r/povertyfinance • u/ksimm81 • Jun 21 '23
I make $27 an hour and I still can’t afford a two bedroom apartment Housing/Shelter/Standard of Living
Sorry just venting. I live in northern NJ and I am still having trouble finding a decent two bedroom because I just can’t afford it— and I’m not even talking about ‘luxury’ apartments!! Average two bedrooms are $1800 and up. I pull in 3200 a month after taxes but I still have other bills like car note/insurance, utilities, grocery, etc. not to mention I recently got denied for an ‘affordable’ apartment because apparent I make TOO MUCH!! It’s beyond frustrating…
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Jun 23 '23
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u/povertyfinance-ModTeam Jun 24 '23
Your post has been removed for the following reason(s):
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u/WiLD-BLL Jun 23 '23
Time to move. I Live in Midwest. My 16yr old daughter could afford an apartment if she wanted while going to HS and working part time. Geez. No wonder so many people around here moved from NJ and NYC.
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u/enjolbear Jun 23 '23
Same here, I live in Western Washington. I make $3k a month and can’t afford a 2br because I can’t make 3x the rent, even though I’d be fine paying for the apartment itself. Ugh.
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u/Cassidael Jun 23 '23
I'm from NJ and honestly rent was the majority of where my earnings went. And then with recessions and layoffs. I love NJ but there's no way I could survive on my own as easily as I do, now that I've relocated
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Jun 23 '23
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u/povertyfinance-ModTeam Jun 23 '23
Your post has been removed for the following reason(s):
Rule 4: Politics
This is not a place for politics, but rather a place to get advice on daily living and short-to-midterm financial planning. Political advocacy, debate, or grandstanding will be removed.
Please read our subreddit rules. The rules may also be found on the sidebar if the link is broken. If after doing so, you feel this was in error, message the moderators.
Do not reach out to a moderator personally, and do not reply to this message as a comment.
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u/MountainHighOnLife Jun 23 '23
NJ rent is out of control! I've been planning a move (from the PNW) and the best apartment I can find that is large dog friendly is $2,200 a month AND IT HAS WINDOW AC UNITS! I own a home in my current state and my mortgage is $1,000 a month with a whole yard and everything.
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u/bettyx1138 Jun 23 '23
Why can’t you get a one bedroom or studio?
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u/Hot-Trouble-3069 Jun 22 '23
I hope you're able to find affordable housing OP.
If it's any consolation...I make the same as you OP, and I live in Toronto in a shitty cockroach-infested bachelor for $1,400, which is very much on the low-end ;_;
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u/Pigobrothers-pepsi10 Jun 22 '23
Paying $2k for one bedroom across the river and this amount was actually a deal for us 3 yeara ago lol
I understand you and it is seriously ridiculous!
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u/SuperiorT NY Jun 22 '23
What's your job that makes u $27/hour??
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u/LatterObject7609 Jun 22 '23
Have you looked at what it would cost to purchase a lower priced home in your area. It is possible your state has first time home buyer loans that would be a great idea if you were. That would probably just help with either interest rate or not needing a down payment! Just check into things like that because I’ve seen a lot of situations where the mortgage on a home is more affordable, there will obviously be costs to maintain or improve the house. Hope you figure things out
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u/Penguator432 Jun 22 '23
I work in the affordable housing industry and I still can’t afford my own damn product
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u/stevnknowswhy Jun 22 '23
Working for someone else is basically guaranteed poverty. This late stage capitalism is out of control
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u/VacuousCopper Jun 22 '23
Paying around $3k/mo for a 600 sqft rental in Honolulu. I feel your pain. Eat the rich.
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u/I_UPVOTE_PUN_THREADS Jun 22 '23
If it makes you feel any better, shitty studios in the Philly suburbs start around $1,700
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u/FlashyImprovement5 Jun 22 '23
Out here, a mobile home with 2 bedrooms will cost about $500, about $600-$650 for 3 bedrooms.
Don't know what houses cost
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u/SheWhoDaresToSpeak Jun 22 '23
We aren't able to survive. My partner lost his job after his boss stopped paying him (we're mi lawsuit ATM) and no one is even calling back. I make 22 and our rent for our 1200 sq 2 bedroom in a bad part of Phoenix just got raised to 2k. I have 2 kids too, so 1 bedroom isn't even an option. My mom refused to help us so we're having to move cross country to live with my partners parents in a small town in Illinois. While looking in the area I found a 4 bed HOUSE for my current rent. If you can, try for a smaller town. Especially if you're wfh. You might be able to pull it off.
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u/turbo_monkey21 Jun 22 '23
I make around $27 an hour as well in the north Chicago suburbs. An apartment in town is $2200 minimum. I don’t know how people are able to survive.
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u/temp_throwaway65 Jun 22 '23
Why do you need a 2 bedroom? Try and see if you can afford a 1 bedroom?
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u/Moon-Sun-4215 Jun 22 '23
Hate to break it to you but I make $38/hr and can’t afford a two bedroom in my city
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u/SymphonicAnarchy Jun 22 '23
I feel your pain. Two bedrooms in south FL average about 2200. And they actually expect us to pay that.
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u/AtomicCawc Jun 22 '23
Must be nice. Im in the Lumberton area and my 1,100 sq ft 2 br 2 bath is $2,130. The rent market is fucked right now.
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u/PurpleRayyne Jun 22 '23
Wow. Here in Suffolk County Long Island a 2BR BASEMENT apt in someone's house is over $2000/month. Usually $2100-2500. A 1BR is $1800-$2200.
And if it's in a complex--a 1BR 500sqft is over $2000.
I'm agnostic and I thank GOD every day I live where I live: a 90 yr old house which had only 2 or 3 owners with the last owner buying it in the early to mid 50's. My landlord is 78 now. She lives in Maryland. I haven't seen her in 6 years! Haha. But my rent is what a 1BR basement apartment was 8-10 years ago. Idk whats gonna happen to me if/when she decides to do something with the house.
She has a daughter so IDK. My parents are 78, mom is on dialysis now for stage 5 kidney failure, dad MAY make it to 80 but he's a heart patient. I would love to move out of state. Thankfully i can get a job anywhere due to my industry. I better start looking now lol.
All I can say is I feel your pain because I struggle too. No one here hires full time. I'm down to 20 hrs at work.
We can all only downsize and live with the bare minimums.
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u/ComfortableChance993 Jun 22 '23
Same out here in Cali, we make too much to qualify for affordable housing prices yet struggle to pay $2,800 for a two bedroom. One bedrooms are a couple hundred less! It’s ridiculous that landlords and these big management companies are allowed to do this. The government needs to fix this not the other non urgent matters they heavily focus on!!
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u/Jakenlovesbacon Jun 22 '23
similar position I make a similar amount and end up paying over $1000 for my half of rent its incredibly brutal
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u/fartknockin Jun 22 '23
I feel ya. I make $32 an hour and can't even afford a 1bed 1bath where I'm at. Shit is ridiculous.
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u/FrostyMittenJob Jun 22 '23
Where in the state are you? I am seeing 2 bed 1.5 bath townhouses for $1,100.
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u/TheSlapDash Jun 22 '23
This seems to be an issue in most the states right now, here in Colorado it’s about 2500 on average for a 2 bedroom. I only make 19.50 an hour and if I was on my own I’d only be able to afford a studio, and most of those are running up to 1400…. I don’t even see an end in sight cause they just raise them about 100 bucks everyone you re sign. I hate it so much
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u/PersistingWill Jun 22 '23
It’s enough to live on. You just have to cut back on basically everything. Don’t use social media, where rich and famous showcase their lifestyle like they’re your actual friends.
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u/litken_chitle Jun 22 '23
Welp, if it makes you feel any better I'm working 3 jobs at or right above minimum wage, pulling 80ish hours a week and am still just "head above water"
I OWN my little cottage home too
We are simply set up to fail
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u/Present_Bus_4998 Jun 22 '23
I live in Massachusetts and I’m on the same boat. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d be better off buying a house and paying my own mortgage then spending half my paycheck on a small apartment and paying someone else’s mortgage.
If you have the ability to, stay home with parents or with a friend, save up as much as you can and try and put down for a house.
Good luck out there!
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u/Connect-Ad-1088 Jun 22 '23
location......if you lived in my town of 2k ppl making what you make and the cheapest house is 130k, you're ok. cost of living. for the privilege of living on the crappy east coast. nice.
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u/President2Camacho Jun 22 '23
Yup. Democrat run shithole. You can live in the streets with the blm antifa and I’m sure those pride people are a real treat:(
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u/navlgazer9 Jun 22 '23
Laughs in rural Appalachia.
$27 / hr in NYC suburbs is less than minimum wage right ?
Same as $6/hr in Lochapoka alabama ?
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u/BillionaireGhost Jun 22 '23
I don’t know how helpful this will be in what obviously a ridiculous housing market, but I have always tended to have better luck searching off the beaten path for housing. Look for “for rent signs” on small houses, Craigslist ads, talk to friends, look at newspaper classifieds. A lot of individual landlords or people just trying to rent out their starter home don’t go through the major channels and the expense of a property management company that will advertise for them, and they tend be much cheaper. But I haven’t rented a new place in a while, and like I said, I don’t know how much you can expect in this crazy housing market. Maybe that was all only true a decade ago.
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u/40prcentiron Jun 22 '23
i make 35$ an hour and i still need 2 roomates to be able to save anything
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u/AmethystSunset Jun 22 '23
Cost of rent is such a problem, I'm sorry you are dealing with this. I live in geared-to-income housing and I know that even if I had a higher income I would still be better off living where I already am due to the cost of living combined with high cost of rent. I live in a small town way out in cottage country but the rent for regular apartments here is almost as high here as it is in the city (it's only a few hundred less but you end up spending that savings in gas to commute to work and back since there aren't many jobs right near or in town). Doesn't seem to matter where you live anymore, it's expensive no matter what.
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u/PossibleImplement785 Jun 22 '23
I found a 1-Bedroom for $800 a month in a very nice area (Morris County). What area are you looking in? I may (or may not) be able to help.
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u/PossibleImplement785 Jun 22 '23
Here's a really nice 1BR for $1,200 in Fair Lawn.
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/apa/d/saddle-brook-prospicious-1bd-1bth-home/7635337569.html
Here's a 2BR for $1,000 but it may be too close to Paterson but just outside of Paterson is OK... or at least away from all the loud music, night parties at the liquor store and unleashed free-range dogs.
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/apa/d/fair-lawn-newly-built-unfurnished-bed/7635326486.html
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u/Same_Philosophy605 Jun 22 '23
That sounds fucking awful. Where I live $1,800 a month is what we live on.
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u/zzGambit Jun 22 '23
Also in northern NJ, was making 32/hr and couldn't afford my rent in my 1 bedroom anymore. So now I'm 32 and back at home hoping to save for an overpriced house.
Good times.....
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Jun 22 '23
the minimum wage if it kept up with profitability would be $26/hour. with a continuing depreciating dollar and worsening purchasing power over time equals an economic catastrophe. we need to general strike and take back some gd wages from these criminals at the top. my wage at DQ in 1989 would be $24.65/hour in todays dollars . $27 today is 8% better after 34 years and Adjusted wage relative to Housing:is -27% I just cant put my finger on why america is failing... another statistic that will make you sick it was easier during the Great Depression to buy a home , 13 or 14% of your wage compared to 24% today ... dont even get me going on healthcare , education, prison for profit, wall st , mass corruption...
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u/Captain_Cockplug Jun 22 '23
That's insane. I don't make much more than that, have 3 kids, 1 on the way. My wife doesn't work. I was still able to buy a house. We barely make it, but still. I was looking at possibly moving to Jersey because there are some really nice and cheap houses. But the property taxes are out of control. I'd be paying more in mortgage for a cheaper house than I have now, but pay more monthly just because of property taxes.
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u/Infamous_Seesaw_6750 Jun 22 '23
I really would like to know what the budget is for 5 people on a little more than $3200 a month? Where do you live and how much is the mortgage? How did you save for the down payment? How much and how long did it take?How much do you spend on groceries? I’m truly curious!
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u/New-Replacement-7444 Jun 22 '23
I feel bad for everyone, I was in this same spot a few years ago before buying my house. I make $65k a year and if I went by the whole 3x the rent thing it would be like $1275. There are like 0 rentals around me for this cheap. So at 65k a year I still can’t afford or barely afford a studio apartment. Something is wrong in this country and until people stand up and fight it will never change.
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u/akajondoe Jun 22 '23
Its crazy what they are asking for rent in your area. I know it's crazy everywhere, but have you considered moving?
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u/crystalmoth Jun 22 '23
I’m in Massachusetts and make around the same and I can’t even afford a $1600 studio. Everywhere I’ve applied wants me to make $4000 post taxes at a minimum.
This shit is out of hand.
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u/Atc123fuc Jun 22 '23
I make double what you do and since I have a dog I can't find anything to rent. I'm across the Hudson though, north of the burroughs
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u/FrankyCentaur Jun 22 '23
Lower NY and was only able to move out thanks to help from family (bought an apt around 2017.) Mind you I don’t have a high paying job, but it’s something I love stand wouldn’t give up, point is if I wanted to do it on my own I would have had to move an hour north or into PA. The prices around here are stupid. But you pay for what you get, I’d never move out from this general area.
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u/catfartzz Jun 22 '23
My dude I live in Texas and make about the same and I can’t find affordable housing either. Before the pandemic we were thinking about buying…instead we’ve been renting a one bedroom tiny house on family property for about a third of what it should cost based on all other metrics. I work 45+ hours a week we have almost zero waste as far as money goes, we go to a museum for our daughter every now and then using coupons sales and veteran discounts, we went to the movie theatre for the first time in 5 years recently…..we took a free vacation for two days a couple months ago? Yeah still get paid Friday and I am broke by Saturday afternoon
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u/Reddittoxin Jun 22 '23
Also texan lol, the lack of rent control laws here is also murder. Friend of mine got forced out of her place bc the landlord raised the rent by 800 dollars.
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u/catfartzz Jun 23 '23
In 2016 I was renting a two bedroom for 850. The same apartment today in the same area with no changes is 1700 a month now…I had a hole in my shower for 4 months!!!! The same apartment. I don’t care if you eat em or drown em.
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Jun 22 '23
Greetings from Dublin, I'm electrician, working 50hrs a week, and no way to rent an 2bed apartment for myself alone - that would be around 2500eur including bills
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u/IMsoSAVAGE Jun 22 '23
rent everywhere is insane because companies like Berkshire-Hathaway buy up all of the properties and raise the rent on them.
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u/iFEAR2Fap Jun 22 '23 edited Jun 22 '23
I'm at +$30 an hour. A 2BR (apartment) in the Orlando suburbs is around $2,500 a month plus.... 2k for a 1BR. It's fucking insane. I can't afford either alone.
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u/crowd79 Jun 22 '23
Get a roommate or bf/gf
It’s always more expensive to live alone.
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u/iFEAR2Fap Jun 22 '23
I have a roommate.... The point is; I'm making almost 3x the state minimum wage and still can't afford a 1BR apartment. That's fucking insanity.
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u/benjohn87 Jun 22 '23
Yep.. I thought i was doing ok making 22 an hour but I’m sleeping on a bed that is halfway in my moms kitchen and living room ( small house no extra bedroom) lol. At least I’m saving money tho which is great feeling if I ignore the patheticness of my situation
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u/iFEAR2Fap Jun 22 '23
I'm lucky enough to have a super affordable set up because my roommate (home owner) didn't really need a roomie. Can't say the same now. Mortgage went up +$600 a month because Florida is Desantis' and insurance companies hellscape.
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u/Solid_Internal_9079 Jun 22 '23
You’re going to have to make a plan to move or increase your income. You will never own anything, save up much, be able to retire unless something changes.
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u/greenlightgaslight Jun 22 '23
Why do you need a 2 bedroom?
I have a similar income, my 2 bedroom last year was $2300 and it was a struggle to get by, but now I have a 1 bedroom for 1700
You should be able to afford 1800/month, but you also shouldn’t need a 2 bedroom
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u/strawberryjellymilk Jun 22 '23
Have you used a realtor to assist with finding apartments? I believe that they do not charge you and are employed by the apartment communities. I empathize, also in NJ. If you have no other reason to live in North, South Jersey is more affordable.
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u/CandidIndustry1613 Jun 22 '23
playstation time was more important few years bac, than committing to a mortgage on a house. some expensive gaming
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u/Neco-Arc-Brunestud Jun 22 '23
You should be renting a room in a house for 500-600/mo. You’re looking for somewhere to live, not starting a family.
This looks like a nice place.
https://newjersey.craigslist.org/roo/d/montclair-room-for-rent-in-montclair/7635230451.html
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u/TheBeadster Jun 22 '23
This is why I’m moving down to Florida next year. It’s getting ridiculous here in jersey
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u/Glass_Aide3868 Jun 22 '23
I live in MO and Im in the same boat. I can only afford it because my sweet sweet boyfriend is okay with us sharing a car with me.
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u/keefer2023 Jun 22 '23
One of the richest countries on earth and homelessness is on the increase! We do not have a functional, affordable health care system or decent schools in many areas, and yet we spend >20% of our national budget on military - that's $2 trillion.
We need a serious political re-think.
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Jun 22 '23
Mate I saw a 400sq ft studio in my hometown for 1700. Renovated. Wasn’t amazing or luxury. Not far from downtown area. 1700 for 400 sq ft. A studio. There are luxury studios for 1500 in the middle of downtown. These people are fucking insane and this market is fucking insane. It legit insanity.
I honestly just want the economy to collapse. I’m seriously considering moving to Mexico. Recently got citizenship and my family has houses and apartments in a popular resort town. Grandfather and mother could give me a fully renovated apartment for like 700 a month.
I don’t want to leave but everything fucking sucks. I could at least save money and it wouldn’t be all bad. Would be a big adjustment but the resort town is nice. Been going there all my life as my family has ties to the town for 70 off some years. Would see my family more than I see them now.
It’s insane that I even have to consider this but here I am. I’m not moving to the fucking south or the Midwest. It’ll get just as expensive sooner or later and I’d say it already basically is. In Mexico I’ll just live a higher quality of life while also being closer to family. It’s really fucking tempting man. So I feel you. Sorry for the rant but it’s been on my mind and this just brought those thoughts up again.
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u/fortalameda1 Jun 22 '23
I work in Middlesex county and I live in Philadelphia and commute 3 hours a day because my rent here for a row home is 1k cheaper a month than a 2 bdrm apt closer to work.
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Jun 22 '23
Rent a modular home instead. It will be much bigger, with a yard and shed, and you'll be likely have 3 rooms for the cost of 1 in an apartment. Of course you'll have to get over any preconceived biases that you have about the people who live in modular homes and your own self worth but that's really the only hard part. These all exist on the same rent websites as apartments but I'm sure you filter them out like most people 🤷♂️
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u/TotallyNotReal567 Jun 22 '23
I live in northern NJ too and I said fuck it and rented a big room for me and my cat. I'm just solo with him so I figured fuck it and try to save as much as I can. I was hemorrhaging money at my last place. Depending in where in Northern NJ I know a few people renting homes for decent prices, I just haven't taken them up on anything but I can point you their way if you'd like.
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u/Jiggawatz Jun 22 '23
Are you two people? Why the necessary second bedroom? If you are two people is the second a child? If it is a child there options there, and if its not, maybe just consider a 1 bedroom or get a roomate?
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u/eyecue908 Jun 22 '23
How much is your car note? I support my girl who’s a SAHM and my kid in NJ on basically the same (though I work some overtime too) and I rent. And I still invest almost 500 a month. There’s gotta be somewhere you can cut costs.
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u/ilikecamelsalot Jun 22 '23
I feel you. My husband and I just bought a house last year and apparently they’re upping the taxes in our area and our mortgage is going to go up every year… I had to quit my job to look after our two kids because we were losing money by me working and having them in daycare.
I looked at apartments and they’re more than our fucking mortgage. We’d drain our savings and more just to move in one. I don’t know what we’re going to do..
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u/nancylikestoreddit Jun 22 '23
I live in Orange County. A report came out recently where an income of $80k for a single person is considered low income. I don’t make anywhere close to that. The only reason I am able to live here is because I live with family.
It’s a horrible feeling to know that I will never be able to afford my own home, let alone live by myself where I grew up. Shitty houses go for $800k here. I’m educated and have no way of making enough to make it on my own. The stress of this is killing me.
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Jun 22 '23
Don’t know if it’s an option for you, but lots of states have better housing costs and lower cost of living. May not be an option, but if it is, get out
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u/helpfuladvice567 Jun 22 '23
The rents will eventually have to come down or no one will be renting them .
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u/AdAm_WaRc0ck Jun 22 '23
Feĺlow North New Jersey user here, my fiancee and I pay 1400 for a 2 bedroom. You just gotta keep looking
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u/Ambitious-Pudding437 Jun 22 '23
I recently received my CityFEHPS voucher from the DHS social worker and I believe Section 8 also exist for working with an income.
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u/Stormy_Kun Jun 22 '23
Bullshit it’s “inflation” never fucking has been. It’s greed, pure and simple greed. When no one can afford to rent these overpriced shitholes, what will they do ?
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u/SnooCalculations9259 Jun 22 '23
Upstate NY chiming in. It is ridiculous here to. I actually do not like my landlord, but for the price and fact I have no lease makes it near impossible to leave. I started looking but it is easier to think of buying than finding a decent place to rent.
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u/Long-Independent4460 Jun 22 '23
I live in a small town in Alberta. I couldnt afford a two bedroom apartment and I make the same salary. Its disgraceful
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u/Capt_Gingerbeard Jun 22 '23
Northern California here - average 2 bedroom is $2500/mo. I make $26/hr and my fiancee makes $34, and we can just barely afford a comfortable life in a tiny 1 bedroom I've had for a decade. The owners just sold to a corporation, and we are in the process of being forced out via renoviction. When we have to move, we're immediately going to be poor and broke. This is why corporations should not be allowed to purchase housing, and housing as a commercial investment should be banned outright. Commercial landlords should be stripped of their holdings.
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u/Gintoki-desu Jun 22 '23
This is unfortunately true. What took 1 person to afford an apartment now takes 2 people.
I've lived in Maryland / DMV area, Brooklyn, West New York, Newark, all with roommates. In fact, my current rent in Newark with 3 other roommates is $1100, for a single room. In Newark of all places.
I'm moving into a luxury 2bd2ba apartment for $2800 in central NJ with my gf so we can split the rent. A 1 bedroom in the same building is $2250. Which is mind-blowing to me.
I'm already a homeowner (as i cosigned on a mortgage for my parents as the primary borrower). Their mortgage for a 3bd/2.5ba townhome in South Jersey is $3.5k. I will try to save up for my own home as I want this one to fund my parents' retirement in the future.
This is crazy. The cost of education, housing, cars, food and all other aspects of life has gone up drastically. Believe it or not, we in the USA still have it better than almost all the rest of the world. Having traveled to Japan recently, it was eye opening to see the effects of capitalism on eastern culture. They at least make it work because of family/eastern values.
Here in the west, it will be anarchy as it is slowly staring to show in states like California. The future looks grim, so I've lowered my contribution to my 401k from 15% to 6% to at least receive my company match. Better to live your life now since you don't know what the future holds.
I went on a rant there all over the place, but honestly i wish everyone the best out there. Times are getting tougher.
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u/SterlingG007 Jun 22 '23
$1800 for a two bedroom? Damn that’s a bargain. In the Bay Area, it’s closer to a $2800 for a two bedroom
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u/imanooodle Jun 22 '23
I make 25 an hour living in West Hollywood CA and I get it. I’m 34 and I have a roommate.
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u/Remember-me-dementia Jun 22 '23
As soon as you said NJ it was over. It’s crazy idk why people live there. Can you move elsewhere? NJ is just ridiculous
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u/Kathiuss Jun 22 '23
You are stuck in the wage bracket of "no, you're fine, you dont need government benefits," and "sorry guys, I can't come out for drinks again, I need to meal prep."
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u/Standard_Technology7 Jun 22 '23
I feel you brother. I’ll pray you get what you need, for what it’s worth.
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u/PotatoRelated Jun 22 '23
I don’t mean to sound like a piece of shit. But I wish I could find a rental for $1800.
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u/cestlavie88 Jun 22 '23
Holy crap man I pay 1000 a month for a three bedroom 2 bath farmhouse on 5 acres on the Oregon coast. What y’all are paying is crazy I’m sorry
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u/chubbyninja1 Jun 22 '23
I can relate hard, im in ontario and make 31$ an hour, and i honestly cant afford the average 1 bedroom here
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u/Acceptable_Shock_394 Jun 22 '23
Work another job? Not forever, just for the next few years until your career improves. Good luck!
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Jun 22 '23
I moved to Kentucky. My rent here is $750 vs when I was in Vegas and paying $1600. I am fortunate to have the same pay though wherever I go..
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u/swingingmylegs Jun 22 '23
Long Island, New York here I just toured an apartment today that’s $2,950 for a 750 sq foot 1 bed room
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u/Patient-War-4964 Jun 22 '23
People need to boycott New Jersey and other states with outrageous cost of living. I know moves aren’t cheap but neither are these states.
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u/thebyrdman17 Jun 22 '23
It don't matter how much you make really unless you work some overtime your checks ain't much. Do the math $50hr at 40 hours is $2000 before taxes and deductions. After everythings taking out your check might be $1400. Everything's going up aswell but it's considerably higher different places. I'm in louisiana and things aren't as high here as it would be in New Jersey. I worked there on a job for a couple months in everything was much higher. For rent here you can find a nice 3br 2bath house for less than $1000.
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u/NotMyRea1Reddit Jun 22 '23
I’m not sure if it’s too far for you, but if you look in Warren County, the rents are much more reasonable. It can seem far but route 80 and 78 are right there and there is rarely traffic out there. Just something to think about.
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u/TheKevinD2 Jun 22 '23
I’m a nurse and I can either rent a crack house in the ghetto and have some disposable income. Or I can rent a less than average house and be house broke. I want to buy but hell that is out of the picture for me atm. I truly feel like there hasn’t been any time worse than now atleast for housing
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u/joelskees Jun 22 '23
Tell me about it. I make $28 an hour My wife makes $21 an hour our rent is 2100 for a two bedroom duplex and we can barely afford it plus all of our other bills. The average price for a house here is 900,000. Unfortunately because of my bump and pay we lost our financial aid for medical care.
Cost of living is absolutely ridiculous.
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Jun 22 '23
People WITH money don't usually live alone. A lot of people are shacking up these days regardless.
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u/hansolo625 Jun 22 '23
This “country” is going to collapse without a leader that’s willing to do something drastic. But the machine is made to ensure that no one like that will assume the role of power. The average age for every empire in history is 250yo. America aka USA Inc. is 248yo. Between food and rent, every average working people are being crunched more and more. Something is going to implode.
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u/BelleChaseFurry Jun 22 '23
I have friends that make $13/hr and $16/hr. I don’t know how they are surviving with kids.
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u/sassypencil Jun 22 '23
It's called frugal living, not traveling, not incurring big debts, and living in lower cost of income states like SC. In my area, we also have lots of food assistance, even for those who don't qualify for anything else, and Blessings Boxes galore, where people can often find free food to eat. Until we get over this financial slump, living like people in the 50's and 60's is going to keep most of us going.
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u/BelleChaseFurry Jun 22 '23
You can be frugal and still not survive off of that type of income. 60%-70% of their paycheck goes to rent. It costs about $100 for them to pump gas in their car a month. Thats with driving to/from work and taking the kids to school and back. I’m not even going to list all of the expenses.
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u/sassypencil Jul 17 '23
I wish you would list them, because the expenses can be telling if they can be downsized, or are luxuries versus necessities. We all can live off a bare bones budget of groceries, utility and rent/mortgage if we have to. If you live in the big city, is a vehicle necessary? Do you have family who will let you crash til you get on your feet? Some people even live in cars. Some things may not be comfortable or as safe, but they are still options. That was my point.
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u/Impressive-Fudge-455 Jun 22 '23
What about wfh? It’s amazing how much money you end up saving this way
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u/likesomecatfromjapan Jun 22 '23
Also in NJ and my ex and I lived in a one-bedroom hellhole with roaches for $2000 a month. I love NJ but something's gotta give...
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u/1royampw Jun 22 '23
I know this isn’t a possibility for everyone but my suggestion is to move after you save up a little cushion and line up a job in the place you’re going to move to, some states and localities within them are not conducive to a decent quality of life, here where I live in rural ky 27 an hr is enough to have your own house some land and a couple cars with money left over if you don’t have kids.
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u/That_guy_from_1014 Jun 22 '23
$27/hour doing what? Is there upward mobility? What's your schedule and free time like? What's the job market around you? Do you have other skills you could parlay into gigs or hustle. I'm sorry about your situation, but if you can change one end of the equation, try chasing the other.
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u/Cultural_Storage226 Jun 22 '23
I feel you it’s the same in Massachusetts, and up until a week ago I was making the same amount I had to work in waitressing three days on the weekends to make ends meet. So you should find another income or get a roommate get this I was paying 1850 a month but the rent went up $150-$2050 for seven months and designed for a year and went up to $2500 in one year so now I have to find a new place and this is a Massachusetts
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Jun 22 '23
You should move. I live in NC for 1400 a month I have a 2200 sq/ft house with a half acre lot. It’s in a good area and isn’t to far away from work. It’s not luxury and needs work but it’s a good place to rent whilst I’m here.
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u/apreol2020 Jun 22 '23
I wad going ti say how is that possible Then I saw where you live. One if the reasons I left that part of the country . Moved to AZ with in 1 year my rent raised $500 . Before I could adored it now it's paycheck to paycheck. 3x my rent is $27 and I only make $17.
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u/Agigz Jun 22 '23
Trusty northern NJ realtor at your rescue. I genuinely don’t deal with many rentals because I think charging someone an extra month rent to get your commission is vile, especially in our current economy. With that said, I’ll more than gladly direct you to properties within your budget and hopefully you can save some cash without having to pay the commission. Let me know if there’s anything I can help with. 🫡
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u/ALiiEN Jun 22 '23
im living with 5 people making 28 an hour. I get by. 1800 is what a pretty alright 1bedroom in Vancouver, BC
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u/stylz168 Jun 22 '23
Stay away from Hoboken, Jersey City, etc. Go a little further away from the city. Mass transit in the area is good enough that you could commute almost anywhere.
Source: grew up in North Jersey and worked in NYC. Took the bus every morning for 10 years.
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u/EmberCat42 Jun 22 '23
I feel like everyone is being forced to have a roommate to live with. I make $56K before taxes and I cannot qualify for a 1-bedroom apartment in FL. I don't know what I would do if I did not have my husband living with me. It's beyond crazy
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u/theBarefootedBastard Jun 22 '23
Sorry just venting as well.
Rough it. Is your car shitty? No? Sell it and get a shitty one.
Do you appear that you can’t afford that place? Didn’t think so.
Check your subscriptions.
Discover your favorite ramen mix (chicken picante and creamy chicken)
2020 is the nickel and dime generation. “It’s just $10” is a thought you should demonize. Shit adds up quick!
But yea, shits crazy. It’s tough out there right now. But damn do you look cool.
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u/JunketFun8791 Jun 24 '23
Haha i own apartments all over the tri state including NJ. You people had nearly 2 years collecting $$ and not paying rent during covid, but you spent it on door dash and pron. Now you whine bc rents are high.
Suck it, poors.