My friend is taking classes at a community College, she got financial aid so she didn't have to pay much out of pocket.
Meanwhile she is bragging about how she's working THREE jobs while taking six classes. She's failing 2. One job is full time and the other 2 are part time. She is almost always at work, and she still can't afford her own measly, modest apartment. The jobs are very low paying (babysitting, server, and full time as a secretary). She isn't wreckless with her money but college textbooks and living expenses are hard to cover on the small wages. She moved in with a boyfriend to make things more manageable.
It's just absolutely sick and disgusting that her reality is a reality for so many. Having to swing that much of a workload while being a full time student is absurd. She's stressing herself out and failing and gaining weight and her mental heath is tanking – costing her even more money.
This hustle culture mindset needs to stop. Running yourself ragged and to insanity is no way to live – just to be a wage slave to pay the bills. A studio apartment starts at 1200/month in her area and she makes about $10 an hour as a secretary and babysitter. Waitressing pays her not even $3 an hour and people are very stingy with tips at her restaurant despite saying she did a good job.
We are not meant to handle that much on our plates and managing it all needs to stop being overly praised. It isn't healthy and shouldn't be normal.
These companies charge more than enough – the babysitting place charges parents way more and her restaurant has $15 burgers…. and she's a secretary at a Healthcare facility. You know for a fact these places can all afford to pay their employees more than these crumbs…. honestly they're just greedy.
I've tried to stop shopping at places that pay their workers so little but make so much when i can.