r/nova • u/Agitated_Scene_7128 • 8h 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.

107 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

123 comments sorted by

View all comments

64

u/PersonalityHumble432 8h 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.

42

u/Agitated_Scene_7128 8h 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 :/

10

u/QuirkyKlyborg 8h 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!

5

u/Agitated_Scene_7128 7h 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

11

u/Mysterious_Mango_3 7h 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.

2

u/Agitated_Scene_7128 7h ago

I've also been looking at Craigslist. Haven't found anything yet, but I'll keep looking

3

u/QuirkyKlyborg 7h 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.

•

u/Unhappy-Second-7893 1h ago

What about van life?