To ask how I can make more money by Working Really Hard

[PaintingOwls]

I am feeling very disillusioned and depressed over my finances and savings. I managed to save £10k after uni by living with parents for 2 years whilst on min wage and basically not doing anything. I put that money into NS&I and have gotten back about £200 in prizes.

I am mid-20s now and living in London. DP is at uni and in his final year, we live in zone 6. We want to start a family etc once he starts working. He is on an NHS course so hopefully he will be able to find a job very soon after graduation.

I earn £26k per year. This is 20,800 after tax. I don't get overtime or anything like that. There is an annual bonus but honestly it's a pittance and is obviously taxed so ends up even smaller!

After rent, council tax and travel (2.5k a year!!) and food there's not much to put away into savings.

What can I do? I work 8.30-6 with an hour commute at each end. I thought about looking for a weekend job but it's the only free time I get and work leaves me exhausted at the end of each day. I am an Executive Assistant so I basically spend my days running around fulfilling my boss's whims and wishes. I can't keep this up forever.

I always see people saying that they got ahead in life by working really hard -- well how can I get on that bandwagon? I feel really thick not being able to come up with any good ideas

[Somerville]

Last year I met with a couple of recruiters who said I could definitely get £30k with my experience. One said my outlook would be better if I had 5-7 years.
So increase your earnings to 30k plus now, and then switch to a new job again after you've been an EA for 5-7 years, when you will earn even more.

The longer you stay on such a low salary for your job title, the more it is going to hold your career back in the longer term, I think. In fact, if you've been there longer than 2 years then I think you need to prepare an answer for that at interview.

If you don't value your work highly (and by that I mean at least going-rate for your level of experience in that role) then employers won't either. But you don't sound afraid of hard work, so you've got no reason not to think highly of yourself.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

You have to look at the fact a school leaver with no qualifications could earn almost what you are on as a shop assistant. Especially when you have to add on the expenses such as clothes and travel off your already taxed income.