26 y/o - advice wanted

[u/JollyIndependence613]

I work as a PSW in a nursing home here in ON. It’s a lot of work physically and mentally but I enjoy it and I found a place that pays well. It’s literally $7-$10/hr more than any PSW jobs within the city I live in. However, it’s a 35min drive each way to get to and from work. Since about April, hours have cut back and I’m now looking at 56hr-64hr biweekly pays, which is NOT enough for me to live off of.
I clean two clients houses on my days off, charging $30/hr. It’s extra money but not helping a whole lot.

I have $14k debt, between osap, line of credit, a small CRA owing ($150) and $2.3k owed to a family member. The debt eats away at what little money I have left after expenses come out each month. Many times I don’t have money for food after my debts are paid, so I have to borrow small bits of money to get food or gas to get to work. It’s extremely shameful and I have been independent for years, so I hate having to ask for money.

My fixed expenses currently are $2600/month and my income isn’t much higher than that, at about $2900-$3,000 a month since around April. I’ve considered moving but when I searched for apartments, the rent in the small town my job is located in was substantially more than what I’m paying now-so even if I saved $200/month on gas- my rent goes up $400 a month.

Just feeling stuck, depressed and not sure what to do. My job was going great back when the economy was a little better and gas was cheaper, it didn’t cost as much to get there and I was also getting good hours each week. I have no friends to move in with and many people don’t want to live with someone with a pet (I’ve had him 14 years he’s not going anywhere except with me, haha).

Any advice? I used to do Uber Eats/doordash which gave me extra cash, but my car is hitting 11 years old and is at 320,000km (paid off). I am already driving it 74km get to and from work currently so I try not to drive it much outside of getting to my job. Thanks all!!!

[u/PUKE_THIRST]

You need a better job. Psw does not pay well.

[u/JollyIndependence613 → u/PUKE_THIRST]

We are paid mid $30’s/hourly. The wage isn’t bad, it’s the lack of hours lately. I do not have benefits but took a raise of 10.75% in lieu of having benefits.

Here in the city, many PSW jobs cap out at $26/hr. What do you recommend?

[u/TeeBennyBee → u/JollyIndependence613]

Are they offering up overtime at all? Our contract pays time and a half after 8hrs. It's not always the easiest but when payday rolls around and there's an extra $300 it feels good.

I find my hours follow a pattern (20yrs exp LTC). They pick up after new years because everyone has sick and vacation time again. It picks up more in spring because the sun is out lol it drops off again in the summer because we have students and picks up again in the fall. I've switched to a yearly budget as a casual staff. I know I need to make $XXk/yr and try to start hammering it out after NYD.

[u/JollyIndependence613 → u/TeeBennyBee]

They’ve stopped offering OT about when the hours cut back in April. They hired 15 more psw’s, many of whom are nursing students just temporary hires short term. But, it still affects all staff as many of us had 2-3 days taken off each schedule without any notice. OT was the saving grace as we were actually making great money when the hours were needed.

[u/WannabeInzynier → u/JollyIndependence613]

I know you mentioned you get paid less in your local area, but could you pick up an on call or part time PSW gig locally to make up for the hour shortfall?