Has anyone [in the U.S.] received your stimulus check? How are you going to spend it?

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Xist

I have not found an SLPA job in California that pays as well my agency does in Phoenix, but Arizona pays significantly better the more rural your area is. In theory my clients are further away, but I am not dealing with traffic, accidents, and ridiculous heat.

If I maintained thirty clients a week I would earn over $100,000 a year, but right now I can only see six, while a lady started working in the area and had over twenty clients almost immediately with another agency [that pays significantly better].

I am checking again. Not only are most of the California salaries lower than my agency pays, they are lower than I see other agencies advertising in Phoenix, until this: $45,150 - $58,050 a year.

It is a clinic. Those almost always pay better.

Maricopa Public Schools is offering $58,500. Last year it was more like $48,000, but they are far enough away that I wouldn't say they are in the valley....

I'm curious if these are real salaries (A guaranteed yearly wage) - or something you are calculating based on an hourly rate. It seems the root of your problem is that you haven't been able to even work 1/2 time in your current job / location. So a lower hourly rate at another job but full time hours could put you ahead of the game especially if that new job was a W2 job with benefits.

Originally Posted by Xist

I could ask to be a full-time teacher and teach while I obtain my credentials.

Sounds like a plan. Guaranteed hours, retirement, medical insurance, paid sick time....

[Ecky]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I'll say that if a single, reasonably healthy person in the US is making more than $20k per year, there's little reason why they shouldn't be able to build up some financial resiliency. It's an indication that the appropriate sacrifices aren't being made.

I generally agree, and know you've walked that walk yourself, but sacrifices are harder to make, emotionally, for most when they're not optional.

[Xist]

Between my two jobs I work about thirty hours a week, but I should have a few more with the school next year.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by Xist

Between my two jobs I work about thirty hours a week, but I should have a few more with the school next year.

Is the second job with the school also speech therapy? For some reason I was thinking it was something else. I just remember you saying your agency was only giving you 15-20 hours a week of therapy clients.

Still one full time job that pays the bills is better than multiple jobs in my opinion. Juggling multiple jobs is a pain The most I had at once was 3 when I was in school.

The morning shift at UPS
Lifeguard at the YMCA
Contract CAD drawing for a company.

At least the contract work I could do on my own schedule. I didn’t get much sleep back then.

[freebeard]

I juggled 2 plus a contract. I slept on two four-hour shifts a day with the contract work on the weekend. Laundry? No time. It only lasted 6 weeks.

[Xist]

When I drove a school bus I usually had one or two other jobs. At one point I had a paper route and I watched individuals with special needs.

I used to nap in my car. Someone called 911 on me.

Both jobs are speech therapy.

I had 15 - 20 clients the first year, but I only averaged 11 hours a week. Since then I received a huge raise, but lost two clients.

[redpoint5]

Hardest I ever worked was st assisting a brick mason. I'd spend 13hr days carrying brick and muck (he was British) up ladders, mixing muck, and cutting brick with a diamond saw. I had a 1hr commute both ways. It paid $10/hr. I'd often come home to my parents house and immediately fall asleep on the floor, then wake up at 5am and rush out the door wearing the clothes I was wearing to do it all over again. It only lasted a month, but I really cherish that experience. I was offered $14/hr after giving notice that I was taking a different job in IT. Would have loved to stay if there was a good future in the work.

[Xist]

Was that the job where you were guaranteed to lose a finger?

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Xist

Was that the job where you were guaranteed to lose a finger?

Yup. I once cut a stone in half by hanging most of my bodyweight off the saw and melting through it. Fun stuff.

[oil pan 4]

I have dabbled in masonry. It's a tough line of work.