Current Events > Who here lives paycheck to paycheck and is barely surviving?

(+) Yeah! (+)

it seems like everyone has a lot of disposable income after expenses except me :(

Id love to have money to blow like that

I'm lucky enough to live in a house with four incomes. Two of them are pensions and my own is unemployment (only my uncle has a job), but it still adds up. Not to mention the house is owned outright.

Silver_Patron posted...

Id love to have money to blow like that

Whats stopping you?

Glob posted...

Whats stopping you?

Living paycheck to paycheck and barely surviving, probably.

me

i make like 2100 a month after taxes, only have 800-900 left after expenses

Dark_Arbron posted...

Living paycheck to paycheck and barely surviving, probably.

Doesnt mean it has to be permanent.

I feel this pain

Glob posted...

Doesnt mean it has to be permanent.

Escaping the cycle isn't something everyone can do.

Glob posted...

Doesnt mean it has to be permanent.

If you have a family, its very tough to get something that pays more unless youre extremely lucky

Dark_Arbron posted...

Escaping the cycle isn't something everyone can do.

Im not claiming that it is. My original question of what was stopping TC was a sincere one.

Silver_Patron posted...

If you have a family, its very tough to get something that pays more unless youre extremely lucky

I agree that there are many things that can make it harder. Financial dependents is certainly one of them.

Yes

Currently facing eviction while effectively being forced/stuck living with a very toxic, emotionally-unstable parent who refuses to have even the simplest conversation about it. I've been struggling to find a job while also dealing with my own physical and mental health issues which I have to mask around said parent, especially when they're drinking.

There's legitimately nothing I can do about the situation. Even the crappiest retail/food service jobs in my area are only offering low-paid, part-time employment to avoid providing benefits. If I were to somehow find a job that would pay anything tolerable, 99% of my money would be going towards just the rent and slowly chipping away at my debt. I have skills and experience but because I don't have a college degree, employers won't even bother giving me an interview.

As it currently stands, I'm never going to be able to afford to live independently, never going to be able to afford a car, and my life is pretty much just going to revolve around working and worrying. I don't like this at all. I have no friends/partner to live with and my only other surviving relative is an incredibly abusive, manipulative, bigoted individual mooching off their spouse who would most likely take some form of advantage of me if I were to somehow convince them to let me move in with them.

^geeze that is rough

Glob posted...

Doesnt mean it has to be permanent.

Clearly they haven't bought enough bootstraps.

I make 3,200-4000 on average after taxes per 2 week check. But only income so its not amazing. I would prefer 10k a month

I used to be. I spent years working my way out of it to get a much better job but I still remember what it was like.

One thing that's so much different is my stress level is much lower now that I'm not having to worry so much about money issues. That's something I think people who have always been financially secure don't really understand is how much of a mental and emotional toll it takes on a person when they're struggling to get by.

I moved back in with my mother ._.

Silver_Patron posted...

^geeze that is rough

It is. I really don't know what to do. I've sold a lot of my possessions and some of the interviews I've been on fell flat when I let them know I'd need to walk to work or catch an Uber, since public transportation in my area is surprisingly less convenient.

I can't even find remote work since most listings on Indeed are either for temp agencies that have already given me the runaround, or employers demanding extensive credentials I don't have.

Crimsoness posted...

I moved back in with my mother ._.

Don't be embarrassed about that. I have had to move in with my sister while I get my feet under me. I'm 35. Feel 0 shame about that.

Nope.

But happy to see if I can help others find margin

Yes and no. I have savings, but it barely grows and it's essentially to keep me going when I'm older.

I may have a struggle coming up as i will have to move and really don't wanna move back into my parents but nothing is cheap.
I bring home like $2k/month...maybe and I work close to full time. My benefits are good though, like my health insurance and stuff, so that's almost like a couple hundred extra.

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I dont get why because $100K/year is a lot in most areas outside of the bay area

I'm doing decently on a single income with two kids, but I built stellar credit through my 20s and got into a house before prices went stupid, in a reasonable cost of living area.

The kicker? Overtime. I've taken 21 days off year to date.

I grew up poor and it had taught me to live below my means

mario2000 posted...

Clearly they haven't bought enough bootstraps.

You and your ilk assume far too much.

Crimsoness posted...

I moved back in with my mother ._.

Living with your parents was only unusual in a few countries, for a few recent decades, during unbridled (and unsustainable) economic prosperity. You have nothing to be ashamed about.

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Cost of living is an important factor though. I was getting by just fine on 46k a year which is considered middle class income in my area and I'm not out in the middle of nowhere either.

It's why I offered to see if I can help others find margin. Though I get not wanting to break down your financial details here

Guide posted...

Living with your parents was only unusual in a few countries, for a few recent decades, during unbridled (and unsustainable) economic prosperity. You have nothing to be ashamed about.

It's just...weird going backwards sometimes. It may not be backwards, but i always told myself I'd go back out of dire need. Now, i may go back to avoid getting to the...dire part.
Really hoping to be married and close to deciding on a house...I have savings for a house that may get blown through unless i find affordable rent.

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Oh, to clarify I can afford all of what you listed above

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A cancer diagnosis would be an outlier situation though.

Will_VIII posted...

Cost of living is an important factor though. I was getting by just fine on 46k a year which is considered middle class income in my area and I'm not out in the middle of nowhere either.

It is but lifestyle creep is probably the biggest reason. Since its hard for anyone not to 'upgrade' their QoL to the max if given the opportunity.

From moving to a nicer more upscale location, buying a bigger and better house, car, food, or appliances. Saving more for retirement, going on yearly vacations or just buying loads of miscellaneous crap you don't need.

These things can blled you dry even in the 7 figures. From mansions, boats/yachts,

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It was a quick search but globally it's less than 1% if you're under 50.

Considering how things are, I dont see how people make it/manage to survive.

I'm not sure many people who currently live paycheck to paycheck would ever not live paycheck to paycheck unless given a ridiculous sum of money (think winning the Powerball).

There will always be luxaries that people can justify that takes up that extra money.

Paycheck to paycheck should really be defined

emblem-man posted...

Paycheck to paycheck should really be defined

The way people use it is effectively:
"Do you spend all of the money from your previous paycheck by the time you recieve your next paycheck?"

Which makes it a pretty useless term.

Not quite paycheck to paycheck, but close.

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Yo same

But that doesn't change that it's still an outler. I don't know the break down of that 1% and the insurance coverage, not to mention there's a varying degree of severity depending on the cancer itself.