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How do I make enough money to live? (self.personalfinance)

submitted 4 months ago by TargaryenTKE to c/[email protected]

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Yes, I do have a full-time job, and I even enjoy it, but it doesn't pay enough to survive in this hellscape of a world we live in. I lack the college degree required to get almost any decent-paying job (plus my last job hunt took MONTHS to get a lead), I don't have the skills or originality to become an online content creator, nor the artistry or patience to create and sell trinkets on Etsy (plus, that would require an initial investment which I simply do not have). Should I set up a GoFundMe? OnlyFans? I wouldn't really be offering anything except a charity basket/collection plate so that feels dishonest at best. Idk, I'm quite literally having a breakdown because I'm probably going to lose my car soon, and then my job, and then my apartment, and then my life. Any help at all would be appreciated. Thank you

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[–] [email protected] 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (6 children)

Unfortunately, there are no simple, one size fits all solutions, and what is options you have really depends on your individual situation. Here's the minimum anyone would need to help you:

job situation - current income, hours, responsibilities, etc
list of expenses - housing costs, food costs, etc
general location - are you in San Francisco or Lincoln, Nebraska
age - teenager? 20s? 30s? 50s? time matters
total debts and interest rates
assets - cash, car value, etc
skills - formal education, practical skills, etc
interests - if you were to get an education or go into a trade, what's on the table?

In terms of general advice, I recommend deciding where you want to be in 5-10 years, and then figure out a way to get there. You have a lot of options, such as:

trades - plumbing, electrician, drywall, etc
community college
self-employment - landscaping, small scale construction, etc

Good luck! It sounds like you're motivated to get out of this mess, and that's the most important ingredient. The next most important is to look past the current grind and make a plan.

[–] TargaryenTKE 3 points 4 months ago (3 children)

[Copy-pasting my response from a very similar question, I'll put your specific questions in an 'edit' below:

Giving you enough context to actually answer your question without giving up TOO much private info, in order:

Cubicle job where I make just under $20/hour (min. wage for my state is $15)

I don't have a SET budget, but I really don't spend that much :/ Rent is roughly half of my current paycheck (currently with 1 additional roommate but hopefully will get another in the next few months); Food is probably my biggest expense. Other than that, I have Spotify, YouTube, Xbox, and Microsoft Office accounts, but that total is about $60/month, which isn't THAT much and, on the whole, has actually saved me money (so many 'free' games on Xbox it's not even funny).

As for debt, I've got an account with a credit union, phone bill, car payments, car insurance, renter's insurance, student loans, utilities, etc, etc. For a rough estimate (again, without giving too much away), recently I ended a week with ~$35, got my (2-week/80-hour) paycheck, paid all my bills, and ended up with ~$75. So, essentially, I made $.50/hour after bills

Edit: Location, American Midwest. Education, some years of college (a pretty good one, too) but never graduated. Age, early 30s. Aaand that's about all I'm comfortable giving online

[–] iamdisillusioned 3 points 4 months ago

My husband and I didn't have financial stability in office jobs until we moved into middle management. It's a very different type of job, even if you're doing the same sort of work. I don't have a degree, but I have several innate traits that make me excel at it. My husband doesn't have those innate skills, but he followed an educational path that gave him the credentials he needed to receive those opportunities (bachelor's degree, then a project management certification).

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