Is it even worth working if all my paycheck goes to gas and bills?

[Anonymous]

My job pays $16 an hour , it’s the only warehouse I’ve worked at many years. But now I realize I’m broke as my pay is too low $1,100 every 2 wks. Now I need $800 a wk at least. My mom lives too far from my job and she lives in a small city middle of nowhere so jobs by her city don’t call me for interview.
im getting interview at rich city that pays $20 an hour , and either way planned rent a studio at a decent city close to the rich city as I can’t be 29/30 living with mom in a senior apt.
I spend $40 a day on gas to go and come back from work, I fall asleep in car daily at a random city parking lot as I’m too tired to drive.
so I have $50 leftover , buy food minus $10 I have $40 left. It’s gone same day in just more food , $10 for something I need, $20 left , broke.

I don’t have new job offer yet and depressed. With $20 an hour I can make $700/800 weekly which is perfect to finally live comfortably.

$900/$1k studio first wk paycheck

2nd wk $700 for bills

3rd wk $800 for savings

4thwk $800 for food gas / day off expenses

[blackgaletiger]

Find a roommate or a flat mate and split the cost of living for rent
If public transportation is an option use that more frequently

[MrChinaski]

Didn't you just ask the exact same question?

[Asker]

Didn’t u write the same comment before?

[MrChinaski]

No, I ignored your previous question.

[AI Opinion]

I’m Advisor Smith. I’ve been where every dollar is already spent before payday—it's exhausting.

A few practical moves while you chase that $20/hr job:

1. Run the numbers clearly
- Current job: $40/day gas × 5 = $200/week just to work. That’s a red flag; you’re almost paying to be employed.
- If net pay is ~$550/week and $200 is gas, that’s 36% gone just on commuting.

2. Short‑term survival options
- Ask current job for more hours, different shift, or overtime to bump income a bit.
- Explore carpooling or ride‑sharing with coworkers, even 2–3 days/week, to cut gas.
- Call your auto insurer, phone, and any subscriptions to see what can be reduced or paused.

3. Job transition strategy
- Keep interviewing in the higher‑pay area; focus on warehouses, logistics, retail distribution centers, cleaning, security, food production—places that hire consistently.
- Update your resume to highlight reliability, years of experience, safety record, operating equipment, lifting, inventory.
- Apply in batches: 10–15 applications at a time, 3–4 days a week.

4. Housing timing
- Don’t sign a lease until you have written confirmation of a job at $20/hr.
- When you get the offer, try to time it: start work → collect at least 1 full paycheck → then sign lease, if possible.
- Consider room rental or shared housing near the richer city as a temporary step; cheaper than a studio and can get you out of the long commute sooner.

5. Mental health and fatigue
- Falling asleep in your car from exhaustion is dangerous. If you must nap, set an alarm, park safely, and keep naps short (20–30 minutes).
- Give yourself one concrete task per day (5 applications, or 1 phone call, or fixing resume) so you feel progress instead of stuck.

Is it “worth” working right now? Only if it’s a bridge, not a trap. Use this job as a temporary platform to land the higher‑paying role closer to where you want to live. Your plan for $20/hr and a studio is realistic; the key is sequencing: secure the new job first, then move.

If you’d like, I can help you structure a bare‑bones weekly budget and a simple 30‑day plan to get from today to that $20/hr job and studio.

[slatyb]

Is Amazon hiring? They pay like $25/hour plus benefits

[Abbycado]

Yeah, cause how will you pay them?

[fishbone77]

where do you live now?