Should I stay or pursue a better opportunity?
As the title suggests it, I'm trying to decide if I should stay where I'm currently working or pursue a better opportunity for increased pay and benefits. I work in a small PA firm with about 10 employees in total (including my bosses). I make 54k a year as a staff accountant, about 47k after taxes with no benefits other than 401k and life insurance. There's overtime paid, but that's ONLY during tax season. They're everything I was looking for in a small PA firm. They're all very family oriented, family first and work second type of people. I have two kids, one is special needs and they're flexible with me attending my children's school activities.
I'm currently studying for my CPA exam, my bosses have been very supportive and I get partially reimbursed for all exams fees/materials. My main problem is the lack of pay and benefits. The total raise I've gotten in the last few years I've been here has only been $1.50 and I'm the only one bringing in income. My husband is a SAHD and we decided that he would be the one to stay home with the kids since we need one of us available at all times for the kids, especially our special needs child (the after effects of COVID had a lot to do with this decison as well). We are BARELY making it. We can't afford any insurance aside from dental/vision. We can't afford to go on vacation or even go out on a small road trip, and according to the law, I "make too much" for any assistance. We're literally SURVIVING BY A THREAD.
I have two undergraduate degrees in accounting and finance, three years of experience in PA including governmental accounting. I see others who haven't even graduated college and are earning 75k plus with full benefits. I just feel so much pressure! My husband has tried to help, but it just becomes a MESS with our kids' needs/schedules, especially our special needs child. We don't have ANY outside help, no friends or even family. No one to rely on or ask for help.
I've tried to avoid bigger firms or corporate in general because it's always an unknown with them too. I could have a job today but be out of one by the next day and don't get me started on the corporate politics. I know for a lot of people it's not a hard decision but it really is for me. I don't want to destroy an opportunity of truly growing here. Four employees have been here for 30-plus years, and the rest of us have been here for less than five. One of the partners is to retire in nine years and I've been told that they've been looking for someone like me, an aspiring CPA to take over and help the other partner run things when the other partner leaves. I want to stay, but I don't know how I can keep living like this much longer. For all the hell and hardship we have gone through, I know WE deserve so much more. I just don't know what to do.
EDIT: I also want to add that all this has been causing so many mental health issues for me. I work hard and always have since I was a kid (I used to go to work with my parents and help them out). I come in every day even on the days my kids have school activities; I go back to work afterward. I do my work and even ask for more when I feel like it's not enough. I go out of my way to help anyone, and I'm always ready to learn more. My parents always told me, "If you're going to do a job, make sure you do it well. If you're not, then don't bother doing it at all. "