How do you become financially independent?

[Catlady0808]

I always see advice on here telling women to be financially independent, but how do you do it?

This is a genuine question. I have no idea how to be. I’m 32 years old, I’ve always worked, I’ve had office jobs but I’ve never earned over £23k a year. I’ve never earned enough to completely support myself and I’m really sad about it. Not to mention I know I’m in a vulnerable situation. I share rent/bills with my DP but could not afford to support myself alone in the town I live in.

I feel like it’s so easy to blame women in this situation but most jobs aren’t particularly well paid, and housing has become ridiculously expensive over the last 10-15 years whilst wages haven’t gone up. I feel like we live in an economy now where just to support yourself you have to be successful, you can’t just have a regular job anymore.

I have good GCSE’s/A Levels, no degree. I’d be willing to study. I’m not good at IT, Science, Maths (which I know are big earners). I have no idea what I could realistically do at my age.

Just looking for some advice on which careers someone like me at my age could realistically move into that make decent money.

Sales roles (in large corporates) sometimes don't require a degree and can pay well if you are suited to it.

You earn more by adding responsibility at work. What about a project management qualification like Prince2, or moving towards office and facilities management? In a big busy office if you are organised there are some good salaries in this.

Work out what you are good at (I’m afraid you don’t need to enjoy it but most people do enjoy what they’re good at I suspect). Talk to your line manager…like others have said I know that we’re always pleased when people want to develop themselves because if skills trickle down then we can save ourselves a fortune by not having to recruit externally and everyone wins!

Legal secretary or paralegal? It depends where you live to a certain extent but a lot of these roles are now remote. Working for a big London based company/firm the salaries are really decent - definitely upwards of 40k.

I would say solicitor but that would require quite a few years of study.

Ok clearly that's not correct information. She tells people she is a sports physio but I'm sure does not have a degree. She did study for about 2 years which I though we're two separate courses. As people suggested she is probably a sports masseuse.