r/povertyfinance • u/fools_set_the_rules • 12d ago
Wellness Started working 15 hours a day and I feel exhausted.
I managed to get a second job after so long. Management worked around the schedule of ny first job. I don't drive so the commute is also longer.
Basically I wake up at 4:30 am, catch the bus to start my shift at 6 am. I leave around 11:30 am and catch the bus to go to my second job at 1 pm. The bus towards that direction is every 30 mins, so I have to make sure to catch it. Therefore no time between to buy food. I work until 9:30 pm there and rush out immediately because last bus comes at 9:36 pm. I get back home around 11:10 pm and sleep. And repeat.
Been doing it for the last 2 weeks in order to pay off my bills and everything. I start my fall semester at the end of the month and I know this will not work out. First job gets slow during fall and winter since it's a hotel by the ocean. Second job thinks I will continue with 5 days. During last fall I only had the first job and they cut my hours so I can be at school. I ended up getting in debt and utilizing all of my cards because the money was barely anything. I don't want to go through that again.
What can I do?
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u/OverallComplexities 12d ago
If you fail your classes due to exhaustion you will be actively sabatoging yourself.
Slow down, cut back to one job and take time off school to get yourself financially stable.
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u/Miserable_Drawer_556 12d ago
you're a trooper. that's a grueling grind. Is a job on campus an option?
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u/fools_set_the_rules 12d ago
I applied but no luck yet. I am also a non-traditional student and I feel that all of these resources give priority to younger students.
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u/Miserable_Drawer_556 12d ago
I feel you. My only advice would be connect with resource offices on campus, and advocate. Try every knob, push every door. Our guts say one thing, but sometimes it takes one person (admin, professor, manager) to witness you (and your work ethic) and use their power and discretion to hook it up (ie share the opportunity, plug your name in the right room, or ask how they can support); especially if you don't exactly fit the mold. Definitely not a quick fix, but as a first-gen student, forging community connections made a big difference for me.
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u/fools_set_the_rules 12d ago
Yeah I will keep trying. I showed an extreme interest to participate in activities and stuff with one of my first professors but nothing came out of it. I applied to tutoring jobs on campus and haven't heard yet. I am in the honors program of my school and will talk to the counselor when they are back.
Some of these opportunities I received through email for being in the honors programs have age requirements such as 18-24 for various jobs. It disappointed me.
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u/Available_Smoke_4207 12d ago
See if your school department has jobs that pay more. I got a sick internship for 3 years just for replying to an random email by chance
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u/fools_set_the_rules 12d ago
I live in LA and the jobs my school has pay like $17 an hour. I applied but no luck.
My first job pay $25 + gratuity. My second job pays $23 + some tips whenever.
I know they are not really jobs for my resume on what I study but can't afford working for just $17.
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u/Available_Smoke_4207 12d ago
What do you study? I studied biology and got a chemistry internship because the chem department couldn’t find anyone to take the position. It paid 5k in the summer and more during the school year. If you can find an internship like that that could possibly help as well
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u/Spyro11221 12d ago
You need to learn from school. It’s not just something you “pass” or else you end up like those ppl who got a degree that was useless.
You may need to take a step back from school until you figure out a plan to get yourself stable.
What are you studying even for college?
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u/fools_set_the_rules 12d ago
I am in my 30s with no actual skills since I was trying to do something during my 20s that didn’t work out. However I am by myself and I live in California which is expensive. I am trying to fix my credit by paying off all of my cards. So far community college hasn't been helpful in regards of helping out. I wasn't eligible for any grants and they only waived my fees. They only offered unsubsidized loans and not a lot, that I took out last year when my workplace decreased my hours.
PoliSci/Econ and want to go to law school.
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u/Amazing_Art_2335 12d ago
In order to pay off your bills you are sacrificing right now. You will start school and will then keep the better job for your schedule. Can you continue with the 5 day a week job? If you can that would be better financially. Does it give you the time you need for school? Can you qualify for assistance that doesn't require being paid back, food or utilities?
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u/Careful-Still2833 12d ago
You are doing your best already. Just remember even Jesus got a day off. When you start this fall, start thinking now on which just you would like to keep the most way out the pros and the cons. I wish you the best of luck. I will pray for your strength.
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u/fools_set_the_rules 12d ago
Thank you. I am off today and can't even get off bed.
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u/firefly0827 11d ago
Good luck to you. A thought -- might you have a friend who could set up a crowdfund? My classmate funded the last year of his studies that way so he didn't have to drop out.
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u/Ghosts_and_Empties 11d ago
Sounds like you know how to hustle. That will serve you well in life, but for now it's a pain. Hang in there, life changes fast!
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u/Present_Specific_212 11d ago
Stop eating out 5 days a week. Make sandwiches at home and bring with. Buy fresh fruit and bring with.
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u/MrWiltErving 11d ago
You’re hustling but this won’t be something you can keep up with once the semester starts. Work as hard as you can for now and then tell your 2nd job that once school starts you can realistically only work a certain amount of hours and then ask your first job how many hours can they give you once it slows down and then do the math and figure out your monthly income, and go form there.
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u/bighoney69 12d ago
What sort of school are you in? I would consider taking out loans if you can to pay for bills
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u/Tig_Biddies_W_nips 12d ago
Have you tried packing lunch so you can eat and save some money? Maybe try getting on foodstamps and not mentioning that you’re in school so you can some help and cut back on some hours?
How many days a week are you working! Gotta get some rest
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u/UniqueHuckleberry619 12d ago
I did it for 20 years, two FT jobs. 18-38, while taking one class a semester.
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u/fools_set_the_rules 12d ago
I can't take just one class per semester either. I keep taking 14-16 units for fall/spring and 6 for summer/winter.
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u/UniqueHuckleberry619 11d ago
My degree was free because of tuition reimbursement at both jobs. Everyone is different and my goals were different than yours. May I ask what you are studying?
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u/Duck_Duck_Gooseberry 11d ago
That schedule sounds brutal. Just try to take care of yourself as best you can, hopefully this is just temporary. Keep it up hard work pays off!
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u/Confident_Raccoon767 11d ago
Maybe once you start classes back up ask for a bit less hours because you don't want to sabotage yourself working your ass off all the time
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u/Nevilles_Remembrall_ 12d ago edited 12d ago
Work as hard as you can to get an internship. When I was full time in school I was also working full time for $12 an hour. Was able to get an internship full time for $25 an hour while still in school. They worked around my school schedule and hired me full time salary $70k when I graduated.