ExactWrongdoer7809's journey

I'm currently working as a shift manager at a large company, earning $68,000 a year. While it seems like decent money, the reality is that I often work 45 to 60 hours a week, and the stress has become overwhelming. I'm the only manager in my department, which means all the responsibility falls on me, and if something goes wrong, I'm the one who gets blamed. Recently, the management situation at my company has deteriorated, with five supervisors let go in the past two weeks and others resigning. To make matters worse, I'm on a final write-up for performance issues, which has left me feeling insecure about my job stability. I've been offered a new position at another company that pays $26 an hour. It's an hourly job, and while it pays less, I would have the chance to work overtime and, importantly, I would actually be allowed to take breaks—something I can't do in my current salaried role. The main thing holding me back is the financial aspect. I have bills to pay, including a hefty student loan payment of $905 a month, and I'm trying to get ahead financially. However, I'm also exhausted and worried about the long-term sustainability of my current job, especially since I'm the last manager standing in my department. I'm torn between sticking it out for the salary and the perceived stability, or making the leap to a potentially less stressful job that would allow me more time and energy for my studies. I'm reaching out for advice from anyone who's faced a similar decision—would you take the lower-paying job for a better work-life balance, or stay at the higher-paying job and hope for improvement?