I started in publishing aged 23 and was on £18k full time in 2003. Managed to work my way up to Assistant Editor role on a trade magazine earning around £26k. Worked there for nearly 12 years, and had DD1.
Made redundant after returning from my leave almost a year later. The bastards 😤 Worked as a freelance copywriter for 4 years earning a pittance at £600 retainer for 2 days part time work.
Then in 2015, I became very ill and disabled after a head injury, post concussion syndrome, then brain injured again by an off label antipsychotic that gave me a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia.
I've just got back into work now again after being a SAHM for about 6 years to my two youngest DC. I'm not earning any money really now - lower than the minimum wage. It's about £900 for 5 hours per day, 5 days a week.
Going to university, working hard to climb the career ladder etc didn't really have the effect I'd hoped it might. 😕 😢 Health is so much more precious than money, though, and of course, if I could get my full health back again instead of all the money in the world, I'd swap in an instance 💔