Today, I did my budget. I have a good job, make decent money, and work full time, but without including any flexible spending items like groceries, I make $32 less than my bills each month. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I learned that as much as I try to save my money, it always just slips through my fingers. After rent, I got paid $280 yesterday, $85 went out on my gym membership, $95 went out on my internet, $125 went out on my Hello Fresh. I have to choose between half a tank of petrol or breakfast/lunch for the week. FML
Today, I realized that I spend more money on gas to go to my job than what I get paid. FML
Today, when I checked on my last payroll, I realized that I pay more in taxes than I do in house bills. FML
Today, I worked for 4 hours and made $28.00. I have $1500 of bills coming due soon. FML
Today, I finally got a raise after years of hard work! Excited, I went on a shopping spree, but as I checked the latest prices, it turns out that my extra income barely covers the increase in my grocery bill. Thanks, inflation. FML
Today, I live in a world where I work 50 hours a week, and yet after paying all necessary bills, eating one meal a day, and only drinking water from the tap, I am £130 pounds poorer than last week, all because I had to use my credit card and increase my debt to buy petrol and pay the gas bill. FML
Today, I got a 25-cent raise at work. That would be wonderful, had they not cut 6 hours off my schedule as well. I'm now making $200 less a month than I was pre-raise. FML
Today, I got my first paycheck after getting a new job so I could pay rent. It was only $387.19, even after working overtime. My rent is $515. FML
Today, I have -$700 in my current account, $500 from overdraft fees because I spent money they told me I had. I don't get paid till the 15th and when I cash in my paycheck all of it will go to bringing me even. So the $9 I found in my wallet this morning will have to last me untill the 30th. FML
Today, I woke up, like every other day, with no girlfriend, no family, no friends, and having to go to my second job. I haven't gotten a day off in months and somehow barely can afford rent. I spend within my means and budget appropriately, but there's always some shit. FML
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Top comments
604 11
So, basically you're living the modern American Dream.
PineapplePizza 15
Maybe you need to move. The place you're living may be too expensive. Or, if it's an option, get a room/house mate to help with bills.
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Comments (19)
PineapplePizza 15
Maybe you need to move. The place you're living may be too expensive. Or, if it's an option, get a room/house mate to help with bills.
yes31601 16
Might be time to reconsider where you live, OP
TabooSushi 24
Sounds like it may be time to move to a less expensive town, or perhaps look into lowering your bills somehow. Electricity especially gets away from people, we don't realize how much we actually use on a daily basis, especially during winter and summer when heaters and air conditioners are used most often.
604 11
So, basically you're living the modern American Dream.
Snufkinn 16
Yeah maybe you need to reassess your fixed expenses each month. You're obviously not able to live within your means in your current location/lifestyle. As others have said maybe you need to change location or downgrade your living arrangements, and changing utility providers is also a good way to cut monthly costs. Reevaluating whether you need any subscriptions you have (Spotify/Amazon/Netflix) etc too can save a lot.
TheHarvardian 25
Same. The worst part is that mine is definitely where I'm living, since car insurance is the highest in the state in this city, but I can't move until August or I'll have to pay a ton of money to break my lease.
Colon_Man 17
How much are your car payments? That's usually the one that gets people.
AzrielB 8
Get a housemate, or six.
fabulousfiasco 12
Either you don't really have a job that pays a decent wage, or you are spending frivolously. What are some "extras" that you regularly indulge in? Starbucks, manicures, cigarettes, eating out, etc? Or are you spending more than your fair share of rent?
GhostFox 34
Those are all "flexible spending items" which OP didn't include in the math. In other words, other bills like insurance, rent, and electricity are being included, not food and luxury items/services.
LadyAthena 20
Your rent and or mortgage shouldn't ever be more than half your monthly income. If it is you're in the wrong place for your money.
krgoks 10
Some professionals (e.g. Dave Ramsey - look into him BTW) suggest spending no more than a week's pay on rent/mortgage. If you need to cut back further: -Cut the cable and go to Netflix and/or Hulu and add in HBONow, etc. (watch sports out with friends) -Sell your car and get something that costs about what you make in less than two days -Pick up a side gig (Uber and Lyft isn't always a good choice) and pay off bills I too make too much money to be broke. I moved and saved 1/2 of my rent/mortgage. I cut the cable and now pay my neighbor to use his wifi and save $100/month. I decided not to get a new car and went with a used tiny car saving me another $200/month in gas and loans. I picked up a side job and worked my butt off for just 4 months, which gave me enough money to pay off the first credit card.
LadyAthena 20
Yeah dude I'm 29 and own my own home I don't think I need your advice. At 7.25 an hour he probably needs a roommate (or 2 or 4). The pooling of resources makes the burden easier in all involved.
clair_brodie 35
There is rarely any places anymore in which that is even a possibility. Where I live you can't even get a studio without paying $900. The only way to not have your rent be half your income would be if you are making more than $11 an hour. but no, you can live on 7.25 and no one needs a raise....
MisstressNicole 20
I want always taught the rent/mortgage should be no more then 1/3 of what you make. I currently live in a three person household with 1 working wage. We have all the luxuries (cable, internet, cell phones) and a car payment. It can be done quite easily. My husband is not in a high paying position. I have friends who make more than my husband and don't understand how we can afford the things we can afford. Firstly, we make. budget and stick to it and secondly we don't try to live within someone else's means. we know what we have and we make it work for us.
MisstressNicole 20
I want always taught the rent/mortgage should be no more then 1/3 of what you make. I currently live in a three person household with 1 working wage. We have all the luxuries (cable, internet, cell phones) and a car payment. It can be done quite easily. My husband is not in a high paying position. I have friends who make more than my husband and don't understand how we can afford the things we can afford. Firstly, we make. budget and stick to it and secondly we don't try to live within someone else's means. we know what we have and we make it work for us.
MisstressNicole 20
I want always taught the rent/mortgage should be no more then 1/3 of what you make. I currently live in a three person household with 1 working wage. We have all the luxuries (cable, internet, cell phones) and a car payment. It can be done quite easily. My husband is not in a high paying position. I have friends who make more than my husband and don't understand how we can afford the things we can afford. Firstly, we make. budget and stick to it and secondly we don't try to live within someone else's means. we know what we have and we make it work for us.
MisstressNicole 20
I want always taught the rent/mortgage should be no more then 1/3 of what you make. I currently live in a three person household with 1 working wage. We have all the luxuries (cable, internet, cell phones) and a car payment. It can be done quite easily. My husband is not in a high paying position. I have friends who make more than my husband and don't understand how we can afford the things we can afford. Firstly, we make. budget and stick to it and secondly we don't try to live within someone else's means. we know what we have and we make it work for us.