YoungPurple7704's journey

I’m 25 years old and just celebrated my birthday a few days ago. I’ve been working at a niche fast food restaurant for 9 years, starting as a crew member and working my way up to manager and then taking over my own franchise location. For the past two years, I was making around $6,000 a month, thanks to overtime, and I was able to save a bit. However, I’ve created a lifestyle around that income. Recently, they put me on a salary starting February 26, and since then, my take-home has dropped to about $3,500 a month. This change has hit me hard, and I’m now living paycheck to paycheck. I have two job opportunities on the table, both commission-based, including one at Belle Tire, but I don’t have any certifications. I’ve been trying to navigate this situation, and while I have some savings to help during the transition, I feel stuck. Many managers at my job are leaving to pursue other careers or education, leaving me with a stagnant salary and working a lot of hours without compensation. When I’ve approached my director about revisiting my salary, I’ve been met with refusal. I know I’m a great worker—arguably the best in my position—but I need to make more money. I’m torn about whether to take the risk and leave the job I’ve been at for so long. I feel like I’m wasting my 20s, especially since there are no benefits, 401k, or health insurance offered.