What would you do?

i completely understand your situation. Until i got my promotion at work a month ago, i was in exactly the same situation. My student loans ate up most of my money, i maxed out a credit card simply to stay on birth control. it was messy. Unfortunately I had to work a job that is not my passion, is a schedule i hate, and more often than not, with people i dislike-- pushing papers and doing customer service (which isnt bad).

What I did to make a little extra money (since i didn't have a lot of free time since i volunteered for PFLAG and as a community choir director because they are my passions) I would make and sell stuff (hand bags, mostly) and also i would pet sit/dog walk. I especially liked the dog walking because i love animals and i was going to be exercising anyway, so why not get paid to exercise with a 4-legged companion, right? so that's an idea.

You like knitting, so knit for neighbors?

OH! also, at one point i was so strapped for cash i took some online surveys that paid $ (as a shot in the dark) and ended up getting a couple $10 checks in the mail which came at JUST the right time.

those are my suggestions, i hope things work out for you! I'm insanely envious of your ability to work at a job you love. maybe one day i'll have that but right now that's not monetarily feasible.

best of luck!

Forgot to add that you might check into Government programs along the lines of what you do - that way you have the possibility of better pay, advancement and still doing what you love.
Happy Holidays!

I would stick to the job, but get a 2nd, if the 2nd job is not an option, try to budget better?

in my 20's and 30's, it was happiness over money, now in my mid 40's and looking at retirement down the road....money has to be the prioity. They say the reason most people cant live within their means is because they dont consider that living.

get a second job to pick up a few hours and keep looking for something better. You put a lot of time and effort into your degree, now its time to put it to work for you. Its a tough economy but things are picking up slowly.

in my 20's and 30's, it was happiness over money, now in my mid 40's and looking at retirement down the road....money has to be the prioity. They say the reason most people cant live within their means is because they dont consider that living.

get a second job to pick up a few hours and keep looking for something better. You put a lot of time and effort into your degree, now its time to put it to work for you. Its a tough economy but things are picking up slowly.

I was a single mom of 3 until I met my husband, I was a secretary at a bank, hated it, but stuck with it because I needed the money, stayed long enough to end up the compliance officer at the bank and was making pretty good money, but still hated it. I just left there a year ago and got into the job I'm in now and I love it, I love my boss, the people I work with, the hours and especially the pay, I doubled my income. But I stayed in job that I hated first, built up my experience, made enough money to support my family, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Having a job that you love is great, it really is. Feeding your family, making sure their transportation is reliable and keeping a heated/air conditioned roof over their heads, and clothes on their backs, that's more important.

If you start budgeting now (and trust me I know what it's like to not have enough to save) then it will make it easier for you to continue budgeting when you are making more money. A second job from home, or a job that you can take your kid with you (my mom cleans houses and buildings in her spare time and takes my kids occasionally) could help you out a lot, every little bit helps. But in your position, if I was you, I wouldn't turn down more money because I was happy at my current job, there's always a chance that you could be happy at the next, or the next.

I pondered your question again during a ripping workout (i think better when I'm sweating). I say that you should actively persue another line of work/job. Why would you want to stay in a job that doesn't challenge you, or use your skills to their potential. I have hung on to a lousy job before, and after I was fired. I wondered "why was I hanging on to that job"? My boss told me he was doing me a favor. He was correct. A job is like a relationship, and we all owe it to ourselves, to have enough self respect, and dignity to get out of it, what we are worth. It's not all about the money, it's about human potential. Your potential. Think about this; you are staying at a job, with no chance of a raise, no chance for advancement, and not using your skills. Boring! And the icing; you can't eek out the most meager of a living doing it. This sounds like a "no brainer" to me. Contrary to what you believe, or what is portrayed in the media, there are jobs out there. As an employer, I would hire somebody that, I was convinced of their abilities to add to my bottom line. There are many people out there that are clueless, and don't want to work hard. If you are in the top 50% in appearance, social skills, and have an ability to speak with confidence; you're in. I say put it out there; move on, and find your potential. You are worth it!

I use to work at home. You can try looking up at home jobs for part time work. I know that Kelly Services is hiring for a lot of positions for at home, like tech support.