How do low income people survive? (insurance, wage, business, bill)

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by gardener34

20years, that might be your experience, but I am currently stuck with an animal that was abandoned when the neighbor/owner foreclosed and had to move to another state. She just abandoned it. It was starving and full of fleas and in our yard constantly and would not leave. Of course, I had to start to feed it eventually, as I am an animal lover.

My problem now huh.... I did not want a pet, I would have gotten one if I did. Now I need to worry about what is going to happen to this animal when winter comes. We can't let it in the house because of severe animal allergies. So I may end up spending the $75 fee to surrender it to a shelter...

All because a loser decided to dump their pet when they couldn't afford to keep one in the first place.

It is a complete pet peeve of mine when people do not have the means and will not take care of their pets in the correct manner. i.e. no spaying (there ARE low cost programs for this that many refuse to seek out), no vaccinations, tags, collar, etc.

Post the animal for free on your local craigslist! Someone with a big heart may take the animal from you. craigslist.org

Good luck, and thanks for caring for it.

[BOBBB17037]

Being very thifty is the key to living on a low/lower income. I went from making 50k a year to making just under 30k. The company I worked for decided to replace me with someone who was cheaper but less experienced (that didn't work out for them, but thats another story) Even when I was making more I was still pretty thrifty so it wasn't a real big lifestyle change. I don't/didnn't have a car payment and never had any high end toys. The hardest part now is just paying the regular bills, mortgage, elec, gas,water,sewer,phone. The only extras I have are Direct TV (basic channel pkg) and internet . I live in a rural town in Pa so Tv reception with rabbit ears is very poor (outside antennas are not allowed in my neighborhood).I had though about a 2nd job but I work 46-50 hrs a week now (no time and a half) and am a single dad . So doesnt leave much time for a 2nd job.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by fierce_flawless

Some people donate plasma for money, sell cans, mow lawns, watch kids, etc., in addition to the low wage job. Have yard sales. Sell stuff on eBay if they have a camera and internet access. Do research studies for pay. Kite checks (I'm serious). Get payday or auto title loans. There are a million different "methods of survival".

k.

There are a lot of good tips here, but you negate them all when you suggested "kiting checks". THAT would be illegal. It's fraud and stealing.....not to mention very risky if you can't cover that HOT check and end up paying a $30 NSF fee. Many budget outlets now only accept checks by using instant cash conversion processors because of this rampant problem.
If the money isn't in the bank, they know it before your transaction is complete. NOT A GOOD IDEA!

[centre]

You can survive. Not easily but it can be done.

Thift stores - All of my work clothes come from thrift stores. You can buy name brand stuff (some with tickets still on it) for next to nothing.

Buy store brand / generics. Not all generics are good, but lots of them are.

Distinguish between what you want and what you really need.

See what habits you have that waste money. I for example will pay 60 cents for a couple of diet mountain dew from the vending machine at work each day. Instead, I need to just buy a 12 pack at the grocery. Every little bit helps.

[GypsySoul22]

It depends on where you live, I feel.
If you want to be frugal with food, entertainment, clothes, extras, sure that is doable.

Live in the north and you HAVE TO use heat. You have no choice but to stick on the thermostat and pay the gas company.


There are government programs that can help 'low income' (a lot of people in Vermont live on $10 an hour but we pay NYC prices for things). Of course, there are also a lot of wealthy people here too.

I noticed in the year I've lived here, you need to have a network and 'know people' to get cheaper meats, maple syrup, and so on that tourists/well paid people can afford to buy.

Also, many people swear by thrift stores. They garden, they do anything to scrape money here and there. It's tiring, seriously.

One nice thing about this area of New England is that 'normal' folks do not brag about what they own or make like where I was from. It's considered crass to go on about your possessions (very British attitude!). Only one person I have met so far liked to brag about her $$ and home and possessions and everyone thought she was an idiot and did not respect her.

[CA central coast]

[quote=Colddiamond102;5565781]What d'you mean borderline?! Its robbery...[quote]
Hey, I agree. If it's legalized robbery, then it's borderline criminal.

Originally Posted by gardener34

"although my classes were $20 a unit" do you mean $20 per credit hour? Where do you go to college, I want to go there! Our local community college is $90 per credit hour and that is cheap for our state anyway. Or was this some years ago?

California
icanaffordcollege.com : College Costs
There's over a 100 cc's in CA. Find an area with cheap cost of living, housing, establish residency, there you go.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by wCat

There are a lot of good tips here, but you negate them all when you suggested "kiting checks". THAT would be illegal. It's fraud and stealing.....not to mention very risky if you can't cover that HOT check and end up paying a $30 NSF fee. Many budget outlets now only accept checks by using instant cash conversion processors because of this rampant problem.
If the money isn't in the bank, they know it before your transaction is complete. NOT A GOOD IDEA!

If you're mailing them off, like to the utility company, you can generally expect it to take a few days to get to billing to get cashed. Thus, you can mail it a day or two before payday.

[Colddiamond102]

Originally Posted by sapphire

You need some scissors to cut that cell phone line and your credit cards. That might free up some cash every month.

1 credit card. Used for the purpose of buying my books each semester, and building a credit history while I do so.What, you think I have 400 bucks cash every 3 months? HA!
It takes me that 3 months to pay the sucker off completely.
Cell phone is because I am not home often, and gives my mother a way to contact me, and my father ( who lives in NC) as well as my boyfriend, who is in the military.

Sorry, but those reasons are enough for me to tally in the $50 a month for my cell.
Methinks you're assuming that I actually have fun with that 1 credit card...and that Im one that wont shut up on their cell phone. Not the case.

[Cinnabunz]

Originally Posted by sapphire

You need some scissors to cut that cell phone line and your credit cards. That might free up some cash every month.

Credit cards..yup Im guilty on that one, but Im working on it! Cash, checks and debit cards only!

I eliminated my land-line so I gotta keep my cell phone! (but we are on a family plan)

[MagicTouch]

Originally Posted by fierce_flawless

Isn't that entirely dependent on where you live?

Sure, where *I* live it's excellent pay. Where I live, $10 an hour is quite do-able if you're not careless. I would imagine it doesn't go as far in CA or NY or Seattle.

Very true, I have lived in CA, MA and now live on LI, NY. Actually out of all three MA was the cheapest, nicest apt for the money. Pay vs Cost of Living is relative to your location. I know here on LI I couldn't even pay rent making $15 an hour. Minus taxes that would be only about $450 per week. Maybe, like others have said if you have 2 or 3 roommates.

I think it's tough and only going to get tougher. I must say I commend all of those out there that are striving to do what they can to support themselves and their families.