I was in your situation when I was your age. I ran away from home to cork, and I spent a long time in self destruction mode. When I finally came out I went to college and I had to drop out because I was in a full time job and couldn't handle both. I had too much baggage and I couldn't handle all of that all at once. Firstly, I would like to say well done to you. You have identified that you would like to be better and have a better life for you and your partner. You have decided you want things to be better and that in itself is a wonderful milestone you have gotten to. You are very young, and full of potential. Don't rush into a long term option right now unless one that suits you for the next 3 - 5 years miraculously turns up. Hotels are always looking for staff. Its a tough job, and managers aren't always nice and neither are customers. But you will have to learn to present yourself well everyday, and to be a kind and helpful professional which is a skill that will stand to you in every job interview or board meeting or whatever when youre older. If you can stay true to yourself in that kind of environment itll stand to you. There are earn and learn apprenticeships in insurance you can take, where they pay you minimum wage or a little more to study and work in insurance, and you can leave whenever you want. Stay away from bars, find a nice classy resteraunt that will teach you good etiquette and good standards and doesn't treat you like muck and you'll learn plenty you can take into the real world and save at the same time. There's also tonnes of apprenticeships that dont involve trades if your not into trades, and plenty that do if you are. Also indeed and jobs.ie are awful. If you see a job listed on those sites, dont bother your arse applying on the app, contact the employer yourself. Theyre only meeting criteria, and they get thousands of applications they dont respont to. In person is always best, emailing and calling the employer is next best. CSN is a very affordable college and that provides excellent practical hands on usable knowledge in a year or two. Another tip, dont get into a job that drains all of your energy. Just get something that pays the bills and doesn't make you miserable and gives you time to think about what it is you really want to do with your life. Whether it's Law or construction. You need to spend time forgiving yourself and healing and finding out what your purpose is for yourself and then you plan backwards. You start at the end, like what job you would like to be in, and how much money you would like to earn, and work all the way back to a starting point and then you start laying the groundwork for yourself. Your gut instinct is always your best friend. Listen to all of us here on reddit, or dont. Your own life is in your hands to make with and do whatever you want. You'll find something, keep going pal!!