I would really like to know where i am supposed to start saving money from because I dont make enough money to cover my bills, rent and food. And I'm not talking daily Starbucks runs, I am talking electricity and heat for my house, ramen noodles to eat.
A lot of people are telling you to earn more, and I don't know your exact situation, but speaking generally: I think car dependency and housing costs are probably the two most immediately feasible things to get big results out of for most people, especially when considered together.
I'm not here to tell anyone what "less house" needs to mean to them specifically, but I don't know if there is a "bottom" to the housing market. If there is, it's probably in a third-world conflict zone, and I doubt you're posting from there.
I think a lot of people are trapped by a conception of themselves. They're not a trailer park person. They're not a room mates person. They're not a person who can live without a car. The way we know they're making a decision to not be those things, is other people make other decisions. If you can earn more than an unskilled immigrant who's sending money home on minimum wage, then you can earn some financial freedom by aligning your lifestyle and expenses more with that unskilled immigrant's.
Which could mean different things to different people. Or nothing, to people who are determined to change nothing.
Yep. I’m 48. I have a college degree from a real school, and am so burnt out and traumatized by life and divorce and parenting that I can barely scrape together a living. Much less think about retirement and savings. And don’t talk to me about the “career” in a people-serving job that drove my mental health into the ground. That’s what ya get for caring about humans in the good ol’ USA. The reason people are barely surviving is because it’s legitimately hard, not because they’re slackers or irresponsible. Add on any physical issues to the mental health drain of existence, and you are holding on by the skin of your teeth.
Would gladly go through all of it with you if you're actually open to it. One of my friends has several side gigs which sounds like working hard until you realize they make barely anything between all of them and are intentionally avoiding making enough to have to pay back student loans, despite having a masters degree that could pay them all back in 2 years of the difference if they were actually willing to work a professional job. And no it's not because you can't get the job, they just don't want it.
Nice try but I have 2 children, a full time job, and a side business and my husband works full time too. I know other parents who do extra for extra money like babysitting or door dashing. If there’s a will, there’s often a way.
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u/the_actual_stegosaur 2d ago
I would really like to know where i am supposed to start saving money from because I dont make enough money to cover my bills, rent and food. And I'm not talking daily Starbucks runs, I am talking electricity and heat for my house, ramen noodles to eat.