@Imperfectfuture wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Is the concept of an emergency savings account lost on so many people? OP I'm sorry to hear of your job loss but please take this opportunity as a learning experience, admit that you were not prepared, and once you get on your feet, #1 priority is building an emergency savings account. I have worked my share of low paying jobs and had to make sacrifices to build a savings cushion; you can as well.
I also strongly advise against committing a felony and lying on your application. It's not worth it.Telling you, these days it is much different. But I don't entirely blame OP.
at 23k a year gross, after taxes at a lower bracket, you're looking at 19,550 a year and with rent being $500 a month at $6000 a year that's 13550/12= 1,129.
Let's be generous and say $500 includes utilities + waste
that's 1,129 left to spend a month. Not bad right?
But than you throw in possible car payments / transportation expenses.
you throw in cell phone and internet bills
you throw in groceries
you throw in clothing misc expenses
what is left to save after the consumer age we live in these days?
It's mind boggling but even when I have no cash flow coming in I still have $$ leaving my bank account into a Roth I can't touch.
That said, I wouldn't say Op is to blame entirely.
lying on app is bad yes
House of cards is what it is
When I lost my job in 2008, went from 2500 to 1k per month. About the same rent, and higher expenses. I cut out car, and some other stuff. I now make a bit more than OP, but not by tons. I still find money to invest, and have my savings building, along with 4 financial accounts. Know what you can afford. If you can not afford the apartment and car, move to where (I have now downgraded, minimalism) to cheaper apartment with much better mass transit. Between bus and uber, I spend less than liability only insurance per month, not counting registration, maintenance, parking, and car payment. Cut out what you do not need. You need shelter, food, and a way to stay warm (utilities). Everything else is not essential, though you think it is. I will say, if you can, everyone need Internet, but should not be relying on cell phone for main connection. Much cheaper to get internet with basic TV, have router, and minimal data plan. Just hook the phones up to wifi when at home. YMMV, but I do not know if OP is serious, due to the name.
I know where you are coming from! Up until November 2014 when I bought my home. I went 5 years without cable TV. lol I refused to pay for it. I used the internet and streamed all the shows I liked to watch. People forget at times what is truly a necessity and what is not. It takes discipline, but it can be done.
You have to change the way you look at expenses. Many folks can't see pass a month's expenses. They don't think about the long term cost of luxuries, such as certain cell phone plans. If you're paying $200 a month for a cell phone. That's $2400 a year. In 10 years $24,000. Verses buying the phone out right and using a unlimited plan at $45 a month. $450 a year, in 10 years its $4500. That's just one example of how one can save without cramping their style. Those seemingly small dollars add up rather quickly when put into perspective.
@core wrote:$200 a MONTH for a cell phone? Wow, do people really pay that??? My phone cost me $34 new at Walmart and I pay $7 per month. That's with data. Sheesh, I just can't see paying a huge monthly fee for a pocket noisemaker that allows people to bother me whenever they want to.
Yeah, if you're running around with a $500 iPhone and paying silly amounts per month, you've got absolutely no right to complain about money IMHO.
I'm with ya! lol
I pay $42 for unlimited everything. I'm on similar plan as you. And folks at work, wonder how I can buy brand new cars and pay cash for them. lol
Those same folks have astronomical phone plans, along with a bunch of other over rated expenses.
I hope everything works out for the OP. Things will.get better.
@FinStar wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@LadyJEsq wrote:Let's stop using it's "human nature" as an excuse for bad behavior. Science has long since proved that we are in control of our behavior.
OT, but not sure what that means (i.e. what is the alternative hypothesis) or how it would be tested.
Right. I'm curious as well LTL. Maybe LadyEsq is an actual scientist besides the handle moniker?
Or maybe I'm just learned. If you truly are curious, feel to do your own research.
