I can't believe how expensive rents are...EVERYWHERE (rental, health insurance)
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Don't take this the wrong way, but you can't aim higher?
I think by saying, "I CAN'T pay more than $450/mo" is severely limiting your options. Awhile back, I did some research on Eau Claire (was looking at a job there), and I couldn't believe how cheap it was. Laughably cheap. It wouldn't take much more than a service job (Eau Claire has a 5.5% unemployment rate BTW) to make things meet.
I used to deliver pizza in CA (Ridgecrest) for 40 hours a week and managed to pay $800/mo in rent. Another place with very cheap rents.
I don't know what you mean by "aim higher" - I am only a bookkeeper and my take home pay is about $1300.00 a month in a huge city, and I have a car payment of $300.00 a month. Rent + car = about $800.00 a month before any living expenses.
I will check out Eau Claire again, maybe some different sites - but the apartments I saw were in the $600.00 range. That is pretty good, but still more than I can afford.
I am in my 40's, I won't do the roommate thing, I would rather live in a closet. Anyways, I agree with all of you. It's incredulous. And smaller towns have cheaper rents, but fewer jobs. It's all relative.
Perone, your friend lucked out. I live in Florida, and Cape Coral is extememly $$.
Chicagoland, you are right - that is the way to go - not good to leave without some $$$ saved up.
I agree with you Swampbird. Once you have had a roommate steal you blind, you are very reluctant to go that route again.
I don't know what you mean by "aim higher" - I am only a bookkeeper and my take home pay is about $1300.00 a month in a huge city, and I have a car payment of $300.00 a month. Rent + car = about $800.00 a month before any living expenses.
What I meant is, do you have to be a bookkeeper? Is it possible for you to work a part-time job if need be? Is there a way you can unload the hefty car payment?
What I meant is, do you have to be a bookkeeper? Is it possible for you to work a part-time job if need be? Is there a way you can unload the hefty car payment?
I don't have a college degree, I've always done office work, not sure what else I could do that would pay more than my current salary. Yes, I could get a second job, I suppose.
I would LOVE to get rid of the car. Unfortunately, I owe more than it's worth. I bought it new and only have been paying for 2 years. Big mistake to buy it, but now I am stuck with it.
I don't have a college degree, I've always done office work, not sure what else I could do that would pay more than my current salary. Yes, I could get a second job, I suppose.
I would LOVE to get rid of the car. Unfortunately, I owe more than it's worth. I bought it new and only have been paying for 2 years. Big mistake to buy it, but now I am stuck with it.
I don't have a college degree either, and I don't have as much life experience as you, but just judging from my own situation I would have to find a way to make at least around as much as I do now if I ever lost my job (which would be have to be way more than $1300/mo take home), because I have a family to support.
I too made the mistake of buying vehicles (not one, TWO ) on loans, and as soon as they're done, I'm never taking out a car loan again.
Good luck to you whatever you decide to do. I just hope you can maximize your earning potential, wherever you go.
I don't have a college degree either, and I don't have as much life experience as you, but just judging from my own situation I would have to find a way to make at least around as much as I do now if I ever lost my job (which would be have to be way more than $1300/mo take home), because I have a family to support.
I too made the mistake of buying vehicles (not one, TWO ) on loans, and as soon as they're done, I'm never taking out a car loan again.
Good luck to you whatever you decide to do. I just hope you can maximize your earning potential, wherever you go.
Yeah, I agree - never buying a new car again! Anyways, I really don't know how to make more money, other than working a second job, and with cancer treatment recently behind me, I would rather keep it around 40 hours a week if possible.
I am in a bad living situation and will have a nervous breakdown if I don't leave in the next few months....
But I am in Miami now, so wherever i go is bound to be less expensive!
Rents are dirt cheap in North Dakota and Mississippi. You can get a nice 2 br for like $700 max or a 1 br for $500. Here in CT I am paying $1,165 for a small 1 br. It's ridiculous.
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I just hope you can maximize your earning potential, wherever you go. 
