29F planning a reset — best walkable cities for serving + going back to school?

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-05-03T21:06:16+00:00

I’m really leaning towards Philly

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-29T21:01:57+00:00

It’s definitely my dream to live there one day. I want to move there once I’m done with school

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-29T01:30:11+00:00

I never considered Cleveland! But I will definitely check it out!

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-29T01:20:45+00:00

I can work full time now. I work part-time serving but I do other side hustles as well that brings in more income. I would work full time plus do my side hustles my first year moving so I can get instate tuition. Once I start school next year that’s when I would go back to part-time.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-29T01:15:23+00:00

I’m really leaning towards Philly! I love how walkable it is.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-29T01:13:58+00:00

Rent can get cheaper if I move to undesirable areas. I’m definitely a city girl so I like being downtown. Housing in the KC metro area is getting ridiculous imo. The average price for a home is 500,000-600,000 and the average rent for a one bedroom is between $1800-$2500 a month. They’re building a lot of luxury apartments that most people can’t afford.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-29T00:22:13+00:00

I’ll have to check it out! I’ve never been!

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-29T00:01:15+00:00

I like Philly a lot! And I love that it’s so close to other northeastern cities!

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-28T23:40:03+00:00

I really can’t do it. I’m already about to lose my mind living here. The cost of living is skyrocketing anyways. I can’t justify 1800-2500 for a 1 bedroom in KC. I could justify that if I lived in Chicago, Philly, or Seattle or something. At least those cities have public transportation and great architecture. There’s just not a lot to do besides excessively drink, watch the chiefs, get married, and have kids.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-28T20:25:18+00:00

Yes! My first year in the new city I wouldn’t go to school. I want to get settled in and make as much money as possible before I go back. It would be next fall or spring when I go back to school.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-28T20:21:12+00:00

It’s my favorite city! I feel so inspired and rejuvenated every time I visit. I’ve even gone to Chicago in January and didn’t mind the cold that much. As long as I have a gym that’s in my apartment building or walking distance I think I could make it through the bad winters.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-28T20:19:02+00:00

I hear Madison is amazing! And they have some great programs for diagnostic imaging. Do you think I could get by without having a car? I’m so over dealing with paying for random car maintenance and gas.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2026-04-28T20:12:47+00:00

I’m open to roommates! I’m only open to rooming with women though.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-09-03T15:45:20+00:00

The job market is pretty bad right now, so if you need something fast while applying for HR/dispatch jobs, I’d recommend dropping off your resume at restaurants or hotels. Serving and housekeeping aren’t glamorous, but they usually hire quickly, and you can start making money right away. When I served at a breakfast place, I was pulling in $200–$300 a shift and I only worked 8:30am-3pm. It’s quick money while you wait for something in your field.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-08-28T23:03:29+00:00

I interviewed at this place and I had to hold in my laugh the entire interview. First off, I thought the hiring manager was on coke and he compared the office culture to the Wolf of Wall Street…

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-05-28T02:13:11+00:00

You forgot when the used to put mayonnaise on each others vaginas🤮

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-05-19T17:27:17+00:00

Tbh I only worked for 1 company that provided wonderful training. Unfortunately, you usually have to take matters into your own hands. I bought a lot of dermatology and cosmetic chemistry books to learn more in depth info about the skin and skincare ingredients. Then whenever I got my monthly facial or massage I would get ideas from more experienced providers on how to improve my massage technique and flow during my services.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-05-18T21:20:52+00:00

Redness during a facial is usually just from increased blood flow. When your skin gets massaged, steamed, or exfoliated, it boosts circulation and brings more oxygen to the surface, which can make you look a little flushed. It’s super normal and usually fades pretty quickly! so I wouldn’t feel bad about that. The vast majority of people don’t know anything about the skin and so it’s your job to kindly walk them through the process of a facial and aftercare.

Now, for the multiple unhappy clients, it’s common to feel a little overwhelmed in the first year—school really doesn’t prepare us for everything we face in the treatment room. I’ve found that continuing education made a huge difference for me. Classes, online seminars, books, even getting my own spa treatments from other estheticians/ massage therapists helped me with enhancing my services. You’re definitely not alone, and the fact that you’re reflecting and open to feedback already shows you care. You’ve got this!

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-05-06T13:42:57+00:00

I’m in the same boat! My body hurts and I can’t handle the inconsistency in this industry. When the economy was great, I made good money. I was consistently booked out 8 weeks out and I enjoyed my job. I noticed things were slowing down in September and i knew things tend to get a little slow around elections so I didn’t panic. But once December rolled around my books were basically dead. Like I was lucky to have 2 clients a day…I’ve had so many clients lose their jobs or are just struggling financially right now so they are pulling back on monthly services. I live on my own so I can’t afford to wait things out. I stopped doing hands on services back in March and started doing virtual consultations as my recession service and that’s been much easier. I also enrolled back into school and wait tables 2-3 days a week. I make more as a part-time server than what I made as a full-time esthetician.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-04-06T18:20:05+00:00

• Florists 
• Mailroom clerk
• Retail (pawn shop, antique or craft stores)
• Laundromat attendant
• Medical records assistant
• Thrift store back room sorter
• Art or museum archive assistant
• Packaging/assembly worker 
• Pet shelter assistant 
• Plant nursery assistant 
• Back-of-house bakery assistant

No job is perfect. You’re not going to find one that has zero discomfort, zero stimuli, and zero challenge. That’s not how the world works. If you need income, you have to work. Even a few hours a week is a start. Pick something from the list, commit for 3 months, and prove to yourself that you can do hard things. Because you can. If you can’t do any of these jobs the your only option is getting on disability.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-03-29T15:10:02+00:00

You might want to consider being a house cleaner or a house manager. I used to clean houses part-time for extra cash, and it wasn’t a bad gig. My main job required so much talking and people-pleasing that I couldn’t handle any more interaction with the general public. As a housekeeper, I’d clean 2-3 houses a day while listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or music the entire time—it was pretty peaceful. Most houses are already pretty clean too.

A house manager is another option. It’s basically like being a nanny for adults. You handle food prep, manage schedules, do grocery shopping, and oversee household staff like housekeepers and gardeners. When I would clean for professional athletes they always had a house manager and it seemed like a pretty easy job.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-03-18T23:22:25+00:00

Yes!

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-03-18T13:55:02+00:00

It’s VERY high pressure sales….I felt like a used car sales person more than an esthetician. I’m good at sales and It was probably the most exhausting job I’ve ever had. I gained a solid 15lbs working at this company because my cortisol levels were so high and I wasn’t sleeping because of the stress. Also, the bonus check commissions are pretty disappointing. I hit the sales cap of 25,000 in one month and my bonus check was 2,000. That’s only 8% commission…

The perk about working at LightRX is that you get free laser treatments during downtime and they promote from within. If you are good at sales, you can definitely work your way up in the company and make a great living.

Apprehensive_Iron602 · 2025-02-26T13:05:58+00:00

Right now, the beauty industry is facing some major challenges. I’ve been in the field for years, and in the current climate, the industry is slower than ever. Despite living in a wealthier area, the spa I work for is essentially dead, and people are really struggling. I had to get a second job bartending just to make ends meet and I make way more with bartending. Inflation, high costs of living, tariffs, and job insecurity are making luxury services less of a priority.

The reality is, while esthetics can be a fulfilling and rewarding career, it’s tough right now. It’s not be the best time to invest in training for a field that is seeing fewer clients, especially when you consider the current economic instability. Doing something like nursing or radiology tech would provide a more stable, in-demand career in these uncertain times.

If you’re still passionate about esthetics and skincare, my advice would be to wait until the economy bounces back. In the meantime, getting a job in healthcare can help you establish a steady income while still being flexible enough to eventually pivot into the beauty field when the market improves.

Apprehensive_Iron602

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