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Old 06-04-2015, 10:21 AM
 
Location: Phoenix, AZ
445 posts, read 511,824 times
Reputation: 888

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Quote:
Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah View Post
What age and day are you living in?

$35 for phone? What kind of whack ass plan can you get with that?
$200 month for food? Unless you like eating cheap crap all the time. If you are someone that wants to eat healthy and cook, it's going to be more than that. I am frugal with grocery shopping and it costs me above $200 per month.
$100 utilities? Right in winter?
$200 month for drinking? That all depends on the person.

I don't think anyone is saying you CAN'T live off of $30k in Chicago, it's more so would you WANT to. You will be limited in the things you can do. If it was so easy to live off of $30k COMFORTABLY more people would do it. It's not easy and we don't know what kind of debt that OP has (maybe he has none I am not going to read back). The point is yeah you can live off $30k but you aren't going to have much fun and the "bargains" you are going to get will be crap. Let's also be honest, on a monthly basis there are expenses that will come up that aren't part of your budget, maybe you need to buy a new AC or you have to get a root canal. With the $30k those expenses you will really feel them.

I don't consider living in a crappy studio, having Aldi as my only grocery shopping option, and having to shop at the dollar store for supplies the highest quality living. Again you can do it, but ask most people that do do that, I can bet you they would prefer more money to have a better quality of life. What about if this person likes to stay fit, they need to pay for a gym. Or if they are hit with a huge medical bill after insurance kicks in and they have to pay a significant amount of money for a few months every month? Things happen in life that you don't plan for, it's better to have a cushion than have to suffer for no good reason.
Thousands and thousands of people do this every day, even in the most expensive cities. Most people can't afford to go out to eat whenever they want, go out drinking whenever they want, or splurge on new clothes and things like that all the time. If you're willing to live modestly and stick to a budget, you can absolutely live in Chicago as a single person for $30K a year. Of course everyone in that position would prefer more money to have a better quality of life. And I'd like to be a millionaire. People who have a good understanding of what living within their means consists of will do just fine.

You won't get the biggest or fanciest place in Lincoln Park or anything, but apartments in decent areas can be found for $600 a month. Also, a lot of apartments buildings include utilities already. Boost Mobile has unlimited talk and text plans with 1G of data a month for $35 (not a lot, but certainly do-able). And I don't know if you're shopping exclusively at Whole Foods, but there's no reason a single person can't do just fine on a food budget of $200 per month.

Last edited by sargeant79; 06-04-2015 at 10:40 AM..
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:31 AM
 
2,329 posts, read 6,609,846 times
Reputation: 1811
Quote:
Originally Posted by marothisu View Post
No offense, but I think you're being just as out of touch as anyone else. Do you honestly think that everyone is going to like Avondale just because it's cheaper? There are many people out there where $2000/month is not that much. Are you going to tell them they're wrong for it because they want to live in a high rise downtown?

You're being rather presumptuous here and downright naive. Just because it costs less doesn't mean someone is going to want to do it. Just because YOU wouldn't mean it doesn't mean you have to look down on everyone else who does and can afford it.
Im not being naive, I fully realize people with too much money that they dont know what to do with waste it on all sorts of stupid things every day. Do people decide still to purchase a Porsche when a Toyota would suffice? Of course. Do I think its silly to spend that much on an vehicle that immediately begins to depreciate the second its off the lot and does no better a job at getting from point A to B? I do.

Regardless, if youre spending 2 grand on rent for just yourself I dont understand why you wouldnt just buy a place and build equity.
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:32 AM
 
577 posts, read 666,193 times
Reputation: 764
Quote:
Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah View Post
What age and day are you living in?

$35 for phone? What kind of whack ass plan can you get with that?
$200 month for food? Unless you like eating cheap crap all the time. If you are someone that wants to eat healthy and cook, it's going to be more than that. I am frugal with grocery shopping and it costs me above $200 per month.
$100 utilities? Right in winter?
$200 month for drinking? That all depends on the person.

I don't think anyone is saying you CAN'T live off of $30k in Chicago, it's more so would you WANT to. You will be limited in the things you can do. If it was so easy to live off of $30k COMFORTABLY more people would do it. It's not easy and we don't know what kind of debt that OP has (maybe he has none I am not going to read back). The point is yeah you can live off $30k but you aren't going to have much fun and the "bargains" you are going to get will be crap. Let's also be honest, on a monthly basis there are expenses that will come up that aren't part of your budget, maybe you need to buy a new AC or you have to get a root canal. With the $30k those expenses you will really feel them.

I don't consider living in a crappy studio, having Aldi as my only grocery shopping option, and having to shop at the dollar store for supplies the highest quality living. Again you can do it, but ask most people that do do that, I can bet you they would prefer more money to have a better quality of life. What about if this person likes to stay fit, they need to pay for a gym. Or if they are hit with a huge medical bill after insurance kicks in and they have to pay a significant amount of money for a few months every month? Things happen in life that you don't plan for, it's better to have a cushion than have to suffer for no good reason.
My smart phone plan with Virgin Mobile is $35 a month. Unlimited data, unlimited texting and 300 minutes talk time. Cricket do pretty much the same plan, and you can use any phone with it, including the most recent iphone.

Yes, $200 for food is easy, particularly if you buy in bulk, buy store brands, use coupons, etc. I eat healthy. A huge bag of frozen fruit for smoothies can be bought for $10 and will last 2 weeks to a month. Couple of dollars for big bag of rice, box of pasta. 2lb bag of chicken breasts for $6 at Target. I cook lots of varied tasty meals.

You don't have to live in a crappy studio, as I said before, if you live with roommates you can live pretty much anywhere for cheap. Granted, if you want your own place you'll be more limited.

Anyway, it's all relative, I'm sure people who make a million per year wonder how anyone gets by on $100k a year...
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:34 AM
 
Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC
15,331 posts, read 23,781,755 times
Reputation: 7419
Quote:
Originally Posted by via chicago View Post
Im not being naive, I fully realize people with too much money that they dont know what to do with waste it on all sorts of stupid things every day. Do people decide still to purchase a Porsche when a Toyota would suffice? Of course. Do I think its silly to spend that much on an vehicle that immediately begins to depreciate the second its off the lot and does no better a job at getting from point A to B? I do.

Regardless, if youre spending 2 grand on rent for just yourself I dont understand why you wouldnt just buy a place and build equity.
I spend $1800/month on rent and I do it because I like the area I'm in and can comfortably afford it while still saving ample amounts of money and doing what I want in life. Are you going to tell me how to spend my money now and how dumb I am for not living in Avondale and spending $700/month instead? I don't understand why you care so much - as long as they aren't going into debt because of it and not hurting other people, nobody should care how the money is being spent. That's their personal business - not yours.
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:37 AM
 
2,329 posts, read 6,609,846 times
Reputation: 1811
Quote:
Originally Posted by sargeant79 View Post
Thousands and thousands of people do this every day, even in the most expensive cities.
Actually, millions

More than 1.3 million in Chicago metro area live in poverty | Chicago
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:43 AM
 
2,329 posts, read 6,609,846 times
Reputation: 1811
Quote:
Originally Posted by marothisu View Post
I spend $1800/month on rent and I do it because I like the area I'm in. Are you going to tell me how to spend my money now and how dumb I am for not living in Avondale and spending $700/month instead? I don't understand why you care so much - as long as they aren't going into debt because of it and not hurting other people, nobody should care how the money is being spent. That's their personal business - not yours.
The topic of the thread is someone making 30 grand. Various people have clutched their pearls in *shock* that anyone could survive on that, or that there are neighborhoods someone can make due with that salary.

I have my own opinions on frugality that Im entitled to, and you're entitled to spend however you wish. Im certainly not going to stop you.
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:52 AM
 
2,249 posts, read 2,805,422 times
Reputation: 1501
Well I am throwing my towel in for this argument. I wouldn't do it, but then again that's me, and I am pretty frugal (no car, frugal with grocery shopping, etc.). I value the freedom to do the things I want to do like taking special classes, attending concerts, etc. all that cost $$$. Perhaps the OP is different and 30k would suffice. Good luck to him.
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Old 06-04-2015, 10:56 AM
 
Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan, NYC
15,331 posts, read 23,781,755 times
Reputation: 7419
Quote:
Originally Posted by via chicago View Post
The topic of the thread is someone making 30 grand. Various people have clutched their pearls in *shock* that anyone could survive on that, or that there are neighborhoods someone can make due with that salary.
Well yes, of course they could survive on that. It's obvious they're going to be living a little more frugally. If they don't know this, then they're just dumb. And in the end, no matter how hard they try, they aren't even going to be accepted into a downtown high rise no matter how much and hard they try, unless they show they have like $100,000 saved up in the bank in cash.
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Old 06-06-2015, 10:28 PM
 
97 posts, read 151,539 times
Reputation: 134
Quote:
Originally Posted by via chicago View Post
This was calculated using tax returns. There are a lot of people that cheat on their taxes with false deductions or not report certain income at all. If you ever wonder why small businesses prefer cash, this is why. Just think of all the unreported cash income people generate from doing cash jobs or illicit activities.

Additionally, a lot of those people are on various welfare benefits, sometimes fraudulently such as with fake disability claims.
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Old 06-06-2015, 10:43 PM
 
97 posts, read 151,539 times
Reputation: 134
Quote:
Originally Posted by UrbanCheetah View Post
Well I am throwing my towel in for this argument. I wouldn't do it, but then again that's me, and I am pretty frugal (no car, frugal with grocery shopping, etc.). I value the freedom to do the things I want to do like taking special classes, attending concerts, etc. all that cost $$$. Perhaps the OP is different and 30k would suffice. Good luck to him.
I'm going to have to second this. I prefer to live on my own until I find a woman I will seriously consider marrying. I also like to have a certain standard of living, be able to save money, and be able to actually live and enjoy life, not just survive day to day. You simply can't do that in Chicago earning a gross of only $30,000 a year unless you live in a high crime, violent & dangerous, bottom of the barrel, undesirable neighborhood such as Englewood.

As a yuppy, I've met many people that only earn $20,000 to $40,000 a year from their job living in prime neighborhoods & nice apartments, wearing brand name clothes, going on vacation all the time, going out to eat & drink, going to expensive events, and have the latest tech & cell phones. When you inquire further you will see that these people have additional income sources, usually from their rich parents or are drowning in debt.

Like I previously stated, even living a frugal lifestyle with no car or debt, I found that I personally needed to gross over $50,000 a year to live comfortably here in Chicago.

Last edited by VictoryIsMine1; 06-06-2015 at 11:41 PM..
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