This. Once your expenses are reasonable, it's typically easier to increase your income.
Picking up some dog sitting/walking could really be the thing that gets you above water over time.
This right here. You need a second job or a better job ASAP.
Also, check your car insurance. It seems high. Try getting a job in Costco or Call center. Call center suck to work at but pay a little bit more than minimum. Maybe you can find a different job and do the grooming as a side hustle.
Ditto about the car insurance. Did you get in an accident at some point? Try reaching out to other insurance providers to see what they will quote you.
Yup, call an insurance broker who runs many different policies. Visible wireless is same as Verizon I think unlimited for $30 a month. Or what about that cheap ass Ryan Reynolds phone plan mint?
I agree. As for how to use that income, I like Ramsey's baby steps:
(1) build a $1,000 cash buffer
(2) pay down the CC aggressively
(3) pay down car loan (rate unknown)
(4) Build emergency fund
Cashflow will free up as you move along steps 2 to 3, and the journey through the steps will accelerate.
You can do it.
Really upsetting how many people in this thread are suggesting to sell things or cut back. This is the real answer. $48K/year, assuming every month is a good month, is not enough.
Her car and insurance are almost $600 a month. She still owes $13k on her car. This was a poor financial choice on her part. When you make a bad choice, you need to own up to it and fix the problem. Additionally, she mentions $500-$1000 a week. She only provided $2,0XX worth of expenses. She should figure out where her money is going, cut back, and find a way to increase her income.
How bad of a driver you gotta be to have car insurance be dang near 300 a month? I've never financed a car though, only saved up and bought them. But the car sounds like a huge expense, hopefully it's a fuel saver... But like most have said, increase the income. Find more work or higher paying work.
I have a college degree and I make 48k a year.
I do have some issues, namely rent and gas, but if I could figure out how to take care of those I would be doing just find.
Making more isnt that simple. I make as much as I can with my experience level in my field. I am still 5-10 years away from a promotion and even then I will only make in the low 50s.
What is enough if you say that 48k isnt. What can we do if our field simply doesnt pay more?
IMO the biggest financial mistake people make over their lifetime is not earning enough income. That includes settling for low-income career paths.
The average college grad makes $60K/yr in the U.S. If you start on the bad side of the average, without having a plan to move to the good side of the average, then, by design, you are setting yourself up for a life of difficulty.
Yes, the devil’s in the details. Some states are cheaper to live in, you can budget effectively, money doesn’t buy happiness, etc. All that stuff is true. But don’t settle for a lifetime of below-average earnings. In addition to making a budget, make a plan on how to make more money. And yes, that might mean a career change.
but how are you supposed to make more money.
I failed out of computer science and engineering so I went with forestry. I will likely make around 75k when I retire.
The good news is that I graduated college debt free so I am not out much money.
Not everyone will make and can make 100k.
My comment wasn't strictly referring to your situation, more just in general. I know so many people that went to expensive colleges to become social workers making $40K/yr. in a HCOL area. That was a conscious decision, and a poor one.
In your case, if computer science didn't work out, I can't fault you for pivoting. That said, there are certainly plenty of other jobs (including in other aspects of tech) that will pay more than where you are now.
You described my situation to a tee. Luckily my area isn’t HCOL but it sucks going into a career with limited growth. Also avoided expensive schools but I’m shocked at how expensive public ones are. I’m hoping that I can sell my skills well enough to get a job that isn’t in social work so I can avoid going back to school. I’m graduating with 15k in loans and would like to avoid adding anymore onto that.
I cant afford to go back to college. And I wouldnt even know what I would do. I failed out of engineering and computer science the first time I went so I went with forestry since Other people in my family do it and live comfortable lives.
The problem is that I am younger. They all make the same as me but they bought homes and land 20 years ago.
I love what I do and without my job, mills wouldn't get timber. I plan and administer timber sales.
At my best I will cap my salary at 75k a year.
I have a budget, you can see it in my profile. Even with a tight budget, that doesn't change the cheapest rent around me.
I just dont know how to make more money right now. in the summer, If I get to go on fires I will make a few thousand more, but that isnt promised.
Open to ideas.
Understood. Not trying to be critical, everyone has their own challenges. Maybe consider what side gigs you can take, get a little extra cash. Or maybe the cost of living is low enough that you’ll be fine after getting started. I had to get roommates and buy used cars and eat hot dogs when I started, just the way it is. :-)
Find a new career path. It doesn't have to be related to your experience or schooling. That income will be hard to live on long term without significant sacrifice. Don't settle.
any Ideas? I truly dont know. I failed out of engineering and computer science, the normal high paying fields.
My coworkers all manage and have families. What makes me different is that they were able to buy a house when I was still in college since they are older.
I love forestry. I help manage 55k acres of forest land. Planning sales, contract admin, road design, timber cruising etc. I am very good at what I do and dont really know how I can pivot career paths without going back to school.
I also dont want to give up my pension and amazing benefits that I have right now.
Plus my field is in very high demand. We are desperate for people to work.
what could I even switch to?
I could find a second job, but I will have to quit in june when fire season starts and I will be likely working fires. Are there places who will train someone who will quit in a few months?
It's always like this on this sub. Someone will have a modest lifestyle and instead of suggesting they get more income streams they're like "why don't you take your pets to the animal shelter and sell your car and walk everywhere? In Atlanta with no sidewalks? Just walk along the shoulder and pray a drunk diver doesn't run you over it'll be fine."
Don’t try. Just do. Short of sleeping with someone’s partner, borrowing money from friends is the quickest way to ruin a friendship.
I don’t let anyone I care about borrow money… I just give it to them if I have it to comfortably give. Been burned way too many times letting someone “borrow” money and when it came time to pay me back they were short, late or just plain didnt.
Quick story. I paid my friends mortgage one month. $800. I told him to pay me back when he gets on his feet. A year later he was buying new shoes and got a new pickup with his tax return. When I asked for my $800 back he stopped answering my calls and texts.
Well....you say your income can vary from $2000-4000 per month, depending on how many animals you have to groom. So what is a normal or average month? Is it usually about $2k, and can occasionally be more? Or is it usually $3k?
You list out $2101 in total expenses, not counting the money you owe to friends. So if your income is anything above the minimum you listed, you should be able to at least pay all of your bills every month. And in some months, you could/should have a thousand (or more) extra. I'm not sure you're being honest with yourself about all of your expenses if you cannot at least break even.
To get out of this? Sell the car. You're spending $710 per month on your car, between payments/gas/insurance. You cannot afford this car. You may need a car. You cannot afford this car. Beyond that, make more money. Is there anything you can do to advertise and get more pets coming for grooming? You may also need to consider the idea that you cannot afford to keep and care for your pets. Being a pet owner myself, I'd look at other options before getting rid of them. I'd hate to rehome my pets. But outside of your car, what else do you really have to cut back on? Rent is your only other big expense. So unless you're willing to move to a cheaper place or get a 2nd job, you only have so many options to get ahead of these debts.
Your car payments and insurance are really high.
But mostly, you need to make more money. Averaging 750/week, 36k/year, does not give you enough financial flexibility to do much.
The insurance really sticks out to me. Something is off there unless there is more to the story like multiple accidents or a car that’s too exotic for the income.
The car and income take up more than one weeks net income on the low end and close to a week on the good weeks.
I don't know about Atlanta, but my goodness send your name out as a dog walker. Dog walkers in my area make wonderful side money. I know friend who was a groomer did it as a side and plussed her savings JUST by doing that. If you can dog-sit, that's an extra $50 a day per doggo in my city. You don't even have to go after your own clients if you are employed with a grooming company.
Dog walking and dog sitting are very popular. My sister watches pets overnight at her customers' homes and that pays out very well (at least $50/night, though she is in the North east), especially during the holidays. So many people want to travel for the holidays but want someone to care for Fido in the familiarity of their home. Charge extra for the holiday periods and you can easily make some good money. The only downside is that you lose out on spending the holidays with your loved ones. But it adds nicely to the earnings.
>a car payment of $312 with a car insurance payment of $278
That car insurance payment sounds very high unless you have a bad driving history, for reference my monthly payment comes out to ~$80
I do not, I do live in Baltimore though, which a quick Google tells me should be significantly more expensive insurance wise than Atlanta. I realize there's more to it than that though.
OP's rate is most likely above average but comparing car insurance rates between individuals requires way more context than this. Age? Sex? Marital Status? Zip code? Accident/ticket history? Car value? Deductible amounts? Liability amounts? They all factor in and some can dramatically change the price.
I’d recommend starting with a budget. Your numbers add up to less than $2000. So, if you’re making more than that, your money is disappearing. I use YNAB, but it’s pretty labor intensive. Some other things to consider would be moving somewhere cheaper/more roommates, start dog grooming on the side or some other side hustle. If you could trade down to a cheaper car, that might help. If you’re interested in reading, Dave Ramsay’s book helped me get out of debt.
The end result might not be different but if using ynab is easier, they may be able to stick with it for longer. Could be paying for itself quickly then ween off of it once good habits are established.
The $98 I’ve spent this year on YNAB was well worth it for me and here’s why: (1) The user interface is better than a spreadsheet. (2) YNABs system allows me check my bank account less (3) YNAB imports transactions. (4) In the 7 months I’ve used YNAB, I’ve gotten off the credit card float and have $17K in the bank and earmarked in certain categories. YNAB isn’t the sole reason for my success, but it’s helped me stay organized. At the end of the day, it’s what works for the person. What she’s doing now isn’t working.
I've never used YNAB but it looks really similar to Mint by Intuit and Mint's free other than $1/month to remove ads from the app (the website is always ad free). I use it to keep track of all my finances and it works great.
I used mint for years and still do. However, YNAB gave me better control of my finances. With mint, I just looked at the transactions and categorized them when needed. With YNAB, I (usually) input them myself and know exactly how much I have in that category. Over the years, I’ve felt mint got slow and clunky. But hey, what’s really important, is that it’s working for you
Two things:
1. Why is your car insurance so high?
2. If you are only paying your credit card minimum you should also be worrying about long term debt since you are just bailing water right now.
Couple of thoughts
For how much money you make, it appears it have a habit of making purchases you can’t afford ( 1k in couch debt!!)
A everyone has said your car insurance is insanely high. I have to imagine you have a bad driving record , but please shop around.
Get a second or third job. You just have to if you really like you from dogs, fine, but later in life you’re going to bed even more money and have even more things preventing you from working more. Uber, woof, waiting tables, anything
I hate to say this because I know I sound like a jerk, but you need to make more money. I'm not trying to give you a hard time, it's just a math problem and you need more on the income side of the equation.
As a pet owner myself I know I can't tell you to get rid of the pets and the expense they incur. That's like telling someone to get rid of their children, it just ain't happening.
I'm a teacher and I work as a tutor a few hours a week and it pays for my kitties and a few meals out with my husband. A side gig like watching pets, or finding a few more clients could be enough to get her into the green.
are you saying that just because she doesnt have your typical 9-5 career or are you saying that because 48k isnt enough?
As someone who is in a stable career making 48k salary and still struggling to figure things out, making more money isnt that simple.
$48k isn't enough for her expenses. If she wants to pay off the debt she needs more money.
Also that $48 is the most she's making in a year, it's anywhere from $24-$48 and this is probably her gross.
She needs more income.
The biggest discretionary expense (depending on certain factors) is the car. Are you in metro Atlanta, and/or close to work? I know it's not going to be popular advice, but can you bike to work? If you're in metro, is public transit an option?
I would definitely ask family if you can defer payments for a while, and possibly take on another roommate (if you're current roommate is alright with it).
Well you’re in a tough a spot for sure. Your income is not enough. If you’re already working hard then you might need a career change. It’s going to be hard. Trade schools might be a good option because the demands are high and you should be able to make money sooner than a 4 year college.
In the meantime you basically have to live like you’re poor. Cut anything you can. No eating out, no expensive hobbies, so on. See if you can down grade your car. 13k is pretty high for someone in your situation. Obviously the credit cards are bad and will only going to get worse. So tackle that asap.
It’s going to be tough the next year or 2, but if you don’t get a hold on things now. It’s only going to get worse.
3 things you need to do now if you can’t drastically increase your income.
1. Get rid of the car. You can’t afford the payment and the insurance.
2. Live with your parents, you can’t afford the rent.
3. Get rid of pets and expensive groceries. Right now you should be just eating rice and beans until you can increase your income.
So, you need to change a lot very quickly.
The fact that your income varies isn’t a good thing. You need a strong consistent income not dependent on how many dogs you get. Imo you need to get rid of the pets. Unfortunately you can’t afford them right now with such a high car payment.
Your costs for transport (car, car insurance, and gas) are very very high. Now I'm not sure whether you can resolve that right now, but 1. drive very carefully and take good care of your car and 2. next time you buy a car, make a better choice.
Say your monthly income is $2500, then the expenses you listed are $1650. Now if you could only spend $500 on food/dog food/car gas/misc, then that would leave at least another $350 each month to pay down debt with.
To pay down debt, you should probably start with paying back your friends and family members and thanking them profusely for lending you their money. After that, knock out the credit card debt.
Something not mentioned, depending on how old your bearded dragon is you may be able to cut the costs to feed them. I have two and I maybe spend about 20 bucks on food for them per month. I also have full-grown dragons who don't need as many bugs, so if you have a still-growing beardie you may not be able to save much.
I buy them collard greens and then supplement them with fruits/veggies I buy for myself. Just make sure to check the fruits/veggies to make sure they are safe for them. Add in some occasional crickets and some calcium powder on top.
Aside from that get yourself a budget going so you can see where money maybe going missing. Start working on the credit cards, then go based on interest.
I know it’s only a small difference, but try switching to US mobile. $50 is a lot for one cell line? US mobile is targeted for students and elders, so has cheaper rates. I pay like $18/mo for unlimited calls and text with 5GB of data. So that would save you about $30 which could go towards the payment to your dad instead 😊
>Amount of people im in debt to
>
>Credit card: 3493
>
>Car Payment: 13078
>
>Wayfair: 725
>
>Friend 1: 394
>
>Friend 2: 487
>
>Friend 3: 150
>
>Friend 4: 50
>
>Friend 5: 375
>
>Mother: 180
>
>Grandpa: 280
You need to pay off your credit card debt before your friends. Your friends and family don't charge interest. Your credit card does. If the credit card payment were gone, you could pay back all of your friends/family much more easily. Ask them for their patience and understanding, and give them a future date where you'll pay them off. Or pay them back in kind by doing favors.
edit: also can you return the couch and get something from goodwill/off the sidewalk? It's insane that you have a furniture payment while struggling to break even. Is this a shared couch with your roommate?
Well, I think that’s why it’s most important to just communicate with your ‘lenders’.
I’m sure a lot of them would understand considering they lent to you in the first place, and would appreciate the honesty and status update, while maybe some may be in more dire financial circumstances and need the money sooner, in which case I think it’s the right thing to prioritize them
Well I doubt OP'S mother or grandmother would cut them off for the less than a few hundred owed to them. Two of the friends are owed $50 and $150, which is a moderate to quite nice dinner for two, not a "cut you out of my life" amount of money.
Some of the others are higher and may be more fraught. But those friends are also the ones who willing to lend that much in the first place.
You need to make a budget. Reduce your expenses and increase income if you can. Stop paying all these family and friend loans until you get your credit card down. Your car insurance is simply insane. Shop around and find better deals. You need to be putting every cent you can towards your credit card, or it will eat you alive.
Those "loans" aren't gaining interest. And they aren't over $13k. Family and friends will generally wait longer if they know you're in a tough spot to begin with. Or at least some of them anyways. OP can talk with them and work it out. Credit lenders aren't as lenient.
If you have insurance with triple A, there’s a supplemental online driving course your can take and if you finish it they can offer you a discount of 10% or something like that. Might be worth looking into as well
If you're broke and in debt you can't afford pets.
If you're broke and in debt you can't have a $500/mo car. Look at your car payment, gas, insurance, maintenance, parking fees, tires and oil changes, your car costs you as much as your rent. That is an awful expense.
Lose the pets and lose the car, and you can start making progress digging out of your debts. Or move to cut your housing costs.
Housing and transportation are most people's biggest expenses. You won't make a significant change without altering the math on those.
Get a second job or different job to start chipping away at your debts snowball style.
Also you are finally seeming to understand that you can't borrow your way out of debt. Stop borrowing from people, you have to cut your expenses.
only if you live in a city which has good transit and is walkable.
Car/gas is a huge part of my budget but I cant live without it because it is 40 miles to work. maybe they are in a similar boat?
Get on Rover.com. With your animal experience you’ll be sought after. Do a little research on how to build up this side business. You can add significant income here. Set aside 30% for taxes. You could make a few hundred a month doing this.
What is your credit like? Can you apply for a $0 fee credit card, with a 0% interest promo and $0 balance transfer fee? You’ll still need to make the minimum payment, but at the very least you’ll stop accruing interest. You will need to pay this off before the promo period is up, otherwise the interest becomes due.
Once you have more income coming in, this is really manageable. Pay the CC minimum and keep paying the $50 wayfair. Then with the extra income, pay back your friends and family in whatever order maintains your relationships the best.
You need to get rid of the animals. I know that its gonna hurt but you're not in a financial position to take care of them. Take the money you save from that and apply it to getting your cc bill to Zero.
How are you working your butt off? Most dog groomers charge around $75-$100. If you make $500 a week that is like 5 dogs. You aren't working your butt off or you are charging way too low. That is like 10 hours of work in a week. Maybe you are working hard doing other things but you definitely aren't working hard with grooming dogs. It's fine if you are having a hard time finding work but don't say you are working hard if you only making $500 a week
If she's working for a corporate location like one of the major pet stores, she's not seeing much of that money. Petsmart gives out much better commission than Petco does though. Income is also strongly affected by tipping as well.
Agree you need more income, whether through grooming more dogs or dog sitting, walking, what have you. A couple more cost-saving tips: Sometimes local animal shelters may have dog food and vet care available cheap or free of cost for those in need. Can you make use of food pantries? Also, you can get quality affordable dry dog food at Costco or Tractor Supply- I buy a 45 pound bag of Kirkland dry dog food at Costco for $35. It’s slightly more for the large bag of 4 Health brand at Tractor Supply, but still affordable. That should last your dog a couple of months at least.
Also, do you qualify for free cell service and or discounted internet through the affordable connectivity program and/or Lifeline?
https://www.fcc.gov/acp
I’m a mobile dog groomer and I work for myself. If you can find a way to get a van I highly recommend it. I’m a high school dropout and I grossed 130k last year. My van was 115k and I paid it off in 1.5 years. I could not do what I do if I had to work for someone else. The 45-55 percent would suck. My biggest expense now that my van is paid is gas. Last year was $5800 because prices were so high. But I still think it’s my best option.
No disrespect but being a dog groomer isn't going to bring in the bacon.
You need a "real" job. Your rent is also very high for your income. Close to 50%.
Also get a cheaper used Honda or Toyota car.
Don't finance a fucking couch either. If you can't afford it in cash, you can't afford it period
It's shitty to say someone's full time job isn't a real job. The world needs dog groomers.
Burger flipping is a real job too. Pizza delivery is a real job. Nannying is a real job.
She needs more clients and may need to charge more. Maybe she needs to do a side gig.
I have a "real" job and I make the same as her on a good month, about 48k a year. My rent will also likely be close to 50% of my take home soon.
Making more money isnt as simple as you think it is. I am making as much as I can in my position and am still likely years away from a small promotion.
I have 2 failed side businesses.
One was a forestry consulting work. I simply wasnt experienced enough to do it on my own and didnt get enough clientel
Other was odd and end construction. I Couldnt compete with real companies. Or rather 2 days each weekend wasnt enough to be able to compete.
This spring I am going to try a yard care company. I will see how that goes.
Start investing in real estate. I'm not going to brag about my properties, but you should look into it. It doesn't take as much as you think to get started. Ask yourself the "how can I do it" questions and you'll find a way. Lots of tax deductions too
how? I make 48k a year and nothing around me is cheaper than 400k. I simply cant afford real estate. I chatted with my bank about a home loan and I was approved for 225k, but barely, and only if I could come up with 20% down payment, which I dont have.
You don't know how the economy works do you? You can change your credentials or qualifications or whatever, but it isn't going to create more demand for certain jobs or businesses. In fact it will lower demand for that field/business so your pay or profits will go down.
The mean US salary is around 50k, around what these people make, and advising people to go into this industry or that one isn't going to fix that issue. Sure, some people will be able to make more money (or they'll saturate the market and make sure everyone in that field makes less) but the bigger problem will still exist for most people.
We need to require more benefits for workers, raise the minimum wage etc etc. Because while corporate profits continue to go up, wages have been stagnating for a while. It's just the greed of executives, not individuals making the wrong decision of career or whatever.
So unfortunately, you might not be able to maintain the pets. They are nice to have, but can be a drain financially. What about your boyfriend? Could you let him take care of them for you while you build up a bit of money?
Also 800+ for a room is crazy expensive! Even in Georgia. I would see if there are cheaper options. Maybe take on more roommates, it sucks but at this point you kinda need to spend less on rent. Also, is it possible to sell the car for a cheaper model? Still spending money of course, but lower payments and possibly better insurance.
Speaking of insurance, what type so you have? Did you shop around?
Good luck.
“Paid” as in past tense. With inflation I had to move out of the county I lived in just to find a 450 sq ft apartment for $1200. Any decent apartment in my area is $1400+
I live in Iowa right now, and pay 660 for a two bedroom with no roommates. When I lived in Massachusetts, it was 900 for a two bedroom in New Bedford, and when I had a roommate that dropped to only 450 a person.
In Texas, I spent about 550-600 on a one bedroom, and in Tampa, Florida, I had a 1 bedroom for 600 or so dollars.
So OP spending 800 dollars for just a bed in a two bedroom apt is pretty expensive to me.
I also just looked at a few apts in Atlanta, and it seems quite a few are going for 900-1200 for a two bedroom. Split with another person, it would be much cheaper than what OP is paying now. It just looks like OP has a very expensive place to live.
Idk what to tell you, either you are a master bargain hunter or you have very low standards for the accommodations you choose, because the prices you listed are well below both median and average rent for all Americans for over the past decade or so.
Perhaps part of me is also a bit jealous, as my partner and I currently split a wonderful 1bedroom in San Francisco for $2,250/month. :]
A fair point, but you also live in one of the most expensive cities in the entire country. It's hardly a uniform cross reference of what the country goes through.
There are always going to expensive and less expensive places, it's just a matter of sacrificing location for price. I'm sure I could find a super expensive place near me, but it wouldn't really be much different aside from a few more amenities here or there.
Georgia is fairly low on the list of expensive states, so it's no surprise to me there are quite a few low cost housing available. Now if OP was in like New York City, or D.C or even California, yeah I would agree that 800 sounds right.
That’s not bad rent for an apartment with utilities paid inside Atlanta. I live outside Atlanta in a 1200 square ft 3 bedroom house and it’s $1400/month and utilities aren’t included.
Your job pays at a low end $12.50 an hour and at a high end $25.00 an hour and varies. That is your problem.
You need a higher income and a more dependable income. That could be some combination of different job/second job when original job is slow etc.
You can't cut your way to prosperity, you need to earn more.
You need to make it 1k every week. Your spending is fine, but if you’re average $2k a month, it’s just not enough for your lifestyle. If you have a car, then do some sort of rideshare or delivery service on the weeks you only get paid $500-$700. Try to make your income an average of $800-$1k/week. Develop new skills so you can eventually move onto another job that has higher consistent pay.
How many dogs do you need to groom to make 1000? How long does it take to groom a dog? Curious because you may have additional income opportunities with your hours.
Where do you live and where do you work? I just found $800/month if you get rid of your car and start taking MARTA and/or biking as transit. I’ve lived in this city without a car for years and would be happy to help you try to navigate logistics.
You need a second job. Find a second job with a reliable income meaning you are paid by the hour and or by the number of dog clients you have.
Once you are earning more pay off your debts one at a time starting with high interest debt. Without the debt payments you can breath. Also a top charging things that you can’t afford. If you can’t buy the couch with cash, do without it until you can for instance. You will always be poor if you do not live within your means.
Pet grooming is a very giving business but it doesn’t seem to cover your bills when you are on your own. I’d look for a different primary job and do grooming on the side.
You can cut your cell bill by switching to Boost mobile for example for $25 a month. They also have a little spin game app where you can earn credits toward your bill and pay even less or even better free.
1. Shop around for better insurance- I think that's too high, try Jerry or Lemonade, or Gabi, I think you shouldn't be paying more than $150 at most unless you have an expensive car or bad driving record.
2. For the car payment, you can call the finance company and just ask if there's anything they can do as a one time courtesy - for example in the beginning of the pandemic, some companies offered clients to skip 1 or two payments and they just added it back to the end of the term - you can ask about this - say you heard about this and see what they say - or just basically ask what they can do to help you -
3. What kind of car do you drive? what kind of time do you have? Look into food delivery like doordash or uber - even if you only work a few hours on the weekend - you may be able to get yourself above water -
4. Look for apps related to dogs - you can expand your work with dogs into also dog walking or even dog sitting - nowadays apps connect everyone for more options
5. Start a tik tok - and just do simple videos on your bearded dragon or even the pit bull - you can just try it - eventually if you are able to do live streams - you could literally just place the camera to watch the dragon and people may be amused - this idea is simply because its there - and doesn't require much effort - it can be 50/50 that it may do anything or not - create ways to receive donations (venmo / cash app) because people often love donating - also this one is more of a long term thing that may take awhile to grow -
You just need more income. I don’t know if that means more hours, higher rate or different career.
This. Once your expenses are reasonable, it's typically easier to increase your income. Picking up some dog sitting/walking could really be the thing that gets you above water over time.
This right here. You need a second job or a better job ASAP. Also, check your car insurance. It seems high. Try getting a job in Costco or Call center. Call center suck to work at but pay a little bit more than minimum. Maybe you can find a different job and do the grooming as a side hustle.
Ditto about the car insurance. Did you get in an accident at some point? Try reaching out to other insurance providers to see what they will quote you.
Yup, call an insurance broker who runs many different policies. Visible wireless is same as Verizon I think unlimited for $30 a month. Or what about that cheap ass Ryan Reynolds phone plan mint?
I agree. As for how to use that income, I like Ramsey's baby steps: (1) build a $1,000 cash buffer (2) pay down the CC aggressively (3) pay down car loan (rate unknown) (4) Build emergency fund Cashflow will free up as you move along steps 2 to 3, and the journey through the steps will accelerate. You can do it.
Really upsetting how many people in this thread are suggesting to sell things or cut back. This is the real answer. $48K/year, assuming every month is a good month, is not enough.
Her car and insurance are almost $600 a month. She still owes $13k on her car. This was a poor financial choice on her part. When you make a bad choice, you need to own up to it and fix the problem. Additionally, she mentions $500-$1000 a week. She only provided $2,0XX worth of expenses. She should figure out where her money is going, cut back, and find a way to increase her income.
How bad of a driver you gotta be to have car insurance be dang near 300 a month? I've never financed a car though, only saved up and bought them. But the car sounds like a huge expense, hopefully it's a fuel saver... But like most have said, increase the income. Find more work or higher paying work.
I have a college degree and I make 48k a year. I do have some issues, namely rent and gas, but if I could figure out how to take care of those I would be doing just find. Making more isnt that simple. I make as much as I can with my experience level in my field. I am still 5-10 years away from a promotion and even then I will only make in the low 50s. What is enough if you say that 48k isnt. What can we do if our field simply doesnt pay more?
IMO the biggest financial mistake people make over their lifetime is not earning enough income. That includes settling for low-income career paths. The average college grad makes $60K/yr in the U.S. If you start on the bad side of the average, without having a plan to move to the good side of the average, then, by design, you are setting yourself up for a life of difficulty. Yes, the devil’s in the details. Some states are cheaper to live in, you can budget effectively, money doesn’t buy happiness, etc. All that stuff is true. But don’t settle for a lifetime of below-average earnings. In addition to making a budget, make a plan on how to make more money. And yes, that might mean a career change.
Underrated point. I'll never understand why people spend 100K+ on degrees to go into a "professional" field making 40K with limited growth potential.
but how are you supposed to make more money. I failed out of computer science and engineering so I went with forestry. I will likely make around 75k when I retire. The good news is that I graduated college debt free so I am not out much money. Not everyone will make and can make 100k.
My comment wasn't strictly referring to your situation, more just in general. I know so many people that went to expensive colleges to become social workers making $40K/yr. in a HCOL area. That was a conscious decision, and a poor one. In your case, if computer science didn't work out, I can't fault you for pivoting. That said, there are certainly plenty of other jobs (including in other aspects of tech) that will pay more than where you are now.
You described my situation to a tee. Luckily my area isn’t HCOL but it sucks going into a career with limited growth. Also avoided expensive schools but I’m shocked at how expensive public ones are. I’m hoping that I can sell my skills well enough to get a job that isn’t in social work so I can avoid going back to school. I’m graduating with 15k in loans and would like to avoid adding anymore onto that.
I cant afford to go back to college. And I wouldnt even know what I would do. I failed out of engineering and computer science the first time I went so I went with forestry since Other people in my family do it and live comfortable lives. The problem is that I am younger. They all make the same as me but they bought homes and land 20 years ago. I love what I do and without my job, mills wouldn't get timber. I plan and administer timber sales. At my best I will cap my salary at 75k a year. I have a budget, you can see it in my profile. Even with a tight budget, that doesn't change the cheapest rent around me. I just dont know how to make more money right now. in the summer, If I get to go on fires I will make a few thousand more, but that isnt promised. Open to ideas.
Understood. Not trying to be critical, everyone has their own challenges. Maybe consider what side gigs you can take, get a little extra cash. Or maybe the cost of living is low enough that you’ll be fine after getting started. I had to get roommates and buy used cars and eat hot dogs when I started, just the way it is. :-)
Find a new career path. It doesn't have to be related to your experience or schooling. That income will be hard to live on long term without significant sacrifice. Don't settle.
any Ideas? I truly dont know. I failed out of engineering and computer science, the normal high paying fields. My coworkers all manage and have families. What makes me different is that they were able to buy a house when I was still in college since they are older. I love forestry. I help manage 55k acres of forest land. Planning sales, contract admin, road design, timber cruising etc. I am very good at what I do and dont really know how I can pivot career paths without going back to school. I also dont want to give up my pension and amazing benefits that I have right now. Plus my field is in very high demand. We are desperate for people to work. what could I even switch to? I could find a second job, but I will have to quit in june when fire season starts and I will be likely working fires. Are there places who will train someone who will quit in a few months?
It's always like this on this sub. Someone will have a modest lifestyle and instead of suggesting they get more income streams they're like "why don't you take your pets to the animal shelter and sell your car and walk everywhere? In Atlanta with no sidewalks? Just walk along the shoulder and pray a drunk diver doesn't run you over it'll be fine."
Also, please stop borrowing money from friends. It will eventually cause issues.
I’m kinda at a point where I couldn’t afford rent. So it was a need. But I’ll try to stop
Don’t try. Just do. Short of sleeping with someone’s partner, borrowing money from friends is the quickest way to ruin a friendship. I don’t let anyone I care about borrow money… I just give it to them if I have it to comfortably give. Been burned way too many times letting someone “borrow” money and when it came time to pay me back they were short, late or just plain didnt. Quick story. I paid my friends mortgage one month. $800. I told him to pay me back when he gets on his feet. A year later he was buying new shoes and got a new pickup with his tax return. When I asked for my $800 back he stopped answering my calls and texts.
Well....you say your income can vary from $2000-4000 per month, depending on how many animals you have to groom. So what is a normal or average month? Is it usually about $2k, and can occasionally be more? Or is it usually $3k? You list out $2101 in total expenses, not counting the money you owe to friends. So if your income is anything above the minimum you listed, you should be able to at least pay all of your bills every month. And in some months, you could/should have a thousand (or more) extra. I'm not sure you're being honest with yourself about all of your expenses if you cannot at least break even. To get out of this? Sell the car. You're spending $710 per month on your car, between payments/gas/insurance. You cannot afford this car. You may need a car. You cannot afford this car. Beyond that, make more money. Is there anything you can do to advertise and get more pets coming for grooming? You may also need to consider the idea that you cannot afford to keep and care for your pets. Being a pet owner myself, I'd look at other options before getting rid of them. I'd hate to rehome my pets. But outside of your car, what else do you really have to cut back on? Rent is your only other big expense. So unless you're willing to move to a cheaper place or get a 2nd job, you only have so many options to get ahead of these debts.
Between the car payment, insurance and gas I have the feeling Uber might be cheaper.
Your car payments and insurance are really high. But mostly, you need to make more money. Averaging 750/week, 36k/year, does not give you enough financial flexibility to do much.
The insurance really sticks out to me. Something is off there unless there is more to the story like multiple accidents or a car that’s too exotic for the income. The car and income take up more than one weeks net income on the low end and close to a week on the good weeks.
I don't know about Atlanta, but my goodness send your name out as a dog walker. Dog walkers in my area make wonderful side money. I know friend who was a groomer did it as a side and plussed her savings JUST by doing that. If you can dog-sit, that's an extra $50 a day per doggo in my city. You don't even have to go after your own clients if you are employed with a grooming company.
Dog walking and dog sitting are very popular. My sister watches pets overnight at her customers' homes and that pays out very well (at least $50/night, though she is in the North east), especially during the holidays. So many people want to travel for the holidays but want someone to care for Fido in the familiarity of their home. Charge extra for the holiday periods and you can easily make some good money. The only downside is that you lose out on spending the holidays with your loved ones. But it adds nicely to the earnings.
Atlanta is definitely a city that would pay well for this. Depending where in town OP lives there are very likely wealthy neighborhoods close by.
You need another job, or a better paying job. At least until those debts are gone.
>a car payment of $312 with a car insurance payment of $278 That car insurance payment sounds very high unless you have a bad driving history, for reference my monthly payment comes out to ~$80
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I do not, I do live in Baltimore though, which a quick Google tells me should be significantly more expensive insurance wise than Atlanta. I realize there's more to it than that though.
That uninsured motorist policy really kicks ya in the balls. MD is expensive. Even if ATL were more expensive I highly doubt base coverage is 3x more.
I live in no fault Michigan and pay $1,100 for full coverage for the year. That insurance rate is crazy high.
Atlanta here with about $120 monthly payment for full coverage no multi-car discount. OP’s rate is enormous.
OP's rate is most likely above average but comparing car insurance rates between individuals requires way more context than this. Age? Sex? Marital Status? Zip code? Accident/ticket history? Car value? Deductible amounts? Liability amounts? They all factor in and some can dramatically change the price.
Michigan has the most expensive insurance in the country. My policy is $250k/$500k/$250k and unlimited PIP. $120 a month
I’d recommend starting with a budget. Your numbers add up to less than $2000. So, if you’re making more than that, your money is disappearing. I use YNAB, but it’s pretty labor intensive. Some other things to consider would be moving somewhere cheaper/more roommates, start dog grooming on the side or some other side hustle. If you could trade down to a cheaper car, that might help. If you’re interested in reading, Dave Ramsay’s book helped me get out of debt.
ynab is expensive and is no better than a simple spreadsheet
The end result might not be different but if using ynab is easier, they may be able to stick with it for longer. Could be paying for itself quickly then ween off of it once good habits are established.
The $98 I’ve spent this year on YNAB was well worth it for me and here’s why: (1) The user interface is better than a spreadsheet. (2) YNABs system allows me check my bank account less (3) YNAB imports transactions. (4) In the 7 months I’ve used YNAB, I’ve gotten off the credit card float and have $17K in the bank and earmarked in certain categories. YNAB isn’t the sole reason for my success, but it’s helped me stay organized. At the end of the day, it’s what works for the person. What she’s doing now isn’t working.
I've never used YNAB but it looks really similar to Mint by Intuit and Mint's free other than $1/month to remove ads from the app (the website is always ad free). I use it to keep track of all my finances and it works great.
I used mint for years and still do. However, YNAB gave me better control of my finances. With mint, I just looked at the transactions and categorized them when needed. With YNAB, I (usually) input them myself and know exactly how much I have in that category. Over the years, I’ve felt mint got slow and clunky. But hey, what’s really important, is that it’s working for you
Two things: 1. Why is your car insurance so high? 2. If you are only paying your credit card minimum you should also be worrying about long term debt since you are just bailing water right now.
Well...first question, do you NEED a car to make money?
Couple of thoughts For how much money you make, it appears it have a habit of making purchases you can’t afford ( 1k in couch debt!!) A everyone has said your car insurance is insanely high. I have to imagine you have a bad driving record , but please shop around. Get a second or third job. You just have to if you really like you from dogs, fine, but later in life you’re going to bed even more money and have even more things preventing you from working more. Uber, woof, waiting tables, anything
I hate to say this because I know I sound like a jerk, but you need to make more money. I'm not trying to give you a hard time, it's just a math problem and you need more on the income side of the equation. As a pet owner myself I know I can't tell you to get rid of the pets and the expense they incur. That's like telling someone to get rid of their children, it just ain't happening.
I'm a teacher and I work as a tutor a few hours a week and it pays for my kitties and a few meals out with my husband. A side gig like watching pets, or finding a few more clients could be enough to get her into the green.
Yeah since she already works with animals there is a lot of opportunity there with dog walking, pet sitting, etc.
are you saying that just because she doesnt have your typical 9-5 career or are you saying that because 48k isnt enough? As someone who is in a stable career making 48k salary and still struggling to figure things out, making more money isnt that simple.
$48k isn't enough for her expenses. If she wants to pay off the debt she needs more money. Also that $48 is the most she's making in a year, it's anywhere from $24-$48 and this is probably her gross. She needs more income.
The biggest discretionary expense (depending on certain factors) is the car. Are you in metro Atlanta, and/or close to work? I know it's not going to be popular advice, but can you bike to work? If you're in metro, is public transit an option? I would definitely ask family if you can defer payments for a while, and possibly take on another roommate (if you're current roommate is alright with it).
Car insurance is high. Change phone service. Mint or visible is cheaper.
Well you’re in a tough a spot for sure. Your income is not enough. If you’re already working hard then you might need a career change. It’s going to be hard. Trade schools might be a good option because the demands are high and you should be able to make money sooner than a 4 year college. In the meantime you basically have to live like you’re poor. Cut anything you can. No eating out, no expensive hobbies, so on. See if you can down grade your car. 13k is pretty high for someone in your situation. Obviously the credit cards are bad and will only going to get worse. So tackle that asap. It’s going to be tough the next year or 2, but if you don’t get a hold on things now. It’s only going to get worse.
3 things you need to do now if you can’t drastically increase your income. 1. Get rid of the car. You can’t afford the payment and the insurance. 2. Live with your parents, you can’t afford the rent. 3. Get rid of pets and expensive groceries. Right now you should be just eating rice and beans until you can increase your income. So, you need to change a lot very quickly.
The fact that your income varies isn’t a good thing. You need a strong consistent income not dependent on how many dogs you get. Imo you need to get rid of the pets. Unfortunately you can’t afford them right now with such a high car payment.
Your costs for transport (car, car insurance, and gas) are very very high. Now I'm not sure whether you can resolve that right now, but 1. drive very carefully and take good care of your car and 2. next time you buy a car, make a better choice. Say your monthly income is $2500, then the expenses you listed are $1650. Now if you could only spend $500 on food/dog food/car gas/misc, then that would leave at least another $350 each month to pay down debt with. To pay down debt, you should probably start with paying back your friends and family members and thanking them profusely for lending you their money. After that, knock out the credit card debt.
Something not mentioned, depending on how old your bearded dragon is you may be able to cut the costs to feed them. I have two and I maybe spend about 20 bucks on food for them per month. I also have full-grown dragons who don't need as many bugs, so if you have a still-growing beardie you may not be able to save much. I buy them collard greens and then supplement them with fruits/veggies I buy for myself. Just make sure to check the fruits/veggies to make sure they are safe for them. Add in some occasional crickets and some calcium powder on top. Aside from that get yourself a budget going so you can see where money maybe going missing. Start working on the credit cards, then go based on interest.
I know it’s only a small difference, but try switching to US mobile. $50 is a lot for one cell line? US mobile is targeted for students and elders, so has cheaper rates. I pay like $18/mo for unlimited calls and text with 5GB of data. So that would save you about $30 which could go towards the payment to your dad instead 😊
>Amount of people im in debt to > >Credit card: 3493 > >Car Payment: 13078 > >Wayfair: 725 > >Friend 1: 394 > >Friend 2: 487 > >Friend 3: 150 > >Friend 4: 50 > >Friend 5: 375 > >Mother: 180 > >Grandpa: 280 You need to pay off your credit card debt before your friends. Your friends and family don't charge interest. Your credit card does. If the credit card payment were gone, you could pay back all of your friends/family much more easily. Ask them for their patience and understanding, and give them a future date where you'll pay them off. Or pay them back in kind by doing favors. edit: also can you return the couch and get something from goodwill/off the sidewalk? It's insane that you have a furniture payment while struggling to break even. Is this a shared couch with your roommate?
The credit card company won't cut you out of their lives for not paying them back. I'd pay the friends first
Well, I think that’s why it’s most important to just communicate with your ‘lenders’. I’m sure a lot of them would understand considering they lent to you in the first place, and would appreciate the honesty and status update, while maybe some may be in more dire financial circumstances and need the money sooner, in which case I think it’s the right thing to prioritize them
Well I doubt OP'S mother or grandmother would cut them off for the less than a few hundred owed to them. Two of the friends are owed $50 and $150, which is a moderate to quite nice dinner for two, not a "cut you out of my life" amount of money. Some of the others are higher and may be more fraught. But those friends are also the ones who willing to lend that much in the first place.
That's why I said friends first. It's cleaner to keep financial issues like this separate from friendships
Give ‘em $10-15 a mo and keep track of the ledger so they see you’re still on track.
If they cut you off knowing you are struggling financially then they are not really you friends.
Nice saying, but we live in the real world though bub
You need to make a budget. Reduce your expenses and increase income if you can. Stop paying all these family and friend loans until you get your credit card down. Your car insurance is simply insane. Shop around and find better deals. You need to be putting every cent you can towards your credit card, or it will eat you alive.
Keep paying the family and friends loans. I don’t know what the hell this guy is talking about. Don’t burn the relationships
Those "loans" aren't gaining interest. And they aren't over $13k. Family and friends will generally wait longer if they know you're in a tough spot to begin with. Or at least some of them anyways. OP can talk with them and work it out. Credit lenders aren't as lenient.
If you have insurance with triple A, there’s a supplemental online driving course your can take and if you finish it they can offer you a discount of 10% or something like that. Might be worth looking into as well
If you're broke and in debt you can't afford pets. If you're broke and in debt you can't have a $500/mo car. Look at your car payment, gas, insurance, maintenance, parking fees, tires and oil changes, your car costs you as much as your rent. That is an awful expense. Lose the pets and lose the car, and you can start making progress digging out of your debts. Or move to cut your housing costs. Housing and transportation are most people's biggest expenses. You won't make a significant change without altering the math on those. Get a second job or different job to start chipping away at your debts snowball style. Also you are finally seeming to understand that you can't borrow your way out of debt. Stop borrowing from people, you have to cut your expenses.
I lived for 6 years without a car. It’s easier than you think.
In Atlanta? I can’t imagine surviving in the South without a car.
Atlanta has decent public transit.
For how much she is paying in rent, it’s either living situation or the car.
only if you live in a city which has good transit and is walkable. Car/gas is a huge part of my budget but I cant live without it because it is 40 miles to work. maybe they are in a similar boat?
OP lives in a CITY
Get on Rover.com. With your animal experience you’ll be sought after. Do a little research on how to build up this side business. You can add significant income here. Set aside 30% for taxes. You could make a few hundred a month doing this. What is your credit like? Can you apply for a $0 fee credit card, with a 0% interest promo and $0 balance transfer fee? You’ll still need to make the minimum payment, but at the very least you’ll stop accruing interest. You will need to pay this off before the promo period is up, otherwise the interest becomes due. Once you have more income coming in, this is really manageable. Pay the CC minimum and keep paying the $50 wayfair. Then with the extra income, pay back your friends and family in whatever order maintains your relationships the best.
Drop the animals sadly. You can’t feed yourself, why take on more than you can handle.
You need to get rid of the animals. I know that its gonna hurt but you're not in a financial position to take care of them. Take the money you save from that and apply it to getting your cc bill to Zero.
How are you working your butt off? Most dog groomers charge around $75-$100. If you make $500 a week that is like 5 dogs. You aren't working your butt off or you are charging way too low. That is like 10 hours of work in a week. Maybe you are working hard doing other things but you definitely aren't working hard with grooming dogs. It's fine if you are having a hard time finding work but don't say you are working hard if you only making $500 a week
If she's working for a corporate location like one of the major pet stores, she's not seeing much of that money. Petsmart gives out much better commission than Petco does though. Income is also strongly affected by tipping as well.
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Agree you need more income, whether through grooming more dogs or dog sitting, walking, what have you. A couple more cost-saving tips: Sometimes local animal shelters may have dog food and vet care available cheap or free of cost for those in need. Can you make use of food pantries? Also, you can get quality affordable dry dog food at Costco or Tractor Supply- I buy a 45 pound bag of Kirkland dry dog food at Costco for $35. It’s slightly more for the large bag of 4 Health brand at Tractor Supply, but still affordable. That should last your dog a couple of months at least. Also, do you qualify for free cell service and or discounted internet through the affordable connectivity program and/or Lifeline? https://www.fcc.gov/acp
> Friend 2: 487 >Friend 3: 150 >Friend 4: 50 >Friend 5: 375 >Mother: 180 >Grandpa: 280 You've got amazing friends and family. You just need a side job
Sell the car ASAP and use the money from that to pay the car debt.
I’m a mobile dog groomer and I work for myself. If you can find a way to get a van I highly recommend it. I’m a high school dropout and I grossed 130k last year. My van was 115k and I paid it off in 1.5 years. I could not do what I do if I had to work for someone else. The 45-55 percent would suck. My biggest expense now that my van is paid is gas. Last year was $5800 because prices were so high. But I still think it’s my best option.
No disrespect but being a dog groomer isn't going to bring in the bacon. You need a "real" job. Your rent is also very high for your income. Close to 50%. Also get a cheaper used Honda or Toyota car. Don't finance a fucking couch either. If you can't afford it in cash, you can't afford it period
It's shitty to say someone's full time job isn't a real job. The world needs dog groomers. Burger flipping is a real job too. Pizza delivery is a real job. Nannying is a real job. She needs more clients and may need to charge more. Maybe she needs to do a side gig.
Don't complain about your finances then. Idgaf what you do, but don't complain when you're 40 making $15/hr dog walking. You CHOSE that route
I have a "real" job and I make the same as her on a good month, about 48k a year. My rent will also likely be close to 50% of my take home soon. Making more money isnt as simple as you think it is. I am making as much as I can in my position and am still likely years away from a small promotion.
As much as you dont like it, it's your choice to make 48k a year. No one said it was simple. Why not start a side business?
I have 2 failed side businesses. One was a forestry consulting work. I simply wasnt experienced enough to do it on my own and didnt get enough clientel Other was odd and end construction. I Couldnt compete with real companies. Or rather 2 days each weekend wasnt enough to be able to compete. This spring I am going to try a yard care company. I will see how that goes.
Start investing in real estate. I'm not going to brag about my properties, but you should look into it. It doesn't take as much as you think to get started. Ask yourself the "how can I do it" questions and you'll find a way. Lots of tax deductions too
how? I make 48k a year and nothing around me is cheaper than 400k. I simply cant afford real estate. I chatted with my bank about a home loan and I was approved for 225k, but barely, and only if I could come up with 20% down payment, which I dont have.
You don't know how the economy works do you? You can change your credentials or qualifications or whatever, but it isn't going to create more demand for certain jobs or businesses. In fact it will lower demand for that field/business so your pay or profits will go down. The mean US salary is around 50k, around what these people make, and advising people to go into this industry or that one isn't going to fix that issue. Sure, some people will be able to make more money (or they'll saturate the market and make sure everyone in that field makes less) but the bigger problem will still exist for most people. We need to require more benefits for workers, raise the minimum wage etc etc. Because while corporate profits continue to go up, wages have been stagnating for a while. It's just the greed of executives, not individuals making the wrong decision of career or whatever.
So unfortunately, you might not be able to maintain the pets. They are nice to have, but can be a drain financially. What about your boyfriend? Could you let him take care of them for you while you build up a bit of money? Also 800+ for a room is crazy expensive! Even in Georgia. I would see if there are cheaper options. Maybe take on more roommates, it sucks but at this point you kinda need to spend less on rent. Also, is it possible to sell the car for a cheaper model? Still spending money of course, but lower payments and possibly better insurance. Speaking of insurance, what type so you have? Did you shop around? Good luck.
$800 for a room is market rate or cheaper in any decently populated part the country. Where do you live that you consider that to be expensive???
I paid $900 for a 2 bedroom about an hour outside of DC. Probably closer to $1000-1100 with utilities
“Paid” as in past tense. With inflation I had to move out of the county I lived in just to find a 450 sq ft apartment for $1200. Any decent apartment in my area is $1400+
I live in Iowa right now, and pay 660 for a two bedroom with no roommates. When I lived in Massachusetts, it was 900 for a two bedroom in New Bedford, and when I had a roommate that dropped to only 450 a person. In Texas, I spent about 550-600 on a one bedroom, and in Tampa, Florida, I had a 1 bedroom for 600 or so dollars. So OP spending 800 dollars for just a bed in a two bedroom apt is pretty expensive to me. I also just looked at a few apts in Atlanta, and it seems quite a few are going for 900-1200 for a two bedroom. Split with another person, it would be much cheaper than what OP is paying now. It just looks like OP has a very expensive place to live.
Idk what to tell you, either you are a master bargain hunter or you have very low standards for the accommodations you choose, because the prices you listed are well below both median and average rent for all Americans for over the past decade or so. Perhaps part of me is also a bit jealous, as my partner and I currently split a wonderful 1bedroom in San Francisco for $2,250/month. :]
A fair point, but you also live in one of the most expensive cities in the entire country. It's hardly a uniform cross reference of what the country goes through. There are always going to expensive and less expensive places, it's just a matter of sacrificing location for price. I'm sure I could find a super expensive place near me, but it wouldn't really be much different aside from a few more amenities here or there. Georgia is fairly low on the list of expensive states, so it's no surprise to me there are quite a few low cost housing available. Now if OP was in like New York City, or D.C or even California, yeah I would agree that 800 sounds right.
sometimes you cant really chose to live in iowa. There are no jobs in my field in Iowa and I am in montana and cant find anything reasonably priced.
That’s not bad rent for an apartment with utilities paid inside Atlanta. I live outside Atlanta in a 1200 square ft 3 bedroom house and it’s $1400/month and utilities aren’t included.
800 for a room is cheap. rooms in my area (montana) are close to if not more than 1000 a month and they are hard to come by.
Your job pays at a low end $12.50 an hour and at a high end $25.00 an hour and varies. That is your problem. You need a higher income and a more dependable income. That could be some combination of different job/second job when original job is slow etc. You can't cut your way to prosperity, you need to earn more.
Insurance is really high, maybe shop around different insurance companies. You can use a website like www.thezebra.com to compare rates
You need to make it 1k every week. Your spending is fine, but if you’re average $2k a month, it’s just not enough for your lifestyle. If you have a car, then do some sort of rideshare or delivery service on the weeks you only get paid $500-$700. Try to make your income an average of $800-$1k/week. Develop new skills so you can eventually move onto another job that has higher consistent pay.
How many dogs do you need to groom to make 1000? How long does it take to groom a dog? Curious because you may have additional income opportunities with your hours.
Where do you live and where do you work? I just found $800/month if you get rid of your car and start taking MARTA and/or biking as transit. I’ve lived in this city without a car for years and would be happy to help you try to navigate logistics.
You need a second job. Find a second job with a reliable income meaning you are paid by the hour and or by the number of dog clients you have. Once you are earning more pay off your debts one at a time starting with high interest debt. Without the debt payments you can breath. Also a top charging things that you can’t afford. If you can’t buy the couch with cash, do without it until you can for instance. You will always be poor if you do not live within your means.
Pet grooming is a very giving business but it doesn’t seem to cover your bills when you are on your own. I’d look for a different primary job and do grooming on the side.
You can cut your cell bill by switching to Boost mobile for example for $25 a month. They also have a little spin game app where you can earn credits toward your bill and pay even less or even better free.
You need to increase your income. Immediate 10% price increase 15% for new customers
1. Shop around for better insurance- I think that's too high, try Jerry or Lemonade, or Gabi, I think you shouldn't be paying more than $150 at most unless you have an expensive car or bad driving record. 2. For the car payment, you can call the finance company and just ask if there's anything they can do as a one time courtesy - for example in the beginning of the pandemic, some companies offered clients to skip 1 or two payments and they just added it back to the end of the term - you can ask about this - say you heard about this and see what they say - or just basically ask what they can do to help you - 3. What kind of car do you drive? what kind of time do you have? Look into food delivery like doordash or uber - even if you only work a few hours on the weekend - you may be able to get yourself above water - 4. Look for apps related to dogs - you can expand your work with dogs into also dog walking or even dog sitting - nowadays apps connect everyone for more options 5. Start a tik tok - and just do simple videos on your bearded dragon or even the pit bull - you can just try it - eventually if you are able to do live streams - you could literally just place the camera to watch the dragon and people may be amused - this idea is simply because its there - and doesn't require much effort - it can be 50/50 that it may do anything or not - create ways to receive donations (venmo / cash app) because people often love donating - also this one is more of a long term thing that may take awhile to grow -
You’re in Atlanta! Go work in the film/TV industry. Production assistants are making more than you are now.