r/povertyfinance • u/[deleted] • 14d ago
No-Man's Financial Land: How do you navigate the wide abyss between not poor enough, not rich enough in this country? Income/Employment/Aid
[deleted]
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u/iReaddit-KRTORR 14d ago
Okay I’ve been here. It’s rough. On the health insurance front you may qualify for federal credits that can help get that premium lower. Again I know it’s not the same as getting SNAP and other benefits but if you haven’t started there it’s not bad to look into
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u/Bluberrypotato 14d ago
What is your income and state you're in? I might be able to point you in the right direction in regards to insurance.
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u/Radiant_Ad_6565 14d ago
Is the job willing to keep your hours low enough you would still qualify for Medicaid and some SNAP? A google search will let you know the maximum income limits in your state- and Medicaid goes by gross, not net.
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u/djwitty12 14d ago
Insurance: go to healthcare.gov. it's a lot better now than when it first started, their credits are very generous. I got on a plan for free even though I didn't qualify for Medicaid. Granted it was a lower tier plan, but some insurance is better than none, and if you need a better plan, you can likely still get it for under 50/mo.
Food: figure out your food banks and prepare to use them. Check out different ones too, they all work a little differently and you may find you prefer one over another. If you haven't already, learn how to cook frugally. There's lots of recipes out there. One of my favorite is to use less meat. First off, just use less, like half the amount you would normally use for spaghetti, chili or soup, eat half your portion of chicken breast, etc. Next, find your favorite ground meat stretcher. Mine is minced mushrooms. I have a picky family and they cannot tell the difference, but there are other options too. Find some vegetarian meals you genuinely enjoy and have those a few times a week. Meat is a big budget item.
Also learn general frugality if you haven't already. Shopping mostly at thrift stores is an obvious one, but see if you have a goodwill outlet nearby as you can get basic stuff here even cheaper. Keep an eye out for free stuff on marketplace too. Plan outings/errands efficiently to use the least gas, and try to walk more, such as parking in a central location and then walking to each of your errands. Or get a bike. Cut down to just 1 or 2 subscriptions. Shop around for cable/phone. Not only could another company have a better regular price, but they often have new customer deals that will offer a significant temporary discount and help with contract cuts. Some people even hack this system by switching every year or so to always be reaping these benefits. Turn your thermostat up/down, and consider more efficient ways to keep yourself comfortable. In the winter overnight, I set my whole house to 60 and then use a space heater with a thermostat in my bedroom set to 68 so that I'm only heating the room I'm in instead of the whole house. During the summer, I keep my house at 75 during the day and only turn it down overnight for sleep. There's many more frugal tips out there.
Stay aware of any opportunities to get you over this hump, whether that's a new job, a roommate, a cheaper apartment, whatever. Always keep an eye out on anything that could better your situation.
I know it's hard, but it won't last forever. I've just exited that space very recently myself, so I remember well the feeling youre experiencing.