Would I make ENOUGH in Honolulu?? (apartment, rental, to buy)

[Andre5140]

Hello all.

I recently was offered a job as a bus driver for The Bus. I am a single guy in mid-20s with no debt outstanding. I know I'd have to live quite modestly, but do you think I cuol dkeep my head above water making $15 per hour in Honolulu?

Any info would be appreciated!

[MsHell]

I calculate that as being just over $30k - IMO it's not enough.

If you really have your heart set on living in paraside and are willing to give up a "comfortable" lifestyle, yes it could be done.

I would inquire if there are opportunities for OT , if you could make $35k - $40k, it would make a big difference.

[Sorcerer68]

In town in Honolulu that's just scraping by.

[DDane]

Find a rental to share.
Get a Costco or Sam's Club card.
Eat cheap.
Cook at home.
Have fun at the beach, and do daytime stuff, stay away from the night life till you make more.

[KD Hawaii]

YOu need to make at least $60K to live there. I lived in Kona. My salary was $80K a year. Just enought to live there. But if you make less than $60K, don't think about moving there.

[Cheburashka]

It depends to what lifestyle you are used to. Sharing a room or renting a shabby place the size of match box, using public transportation, working overtime just to get by, eating cheap aka ruining your health... do you want this kind of paradise?

[Adelaide]

Moved to Oahu in May 2007.

This past year I made $36,000.

I rent a 400 square ft apartment w/o AC for $1300 in waikiki (which is actually pretty good), but utilities run upward of $5oo per month (brace yourself for your first Hawaiian Electric bill, it is going to be a shock).

My food bill is only okay b/c I have access to the Navy Commissary through a friend.

the fanciest thing I have done since moving here was take a scuba diving certification (discount, through UH, thanks to another friend)

Quite frankly, there is a reason why I am moving back to the mainland...it's because I can't make it financially.

Sunshine and the ocean only go so far when you have to worry about every bill that comes your way every day.

If I were you, I would think twice about moving here. unfortunately, i did not, and now i am struggling to save money to leave... You gotta think about that as well.

[eureka1]

How on earth did you manage to get a job without being over there?

[jessiesma]

are in you rmid-twenties with no debt, you know how to manage money and if you listen to the advice on this forum about how to save money on necessities, you will make it anywhere.
I don't know that a Club card will be of any benefit to a single person. My husband and I find it was self-defeating food wise for just 2 people. We'd have to buy so much quantity we'd either be eating the same thing for a week or we'd lose half of it. What I WOULD suggest as a way to eat well and as thriftily as possible is to learn to cook, even just basics. You don't have to be Emeril the first time in the kitchen
I don't know about HI but in most places the utility companies have cooking classes and so do Lifelong Learning departments in community colleges. Who knows, maybe you'll meet "someone" there.

Originally Posted by Andre5140

Hello all.

I recently was offered a job as a bus driver for The Bus. I am a single guy in mid-20s with no debt outstanding. I know I'd have to live quite modestly, but do you think I cuol dkeep my head above water making $15 per hour in Honolulu?

Any info would be appreciated!

[Maili Pt]

Stay where you are. There is no $$$$$ to be made in paradise. Get a job on the mainland make good $$$$$ and take trips every other month to paradise.