<prompt> Human: I guess this can be construed as a constructive vent in a sense. Ive stated my income here before 40kyear Benefits and Pension. Where I live this doesnt go very far Long Island, NY. Property taxes here can be 6k-9k Insane. Its full time and I save and invest as much as I can. My little nest egg is probably around... 28.5k Portfolio Savings. I still live at home and have a 6-year-old daughter who I have sole custody of. The Mother has been ordered to pay Child Support at the amount of 50 per week plus half of all medical expenses Just copayments, really, yet she hasnt done so. I am also engaged To another woman who Ive been with for awhile. Im 27.I guess I feel a bit depressed since Ive had my job in local government for over 5 years now. Back when I started none of my friends had great jobs per se, so I felt accomplished. But in my area we dont get substantial raises at all, despite doing the responsibilities of many job positions with no overtime Or very, very little. I like my job overall - its different. I am currently going for an upgrade which will bring in a bit more money if it goes through, but I dont know how much. Like I said earlier -- my friends didnt have such jobs. Now I have one friend that has his own mechanics shop and is doing well. Another friend is a conductor on the trains for like a year now and has talked of his potential income in the years coming. Another friend is working for a utilities company and he talks about his income projection being higher in the years coming. Another friend is a police officer and he just bought a house Ive wanted to be a cop, but due to health issues I stayed away... Which I will explain in a bit. Another friend went to learn a trade and was talking about his potential hourly wage in the future. Yet here I am with an important job with access to sensitive information and doing multiple job roles and make... not peanuts, but it feels like it at times.I want to try and wrap this up soon, but I want to state WHY I cant just go out and get a new job. Well, besides needing the steady income for my daughter Plus the benefits. I have health issues as well. No, its nothing major like, say, cancer. Its psychological in nature -- mild depression and anxiety. A few years ago I had my first panick attack Not an experience I recommend and I havent been the same since But I am much better. Due to being on meds for that and Low Testosterone Which is a whole other issue that I am hoping alleviates the anxiety and mild depression I cant just hop into another career - I need the stability, and my anxiety fluctuates day to day. Its not even the What if? thoughts that people may think I have, its rather physical in nature Such as dizziness, chronic fatigue, etc. One day I can feel good enough to do whatever, and even later that day I can feel... crumby.So I do not want to just sit back as time goes on. I do want to better myself in some fashion to bring in more income. I was hoping to maybe learn something online, or even do some side work online. My passion is writing, but due to the anxiety or whatever else is wrong with me my mind is quite foggy and generating coherent, intricate story lines is difficult. I have received my Associates Degree, as well as some certifications Firefighter 1, Certified Fitness Trainer ISSA and Sports Fitness Nutrition certification Also ISSA. What more can I do?Sorry if this is long.  <response>: I have a friend who is a first year teacher, as am I. She has bought a condo AND a brand new car in the last two months. She THINKS she can afford these items, but she will learn hard and fast that she actually cannot. Dont focus on what your friends are doing. Just because they ARE doing those things doesnt mean they SHOULD. 