I've cared for the dying for years. Why am I broke?
You have spent years with people at the edge of life — work most will not do, for pay that never matched it. You are tired in a way that does not show up on a pay stub. The account is low, and not only the bank account. You want someone to say this was unfair, that you are owed something. You are right. But that truth will not cover next month's rent, and waiting for it to be repaid is not a plan. What is still within your power is not the past wage — it is the next decision about your hours, your pay, and your limits. If what you feel has gone past exhaustion — if it sits heavier than tired — tell a doctor or counselor. That is not something to weigh alone on a page.
Your wage was never going to match the weight — no wage does, and that debt will not be settled now. The question in front of you is different: what do you do with the reserves you have left? Look at your real numbers. Decide what you stop doing for free. Choose your next move today.
What changes unlock by starting
- A clear, written picture of your finances instead of a vague dread.
- One concrete action taken this week toward changing your pay or your load.
- A named person or service outside yourself, so this is not carried alone.
- A rule for when to act next time, instead of waiting until reserves run out.