It gets better. I ate rice/pinto beans for 80% of my meals the first year out of college(I graduated in 2010, not a good time even in the Bay Area, Ca), I defaulted on some bills, my first job sucked and paid like crap and wasn't even an actual dev position.<p>But it eventually worked itself out. 5 years later, I have solid roof over my head, a good job, a wonderful wife and a great life. I think the most important thing for me to realize is that <i>those things</i>, being the stuff that eats us up inside, like bills, money and jobs, are really a small part of life, and you can never let them rule your life.<p>Whatever you do, don't sell yourself short. Always be looking and open for any opportunities that present themselves to you. Be on your own advocate and make choices that are best for you, not your employer, parents or anything else. In the end, the only truly required attribute, in my humble opinion, that is required to be successful as a software developer(and many other things), is persistence. Persistence to learn the basics, persistence to hone your skills and persistence to look and keep looking until you find a job that fits your needs.