EDIT: I’ve concluded the job! I worked for approximately one month and got paid a total of about $700, sans taxes. I intend to write about my experience soon.

Today I got my first ever real job; I’m now an employee at a local grocery store. If I’d gotten more donations (*cough cough*) I might have been able to avoid getting it.

Truth is I’m making about $0.50 a day online right now and I NEED more money than that if I’m going to get emancipated and move out. My only other options were to run away (and leave my girlfriend) or deal with life at home (and hope I made more money online over the next two months.)

I detest the thought of selling my precious time for a measly $6.25 an hour, but I think the experience will prove valuable because:

• When I run for president, I can say I’ve worked at a minimum wage job (identify with voters by showing I’m “cut from the same cloth.”)
• I’ll get my desired social interactions every day (and then some.)
• I’ll start to build references and employment experience in case I (*shudder*) continue to work for other people in the future.
• I actually get some money, which I can use to buy food, rent an apartment, and get emancipated with.
• I think I can quit whenever I want, so if it gets too bad, I can stop.

Still, it would have been nice to support myself solely through blogging.

EDIT: I just worked for five hours and it wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. Working in a grocery store is a really great way to improve your social skills. Still, I wouldn’t want to work more than 25 hours a week—it seems like each additional hour worked brings less and less improvement.

P.S. If you’re shy and stuck at home, get a job in retail! It will really help you break out of your comfort zone.