FFF I think as people say it starts slow but builds up. Eventually you convert trial lessons into students (the rule at our club seems to be about 1 in 20). Everyone then selects their favourite weekly slot 8.00am saturday, 4pm sunday or whatever then they get upset when you take timeoff.
The other thing is, within a year you will be the old hand because everyone else will have Jet jobs. But by then you will have hundreds of hours and will be looking for that job yourself because no-one can live on these wages.
I would also keep applyingto the bigger schools. if you are in a place you can hang around you get a lot of walkins. You also pickup a lot of trips from the high hour guys who cant be bothered to wait all day for the 4.00 trip so they give it to you and take the day off. I've often gone in with an empty book and ended up flying 5 trips
BTW how can you teach your girlfriend to fly. I can only imagine that to be a perfect recipie for domestic strife.
Good luck