Is it normal can't move on on 26,000 usd a yr?

82% Normal
6 Comments

So I just read someone else's comment on a question and it got me thinking...

I live and work in New York. I grew up in a slightly expensive area close to the city where the average house is $750,000-$1 mill

The home I live in is small, so don't think we've got a mansion. It's only 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom and small backyard that's like 10 feet long. It's NY, you don't get much for the money unless you live upstate/near canada where it's dirt cheap and you can get a mansion for $500,000

So anyway, I got a job that's a few towns away. After going on a crazy amount of interviews and not landing a position/they weren't "serious" about hiring to begin with, I finally got one real position offered to me so I took it. It's $26,000 a year before tax. The cheapest apartments in the surrounding areas are $1300 a month with only some utilizes included but you get nothing. You get a tiny little room that has a stove basically in your bedroom. So you really just have a bedroom with a stove and a shitbox in the corner that's 3 feet by 3 feet. I don't want to dish out close to 20,000 year on this crap alone. That gives me only 3K, if that to spend in a YEAR for my gas, food, miscellaneous stuff which makes it impossible to afford. So I'm doing what with my money? Using it to shit and burn my bed while I cook and go into debt?

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is it normal I can't move out yet on 26k a year? There are some apartments worse than that where you live in someone's attic illegally for $1000 a month but you are literally in their attic...in a room the size of a bathroom without a stove. My friends who have jobs don't have high enough paying ones to move out yet so they're all home too. Even my 38 year old friend who just got her PhD a few years ago is working on $28K and can't move out because she can't become a Dr until she has a few years working experience for little pay.

IIN? I have a bachelor's in science but no one is hiring for that anywhere nor are they hiring for my friend who did art, nor are they hiring for my other friend who did teaching degree..so yeah, not just me. IIN? So right now, office work is the only options. :/

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82% Normal
Based on 11 votes (9 yes)
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Comments ( 6 )
  • GiveMeAFuckingNameAlready!
    9 years ago

    The American dream wage slavery at its finest.

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    • ilovetoiletrolls
      9 years ago

      Too true. ^

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  • [Old Memory]
    9 years ago

    It's all about location. In some areas you can rent an entire house for less than half that.

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  • JD777
    9 years ago

    Yeah, True is right. Some places rent has gone up and up while wages have stayed stagnant. It sucks for young people getting a start. If you want to live in an expensive area, look for roommates to share expenses. There are some websites that help find people. In the other parts of the country, rents are half they are in NY and wages are similar or just a little lower.

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  • Brownblowout
    8 years ago

    Live off everyone else. In the US the government will pay you not to work. More if you can pop out some kids

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  • lc1988
    9 years ago

    Sounds like you need to broaden your job search. I got a teaching position and have NO experience. I have a bachelor of science in microbiology and that's it but I'm fully qualified technically. Anyway, it may suit you all to look in cheaper states/areas (I'm not familiar at all with ny except nyc which I'm sure is waaaay expensive). Anyway, I know it's a struggle. I worked as a pharmacy tech for 2 years after I graduated in Florida making 25,000 a year. After insurance and taxes, YUCK. I could barely afford an apartment that was $550 a month let alone one twice that?! Ugh. It's a rough time. Good luck!
    I'm just curious too where the opportunity is for a job when studying art. Doesn't seem like a good option but not much is anymore.

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