u/Dense-Package544

Hey everyone — I’m currently in final interviews for a Store Manager position with Dollar General and wanted some honest feedback from people actually in the role.

I was quoted around a 48-hour work week and ~$55k salary with bonus potential.

I’m coming from a retail leadership background and feel confident in my ability to do the job, but I also have a family and want to make sure I’m walking into something sustainable.

A few things I’m hoping to get real-world insight on:

• How accurate is the “48 hours/week” expectation? What do you actually work most weeks?

• How often are you working 6 days a week?

• What situations typically push you over your scheduled hours?

• How much does store staffing impact your quality of life?

• Are there “good stores” vs “bad stores,” or does it all tend to feel the same?

• Is the bonus realistic, or hard to actually achieve?

I’m not afraid of hard work — just trying to understand what’s normal vs worst-case.

Appreciate any honest insight.

So last week I posted here and got a ton of responses—almost all of them said “lawyer up.”

I get it. I really do. I want one. I’ve called like 5 at this point and every single one wants a few thousand upfront. I just don’t have that right now. Not even close.

This morning I tried posting again but I was honestly kind of spiraling and it came out messy, so I’m trying again a little more level-headed.

I’ve been separated from my ex (never married) for a few months. We’ve been doing an informal 2-2-3 schedule with our daughter, but nothing is actually set in stone. No court order, nothing official.

The problem is it’s starting to fall apart.

A big issue is childcare. I work a lot (including evenings), and she’s basically made it clear she doesn’t trust or agree with anyone watching our daughter except her or her parents. So when I’m working during “my time,” she ends up taking over anyway.

So now it feels like:

my time isn’t really my time

everything is getting bent around my work schedule

and I don’t actually have a say in how my own parenting time works

I’ve tried to talk about getting things legalized and setting real structure, but it goes nowhere.

I’m at the point where I feel like the only real solution is filing for custody and getting to conciliation so we have actual rules.

But I’m honestly scared to do it without a lawyer.

I don’t want to mess something up and end up in a worse position than I’m already in. At the same time, waiting to save money feels like I’m just letting things get more messy and one-sided.

So I guess I’m asking:

If you were in my position, would you:

wait and try to save for a lawyer first?

or

file on your own to get the process started

Any advice or experiences would really help. I feel pretty stuck right now.

Edit: We weren’t married.

I’m at the point where i know i need to get things legalized… i’ve tried asking many times now for her to agree so we don’t have to involve lawyers but protect ourselves and get something on paper. but it’s always “ill think about it” or “we’ll see”.

but since we separated (not married) the one thing that’s been agreed to and followed through with is 2-2-3 50/50 custody schedule… just informally.

now though, we’ve started running into the issue of I have a new job and and my ex refuses to let anyone watch our child during my blocks that’s not her or her parents…. Yes i’ve been told it doesn’t matter what she thinks but we both are on the lease here even though she moved out to live with her parents and “i have childcare covered” would set off a bomb, have her keep my girl from me next time she has her, or even she would just show up and take her… idk.

the real issue is i have no savings available and i feel like im in a spot where i need to lawyer up NOW not in months where ive finally saved up enough to retain. idk what to do. i feel very hopeless and stuck.

i’ve called a few different lawyers and their all the same story: $250-$300 up front just for a consultation… ++>$2000 to retain. I just cannot afford that rn.

My girl is the most important thing in the world to me… i can’t lose her… not even temporarily while i wait and save… it’ll kill me.