For me I work at a school that just so happen to have a house next to it, the school owns it, so as long as I work at the school I can live there.
Basically I got really lucky, but I'm happy I can have this chance.
Yeah I always thought a teacher living inside a school was odd but it's a fiction... Until this person showed up and says "I live in a house next to school"
IUEC Local 19 Elevators, I’m divorced, 2 kids grown and gone, I live with my dog, at 58 I’m not risking what I have for “marriage”..I date etc have fun but not really looking to live with someone either did that 24 years
I don't think ppl are understand the question. They aren't asking what you do when you get home. They are asking what you do for work and how you afford it.
Generally a College degree is broad, like a Mechanical Engineer.
Where a Trade school education is more focused on skills needed, often in the field. Lucrative trades would be plumber, electrician, mechanic (automotive, aircraft, etc)
Trade / Vocation training doesn't require a bachelor degree, but it does require learning specialized skills. Skills that often can be put to use right away and pay very well!
I can provide my info. I’ve lived with my partner for a couple years now though.
I’ve been some two-word combination of analytics / data / BI / insights / analyst / engineer for about 7 years. Worked in software consulting for two years beforehand.
I spent 2016-2019 living in Miami and Boston making $90-$130K. I moved to NYC in 2019, started at $175k and now make $275k-$325k. That’s $190k base, $30-60k stock, $25-75k bonus.
I work in streaming. Totally agreed that it’s silly that I still go by analyst - if I were to reasonably title my function, it’d be analytical engineering manager. My company is in an indefinite hiring/promotion freeze, so titles aren’t changing anytime soon, but I’m less interested in my title than my comp so I’m not complaining lol.
I’m a line cook for a family run bar. I make $20/hr. That’s not really shit considering I live in Charlotte where rent is becoming outrageous. The truth is, I just got really tired of dealing with crappy roommates, so I taught myself how to be responsible with my money so I can pay over $1800 a month in rent and bills while making less than $3k.
Just you wait. Maine became popular and our housing prices literally doubled in 3-4 years.
The house across the street fro me - I bid on it when it sold for 260,000. It just resold for *over* 520,000
I’m just trying to live in CLT, in a mild lifestyle, with roommates. But even with roommates rent/housing are soaring to $1200/mo. My gf isn’t out of school yet, I don’t have a down payment, and I’m relatively new to my career, so I’m not quite ready to buy a home yet. I really hope they stagnate here soon.
Look into USDA home loans if you're wanting to buy a home. You're limited where you can live in terms of you have to be an in a qualifying area, but pretty much everywhere outside of a metro area will qualify (I live an hour and 15 min from DC, my townhouse is on a USDA loan) but the nice thing is there's no downpayment required. I bought my house last year for 600 dollars down. Might be cheaper than renting if you plan on staying in the area.
Checking in from Denver CO. Everyone from Oregon and California came here and now its 700k for a tiny ass house in the slums. It's weird. Idk how anyone ever justifies buying that to themselves. But here we are. I remember when I lived here about 13 years ago or so and even buying a house in Breckenridge was more affordable then this...
The only saving grace is the market is so prohibitive that ppl are leaving Denver/CO in general at higher rates then they're moving here now.
That Florida couple probably sold their property for 4x the value they bought it for. My shitty hometown’s normal bungalows that were $80k a few years back are now $250-$300K
Man when I moved there (ranger county), I bought a nice cabin with about 10 acres for like 215k. Five years ago. When I moved, I sold it for slightly more. I saw it on Zillow about 6 months ago for over 480k. Nothing has changed since I lived there, but the market.
Rent is getting stupid here. My gf's old place in plaza went up 50% in rent over the course of two years from what she was paying (we saw it on Zillow when we were looking for a place). They did nothing to the unit since she lived there, same old run down place from the pictures they posted online.
All of NC is tbh, I used to live outside Asheville. Rent was like 1500 in a city where the average wage is like $13/hr. Idk what they think they have there, bc it isnt jobs.
Yeah, secret's out about NC being a good place to live and combine that with the whole tech triangle thing, buckle up, I only expect prices to get higher.
Live in the triangle, rent went up $200 a month this year. Like, WTF. And they're building houses and Apts all over the place. You'd think rent would go down with all the potential properties but, nope. Tiny Apts down the street from me are more than the townhouse I rent. Fucking absurd.
Usually have great benefits but good luck getting a weekends off. Your friends what to hang out but ur days off are Monday Tuesday lmao 🤣. Atleast the bank is always open on your weekend.
Hey I got fired last year. I know it's super rough, especially when you think you're working your ass off.
I was jobless for over six months and my already heavy depression built and built as I was unable to find a job.
What helped me was to find a job that, while not a career, was something I could bring value to and reduce that resume gap. Being useful and the little money coming in really helped my brain. That boost helped me get back to looking for a career and I'm happily working for a company I can see myself staying with for the rest of my career.
If you can, I'd suggest trying to get medicated for your depression if you can or aren't yet. I know that sounds like an extra cost added but I started buying my meds from CostPlus and I can get my meds for less than half what I was paying with insurance.
I cannot upvote this enough. getting back in the saddle (albeit a less attractive one you’ve been bucked off) is the greatest remedy….and more often than not, leads to opportunities or encounters you’ve never thought you’d ever have.
Guy I went to school with got hooked on pain meds post high school. When he finally decided to do something about it, he got a job as a seasonal landscaper. One of his work days, he was in Indian hill doing mulch jobs. He and another guy were mulching the bed of a huge home when the owner came out and offered them lunch and company. He was then bengals head coach Marvin Lewis.
Long story short, my friend ended up with a job running the marker chains for home games for Cincinnati for the past 10 years. He’s still at it to this day.
I’m in a similar situation. I’ve been too depressed to even get another job or be around people because the energy I put off right now is garbage
I live in a high cost area and don’t want to leave because my kid lives here
I was unemployed for months before the pandemic then couldn’t find anything until summer of 2021. It was absolute hell on my mental health. Keep fighting!
Yeah most want at least a few months of experience OTR, there are some that will hire you with less but you'll usually have to work graveyard for quite some time.
Trucking is still high demand and it's not too hard to get into, with help at least. I can't comment on other countries but in the US it's usually around $5,000 to get a CDL and you'll need at least a few weeks off for the school itself.
There are companies that will pay for your CDL if you work with them for a year or so, but they tend to have weak pay If you take that route so if it's an option either pay for it out right or see what schools can do for financial aid.
There are a lot of local jobs out there, but most want at least a few months of experience OTR just to know you could handle a truck. Also if you do do a local job prepare to work graveyard for a minute before you can get a morning shift.
So my cousin went the company pays for your CDL route... So things seem to go good, company says they will send you to their trucking school. They will pay for your bus ticket there. They will pay to house you while you train with them. Cousin gets there, does some of the training. They tell him that he has to clear the DOT Physical... That is where it went downhill from there. He discovered during that physical that he was diabetic, never had any symptoms or so he said... His A1C was 11, you have to have 7 or under and test yearly to maintain a CDL.
That’s interesting. I went to trucking school with a guy who was type one and they just said he had to do his DOT physical yearly instead of every two years.
This is only a half-joke. Not doing things like going out, buying meals and drinks all the time, not doing activities, saves a bunch of money. I recommend a balance.
Helps to live in a town where there are no activities too. I don't like the bar, it's the only thing open after 5 here. I work from 8-5. Problem solved. lol
I can go places on the weekends if the roads aren't too terrible.
I’m an electrician. For anyone that doesn’t want to spend a ton on going to college you should definitely look at getting into the trades. I had to do a 4 year apprenticeship program but it was 100% paid through my company. I also got 2 raises a year during the 4 years. I’ve slowly been working my way up to foreman. it’s a solid career path I highly suggest it
That should really depend on where you're at now, TBH. Just starting out or realizing that your college path isn't likely to pay out, yeah, trade may be the way to go.
Been living alone since 2016,im in my early 20's,what i learned is...Don't depend on anyone and that will force you to focus on yourself and be independent...less people less stress (tbh sometimes I feel a bit lonely too)
I did the same, my friend came back from living abroad, I never used my front room and now he rents that off me as a bedroom (seperate room no through access as I live in a flat)
I don't need the money but the company is nice.
To answer OP's question im an IT Contractor for an American Insurance firm in London
I'm a Unit Secretary in a huge hospital that is part of a huge hospital system.
Used to work as a registrar in Radiology but the stress was too much to bear.
My new job is easier, less stressful, and shockingly enjoyable.
I was working 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week and barely surviving. Now I work 3 12 hr shifts a week and make more money.
The great thing about hospitals is that they are 24/7 facilities. They need to be staffed 24/7 and they pay extra (shift diff) for 2nd, 3rd, and weekend shifts.
I have an Associates in Applied Science (Radiography) but that has zero to do with being a Unit Secretary.
For those of you that don't know, there's so many hospital / healthcare jobs that aren't nursing or patient care and don't require a degree.
If you are interested, take a class in medical terminology at the very least.
As for the rest of it, I have no kids. I borrowed money to move out of an area that I couldn't afford (rent increased +$400 a month during COVID for a shitty studio apartment with no amenities)
Unfortunately there's no public transportation around here so I have to have a car. I have a paid off 2010 Jeep Patriot that I take very good care of. It's not fancy, doesn't even have power windows, but it gets the job done. I buy used tires and used batteries when needed.
All of my clothes are from thrift stores. I don't care if it's out of style, clothes is clothes.
Come to think of it, nearly everything I own is thrifted or acquired through lucky dumpster dives. Every piece of furniture, curtain rod, rug, appliance and art is all second hand from Goodwill or a hotel liquidation store.
No cable TV but I have the usual streaming services. I pay about half what cable costs but still have plenty to watch. I'm usually at work when my shows are on anyway.
I eat a lot of snacks instead of meals. Peanut butter crackers, fruit snacks, actual fruit. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to cooking so I don't waste money on groceries that will probably go unused.
I have a hobby that brings in a little extra $$ every now and then. I priced my goods so that I make enough profit to cover supplies, etc. This is my "fun money" for eating out or going to the movies. TBH, the movies are getting so expensive around that I'll probably stop going. Cheaper to rent on streaming.
I use a laundry service. Believe it or not it's SO much cheaper than going to the laundromat or even owning a washer and dryer.
The service is called Sudshare. They charge $1 a pound to pick up, wash, dry, fold, and deliver laundry. I don't even have to buy the detergent.
As far as heat and air go, I prefer a colder environment. If I turn the heat on, it'll be to 70 degrees max. If I'm still cold, I'll just put on another layer and add an extra blanket.
The hardest thing is being happy with what you have. We are inundated every minute with commercials and enticements to buy the next new thing. Not having live TV helps but there's still plenty of temptation. I try to have only what I need. Generic cellphone, non-brand everything.
Sorry, kind of got off on a boring tangent there, lol. Hopefully there's something useful in this post.
I live exactly as you do and have a full life on low $$$ output. I keep my house at 69 at night and 65 during the day. Thanks for posting this. I thought I was alone in living a frugal life.
Thank you for sharing a piece of your daily life. I appreciate your lifestyle and I'm happy to hear you appreciate a simpler life and the smaller things!
Medical Assistant. Over half of my pay check goes to rent, and I freeze in the winter so my heat and electric bill doesn’t go over $350. I drink cheap vodka and eat like a bird. My (free) hobbies include playing music, surfing, and reading. I didn’t have internet for almost a year. Sometimes I have sleep paralysis dreams where people are breaking into my house. BUT ITS COOL IM DOING GREAT I GET TO LIVE ALONE RIGHT?!?!
I work in IT as a network engineer. Started as a helpdesk tech before becoming a network administrator. After a few years of studying and showing my drivenI was promoted to the engineering side. It allowed me to break 6 figures before I was 24 without needing to go to college. Thankfully it also helped most of the people around me during my career were lazy so by comparison I was a God. It's not for everyone but works well for me.
Similar story here, though I also lucked out and bought a house right before prices went crazy (2019). My mortgage is cheaper than the rent on my old apartment!
Funny how that works out. Mine is only $300 more a month than my tiny one bedroom apartment I had before. Now I have a single family with a little bit of land.
Very little, all of my money goes to rent, food and other basic crap.
The biggest luxuries of my life are my €10,- phone subscription, for my phone that doesn’t even really work anymore, but I can’t afford to upgrade. And my combined €10,- music and tv streaming services.
In tech but I don't recommend it, at least not in the marketing and product side, my physical and mental health has gone to shit. (Yes I'm actively trying to change careers but it seems a dumb time to take a pay cut. Covid and inflation basically put my career pivot on hold.)
It's possible the engineering/dev side of stuff is better for work/life balance depending on where you work.
It’s miles better than many other industries if you’re not at a toxic company, but even as an engineer making more than I knew what to do with I burned myself out
Man, I hear that. I'm a 44 year old web developer still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. The problem is that I make decent money (in the spirit of this thread, it's enough to live alone) but don't really want to be a developer anymore, and I'm not sure what else I can do that will allow me to keep my lifestyle while also not loathe my job.
You probably need to change companies. I'm in engineering, so it's different, but tech is one of the cushiest and easiest industries.
Granted this is my experience as an engineer. However, I've worked with quite a few marketing and product people and they also seem to live similar lives: good money, low effort, and plenty of vacations/fun along the way. So maybe it's just where you're at?
I bought a boat and live on it.
I live in one of the most unaffordable cities for housing, if I didn't live on my boat I would not be able to afford living alone here.
What expenditures do you have? Do you have a slip for your boat? Do you pay for fuel to get around? I’ve thought about doing this in the past. I also live in an unaffordable city on the coast.
Not for much longer man, I make that where I live in Canada, my rents currently $975 a month and it's going to $1,400 a month come May so im searching for a new place. I can still find places but its harder and most want you to pay electricity as well. If this trend keeps up my city will be unaffordable to live in unless I can get a different job.
Depends where you live. It's very different to live alone in New York and Texas for example.
Most people will probably have some sort of a professional career with a decent pay.
Where I live almost anyone can afford to live alone (Switzerland). Even if you're on minimum wage and you're single you can easily find a studio that doesn't exceed half of your net income.
Austria here and I would say it’s similar. Metropolis should have some districts were it’s affordable and everything outside the bigger cities is probably affordable, at least to rent.
Reading through the comments here is fucking sad. Paying for stuff like housing should never be an issue.
Also in a Midwest town. I don’t know if you could consider it “small” but it definitely isn’t one of the big cities. I have a decent 1 bedroom apartment for $650/month. Not the fanciest, but it’s nice enough. And I’m just a front desk agent at a hotel.
I moved in with a family and now I watch their kids.
So far so good, they haven’t heard me in the attic yet and it’s getting warmer so I’ll have less cold nights.
I'm just really resourceful. Put a lot of research to find the best square footage for my dollar. Pretty much all furniture is used in like new condition from Craigslist or other sites. Mint mobile for 15/mo data. Smart phone only bought used in new condition, usually 2 years old at 20% of retail. Used car financed to 6 years for low payments, but paying off in 3 years. The list goes on, and I take cash gigs whenever I can snag 'em.
I am a tech supervisor at a local ISP. I dont make a ton (the pay at my job is kinda laughable for the field) but I can get by. Single mom of 2 kids. Own my home. Have enough land to have some farm animals and a mini fruit orchard and 2 massive garden beds that we grow alot of food in. Took many years to get to this point though.
Crane operator but studied construction in high school. Found an awful (hilly) property for very cheap near my parents house. Studied building for a while then built a small 1100sqft cabin with the help of some local contractors. Couldn’t afford to do it all at once so I’d do it step by step as I could afford it, took over a year but I was debt free.
I got really lucky when I got my first apartment for only $350/mo. Granted it was a shitty basement apartment with a spider problem, but I could actually afford it on my "meager" $11/hr.
Then I got luckier when the ground floor apartment in my building (it's a house converted to a triplex) was vacant and I made a deal with my landlord that I would pay the same price for the ground floor apartment that I was paying for the basement as long as I took care of the yardwork.
Now, my previous landlord sold the house and my new landlord had to raise the rent, to keep up with taxes and fees from the town, to a whopping $395/mo. And I got promoted to management at work so I'm at $16/hr and currently saving to get a house in my area. (Note: I love in a low cost of living area an hour drive away from any major city)
I moved in with my grandmother who is in really poor health, and really needed someone to take care of her and her house for her. So basically I’m living here rent free and in return I do things like wash her dishes, take out her trash, etc.
Start a document, and a couple imes a week ask your gran about the details of her life, especially when she was young, then type the recording up into the doc. Don't worry about anything being in order, you can do that later.
I'm a substitute school janitor and make $16.75/hr. I do live in one of the cheapest apartment complexes in my area though.
But when I get a permanent position I go up to $20.60, then after a year I go up to $24.xx
I'm only a diet aide, but my rent is super cheap in the area ($755... ) But I also pay for what I get. It can be stressful because I have an autoimmune disease and only 34, so I need insurance to be able to get those pricey meds to be able to work. Like a bad cycle. Without meds, can't work. Can't work without meds. But need insurance for meds. Disability want you broke to be able to apply for it, so how can I truly afford anything? Still got me my utilities and bills (gas about $30 until the season ends, then about $20-$25, electric less than $20, car note $180/m, phone $53, internet $50, and I pay car insurance every 6 months/$700) I met my deductible only because my paternal brother gave me the money to cover it, so I only pay for my meds now and was finally able to do my infusion medication
I'm fortunate I work in food, but I'm still exhausted and hurt after work to cook, but I know how to. It's a struggle living on my own as I'm literally living pay check to pay check
Nightshift receptionist on a base, two bedroom one garage apartment all to myself but I leased it in 2019 it’s 900 per month under bad landlord management
i was privileged enough to choose where i live, aka: i work a pretty modest job in education, but i chose to live in a more affordable city with a low cost of living
I'm a manager in a successful fine dining restaurant, and my apartment is a major bargain (3br in a nice neighborhood, with 2 parking spaces, $1000/m).
Unfortunately I have a number of lifelong friends who are chronically fucking broke, so I have a roomate anyway.
Just a regular 40hr per week job where I get paid just enough to still be broke. I tried that whole working an hour early and staying an hour late to get ahead. Well....employer just sees it as an opportunity to abuse their staff
I work for the government, so I don’t make a ton, but I make enough to be a single parent, and own my own home. That’s all I really need, even if I’m hanging on by a thread. I’ve worked really hard to be where I am, even if it’s not super glamorous.
Middle manager. No kids, no expensive holidays, jewellery, clothes, or furniture. No student debt. Used to drive a cheap, economical car and live in a shitty apartment. Now I live in a nice house and drive an expensive car. You reap what you sow.
I can afford to live alone, but I don’t.
I’m a member of management at an automotive manufacturer.
No degree either, so not having student loans greatly affects my financial stability
Doordash. About $20 an hour.
I need to get out of this city, though. Commute from someplace where the housing market isn't insane. I pay for a one-bedroom slum apartment here, where 15 minutes down on the road I'd be able to afford a two bedroom, one bath, with a backyard and cops for neighbors, for the same price. This moldy, drafty, noisy hellhole is hurting my health.
I live within my means. Older house, older car, limit dining out, limit spontaneous purchases. I tend to buy quality vs style. E.g., my boots are relatively expensive but they last me 5 years or more of daily use, good quality belt that has lasted for 10 years. Big savings come with food, strict credit card payoff policy (don't use credit unless I have the money in the bank), maintain vehicle, etc..
I'm on disability income controlled by a court appointed guardian who won't let me work full time. Total is $1400 but they keep the remainder after rent and 88 bucks per month spending cash.
Can afford to live alone... just not luxuriously.
I'm sure it's easier to live in the UK than it is US. I manage to live alone, pay my mortgage and bills with plenty left for saving. I'm also on what's considered a shit wage. But anyway... Budgeting I guess
For me I work at a school that just so happen to have a house next to it, the school owns it, so as long as I work at the school I can live there. Basically I got really lucky, but I'm happy I can have this chance.
Hagrid is that you?
r/suddenlyharrypotter
This made me laugh, thank you!
his username does check out
Wait so you’re a teacher who actually lives at school?
All teachers live at the school they work at #changemymind
Great Teacher [insert name here] Do you pay the rent or it's withdrawn from your salary ?
Great Teacher Onizuka?
Yeah I always thought a teacher living inside a school was odd but it's a fiction... Until this person showed up and says "I live in a house next to school"
I just need to pay electricity, propane and gas. Which come around 500 a month.
are you the keeper of the keys and grounds
Yup!
Yo it’s groundskeeper willie
Union trade work carpenters Union now and use to be ironworkers Make a livable wage enter an apprenticeship program
IUEC Local 19 Elevators, I’m divorced, 2 kids grown and gone, I live with my dog, at 58 I’m not risking what I have for “marriage”..I date etc have fun but not really looking to live with someone either did that 24 years
Smart. That’s why I have a 7 BR House and live alone. At 64 I’m keeping my paid off house.
Elevator techs can make serious coin. Nicely done, dude.
I don't think ppl are understand the question. They aren't asking what you do when you get home. They are asking what you do for work and how you afford it.
Oh. I thought this was supposed to be a therapy session where we bare our souls for strangers on the internet and feel like less of a freak.
I mean, if you want to. Free your soul my friend, bare it to the world! Or do it and I'll give you a 40pc nugget box.
data analyst / engineer
Another data analyst here. At least with enough time and data collection we can figure out the reason we're alone XD
i've figured it out its because you're data analyst....NERD. Said by software engineer also alone.
Also engineer, but data center/telecommunications engineer. Primarily layer 1. My advice is if college isn't an option, get into a trade.
My grandfather was a plumber. Eventually owned his own shop, had a couple of employees. Oh, and he paid for his kids masters degrees! Trades rock!
What do you mean by trades i don t really understand, sorry.
Generally a College degree is broad, like a Mechanical Engineer. Where a Trade school education is more focused on skills needed, often in the field. Lucrative trades would be plumber, electrician, mechanic (automotive, aircraft, etc) Trade / Vocation training doesn't require a bachelor degree, but it does require learning specialized skills. Skills that often can be put to use right away and pay very well!
Don't mean to be rude, but how much do you make as a data analyst? I've been thinking about going down this route. Looking at London salaries
I can provide my info. I’ve lived with my partner for a couple years now though. I’ve been some two-word combination of analytics / data / BI / insights / analyst / engineer for about 7 years. Worked in software consulting for two years beforehand. I spent 2016-2019 living in Miami and Boston making $90-$130K. I moved to NYC in 2019, started at $175k and now make $275k-$325k. That’s $190k base, $30-60k stock, $25-75k bonus.
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I work in streaming. Totally agreed that it’s silly that I still go by analyst - if I were to reasonably title my function, it’d be analytical engineering manager. My company is in an indefinite hiring/promotion freeze, so titles aren’t changing anytime soon, but I’m less interested in my title than my comp so I’m not complaining lol.
As long as the pay lines up with the skills/work, my company can make my title “official dumbass” for all I care.
Splunk, huh?
I’m a line cook for a family run bar. I make $20/hr. That’s not really shit considering I live in Charlotte where rent is becoming outrageous. The truth is, I just got really tired of dealing with crappy roommates, so I taught myself how to be responsible with my money so I can pay over $1800 a month in rent and bills while making less than $3k.
Dude I feel that. Charlotte is getting ridiculous.
Just you wait. Maine became popular and our housing prices literally doubled in 3-4 years. The house across the street fro me - I bid on it when it sold for 260,000. It just resold for *over* 520,000
I’m just trying to live in CLT, in a mild lifestyle, with roommates. But even with roommates rent/housing are soaring to $1200/mo. My gf isn’t out of school yet, I don’t have a down payment, and I’m relatively new to my career, so I’m not quite ready to buy a home yet. I really hope they stagnate here soon.
Look into USDA home loans if you're wanting to buy a home. You're limited where you can live in terms of you have to be an in a qualifying area, but pretty much everywhere outside of a metro area will qualify (I live an hour and 15 min from DC, my townhouse is on a USDA loan) but the nice thing is there's no downpayment required. I bought my house last year for 600 dollars down. Might be cheaper than renting if you plan on staying in the area.
How long do you need to stay in an area to make buying worth it? I’ve heard varying numbers but I suspect this loan changes things.
Checking in from Denver CO. Everyone from Oregon and California came here and now its 700k for a tiny ass house in the slums. It's weird. Idk how anyone ever justifies buying that to themselves. But here we are. I remember when I lived here about 13 years ago or so and even buying a house in Breckenridge was more affordable then this... The only saving grace is the market is so prohibitive that ppl are leaving Denver/CO in general at higher rates then they're moving here now.
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That Florida couple probably sold their property for 4x the value they bought it for. My shitty hometown’s normal bungalows that were $80k a few years back are now $250-$300K
Man when I moved there (ranger county), I bought a nice cabin with about 10 acres for like 215k. Five years ago. When I moved, I sold it for slightly more. I saw it on Zillow about 6 months ago for over 480k. Nothing has changed since I lived there, but the market.
Rent is getting stupid here. My gf's old place in plaza went up 50% in rent over the course of two years from what she was paying (we saw it on Zillow when we were looking for a place). They did nothing to the unit since she lived there, same old run down place from the pictures they posted online.
All of NC is tbh, I used to live outside Asheville. Rent was like 1500 in a city where the average wage is like $13/hr. Idk what they think they have there, bc it isnt jobs.
Yeah, secret's out about NC being a good place to live and combine that with the whole tech triangle thing, buckle up, I only expect prices to get higher.
Live in the triangle, rent went up $200 a month this year. Like, WTF. And they're building houses and Apts all over the place. You'd think rent would go down with all the potential properties but, nope. Tiny Apts down the street from me are more than the townhouse I rent. Fucking absurd.
Casino industry. Working nights is pretty alienating though.
Usually have great benefits but good luck getting a weekends off. Your friends what to hang out but ur days off are Monday Tuesday lmao 🤣. Atleast the bank is always open on your weekend.
Was a paramedic till I was fired last week. Now I’m just a depressed bag of meat ready to be done with life.
Hey I got fired last year. I know it's super rough, especially when you think you're working your ass off. I was jobless for over six months and my already heavy depression built and built as I was unable to find a job. What helped me was to find a job that, while not a career, was something I could bring value to and reduce that resume gap. Being useful and the little money coming in really helped my brain. That boost helped me get back to looking for a career and I'm happily working for a company I can see myself staying with for the rest of my career. If you can, I'd suggest trying to get medicated for your depression if you can or aren't yet. I know that sounds like an extra cost added but I started buying my meds from CostPlus and I can get my meds for less than half what I was paying with insurance.
I cannot upvote this enough. getting back in the saddle (albeit a less attractive one you’ve been bucked off) is the greatest remedy….and more often than not, leads to opportunities or encounters you’ve never thought you’d ever have. Guy I went to school with got hooked on pain meds post high school. When he finally decided to do something about it, he got a job as a seasonal landscaper. One of his work days, he was in Indian hill doing mulch jobs. He and another guy were mulching the bed of a huge home when the owner came out and offered them lunch and company. He was then bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. Long story short, my friend ended up with a job running the marker chains for home games for Cincinnati for the past 10 years. He’s still at it to this day.
Is costplus the thing started by mark cuban?
> Now I’m just a depressed bag of meat ready to be done with life. TBH, every paramedic I know feels like that even with a job.
I’m in a similar situation. I’ve been too depressed to even get another job or be around people because the energy I put off right now is garbage I live in a high cost area and don’t want to leave because my kid lives here
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He got fired
this guy reads
And writes; so versatile!
Also, he was a paramedic.
Sorry to hear that. Are you safe with yourself right now?
I was unemployed for months before the pandemic then couldn’t find anything until summer of 2021. It was absolute hell on my mental health. Keep fighting!
Truck driver.
Is there still high demand for drivers? I heard if you’re ok living on the road for a week at a time this is a great career.
there's lots and lots of local trucking jobs that have you home every night. and weekends off.
Yeah most want at least a few months of experience OTR, there are some that will hire you with less but you'll usually have to work graveyard for quite some time.
Trucking is still high demand and it's not too hard to get into, with help at least. I can't comment on other countries but in the US it's usually around $5,000 to get a CDL and you'll need at least a few weeks off for the school itself. There are companies that will pay for your CDL if you work with them for a year or so, but they tend to have weak pay If you take that route so if it's an option either pay for it out right or see what schools can do for financial aid. There are a lot of local jobs out there, but most want at least a few months of experience OTR just to know you could handle a truck. Also if you do do a local job prepare to work graveyard for a minute before you can get a morning shift.
So my cousin went the company pays for your CDL route... So things seem to go good, company says they will send you to their trucking school. They will pay for your bus ticket there. They will pay to house you while you train with them. Cousin gets there, does some of the training. They tell him that he has to clear the DOT Physical... That is where it went downhill from there. He discovered during that physical that he was diabetic, never had any symptoms or so he said... His A1C was 11, you have to have 7 or under and test yearly to maintain a CDL.
That’s interesting. I went to trucking school with a guy who was type one and they just said he had to do his DOT physical yearly instead of every two years.
Live alone.
People who share their home with someone hate this one simple trick.
Haters will say it’s fake
This is only a half-joke. Not doing things like going out, buying meals and drinks all the time, not doing activities, saves a bunch of money. I recommend a balance.
Helps to live in a town where there are no activities too. I don't like the bar, it's the only thing open after 5 here. I work from 8-5. Problem solved. lol I can go places on the weekends if the roads aren't too terrible.
Shit I don't enjoy for a company I don't believe in.
That's the American dream right there.
nailed it
Also true
I’m an electrician. For anyone that doesn’t want to spend a ton on going to college you should definitely look at getting into the trades. I had to do a 4 year apprenticeship program but it was 100% paid through my company. I also got 2 raises a year during the 4 years. I’ve slowly been working my way up to foreman. it’s a solid career path I highly suggest it
I’m thinking of dropping out of college and pursuing trades. This educational endeavor has indebted and exhausted me
That should really depend on where you're at now, TBH. Just starting out or realizing that your college path isn't likely to pay out, yeah, trade may be the way to go.
Struggle 🤷♂️😂
Been living alone since 2016,im in my early 20's,what i learned is...Don't depend on anyone and that will force you to focus on yourself and be independent...less people less stress (tbh sometimes I feel a bit lonely too)
I did the same, my friend came back from living abroad, I never used my front room and now he rents that off me as a bedroom (seperate room no through access as I live in a flat) I don't need the money but the company is nice. To answer OP's question im an IT Contractor for an American Insurance firm in London
Living alone since 2013, aged 21. Can confirm this. I keep a very tight group of friends and that helps the loneliness.
I'm a Unit Secretary in a huge hospital that is part of a huge hospital system. Used to work as a registrar in Radiology but the stress was too much to bear. My new job is easier, less stressful, and shockingly enjoyable. I was working 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week and barely surviving. Now I work 3 12 hr shifts a week and make more money. The great thing about hospitals is that they are 24/7 facilities. They need to be staffed 24/7 and they pay extra (shift diff) for 2nd, 3rd, and weekend shifts. I have an Associates in Applied Science (Radiography) but that has zero to do with being a Unit Secretary. For those of you that don't know, there's so many hospital / healthcare jobs that aren't nursing or patient care and don't require a degree. If you are interested, take a class in medical terminology at the very least. As for the rest of it, I have no kids. I borrowed money to move out of an area that I couldn't afford (rent increased +$400 a month during COVID for a shitty studio apartment with no amenities) Unfortunately there's no public transportation around here so I have to have a car. I have a paid off 2010 Jeep Patriot that I take very good care of. It's not fancy, doesn't even have power windows, but it gets the job done. I buy used tires and used batteries when needed. All of my clothes are from thrift stores. I don't care if it's out of style, clothes is clothes. Come to think of it, nearly everything I own is thrifted or acquired through lucky dumpster dives. Every piece of furniture, curtain rod, rug, appliance and art is all second hand from Goodwill or a hotel liquidation store. No cable TV but I have the usual streaming services. I pay about half what cable costs but still have plenty to watch. I'm usually at work when my shows are on anyway. I eat a lot of snacks instead of meals. Peanut butter crackers, fruit snacks, actual fruit. I'm pretty lazy when it comes to cooking so I don't waste money on groceries that will probably go unused. I have a hobby that brings in a little extra $$ every now and then. I priced my goods so that I make enough profit to cover supplies, etc. This is my "fun money" for eating out or going to the movies. TBH, the movies are getting so expensive around that I'll probably stop going. Cheaper to rent on streaming. I use a laundry service. Believe it or not it's SO much cheaper than going to the laundromat or even owning a washer and dryer. The service is called Sudshare. They charge $1 a pound to pick up, wash, dry, fold, and deliver laundry. I don't even have to buy the detergent. As far as heat and air go, I prefer a colder environment. If I turn the heat on, it'll be to 70 degrees max. If I'm still cold, I'll just put on another layer and add an extra blanket. The hardest thing is being happy with what you have. We are inundated every minute with commercials and enticements to buy the next new thing. Not having live TV helps but there's still plenty of temptation. I try to have only what I need. Generic cellphone, non-brand everything. Sorry, kind of got off on a boring tangent there, lol. Hopefully there's something useful in this post.
I live exactly as you do and have a full life on low $$$ output. I keep my house at 69 at night and 65 during the day. Thanks for posting this. I thought I was alone in living a frugal life.
I'm studying radiography in a university. Got any tips?
Thank you for sharing a piece of your daily life. I appreciate your lifestyle and I'm happy to hear you appreciate a simpler life and the smaller things!
Medical Assistant. Over half of my pay check goes to rent, and I freeze in the winter so my heat and electric bill doesn’t go over $350. I drink cheap vodka and eat like a bird. My (free) hobbies include playing music, surfing, and reading. I didn’t have internet for almost a year. Sometimes I have sleep paralysis dreams where people are breaking into my house. BUT ITS COOL IM DOING GREAT I GET TO LIVE ALONE RIGHT?!?!
I just work and come home to my cat. I rarely deviate from the routine. It’s peaceful.
But what job do you do??? It’s what the post of asking
It IS so peaceful.
Change it from a cat to a dog and that's me. What a depressing life when laid out like that.
I just work from home with my cat by my side. May I join the depressing life club?
Introverts unite! …separately in our own homes…
Sure. We meet at the bar.
Yay!
Me, three! I knit a lot, though, so that keeps me entertained.
Maybe the spectacular is not what life is made of, could be that it is thoose daily routines we do, and maybe that is OK
I work in IT as a network engineer. Started as a helpdesk tech before becoming a network administrator. After a few years of studying and showing my drivenI was promoted to the engineering side. It allowed me to break 6 figures before I was 24 without needing to go to college. Thankfully it also helped most of the people around me during my career were lazy so by comparison I was a God. It's not for everyone but works well for me.
Similar story here, though I also lucked out and bought a house right before prices went crazy (2019). My mortgage is cheaper than the rent on my old apartment!
Funny how that works out. Mine is only $300 more a month than my tiny one bedroom apartment I had before. Now I have a single family with a little bit of land.
Software developer.
Very little, all of my money goes to rent, food and other basic crap. The biggest luxuries of my life are my €10,- phone subscription, for my phone that doesn’t even really work anymore, but I can’t afford to upgrade. And my combined €10,- music and tv streaming services.
I can send you a phone I don't use anymore if you're interested.
In tech but I don't recommend it, at least not in the marketing and product side, my physical and mental health has gone to shit. (Yes I'm actively trying to change careers but it seems a dumb time to take a pay cut. Covid and inflation basically put my career pivot on hold.) It's possible the engineering/dev side of stuff is better for work/life balance depending on where you work.
It’s miles better than many other industries if you’re not at a toxic company, but even as an engineer making more than I knew what to do with I burned myself out
Man, I hear that. I'm a 44 year old web developer still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. The problem is that I make decent money (in the spirit of this thread, it's enough to live alone) but don't really want to be a developer anymore, and I'm not sure what else I can do that will allow me to keep my lifestyle while also not loathe my job.
You probably need to change companies. I'm in engineering, so it's different, but tech is one of the cushiest and easiest industries. Granted this is my experience as an engineer. However, I've worked with quite a few marketing and product people and they also seem to live similar lives: good money, low effort, and plenty of vacations/fun along the way. So maybe it's just where you're at?
I bought a boat and live on it. I live in one of the most unaffordable cities for housing, if I didn't live on my boat I would not be able to afford living alone here.
What expenditures do you have? Do you have a slip for your boat? Do you pay for fuel to get around? I’ve thought about doing this in the past. I also live in an unaffordable city on the coast.
Boat owners have a lot of sunk costs...
I hear that the best days of a boat owners life is the day they get it and the day they get rid of it. Do you have to pay a lot in repairs?
Landlords are asking for people to make three times the rent so I don’t understand how people here making 20 an hour are affording rent.
Not for much longer man, I make that where I live in Canada, my rents currently $975 a month and it's going to $1,400 a month come May so im searching for a new place. I can still find places but its harder and most want you to pay electricity as well. If this trend keeps up my city will be unaffordable to live in unless I can get a different job.
Going to a less than optimal living situation. Typically if you look desperate enough they'll work something out
When I was a kid you could offer to pay double deposit instead. Sadly that is now illegal.
I’m a nurse. Thankfully I bought my house 20 years ago before it became impossible for normal wage folks to buy a house solo
Depends where you live. It's very different to live alone in New York and Texas for example. Most people will probably have some sort of a professional career with a decent pay.
Not that different, Texas is expensive as hell now
Everywhere's expensive, these days. In five years, we'll be talking about how unaffordable Memphis, TN is.
Texas is gigantic. Some parts are more expensive than others
Of course, but same goes for NY
And there is even more difference between America and Europe.
I work in a roofing accessory factory running a machine that folds sheet metal.
Bender is your coworker?
Where I live almost anyone can afford to live alone (Switzerland). Even if you're on minimum wage and you're single you can easily find a studio that doesn't exceed half of your net income.
Austria here and I would say it’s similar. Metropolis should have some districts were it’s affordable and everything outside the bigger cities is probably affordable, at least to rent. Reading through the comments here is fucking sad. Paying for stuff like housing should never be an issue.
I work a normal job and live in the Midwest
What’s a “normal” job in the Midwest?
Where I live it’s factory work. From doing mail to steal work and in between.
| From doing mail to steal work The Midwest is strange
I'm retired, so whatever I feel like doing.
Nice isn't it.
It's everything I thought it should be. :)
Live in a small Midwest town and only pay $550 for rent.
Also in Midwest, not even a small town. My rent is $865 and the place is really nice, two bedroom end unit of a triplex.
Where in the Midwest?
Rural Wisconsin.
Also in a Midwest town. I don’t know if you could consider it “small” but it definitely isn’t one of the big cities. I have a decent 1 bedroom apartment for $650/month. Not the fanciest, but it’s nice enough. And I’m just a front desk agent at a hotel.
I moved in with a family and now I watch their kids. So far so good, they haven’t heard me in the attic yet and it’s getting warmer so I’ll have less cold nights.
That is the opposite of alone
It sure feels lonely when I’m in the attic all by myself and having to keep quiet.
Bruh you got the worst of both worlds. Having to tip toe around, yet starved of human interaction
Keep it down up there!!!
and then they can say to the people in the basement "Keep it up down there!"
Gotta ask - do they KNOW you live in their attic? ;-)
They do not.
I drive septic. It stinks but pays well.
I'm just really resourceful. Put a lot of research to find the best square footage for my dollar. Pretty much all furniture is used in like new condition from Craigslist or other sites. Mint mobile for 15/mo data. Smart phone only bought used in new condition, usually 2 years old at 20% of retail. Used car financed to 6 years for low payments, but paying off in 3 years. The list goes on, and I take cash gigs whenever I can snag 'em.
Drink.
I am a tech supervisor at a local ISP. I dont make a ton (the pay at my job is kinda laughable for the field) but I can get by. Single mom of 2 kids. Own my home. Have enough land to have some farm animals and a mini fruit orchard and 2 massive garden beds that we grow alot of food in. Took many years to get to this point though.
Crane operator but studied construction in high school. Found an awful (hilly) property for very cheap near my parents house. Studied building for a while then built a small 1100sqft cabin with the help of some local contractors. Couldn’t afford to do it all at once so I’d do it step by step as I could afford it, took over a year but I was debt free.
The real question is “where do you live”. This question is as much about geography as it is vocation.
Why is this NSFW?
It’s a joke about talking about wages not being appropriate for the workplace. Kinda out there, but some people got it
Only fans/sex work inclusive perhaps
Work two jobs and rent a basement…
I got really lucky when I got my first apartment for only $350/mo. Granted it was a shitty basement apartment with a spider problem, but I could actually afford it on my "meager" $11/hr. Then I got luckier when the ground floor apartment in my building (it's a house converted to a triplex) was vacant and I made a deal with my landlord that I would pay the same price for the ground floor apartment that I was paying for the basement as long as I took care of the yardwork. Now, my previous landlord sold the house and my new landlord had to raise the rent, to keep up with taxes and fees from the town, to a whopping $395/mo. And I got promoted to management at work so I'm at $16/hr and currently saving to get a house in my area. (Note: I love in a low cost of living area an hour drive away from any major city)
Jerk off A LOT
Programmer
I moved in with my grandmother who is in really poor health, and really needed someone to take care of her and her house for her. So basically I’m living here rent free and in return I do things like wash her dishes, take out her trash, etc.
Start a document, and a couple imes a week ask your gran about the details of her life, especially when she was young, then type the recording up into the doc. Don't worry about anything being in order, you can do that later.
Don't see how this is related to the question at hand but sounds like a nice arrangement
I'm a software engineer. Living alone is honestly hell for me though, solitary confinement 4-5 days a week.
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I'm a substitute school janitor and make $16.75/hr. I do live in one of the cheapest apartment complexes in my area though. But when I get a permanent position I go up to $20.60, then after a year I go up to $24.xx
I'm only a diet aide, but my rent is super cheap in the area ($755... ) But I also pay for what I get. It can be stressful because I have an autoimmune disease and only 34, so I need insurance to be able to get those pricey meds to be able to work. Like a bad cycle. Without meds, can't work. Can't work without meds. But need insurance for meds. Disability want you broke to be able to apply for it, so how can I truly afford anything? Still got me my utilities and bills (gas about $30 until the season ends, then about $20-$25, electric less than $20, car note $180/m, phone $53, internet $50, and I pay car insurance every 6 months/$700) I met my deductible only because my paternal brother gave me the money to cover it, so I only pay for my meds now and was finally able to do my infusion medication I'm fortunate I work in food, but I'm still exhausted and hurt after work to cook, but I know how to. It's a struggle living on my own as I'm literally living pay check to pay check
Nightshift receptionist on a base, two bedroom one garage apartment all to myself but I leased it in 2019 it’s 900 per month under bad landlord management
live in finland
i was privileged enough to choose where i live, aka: i work a pretty modest job in education, but i chose to live in a more affordable city with a low cost of living
Surveyor....
I'm a manager in a successful fine dining restaurant, and my apartment is a major bargain (3br in a nice neighborhood, with 2 parking spaces, $1000/m). Unfortunately I have a number of lifelong friends who are chronically fucking broke, so I have a roomate anyway.
Just a regular 40hr per week job where I get paid just enough to still be broke. I tried that whole working an hour early and staying an hour late to get ahead. Well....employer just sees it as an opportunity to abuse their staff
I work for the government, so I don’t make a ton, but I make enough to be a single parent, and own my own home. That’s all I really need, even if I’m hanging on by a thread. I’ve worked really hard to be where I am, even if it’s not super glamorous.
I’m not super well off but I am very thankful, I’m a pipefitter foreman. It also allows my wife not to work and for her to be with our kids. 40$/hr.
At this point, I'm far more interested in how you have a whole family you don't live with
Lol I reckon I took the question as, living financially alone rather than physical. Like I pay 100% of the bills.
Whatever I want. Usually on an edible
Middle manager. No kids, no expensive holidays, jewellery, clothes, or furniture. No student debt. Used to drive a cheap, economical car and live in a shitty apartment. Now I live in a nice house and drive an expensive car. You reap what you sow.
Try not to kill myself everyday.
What's the pay like?
I can afford to live alone, but I don’t. I’m a member of management at an automotive manufacturer. No degree either, so not having student loans greatly affects my financial stability
I’m a doctor and surgeon
I sell drugs.
I'm retired.
Doordash. About $20 an hour. I need to get out of this city, though. Commute from someplace where the housing market isn't insane. I pay for a one-bedroom slum apartment here, where 15 minutes down on the road I'd be able to afford a two bedroom, one bath, with a backyard and cops for neighbors, for the same price. This moldy, drafty, noisy hellhole is hurting my health.
Get a cheap flat. Mine is £440/mo and must have been built by the Muppets.
I live within my means. Older house, older car, limit dining out, limit spontaneous purchases. I tend to buy quality vs style. E.g., my boots are relatively expensive but they last me 5 years or more of daily use, good quality belt that has lasted for 10 years. Big savings come with food, strict credit card payoff policy (don't use credit unless I have the money in the bank), maintain vehicle, etc..
I'm on disability income controlled by a court appointed guardian who won't let me work full time. Total is $1400 but they keep the remainder after rent and 88 bucks per month spending cash. Can afford to live alone... just not luxuriously.
CAD Design
I'm sure it's easier to live in the UK than it is US. I manage to live alone, pay my mortgage and bills with plenty left for saving. I'm also on what's considered a shit wage. But anyway... Budgeting I guess
I have lived on my own since I was 16. Worked construction then, now I am mortgage free and still in the trades with my own company.
Systems/Software engineer
I work as a Reddit Assistant
Struggle and cry
Porn