Never let what others think prohibit your decisions. You need to do what is best for you. So often, we expect others to watch out for us as we watch out for ourselves. Focus on what is best for you first and foremost.

Definitely a tough situation. I wonder though....you said you have been a preschool Administrator/Director for nearly 30 years. Could you perhaps take that knowledge and create an online course for others to learn from? The amount of knowledge you must have is probably incredible and I'm sure that people coming into the field would love to have you as a mentor to help them more quickly learn the ins and outs, tips and tricks and your experiences that have worked and that haven't. Online coaching/mentoring is also very hot right now. Pair the 2 and I think you have a winning combination for a lucrative side income so that you can leave the job that is causing you so much stress. Best of luck to you!!

When I first started out in my profession more than 35 years ago no one was wanting to hire a new graduate without coding skills. I decided prior to graduation to become a volunteer in a Health Information Management department and asked that they cover my lunch and mileage. I got to know and do various jobs and they got to know me. When I graduated from college a night position opened up which I applied for and got. Due to your long-term history in the childcare field is it possible that you could share your vast experience in authoring a book or other consulting/teaching capacity? Maybe if your home isn't large enough for a roommate or two there's someone out there who has space and the need for a roommate.

I had this problem, and I just jumped ship, for my mental health. I burnt out. I found my perfect job, but the money was so bad, but it was the foot in the door i needed. Worked 8-5.30 weekdays. I delivered pizza in the evenings, Tuesdays, Friday and Saturdays. 12hours per week. I took extra pizza shifts when I was asked to. Working those evenings meant I didn’t go out or spend money. The great thing about delivery work is you know it’s not your career, it’s a means to an end (for me, buying a new motorbike) I planned on doing it 2 years. Stayed delivering for nearly 6 years & 2 brand new bikes later, I left pizza delivery when I got my main new job. And a 6-9pm delivery shift on a weekday goes so quickly!

Ugh, this sounds really rough. You are tapped out on energy and time bringing in a set amount and using it all each month. Without savings you can't even move to a better opportunity or handle a month break in between positions if you were to get another job. This isn't sustainable because either a) you keep treading with your head above water slowly burning out until you can't or b) *something* happens and you have no emergency fund. From you posts it sounds like you've done the basics: look for another job, look to cut expenses, look to move, look at career changes and it's just not adding up. So here is my recommendation. 1) Ignore everyone's cookie cutter advice (did you sell your stuff? move to a cheaper place! Sell your car and bike!) You sound like you are past this and need to deep dive into your specific issues. Letting go of countering all these generic arguments will help. 2) Divide your problems into smaller ones and work through them one at a time. Example: a - You need to reduce expenses b - you are burned out c - you need a more sustainable job environment (not perfect, just better) d - you need a permanent change to your job or a new industry 3) Tackle these independently and one at a time and as logically as possible. I suggest the first two as even tiny improvements will give you the space to handle the second two. For the reducing expenses - it sounds like you've tried all the advice here and you are just at the limit. So, it's time to really dig into the details: I suggest you estimate where all your money is going then also pull your last 6 months of expenses and go over them with a friend. You know the one who gives you side eye when you make excuses? Yeah that one. Find something to get to an emergency fund. You can also try financial resources like this book and blogs. https://smile.amazon.com/Will-Teach-You-Rich-Second/dp/1523505745/ But ignore the general advice click bait that isn't helping. Another mental model that can be helpful is to look at "The Minimalists" Netflix documentary. I think it's on YouTube as well. It can give you another framework to think about what you actually need in life, but everyone will need to figure this out for themselves. Burnout is a bit harder, I suggest dividing this one into work and home. (notice a trend? Keep making your problems smaller and more specific until you can solve them) For home, this is a struggle, and you'll have to come up with your own plan. Mine was starting with bullet journaling, cooking, and cleaning more sustainably and that helped me find the space to then sleep more. Then I was able to start to exercise, eat better, and relax better. All of these built on top of each other to create breathing room to actually go tackle the big problems since you can't figure out a career change while struggling daily. Here is an old post I wrote about the effects of just cleaning more efficiently as an example: https://www.quora.com/For-those-of-you-who-keep-a-clean-home-how-do-you-do-it-What-tricks-or-techniques-do-you-use/answer/Nicole-Watts-5 For work, look at your day to day job and see if you can make it suck less and how you got to be so overworked. Do you need to delegate more? (cliché advice, I know) Can you make anything more efficient? What really happens when you leave something on the table? Do you have a organized plan day to day or do you need one? Can you improve your systems? You probably can't get out of busy times in the year like right around enrollment, but maybe you can make it suck just a bit less. Again, listing out all the things you have to do and finding that friend to give you fresh detailed and relevant perspective can help and look for small wins of 20 min here and 10 min there to add up. Once you start making progress there start to tackle the root of the job problem. If you decide you like your job, start to look into fixing it by getting it restructured or moved to a new company. Look into negotiating more money or less responsibility (maybe hiring a associate or assistant). Network with other professionals to understand what you are worth. This gets super tactical and I can't help you much without knowing a lot more. At least if you like the job and just need a new boss or company, at least there are lots of preschools in high demand and hopefully you can find a better fit. My strong recommendation here is to not leave an industry you love because of a shitty boss or situation. There is a reason you loved it and often the grass isn't greener. If you decide to change industries because it's the right answer for you, I recommend job research to narrow down what position and a shortlist of companies. This research needs to include networking with people who have the job so you know that you will like it. Then, you find out what is important to getting that job and how to demonstrate it as well as networking with the right people. If you can do it right, they will literally write the job description for you. I realize that this is probably not EXACTLY what you need because I don't know the specifics, but I hope it gives you a mental model that you can adapt to what you need. Good luck and I really hope you figure this out!

All very viable suggestions but here's something a little different, Amanda Frances is a money teacher. She teaches that money has energy and you can take practical and energetic steps in order to call money and new circumstances in. Here's some of her free resources and she just recently put out a book that has really opened my eyes to some of the stories I've had around money. https://amandafrances.com/

Our local government has more than one opening for persons who work with seniors. There are counselors that help with getting insurance, checking on conditions at nursing homes and establishing community programs. There are also senior centers that are operated by the state government. Look into agencies.

Apologies if this was brought up before...but what are the guidelines of your position? Most companies have rules about what is expected of your position. 12 hours in one day on a regular basis seems very excessive to me. If there are rules and the company is not adhering, I would speak to your supervisor or someone in HR about it. Come from a point of view that you don't mind putting in extra time, but feel that a constant diet of this is not only against company rules, but is not healthy, and does not provide a proper work-life balance for you. Work as it relates to mental and physical health is a big deal with companies today. Hope you find relief. Best of luck.

Sell some things you’re not using. Ask your employer for more money. If you leave they will have a hard time finding someone willing to give as much as you do. See if you can barter or share expenses to save money. Change your grocery budget. Network with people to find a higher paying job or ways to make money on the side. Use the app Nextdoor to see if anyone in your area needs small errands they are willing to pay you to do. Pick up babysitting or elderly sitting on the side. Some people will pay you to stay overnight with their parents or children if they work nights. Get creative and be flexible.

All great suggestions! I would also make a plan to set aside the OT money from working 12 hour days (you didn't mention if you were exempt or non exempt). Either way, decide on a set amount that will help offset expenses. Then you can accept that new job knowing there is a pool of money saved in case you fall short. It's good you have a job right now, I know it's hard working long hours but hopefully knowing your savings money for a more fulfilling opportunity will keep you motivated. Best of luck to you & happy new year as well!