MikasaH's journey

In January 2026, I landed a full-time job at a startup tech company with a salary of $55,000. Unfortunately, just three months later, I was let go because the company was struggling financially and had to cut its marketing department along with other positions. Before this job, I was working on-call, earning around $17 an hour, which isn't much but it's better than nothing. Now, I'm in a tough spot. My parents expect me to contribute $1,000 towards their mortgage, but I can only afford to give them about 30% of my paycheck after expenses. I'm trying to save and cover my own groceries, but it feels like I'm not meeting their expectations. I want to find a job that I enjoy and pays a livable wage, but the job market seems slow right now. I've been applying for new positions, but I worry my parents don't see how hard I'm trying. I've been contributing between $100 and $200 to help with the mortgage, and I plan to give more as I earn more. I’m considering sticking with my on-call job while I continue my job search. It seems like the right strategy, but I’m looking for advice on how to balance everything and find a job that fits my needs.