I am really struggling. I am 43. Currently I live with my mom and work part time at Panera Bread. It’s awful.
Been looking into getting training to learn to drive a forklift and how to work in a warehouse. However, the highest paying jobs I have seen in that area of work pay twenty dollars per hour, meaning a forty thousand dollar per year salary. Compared to what I make now that is quite a leap so I feel like I should do the training and then apply for the jobs.
However – can a single adult support themselves making this kind of money? I live in Cincinnati Ohio (Fairfield). I have no ability to go back to school or I would do that to find something more high paying. Anyone here living on forty thousand dollars per year? Is it possible to do that?
Edit: the training for forklift and warehouse work is a free training program offered to underemployed adults in Cincinnati. You don’t pay for the training.
Also, yes I am interested in becoming an apprentice for a trade but have literally no mechanical background – I honestly couldn’t even tell you anything about which tools are which! As much as I’m interested in becoming an apprentice I would think that would hold me back but I guess I wouldn’t know. Anyone have any thoughts?
Supporting myself making forty thousand dollars per year….
byu/SecretaryHeavy7469 inpersonalfinance
Posted by SecretaryHeavy7469
16 Comments
You can support yourself on much less, but some people will be broke no matter how much money they make.
It’s certainly possible but really depends on different factors. Your cost of living is the biggest- will you continue to live with your Mom? Do you plant to rent/buy your own place? Very different costs in either case.
Have you thought about getting into trades? HVAC, plumbing, electrician, lineman, etc. Most offer paid programs towards your journeyman card.
It’s hard at 40000 it still surprises me how 20 hour for a single adult still isn’t comfortable living but if you can find a way to keep living expenses in 30% of your income range you can make it work but always aim higher for me I aim higher each year because I want a family and house that’s my why. Remember your why don’t loose your values though in the process. You will be alright
If the warehouse job pays more than you make today and it gives you a marketable skill it’s worth the change.
A job will train you to drive a forklift, so just apply now. Idk the cost of living there, you’d have to look up prices and do the math. If it’s anything like Toledo, then you should be fine.
Can you join the union as an operating engineer (operators union)? They will pay you to learn to drive all kinds of different forklifts, and you’ll make $100,000 a year or more plus have insurance and pension.
Yes, it’s definitely possible to live on $40K/year in Cincinnati, but it’ll take some careful budgeting. Renting a modest one-bedroom or sharing a place, cooking at home, and keeping discretionary spending low makes it doable. The forklift/warehouse route could give you stability and room to grow plus you could pick up overtime to boost income.
Training to drive a forklift? You do know you can get forklift certified in a few hours right? Start applying to those jobs if that’s what you want to do. You can get hired and they’ll train and certify you on a forklift. Don’t pay for forklift training.
maybe. It depends on your expenses: rent, transportation, medical, food, clothing, savings
Take home pay in ohio on $40k after taxes is $2750 a month or so.
I’m going to suggest a few things to you:
1. Get to one of the free family financial counseling services in your area to learn about money and personal finance
2. Ohio and your county have a very robust workforce jobs programs service. If you sign up with them you will get access to all kinds of things like free jobs training, apprentice programs that pay you to learn a well paying trade & certifications free college, etc
3. You mention forklift training. Why don’t you go to truck driving school instead? I’m serious. There’s such a shortage of truck drivers in your area that the state and companies will pay for your training, test, licenses and hire you. My brother did this and within 2 years was making $93k a year just driving locally around NE Ohio with the occasion trip to Columbus. Mostly he works about 40 hours a week but will sign up for overtime and most of jobs are driving picking up stuff for the state of ohio.
4. Amazon, UPS need drivers too
5. Consider learning a skilled trade like plumbing, electrical etc – there’s a shortage there too and you can get paid to be an apprentice at $45k a year plus benefits then in 2-4 years you are making over $100k. The state has lots of apprentice programs especially for women
6. You might qualify for free community college programs so look into that
Don’t limit yourself: You still have 20-30 years of work in you so invest in yourself and maximize it
save the money go to trade school
You need to learn to become a plumber or electrician, carpenter. Anything like that is super high in demand. HVAC techs.
Panera salaried managers make more than $40k per year, possibly some hourly.
you don’t need a background in any trade. They teach you and train you and give you the background
Yes they hire older workers! many people have gone into the trades in their 50s
Truck driving companies and trades absolutely do take people with records. They have prison to work programs and programs for felons. you’ll be fine
But I would ask you to also get therapy. You seem to have a lot of negative self talk and “can’t do” thinking about yourself that is most likely a real cause for what’s holding you back in work and life. And only you can fix that.
Go out and get it. Nothing is stopping you from trying.
I’ve worked two jobs that required forklift training. Both took less than an hour and I was “certified”. Basically someone who knew how to drive one, took me out to the pallet area and had me pick up and put down a few pallets, unload a truck and I was done.
I don’t think you will have any problem supporting yourself on a $40,000 salary and living at home. That would easily change if you move out and start paying rent, car payment, credit cards etc.
Have you thought about what you could do with your degree? Perhaps tutoring or working for a music school?
Id maybe also look at remote jobs. I don’t know what the market is like but a family member got involved with salesforce and has changed careers. The education was free but some cost for testing