Yes, I do have a full-time job, and I even enjoy it, but it doesn’t pay enough to survive in this hellscape of a world we live in. I lack the college degree required to get almost any decent-paying job (plus my last job hunt took MONTHS to get a lead), I don’t have the skills or originality to become an online content creator, nor the artistry or patience to create and sell trinkets on Etsy (plus, that would require an initial investment which I simply do not have). Should I set up a GoFundMe? OnlyFans? I wouldn’t really be offering anything except a charity basket/collection plate so that feels dishonest at best. Idk, I’m quite literally having a breakdown because I’m probably going to lose my car soon, and then my job, and then my apartment, and then my life. Any help at all would be appreciated. Thank you
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What are your thoughts on pursuing some sort of technology job? For example, any interest in learning to code?
Subscribe to Caleb Hammer YT channel. Move country with proper social structure if that doesn’t work.
Feel free to ask @mutual_aid@hexbear.net for help if you need it
Buy in bulk and learn to cook, the knowledge is free on yt. You don’t need a yt sub, just use ublock addon to block ads.
Some basic questions:
What, specifically, is your job? Just because you have a full time job doesn’t mean it is a sustainable career path or even a livable wage.
Do you have a budget? Have you cataloged your expenses?
How much debt do you have?
Giving you enough context to actually answer your question without giving up TOO much private info, in order:
Cubicle job where I make just under $20/hour (min. wage for my state is $15)
I don’t have a SET budget, but I really don’t spend that much :/ Rent is roughly half of my current paycheck (currently with 1 additional roommate but hopefully will get another in the next few months); Food is probably my biggest expense. Other than that, I have Spotify, YouTube, Xbox, and Microsoft Office accounts, but that total is about $60/month, which isn’t THAT much and, on the whole, has actually saved me money (so many ‘free’ games on Xbox it’s not even funny).
As for debt, I’ve got an account with a credit union, phone bill, car payments, car insurance, renter’s insurance, student loans, utilities, etc, etc. For a rough estimate (again, without giving too much away), recently I ended a week with ~$35, got my (2-week/80-hour) paycheck, paid all my bills, and ended up with ~$75. So, essentially, I made $.50/hour after bills
$20 an hour is a decent starting salary for no prior experience or education, but as you’ve said, it’s not a lot. You will need to make concessions somewhere, such as roommates, food, subscriptions, or entertainment.
The first step is to be honest with your expenses, going through your past few months of credit card and bank statements, and put everything into a spreadsheet or app.
Use YNAB or a similar app and catalogue each of your recurring and non-recurring expenses. You say they’re not “that” much, but they do add up. You may be surprised with what you find, but mostly, it will help you think through your priorities, what is essential, and what is a recurring expense.
This is great advice overall, but I would like to point out (though it does not seem to be OP’s case) that if you have any medical issues, your mileage may vary. Medical issues cause expenses to be very spiky and unpredictable.
Of course, it still helpful having a budget, just expect your budget to get fucked occasionally (in the US).
The secret ingredient is crime
That sucks. Sorry.
In your shoes, I would be shopping for a cheap beater car immediately. Put the word out among any friends.
Don’t be afraid to buy a beater. You can make a beater get you reliably from point A to point B with YouTube and a cheap tool set from Harbor Freight.
Also, let your boss know what’s up, if they’re not awful. They may have a lead on a vehicle. As the boss, calling in a favor to help a team membsr buy and maintain a cheap car is a hell of a lot easier than hiring a new good team member.
And to answer your question, I’m well past that stage now, but back when I made $20 / hour:
- I write out a budget, every month (I still do.) I didn’t use software, at first. I used to fold a piece of paper in half. On the left side of the fold I write each budget item description, on the right side of the fold I write each dollar amount. Then I add it up on my $4 solar calculator. Every month. It takes 20 minutes and it’s at least 50% responsible for my current wealth. The hourly rate of return on this stupid trick is mind bogglingly good. It’s easily the best investment I’ve ever made.
- I ate at home. I learned to cook three simple meals and ate them over and over again. One was scrambled eggs. One was a balogna sandwich. One was a tuna sandwich. I’m now still famous for my scrambled eggs. I don’t eat bologna or tuna anymore, if I can avoid it.
- I got very good at repairing my shit box fully paid off almost worthless car. I could still, today, land a job as a master mechanic’s apprentice, thanks to how much my beater broke and needed me to fix it. I was incredibly lucky to have mentors who could teach me car repair before YouTube existed. I can almost guarantee my shit box car was more reliable than any car you’re still paying off, after I fixed it so many times. Most shit box cars can become rock solid reliable with enough sweat and junk yards parts. I routinely put 300,000 miles on shitty brands of cars, before I reached the kind of wealth where I am now. Now that I’m living large, I buy four year old cars, with less than 100,000 miles on them. It’s quite the luxury, but I can afford it.
- I always repair my own appliances. Life is so much cheaper when a $17 part solves what could have been a $600.00 repair. YouTube has been incredibly helpful for this. I still repair almost all my own stuff because I now have more experience and a better handy-man track record than most folks I’ve ever hired.
I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. I hope things turn around for you.
The line keeps moving. Minimum wage goes up to help the bottom portion, prices of everything goes up. But profits increased for the already rich so there’s that
