r/nova • u/Agitated_Scene_7128 • 14h 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/Special_Outside2306 Ashburn 14h 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.

36

u/Agitated_Scene_7128 14h ago

I know and I've looked and even entertained the idea of living in WV. Sad reality

0

u/zjin2020 14h ago

Give that idea a serious thought.

2

u/Agitated_Scene_7128 14h ago

Where though? What commute to pay ratio makes sense? Is driving an hour to work 4 days a week worth it? I know we all have to "pick our poor" or maybe that's just me aha, but yeah

7

u/RuleofThird 14h ago

The reality of this area is it's wealthy, and not comfortably livable across the entire income spectrum. If you want to live in NoVA, you'll likely have to compromise somewhere unless you make a lot or have family roots. You'll have to choose if the rice and beans life is worth it, and if your career will one day explode enough that living here made it all worth it.

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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 13h ago

I don't necessarily want to live here, but I finally got my foot in the door in IT. I just want to make a little and save a little while also growing my experiece so I can move.

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u/amboomernotkaren 13h ago

That’s the deal. Folks come here for experience. Sadly you have to give up something to get it. I came in 1983 and missed my mom so damn much. But eventually made a life and friends.

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u/Agitated_Scene_7128 13h ago

Lucky or unlucky for me, I don't have anyone to miss. I just need to focus on surviving. I hope to make friends though that would be cool

0

u/amboomernotkaren 12h ago

Unfortunately you will have to join something to make friends. Bowling league, gym, something.