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I'll be realistic. Times are tough. I need a job after graduation and I'm looking at so many options, it's ridiculous. Columbia's standard of living is really great, where you can get cheap housing and it doesn't have to be in a ghetto or anything.
Is 20k, starting off, realistic to live in Columbia? Would I need a roommate? Any places in Columbia, like in the Rosewood/Shandon area that I could live in? How broke will I be? Haha.
Columbia is less expensive than many cities, but I think you will want to get a room mate to help share some of your housing and utility expenses. Otherwise, you might be cutting it very close.
I'll agree with the other posters. Without a roommate you would have to live in a real dump, but you could probably afford a decent 1 bedroom apartment in-town if you don't have many other bills.
Let's see, 20k is going to amount to around $17k take-home, or $650'ish per paycheck ($1300/mo).
Do you have any student loans or a car payment? Other misc debt (credit, child support, etc)?
You should have some way for people to get in touch with you, so a cell with a modest plan and no-to-little texting will run about $60. Let's estimate it costs $5/day to sustain you, so that's $150 in groceries (more, if you eat out). Let's also estimate you have to travel 15 miles each way to your job, getting an average of 25MPG; if you stay home on the weekends (or take a bike/walk), that's $50 in gas. If your apartment is all electric, we'll estimate a bill of $90.
So those are pretty bare essentials for a sum of $350. If you have no other debt, then you should be able to find a decent 1BR for around $650, leaving you $300/mo for things like cable/internet (if you like), savings/retirement, entertainment, etc.
Rent a trailer in a dubious mobile home park, buy a trac phone and get a bike from a thrift store...maybe a cheap moped used. Then eat lots of ramen noodles, mac 'n' cheese, and chicken necks for them fancy meals.
Yes, under the table work can be quite lucrative. Best way to live on 20K is not give any to Uncle Sugar, but this is not condoned by me. Mainly because I pay taxes and would be jelous.
But let me tell you, strippers do NOT save on clothing.
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