I’m in a pickle.
I recently moved halfway across the country, leaving a teaching job that I loved for being closer to friends, family, bookstores, Italian restaurants, and a social life. I started looking for a teaching job in February, got out here in July, and now it’s August, and the different school districts are all gearing up for the new school year. I still don’t have a job.
It’s breaking my heart my heart not to have a teaching job. Strange as it may sound, I really love it. Plan B was to get a job as a substitute teacher. The trouble is, though, subbing pays diddly-squat. Most districts run around $75/day. If I subbed every available school day, never took a sick day, I would make just enough to pay bills with nothing left over to wipe out my credit card debt, put into savings, buy the occasional chicken parmagian, or see a movie once a week. I would absolutely have to get a second job, and seeing as I’d only be available evenings and weekends, it would have to be something retail. Also, there’d be no health insurance, no benefits of any sort.
OR
I could go look at a temp agency, which could keep me working, probably at a much better salary - considering that I have fairly strong computer skills, excellent communication, and I can manage a large group of people who really don’t want to work. Most temp agencies, last I checked, had benefits available, once you racked up a certain number of hours, and I wouldn’t feel guilty for leaving the nano-second I have a teaching position lined up.
Trouble is, working as a sub would get me in the doors at different schools. I’d meet the principals (who do the hiring), build a reputation, and also get to know the different campuses. But, if I work two jobs, I know I’m going to get stressed out, and my health has a habit of getting rather precarious (depression, obesity, funky blood sugar). I could volunteer at the schools, but if I’m working a 9-5 temp job, there won’t be much opportunity for that.
With the exception of my two credit cards (which are now maxed out and will go in the desk drawer never to see the light of day again), my living expenses are lower than they have been in years. I’m renting a bedroom from some friends of mine. Other than that, I have a cell phone, car payment, car insurance, student loan, gym membership, and prescriptions that I have to pay for. I can’t really trim much further.
I have one more paycheck before I’m totally broke, but I’m already stressed out, and the sooner I get this figured out the better. Unfortunately, all the stress is sapping my brain, and instead of getting anywhere on figuring out this problem, I mostly run it over and over in my head, getting nowhere.
So, if you have thoughts, throw them out here for my perusal, pretty please.