I’ve been thinking about this for the last few days and i can’t make a decision, I was wondering if you all could help.

I’ve known this guy Jacob since we were in 6th grade and I’ve always had a crush on him. We’ve talked on and off over the years but it’s seeming to be more serious this time. (He’s not my boyfriend, I just had to shorten the title lol.)

I’m currently a caregiver for a company here and I’ve been here for almost 10 months and I like the job, and my clients love me.

Right now I’m only making $9.25/hr, but my company charges my clients $19/hr, so their profit is more than I even make. $9 is really nothing especially considering my job title is “caregiver/personal assistant.” So I pretty much do everything for my client and her able-bodied husband. I average 30 hours a week so I only make $1000 a month.

I also just got news that my teeth are in bad condition and I’ll have to have 2 root canals and 2 crowns, and several fillings and I absolutely cannot afford it, I don’t even know if I can afford 2 extractions. (Oh and they’re both in the front and easily visible 🙄)

Jacobs grandmother is sick and on oxygen. She can’t walk and is hard of hearing. She would need meal prep, errands run, help using the bathroom and help wiping, showering assistance etc so taking care of her would be more difficult than what I do now. Jacob is her primary caregiver right now and I feel bad for him because he has no life because of it. It seems like his family kind of pushes it on him and no one else really helps out.

But anyway, Jacobs dad is looking for someone to help out and Jacob asked me if I was interested. He asked how much I’d want an hour and I joked that I’d want $20 an hour (this was before I found out how much my company made off of me) and he said for me to call his dad to talk about it.

I’m not guaranteed $20 an hour but I don’t want to call his dad and get his hopes up when I’m not 100% serious about it yet.

$20 an hour is really tempting, (assuming that’s what I’d get) but there’s a few concerns I have

-Jacobs family doesn’t know we’re talking, they just think we’re friends

-Jacob lives with his grandma so I’d be there almost 24/7 with them, and what if we get into an argument or he ends up not wanting to be with me?

-I’m worried about being paid under the table (my mom said I’d just have to save up money to pay the government at the end of the tax season)

-His grandmother probably won’t live for too much longer assuming since she’s on oxygen and once she passes, I won’t have a job

-The job is only full time & not part time so I’d have to quit my current job

-I’m not a licensed nurse or anything like that I’m just a caregiver and have on the job experience. The only certifications I have are CPR so I couldn’t administer medicine to her if she needed it, Jacob would have to be home (he works 8-5)

-What if his dad chooses not to pay me, or promises to pay me next week and I’m put in the difficult position of working 2 weeks with no pay because I feel bad leaving the woman by herself?

-What if something happens to his grandma and I’m to blame? (Jacob has told me she’s very stubborn and doesn’t listen, and she fell down a flight of stairs because she wouldn’t listen) I would be without a job and maybe ruin the relationship I have with Jacob.

I talked to my mom and she said she would go for it, but I should set out clear guide lines, make sure I’m guaranteed 40 hours a week, and maybe type a contract of some sort.

Knowing all of this, what would you do?