Nashville- can it be done on $25k a year?

[Isaiah30:18]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

----ETA: i live in Chicago and make less than $25K and am not a hermit. Granted, I don't have to own a car here, however.

supernerdgirl, I know this isn't a Chicago thread, but your salary figures for Chicago -- is that for real? (Obviously, I am sure you aren't just saying that, but I can't believe it!) Are you living in a nice place in Chicago, if you don't mind my asking?

[scarletneon]

Originally Posted by Isaiah30:18

supernerdgirl, I know this isn't a Chicago thread, but your salary figures for Chicago -- is that for real? (Obviously, I am sure you aren't just saying that, but I can't believe it!) Are you living in a nice place in Chicago, if you don't mind my asking?

it's tiny, but nice. it's not in a ritzy neighborhood, but it's not filled with gangbangers either. i'm actually working two part time jobs right now, and could easily make more if i went to get a more "corporate" job, but i'd rather be poor and happy while I'm young and can still be that way.

you have to keep in mind I DO NOT HAVE A CAR, which eliminates a LOT of expenses (CTA pass is $75 a month), my utilities are included in my rent, and i'm not paying 8+ percent sales tax on groceries. i have no debt (don't buy it if you can't pay for it) and i'm also pretty frugal if i may say so myself. and yes, I can go out if I want to... i'm not stuck in my apartment.


so the car thing could hinder making it in Nashville on $25K, I suppose, because I was looking on Craigslist just for the heck of it and saw studios in Nashville for the same if not more than what I'm paying for mine, in Chicago, two blocks from the lake and two blocks from buses and the L.

[Isaiah30:18]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

it's tiny, but nice. it's not in a ritzy neighborhood, but it's not filled with gangbangers either. i'm actually working two part time jobs right now, and could easily make more if i went to get a more "corporate" job, but i'd rather be poor and happy while I'm young and can still be that way.

you have to keep in mind I DO NOT HAVE A CAR, which eliminates a LOT of expenses (CTA pass is $75 a month), my utilities are included in my rent, and i'm not paying 8+ percent sales tax on groceries. i have no debt (don't buy it if you can't pay for it) and i'm also pretty frugal if i may say so myself. and yes, I can go out if I want to... i'm not stuck in my apartment.


so the car thing could hinder making it in Nashville on $25K, I suppose, because I was looking on Craigslist just for the heck of it and saw studios in Nashville for the same if not more than what I'm paying for mine, in Chicago, two blocks from the lake and two blocks from buses and the L.

Thanks for this info. Sounds like I have the same lifestyle -- no debt, or kept super low. I actually was considering Chicago, too. According to Payscale.com the COL is higher - much higher - than Nashville for utilities, etc., but I'd forgotten there are always ways around things - such as living in a city that has xcllnt buses, low sales taxes, etc. Thx. again.