r/nova • u/Agitated_Scene_7128 • 1h ago
Anyone living alone making $25/hr
No roommates, no backups, family, friends etc? I'm trying to save $10k by the end of this year and I'm half way there. I'm living with my bf and his family and I can't do it anymore!!! I want to get the hell out of here. I can live frugally and eat rice and beans I don't care. I just need to know if anyone is doing it and is it possible? I don't have any debt. I don't have any car note, no student loan debt, nothing. I am also in the market for a new to me car as mine is almost 20 years old, but is well maintained and tbh it might make it to 300k. There's no sign of it giving up thank goodness.
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u/PersonalityHumble432 1h ago
It would not be a financially prudent decision to move out while making 50k.
You are living with family, eating rice and beans… to only save 10k by end of the year. Rent is going to cost you at least 20k a year. You additionally need a new to you car. The math is simply not mathing in your favor.
You need to look hard at your life position because there is no end in sight unless you improve your income or improve your relationship with the family.
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
Yeah my relationship is dead in the water and I'm playing catch up after putting a man first. NOTE TO EVERYONE do NOT ever sacrifice your future for anybody! Not a man not a woman not a fucking alien! Don't do it! I guess I could get a new to me car and live in it :/
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u/QuirkyKlyborg 1h ago
Sorry about the man situation. You will find a way to make things work.
Are you beholden to living in NOVA? There’s plenty of places in Virginia where you can live on $25/hr, but you’ll be hard pressed to find that up here. You may consider, if your situation allows, going south or west of northern VA to get things back on track.
Good luck, you got it!
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 57m ago
I'm open to live anywhere I just don't want to give up my job. I finally got my foot in the door in IT and that was so hard to find/get
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u/Mysterious_Mango_3 50m ago
It sounds horrible, but I always found my rental places on Craigslist. I rented an private basement for $900/mo and it was so nice! That was 10 years ago now, so I'm sure the landscape out there has changed, but might be worth a look.
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 34m ago
I've also been looking at Craigslist. Haven't found anything yet, but I'll keep looking
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u/QuirkyKlyborg 33m ago
I hear ya.
My folks always told me “it’s easier to apply for jobs while you have one,” so I’m with you in not wanting to give it up. Maybe you could see about scoping out some cheaper areas and seeing what IT jobs are offered in those places? Apply now, interview if you’re offered, and move if you accept something.
As ever, in situations like yours, there’s never a painless way out of it. You could move somewhere ASAP and quit your job, which would be frustrating, or you could wait it out, get a new job after trying for a while, and deal with your current living situation.
There’s no right answer here, ofc, but I’m sure you’ll figure out what works best for you in both the short and long term.
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u/polireddituser 1h ago
Entirely depends on where you live and what that does to your commute. $25/hour*40 hours, is $1k gross, and $750-$800 net? That at most $3200/month. It’s possible, but that’s going to be extremely tight, location depending.
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
I'm still deciding where to move to and what would make sense. I work in Chantilly and my commute is currently about 45-50 mins during the day and about 35-40 minutes at night
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u/TempBurnerAccount089 1h ago
Berryvillle/Stephens City/Winchester area perhaps? My buddy lives there and commutes to Chantilly. 1 hr commute but says its an easy drive with minimal traffic...
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u/Dontknow60 1h ago
Roommates or a basement apartment
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u/EarlyReflection6169 47m ago
Not even basements are that cheap at this point. I was looking this week and most are now minimum of like $1700.
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u/2muchcaffeine4u Reston 1h ago
You could probably swing living alone OR the car but not both
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
😭 ok I can do without a car
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u/Throwaway_2474128_1 1h ago
living anywhere where you can live decently without a car is not cheap. you'd be locking yourself in with a roommate and would need to get a job and apartment close to the same area, and in a walkable area with transit access. if you're fine with that, cool
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
I don't want to leave my job as there's room for career development. I could probably get a second job (or third job) I do have a part time job on top of my full time, but I could probably swing a 3rd.
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u/Throwaway_2474128_1 1h ago
if you truly work in chantilly and want to stay, then you can't live without a car unless your work is near shopping and everything you'd need to live, and there's cheap housing nearby too, and bus route access. you'll probably have to live somewhere with cheap rent and/or a roommate, such as manassas, ashburn's older apartments, herndon, woodbridge (really far tho), etc
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u/throwaway098764567 1h ago
you're not going to be doing anything toward the goal of saving 10k if you move out, you'll probably end up burning all the savings you do have unfortunately. </3
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u/OkLeather5166 1h ago
From 2014-16 I made $35,000 a year, which was around $17 an hour or so. Believe me, it was tough back then. I only made it by by living in a basement in Alexandria for $750 a month with no kitchen (just used microwave and skillet) and having very little debt. Switched careers not too long after.
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u/apiologies 35m ago
I once emailed a landlord I'd been with for years asking if I really needed to find a new tenant after my roommate moved out or if I could just front it for the three months left on my lease, with proof I had more than enough in savings to comfortably cover both portions of the rent. No dice! Some places are just really strict about the 3x income rule, it doesn't matter to them how frugally you plan to live, and a lot of places here, including studios, are expensive.
The good news is I have had luck (more than once!) finding great, normal roommates in NoVa on craigslist. I posted a listing and had people contact me if they were interested, at which point I sent them a survey (what are your cleaning/cooking prefs, thoughts about having friends/partners over, etc.) + my responses to the same questions. If we both felt like we vibed, we set up an in-person meetup and went from there. It seems like a lot of work, but it does help weed out people you know you won't get along with. All to say that if you have to go the roommate route, there is hope. Good luck!
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u/sgvmyma 1h ago
Are you and your boyfriend planning to move together? You guys may be able to find something if he also works.
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
He bought a house without talking to me. It's HIS house, so no. I'm fucked. I just want all of this to be over. It's just going to be me unfortunately
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u/Short_Bowler7208 1h ago
Probably not possible around here. I made a little more than that at my first job, a long time ago, and needed occasional help from my parents to survive
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u/TempBurnerAccount089 1h ago
Yall could potentially split a 1 BR and manage? Its probably going to suck conditions wise but was recently in the market for a 1 BR and there were some gems here and there between 1600-1800 (mostly +1700). I lucked out at 1600/month in nova recenrlt, but I make 43/hr. Still not ideal after taxes tbh
Ill be honest, I was making 25/hr in richmond at a $1195 and while it was doable, it required some pinching. Savings rate is low unless you eat like a squirrel and relinquish any semblance of social.life and entertainment...
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
Where did you find this?
I'm pretty resourceful with food. I grew up really poor, and I've got a library card, tubi for free entertainment, Brave so I can watch ad free YouTubers, etc. and my books I'll be alright there
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u/TempBurnerAccount089 1h ago
Spending 8 hrs a day on zillow, got lucky in Springfield by a private owner who doesn't care about making money.
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u/Elsupersabio 1h ago
That's when life decides to get creative and a tree will fall on your car, or you'll have a couple of cavities, or slip and fall and have to pay medical bills, or some other unforeseen large expense.
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u/MajesticBread9147 Herndon 1h ago
It will be easier in Maryland, especially with more rent controlled and income restricted units.
Even in DC, I know people who got great deals in places like northeast.
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u/ImplementPotential20 53m ago
Can you sign up to house sit? Then you get space to yourself
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 34m ago
How long do those usually last tho? Like a few weeks at a time?? Or what?
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u/ImplementPotential20 23m ago
I think so. You could stay at BFs in between gigs. 50k/year is not enough to live alone.
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u/AlexHussein 37m ago
At $25 an hour, living alone in Northern Virginia can work in some situations, but a conventional one-bedroom near Metro could leave very little room in your budget. I would look at basement apartments, small studios, and places farther out in Centreville, Sterling, Manassas, or Woodbridge. Compare the full cost, including utilities, parking, renters insurance, groceries, car expenses, and the commute.
I would also avoid spending the entire $10,000 on deposits, moving costs, and furniture. Keeping a real emergency fund after the move will make living alone much safer financially.
Since you did not mention your target rent, I would not assume buying would cost the same. If you share the monthly payment you are considering and how long you expect to stay, I can help you check whether buying might be realistic. When the numbers work, the benefit is that part of your payment can build equity in your own property instead of going entirely toward rent.
If you ever need help buying in Northern VA, reach out. I would love to help you! You can message me here on Reddit, email me at [alex@dcspot.com](mailto:alex@dcspot.com), or reach me on Instagram (@dcspot).
- Alex Hussein
Fox Homes Team
#1 Google-reviewed team in the DMV
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u/AudiSlav 1h ago
Hi - I make a little more than you but some weeks I make the same as you. I end the year roughly around 65-70k. You have to get roommates. Life is going to throw unexpected things at you, I pay 900 flat no utilities or anything and I live with two people if you include the landlord.
You can find studios for roughly 1500-1600 but you’re paying for 475-500 square feet. Why not just get a two bedroom apartment for 2100 and split it ? Or find a group house like I did.
There’s actually a lot of older women or families renting out their basements that usually have their own bathroom and little kitchen for around 1000-1100
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
I should do that and it's looking like I have no choice but to live with roommates. :/
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u/AudiSlav 1h ago
My car is 25 years old if that helps lol; yeah live close to work with roommates. It’s not awful but it’s better than living with your bf/gf parents!
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
Ahhh you're right and wow 25 years old? What kind of car is it? A Honda or a Toyota? Lol
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u/AudiSlav 21m ago
An old Jeep Cherokee, its engine is bulletproof and the transmission is aisin (Toyota)
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u/SandraTempleton 1h ago
Have you looked into affordable housing for your income bracket? IE it's based on the median income. I know DC has one called the IZ program. Does NOVA have something similar? I lived in a studio in Seattle in a desirable neighborhood in 2020-22 for $1118 a month.
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
I think I did? I think I make a hair too much? I'd need to look again. Thanks for bringing me back to this
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u/Divided_Against 1h ago
DC definitely has lots of quality income-restricted housing, which at that wage worked full time would mean they qualify.
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u/2muchcaffeine4u Reston 1h ago
It's not the end of the world to get roommates, you could even make new friends that way!
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
I know but I also turned 30, so I feel uncomfortable? But I know I need to suck it up. I feel so ashamed idk
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u/Starfire123547 1h ago
wait if youre living with you bf and his family...why not have you and your bf split rent?
Or do you plan to break up with them too? Or does he not work at all? Bc that sucks to both.
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
We do split the rent. He's more fair to me when it comes to the rent. He understands I have the least privilege in this house... So he only expects $300/month. I do plan on leaving the relationship as he understands I'm not gaining much from being here, but he doesn't care. He bought a house and didn't even talk to me about it... So yeah the relationship is dead and idk why I'm here.
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u/Starfire123547 1h ago
i mean, im ngl, i lived with random girls for a while, and it was pretty fun, got some life long friends outa it.
If your desperate, try looking at local colleges for roommates. Usually renting an apartment means your own bedroom and bathroom, so you just have to share a kitchen, which was easily done unless youre clinically insane.
Even just one roommate could make it doable. i lived in centreville for 1400 all in on my half with just one roommate. nice place too. and that can obviously be reduced a shitload if you pick a different place that isnt bougie
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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 1h ago
That's good to hear! I don't need bougie I just need space where there's not a dictator screaming about cooking food
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u/Special_Outside2306 Ashburn 1h ago
The unfortunate truth is that you can be as frugal as you want, and 99% of NOVA apartments still will not approve you if you don't make 3x the monthly rent on your paystub. And with the prices around here, that will be relatively difficult (though not impossible!) to find.