I bought 3 pairs of these at MEC in August for Mountain Biking and have been using them for everything else ever since. Cushioned, comfortable and have stood up to multiple washes well so far. And they haven’t caused itching yet.
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/6026-525/jb-fields-super-wool-hiker-gx-quarter-socks-unisex?colour=Red
“Mostly stable”. Depending on what is implied by that could strongly influence my advice. Sometimes upgrading your skills while maintaining your income stream is best. It is also possible to progress upwards without ever acquiring that piece of paper. Though I agree that it can create some challenges as previous posters suggest, I have people in my circle who have been quite successful without a college or university diploma / degree. And do not discount the plethora of free training available online these days.