I need advice on how to use my money for a cheap place to live

[doingitallwrong]

Yeah that's what I was looking for and couldn't find any.

Really? I just did a quick search and found pages and pages of them. Some are free, some are cheap, some are expensive. Some take insurance, some don't. Some require a webcam, some don't. Some have licensed therapists, some have trained counselors, one has 'trained active listeners'. None of the ones I checked required telephone consultations.

I spent a few years trying to find a way to make enough to make it worth my trouble. I checked into writing jobs, and even the people who did make money didn't make a lot and said you still need a normal job too.

That totally depends on how well you write, for which sites you write, and about what you write. I do freelance writing and I know a lot of fellow freelancers who make a full-time income with it -- but they treat it like a full-time job, too. You certainly can't write a few hours a week and expect a full-time income.

I spent years researching every idea I had.

Perhaps this is part of the issue. How much further ahead would you be if you had just *done* the things you thought of doing, rather than researching for years until you convinced yourself they wouldn't work?

I was just wondering if there was some way some how that I hadn't thought of yet that would allow me to own a home right now as my situation stands.

A quick search on realtor.com shows several parcels of vacant land in MN available for $5000-7000. Why not buy one of those, trade in your car for a large van that you can convert into a living space, and just park it on the vacant land? You could even park the van at a campground or the Wal-Mart parking lot while you're working in ND, instead of having to go home every six weeks, especially in the winter when the roads are bad. Between the trade-in (or sale, if that works out better) of your car and the remainder of your $12,000 you could insulate the van well, get a small ceramic heater that would plug into the lighter socket, and a good sleeping bag and you'd be warm enough in the winter. A composting toilet, propane grill, and car fridge would complete the package. (Or, look for a good price on a used camper van, which may have a built-in sink, stove, etc.) During the warmer months you could set up a tent on your property and sleep there instead of in the van, if you wanted a change of scenery. A gym membership can take care of the shower issue when you're not working. (For example, a Planet Fitness 'black card membership' is $20/month and you can go to any of their gyms, which are open 24/7 during the week and have weekend hours.)

Meanwhile you could continue to save your $1000 ($2000?) extra per month while you're working, your gas costs would be much lower, and you wouldn't have the $500/month hotel costs, so you could save even more. (Even if you did drive home on your weeks off, you wouldn't need to stay at a hotel on the way; just park in hotel parking lot and sleep in the van.) If you work for another year you'd be back up to $12,000-$15,000 or more and could build a tiny home on your land (or on a trailer that you park on your land, which ideally the van could tow if you ever wanted to move it). Tiny home prices vary wildly and it depends on how much of the work you're willing or able to do yourself; total DIY with mostly reclaimed/repurposed materials could be $10,000 or less, while built-and-shipped can run $20,000 and up.

(There are tons of sites online with resources on both "van living" and "tiny home building", from people who have done it and are doing it.)

No doubt there will be several reasons none of this will work for you, but maybe someone who reads this thread in the future will find it helpful.

[Eagle]

Some options just don't work for whatever reason, it isn't my fault.

Okay then. So I undersatnd what you're saying... You're saying your finances, education, job, career, home, etc. isn't your fault?

[Eagle]

From the website Gailete found:

GaiaGodess: "I can't believe how many of you are making a big deal of extra 20 pounds! It isn't like she is obese. I have ALWAYS been between 110 and 120 pounds and I still can't attract a relationship and i'm 41!"

[Gailete]

maybe someone who reads this thread in the future will find it helpful.

Actually a terrific idea for working your way up to a decent home. Just have to make some sacrifices along the way to get to a richly fulfilling life. Blog about your experience and you should get all sorts of traffic if you do it well and use the right kind of Adsense ads or affiliate links and the blog would make some money. Having your own land you could probably raise vegetables and plant some berry bushes and and any excess could be sold to raise money. Check out the price of a half pint of blueberries or raspberries! Get to any yard and estates sales and buy things for resale on line, or get a job cleaning up attics and basements where you get to haul the junk away and sort it before taking all to the dump. Turn in the scrap metal for cash and any other recyclables that you can earn money on, if you find anything good that the owner didn't want you can resell or use in your own home. All sorts of ways to earn money and very much the sort of route I would have liked to try, but when I was younger computers as we know them didn't exist and I was afraid of going the unconventional route. Now the on line abilities for earning money are tremendous! I've often thought of this being the perfect life, no boss and your hard work gives you returns that you don't have to share other than at tax time. I'm reading a book right now that in many ways echoes that sort of lifestyle. The woman has a job with the USDA to go in and clean up the houses that have been foreclosed on, get rid of junk and get it in shape for viewing by buyers. She donates old clothes to the thrift store, Good books for credit at the bookstore, things she knows other friends would like to them, anything of high value of course, gets sold against what the people owed. Never heard of this type of job before, but then i realized that someone has to do it before they can resell a foreclosed house which most people leave without doing the dishes!

Like I said great idea and have seen many in this area that have done similar things. For several years saw a single wide trailer on a piece of property and then noticed that they built a house behind it and eventually the mobile home left. I bet their mortgage if any was way less normal for a house that size. My hubby built our house with occasional help. He used a lot of recycled marble from his and my kids old elementary school, old wooden doors as decorative panels on the walls, old doors from a church remodeling for just about every door in the house, Old piano legs on the stairway and old piano and organ parts for decorative elements. Spent less than $100K to build a 4000+sq ft house and have to insure it for almost $400K to replace it but it is irreplaceable as it is so unique. You have to think outside the box and ignore the people that tell you it can't be done but most of all have to convince yourself that you can do it.

[Eagle]

I would try seeing someone professional but like i've said already, I am only home for a few days every other month, when you see a therapist they want you there at least once a week.

Counseling over the phone or Facetime/Skype?

[Eagle]

My question was what were your total expenses in the last 3 pay periods or past 2 months. It should take you less than 15-20 minutes to do so.

It's the same number I have posted before, so there's no point in wasting time adding it all up one item at a time.

No what you posted before was an estimate. I'm asking for actual numbers. Like you mentioned you made $1500 every two weeks. The actual numbers varied. I'm asking for real numbers.

And come to think of it, it would probably be a good idea to list out the expenses. You should be spending $800 (and less than $1000) a month from what I calculated.

[Baby_nurse]

Boy, there are a lot of excuses on this thread. It's mind boggling, really.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

This is not an idea to get you into a house right away with only $12,000, but maybe you could think about looking for a situation such as my brother found. He and his spouse managed an apartment complex in return for an apartment. With no rent, they were able to save for a house faster from their regular jobs. The apartment management was in addition to other paid work. They saved for at least 13 years (figuring from my oldest niece's age) and I'm sure they waited till they had a large portion of the price set aside, though they did take a home loan as well.

[GaiaGoddess]

Really? I just did a quick search and found pages and pages of them. Some are free, some are cheap, some are expensive. Some take insurance, some don't. Some require a webcam, some don't. Some have licensed therapists, some have trained counselors, one has 'trained active listeners'. None of the ones I checked required telephone consultations.

Could you send me links to these? I almost don't believe they exist, lol

That totally depends on how well you write, for which sites you write, and about what you write. I do freelance writing and I know a lot of fellow freelancers who make a full-time income with it -- but they treat it like a full-time job, too. You certainly can't write a few hours a week and expect a full-time income.

I wanted to take the Matador U classes which are for travel writing, travel photography & travel videography. Since I love to travel, write, take pictures & video, that stuff is all up my alley. The class is only $750 for all 3. The problem is, I can't do this while I have this job because I don't have enough free time and you only have a year to complete the assignments. But when I am done here, it's something I want to do. They also help you find jobs.

Perhaps this is part of the issue. How much further ahead would you be if you had just *done* the things you thought of doing, rather than researching for years until you convinced yourself they wouldn't work?

The reason it took years was because I have a lot of interests, like literally 20-30 of them. I researched schools, I researched other people that did jobs I wanted to do, I researched qualifications for each "job", how easily I could fit it into my life, etc. But part of my problem is I'm a scanner (someone who has too many interests to narrow it down to just one) so every time I figure out a new plan, I hesitate because if I choose one, that means I CAN'T choose the rest. I keep thinking maybe another one will be feasible. But I just dont have any conventional interests that make successful careers. Yesterday I just found a podcast directed at scanners so i'm hoping there will be some helpful information in there for me.

A quick search on realtor.com shows several parcels of vacant land in MN available for $5000-7000. Why not buy one of those, trade in your car for a large van that you can convert into a living space, and just park it on the vacant land? You could even park the van at a campground or the Wal-Mart parking lot while you're working in ND, instead of having to go home every six weeks, especially in the winter when the roads are bad. Between the trade-in (or sale, if that works out better) of your car and the remainder of your $12,000 you could insulate the van well, get a small ceramic heater that would plug into the lighter socket, and a good sleeping bag and you'd be warm enough in the winter. A composting toilet, propane grill, and car fridge would complete the package. (Or, look for a good price on a used camper van, which may have a built-in sink, stove, etc.) During the warmer months you could set up a tent on your property and sleep there instead of in the van, if you wanted a change of scenery. A gym membership can take care of the shower issue when you're not working. (For example, a Planet Fitness 'black card membership' is $20/month and you can go to any of their gyms, which are open 24/7 during the week and have weekend hours.)

I have researched the whole living in a van thing before, I have the websites saved on my computer and have spent many years considering it. My main issue with this is, my vehicle is all I have in life right now and it's the most important thing to me. I cant live in it (it's not a big van) but to me it symbolizes freedom and independence. Without my vehicle I would wither and die. It's my only means of escape. It's my only true friend. I know that sounds silly but every time i need to escape it's never failed me and it provides me the means to freedom & independence which are my 2 biggest needs in life. I love it so much I was willing to give up my RV dream to keep it. It's a long story how my vehicle came into my life, involving the Law of Attraction/Manifestation and it's nothing short of a miracle in my eyes. Going on road trips is one of my favorite things in the world to do, I NEED my vehicle. I can't stress this enough.

Another reason I can't live in a van is because I need room for my stuff. I am not a hoarder by any means, but I have a book collection that would take a small Uhaul to fit, lol A big reason why I want a home is so I can have one room be a library, and also the yard to grow food. I'm all for small living, and would live in a Tiny Home, but a van is just TOO small, lol

But i am open to buying land to put a mobile home on it. I am pretty sure the land you saw didnt have any trees on it and the grass was probably dead, right? I have seen many like that. To me, trees & vegetation are important. I want to grow my own food and I can't just do that on any bit of land. There's a reason that land is so cheap.

[GaiaGoddess]

Okay then. So I undersatnd what you're saying... You're saying your finances, education, job, career, home, etc. isn't your fault?

No, each individual roadblock keeping me from a specific option isn't my fault, for example it isn't my fault that my brother has 2 kids that I don't want to abandon, that is why I am not opting to move to a cheaper warmer part of the country. And it isn't my fault that I was born with this sleep disorder, that is why I can only do about 10% of the jobs out there. And it isn't my fault I had to pay my car off last year which is why now I only have $12,000...if I didn't need a vehicle I would have had about $25,000 right now.

[GaiaGoddess]

From the website Gailete found:

GaiaGodess: "I can't believe how many of you are making a big deal of extra 20 pounds! It isn't like she is obese. I have ALWAYS been between 110 and 120 pounds and I still can't attract a relationship and i'm 41!"

Where did you find that from? and what is your point in posting it in here?

[GaiaGoddess]

Counseling over the phone or Facetime/Skype?

You must have missed the part where I said I can't do it on the phone because I am sleeping during the day. With my job I have one hour of free time and that's at 7 am.

[Eagle]

No, each individual roadblock keeping me from a specific option isn't my fault, for example it isn't my fault that my brother has 2 kids that I don't want to abandon, that is why I am not opting to move to a cheaper warmer part of the country. And it isn't my fault that I was born with this sleep disorder, that is why I can only do about 10% of the jobs out there. And it isn't my fault I had to pay my car off last year which is why now I only have $12,000...if I didn't need a vehicle I would have had about $25,000 right now.

You are choosing to stay near family. That is a choice that you make. Perhaps if you moved somewhere else you might have better opportunities. And being away from your parents might do you good by your own admission.

The sleep disorder is not your fault. I will grant that. How you choose to deal with it is your choice.

You chose to pay off your car last year. (Btw, Congrats! That's fanatic! )

You chose not to attend higher education institutions and suck it up to get a degree. Btw, consider this resource that gathered data from 2013 that shows that people with a high school diploma make on average $651 a week. People with an Associate's degree earn on average $777 a week. People with a Bachelor's degree earn on average 1108 a week. Also, unemployment is significantly reduced with more education.

Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.

Bottom line: All these are your choices. Welcome to your life. If you are on a road and see a cliff coming up perhaps it's time to head in a new direction or build a flying machine. In other words: change.

You must have missed the part where I said I can't do it on the phone because I am sleeping during the day. With my job I have one hour of free time and that's at 7 am.

So schedule the counselor or shrink once or twice a week at 7am for 40-50 minutes. A phone conversation or Facetime/Skype is better than nothing. You might also get a discount since it is not in person. You can meet the counselor during your next 2 week off period so by the time your back at work you are used to the idea.

[GaiaGoddess]

No what you posted before was an estimate. I'm asking for actual numbers. Like you mentioned you made $1500 every two weeks. The actual numbers varied. I'm asking for real numbers.

And come to think of it, it would probably be a good idea to list out the expenses. You should be spending $800 (and less than $1000) a month from what I calculated.

My estimates are based on actual numbers, if it varies I used the average. But just to humor you, i'll do it.

Expenses from the last month:
cellphone- $123
gas- $45, $52, $51, $49
doctor bill (insurance didnt cover it all)- $45
Walmart- $91 (bought things I need for work, toiletries, also a card & present for a friend's wedding)
Hotel- $121
Credit card- $49
Automatic recurring transfer to my savings account- $25
entertainment (went to a movie & out to eat with some friends)- $20
nice camera- $600 (this is for my future photography career, if it becomes one, lol)
groceries- $82
knife protector for my work knife- $10
car insurance- I have to guess about $70 because it isn't listed in my monthly expenses because I pay it in full all at once.

TOTAL; $1433

Expenses from the previous month; (was at work the full month)
transfer to savings- $25
cellphone- $123
herbs & spices pack- $32
car insurance- $70
credit card- $49
book on Amazon Kindle- $10

TOTAL; $309

And the previous month;

health store (bought products to make my own shampoo, conditioner, lotion, etc.)- $209
savings- $25
cellphone- $108
groceries- $236
hotel- $326 & $129
donated to a friend's GoFundMe fundraiser- $50
brother's birthday card & present- $30
credit card- $49
moneygram- sent money to a friend/coworker who needed it to get back to work- $200
gas- $48, $53, $50 and $54
movie & dinner- $20
oil change- $42

TOTAL; $1629

so if you total up the 3 months and average it out it comes to about $1100! I have been saying it's about $1200 a month. And these are the numbers directly from my checking account. Happy now?

[GaiaGoddess]

Boy, there are a lot of excuses on this thread. It's mind boggling, really.

An excuse is when you make up a LIE not to do something. I don't lie. I guess it's a matter of perspective, you guys think they're excuses because you're on the outside looking in. I see them as obstacles because it's happening to ME and i've been dealing with them for years.