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Good on you if you made it work but, even in 2002 I could barely do only $100 a month for food without compromising my health and looking almost junky-skinny, and I never felt full. I wouldn't wish that on any except the most arrogant and violent repeat felons.
Although I suppose never feeling full helped give me the drive to get my E5 in less than 3 years (back before it was basically an automatic promotion).
Although I suppose never feeling full helped give me the drive to get my E5 in less than 3 years (back before it was basically an automatic promotion).
My MOS' points were very low back then, in the 400's. I made E5 in 2.5 years.
My MOS' points were very low back then, in the 400's. I made E5 in 2.5 years.
That definitely helped but, back then you still had to be recommended, getting that 5 was the exception not the rule. 2010 rolled around, and I was in Bagram, and it became that 5 became the rule, so NCOs had to write specific counseling statements stating why they shouldn't be promoted...
...now I was lucky I had a platoon, mostly, with guys I was proud to sponsor but, the change in the rules was clear and set a poor precedent.
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Back to the topic though, I didn't want to be too cavalier with advice to the thread originator. My personal experiences have been:
- The Army was what lifted me out of likely permanent poverty and, likely homelessness. It remains my best financial decision.
- $100 a month for food was NOT feasible! Plan around $200.
- Homelessness is at least easiER to escape in NYC due to the abundance of rent-a-room agencies and, an endless amount of McJobs. In FL, NC, GA, PA, wherever; even the McJobs will be completely taken.
- Vagrancy of any kind is treated damn near like a felony in many other states.
- If possible, get in shape and physically look your best. This absolutely opens doors anywhere!
- Don't waste anybody's time with "bla bla bla I can't do it cuz' I'm Black" quite a few senior NCOs I worked with named Tyrone, Jermaine and, Jamal that were some of the most dedicated and talented colleagues I've ever had.
Good on you if you made it work but, even in 2002 I could barely do only $100 a month for food without compromising my health and looking almost junky-skinny, and I never felt full. I wouldn't wish that on any except the most arrogant and violent repeat felons.
Although I suppose never feeling full helped give me the drive to get my E5 in less than 3 years (back before it was basically an automatic promotion).
You can do $200 a month for sure if you just eat "regular" food. I see plenty of deals for cereal ($1.99). Regular milk.... Everything non-organic is very affordable, but then I turn over the label and start reading the ingredients. Forget it. Growing up, I hated eating certain fruits, and now I know why. Because it was conventional fruit with wax all over it or whatever they put on regular apples. Stuff is disgusting. That said, when I want to eat cheap, but still buy organic, I leave out the meat and go with veggie dishes that I can make that will be filling or load up on organic fruits like blueberries, which are filling with the fiber.
You can do $200 a month for sure if you just eat "regular" food. I see plenty of deals for cereal ($1.99). Regular milk.... Everything non-organic is very affordable, but then I turn over the label and start reading the ingredients. Forget it. Growing up, I hated eating certain fruits, and now I know why. Because it was conventional fruit with wax all over it or whatever they put on regular apples. Stuff is disgusting. That said, when I want to eat cheap, but still buy organic, I leave out the meat and go with veggie dishes that I can make that will be filling or load up on organic fruits like blueberries, which are filling with the fiber.
NYC has a Trader Joe. Its NYC prices are based on national averages. NYC buyers pay the same amount as someone in the Midwest/South. The food is higher quality than the average supermarket. Cereals, frozen fruits and fish have terrific low prices.
It's also a great company to work at. It has a competitive benefits package covering health, dental and vision care. Employees pay only a small premium with Trader Joe's paying the rest. Employees also receive paid time off. Trader Joe’s crew remembers receive a performance evaluation twice per year and can receive up to a 7%- 10% pay increase each year which adds up over time. 78% of Trader Joe’s “Mates" a role that is similar to a supervisor within a retail store, started as crew. 100% of Captains (store managers) are promoted from the pool of Mates. Regional Vice Presidents are also promoted from within.
This is a NYC forum, and there are no Walmarts in NYC, so that's a non-issue. NYC has a $15 minimum wage. So if the OP can get a full time job, or a couple of part time jobs to total 40 hours/week, that's $30K/year. Now that's not really great in NYC, but it probably lets your rent a room somewhere in the city and let's you eat. That gets him off the ground, and he can start moving up from there.
Yeah, but I believe there are some just over the border in Long Island. I have never been to any here. In fact, I haven't been in a Walmart since I was in college, so it's been a while to say the least. lol My question is though, with rents being so high, would that even be enough to rent a room? I don't know what that yields in take-home pay a month.
It is plenty. Bronx has rooms for rent 400-500/month on several sites all the time.
After taxes, $15mw yields $12, so $1,920 every 4 weeks.
There are no rooms for $500 a month in the Bronx. Every 2 weeks $500 maybe.
just saw 2 listed on cl by the month at that rate. Many more 175/wk, which is also doable with $480/wk net pay (40 hes at minimum wage).
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I don't know what that yields in take-home pay a month.
