Advice?.. rambling?.. sigh

[LaDaya]

Okay, I'm a lurker mostly.. mainly because until a couple weeks ago I didn't have a computer at home.. anyway.. just needed to either vent or get some advice or something..

Background information:

I currently work for a very small company that may or may not make it. (I'm currently the only employee) Anyway, my boss is constantly talking about financial troubles and then starts to cut back on my hours.. he doesn't just come out and say I need to cut back your hours, he just doesn't answer his phone for four hours. (The company is still so small that I don't really have set hours. Basically I call him in the morning and then he'll tell me either come or wait an hour or two or whatever and lately he won't answer the phone and I'll have to keep trying for hours before he finally answers and tells me to head there.) So then I don't get very many hours and my paycheck is not enough for just my bills.. and that's not including groceries. So I try to start looking for another job and then he will up my hours for a week or so where it's hard for me to look for another job. It gets quite annoying. (I currently live alone with two cats. I can't and won't live on my parents couch and currently don't have anyone else that I could stay with until things worked themselves out.)

I've for awhile felt that I need to make some major changes in my life. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get direct guidance or figure it out on my own what I should do. One thing that I really want to do is go back to college but because of previously mentioned job situation and the fact that I technically make too much to get free money and not enough/bad credit to get loans it doesn't look too good on getting back into college.

Current Options:

1) Lose a few pounds and join the military. That will allow me to go back to school and solve some of my financial problems and get me out of Houston. (Basically it will solve all but one problem.. and that's what to do about my two cats... one I'm sure if I took to the local SPCA she will be adopted pretty quickly.. the other is very people shy and takes about a month to warm up to someone.. they probably won't even try to adopt her.. she will just be put to sleep and I can't seem to bring myself to do it. I want to either find her another home or take her with me....)

2) Just pack up and leave Houston.. which is something I want to do but I don't have the money so I would end up living in a shelter somewhere until I could get a decent job... no telling how long that will take. And there is also the previously mentioned cat issues... <sigh>

3) Keep going the way I'm going and try to find another job so I can leave my current one. But that doesn't solve the wanting to get out of dodge.. and unfortunately, unless I suddenly find a job with at least a $5 an hour raise from what I'm currently making, it won't help the college thing. It will probably help the weekly financial situation but overall life will just continue as is.. and unfortunately I feel like I really need some changes so even though this is probably the easiest option, it won't allow for very many changes.

I know this is long and probably confusing ramble but I think I'm just not seeing the forest for the trees or something. There really isn't anyone in my life that I can ask advice from. My parents would just start in "You're going to hell.. this is god's way of getting your attention to get you back into church.. etc..etc..", because of my erratic work schedule and lack of funds..most of my friends have slowly drifted away. And I can't ask my boss. So I pretty much don't have anyone that I can talk to in person about this. So I figured that there just might be someone out there that might have some advice that I can relate to or maybe has been in a situation similar.

I'm shutting up now... Sorry for the long ramble.
Thanks for listening

[ChelleOfShadows]

I would look for another job. You are currently in a situation in which you are being taken advantage of.

If you truly want to join the military and see the world then do so and give your cats to the closest Humane Society which does not put animals to sleep.

If you are only looking for college money, then well one who is a contract employee (which you are as you are not working 40 hours every week and your hours are NOT guaranteed) is elegible for Pell grants which are federal grants. Word your applications correctly.

I wish you the best in whichever option you choose!

Blessed Be!

[Raevyn]

Originally posted by LaDaya
So I try to start looking for another job and then he will up my hours for a week or so where it's hard for me to look for another job.

Uh, does he know you're looking for another job? My advice would be to start looking through job websites in your area - if you pull up the local job banks and online classifieds it's very easy to go job hunting with just a few minutes a night.

And as Chelle said, there are "no kill" shelters, if you look for them (again check the web, and of course your local phone books).


3) Keep going the way I'm going and try to find another job so I can leave my current one. But that doesn't solve the wanting to get out of dodge.. and unfortunately, unless I suddenly find a job with at least a $5 an hour raise from what I'm currently making, it won't help the college thing..

I know you said this might not be your favourite choice but I would suggest it. I don't know what you're making right now, but it's possible to save up a little bit at a time. You can look for a job outside of your city, since you're already considering moving, and moving might be enough change for you. After all, moving *and* starting a new job is a lot of change at once.

[Sabrina]

Greetings Ladeia:

First of all - know that you are not alone in your situation. I get emails daily from folks that say they'd love to buy art but are just getting by these days...all ages truly.

Your boss is probably feeling this economic strain like everyone else. Don't assume he increases your hours each time you go job hunting - that's giving him an awfully LOT of credit LOL....in that he's that psychic to 'track' you. LOL.....Naaa, I bet it just 'feels' that way.

Personally, I don't think you should go military. Our oldest daughter is going ARMY in June - but it's because she Loves it - good college money and all that - but she Loves it.
You don't wanna pursue something just for a few benefits - you'll be caged like an animal...pacing pacing pacing...
yuck.

How bout a second job? Ya know one of those mindless ones but good benefits and good surroundings - like Walmart? Don't laugh I have heard its a great place to work. And that way you don't have to leave your current situation either - for now.
In time - I have read that Walmart (and other companines similar) have support programs for their employees that wish to continue their education...

It's just a way to stay where you are until the situation improves and your boss can give you the hours you used to have - or until you find another full time position somewhere else...
Just some more money to get you through - yes?

I certainly hope that things look up for you. We have experienced this financial Crunch for well over a year now and let's face it - our economy is just really hard on everyone ---- really hard!

keep your chin up

[Malkosha]

I truly feel for you. I’ve been in that situation many times in my life as I imagine most have. Also, I respect the fact that you have struck out on your own and wish to stand on your own two feet. Remember though that very few can make it alone in life and from time to time we all need help and there is no shame in asking for it. If you can minimize the religious differences between you and your parents it may be possible to ask for their help until you get back on your feet. There is no shame in bettering yourself.

Getting a better job these days depends on skills and networking with people who are in a position to inform you about opportunities. The greater your skills the better chance you have of demanding greater pay for your work. I know this sounds like a “duh” statement but its often true and overlooked by many. Set goals for yourself and plot a way to make them happen.

One thing I’ve learned is that your best career choice is based on what you like to do. I threw away opportunities when I was younger and as a result spent a large portion of my life doing menial (read low paying and unskilled) jobs. As a hobby I decided to play around with computers and found that the knowledge came to me easily. I believe it was because it was something I liked to do. When the opportunity came I took my hobby and pursued a career with it that I still enjoy today. Find something you like to do and your bound to be good at it. People pay for someone who is good at what they do regardless of what it is. Believe me when I say that life is too short to spend large amounts of time doing something you hate just for the money.

The military can be a great place to be if you are prepared to deal with the realities of military life. There are many opportunities there and if you take advantage of what the government has to offer you can set yourself up for life. If the military is your destination then please choose a non-combat career path. It’s sad enough that people are still killing each other after all this time and with the unrest around the world it doesn’t look to stop anytime soon.

As has been already mentioned, you can place your cats in a SPCA style home and know they will be cared for. While I’m very new to pagan style thoughts and practices, perhaps if you take the time to ground and center yourself an answer will come to you. Call upon the God and Goddess and seek wisdom and perhaps the path your walking will become much more clear.

Good luck and remember that if you think with positive thoughts and look for the good in all things you can’t go wrong