I have a degree in mathematics but work minimum-wage in fast food, full-time. I'm looking for a second job at a supermarket. The primary difficulty I face is not having a car and having a bad credit score of 550.
Well not pretty far, but you are in close danger of getting behind most people in their mid 20s.
You need to take a long hard look at your life and make some changes. It won't be easy but you need to do it:
1) You have a good degree - maths - so why work in a supermarket?? Look for jobs that use your skills
2) learn to drive a car
Those should be your first two immediate concerns to tackle
I won't worry too much about living with mum for the time being. Lots do at your age. Once you have a better job with more money, THEN think about getting your own place.
Think about increasing your social circle - have you any interests? If so, join a club involved with those interests. Get to know women as friends. Or perhaps join a dating agency
have a lot to do, but you have taken the first step in recognising that you need to do it, so well done on that !
how is it possible that you have a bad credit score when you have nothing? what did you spend your money on?
You should have graduated from college, a vocational or technical school or community college by the age of 21 and gotten one or two jobs and moved out of your parents home. If you stayed then you should have paid your mother for rent, electric, water and food or bought your own.
You need either to take a driving course at some school or hire a company that teaches people to drive and get your drivers license. Since you have a degree in mathematics you should be using that. But most people when they graduate from (four years of) college they then have to specialize and that's the part that's missing. You need to either specialize in business and accounting or insurance or get CPA training, or bookkeeping training and work for a place that does paychecks for big companies, or become a business manager for a construction firm, or go into law, but you need to specialize. Then you'd start looking for the "career" type salaried or contract type jobs rather than the hourly wage. If you're stuck then go back to the school you graduated from and see what jobs are available in their job services department, or look in the wall street journal, or ask around about apprenticeships, but to do any of those things you need to drive and have your own car so work toward those things as well.
You'd think that because you know math that your credit score would be higher. So go to Dave Ramsey's website and see how to get that credit in line.
I started reading your description and I found I am the same age as you, also have never been in a relationship, and also live with my mother. I don't have a degree. Yes I would say people like you and I have some catching up to do. I think the most important thing though is to start living everyday close to your version of your perfect self. It can mean just taking care of yourself, working out, or even things like writing a page in a book if you feel it is something you want to do.
No need to move out of your mother's house. But you do need mental health counseling - and it should have been gotten a few years ago. a - to help you be further along by now ... b) especially if the cost was reduced thanks to your mother's insurance). - but do what you can to improve your mental health (and keep up your physical health).
Growing up poor has nothing to do with it. You did get a college degree, which is a significant accomplishment. {Maybe you need to augment your math degree with something that can get you a good job.} The 550 credit score puzzles me because you basically have no debt.
Find the absolute cheapest apartment possible and move out. This puts you on the road to adulthood and responsibility. You are probably too poor to afford a gym membership, so look on youtube for home workouts to gain muscle. More muscle means more testosterone, which means you will take more risks to get ahead in life.
OK. So if you are working 40 hours per week and sleep 56 hours per week, what do you do the other 72 hours per week that you are awake? Let the excuses begin...
I want to know how did you end up like this?
If your working at crappy jobs and aren't looking or jobs in maths then perhaps go back to college and get a better degree. you won't be able to start a family with that kind of income and if you do get gf, you won't be able to satisfy her
I knew a kid who was a terrible student, terrible social skills and smelled! After many years I heard that he was the Supt of Schools in a very large mid-western city! NO... IT WAS NOT Chicago! Hang in there! Just put one foot ahead of the other!!!!
That's not your primary difficulty.
Your primary difficulty is not living up to your potential.
I must apologize if I am wrong, but this post screams troll.
