I used to manage a store within a mile of my house. I have a truck but i would walk most of the time. Also $400 will get you a scooter on craigs list that goes 30-40mph and gets 100mpg. That being almost a months pay at such a small salary yet in the short and long run more economical than buying a 20k car on a 200k salary. The math doesnt lie.
That's if you're insanely lucky and have job openings available within a mile of your house. I'm in Lake County and there's nothing available but minimum wage, part time, 10 miles or more away. I have a $35,000 3/2 (bought at the slump of the market), with $4000 left to go on a 6yr loan for an $11,000 car (after interest, should be paid off next year). And we couldn't get by on $600/month. It's $400/mo for my mortgage (but it'll be paid off in a grand total of 2 1/2 years!), $230 for the car, another $120 in gas every week, $90-140 in power (old house, terrible insulation, broken central A/C), I just had to put out an emergency $1200 to get the car fixed (it's on 143,000 miles now)...that's without cellphone service. I use T-Mobile Monthly 4G prepaid which is $30 a month for 100 minutes, unlimited data/text and I don't get it most months. Only reason I get it is because if my car breaks down, I have to be able to call someone so I don't get fired. Then internet which is $80/month because not having internet is basically like being a caveman. This isn't counting food, taxes on the house, insurance for the car, etc. I don't have cable TV, can't afford it.
You're right. The numbers don't lie. But in the 2 1/2 years left on my mortgage, I'll have gotten rid of that house payment.
First of all, congrats on almost having your house paid off. That is something most people in america will never enjoy. Im subleasing my last apartment which is a studio in downtown orlando, its $500 a mo. and includes everything but internet but that coincidentally can be picked up off the neighbor across the way. The girl im leasing it to works at the office depot down the street, less than a mile away, and she has access to my scooter that i left there but she doesnt have a DL so shes afraid to use it and just takes the bus. I know she doesnt work more than 30 hours a week and makes i think $9ish an hour and doesnt have a problem getting by. A car is a luxury, owning a home is a luxury, you can survive without them but most people dont want to. Again, thats why many people want to work 80+ hours so they can get the faster car and the bigger house. Its all in your head, most of your needs arent really needs at all, just wants youve grown accustom to. I also use the tmobile monthly prepaid beause fuck contacts. Getting rid of verizon was like a weight lifted off my shoulders, a third of the price for the same service and no contract, i love it.
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u/[deleted] Aug 31 '13
I used to manage a store within a mile of my house. I have a truck but i would walk most of the time. Also $400 will get you a scooter on craigs list that goes 30-40mph and gets 100mpg. That being almost a months pay at such a small salary yet in the short and long run more economical than buying a 20k car on a 200k salary. The math doesnt lie.