Money help: I’m so scared. - Help.com

I’m sorry you are going through this. Where in the country are you? Do you have any skill set to fall back on, education, etc..? How old are you, may we ask.

OK, here is the good news. You are young and obviously have energy to pull two jobs. I’m hoping you are single and have no children. What I would recommend is to start now for the next phase of your life. Here’s the bad news. Without a degree your present job prospects are poor outside hourly work such as what you have already experienced (retail essentially.) The other bad news is there is no quick fix barring a lucky break - which are hard to come by in this economy. Days are long gone that you could hope to make a living wage with only a high school diploma except in rare instances.

So, start planning now. Do a quick google on “best paying jobs in the US without a degree”

Take a look at the descriptions and see if any of those fields are attractive and begin working towards them. Consider the following: the trades (carpentry, plumbing, electrical, etc..) These require some vocational skills which are often taught a local community or vocational schools. Building is dead now, but believe me it will pick up again and people always need plumbers. Other options: Law enforcement and the military - also an option is your record is clean and you are in good health. Some college is often required. By the way, vocational schools offer financial aid. I would rather you not take on additional debt (ie. tuition), but if it meant an investment for a future gain, then yes.

Frankly, if you can, worry less about the job hunt NOW and start getting some skills under your belt so that your future job hunt lands you somewhere other than retail at hourly minimum wage. You could have a training program done in 2 years just in time for the economy to pick up steam.

Yes, thanks Dylan - health care is almost a sure bet. The country is aging and the need is great. We are importing nurses from abroad there is a shortage. Nurses aid is also a possibility though this and home health care aid are less desirable for the reasons you state - hard work and pay probably not much better per hour than she is making now.

However, if it was used as a spring board to a Associates degree of better in Nursing, than that would be a career path.

I totally and completely agree with hughes.gra. You need skills and you are young enough, energetic enough, and free enough to obtain them NOW. You need to set yourself up for a good future because adulthood lasts a long time.