I'm on $21 an hour and if you're not a fuckwit with money, and don't live alone, then it's fine. I have a decent savings, live with my partner, and can go to concerts or buy make up or whatever I need and have money left over each fortnight. We cook most meals and have no debt though, no credit cards either.

My mates who are on the same wage, aren't quite as comfortable. One keeps ticking shit up on credit cards etc, he eventually gets out of debt and then gets right back into it. The other lives paycheck to paycheck because he spends every cent of his 'spending money' on purpose each fortnight.

Sounds like you should take the supervisor job and have a serious think about what you want out of life so if you do choose to go study, you hopefully choose the right subject first time round :)