AIBU to think it’s too late for me to earn more money, due to my poor life choices.

I started an OU degree and I don't have A Levels. Unfortunately I had to drop out, but I really enjoyed what I did manage to complete.

I think not being able to complete the course is one of my biggest regrets in life. If you have the opportunity and you want to do it go for it.

Will the school you’re a TA at support you to train as an early years teacher? My SIL has done this and it’s worked out well for her.

Good call re AAT. About 20 years ago, I taught one of the AAT modules at our local college of FE. One of the class was a 50+ year old bloke working as a car cleaner at a local garage!

Entry level (and up) professional qualifications are often available as evening courses at FE colleges. So, for eg, AAT (accountancy), CIPD (HR), CIM (Marketing). Anything like that appeal?

You are a perfectly reasonable age to start a new career. Lots of people do it. You could easily have 20/30 years’ earning ahead of you. You just need to believe that so you can project confidence in what you’re doing.

My late mother spent her life educating herself & other people - first as a teacher, then moved into training teachers. She took her first degree via the Open University, studied for 2 MA degrees and was awarded her PhD (doctorate) degree at the age of 73.

It's never too late.

Good luck.

You potentially have another 20 years of working life before state pension age, so barely over half way through your working life. Far too soon to give up and "settle". Even if it took you five years to retrain, gain qualifications, work your way up in a new field, you'd still have 10-15 years afterwards. It's never too late!

I didn’t think you could do a degree without a levels? And did you need certain gcse grades?

I don’t think you should pigeon hole yourself as those beliefs will keep you where you are. Have you thought about your ideal job? Would you like to study?

I'm 40, self-diagnosed very likely ADHD, menopausal, and following this with interest.

I empathise. I'm autistic with ADHD and despite being intelligent, low self esteem and anxiety has meant I haven't made great choices. It's great you are feeling more confident now you're older. I'm in the same position and am re-training in mid 40s, I wonder whether something like the Civil Service would work for you?

Agree, it’s never too late

i am a few years younger than you but also in my 40’s and could have told a very similar story 4 years ago

I was working in a minimum wage job with no qualifications except my GCSEs

i enrolled in the open university and did a degree full time from home over 3 years around work and family - applied an got accepted on a great graduate scheme - many were in their early 20s straight out of uni but I was certainly not the only older person doing a career change, I now earn significantly more than I did just a few years ago and have a career I really enjoy

think about it this way - you’ve potentially still got years and years left of your working life - you may as well do something you would enjoy and put the effort in, even if you need to retrain first

What about adult education courses at your local Uni. They often don't need the same GCSE/A level route to get in. They might have an access course that gives you extra skills and then swap to a degree. If you want to. 💪

It's never too late to learn new skills and gain new qualifications. Have you thought about doing some training courses? For example, FutureLearn have a very wide range of free online courses, many with completion certificates, that you can use to bolster your CV and evidence to potential employers that you are keen and able to learn new things.