Income Question, Springfield/Nixa Area (California: real estate, rental, insurance)

[simplewife&mom]

I would like to know what some locals in the Nixa area think:

Is it possible for a family of four to live on a $15.00/hr job? We have no debt, it would just be rent and utilities and food. A 3 bedroom house.

We're at the point where my husband's being gone 5 days/week is prompting us to actually seek moving out of the state. Anything so we can be together as a family more than 8 days/month. As long as I've wanted to go to Southern MO, it's hard to believe it's really a possibility now. Scary but exciting!

[Hillman]

It would be possible because people make far less than that in the area.

hillman

[GreenGeek]

Are you realistically budgeting? Housing, food, transportation, insurance, entertainment, cable, cell phone, utilities, clothing, school, library fees for overdue books :-) ... Family of four on $15/hour in Nixa would probably be living close to paycheck-to-paycheck with little opportunity to put anything away. Nixa doesn't have public transportation and Springfield's bus system is anemic to say the least. One advantage you have right now is that real estate prices are in your favor, though that also seems to be keeping rental rates higher than they should be! Rent is still low compared to some other parts of the country (lower than Portland area where I moved from a year ago) but not as low as I would expect, given the overall poorer economy and limited economic opportunities here in SW MO - that is unless you are part of the medical/money-printing industry...

[simplewife&mom]

Originally Posted by GreenGeek

Are you realistically budgeting? Housing, food, transportation, insurance, entertainment, cable, cell phone, utilities, clothing, school, library fees for overdue books :-) ... Family of four on $15/hour in Nixa would probably be living close to paycheck-to-paycheck with little opportunity to put anything away. Nixa doesn't have public transportation and Springfield's bus system is anemic to say the least. One advantage you have right now is that real estate prices are in your favor, though that also seems to be keeping rental rates higher than they should be! Rent is still low compared to some other parts of the country (lower than Portland area where I moved from a year ago) but not as low as I would expect, given the overall poorer economy and limited economic opportunities here in SW MO - that is unless you are part of the medical/money-printing industry...

We've lived in CA on less than $20/hour. We're homeowners, no debt and all bills are paid each month. We just live simply and are very thrifty.

[GreenGeek]

Just curious, what made you consider the Nixa/SWMO area?

[ozarksboy]

That's $31,200 a year. You could probably make it, if your husband's job covers your medical/dental/vision insurance. You won't have anything left over for traveling to visit relatives in California, though.

I'm not sure if you would qualify for food stamps at $31,200 per year, but that would also help you. I think you would qualify for free/reduced school lunches and that would help.

[simplewife&mom]

Originally Posted by GreenGeek

Just curious, what made you consider the Nixa/SWMO area?

Well, we're basically your typical right-wing extremists as described in Homeland Security memos. And CA just isn't as welcoming to our kind as it used to be, so we thought we'd try SW MO.



Really though, I've researched a lot of places and SW MO is where I keep returning as the first pick. For its beauty, people, affordable land, slower pace of life, etc. My one big concern is the humidity, which will be an issue I'm sure. And making the right choice - no matter where we end up.

Thanks for all the input. It's food for thought.

[Hillman]

Just curious.Do you already have a Job offering $15 an hour? I know my Daughter has been working for Chase Bank for years.She was making $40K a year.They just cut it down to $25K a years.

Same with my Son he is making 6 figures but he is working 3 Jobs.But his income has went down the last year.Even though it wouldn't effect you his wife had to quit her Job because her income wouldn't cover their Child Care.

We live North of there my wife was making $15 an hour but it got cut to $8 and hour.

hillman

[christina0001]

I think your budget would be awfully tight, but it all depends on how you live. If you can make it on $20/hour in CA, $15/hour in MO is certainly possible. Just be aware, employers in MO are not nearly as generous with health/medical benefits and retirement benefits as employers on the coast are, or at least that has been my experience.
Best of luck.

[simplewife&mom]

Originally Posted by Hillman

Just curious.Do you already have a Job offering $15 an hour?

We got a call on a job my husband applied for and that's the pay offered. He hasn't spoken with them yet, as he didn't have access to a phone on the jobsite last week. I only spoke with them briefly. So I am researching, and wanted to know what you guys on city-data thought about it.