Recently, my wife has been looking into going to school. If you remember, she is now the one working, while I am a stay-at-home-father and practicing my poor Algebra skills to retake the Math COMPASS for entry into college. She has been looking at the Paul Mitchell school - something she has always considered doing. She would receive 2,000 hours in Cosmetology training. We have thought about this. The school's job placement rate for new grads is 86%. Pretty good. Average salary is about $24,000/yr. "That would help us get out of our living-with-family situation," we think. Then we realize that we would also lose Food Stamps, which is over $400/mo. So, to make up for that, pay our current bills, plus pay her tuition, and put $700 towards rent and utilities, we would have to net $2,000/mo. On one income...
We are still donating plasma, but it is not the $440/mo that we have hoped it would be. While that is the max potential (two people, two 'donations' per week), we have found that it is not always possible for us to do so. So, it has turned out to be around $100/mo.
Also, I have taken it upon myself to try to find odd jobs to do. This has come to me in the way of oDesk.com. It is a freelancing/contracting web site that appears to have some threads of truth to it. I have been working on my résumé in order to make myself more desirable, so I have yet to apply to any contracts yet (limited number of applications per week). So I do not know how that will pan out.
Anyways... While the job placement percentage is decent, it is an $18,000 tuition in a field where the demand comes strictly from desire rather than from need. The clients are there because they want to be. Because they are able to afford it (or at least have some credit left on their cards). I am still paying off my $18,000 tuition from when I went to school for Massage Therapy. I am a great Massage Therapist. Great technique. Great form. Wonderful pressure. Superb personal skills. And that sixth sense that a lot of MT's don't have, but wish they did... And yet, I have never been employed in the field.
What are we to do? We live off of $600/mo. We live in an oppressive and downright dangerous environment where the downstairs wreaks of cat feces and occasionally marijuana, where the other residents do not take into account the welfare of the infant in their house, etc., etc. We have been married over a year and a half, and have been together for longer, and have not once lived in a place of our own!
This. This is the point of all that we strive to do, financially. Money is the only thing that can change our lives at this point.
What are we to do? Suggestions for my wife? For me?
Thank you for reading.
The Reason - Responses?
December 2nd, 2011 at 07:23 am
December 2nd, 2011 at 09:51 am 1322819502
December 2nd, 2011 at 01:07 pm 1322831225
Also your wife, if she wants to go to cosmetology school, might need to look into a less expensive option than Paul Mitchell. And she still needs to work while going to school. If possible she needs to get grants to cover the cost of tuition...you don't need more debt on top of what you have.
Looks like one day you could have your own salon!
December 2nd, 2011 at 02:35 pm 1322836507
December 2nd, 2011 at 03:07 pm 1322838452
Having worked in Social Services, I can point out one obvious thing: complaining about the living environment that the child is in will not be taken seriously. The child in question is NOT in the custody the grandparents/uncle who are behaving in questionable ways. The child is in the custody of her parents who are chosing to remain in the situation.
The child isn't being starved/beaten/neglected by her parents or grandparents.
December 2nd, 2011 at 04:15 pm 1322842533
As for using my training in MT... My license is no longer valid, and I do not have the $280 to invest in a year's worth of licensure. Also, we have a child. One that cannot be left with anyone that lives close-by. So, one working parent is all we can do. Especially if I want to go to college...
Well, I'll keep working on this oDesk profile and will hopefully apply to some jobs on there soon.
December 2nd, 2011 at 05:46 pm 1322847986
December 2nd, 2011 at 05:48 pm 1322848114
December 2nd, 2011 at 05:49 pm 1322848165
December 2nd, 2011 at 06:54 pm 1322852055
$280 for MT license sounds much less expensive than the cost for her to go to school. However, unless you work at an established business offering massage your income will be hit and miss.
I also agree that you need to be working something steady. Could you also work at the mall? Or a home improvement store? You need to work to get out of your current living situation. That seems like priority number one. Improving one's education is VERY important, too, but it may need to be secondary in this situation.
Deliver newspapers. Basic security. Home health aide: maybe an overnight shift?
December 3rd, 2011 at 02:47 am 1322880426
Personally, I think cosmetology school is a dead end. I doubt any of those girls working there make much more than that, regardless of experience. I could be wrong, but that's just my take.
I think nursing school would promise a much more solid career choice. One that offers many employment choices and high paying jobs.
If your wife wouldn't get into nursing school, then how about just an LPN?
Obviously this would take a longstanding commitment. And while I don't know what nursing school tuition is like, spending $18K on cosmetology is just nuts. I think that's a total ripoff.
As for you, I don't know enough about or where your talents lie, but it sounds like you should talk to a career counselor. You just can't get by doing odd jobs or donating blood forever.
December 3rd, 2011 at 04:12 am 1322885550
December 3rd, 2011 at 01:29 pm 1322918963
December 3rd, 2011 at 05:30 pm 1322933444
Anyways... My wife is going to seek employment with Starbucks (currently works at Macy's) and will work there if she is offered more pay for the same hours. Glassdoor.com shows higher pay for Starbucks employees, compared to Macy's employees. Starbucks has way better benefits too.
December 4th, 2011 at 05:08 pm 1323018499
December 4th, 2011 at 05:14 pm 1323018858
Urgh! All this because an employer lied about me and got away with it! >.
December 4th, 2011 at 08:19 pm 1323029972
December 4th, 2011 at 11:00 pm 1323039629
Haha. Seriously though, I don't think about it that much. We try to look into the future.
December 5th, 2011 at 03:25 am 1323055530
December 5th, 2011 at 04:42 pm 1323103363
But I'm not angry.
December 6th, 2011 at 03:34 am 1323142482
Go out and apply for places that you know have a night shift - whether it be Walmart or wherever!
December 7th, 2011 at 08:34 pm 1323290073
Possibly make flyers and post them around your town also. Maybe put a coupon on it or offer a reduced rate if they mention the flyer.
I know I could go for a massage right asbout now
Oh, also try appling at some chiropractors offices. I know mine has two that they keep on staff.
Good luck and love to that baby of yours.
December 9th, 2011 at 04:14 pm 1323447258
December 10th, 2011 at 07:05 pm 1323543956