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Old 06-15-2014, 02:38 AM
 
26,486 posts, read 36,342,453 times
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I'm sure that there are places that still accept paper applications; I'm also sure that Internet access gives jobs seekers a significant edge. If I needed a job, I'd use the tools at my disposal that gave me an edge. It seems like a no brainer. Sure, pound the pavement -- but check out CL first to find the places where the pavement is most worth pounding.
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Old 06-15-2014, 05:19 AM
 
Location: Pacific NW
6,413 posts, read 12,091,477 times
Reputation: 5860
Certainly. If you have it available. It's the people who claim they can't get a job because they don't have internet access on their phones or on a home computer, or both.

They can, it'll just take more effort. But it's not impossible.
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Old 06-15-2014, 06:37 AM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,313,533 times
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Walt Disney said It's a Small World and he's hard to argue with.
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Old 06-15-2014, 11:14 AM
 
Location: Dallas, Oregon & Sunsites Arizona
8,000 posts, read 17,255,708 times
Reputation: 2866
Am I the only one who noticed that those with the fewest resources always seem to have the latest and most expensive smart phone?

I went to the local library to see what was available to those without computers. What I found were a few homeless people checking emails. But the majority were teens and preteens surfing porn without their parents watching. And none of the homeless were job hunting.

I asked the librarian about the kids surfing habits and was informed they were not allowed to block them.
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Old 06-15-2014, 11:48 AM
 
1,971 posts, read 3,029,491 times
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Which library was that?
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Old 06-15-2014, 12:16 PM
 
Location: Winter nightime low 60,summer daytime high 85, sunny 300 days/year, no hablamos ingles aquí
700 posts, read 1,493,029 times
Reputation: 1132
Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve Pickering View Post
Am I the only one who noticed that those with the fewest resources always seem to have the latest and most expensive smart phone?

I went to the local library to see what was available to those without computers. What I found were a few homeless people checking emails. But the majority were teens and preteens surfing porn without their parents watching. And none of the homeless were job hunting.

I asked the librarian about the kids surfing habits and was informed they were not allowed to block them.
Did you stand behind each of those homeless and read the content of their screen in order to verify that "they were not job hunting"?
How did you identify them as homeless?

There was a sea of porn in plain view on the screens of teenagers?

Pre-teens i.e. small children, are interested in porn as well?
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Old 06-15-2014, 12:50 PM
 
Location: Oregon, formerly Texas
10,004 posts, read 7,147,048 times
Reputation: 17096
You're living in the last century if you think internet service is a luxury. Smartphone less so, but we're getting close the point that all phones are going to have some internet capability. In 5 more years all cell phones will be smart phones.

If I was strapped it would not be the last thing I cut, but it would be close. This is the order I would cut my monthly recurring expenses if I had a downward spiral -

1) no eating out whatsoever 2) gym membership, 3) cable, 4) car insurance, cut to minimum liability, 5) walk / use bus more, save on gas & car wear and tear 6) reduce cell phone to cheapest plan possible, minimal data plan, 6) use less electricity if possible, use heat only when below freezing outside, use blankets, coats otherwise 7) switch diet to cheap carbs, pasta, oatmeal, cornbread etc... 7) internet, 8) cut cell-phone, use pre-paid phone minimally, 9) sell most furniture, electronics 10) give up apt & move in with family / friends or rent a room in someone else's house, 11) sell car.

Internet is not the highest priority, but not the lowest either. It's pretty damn important for finding anything other than minimum wage jobs.

You can still beat the street and fill out apps - that worked for me 10 years ago, I'm not sure it would work now.
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Old 06-15-2014, 02:42 PM
 
Location: Dallas, Oregon & Sunsites Arizona
8,000 posts, read 17,255,708 times
Reputation: 2866
Quote:
Originally Posted by redguard57 View Post
You're living in the last century if you think internet service is a luxury. Smartphone less so, but we're getting close the point that all phones are going to have some internet capability. In 5 more years all cell phones will be smart phones.

If I was strapped it would not be the last thing I cut, but it would be close. This is the order I would cut my monthly recurring expenses if I had a downward spiral -

1) no eating out whatsoever 2) gym membership, 3) cable , 4) car insurance, cut to minimum liability, 5) walk / use bus more, save on gas & car wear and tear 6) reduce cell phone to cheapest plan possible, minimal data plan, 6) use less electricity if possible, use heat only when below freezing outside, use blankets, coats otherwise 7) switch diet to cheap carbs, pasta, oatmeal, cornbread etc... 7) internet, 8) cut cell-phone, use pre-paid phone minimally, 9) sell most furniture, electronics 10) give up apt & move in with family / friends or rent a room in someone else's house, 11) sell car.

Internet is not the highest priority, but not the lowest either. It's pretty damn important for finding anything other than minimum wage jobs.

You can still beat the street and fill out apps - that worked for me 10 years ago, I'm not sure it would work now.
You have two "6's" and two "7's".


My List if I placed the same value on things you do.

1. Gym membership GONE (Opps! Wait, I don't have one, but if I did it would go first.).
2. Cable. All Ready Gone. (We use Broadcast TV).
3. Reduce cell phone to cheapest plan possible, minimal data plan, (Already there.)
4. Cut cell-phone.
5. Internet.
6. Switch diet to cheap carbs, pasta, oatmeal, cornbread etc. ... Already there.
7. Walk/use bus more, save on gas & car wear and tear. (Mandatory after #4.)
8. No eating out whatsoever. (Although a couple of Dollar Menu items are cheaper than fixing a meal when there are just two of you or single.)
9. Use less electricity if possible, use heat only when needed, use blankets, coats otherwise. I have Solar so I could cut the cord completely.
10. Sell furniture, and most electronics.
11. Give up house & move into my paid-for 400 square foot 5th wheel.
12. Car insurance, cut to minimum liability.
13. Sell a couple of my paid-for, cars and ride the Motorcycle more.
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Old 06-15-2014, 02:42 PM
 
44 posts, read 51,591 times
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My own experience from 8 years ago or so.

-No car. I walked to work and the store. Other purchases I rode the bus. If I did it again, I'd buy a used bike off Craigslist for 100 or less. Cost of shoes wearing out and bus tickets was around 20 per month with today's prices.

-Nearly the cheapest apartment possible. Craigslist browsing shows in the "suburbs" this should be around 600 per month. Now I might opt for a shared room in the 400 to 500 range.

-Internet but no TV andno landline. Chepeast internet is in the 30 per month range.

-Electricity, only for charging needed items like cell phone and tablet or laptop. Used tablets are cheap. I recently tried selling a first gen Kindle Fire for 30 with no takers. That fire was more than enough to apply for online jobs. Back 8 years ago my total electric bill was a bit under 20. Some days that meant no heat and sleeping in my sleeping bag.

-Water/sewer/garbage. I'm not sure the pricing on this for apartments anymore, but I will guess 50 per month.

-Food. Eating how did 8 years ago would be under 150 per month now.

-Clothes budget. At one time I shopped Goodwill and thrift stores. Pretty sure you can get buy on 10 per month in this area.

That's a lot of the basics covered and we are at 900 per month.

Minimum wage job after taxes with 40 hours per week after taxes is in the 1250 range I would guess.

Throw in some government programs and you can make it. No you cannot live downtown, 23rd, close in SE, or close in NE, bit you can make it.

In 3-4 months you can have enough money saved to take certification classes for jobs that make 11 an hour with ample opportunity for overtime. Then you apply for school aid and with your low income you get school at a community college paid for or find a trade school. In some cases advanced certifications in the same area you got your first one exist. Most of those options will get you to a new base in the range of 14 to 20 an hour. At that point you can move to a better place and be a lot less frugal. Repeat this process once more: community college to university placement programs for a degree that gets you a job or a few years hard work in a trade, vocation, or career will boost you into the 20 to 30 range or beyond. Yes this is very doable. I've met people who have done it. I did something similar. I also met people that decided to spend their money unwisely, didn't work hard, called in sick a lot, or didn't try for promotions or advancements. More often than not the people that I have met who are stuck were "victims" of their selves and making bad choices.

The road isn't easy and there will be set backs but its very probable with some hard work you will succeed.

Edit: I'd like to add that during this time I slept on the floor and had no furniture. Not even a chair to sit on. Plastic spoons and forks. A few old plates and bowls. Re-evaluate what is truly necessary and you may be surprised how little you need. I don't think internet is necessary either for access in your home. Take your cheap used tablet and head to a place with free wifi.
...

Back to rental prices, yes they seem to be up a lot. I have seen a lot of new complexes going up all over the city. Lower income jobs are not rising in pay as much as rents are rising. These two factors lead me to believe rent increases will slow or stop.
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Old 06-15-2014, 02:44 PM
 
Location: Dallas, Oregon & Sunsites Arizona
8,000 posts, read 17,255,708 times
Reputation: 2866
The solution to high rent is to own.
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