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I've been tracking my living expenses for a while and I've paid off most of my debt. Now I need to think ahead about how I can afford to live through this horrible economic downturn.
After I finish paying off my car, I'd like to get my total monthly expenses down to $1,000 a month including rent. I'm thinking I may have to relocate to someplace in North or South Carolina, but I'll do what I have to. I looked and I can get an apartment there for $500 a month.
So, my question is, how much do you spend each month (I know it's tough because some of you have families or spouses)? And do you have any suggestions for where I can live and how I can reduce my budget?
I'm in survival mode here, so I have to do what I have to do. I'm a single woman so maybe I should get married? If so, I need to move to a place where there's eligible bachelors.
Thanks for any input,
Woofers
P.S. I'm currently in the Northeast and rents are too expensive here.
Move to the South or the Midwest where the cost of living is lower. You'll be bored to death, but at least you won't starve. Come to think of it, boredom is an offshoot of affluence. 500 to 1000 years ago, our ancestors didn't have the luxury of being bored. They worked till they dropped dead - at a young age at that.
Move to the South or the Midwest where the cost of living is lower. You'll be bored to death, but at least you won't starve. Come to think of it, boredom is an offshoot of affluence. 500 to 1000 years ago, our ancestors didn't have the luxury of being bored. They worked till they dropped dead - at a young age at that.
I am really scared. I can't afford health insurance. I don't have hardly anything saved up for retirement. I am not married. And with the economy the way it is, it's clear, I need to cut down to the bone.
I am really scared. I can't afford health insurance. I don't have hardly anything saved up for retirement. I am not married. And with the economy the way it is, it's clear, I need to cut down to the bone.
Where do you work? Do you work? Since you can live anywhere I would focus the biggest paycheck rather than the cheapest place to live.
I am really scared. I can't afford health insurance. I don't have hardly anything saved up for retirement. I am not married. And with the economy the way it is, it's clear, I need to cut down to the bone.
Why not apply for government health insurance? In your situation, sounds to me like you'd be a good candidate.
I don't know the answer to your question. For me, I've got property taxes (250 a month), utilities (another 250 at least), car insurance (60), Internet and Cable and phone (165), soon-to-be giant health insurance premium, (I don't even know how much, but I have to have it) and then prescription drugs (another 200). So this seems to be a lot to me. I can get rid of TV (cable $50) but that's about it.
I'm single too, but don't know that meeting someone will fix things. It could just lead to more stress. Plus you have to go through all that "stuff" just to get to the marriage part. I used to wonder which is easier - getting a job with benefits or getting a husband. Guess I'll find out.
Where do you work? Do you work? Since you can live anywhere I would focus the biggest paycheck rather than the cheapest place to live.
These days it's hard to focus on the biggest paycheck, as everything is so uncertain and a job that starts out one way could end up very different. That's what happened to me and my last day of work is on the 16th.
Better I think to focus on a low cost area of living. That way, one isn't subject to the whims of the job market.
Thanks for your input. I've been working for two years to pay off debt and bring down my costs of living. I've been tracking every penny I spend for over a year. I'm looking at moving to North Caroline where I can at least afford a better living arrangement than the one I have. I've been trying, but I can see the writing is on the wall with this country and the economy.
Thanks for your input. I've been working for two years to pay off debt and bring down my costs of living. I've been tracking every penny I spend for over a year. I'm looking at moving to North Caroline where I can at least afford a better living arrangement than the one I have. I've been trying, but I can see the writing is on the wall with this country and the economy.
I don't want to get off-track with this thread, but I'm pretty that based on my field and skill level and the number of jobs available, that I need to really cut back to the bone in order to get by.
These days it's hard to focus on the biggest paycheck, as everything is so uncertain and a job that starts out one way could end up very different. That's what happened to me and my last day of work is on the 16th.
Better I think to focus on a low cost area of living. That way, one isn't subject to the whims of the job market.
Unless she is retired, what is she going to do when she gets there? A low cost of living means nothing if you have no income.
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