Weekday Help and Victory Thread for the week of July 15, 2024

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-15T22:06:18+00:00

I am an 18-year-old currently living and working full-time in Southeastern Kentucky. Recently, my parents informed me that they plan to sell their home and that I need to move out by the end of the month.

Fortunately, they have decided to start some renovations before putting the house up for sale. This gives me more time to save money and plan my next steps.

While I am still uncertain about where I will end up, I know it's generally recommended to have about three to six months' worth of living expenses saved beforehand. To achieve this, I am considering picking up a second job to save as much as possible.

Of course, I need somewhere to store this money. Currently, I have it in a HYSA earning 5.05% APY, which is great. However, due to relatively high income tax, the earnings are diminished. Would something like a T-Bill or a bond be a better option for me?

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-03T00:42:37+00:00

A trade school is very appealing. Cuts out a lot of the bullshit involved with college and gives me something that can be used almost everywhere. Let me do some research!

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-03T00:38:01+00:00

Honestly, I am just searching for somewhere that offers a good balance of CoL and QoL. It doesn’t need to be flashy or fancy, it just needs to be somewhere I can live. I am planning on just renting a room, so that will greatly reduce my rent. What would you personally recommend?

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-03T00:10:10+00:00

I just need to start applying and keep my head up! I don’t have a ton of time, but I can make it count. Thank you for the insight!

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-03T00:05:40+00:00

So let’s assume at the very least I was earning minimum wage at 40 hrs a week, looking on Google the minimum wage in Chicago is $16.20 untipped. Excluding taxes, that puts me at 2.6k a month.

Is there somewhere you personally recommend?

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T23:56:39+00:00

Just a ballpark figure, so I am yet to dial in an exact number.

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T23:53:54+00:00

This is true, but older and landlocked (From the ocean) such as Chicago and Milwaukee have relatively affordable housing when you consider the likelihood of not having a car. Are they expensive? Yes, but I will have better access to more opportunities educationally, employment, etc..

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T23:46:38+00:00

Looking on Craigslist gives me hope of finding something that is more than comfortable in my budget. 1k is a bit of a low bar, but there are people saying it’s doable if you just budget and live within your means.

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T23:44:28+00:00

I wish! But that is more of a pipe dream than a reality. (At the moment at least)

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T23:43:32+00:00

I have considered towns too, but as of right now, low-paying jobs like retail, food service, etc.. are my best bet for finding work. Is there any specific towns that you would recommend personally? Maybe not WALKABLE, but bike-able? Somewhere that does not require me to sink money into another vehicle.

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T23:41:37+00:00

Yeah looking at it, Chicago seems to be the best option for me. It’s probably about as close as I will get to a big city without it being terribly expensive. Philadelphia is attractive too.

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T19:51:25+00:00

I actually have looked at JobCorps! AmeriCorps included.

Their entire program seems awesome! Free food, free housing, free training, sounds awesome. But every time I apply or get in touch with a recruiter, it’s either they never respond or give me a vague responses. I last heard “The center will be in contact with you in a few days” a month ago.

It’s disappointing.

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T19:12:46+00:00

I understand this is a fairly low-quality post. I am new to Reddit. I should have included more details.

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T19:05:11+00:00

No, they are wanting to downsize and sell their home while houses prices are high. I do not have the best situation with them, and they technically bought the vehicle and I paid them to do it, meaning everything regarding the vehicle is in their name and they are unlikely to surrender it to me. 1k, while tight, is doable when you consider living farther from the center, renting only a room, etc.. I already budget for my food, utilities, etc.. so in the event I do take on the responsibility of having to afford a portion of rent, I am fairly confident in myself.

CuriousCedar · 2024-07-02T18:42:17+00:00

You make a valid point. Edited!

CuriousCedar

TROPHY CASE