I've been working full time since I was 16.
First, I was paying for college. Then my long-term partner and I lived together while putting him through grad school, with the promise that he'd support me while I got my master's. I paid most of our bills and for our (used) cars. As soon as he graduated, he broke up with me and married a 19 year old. I considered pursuing some sort of support legally but after consulting with an attorney, they said it wouldn't be worth the court costs.
I later accumulated a small savings, invested carefully. Got married and he passed away after we discovered he had a previously diagnosed heart condition. We spent everything we had on his medical bills and keeping going while only one of us could work.
It's been a few years and I'm doing okay, but got laid off last year. I've found new work, but the pay is just awful in the sector I work (non-profit), and I can't get ahead. I now have no savings, no retirement, nothing at all, really. I avoid debt mostly by being scrupulously careful with my money, meal-prepping, never spending on anything I don't need. But since the layoff, I'm now making the same thing I did more than 10 years ago.
I'm willing to do anything. I have no kids, no relationship, and no big expenses. I have a lot of experience in management, project management, and volunteer coordination. My only limitation is that I can't do a physically intense job due to my health. I've tried applying for work in the for-profit world, but can't seem to get a foot in the door because that's not where my network is. I feel terrified and really alone in this, as I have no assistance from anyone or potential help if I screw up.
Submitted August 19, 2017 at 09:45PM by SplendidTit http://ift.tt/2uTI2aU
