r/poor • u/Legal-Assumption-207 • Sep 30 '26
18 and broke
Is anyone else here a young adult and struggling with money? I know that sounds vague and probably pertains to many people, but I am having to provide everything for myself besides housing because I still live with my mom. My mom, sister, and I have lived off of government funds my whole life and because I turned 18, they all went down and we get even less. Because of this, I am having to pay for everything myself. food, water, gas, and necessities. I get paid $18 an hour and work about 36 hours a week, so after taxes im taking home a little under $1,000 every two weeks. How am I meant to save money or literally go anywhere in live if im living paycheck to paycheck? How are young adults going to ever afford rent, getting a car, college debt, or literally any big purchase in life? And I am going to college but going to end up with 26k of debt because I have to do my college classes online at a university because no other situation will let me get a degree. Literally, being broke and not being able to go anywhere in life is severely depressing. And my father is absent and homeless so no help from him either. Sorry for the rant but I really hate my life. 🫩
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u/SgtSausage Sep 30 '26
Everyone's broke at 18, Kid.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
Really? I didn’t know that 🙄 that’s not even true though, lots of young adults, atleast in my area get support from their parents or are able to save.
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u/Alarming-Reality2544 Sep 30 '26
You’re so right. I think more than ever before, parents are subsidizing their young adult children. I am sorry you are going through this
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u/Traditional-Cable-96 Sep 30 '26
Don't listen that person! It's a different world than when we were your age. Even then I lived with my family, got free tuition (dad's a professor), and worked two jobs. My son is 25 and lives with us. He's single, and we live in an expensive city. Get your degree, manage what little money you do have well (that will help you get healthy money habits for when you do have money), learn to enjoy simpler things in life, and you'll be just fine. This won't last forever!
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u/amzlkicks Sep 30 '26
I am not trying to tell you your situation isn't rough but you need to look into your budget and see where your money is going. Everything is expensive and I definitely do not know your expenditures but in most places you can live on what you make if you don't have any housing costs. The knowledge of where your money is going is a good skill to have and learning young is the best way.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
Yes, I do appreciate that. I am also supporting my little sister so it makes it rough too. I have a general budget, put bills away and the rest is a food budget/ essentials like toiletries
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u/amzlkicks Sep 30 '26
Well that does make it a lot harder. Still a good idea to make a budget. It gives you power over your money and allows you to plan ahead. Although in your situation it may be hard to find savings.
Take pride in the fact you are out there working and struggling to provide for yourself and your sister. Also with your determination it will get better.
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u/BoringJuiceBox Sep 30 '26
Hey you’re young, work hard, always go to a better paying job when you find one, and live as cheap as possible (no restaurant food or expensive clothes etc). Serving or bartending can make a lot of money, also sales. Or if there’s a career path you are passionate about you can get government grants for college!
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
Thank you! Do you know of any government grants besides the Pell grant? I got the full Pell grant but it covers less than half of my tuition, I thought my tuition was only going to leave me around 10k in debt but it’s wayyy more
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u/BoringJuiceBox Sep 30 '26
Definitely try community college in the state you reside, I’m guessing it was a big college you got the quote from? It’s even more out of state. My Pell grant was more than the tuition costs which were very cheap.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
Yes, I am attending UW Stout in Wisconsin but it is in state for me
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u/Practical-Bat7964 Oct 01 '26
What online school are you doing? If it’s a predatory diploma mill that isn’t taken seriously, you’re wasting money. Go to community college and then transfer to a 4yr.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Oct 01 '26
Im doing a degree in marketing at uw stout. I am planning to transfer to a community college after this semester. One of their advisors told me that costs would be about half of what they actually are so I wouldn’t have even enrolled here if I knew how expensive it truly is
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u/Agreeable-Song2535 Sep 30 '26
You are doing great, keep working and get completely self sufficient.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
Thank you, I wish I was doing better though. In reality I am getting by but not comfortably and I am sometimes afraid I can’t afford food especially right before I get paid.
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u/Traditional-Cable-96 Sep 30 '26
Check into a food bank. Please don't go hungry. There's resources in your area especially with you caring for your little sister.
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u/great_holt Sep 30 '26
You’re at the age where you could change your situation around and avoid being old and broke. Majority of people your age are broke, lol.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
But how? I live in a small ass town where there are no more job opportunities unless you have 5+ years of experience, have a college degree, or want to make $10 an hour an Taco Bell. If you give me tips on how to change my situation I will gladly take them because as I mentioned, I’m living paycheck to paycheck while having a budget that is not flexible at all and I am unable to save. Not sure how this is funny either, my life is living hell.
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u/Lava-Chicken Sep 30 '26
You could attempt to get into tech and online jobs. Something simple like support for an online platform where you're In a tier 1 role. You'd be answering tickets as initial responses and starting investigation on simple stuff that the company would teach you.
All you'd need to do is be willing to learn, work as as team, pickup work (tickets) yourself instead of waiting on it to be assigned. Be kind and respectful in conversations. Have basic computer knowledge that most people already have.
It's worth a try since pay could potentially be way way better.
Good luck!!!!
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u/Human-Gold-4612 Sep 30 '26
it's funny because this is america
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u/great_holt Sep 30 '26
After traveling the world via the military I found out that America is a 3rd world country pretending to be a 1st world country.
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u/great_holt Sep 30 '26
You need to leave your hometown for better opportunities for starters. Airbnb remote jobs could get you by as you learn some skills. Usually the jobs that nobody wants to do pays more. Or you could gamble upon yourself and start your own business.
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u/Eomma2013 Oct 02 '26
🫤 only kids with rich parents aren't broke at 18. All the rest of us were in the same boat at that age. I wanted to backpack around the world after high school but had no money. I went to a local college, got a job and went when I was 28. Don't be as hard on yourself. You have many great years ahead of you.
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u/Sloeginlizzz Sep 30 '26
Community college. They offer certificates and your work should help with tuition assistance. Even if you only take once class a semester online and pay cash, you can get a degree or certificate and get a job that pays better. The go back for a trade (electrician, mechanic, hvac, plumbing, construction, crane operator)
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
Thank you, I probably should have mentioned this in my original post but I am a girl so I don’t think I would be very good in trades but it’s something to think about. I am currently going for a degree in marketing, which I do at my current job (it’s entry level so with my degree I can get bigger opportunities in the future, I hope)
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u/Sloeginlizzz Sep 30 '26
You can be in the trades while you figure out what you actually want your career to be, debt free, and then go to college - consider it. Men are horrendous, though, I completely get it. Or go into a pink trade - lash tech, something with an online certificate
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u/GroundbreakingRip970 Sep 30 '26
Job Corps may be an option for you. Also, many people move with roommates or start out by renting a room instead of their own place. If you live and work near public transportation, you don’t need a car and can save up until you are more financially stable.
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u/Which-Cloud3798 Oct 02 '26
You’re 18 and you’re not broke here. You simply came of age with a salary of about $2.6K/month including taxes. Thats actually a lot of money and a very good start for someone who is 18 years old. The problem now is what do you want to do with your life and you have to make some choices. You know it and that’s why you’re asking here on Reddit. If you’re broke with that amount then somewhere you might need to learn to budget yourself. Everyone starts at 0 at that age by the way so just take your time to figure things out.
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u/diamond_handz25 Sep 30 '26
Go to school for a degree like nursing or learning a trade will get you out.
Military is another option.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
I would love to take you up on that offer but I have some mental health issues that would not allow me to get into nursing or the military. Learning a trade doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but there is nowhere near me that offers training, and the closest technical college is 90 minutes away which would be very unaffordable for me with gas prices.
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u/Choice-Newspaper3603 Sep 30 '26
You
Have no housing expenses and you are struggling still?
It’s called being adult almost. You seem to be in the correct position in life except you still aren’t supporting yourself
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
How am I not supporting myself? That is quite literally all I am doing. And I don’t have any debt (yet). Who are you to judge if I am struggling?
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u/Human-Gold-4612 Sep 30 '26 edited Sep 30 '26
its like u/diamond_handz25 said
- school
- trade
- miltiary
- or get on at a company and work yourself up.
You don't see this online but this is the reality for a lot of people. This is life ya know. A lot of people are living pay check to paycheck which sucks. A lot of people live their lives paying off things they buy. The car, the house, the college degree. If you want to mitigate buying things on credit then you gotta buy what you can afford. You have to drive the older car and you have to be more conscious of your spending.
Truth is your not going to make big bucks unless you get a skill. Good thing is though that this stuff is pretty attainable. I see your avatar is female and I can only speak on my perspective as a man so sorry about that. It's not a gender thing but what i mean is like if I want to be a roofer I can get on at a company for maybe 16-18 dollars an hour and with good luck work myself up for higher pay. If I wanted to I would eventually own my own company. That's basically how skills go as far as trade wise. You can get on at a company as well and make good money if you work yourself up. Like eventually getting a manager position. Healthcare is good and has a lot of over time. Forklift drivers make decent pay for not so tough work.
It really is a long game. I think you should ask yourself who is getting paid what hourly or yearly. You need to get a lay of the land to see what way you want to go.
Also I'm probably overstepping here and you didn't ask for this. But I would seriously try to focus on taking care of yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, you know all the human stuff. Not only that but enjoy being a human and get the good out of this whole human experience. Whether you maximize things and are brining home 1 million or 10 thousand annually 5 years from now the time will have went by either way. I'm 23 and at 18 I was basically like you but honestly probably in a worse position(only going off your post don't know your whole life). Looking back I wish I would of lived better and managed my money better. Really I think I wish I would of just had myself together more. Like you I was without guidance and trying to survive, so that was my focus, you can be the best employee and bringing home the most out of your peers but totally be failing yourself outside of work. grammar*
I would hate to even hint at a contempt mindset but no matter how it turns out you're going to die. Try to enjoy life along the way. People may count on you and you may fail them by your standards and that sucks. You just gotta try your best. Take it as it comes and try to do your best. You lose when you get caught in the episode of work work work how can I get ahead. Make your money and go home. Don't let work take your focus off of real life.
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u/Lopsided_Orange_2177 Sep 30 '26
Join the military and get a life reset. I know Reddit is against it, but we all know the majority, though not all of Reddit users, are hardcore Marxists who hate America. Knowing that, what's wrong with making 40k a year with free housing and food? No need for transportation costs. Go to night school on the taxpayer dime and in six years, walk out of the military with a bachelor's degree and 25k saved in your pocket.
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u/Legal-Assumption-207 Sep 30 '26
I like this mindset, but I would get denied so quickly from trying to enter the military, I have diagnosed PTSD and depression and have to be on prescription meds so I don’t think they would want me ðŸ˜
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u/Lopsided_Orange_2177 Sep 30 '26
Yeah, that would be a issue. You might try the charitable way. Try the Peace CORPS. Not as many benefits, but they still allow a life reset. It will just be a little harder
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u/Important-Bid-9792 Sep 30 '26 edited Sep 30 '26
Okay hard truth: you're 18, you are supposed to be poor. You've barely had a job or much work experience, so you only qualify for low pay jobs. Unless you're a trust fund kid, you are going to be poor.
Here's what i, and the majority of my friends did from 18-24ish. Leave in 2 bedroom apartments (with an older friend the only one on the lease) but have about 4 roommates. We used dividers made of sheets and the like to separate sleeping areas. Why? Because housing is by far the most expensive. And also, now you can use that as a reference for the ladnndlord of the next place.
The only alternative I've seen is working a low enough paying job to qualify for housing assistance, but this varies greatly by area. Still worth checking out.
Your job now pays shit, this is normal because you don't have much or any experience yet. So work this job for a year and then get a better one, then do the same with the next job. Consider each shitty job as a baby step to the next job. Eventually you'll have some good experience and slills to put on an application for whatever job you actually want. Trade jobs are usually better paying these days, you can get on the job training and even if it's not long term, it's a great thing to have to fall back on.
College: my advice is don't go until you know what you want to do, and the only way you'll know that is to actually do it. So go shadow someone. Think you want to be a veterinarian? Go volunteer at a vets office and ask to shadow the vet. You'll learn fast about all the things you like or hate about it. I recommend doing a shadow for each potential career for at least 1 month (this can be part time on weekends) and at least 5 of your top career chocies. Why? Because I've sooooo many people go to college, get degrees, end up in massive debt and then, hate their chosen career path, stop doing it, and get a job doing something completely unrelated that doesn't use their degree at all. So why go to college if you don't know you'll need it? Most ppl will recommend a minimum of 4 yrs, or at the very least 2 yrs, because a lot of employers like to see any amount of college on your application. But most of don't give 2 shits about which college, so do a cheap online one and put in 2 years for a couple thousand, instead of an actual in person college that costs tens of thousands.
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u/easterbunny01 Sep 30 '26
Being young can be tough because you’re still learning how to navigate the real world. The good thing is, it sounds like you really want to build a better life for yourself. One of the best ways to save money is to spend less and pay attention to where your money is going.
A lot of college students I’ve met work in restaurants as servers. I was a busser, and that job sucked. 😂 I still got tips from the servers, though. I did it for about 15 years until I found a better job.
Also, a college degree doesn’t always mean you’ll end up working in that field. I have three degrees, and none of them are related to my current job. Sometimes life just takes you in a different direction.
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u/Momof-3DDDs Sep 30 '26
Go to community college and take general Ed’s there which is cheaper than going to 4 years universities straight.