Looking for work is so frustrating

[ehh]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

Me and the lady together bring in close to 100 a year combined and it is STILL pay check to pay check which to me is crazy. I carry $2,000 in bills a month and she is pretty close to the same. School loans, medical bills, mortgage payments, truck note, care note, and then all the small bills like cable, internet, etc. I know living expenses differ greatly in each state and so forth but it is crazy to me the cost of living even in a place such as my city which is on the low end. Gas and food costs are the real killer. I must put $800 dollars in food in the fridge a month. You go pick up 6 to 8 items and that is 60 bucks are more. To really go shop and get stuff you need its 200 bucks a trip A WEEK!

lol I don't know where my rant is going. I guess complaining that minimum wage should be higher to match the inflation of everything around us while pay rates have not rose at all. While me and the lady make decent money we still don't live "comfortably". Which you take the same money we make and place it in my parents hands in the early 80s and we would be living good and not worrying as much month to month.

This is just how it goes in life man, lol. I make a little over $70k and I still live mostly paycheck to paycheck. Student loans will do that to you. I live in an apartment well below my means just so I can focus on paying off my loans. But my life really hasn't changed much since when I was making $30k out of college years ago.

I have friends that make $80k and still live check to check even without a wife/kids in their 30's. Car payment, gas, insurance, rent, student loans, food, CT's cost of living is no picnic, etc. Life is expensive. You never have enough money even raise after raise lol.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

What are you guys paying for rent/mortgage?

My rent is $700 per month with water included in that. My apartment is a 1 bed 1 bath with zero upgrades. The water quality is downright terrible too and I probably kill 2 roaches per week.

[ehh]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

Including utilities I pay about $1,100 for a one bedroom that's pretty tiny and rather void of windows lol. No off-street parking, no laundry, etc.

My GF basically lives with me and we manage to not get claustrophobic. It's something real estate agents describe as "cozy" lol.

[23]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

Man wow

I stayed in an apartment for many years so the rent stayed low, ended up paying at the most 1000 for a 2 bedroom 2 bath with an upstairs and a parking spot and laundry, but no security on the gates, and the plumbing was pretty busted in the building Owner is going to have to tear the place down one day and rebuild and he's going to hate it.

I'm not paying 1600 for mortgage in a much better situation. 4 bedroom 1 bonus room, 2 bath, 2 car garage, etc.. but it is my wife and I. We worked and saved and paid off bills to the point we could move out, and I enjoy the new living situation, its just that they've made the job unbearable almost.

[dickey1331]

Looking for work is so frustrating

After reading this it's crazy to see how the job market is. I joined the military when i was 19. Before that I worked at a University for 18 months and Wal Mart for 3 months so I basically have no job experience.

I make around $44K a year and I live paycheck to paycheck but I also have a lot of nice things. Just interesting to see others perspectives.

I rent a 2 bedroom house that's around 1700 sq ft and its on an acre of land. Rent is $950 plus another $100-150 for water/electric/trash.

[Husker_OS]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

Yeah $950 here in Birmingham would get a nice 1/1 apartment or an average 2/1 apartment.

To get a 2/2 house, I'm looking at $1500 to get one in a safe neighborhood.

[ehh]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

After reading this it's crazy to see how the job market is. I joined the military when i was 19. Before that I worked at a University for 18 months and Wal Mart for 3 months so I basically have no job experience.

I make around $44K a year and I live paycheck to paycheck but I also have a lot of nice things. Just interesting to see others perspectives.

I rent a 2 bedroom house that's around 1700 sq ft and its on an acre of land. Rent is $950 plus another $100-150 for water/electric/trash.

This illustrates the cost of living difference between Mississippi and Connecticut pretty well.

[ODogg]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

I was unemployed from June until mid-February and had to go to Virginia Beach for work (I live in Columbus, OH). I'll be heading back home to telecommute soon but I'm only doing a 6 month contract so come September I will be unemployed again most likely. It's just difficult to find a full-time job now and I think it'll only get worse with this healthcare law taking effect soon.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

I just quit a sales job myself.

I was working 60+ hours a week, 6 days a week and just couldn't take it anymore.

I was working so much that I began to have dreams about being at work. I mean, it really does make sense, right? My whole life was at that damn place. And even my (rare) off days were dedicated to preparing for my next shift (laundry, shaving, hair cut, etc). And worst of all, it was really taking it's emotional toll on me too. I began snapping at my loved ones (not horribly), and stopped seeing my friends because I literally had no free time.

It was no way to live. Not for me.

My fiancé and I agreed that no matter what happened, we would be better off if I left because we literally had no time together.

Fortunately, my previous employer had me back. It's pretty flexible, I can come and go as I see fit, etc. Granted, it's like 1/2-2/3 of what I was making before, but I am happy again...like I used to be...every minute of the day. And in MY situation, that more than makes up the financial difference. I'm really hoping this works out because honestly, I love my job.

I guess my point is this: I have to believe that we were not put in this earth to do work that's emotionally debilitating. I'd fight at all costs if I were you 23 to find a place or stay at the place that doesn't play this kind of internal havoc on you, as long as your family and you are on the same page on this.

I've learned my lesson. Even if my current employment doesn't work out, I'll never make that mistake again.

[Phobia]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

What are you guys paying for rent/mortgage?

My rent is $700 per month with water included in that. My apartment is a 1 bed 1 bath with zero upgrades. The water quality is downright terrible too and I probably kill 2 roaches per week.

I own my house which makes me feel a lot better about my monthly payments to my mortgage. We currently pay $1,000 a month, but I also live in one of the best neighborhoods in my city so that $1,000 is damn good. To give you a example two streets over from my house they are selling a little lot and it is 200,000 for this tiny section to build on.

[daflyboys]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

What I find so frustrating is the automation of the process. No one wants you to show up any longer....it's all computerized. You have no shot to make any kind of initial impression. Then you wait for weeks/months for some **** form letter via your e-mail.

[VTPack919]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

What are you guys paying for rent/mortgage?

My rent is $700 per month with water included in that. My apartment is a 1 bed 1 bath with zero upgrades. The water quality is downright terrible too and I probably kill 2 roaches per week.

$700 for a 2 bed 2 bath townhouse built a couple years ago. It's pretty nice.

[Heroesandvillains]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

$700 for a 2 bed 2 bath townhouse built a couple years ago. It's pretty nice.

OMG.

Where do you live?

[cjonesfan921]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

This is just how it goes in life man, lol. I make a little over $70k and I still live mostly paycheck to paycheck. Student loans will do that to you. I live in an apartment well below my means just so I can focus on paying off my loans. But my life really hasn't changed much since when I was making $30k out of college years ago.

I have friends that make $80k and still live check to check even without a wife/kids in their 30's. Car payment, gas, insurance, rent, student loans, food, CT's cost of living is no picnic, etc. Life is expensive. You never have enough money even raise after raise lol.

Same situation, although CT is a lil worse. I'll bring in roughly 65 this year. However, since I work in the city, I'm taxed at NY's higher rate, and my monthly expenses are through the roof. I catch a break because I claim the parents on my tax return.

Rent - $1,200
Stud Loan - $250
Car Ins - $250
Car - $370

Granted, I buried myself with the car payment, as I had an 04 Accord all paid for but wanted to get a new car as a present to myself. I also have random amounts in 0% in CC that I keep track of, as well as various monthly bills.

If I'm diligent and put forth the utmost effort into saving, I can still roughly save 10-12K this year including my refund, but that is also contingent on the amount of the bonus, etc. Out of my monthly check, I'm saving roughly 350-400, and that's if I'm being a homebody. I've cut out drinking completely.

[VTPack919]

Re: Looking for work is so frustrating

OMG.

Where do you live?

Haha. Fishersville, VA. One of the many perks of living in the middle of nowhere.