Poll of the Day > Could you live off $780 a month?

(+) Yeah! (+)

No.
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mooreandrew58 posted...

I have a friend who lives off this a month but it does require him to have a room mate. he's disabled and unfortunately thats about all they'll give him. I forget what city but its in Washington state

I figured it would be more manageable with a roommate. Which makes sense... That's why I thought about it a little. But in my current state, I still couldn't...
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Lol hell naw
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Where I live now? No

If I moved down to Hardin county IL with some of my family? Yes

Where I am now? Not even close. That doesn't even cover half a mortgage payment.

Could I *anywhere*? I guess, but it'd be quite a stretch. The cheapest I've ever lived was when I was in university - rent was $450 a month plus ~$50 in utilities and food was another ~$300 a month, so I'm already past my budget even before accounting for things like transportation.

If I absolutely had to live on that income, I suppose I could just move in with my parents or siblings, but that seems like cheating to me...
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No, I have a mortgage and a child to rear. Besides, I gross that after about 35 hours.
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No, when I was looking for an apartment last year I was seeing very crappy places in the $1500/mo range, far worse than where I currently live now for much cheaper.
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If I cut down on my expenses (and didn't own a house) then probably. Hell, my mom was surviving just fine on $650 a month with HUD.
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Yeah, with a bit of effort.

One bedroom apartments where I live average 700 a month, studios are about 580-600. There are, however, tons of homes in my area that were converted into multi-unit buildings. The one I applied for recently costs 350 a month w/ utilities, gas, and water included plus another 15 a month to use the shared wifi for the house.

My monthly bills and expenses are roughly 300 monthly, that's student loans, car insurance, gas for my car, and phone bill. I guess that'd leave me with an extra 100 each month.

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live) and cost to rent a lot at the closest mobile home park is 275 each month if you own the unit and 600 monthly if you are renting the trailer (not including gas, electric, or water)

Another option is the home I own, but that's in a very rural area...Very fucking rural. I bought it from my grandpa because issues w/ the will yada yada yada. I hardly pay anything on that right now, mortgage was paid off years ago...Pretty much pay property taxes and insurance, but it's a tiny one and a half bedroom cabin in the middle of nowhere so it's super fucking cheap.

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live)

Wow these cost upwards of 100k where I live for a new one. No I am not kidding.
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Hell no. I live alone and single. Pretty much need that per week.
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EnvyFox posted...

Yeah that's gonna be a no from me, dawg...

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You can live fairly comfortably in most places in the US for around $300 a month, you can live on less, just you have to give stuff up.

$300 pays for:

$60-80$ a month for a 10x10 storage locker, with light/electric outlet (you can actually get a converter for the light switch if it doesn't have an outlet).

$20-30 for a fitness center (Has TVs to watch shows on, showers to stay clean, often free coffee/tea etc). YMCA's which are most places also have pools, and if you make under X a month you can only pay 1/2 (About $35) a month.

Around $50 a week for food (the remainder of your money).

That is enough to eat faily well, especially if you eat once a day (which is actually a new type of diet lol...eat whatever you want, as much as you want, but just once a day). Use $6-7 Buffet Lunches (chineese, pizza etc) and your under $50 a week without even touching cooking etc).

This requires no gov benefits, no begging for money/food, no food banks etc.

Anywhere that isn't a TINY town at this point can make this possible as well.

AS far as sleeping, you are entitled to use your storage locker for whatever you want during buisiness hours, although you do need to usually keep the door opened a certain amount. You can totally sleep inside during the day. You can play video games in there etc as long as there is power. Heck if there is wifi in the area (and some have free wifi), you can be on your computer. Satalite internet is also an option, but honestly , cell phones (Which you can get free from metro pcs, for signing up) can access the internet, watch shows, etc with unlimited data for $40 a month. You could play online text games/muds this way from anywhere.

So if you really wanted to live as cheap as possible to mud full time, you could pretty much do that for around $300 a month, or say $4000 a year.
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wolfy42 posted...

$60-80$ a month for a 10x10 storage locker, with light/electric outlet (you can actually get a converter for the light switch if it doesn't have an outlet).

It's illegal in many states to live in storage lockers.
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LOLOLOL @ living in a fucking storage locker

where do you people come up with dumb shit and try to make believe that it's acceptable in decent society?

I could see that as a decent solution if you're homeless
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Next level up requires previous money etc to set up, but most already have some items they can trade to get this.

Live in your car/truck (with at least your hieght as a back seat so you can be comfortable.

This costs more over all as you need:

To pay for gas.
To pay for registration.
To pay for insurance.

Even paying the smallest amount for insurance is going to be at least $30 a month, gas, even if you hardly ever move your car is going to be at least another $20. Registration is going be another $10 or so on average a month.

You probably still will want at least a 5x5 storage locker for your clothes etc. That still will cost $50 a month).

Unless your smaller storage locker has electronic hook ups, you will need to travel to libraries/laundromats/airports etc with electronic hook ups to play video games etc.

Total cost would probably average about $100 more a month or $400 total.

Next stup up from that is renting a room. You can actually get them really cheap in most areas if you look around ($300 or so), but utilities is usually not included and $50 more. That gives you the ability to sleep whenever you want (you can in a car as well), your own shower (no need to spend the money on a fitness club) and a way to cook easily for yourself etc. It's about $200 more at $500 minimum a month (but more likely $600.

Anything above that depends a ton on the area as the rental cost on a 1 bedroom varies, and efficiency apartments are available even in places like the bay area for only $600 a month (you need to already live in the state and qualify as low income).

Average for renting a 1 bedroom if you don't include the highest areas in the US is about $600-700 though, with a total minimum cost at that point around $900-1000.

So yeah, basically you can live many places in the US on that amount, or even much less.
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Revelation34 posted...

wolfy42 posted...

$60-80$ a month for a 10x10 storage locker, with light/electric outlet (you can actually get a converter for the light switch if it doesn't have an outlet).

It's illegal in many states to live in storage lockers.

The rules are simple and easy to follow, if you don't try to break them, you are not doing anything illegal. If you try and stay over night etc, that is illegal, if you just take a "nap" during the day? Nothing wrong with that.

I lived on rooftops when I was 16 and used a storage locker that way. I didn't sleep in it much since I was in CA and I prefered sleeping on rooftops, but I could have. I did have electricity in my locker, all my clothes, and I kept extra library books there etc.

I'm not saying everyone can/should do it, but it's certainly possible.
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PMarth2002 posted...

I could see that as a decent solution if you're homeless

It's best in combo with a nice car with enough room to sleep in. Gives you space to store stuff etc, the ability (if it has electricity) to play video games etc if you want (or watch movies on DVD etc...say from the library).....while not sleeping there or spending too much time...so you don't get in trouble.

As far as cars most cities have many places where you can park them long term. I believe walmarts for instance are fine with people parking as long as they want etc. You can buy cars with big back seats etc (6 feet +) for as little as $1000 at used car lots. Then don't need to have great milage or be in great shape, just need to actually drive.

Most people have a car they can trade in worth enough to get something like that (or other things in their home).

Not a luxurious life, but, it's a very cheap one and very low stress.
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wolfy42 posted...

PMarth2002 posted...

I could see that as a decent solution if you're homeless

It's best in combo with a nice car with enough room to sleep in. Gives you space to store stuff etc, the ability (if it has electricity) to play video games etc if you want (or watch movies on DVD etc...say from the library).....while not sleeping there or spending too much time...so you don't get in trouble.

As far as cars most cities have many places where you can park them long term. I believe walmarts for instance are fine with people parking as long as they want etc. You can buy cars with big back seats etc (6 feet +) for as little as $1000 at used car lots. Then don't need to have great milage or be in great shape, just need to actually drive.

Most people have a car they can trade in worth enough to get something like that (or other things in their home).

Not a luxurious life, but, it's a very cheap one and very low stress.

You can stay in a town with multiple libraries. For parking, you're right about Wal-Mart. Mine has a huge parking lot. And it's 24 hours. All you would have to do is switch sides every few days...
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wolfy42 posted...

Revelation34 posted...

wolfy42 posted...

$60-80$ a month for a 10x10 storage locker, with light/electric outlet (you can actually get a converter for the light switch if it doesn't have an outlet).

It's illegal in many states to live in storage lockers.

The rules are simple and easy to follow, if you don't try to break them, you are not doing anything illegal. If you try and stay over night etc, that is illegal, if you just take a "nap" during the day? Nothing wrong with that.

I lived on rooftops when I was 16 and used a storage locker that way. I didn't sleep in it much since I was in CA and I prefered sleeping on rooftops, but I could have. I did have electricity in my locker, all my clothes, and I kept extra library books there etc.

I'm not saying everyone can/should do it, but it's certainly possible.

how did you sleep or stay on rooftops?
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Wasn't hard. This was in Fremont Ca over 30 years ago. Had a sleeping bag and would climb on top of roofs. Movie theaters were the best because they had large vents and the area underneath them would not be rained on (not that it rained that much). It's not ever really that cold there, but honestly I don't get cold easily anyway.

Tons of apartment complexes in the area, would sleep on those rooftops, or even the car port roofs sometimes. Since I didn't ever store my stuff there, I could easily move from place to place so I wasn't ever sleeping anywhere a long time, so people could notice.

Back then they had nintendo systems in the malls as well (bunch of kiosks) so you could just go play them during the day if you wanted. Library was great for getting books. There was dunkin donuts you could go to and stay all night if you wanted to read late or something as well.

I was always a VERY good climber though, used to mountain climb when I got a bit older but even as a kid I did parkour before it was a thing (at least I never knew about it back then). I used to climb up to rooftops in San Francisco and jump from one to another, so climbing up there to sleep wasn't a big stretch.
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If I could convert this to money that I can use where I live, its more than enough. I live in Brazil and 780 bucks is more or less three times the minimum wage here.
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wolfy42 posted...

Wasn't hard. This was in Fremont Ca over 30 years ago. Had a sleeping bag and would climb on top of roofs. Movie theaters were the best because they had large vents and the area underneath them would not be rained on (not that it rained that much). It's not ever really that cold there, but honestly I don't get cold easily anyway.

Tons of apartment complexes in the area, would sleep on those rooftops, or even the car port roofs sometimes. Since I didn't ever store my stuff there, I could easily move from place to place so I wasn't ever sleeping anywhere a long time, so people could notice.

Back then they had nintendo systems in the malls as well (bunch of kiosks) so you could just go play them during the day if you wanted. Library was great for getting books. There was dunkin donuts you could go to and stay all night if you wanted to read late or something as well.

I was always a VERY good climber though, used to mountain climb when I got a bit older but even as a kid I did parkour before it was a thing (at least I never knew about it back then). I used to climb up to rooftops in San Francisco and jump from one to another, so climbing up there to sleep wasn't a big stretch.

so you were homeless at this time? why though?
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I COULD if I needed to but obviously it would be extremely difficult.

Smallville posted...

wolfy42 posted...

Wasn't hard. This was in Fremont Ca over 30 years ago. Had a sleeping bag and would climb on top of roofs. Movie theaters were the best because they had large vents and the area underneath them would not be rained on (not that it rained that much). It's not ever really that cold there, but honestly I don't get cold easily anyway.

Tons of apartment complexes in the area, would sleep on those rooftops, or even the car port roofs sometimes. Since I didn't ever store my stuff there, I could easily move from place to place so I wasn't ever sleeping anywhere a long time, so people could notice.

Back then they had nintendo systems in the malls as well (bunch of kiosks) so you could just go play them during the day if you wanted. Library was great for getting books. There was dunkin donuts you could go to and stay all night if you wanted to read late or something as well.

I was always a VERY good climber though, used to mountain climb when I got a bit older but even as a kid I did parkour before it was a thing (at least I never knew about it back then). I used to climb up to rooftops in San Francisco and jump from one to another, so climbing up there to sleep wasn't a big stretch.

so you were homeless at this time? why though?

I graduated on my 16th birthday and my mom wanted to rent the room I was in (that she got from section 8) to someone so she kicked me out. Honestly looking back I could have lived with people from the private school I had just graduated from (worked there as a janitor so I could graduate early), but I never liked asking for things, so I just figured it out on my own.
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Judgmenl posted...

No, when I was looking for an apartment last year I was seeing very crappy places in the $1500/mo range, far worse than where I currently live now for much cheaper.

Judgmenl posted...

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live)

Wow these cost upwards of 100k where I live for a new one. No I am not kidding.

Where the heck do you live? San Francisco?
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Person106 posted...

Judgmenl posted...

No, when I was looking for an apartment last year I was seeing very crappy places in the $1500/mo range, far worse than where I currently live now for much cheaper.

Judgmenl posted...

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live)

Wow these cost upwards of 100k where I live for a new one. No I am not kidding.

Where the heck do you live? San Francisco?

In the bay area a mobile home that was 20k 20 years ago, is now 200k actually. It's pretty horrid to be honest. You also can't rent squat for under 1k and even a room is usually 700-800.

The solution is obviously not to live in the bay area if your in that situation though.
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Should be mentioned that you can actually but decent sized homes in some places for 15-20k (Cleaveland for instance).

Average cost of a 2 bedroom home in that area is $50k, but you can get ones that need repair or are forclosed on (and alot are forclosed on) , for only $15-20k.

I was seriously considering doing that myself.
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wolfy42 posted...

Person106 posted...

Judgmenl posted...

No, when I was looking for an apartment last year I was seeing very crappy places in the $1500/mo range, far worse than where I currently live now for much cheaper.

Judgmenl posted...

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live)

Wow these cost upwards of 100k where I live for a new one. No I am not kidding.

Where the heck do you live? San Francisco?

In the bay area a mobile home that was 20k 20 years ago, is now 200k actually. It's pretty horrid to be honest. You also can't rent squat for under 1k and even a room is usually 700-800.

The solution is obviously not to live in the bay area if your in that situation though.

renting isn't that expensive where I live, but I seem to recall trailers costing around 60-80k where I live. some people where I live actually buy large sheds and do some work on them to make them into houses. like insulation and plumbing at the very least. depending on the size of the shed that can run you 6-8 thousand I believe before doing the work to them to make them into homes
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Person106 posted...

Judgmenl posted...

No, when I was looking for an apartment last year I was seeing very crappy places in the $1500/mo range, far worse than where I currently live now for much cheaper.

Judgmenl posted...

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live)

Wow these cost upwards of 100k where I live for a new one. No I am not kidding.

Where the heck do you live? San Francisco?

I live in Massachusetts:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/MA/pmf,pf_pt/mobile_type/26_rid/globalrelevanceex_sort/42.95793,-70.501328,42.098732,-71.977615_rect/9_zm/

It's... not a popular market, and oddly enough a lot of lower income people live in them. There's even a negative stereotype but It's cheaper than a condo (double that price ~$200k) or a house ($400k+) unless you want to live 2 hours from civilization.

There is a huge housing bubble in MA right now. Lots of Chinese companies buying up units and price speculating with them.
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Judgmenl posted...

Person106 posted...

Judgmenl posted...

No, when I was looking for an apartment last year I was seeing very crappy places in the $1500/mo range, far worse than where I currently live now for much cheaper.

Judgmenl posted...

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live)

Wow these cost upwards of 100k where I live for a new one. No I am not kidding.

Where the heck do you live? San Francisco?

I live in Massachusetts:
https://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/MA/pmf,pf_pt/mobile_type/26_rid/globalrelevanceex_sort/42.95793,-70.501328,42.098732,-71.977615_rect/9_zm/

It's... not a popular market, and oddly enough a lot of lower income people live in them. There's even a negative stereotype but It's cheaper than a condo (double that price ~$200k) or a house ($400k+) unless you want to live 2 hours from civilization.

There is a huge housing bubble in MA right now. Lots of Chinese companies buying up units and price speculating with them.

jesus when I worked construction I worked on 300-400k dollar houses and they where considered at the very least upper middle class, despite being in a neighborhood for rich retired people (some houses where in the million dollar range)
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Lots of Chinese companies buying up units and price speculating with them.

this is the main problem in cali too
you have upwards of 30-60k homeless in each state and hundreds of thousands of empty housing/apartments

EclairReturns posted...

The minimum rent for a studio apartment here is about eight-hundred, so I'm going to go with a solid no, here.

why can't you live in your car?

CharlesBronson posted...

EclairReturns posted...

The minimum rent for a studio apartment here is about eight-hundred, so I'm going to go with a solid no, here.

why can't you live in your car?

I have given this as an option as well, but, this is way easier to do in your 20's then in your 40's+, and alot of people in that age range are finding themselves needing to do something like that.

I was thinking of living in my car while I drive around the US and find somewhere I really want to live. I have not totally disregarded that idea either, but, I will do trips first before making such a big decision (to test it out), and will rent until I am sure.

I am just....not that adventurous anymore, I like having somewhere I can relax, and I don't even go out that much, so living in my car seems like alot of work.

Renting a room, especially if your not stuck in any one location, is probably the best option. I had roomates and I found rooms for all of them, with tons of rooms, even in this area ranging from $300-$400 a month.

There are certainly cheaper areas to live, though I'm not sure if renting rooms there will get much lower then $300.

Honestly though even at the fed min wage, it's like 30 hours a month to pay for a room, or like 1 day a week pretty much. I would say it's worth working a day a week to have somewhere with a roof/electricity/bathroom etc to live, even if you had to work at mc donalds or something like that.

In this area, you can get by working 2 days a week pretty easy, rent a room and have plenty of money for food, with a bit left over for travel expenses or fun stuff (if your getting min wage, just work somewhere you can walk to).

Renting your own apartment doubles the number of days to 3-4 a week, even here...if your making minimum wage at least. Also once you are working that many hours you often have higher food costs etc, which may make you need to work 5 days, and that is saying they are 8 hour days etc. A part time 30 hour a week job...will barely let you squeek by with your own place, but you'd be way better off renting a room at that point.
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If the money was free and just came in automatically, yeah if I moved to a small town or country with a weaker economy then sure.

Judgmenl posted...

Bacon_Pancakes posted...

I could also buy a trailer (these go for 5k-10k where I live)

Wow these cost upwards of 100k where I live for a new one. No I am not kidding.

That's ridiculous. I should add that the ones in that price range we're usually used/lived-in trailers in good condition. One I almost bought was built in the 1970s with completely redone insulation/windows and new appliances for like 7k but it sold before I got a chance to even see it in person..

CharlesBronson posted...

EclairReturns posted...

The minimum rent for a studio apartment here is about eight-hundred, so I'm going to go with a solid no, here.

why can't you live in your car?

Some people can't live in their car. Maybe they don't have one. Or maybe it would be comfortable. And I'm not saying you have to be comfortable. But if it's not big enough to sleep comfortably, that's not good.
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That doesn't even cover my mortgage...
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My friend only gets that amount from social security and cannot work. Hes on his own and scrapes by with around $150 in free money after paying his rent, cell and electric bill. Struggle is real yo. And he has a cheap car with no insurance.
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your friend lives in an apartment by himself or something?
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I could and have.
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Smallville posted...

your friend lives in an apartment by himself or something?

Nah he lives in a trailer. I live in south ms. And its cheap to live down here in parts.
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OreonX1 posted...

Smallville posted...

your friend lives in an apartment by himself or something?

Nah he lives in a trailer. I live in south ms. And its cheap to live down here in parts.

if he lives all by himself that could still be expensive for that much
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Smallville posted...

OreonX1 posted...

Smallville posted...

your friend lives in an apartment by himself or something?

Nah he lives in a trailer. I live in south ms. And its cheap to live down here in parts.

if he lives all by himself that could still be expensive for that much

Oh yeah he definitely doesnt have much left. He basically has $150 to last 29 days... kinda sucks to be honest.
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It's never great, but it's much worse as you get older.

I lived on roofs when I was 16, and it was fine, almost good. May have been the most free with least responsibilities in my life to be honest.

Doing it now though? Well, first I would need a car etc, but I have the money for that, so I think I could have a comfortable place to sleep at least. I am just used to being comfortable though, I could probably do it, but it would be depressing.

Certainly many things I could do at 16 I can't do now though, and I had a ton more energy, so things that seem like work now, I didn't even notice.

Not sure what is going to happen as more and more people stop working and realize they have no money saved and living of Social Security is not really a viable option in most areas (and will be in less and less as demand goes up).
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Maybe.
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No. I can't think of any apartments in my area that would accept that as rent.

I'd have to make some concessions, like living out of my car. Also calling a drainage ditch my car.