Any thoughts?

Then definitely do that, I think you'll thank yourself once you do! :3

Kat the Foxtaur

I see... Mmm... In that case, I hope you were able to find something better ^^ And yeah... you aren't the first person to tell me that... I consider myself to be a selfish person, so I try to do everything I can to "not" be; but that seems to just lead to not taking care of myself in a lot of situations. At least according to other's point of view. Hm... Well, I guess I'll have to just go with my other plan I mentioned to "Random"... Might put a slight dent in my personal life, but I think I'll just have to try and make enough to where I can safely quit my job (for good; as I quit once and had to go back X/)..

ShadowPoni

Well... I was actually in a similar situation just a few months ago myself. I had come to the realization that I wasn't even making as much money as my recurring bills (let alone food/gas/etc). and that it was time to look for a new job. There were only 4 of us in the department when I started, but eventually my hiring boss moved to a different position (so he was physically still there [until COVID and he was working 100% remote] but no longer doing any of the stuff I was involved in), and one of my two co-workers retired. I had taken over pretty much everything he had done, so all the network infrastructure that he was responsible for, I had all the knowledge of. We ended up hiring another person, who I would consider a friend. But when I was getting ready to find a new job, I knew that I was really the only one who knew how a lot of things worked, especially the new fiber network equipment, since I spearheaded that project and was really the only one who knew anything about it. I really felt bad, as I LOVED my coworkers, and in the weeks before I found a new job, my oldest coworker was really expressing how it's gonna suck without me, even though he knows I gotta do what's best for me. Ultimately, I had to do it. They probably won't replace my position for a long time, if ever. My coworker that retired was never replaced before I left 3 years after him. The person they hired that I mentioned, was technically hired for a different position, and while we worked closely on a lot of things, there was still a big gap left by me leaving. But in the end, you gotta do what's best for YOU. Your employer will just have to manage without you, as every employer always does. If they can't replace you, again you gotta remember that it's not your concern, as bad as that may sound at first. Your mental health is the most important thing to you, and if moving on in life is what it takes, so be it! Once again, best of luck, I hope you can figure out a way to get yourself into a better situation for you, both mentally and financially. I'm rooting for you! :3

Kat the Foxtaur

No, no they won't. I'd feel bad because right now, I am legitimately the best worker they have; save for my manager (when she's not on vacation every other week). My only other good coworkers quit, which is why I'm now being shoved with al these hours I don't want. Not to say my remaining coworkers are "bad"; but they're all very new... And yeah.. what I'm making now, I absolutely could do; it's just figuring out taxes would be the issue then. Although... what I'm currently making between both patreon AND my job isn't enough. Or... maybe it is and I'm just really really bad with money (probably that one). And that's true. Can always do that if it doesn't work out... Thank you agian

ShadowPoni

That... is a good point. Bills take a large chunk of my paycheck(s); plus the interest on my credit; so saving is difficult. And yeah; without my job, my mental health would be amazing.. the three months I was at home when covid started were great. I got bored maybe a handful of times, during it; but I wasn't stressed out even once. The only options I can really see right now are: Keep my job, disconnect from what little social/home life I have, and do nothing but work, until I can actually quit my job without severe repercussion. Or quit job, work furiously as fast as I can to prove I can make enough to live off art before I get booted; and then worry about stuff like taxes and housing after. Ooor just keep trying to do what I've been doing; which is take this in steps, like a sane person... which keeps failing for inexplicable reasons due to my apparent horrid luck. No matter what I choose, there's either a detriment to either my finances, or my overall health/wellbeing... Hm... Yeah, screw it. I think I'm just going with option 1, and just work as much as possible until I can actually afford to quit. And will just hope I don't burn out again

ShadowPoni

Frankly, don't worry about your coworkers. Even if they are awesome, even if they are friends, don't worry. Because you will be replaced, the sad truth about most positions at most jobs is that everyone is replaceable. But that works in your favor! Because your employer and your coworkers will do just fine without you. And if they don't...frankly that's no longer your problem! XD But I would give the most consideration to whether you think you can keep up with whatever you're making now, by doing commissions and Patreon - also giving consideration that time you spend working each day/week can now be focused on pumping out commissions faster. But there's also the fact that there's no obligation to stay a full-time artist! If things just aren't working out as well as you had hoped, then hopefully you can easily find a new job to move onto. :) Whatever you choose, I wish you the very best of luck!! <3

Kat the Foxtaur

I see... Yeah, I would really be throwing myself into it, if I quit. My plan was to just take steps, potentially opening the $15 tier, as well as commissions every 2-3 weeks, once I caught back up with art here. Also $400 a week would be amazing; I only make around that (if not $100 less) every two weeks. And thank you. I'm incredibly impulsive, which is why I needed to ask. I can't even begin to describe how much I despise my job; the only things keeping me there are my feeling bad for my coworkers and also of course, being kicked out.

ShadowPoni

I think the most awkward part is where you’re not in control of your own housing situation. That art isn’t seen as anything serious, so if you’re not working a ‘real’ job then you can’t stay. Rather lame, since I’m pretty sure you could earn alright by doing art. I think your mental health will suffer from your job, but it seems that not doing your job isn’t all that viable either, idk. Can you actually save from what you earn from work? Because that’s what it sounds like is needed to me, so you can control your own housing situation later on

Ooof, this one is a tough one for sure. I've seen artists do this and regret it, and I've seen artists do this and never look back. Main thing is to figure out whether it's right for you. The biggest questions to ask yourself are going to be: can you make enough money to at least be close to what you're making now, and can you sustain the flow of commissions you'd have to take on in order to do so? For example, if you're currently making $10/hr, 40 hours a week, you would need to make sure that you can complete $400 worth of commissions in a week - every week, without falling behind (minus whatever you typically get on Patreon too). And whether that's 10 x $40 commissions, 4 x $100 commissions, or one $400 commission, is up to you, since it's all the same. I hope you consider your options very thoroughly. You seem like a super amazing person, and I really hope you get to do what YOU WANT to do, and that you can afford to do it! :3 We're here for you no matter what you choose to do!

Kat the Foxtaur