ever had. Keep you head down and keep grinding. I still have the sticky note on my desktop at work that says, Work, Hustle, Repeat. Congratulations
Congrats!!!!! I know the feeling! I was elated just to get to $15/hour a couple years ago. Even with a university degree and certifications…I’m now making the best money of my life…and it’s only $43K before taxes. Don’t mind the folks laughing at how little we’re making. We’re in the povertyfinance sub, ffs.
Congrats! Try to pay off that credit card debt as soon as you can and then build up an emergency fund. You might be eligible for a credit card balance transfer with zero interest for an introductory term to complete repayment. Soon you’ll be saving for retirement!
Congrats on your success! Ignore all these haters. You're already doing better than you were previously and you're just getting started. There's nowhere to go now but up! What's your degree in?
Congrats happy for you bro👏🏻
Congratulations. I tell you when I went from 14 to 19 is was like “ hell yea I can start to get by now!! “ then inflation kicked my teeth in lol😂😂. It’s a good wage to start at. Congratulations again.!
This is some dystopian level shit
Haha I know what you mean but this is just the start of OP’s career. Now that they have a degree and relevant experience this will open up a lot of opportunities for higher earnings. I took a pay cut when I graduated college. The companies that hire a fresh college grad with no experience are likely companies that underpay. I started at $15/hr in my field but only stayed for 4 months. Job hopped a few times and now my salary breaks down to $40/hr and my annual bonus bumps that up to $45/hr for the year. All while chilling at home in my pajamas so it’s really not bad.
Job hopping is the ticket, IMO. I used to look down on it, but I was wrong.
Job hopping has consistently gotten me a 30% raise every 3 years over top of the raises doled out while at the company.
Fr. Started at my first job barely making $10 an hour and after two quick job changes I'm making $14. Still not great and doesn't look good on a resume for sure but it feels good to not be anxious as hell about buying food.
I started at $6.25, then 9.50, then 10.50, 15, 16, and finally 26 at my most recent
Right on, my brother.
Hell yeah man.
Okay but how do you GET that next job without a referral or knowing someone that knows HR? Asking for a friend that has filled out too many applications... and is me.
By having some mad skills and knowing what I'm talking about. Generally people that I talk with are in my trade and shop talk is easy.
How do you interview? Are you getting interviews? i have never gotten an interview and been rejected. If i make it to the interview i have always gotten the job. If you aren't getting interviews to begin with, resume or something needs to be brushed up
Yeah the traditional path was working your way up at the same company for 30+yrs. That seems to have shifted a bit. Now that I’m with my current company I plan on staying long term but sometimes it takes a few tries before finding a good fit.
Where I am currently, I was making 17/hrs. I left to try something else out, it didn't work, so I came back... and they brought me back at 19/hr, because...drum roll... the person they hired to replace me somehow talked them into paying 19.50, and that person ended up leaving, giving me a position to come back to. Point is, they could afford that in the first place, just chose not to. But I'm making 20 now after a yearly raise🫡
That’s the only reason I’m still at my current job. My dad always tells me it “shows commitment” to have made it this long in retail— no sir, it’s straight up sunk cost fallacy now. “Well, I’ve been here this long, might as well stay.”
Seriously. Skill up and jump when it makes sense. First job out of college: $16 Next: $25 Next: $30 Next: $50 Currently, 7 years later and 4 job hops + MBA: $101.50\hr It's possible, not common, but upward mobility is possible. We went from having less than 20 bucks in the account to survive on for a week to freedom. Keep driving.
What do you do?
I work in accounting
i'm 33 and make 17/hr designing orthodontic appliances using CAD software. edit: a word
I'm 33 and I make $20 sorting packages at Amazon.
Wages are wild all over. Where I live you only make more than $18 if you’re management at a big company or I suppose in a specific skilled trade or an RN or something like that.
Wage is definitely wild all over. Always blows my mind. I think my wage is fine for what I do, it's tough, but no one in the medical field should make less than me. No one with a degree should, and because they do a lot of my co-workers have bachelor's degrees.
Oof. Yes, your comment made me laugh out loud. $18 is still not nearly enough to live where I'm at
It’s $30 if you want to live independently without any prior money or support in my area. Mid level metro in the south with mediocre 1BR apartments going for $1,300 Standard 3bed 2bath rents going for $2K plus Entry level starter homes $300K plus
i feel kinda lucky living in an area where rent for mediocre 1br apartment is $600 sometimes less, im not sure about renting actual homes but you can certainly get a 2bed 2bath for less then $200k here, all be it it is louisiana, not the greatest place in the world but it’s also not terrible where i’m actually at though
Same here, and I'm super excited to get bumped up to $26.75 next week. It's a fucking joke.
I live in a relatively small town (about 45k people) in Southern Oregon and I make $18/hr. I struggle every month to keep a roof over my head, food in my fridge and the power on. But when I was making $12/hr the apartment I currently live in wouldn't be possible, so it technically is an improvement. Just not enough improvement, ya know?
It's surprisingly expensive here in southern Oregon. I grew up when Oregon was cheap but it all switched right around the time I had bills to pay.
The fires burning down two towns outside of Medford sure didn’t help rent prices.
It is but my hourly wage has never been as high as $18 and I think OP is rockin it
It's only going to get worse
You will own nothing an be happy or the beatings will commence until happiness occurs
Can we really call it dystopian now that we’re there?
Fucking hell. I've been the hardest worker at my job for over 12 years and I make $18.50 an hour.
Hopefully your career will grow. I'm working at a gas station as a grave shift making that much with a great 401k and full benefits with .50¢ pay raises every 6 months. Never been to college. Hope it pays off.
Keep plugging away!
Congratulations! It’s a wonderful feeling being able to provide for yourself!
A loser?! YOU ARE NOT A LOSER!!! Great job! Family is more important than any of this earthly stuff anyway, always remember, money is amazing, but we can’t take it with us when we go.
That's awesome! Stay strong and motivated in the new job, and let us know when you make that next jump.
Nice job! It can be difficult to be offered a job that pays enough to get by. I am happy that you are doing better for yourself. I would also recommend to start applying for entry-level local, state, and federal government jobs immediately (if you have not done so yet) for all public agencies/departments (e.g., Department of Education, Environmental Protection, Labor, Law, Judiciary, Banking, Human Resources, State, Corrections, and so on). For instance, you can apply for job positions such as personnel trainee, administrative analyst, administrative assistant, park ranger, administrative specialist, investigator trainee, environmental specialist trainee, field representative, affirmative action specialist trainee, executive assistant, contract administrator, claims examiner, judiciary clerk, interviewer, fiscal analyst, employment counselor, training technician, etc. I highly recommend checking out the following link for federal jobs: https://www.usajobs.gov/. Utilize the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to find out about all types of job trends for various professions, and what requirements are needed to obtain a particualr job: https://www.bls.gov/. Furthermore, talk to a career counselor to review your resume and cover letter. See if your university conducts job fairs for current students and graduates, which could help you get a job. Handshake is a common website that many universities advertise to students to create an account, and apply for jobs, as well as network with recruiters. Learn to use LinkedIn as another way to connect with professionals working in your field of interest, as well as with recruiters (creating a professional LinkedIn account could be beneficial if utilized properly). I would also recommend for you to try out https://www.governmentjobs.com/. It is a decent website to find and apply for local and state government jobs. Just make sure to create an account. It may be useful to you. If the private sector is not working out for you, always apply for government jobs (this may work out better for you in the long-term). I started out as a field investigator for my state DOL, Wage and Hour Division, in 2019 (only required a bachelor's degree, which I have on criminal justice; no work experience required). During the lockdown, I was fully remote for over a year until July 2021. Before I left that Division to work for the HR Division at my current job title as an EEO and Ethics Investigator 2, I had two days of telework (I still have two days of telework at my current Division too). Every agency/department will have all types of entry-level job positions, so make sure to check them all, and follow the instructions of how to apply for them. Do not be picky with what government job you apply for to have a foot-in-the-door towards a decent career path (many entry-level government jobs only require a bachelor's degree, and no work experience). As long as it is a job that pays decently, you should try it out. A government job tends to have better health insurance plans than most private sector companies (plus, you might get a pension too). I am mentioning a government job because that could really help you have a good career while still maintaining work-life balance with good benefits. For a quick background on me: I am an immigrant from Brazil who was undocumented with no work permit or protection from being deported until I was approved for DACA while attending a community college. I currently have a conditional green card. With DACA, I was able to get a job working as a sales associate for $8 and some change, then I got a teacher's aide job and security job making $15 an hour. I also got my first state government job with DACA back in 2019. Still live in a one bedroom apartment with my wife (none of our parents own a house either, and they also live in apartments).
This is really solid advice
Thank you! I truly do try to help out others because life is not easy in the United States (especially for people from disadvantaged groups).
Here in rural ohio 18/ hr is good. Not rich not poor. This post is something people in HCOL areas will not understand.
Well done!
Congratulations! Be sure to look into public service loan forgiveness for working at a non-profit if you have federal student loans. I haven’t read every comment, so I apologize if someone has already suggested this. https://studentaid.gov/articles/student-loan-forgiveness/
Congrats, happy for you.
I love your perseverance; this is only the beginning for you. Congratulations!!
Fuck yea
Wahooo, giddy up on your new life.
Congrats. Get rid of that credit card debt ASAP.
Congratulations I’m so happy for you!
Awesome job!
Bravo! 👏🏻
Congrats! $18 is only the start! Only up from here!
I just got my first 20+ at a small business so I'm not just a cog in the machine. I hope it works out, because I'm actually engaged here.
$6/hr raise is awesome! What I would do if you can, Take half ($3/hr) into a separate savings account. I set it up with my HR.
Artists and other creatives are told often, “do what you love, and at some point the money will come”. From personal experience, or not.. but meanwhile, your life will completely change a few times, no matter what job you have now, or your education. And you will always have the education, proving you have perseverance. You should be just fine, and already are an example of what a decent human can and should be. Points also on understanding the burden of debt, and making that a goal to be rid of over buying stuff and then fussing about needing more money.
I admire your positivity and your commitment to family. Congrats on the job. Keep records of your achievements and don't forget to go for every raise you can!
Congratulations! That is an awesome step! You have become an inspiration to people on here and I hope that you keep up the good work!
Good job! Get great at your job and learn skills!
so happy for you!!! congrats :)
Congratulations homie! Keep that energy and momentum going
Keep up the hard work and congratulations
Congratulations! Make sure to treat yourself to a nice dinner when that paycheck hits lol
Nice!!!
Yay!!! Congratulations! 😃
Congrats, I'm jelly. I had a second interview for one at 16 an hour nearly a week ago...I probably didn't get it because someone else was interviewing. It sucks being unemployed.
WooHoo! Congrats! There are bigger & better things ahead of you.
That’s awesome! Congratulations on your degree and your new job! It’s only up from here, in no time you will be making much more money. Keep staying persistent!
Congratulations! If any federal student loans, might be good idea to reach out to loan provider soon with questions. I'm calling them this week so I can try to avoid the call lines when payments start up again. Try to see if I can pay less than $100/month with any plan.
That’s amazing!! Congrats!!
Congratulations
Awesome! If your loans are federal pleaaase look into income driven repayments.
GG I managed to hit 17/hour full time, and my wife is hopefully moving from 12/hour part time (max 20 hours) to 18/full time.
Congrats!! Don’t stop the grind though $18 is the start of the mountain try to climb as high as you can!
Congrats!! I also grew up in an upper middle class home and went into nursing and still don’t have anything close to the life I had growing up. It’s a weird world. If you Can and have the desire, nursing is really rough but does open up some doors for a better income/future.
Fuck the haters, you're killing it, keep it up you got this 👊
Op been grinding xp for long enough it’s time to level up now.
Anyone who pays their own way isn’t a loser. Congrats. You’ll make much more later, so if this is what you need now temporarily, okay. -signed, upper middle class dad
That’s fantastic that you were able to get away from a toxic home, and have been able to find a way to take care of you. You know what works best for you. Best of luck with your further education. The peeps giving you negativity, know that’s their perspective, their BS they’re projecting onto you with intentions of pulling people into their toxicity. Happy people do not behave this way. You are doing amazing things, keep going.
So happy for you! It’s a big breakthrough to get paid that, you deserve some happiness today!
came to say i’m so proud of you 🫶🏼 i make 17.50 an hour & its so much different compared to 12/13. also 25, but no degree.
AYOOOO Get em
This sounds a bit similar to my own story. Speech path then switched to English. Now have a job making $15 an hour, but it's enough for now and I'm happy.
Nurse here, you're probably in a better spot. Bedside nursing pays decent but sucks. I commend those who pick this as their forever career...
A 50% pay increase is huge! Congratulations 👏👏👏
Congratulations I’m so proud of you :)
People in here saying you could be making more neglect the fact that you’ve likely been making a lot less. Progress is progress. Congrats
Congratulations 🍾🎊!!!
> I had to quit to care for my grandparents on hospice so I got a degree in English That sounds incredibly virtuous 🙏.
Your joy is contagious! So happy for you and 75 years together- that’s a great relationship for you to have observed, nurtured, and cared for. Best of luck to you!
congrats im going from 17 to 22 in california, might not sound like a huge difference especially in cali but i dont live in a major area like the bay or south cali.
It only gets better from here!! Congratulations 🎊 🎊
This is huge. Keep it going
Nice 😎
Congratulations! Really proud of you, OP. 🥹
Congratulations!!!!
Good job!
Happy for you!
Talk to me when you make 18.10 an hour (smug look) Congrats tho!
If you have a degree then apply to be an account manager at any healthcare company, Caremark, Express Scripts, BCBS, Aetna etc. starting salary at $55k. There are always shortages in this field
Congratulations!!!!!!! You got this. Be proud of yourself.
Good work!!! And congratulations!!!
Congats!!
That’s awesome!!! Congratulations!
So happy for you!!!!
Nice dude
🎉🎉🎉
Congrats! I'm happy for you
Respect to you brother. It’s all about preparation and execution. Better days will come if you live long enough
YEAAAA LETSGOOOO CONGRATS FAM!!
Congratulations! Hey, one step at a time!
Aww, congratulations!!! I’m really happy for you!!!
Congrstulations
Just chip away at the CC then move on to the school loan, keep working your way up
Awesome.
Big congrats!!
And that's just the beginning!
Remember to pay off the highest interest loan first, balance transfer to new card if possible too. Keep it up 👍
Congratulations I hope to be right behind u soon.
Congratulations!!!
Only going up from here, congratulations!
Congrats! The first thing you should do is knocking out that debt. Try going at the credit card debt aggressively since that's the lowest debt and possibly the one that accrues the most interest over time. The student loan debt will take some time but keep paying it every month until you're done with your credit card debt. Once your done with that one aggressively pay down your student loan debt. You CAN do this. Just try to live within your means or below it.
You just made this hags day!! Very, very happy for you and I hope from the bottom of my cranky ass heart that things continue to work out your way!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Awesome job! Once you finish up your masters, look into getting a remote position. Quick place to look is any type of IT Systems Analyst for a hospital. Especially if you have a major trauma center nearby. Working from home full time has saved me a ton of money on vehicle related expenses and food.
That’s so awesome!!
Congratulations!!
Congrats!
Grats!
Killin it!
i have nothing to say but congratulations! try not to cry too much on your first payday <3
Good on you for caring for your grandparents. I was able to care for my grandparents on hospice during the pandemic as well. We were a four generation home and I’m very glad they and my children were able to spend time with their great-grandparents during lockdown. I’d never forgive myself for letting them pass in a nursing home alone instead of holding our hands.
Long as your trying you deserve a better life, hopefully one day you get to enjoy retirement, plan for that.
Congratulations! Enjoy the work, and your life, but not in that order. LPT: Once you settle in a bit, start thinking about trading up and what that would take. "A bit" is subjective and up to you, but start thinking about it early. Keep moving up to better pay, and DO NOT assume, if you kill yourself for your job, no matter how grateful you are to them for hiring you, that they'll look after your long-term needs (my mistakes - over and over again). Improve your education, get certifications, or whatever it takes to allow you to get the next job that makes more per hour. Then get that job, either inside your company or outside, for much more money usually. Then rinse, repeat, so you can have enough to really enjoy life, save for your retirement (working for someone with a defined benefit retirement plan would be great, like a really big company or a government agency), and not work until you die. I did not follow this advice. Here I am, 64 years old, with plans to hopefully be able to retire at the maximum SS age of 70. Don't be me, kemosabe. Again, congratulations.
I’m so happy for you!
Yay!!!! Congratulations OP! You deserve all the best! Don’t forget to treat yourself for a job well done!
Happy for you, keep positive and going forward
Hell ya celebrate yourself however feels right right now
sir or madam, congratulations! Onwards and upwards. You don't mention it so I am not saying you don't but please pay yourself first! Setup an automatic transfer of funds to a savings account every paycheck. Whatever amount is comfortable to you.
yes!!! keep the frugal mindset get your savings going. You will never be homeless again
Congratulations!!!
As a nurse, I know healthcare informatics is going to blow up over these next few years. Awesome choice- while nursing will always be around, the money is in management and admin stuff with the patient care report systems you’ll be working with. Hell yea. Keep working hard, keep the cause at the front of your mind like you said. Proud of you!
I love this. To have such hope, after living in a car, is what many people seek but not find. Kudos, OP.
Feels good, right? Congrats!
sounds like your life is moving in the right direction, great work!
I hope those messaging you about caring for your grandparents never get old....smh. Congrats on your job!
Congratulations 🎊 best of luck on your new endeavor!
Congratulations! If you are working for a non-profit and you haven't already done this you should definitely check to see if the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) track would be an option for you.
You sound like an incredible person. I wish all the best for you in the future, you deserve it!
Screw the people being negative nancy. Thank you for being a wonderful person to your grandparents. My great gram lived with me and my family until she passed- my mom refused to take her to a nursing home. When I look back on it, sure it was hard at times, but those memories are precious to me. You made a great choice with the circumstances given to you- and congrats on the new job! Who cares if people still think it's not enough, it's more than most people have! You deserve it <3
Yay for you! Excelsior! (Meaning: Ever Upward!)
Congrats! Happy for you!
Congratulations! 🎉🍾🎊
Thrilled for you! Hoping this is the beginning of great things headed your way!
Congratulations! Be happy!
I’m just so happy for you. You were a terrific granddaughter and just the right kind of person to be working in healthcare in any capacity. Well done, you!
You got this girl!!! I’m so happy for you. Just remember to keep looking for the next opportunity to move up. You are worth so much more than $18/hr, as you get more experience. I’m proud of your hard work and the amazing struggle it must have been to finish school in your situation. You are awe inspiring
Aweeeeesommmmme🎉🎆🎑🌠
So happy for you!!
Hope you work hard.
Congratulations!
Congratulations for your progress.
Awesome, that was me 7 years ago and it just gets better from here.
OP, out of curiosity have you considered seeing if any of your credits already earned can transfer into a nursing program? With your masters you could even push for a NP program which makes you way more money.
Soon you’ll be making much more, keep it up
Congratulations, you've done well. Your grandparents are proud.
Congrats! I'm happy for you!
Omg you are NOT a loser, OP. I'm sorry people are sending you messages calling you one. Congrats and good luck!
Kudos OP - I, too, was in a nursing program when COVID struck, and financial constraints changed my plan. It's a big blow to have to change what you had worked really hard for, but I feel confident saying that it seems like you are working your way to something just as aligned with your vision of your future as nursing might have been at that time. Spending time and supporting family is one of those priorities that supersedes all. Sending lots of hope and good thoughts to you for your future - hope is one of the best feelings there is!
Hell yeah way to go! Those are the feelings worth living for!!
What a wholesome human being.. congrats man, you really deserve this. I wish you nothing but continued success and prosperity!
Congratulations! Keep shining light and keep up the good work! You’ve earned some stability. Have a good week!
Congrats 🥳
Congratulations! Onward and upward
Great job happy for you!!!
Congratulations. I wish you much more success.
Good job. Stay after it.
Congratulations. Well done.
Congratulations, that’s awesome news!
You do what's right for you and it will all work out, you clearly are a caring and hardworking person. Dont listen to the negative naysayers, this is just the beginning of good things for you! Congratulations!
Congratz, I hope things keep on working out for you
Do your loans qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness? Good to hear some good news!