I make relatively decent money for not having a degree, $48k a year. But it doesn’t seem to be nearly enough. I get hit with charges left and right, aside from my regular bills I get bullshit fees with everything and I’m not talking about late fees. I just called my internet provider and it said I owed $140!! I have no idea what for. I can’t imagine if I had a car payment, medical bills or kids. I don’t know how people survive.
shareYes, all the time. I'm from Toronto and in the last 30 years, our population has doubled. This has driven up our housing prices considerably. The average house costs just under $1M.
shareHow do folks afford a house that costs $1 million? I just can't imagine spending that much. I always wonder what the heck they do for a living.
shareThankfully I live just outside the expensive area. It's crazy seeing small houses go for almost $1M.
Just take a look at this house that costs half a mil:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mtlblog.com/amp/this-tiny-half-house-in-toronto-is-on-sale-right-now-for-half-a-million-dollars
Yikes! I've seen a few examples of ridiculous home prices, but this is pretty crazy.
shareI actually think it's a conspiracy to kill the spirit of average people.
There is no way someone with your salary could raise a family. If you had a spouse making the same, it would still be hard.
That is anti-society and clearly makes no sense from a governmental standpoint. Some countries make it so healthcare is free, education is, there's incentives to have kids, and lots more. The US appears designed to destroy people and we have a massive suicide rate.
Very well put. The cost of living in America keeps increasing. I think only the VERY rich survive....
shareI don't get it though.
We have a consumer economy and if people in this salary range are afraid to spend money, then they hurt the economy. I live in Philly and your salary is high for there, but you'd have to live in the ghetto to enjoy it.
There's millions of people in your range and you can't really afford to do much because one car problem and you're destroyed.
That's counterproductive.
I would love to buy a dog of a certain breed, it is 4,000. I was like WHAT!!
My favorite band is Rammstein, they are coming to Philly and all of my friends were saying I must go see them. Tickets that suck are 250 okay ones are 350 and others are 1,000. This is a band I NEVER hear anyone talk about and they sing entirely in German. I would never guess these prices would be a thing. I figured like 150.
It is hard to justify spending any money.
$4000 is way too much for a dog. You might want to think about adopting a dog from a shelter. You save a dog's life and the cost for the dog is not nearly as expensive. I adopted my cat from a shelter and it only cost me $60. She came with a bag of cat food, a litter box and a bag of cat litter too; of course when I adopted her though, that was seven years ago but still adopting animals from a shelter is the way to go.
shareI like all animals but really want a King Charles Spaniel because I think they'e beautiful. I rarely spend money on anything and am rarely choosy again much but I would like that kind of dog.
However, a friend of mine found a dog in a crack house and that dog just loved me, and I thought he was cute, so I shall see.
I have a super stressful career and would like a comfort animal, as corny as that sounds. My gf and I were babysitting a Maltese and found it very pleasant.
Anyway, there is no way I'd pay 4,000 for an animal, I'd steal it first. I do not steal but I find that price to be heinous and could justify it!
I agree. That is an outrageous price for an animal. I think people and companies in general things squeeze as much money out of you as possible. Good luck to you!! I really hope you find a pet soon. I love my cat so much as she is such an amazing blessing to me!!!
shareTickets for Rammstein in the UK are going for £70. You could literally fly here, stay in a cheap hotel and fly back for less than the top tier tickets in the US, lol.
shareThat's insane!
I visited London in 2005 and loved it. I like to chat and so did the people there. I got a lot of free drinks for being interesting and humorous. I loved the people.
I am in Philadelphia and can't believe the price difference. I figured that tickets would be in a range you mentioned. Philly is a mostly black rap town and so is the east coast of the US. That and pop music. I lived in Denver CO for several years and that's a rock area. People knew who Rammstein was, but no one I know knows them here. Plus, the whole foreign language thing, I just don't get it.
I honestly felt like it was a Matrix moment, where I'm being toyed with as an experiment.
I was in Philly a few years ago and enjoyed my time there (but I was a total tourist).
Rammstein have an underground following here.
you have to figure out what your angry about is it girls, more money, etc...
shareWhat do you want to know I will do my best to answer.
shareI manage on a lot less than that, but I don't have any debt, my house is paid for, and I'm not trying to raise a family, either. I no longer live in the big city, which helps some. Also, my wants and needs are pretty simple. I still drive the car I bought 18 years ago, and I don't travel much - mainly just road trips to visit family. I rarely go out to eat - it's just not something I enjoy, and I think it's too expensive. When I was raising my children there were too many times when I had to feed the four of us for a week on just $25. The thought of spending that $25 on one meal out was just unthinkable. We learned to be satisfied with less, and it's been fine. I'm content with what I have and how I live.
I certainly understand your frustration with fees for this, and fees for that. We get nickeled and dimed to death, it seems. It makes it difficult to stretch the budget to cover a few extras.
It all depends on where you live and in which country you live.
shareI recall a thread you created about how you like to eat out a lot. I live on one average income and I save by bringing my own lunches, not spending like a maniac on shit I don't need. It can be done. I use things until they break down or don't work anymore rather than upgrade every time a new version comes out. My car is nearly 20 years old now still goes strong, I am typing this on 12 year old lap top, I am still using the Apple I4S. I don't care it all still works.
People used to not only live on one income 50 years ago but also raised families on it. You just need to be sensible.
Which by no means makes any of it easy but it can be done.
Being smart with money is a skill I’m still mastering myself, many people do. I wish I had been taught practical economics at high school. Quasimodo is right being debt free helps and living simply and eating in, which I think was also mentioned before - all good advice.
I agree some living expenses are outrageous. Where I am electricity rates and grocery costs are very high, and always rising.