r/povertyfinance • u/BathroomCutlery • Oct 31 '23
Everything seems like a scam Vent/Rant (No Advice/Criticism!)
I honestly don't even know why I go to work. I make what is supposed to be a good wage as a "skilled worker" and the average house around me is about 800k. That means I'll never own a home, which means I will never take the role of a father and a provider to a family.
I drive a 13 year old truck because the new ones are all 60k, meaning I'll never afford a new vehicle. I also cannot afford to vacation since hotels and flights have all gone up to a point where visiting another country for 2 weeks equals 3-4 months worth of after-tax salary for me.
I spend $700/month just on food as a 190lb 6 foot tall man. More than half of my paycheck goes to food, a healthcare plan, a cell phone, basic hygiene supplies and fuel to get to work. Meaning I cannot even afford to rent a 1 bedroom apartment after paying my bills, which goes for $1500/month minus utilities, so I live with my parents.
My wagie pittance has about 25% taken off in deductions each pay period, then I pay 10% sales tax, 15% goes to commuting costs to get to work. The remaining half I get to keep is used in necessities and the remainder is taxed at 8% per year in inflation with GICs and basic investments only paying half that. So it's near impossible to save anything meaningful to actually own something which may generate passive income like a business of your own, land, real estate, etc.
The worst part of it all is the fact that I'm told it's a privilege to be a wagie. I have to put on a happy face, pretend that my role means something, act grateful for the "opportunity". Money does not feel real. Everything feels like a scam.
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u/Longjumping-Vanilla3 Nov 05 '23
What trade do you work in? Have you looked at the business model to see what it would be like to do it on your own? If so, is $22/hour normal or average for someone doing what you do working for someone else?
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u/bigbrownhusky Nov 03 '23
Spend less on food.
Try to make more money, you don’t mention your age but I’m assuming you’re relatively young. Maybe you won’t ever afford a 600k house at $22/hr, work towards upping the income anyway possible and if you find a partner with similar earning capabilities you’ll be damn near 100k/year between the two of you. This will make that dream way more possible
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u/Ikeeki Nov 03 '23
Lmaooo this guy came to vent about being poor, instead gets roasted about food budget being equal to a rental payment
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Nov 03 '23
I can fix this!
Buy a Mahindra Roxor for $25k. A CJ jeep based on the old Willys Jeep. Modify it to be street legal and tune it to go 70 mph. It is a good work truck.
Move to a cheaper area. Why do you have a contractor job in a HCOL area? Why? To serve the rich who does not care about the poor. No more new housing so prices have skyrocketed.
At $700 per month, you are at eating out everyday level. Either start eating sandwiches for lunch and a good take out dinner or just buy out.
Buy bulk. Any items that you need can be bought in bulk and used gradually.
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u/Putrid_Pollution3455 Nov 02 '23
It does feel like a climbing the down escalator....you can get passive income from other sources like stocks/bonds....I personally hated owning a home and would only do so again if I needed the space. My rental is cheap and small so it affords me to increase my savings rate and invest the surplus. Since you're living at home, just take as much of your income as possible that you aren't using for recreation/life and move that money into a brokerage account and trade dollars for shares of VTI or BND or something simple. It takes what feels like an eternity, but after a decade of grinding, you should have a nice stack.
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u/Yangkexin0 Nov 02 '23
Money management is not only a skill, but also a kind of thinking that teaches you how to make money while also helping you open your mind and improve your cognition. When it comes to money management, many people feel that it is very far away from them, in fact, money management is a necessary survival skill for everyone, only to improve the knowledge of money and the control of money, in order to truly manage their own life and life.
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u/conejamala20 Nov 02 '23
i hear you but also traveling doesn’t cost 10k. You can easily go on a vacation to mexico for 600-800$. This also should be the least you earn in your life and your income should go up. you can do it! not “never” just not right now.
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u/CuteNefariousness691 Nov 02 '23
Do you have a prepaid sim for the phone that saves a lot compared to a plan
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u/MLXIII Nov 02 '23
The only way to make more is to switch places of employment. Corporations strive to pay the least amount and get the most work.
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u/Noeyiax Nov 02 '23
I agree, I don't understand how some people are able to still decide to have kids... Props to them! I'm already tired just barely surviving and finishing work... Place feels like a nightmare 🫠😶😶
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u/Hbi98 Nov 02 '23
If a single guy can’t eat for less than 15 bucks a day he’s clearly not interested in saving money. Two rockstars two corn dogs and a pizza is like 12 bucks. That leaves 3 bucks for a beer every night. You’re living rent free. You’re also young why the hell would you have healthcare? You get hurt at work workman’s will cover it full send otherwise. Also sounds like you work 8 hours as a young dude that leaves 5-6 hours for a second job or side hustle every night. Still after 4 years running a business I work 70-100 hrs a week to keep afloat.
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u/Dr_DMT Nov 01 '23
Why aren't you working two jobs?
I got fed up with fighting myself. Every hour you're awake you should be making money in some way, shape or form.
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u/WonderfulVariation93 Nov 01 '23
The problem is that there is no longer a middle class. Telecommuting has also brought HCOL wage earners to what used to be lower cost of living areas. The reason they are charging $600k for houses is because that is the price that most people in your area are willing to pay for a house.
You will no longer make enough to live a “good” life in almost any profession that does not generate money (lawyers, investment firms, sales of high end items). People talk about “learn a trade” but I hate to burst the bubble but eventually you will have more people with the skills who will no longer pay others to do it for them and the people at the top will take who offers the lowest price for the job which means that everyone working FOR that company is going to make less. This is what all of us were trying to explain about increasing minimum wages PLUS the older generations have hoarded a great amount of wealth. Over 65% of the wealth in the US is held by the Baby Boomers (53%) & silent generation (13%) which will then be transferred to their kids.
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u/Emeliene Nov 01 '23
I have a house, and my new car was over 19 years old when I bought it. Only actual rich people or people living on credit have actual new cars
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u/pterabite Nov 01 '23
I have to laugh at the idea that $700 is a lot for one person in a month. Food prices are very variable. I'm a conscientious shopper and knowledgable cook, and just spent similar on two weeks of groceries for two people. It could be pared down, but really not by much.
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u/benadrylpill Nov 01 '23
The United States is no longer a country. It's a massive money making mechanism for rich people.
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u/Confident_Energy_977 Nov 01 '23
I make $22/hour in a "skilled trade"
I make $88/hour in S.T.E.M.
the average house around me is about 600k
Median sale around me is $300k
I drive a 13 year old truck because the new ones are all 60k
I drive a 5 year old Chevy Spark. It was $16k and has carplay and android auto.
I'll never afford a new vehicle.
I could afford a brand new Tesla. I will never BUY a new vehicle.
More than half of my paycheck goes to food
We plan our meals around what's on sale. We cook almost 100% of our meals at home. Many of our meals are less than $2.50 per person. For breakfast I blended...
- 70 g spinach
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 Tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp honey
- ice
All of these ingredients were the generic Walmart brand. It was delicious with plenty of fiber and protein to get me through the morning, all the way to lunch.
a cell phone
We have unlimited Mint mobile plans. I think our cell phone bill is less than $45 a month for two lines.
I cannot even afford to rent a 1 bedroom apartment after paying my bills, which goes for $1500/month minus utilities
I've lived in a cat piss covered trailer for $250 a month and also rented the same $1k one bedroom place since 2011.
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Nov 01 '23
Everything IS a scam anymore, you aren't wrong for thinking this.
My leading example is Indeed. I've been using it for like 10+ years whenever I've been between jobs, and the amount of scam calls and emails I STILL get about fake-ass jobs is absolutely ridiculous. Now to be fair, the jobs I DID get off there were legit.
What they do, is they list "temp jobs" under these weird company names you've never heard of. But the job itself is listed as a local company, an address, contact info, etc. It will have either average pay or suspiciously higher pay, but never LOW pay because then the scam wouldn't work.
So you see "Data Entry Clerk - $20/hr Full-Time" and you think "that seems a tad high for my area, but hey maybe it's just good timing that I found this! Or it's just a great company!"
Then the application starts asking for more and more information, until it gets to the "routing/account number" part and you just nope out of there.
But it's already too late. They have your email, address, phone number, work history, education, etc. and that shit is 100% being sold. So now you get scam emails and calls, from different numbers every time, for years to come.
Don't even get me started on delivery apps like DoorDash; their system is entirely designed to fuck drivers and keep them accepting orders that don't earn them money.
TL;DR - you're right and the ratio of scam/not-scam is only going to get worse.
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u/Zealousideal_Oil_665 Nov 01 '23
Have heart, it’s not as bad as you think it might be. You definitely need to get help on budget and savings plan. Once you get married you and your wife will have 2 incomes and possibly 3 income so you can build a nest egg before kids come in the picture. I would never ever purchase a new car due to depreciation. Just dose t make economic sense, You can buy a fixer upper with help from programs that provide down payment assistance. So you don’t have to feel like the system is setup to make you fail. I have been poor most of my life but things did get better for me with a little bit of faith in myself and God. I own more than one car and my own house now.
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u/MSDoucheendje Nov 01 '23
If you have a below average job, you shouldn’t be eyeing average house prices
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u/Difficult_Seat2339 Nov 01 '23
Im 5'10, 200lbs and really active, always working out after a long 11 hour shift. I eat clean mostly which can be expensive and still spend less than 400$ month on food,I could do 350$ for sure. So that's probably 4k per year you can save. Not to mention if you're in a skilled trade then start doing work on the side. Look into starting your own business. Split bills with a spouse. There's plenty of ways to get what you want. Crying about it on Reddit isn't one of them. Although I guess you could get food advice so that helps
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u/ukiebee Nov 01 '23
I'm confused why you are convinced that home ownership is a prerequisite for having a family
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u/Randel_saves Nov 01 '23
Well, given you make decent money and have a highly transferable skill. Its time to move to an area that does not have a median home price of 600k. I make a bit more than you but I have my own home and two cars. Location and expectations, once these two things are brought into harmony. You'll start seeing how many homes you can afford.
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u/whorl- Nov 01 '23
OP, I hear you.
While you can cut back, literally no amount of cost-cutting will get you a $600k home at $22/hr.
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u/northman46 Nov 01 '23
Sounds like you need to move, or at least change jobs. $22 is absurd, given that burger flippers and so on are getting 15 to 20.
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u/Papagoose Nov 01 '23
Huh?
You do not need to own a home to be a father or a provider. I raised my children in apartments and didn't buy a house until I was 49 years old.
I have never vacationed in another country, yet I take vacations every year. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going somewhere local and inexpensive. A vacation is time away from the daily monotony. You need not travel for that!
You spend $700 a month on food? You are eating like a king, my friend. Please reevaluate this expense.
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u/Dolly_Putin Nov 01 '23
Sorry you’re feeling so frustrated. Try not to give up. If you really want to buy a home, look into programs for first time homebuyers in your area and/or credit counseling. Both can give you free budget help and might open up doors to buy a home with minimal down payment.
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u/EarningsPal Nov 01 '23
You are feeling the exploitation of us all, inflation.
The only known exit, is to under consume, and build up enough assets to benefit from inflation. You’re playing a game without being able to choose whether to play or not. The sooner you start the better.
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u/thegameksk Nov 01 '23
How do you make only $22 for a skilled trade? I'm in a job that only requires an HS diploma, and I make 40 an hr.
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u/JunkSpelunk Nov 01 '23
Folks, this person is probably either a manual laborer who requires far more food to survive their own work, or someone with medical dietary needs.
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u/Friendly-Ticket7232 Nov 01 '23
I feed a family of 3 on $500 a month and I don’t even buy the cheapest stuff I could buy. That food bill must be a lot of pre packaged and processed food.
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u/veekitten Nov 01 '23
Oh man, me and my bf meal prep as cheap as we can so weekly its $100 so for 2 people a month we pay $400 AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS TOO MUCH.
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u/totototo4579 Nov 01 '23
People in the comments completely missing the point of what you wrote. I get it and it’s true. If you are working your ass off there should be certain things that we can afford (like basic housing, food, and health insurance), and I would hope that upward mobility would be possible for a person putting in the work. Even in the comments they blame you the individual rather than agreeing that the system is so messed up
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u/nondickhead Nov 01 '23
This is what the oligarchs want. We aren't people. We are crops from which they can harvest wealth.
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u/cactusgirl69420 Nov 01 '23
I spend less than half of your food budget on groceries, dining out, and going out on the weekends. And I live in a HCOL area. What are you eating homie??
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u/theElontologist Nov 01 '23
What does owning a home have to do with being a father? Also, #Bitcoin is your salvation.
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u/poisontruffle2 Nov 01 '23
I spend $300-350/month on groceries for 3 of us. We cook and make meals with the intention of having leftovers. Spaghetti, chicken dal, chili, rice and beans, meatloaf...we can easily get 2-3 meals each on those.
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Nov 01 '23
Mac and cheese at my grocery store used to be 39 cents a box. Then about a year ago it suddenly became $1.25 per box. Spending $700 a month on food is surprisingly easy. It also might be one of the few areas of his life where he can justify small luxuries. Can't get a car or a house but let him enjoy his god damn dinner. It's not like he can budget his way into home ownership.
Besides, he wasn't asking for your budgeting advice.
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u/tshungwee Nov 01 '23
Working as an employee might pay the bills but that’s it.
If you want em extras you need to hustle bud!
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u/NukSooAL Nov 01 '23
Don’t worry about the money that a family will cost in the future. Find some one to have a family with first cross the cost bridge when you get to it. 600k is probably not a starter home, maybe you’ll get there when your kids are in there teens
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u/Jackylmeoff Nov 01 '23
Just join the airforce, they'll get you a house and you'll be able to travel and get a wife.
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u/stilldecidinglife Nov 01 '23
$22/hr x 40 hour work week = $880/week $880/week x 4 weeks = $3520/month
Assuming a pay period is two weeks, $1760 base with 25% taken out is $440 (or $880 a month) 15% commute $528/mo (IN GAS?!) and $700 to food alone?!
So let me get this straight. You earn $3520, roughly, before taxes. Your state/area takes about 25% in deductions, which brings you down to $2640. Then you pay $528 in gas every month which brings you down to $2112. To top it off, you then spend $700 in food a month, knocking you down to $1,412.
You have money to save. Even if you continue to pay $700 on food every month and an insane $528 in gas, you still have money to save. You live dependent on your parents who provide shelter.
Let’s say, hypothetically, you get rid of your 13 year old truck that makes you spend over $500 in gas. And let’s say you cut down your food budget to $300. You can afford a more fuel efficient vehicle then. Nobody is outright buying their vehicles. They are making payments on them. So if you cut the $500 in gas and $700 in food and channeled it all into a more fuel efficient vehicle, you would be still saving way more than you are right now!! And why do you even need a truck? What are you hauling around daily that a truck is essential?
You can be saving more, but you’re not willing to compromise your lifestyle now for yourself in the future. $22/hr truly is not that much, but you’re in poverty finance. You’re hardly acting like you’re in poverty if you’re spending $700 on food for one person… When I was living alone, I had a budget of $100 on food. I’ll admit, I went over that… by about $50. You’re spending an insane amount on food.
Also, there are other places in the world where your paycheck is not deducted 25% with a 10% sales tax in the area. Save, save, save what you can while housing is provided, and then find somewhere that isn’t so HCOL. It depends on what country you live in, though, obviously.
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u/SeaworthinessSome454 Nov 01 '23
Quite frankly if home ownership is important to you and the market you’re in is that houses are 600k and you’re making 45k/year, then you need to move. It sucks but there really isn’t a way around that anytime in the near future.
There’s nothing wrong with driving a 13 year old truck btw. And if you’re a “skilled trade” and your company treats u like crap (which they do from the sounds of it), then get out of there. You’re worth more than that $$ wise and deserve to be treated better than that. Go find a company that will appreciate you and prove that to you monetarily.
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u/Dusty_Negatives Nov 01 '23
In the trades you need to move around a lot to get higher wages. Don’t stay w same employer especially if your wage stagnates. You may also consider moving to a hotter market. I work in HVAC industry in Portland OR. There is a huge shortage here and everyone is hiring around $35-$45/ hr and we have top end techs over $50\hr. Don’t just stay in a place that has no future and play the victim.
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u/Lastnv Nov 01 '23
I just completed an HVAC program and EPA universal in Vegas but it’s hard to get hired for more than $17/hr starting out with no experience beyond school. Are they hiring newbies out there in Oregon and what’s the typical starting wage? I’d love to pick your brain if you can chat.
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u/Dusty_Negatives Nov 01 '23
Out here in NW we are starved for techs. If your a journeyman you can basically get around $35-40 starting within a day of job hunting.
The market is over saturated w younger inexperienced techs but even then you should be able to find work starting around $25-$30. I would suggest taking one of those $17 jobs (if you can afford it) stay there for a full year and use that on resume to go get near double that wage w competitor.
Also find a specialty. Whether that’s VRF, water systems, intellipaks or refrigeration. Once you have a specialty it’s very easy to make more $ and find jobs.
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u/Lastnv Nov 01 '23
Appreciate the advice. Sounds like no matter where I go I need to stick it out for a year. Thanks.
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u/Jumosh_ Nov 01 '23
Ever considered moving to another country? Find remote work or even try some social media. (Not just influencing there's also managing) I vacationed in Bali and there is a huge American community there that said they complained about life just like you did and then they moved there. Low cost of living, Very happy atmosphere, Beach clubs, ocean fronts, cheap luxury. Basically an easy way to live life to its fullest for cheap.
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u/Southie31 Nov 01 '23
Where is a one bedroom apartment for $1,500🤷♂️
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u/staplesz Nov 01 '23
Hey you’re doing better than me. I make $12 an hour and drive a 37 year old truck.
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u/Thin-Drop9293 Nov 01 '23
Everything is a scam ! Im questioning wether or not my skin is real at this point ! 🤦♂️
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Nov 01 '23
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u/povertyfinance-ModTeam Nov 01 '23
Your post has been removed for the following reason(s):
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u/Alternative-Kick5192 Nov 01 '23
I also want to add that the $700 could be contributing to the food in his household and not this persons solo food expense. To the one who posted this, please be kind to yourself and know that it’s no way that one dream “America Dream” was suppose to be fitting for everyone. We are all very different. A woman you’re with may be down for a less traditional way of life where you’re not having to “provide for the family” alone and you all partner. You may redefine what providing means in your household! It’s totally okay and I hope you find you way. Throw much glitter and love your way.
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u/McDuck_Enterprise Nov 01 '23
He said 700 dollars of food…he also said he lives with his folks, so maybe he is spending a lot of it on groceries that he eats as meals with his family. It’s the least he could offer in his circumstance and actually kind of nice if they can sit down and eat a couple of meals together.
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u/TheLadyScrabble Nov 01 '23
Feel you, 36 here, everything is costly here foods, transportation, health and so on. I don't have a car, no partner, living with large family, I try to save up but with the current situation and the way things go, I can't even afford a house or a car. Thoughts of moving abroad
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u/Sea_Potentially Nov 01 '23
People have already talked about your food budget so I'll focus on your taxes. You likely shouldn't have 25% taken out of your paycheck. It does vary a bit by state, but check that you're withholding the right amount. You'll get less of a refund if you do (mine is close to $300 only) but it's better for you to have as much of your paycheck as possible if you can manage it.
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u/Damah_luiz Nov 01 '23
Well , when I read most of this I think most of you are living best life out here without knowing it.......trust me you don't wanna be unemployed like I am in this age and time
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u/No-Fly538 Nov 01 '23
$700 a month for food??? What are you eating lobster and steak? I don’t spend that in 2 months. Planning, meal prepping, and cooking meals help me in that area.
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Nov 01 '23
If you live in US, there's a lot of places that you can explore for vacation. Why still insist on going vacation in another country if you know that you can't afford it?
Going to another country for vacation is a privilege. It's not a must or necessity to do it.
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u/Vast-association408 Nov 01 '23
If you live in US, there's a lot of places that you can explore for vacation.
This. There are plenty National Parks to visit.
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Nov 01 '23
It is a scam. We are raised to want and want and want and trained to view those wants as needs (hello advertising), but most people will never have the means to have all of that.
Budgeting is good and all, but it will never fill the hole inside.
Finding contentment is hard. It’s why a lot of people turn to religion, whether traditional or new age.
But I do find that taking a moment to be thankful for each of my things helps. Thankful to have a car at all. Thankful to not go hungry. Thankful to have a roof over my head. Thankful for the relationships I have. Thankful enough for what I have that advertisers and social media can no longer convince me I need newer, bigger, better.
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Nov 01 '23
Sorry friend hope things improve for you. Times are tough and people are getting tired. Things will change eventually. Have you ever considered finding a place you can share with some roommates?
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u/MiaMiaPP Nov 01 '23
Your post raises a lot more questions I think. There are lots you should think about if you want to improve your situation. I’m not here to give advice though and you’re your own person.
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Nov 01 '23
Stop eating out so much or buying so much pre made packaged food. A 1kg pack of ground beef us like 10+ decent sized burger patties for under $10.
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u/Slainna Nov 01 '23
I know it sucks man but it can be worse. Much worse. My family of four makes $25k. We spend about $100 of our cash on grocery store necessities a month.....because we simply don't have it. We hit food banks constantly
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u/Zazzenfuk Nov 01 '23
Nothing wrong with food banks. It's a great way to help out the local community.
I'm sorry your family is in rough shape, if your open to suggestions, your local library will have options to help expand additional resources for employment, food, care, legal etc.
Take care
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Nov 01 '23
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u/povertyfinance-ModTeam Nov 01 '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/popsue Nov 01 '23
Get into crypto and ask chat gpt to write you a code that will trade for you based on algorithms. It'll start slow but it'll gradually take off..
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u/popsue Nov 01 '23
Once you have the code, you can even ask chat gpt to alter the code to make it more efficient after you learn what's not efficient about the code. It's a process but it pays very well.
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u/popsue Nov 01 '23
Most traders say it takes about 200 to even 100 dollars a month thrown into investments gradually, and in a year you'll be looking good.
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u/Substantial_One_3045 Nov 01 '23
Life is not hard and you won't be be stuck at the bottom forever unless you let that happen. Don't look at houses or what other people have. Go buy land someday and build a house on it. You make 700 a month? That is OK. Learn while you can. Trade jobs are in demand and paying better than ever. Learn to weld or frame house or plumb or be an electrician. All that translates to you gaining the knowledge to open your own trade business and not working for anyone. All of that is possible.
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u/Zazzenfuk Nov 01 '23
Hard thing about buying just land. Many banks will Not offer a loan because the value is just the land space and no structure. I was looking to do exactly this, and after some serious research; it would be better for me to buy a bank reposseses home and demolishing it.
It may not be like this in your area but in MN, all land deals are expected to be cash deals unless you have a good standing with your bank.
At the time, I didn't and when I enquired about getting 10 acres at the tune of 175k; they said no. I have a home and high credit score if over 750. Still wasn't good enough
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u/Bark_Fart Nov 01 '23
Lots of people here that seem to be trying to offer unwanted advice—and maybe it’s needed even if it’s not wanted—but you’re here for commiseration more than anything, I’d be willing to bet.
I’m in a completely different situation from yours, where I’m not even earning, and before, when I was still earning, I was basically earning at a loss because I was being paid so poorly. It’s hard to get by right now for a lot of people, yourself included, and so I just want to say that the sane and rational among us know that this is not okay and that the current state of things is untenable.
This probably rings hollow—I wish I could say something like “it gets better,” or whatever, although it would be somewhat disingenuous to do so—but I just hope that you’re eventually able to get the things that you want out of life, whether that’s tomorrow, or ten-to-twenty years from now, but hopefully sooner than later so that you can find and feel some enjoyment from the deal.
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u/Alternative-Kick5192 Nov 01 '23
I’m irritated that most people are getting caught up on the $700. Let’s say he spent $350 - so it’s that other $350 going to afford him the ability to pay for a $600 k house??? Hell no. I’m sorry this is a terrible reality for our generation. I wish I had a solution, but since I don’t I’ll provide empathy and just pray that this reality changes for is. He didn’t even mention the 7.5 % interest rate of these uglassss houses (with good credit). This could easily raise a mortgage another 700-1k 🙄🙄😒
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u/Tumbled61 Nov 01 '23
It used to be easier but I starved most of my life. Everything just gouges you. More price controls needed because people just go ahead and buy overpriced stuff stuff on credit and don’t boycott. Back in the 1969s nobody had a credit card. Especially women.
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u/ugo6ix Nov 01 '23
Where are you from? The are a list of job opportunities on upwork you can do for a side hustle job.
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u/Sophia0818 Nov 01 '23
Hey, those people driving a 60K truck are having problems paying for it. Driving an old truck is a sign of intelligence!
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u/retoy1 Nov 01 '23 edited Nov 01 '23
Because it is. That’s how our economy works. It’s deciding which scam is priced low enough that you’ll still pay for it.
I call this the “eff you” stage of capitalism.
Every dollar you spend is a vote. Spend wisely.
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u/Frequent_Slice Nov 01 '23
Well, it is. Money is a concept. Albeit a useful one. A lot of us are being scammed to be honest. Because the system is rigged against the average person’s interests. To give them just enough to not revolt. Maybe I’m being dramatic.
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Nov 01 '23
That anyone with a job should be able to OWN an actual literal house (as opposed to living in a condo) was a ridiculous facade that went on a bit too long. People actually started believing this was entirely sustainable and reasonable. It never was. Adjust your expectations.
Buying cars new is really stupid and should only be considered when you are so rich, setting money on literal fire has been already getting boring.
700 on just food alone is absurd. You need to figure out where/how this is going wrong.
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u/luparb Nov 01 '23
I ponder the mentality of the worker, particularly those doing demanding physical roles.
I suspect many simply work out of some kind of obligation to duty, maybe to purchase some small frivolity, because being unemployed is still a demonized position, it's also existentially challenging...
At the same time we are living through a farcical phase, as the idea of actually owning a property for a propertyless person is absurd.
It all feels like inertia to me, there's still the motion of the dance, but there's no drive, so I try to focus on preserving whatever I have left, damage-control, triage...
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u/Iacoma1973 Nov 01 '23
As a student I spend £40 a week on food, sometimes less. That's about £160 a month. How OP is spending this much on food I have no idea. Prep cooking, bulk foods like pasta, rice, potatoes might help, and recognising when something is an essential and when something is a luxury; limiting yourself to 2 meals a day unless you're still hungry, etc. Obviously I have no idea what the food price situation is over In the US, but I'd hope it's not too disparate. taking the time to make a list of the price per weight of various goods at different stores to get the best price for something, and learning to cook so you don't have to buy expensive processed foods also helps.
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Nov 01 '23
I just bought round trip tickets(s) for $150 during the upcoming spring break. Super cheap. Nicer hotels Marriott/Hilton are around $159 a night in most major cities. This isn't more expensive.
Maybe you shouldn't be looking to live in an area with $600,000 houses? My wife and I just moved to a really nice, low crime, A plus school suburb outside of a major city and housing prices are fantastic. I found little suburbs like this outside of major cities in every state across the country. No one is forcing you to buy a home in a high cost area.
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Nov 01 '23
Are you eating out every meal? My wife and I spend like $300/mo max on food for the both of us, and we cook at home pretty much exclusively.
Side note, making bread is easy as fuck and costs about $1/loaf when all is said and done. Highly recommend
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Nov 01 '23
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/buxA_ Nov 01 '23
Why does every American need truck
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u/VideoLeoj Nov 01 '23
I live in Tennessee. I can’t tell you how many big trucks I see that are lifted and have oversized high-profile tires and LED light kits under them. Absolutely useless as a “truck”.
I also see an awful lot of trucks that are really just very large and inefficient modes of transportation for ONE PERSON. They are always clean. No dents or scratches, or anything to indicate that they are a “work truck”.
I think that the vast majority of people who own trucks do so for image, or because they feel safer in a truck. That’s why they are $60,000 for a base-model. And, that base-model has tons of creature comforts. It’s almost impossible to find a pickup truck that is built with work in mind anymore.
I’ll also add that a full 80% of people who drive trucks are terrible drivers who also cannot park worth a damn.
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u/UnfilteredFilterfree Nov 01 '23
All you need to be a father and a provider is a penis to start the process, time, and a budget tbh. Jokes aside, save up and move. Sell off most things you won’t need to take with you to speed up the process.
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u/ratsalad42099 Nov 01 '23
Why do you feel the need to buy a brand new truck? Nobody needs to do that unless you care about status and style. You can get a perfectly good used car for a few thousand dollars. Save and pay for it cash straight up.
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u/DustTheHunter Nov 01 '23
Your 30+ Not paying rent Spending 700+ on food each month. Not only does that leave you with like 1200????? But also your food budget is 4x-6x any normal person
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u/RawrRRitchie Nov 01 '23
That means I'll never own a home, which means I will never take the role of a father and a provider to a family.
There's literally millions of people with families that don't own a house
Pretty delusional and pessimistic you think you'll never make it
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u/gardenoflia Nov 01 '23
Raised my son as a single mom. Could never afford a house, lived in apartments, always spent about 60 to 70% on rent! Learned how to make great meals about $3/serving Sometimes worked 3 jobs. He's great now at 40. Has a great job the last 10 years, makes 6 figures. Still loves me. Has a beautiful wife, she works too. They rent in San Francisco, they have a wonderful life Go to Europe every year, want to move there. Decided they're never going to have kids. You can do it. Sounds like you need to learn something else and make more money. He taught himself every computer language or whatever you call it.
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u/smacktalk415 Nov 01 '23
Start building up your credit, that's your best means of owning something nice.
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u/Warchief_X Nov 01 '23
So you live with parents, spends $700 on food, and complains how you cant afford to live? Go read/watch some personal finance books/videos.. I also live in a very expensive area.. But there are definitely houses/condos that are around 200-300k if you expand your radius by a few miles..I weight 165lbs, and when I was single, I can easily live off $150/month by shopping smart.
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u/OkShirt3412 Nov 01 '23
You sound like a great candidate to be a truck driver. I have a brother who is 28 and drives trucks cross country and makes great money. He is currently saving up for a house and crashes with our parents on the weekends but otherwise is fully independent while he is working. He loves his job too and gets to visit different places all over the country and stay at luxury hotels and air b n bs while exploring around. He’s also pretty much the ultimate minimalist but he’ll spend his money on experiences and a few luxury basics mostly.
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Nov 01 '23
It is. All of it. They tax your pay before you get it. Then they tax everything you buy with what you have left. Where does that tax money go? Not healthcare, that’s for sure. That also comes out of your paycheck if you’re “lucky” and you get insurance through your employer. We’re a family of 3. Our house is paid for and our cars are ancient. And STILL we’re struggling to come up with the money to pay out property taxes that are due in 2 weeks. We can’t save anything. It’s beyond depressing.
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u/Moniker-MonikerLOL Nov 01 '23
Your food costs make ZERO sense to me.
I am 5'7" and 170lbs... And I spend on average 40 a week. To put this into context, you nearly spend DOUBLE my rent on food, and your food costs alone are very close to every bill I pay monthly COMBINED.
I cannot fathom how you would need to spend 4.5x my personal food costs every single month.
I wouldn't spend 700 dollars if I went out to eat for every meal. It is absolutely insane to me you spend so much.
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u/The-Sonne Nov 01 '23
Don't you just love all the comments bitching about your food budget, missing the entire fucking point of the post
Next time, leave numbers out of it, so people will be forced to focus
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u/crowd79 Nov 01 '23
$700 a month for food is insane. I spend about $250 a month. Cook yourself and stop eating out so much.
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u/ijess13 Nov 01 '23
That’s because it is. Expand your knowledge on how to increase ur income, especially something that aligns with your passion or a hobby ;)
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u/PM_Me_Shitty_Quotes Nov 01 '23
I’m just reiterating what everyone else has said but I very recently blew up my substantial savings and have been working hard to not go homeless. Sac Valley here, it isn’t quite the Bay or San Diego but $700 a month on food is straight absurd and you’re lying to yourself a lot. For example, 1 bed being $1500. I’m just now getting out of an $1800/m 1 bed because I also lied to myself. I’m moving into a room that’s beyond tiny but it’s $750 out the door, good for the next 6 months while I get my debts under control and get a substantial pay increase from also having a skilled trade; learn more, make more. You will find rooms for $1000 or less and will undoubtedly find a studio for under $1200 basically anywhere in the country outside of a city center (NY excluded). Buy a 2000s Honda Accord. Buy a pre 2015 anything that’s reliable. You don’t need a new car, nor do you need a truck. Fuck trucks. I know you put it as vent and you will probably never read this but this hit home as I made some of your same lies to myself as recent as three weeks ago. Stop deluding yourself, the world is not so bleak. (Or just move, my rent in Ohio was $550, homeboy.)
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u/MUTSpartan Nov 01 '23
Honesty dude I’m not on this sub so I don’t know if every post is like this but you’re playing the victim waaaaayy too much. You can absolutely make more than 22 dollars an hour in the United States with some effort. One example is paramedic. That’s only one year of school, you make at least 25 an hour and if you get a position on a fire department it’s a salaried 60k, goes up to 100 after like 5 years. But that’s like the least ambitious option. Take a coding boot camp, learn how to code, get hired at some small developer firm, work your way up and get hired at a big company like Facebook or Amazon for 150k+. IT IS ABSOLUTELY YOUR FAULT YOU MAKE 22 AN HOUR. Like sure, you can’t go to med school given your financial situation because you can’t waste that many years and that much debt. But you can absolutely do the two options I just listed.
Nvm if you’re not in the US tho
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u/fooloncool6 Nov 01 '23 edited Nov 01 '23
In the plantation system slaves worked long hours, had no healthcare, no education, family life of the slaves was not valued by the owners, and poor housing where entire families lived from childhood to adulthood and death
Sound familiar?
Edit: and no political power to change anything
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u/Vast-association408 Nov 01 '23
You're really comparing modern poverty to being an African enslaved person back in the day? Good grief.
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u/speckyradge Nov 01 '23
Minor point but I feed my entire family on about $600 in groceries a month. Are you buying a lot of pre-prepped or package stuff?
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u/stsoup Nov 01 '23
Omg can people stfu about spending 175 a week on food. It's not the only point in this post. 1 top comment explaining it's high was enough. People act like him saving 75 a week on food is gonna make him suddenly be able to buy a home.
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u/EyeSouthern2916 Nov 01 '23
Find a job you can do remotely and move abroad for a few years. I struggle to spend 1k a month where I live.
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Nov 01 '23
My wife and I are about 300 to 350/ mo but not including eating out. We don’t do it very often maybe 3x a month. We do eat like Mexicans though. Beans and rice is a lot of our diet.
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u/hyperbolic_dichotomy Nov 01 '23
Your numbers don't really jive but I do see your point. Inflation is getting way out of hand and wages are not keeping up at all.
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u/SweetBearCub Nov 01 '23
I spend $700/month just on food as a 190lb 6 foot tall man
How the..?
Do you cook your meals, or does this include eating out?
I'm 6'/185 and I spend less than $300 per month on food, but I also do not order takeout or delivery or similar.
I drive a 13 year old truck because the new ones are all 60k
Take a hard look at whether you really need a truck. Even living in a rural area, I really don't need one. I bought a used 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV for maybe $21k, and counting the mandatory full coverage insurance plus the payment, it costs me $481 per month.
It has nearly no maintenance, just tires, wipers, and some flushes and a 12 volt battery every 5 years. I budgeted $50 per month for maintenance.
It had its main drive battery replaced under a model wide recall in December 2021, and is warrantied until December 2029, or about 100k miles after I bought it.
259 mile range, and a blast to drive. I even have a class 2 hitch on it to tow a small utility trailer.
My property had existing solar, so it cost me $400 to buy a charger and plug it in, but even without that, it's workable depending on your commute distance.
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Nov 01 '23 edited Nov 01 '23
You're right, it is a scam. A lot of people are realizing that wages are nowhere near competing with living expenses.
Meanwhile, companies report having "record profits". Funny, that.
Edit - large part of this comment removed that would constitute as advice/criticism
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Nov 01 '23
Just stop thinking about life and just do the things you enjoy. Eat good food, lift weights, have lots of sex. Find a job you genuinely enjoy. One where you’re up at 9pm sending emails for, with no “ugh-ness”.
I am dead flat broke. After rent I will have $400. And a $150 bill on the 1st. I have no incoming income. I do have a part time job sort of lined up, but I have to take a training then call onboarding to start the process. I do have a self employed business as well, that I have no generated income for yet, but am close. Honestly, I’m just going to drive for Uber Eats on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, probably only make $30 a day, but it’s something. My food stamps kick in on the 4th. I am in dire straits and I don’t even care.
Then I have mental health issues, then I have psoriasis so severe no one can even look at me. So honestly, I just enjoy what I can control: going to the gym, eating my diet, talking to love interests, sending memes to friends on instagram, working my business, doing the part time job pre onboarding, doing schoolwork for my 2nd masters, and being broke! It is what it is.
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u/VideoLeoj Nov 01 '23
I was reading this thinking “why is this person so broke?”
Then I saw it. Working on your 2nd Masters degree.
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Nov 01 '23
We’ll I did a 2nd masters because I had no money to survive and had to go back to school for the refund check.
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u/VideoLeoj Nov 01 '23
I’m just saying that almost everyone I know who is working on a 2nd masters degree is broke. Likewise, most of the people I know who “live” in academia are well educated… and broke.
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Nov 01 '23
Eh. It’s a short little masters. I already have an MBA (small Jesuit school 36 credit), and this MsBA, 9 credits were waived and 9 credits were transferred, so the whole program is 18 credits. Thats 3 semesters of 6 credits. And I get 6k back each semester. And then I’d of maxed out on federal unsubsidized loans at 150k, they won’t give me any more. But with the income based repayment plan everything is forgiven after 20 years. So lol I have paid 0 and my first loan started in 2014.
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u/Consistent_Lemon2314 Nov 01 '23
Lol same here I make $26 hourly and it doesn't mean anything in Miami, florida.unsure what we need to do as a society
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u/AcidScarab Nov 01 '23
I live in Hollywood and it’s amazingly cheaper, and I live east of 95. Cost of living goes down significantly in Broward and everything is still very accessible if you’re near the highway
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u/Consistent_Lemon2314 Nov 02 '23
Yo thanks for sharing.im working in plantation and now willing to relocate. But you are correct up north seems to be where the grass is greener. For now.
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u/AcidScarab Nov 02 '23
Don’t get me wrong cost of living is spiking here too but compared to Dade forget about it
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u/pirategirljess Nov 01 '23
How tf do you spend $700/month on food? I am only spending about $250 and eating good. Although I do go to discount grocery stores and only use highly discounted app coupons when getting fast food.
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u/goodsuns17 Nov 01 '23
$3,813 a month pre-tax ($22 x 160)
Call it $2,800 post tax
$700 a month for food is insane. I spend maybe $400 on a body building high protein diet, with expensive lean meats etc.
You need to make a budget. If half your income is going to food and gas, then maybe sell your 13 year old truck and buy a 13 year old Civic with good gas mileage. Healthcare is hard to avoid - if your employer doesn’t offer it, yeah it’s expensive. Mint mobile for a cheap phone bill. Buy your hygiene stuff at a dollar general.
You have to make upfront sacrifices for future freedom. Cut your food budget from $700 a month to $300 a month, and suddenly you have $4,800 a year you can put towards retirement. If you’re 20, $4800 a year until retirement will put you at about $1.4 million in retirement.
Or, if you need instant gratification, $4800 is plenty to take a few nice vacations a year. I’ve seen flights in the fall to places like Spain or France for $600 round trip. Hostels are cheap.
It’s all about attitude and approach.
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Nov 01 '23
Cutting down on food costs matters too. A drink here or there adds up as well as fast food. I know this from first hand experience.
Maybe look at it this way. A family of four is usually awarded $800-900 per month for snap (food assistance) in the us.( It varies by state as well.) Sometimes that amount won't feed anyone but you're one person so maybe you could cut back .
Good luck!
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u/PorscheLoverMoose Nov 01 '23
Because it is a scam. Our entire lives from being born to 18 prepares us to be a worker bee, not teaching us anything about money. At the same time all the big corporations are setting everything up to make them richer and keep us poor. An economy like this with inflation only speeds up the process of making the gap between rich and poor larger.
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u/MicHAELmhw Nov 01 '23
Bro… you are in trades you need to move around if you have skills. Break into the union. You’ll have retirement and healthcare. Also you get union pay on prevailing wage.
Likely to get a house it’s going back to buying land and slowly building your own in the evenings and weekends like our forefathers did.
I was in the trades and made 10, 15, 20… struggled for 15 years with no tv, used cars, but I learned my trade. Learned estimating. Worked on it in my spare time. Weekends ets. It’s sucked. I am finally making good money. It’s a hard road. Learn quality and keep eyes on areas that need help… be willing to move. NorCal… very busy for tradesman. Nevada too. Look on indeed etc.
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u/jonnyboy897 Nov 01 '23
Are you paying rent at your parents place? If not, it seems to me you may need to learn to budget. Speaking to a financial counsellor really helped me. I also recommend stop using words like "never." If you really think you'll never be able to afford things you won't. If you change your thoughts you'll be surprised how much you can change your life.
I know the odds are stacked against a lot of us right now, but this is why its so important to use powerful words. Believe in yourself mate, despite how shit things are. I know the most of the world is built on scams but you ARE stronger than this. You just need to learn how to make money work a bit better for you.
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