Can a single woman w/ no kids live off of 10/hr?

[want2beindependent]

I thought about saving up a year's worth of rent, and then moving into a decent apartment complex. Do you think its possible for me to stay afloat like this???

[snafu]

How old are you? What is the potential for increasing your income? If you are working a 40 hr. week you are grossing under $20K a year and depending on particulars like have deduction for SS. You are likely eligible for Food Stamps, subsidized medical and illusive subsidized y housing which seems to exist in legislation but not reality. The issue of leaving home and living independently is that there are so many expenses to cover over and above rent like electric, internet, cell phone, transportation, grooming products, outfitting a kitchen, bed, bedding, towels etc.

I'm pretty aware of what was required when younger son joined 3 other roomies at college who shared basic stuff. I suggest you do some research online www.CraigsList.com to see what you can get as a Studio Apartment walking distance from work. What are eligibility rules for the food program in your state? How are you using earnings now? It helps to carry a tiny notebook and write down every dollar spent for 3 months to know where the money goes.

[bjl584]

That's a pretty broad question, but I think that you probably could do it so long as you follow a strict budget and live in a lower cost of living area where rents and taxes are fairly low.

What is your prospects for earning more than $10/hour? Do you have a degree or any desire or ability to get one? What about a second job?

[Gailete]

It certainly is possible because my 30 y/o son is doing it although at this point he works a full time job and a part time one. He has been in his apartment for maybe 5 years or more. Entirely self supporting.

The problem for us to advise you at all is your lack of details. Such as why you think you have to save up a year's worth of rent "then moving into a decent apartment complex". what apartments cost depends entirely on where you are located>state>city>area in town, etc. and what you consider to be a "a decent apartment complex". If you move in with only a year's worth of rent saved up, what are your plans for the next year? It is better to set your sites on finding a place you can afford NOW and on a monthly basis instead trying to save up a year's worth of rent.

Where are you living now and are you paying any kind of rent? Do you own furniture or kitchen and home essentials at this point? Or will you need to acquire all that sort of stuff and are you willing to go the thrift store route for it or name brand store or ask friends for cast offs? And with the posters, is there a reason you can't make more than $10/h?

Lots of things to think through here, the biggest is not to save up to get a really nice apartment only to not be able to continue to afford it at the end of the year.

[Gailete]

You are likely eligible for Food Stamps

That depends highly on the state you live in I believe. My son tried to see if he was eligible and wasn't by several thousand dollars. One year he did get help with his heat but the next year after a $quarter/hour raise, he was bumped barely out of eligibility. He has only had the second job for about 3 years. He uses no credit cards, is paying down school loans, but otherwise lives and pays cash for his needs.

[want2beindependent]

I already have furniture and a dining table set. It's in storage. I have plans on going to nursing school, so I figure it would be wise to save up a year's worth of rent so I won't have to work full time and go to nursing school. That would be hard.

I've tried finding jobs that pay more but I never get hired for them

[bjl584]

I've tried finding jobs that pay more but I never get hired for them

What type of work do you do now? Where else have you applied? Can you pick up a second job until school starts?

[Gailete]

Going to nursing school is hard whatever your finances. I did it with two kids at home, one of them autistic and a totally non-supportive husband (now an ex). I worked part time at the school as well. How many years will your school take? That is significant as to what you can afford and deal with financially. You should check with the school to find out if they have student housing lists so you can find housing for the time you are in school. A part time job is doable if you have no other things but school yanking at you. Many of the ladies that I went to school with were already LPNs going for their RN and were still working as much as possible. But the writing has been on the wall for a long time, most hospitals (at least in my area) only want RNs working in hospitals, LPNs get nursing homes and home care.

Funny when I graduated school and started my first nursing job, my pay was $9.32/h and it was the most I had ever gotten paid in my life. I felt rich. But obviously that has been a few years.

[Petunia 100]

I already have furniture and a dining table set. It's in storage. I have plans on going to nursing school, so I figure it would be wise to save up a year's worth of rent so I won't have to work full time and go to nursing school. That would be hard.

I've tried finding jobs that pay more but I never get hired for them

In storage where? In a storage place or in the home of a friend/relative? How much are you paying for storage, if anything?

[Petunia 100]

And to answer your question, yes, of course a single woman with no kids can live on $10 hr. You will have to be frugal, but it can certainly be done.

In the mid and late 80s, I supported myself on jobs paying in the $4 hr range. I rented, had few personal belongings, owned a car, had several thousand in my savings account, and no debt whatsoever. Oh, and I was paying my own tuition to boot. I was young, single, and had no kids. I did not receive food stamps, housing assistance, or any other government/charitable assistance.

[want2beindependent]

Going to nursing school is hard whatever your finances. I did it with two kids at home, one of them autistic and a totally non-supportive husband (now an ex). I worked part time at the school as well. How many years will your school take? That is significant as to what you can afford and deal with financially. You should check with the school to find out if they have student housing lists so you can find housing for the time you are in school. A part time job is doable if you have no other things but school yanking at you. Many of the ladies that I went to school with were already LPNs going for their RN and were still working as much as possible. But the writing has been on the wall for a long time, most hospitals (at least in my area) only want RNs working in hospitals, LPNs get nursing homes and home care.

Funny when I graduated school and started my first nursing job, my pay was $9.32/h and it was the most I had ever gotten paid in my life. I felt rich. But obviously that has been a few years.

Nursing school is two years. I am going to a community college because it's more affordable. So no housing is available.

[want2beindependent]

What type of work do you do now? Where else have you applied? Can you pick up a second job until school starts?

Customer service rep. I have applied for other CSR jobs that pay more, like in the 15/hr range but they are highly competitive and I never get a call back or meet the qualifications.

[riverwed070707]

You didn't ask about other jobs but just thowing it out there, have you looked into waitressing jobs? I paid my way through college waiting tables. It pays more than $10/hour and has a flexible schedule that will allow you to work less when school is busy and pick up extra hours when you find yourself with more freetime. I recommend it to kids looking for college-friendly jobs all the time. There are no qualification requirements and its easy good money.

[bjl584]

Customer service rep. I have applied for other CSR jobs that pay more, like in the 15/hr range but they are highly competitive and I never get a call back or meet the qualifications.

Have you looked outside of the CS realm for work? Maybe you just need to think outside of the box and be more creative in your job searching. Also, do you have an updated resume? Sometimes all that people need to do is make a few changes to their resume to get noticed by potential employers.

[want2beindependent]

You didn't ask about other jobs but just thowing it out there, have you looked into waitressing jobs? I paid my way through college waiting tables. It pays more than $10/hour and has a flexible schedule that will allow you to work less when school is busy and pick up extra hours when you find yourself with more freetime. I recommend it to kids looking for college-friendly jobs all the time. There are no qualification requirements and its easy good money.

Nah, I'm not cut out for waitressing. I'd potentially get fired anyway. I prefer customer service work because I'm pretty good at it and I can work from home

Ive applied for flight attendant jobs currently I'm waiting to hear back from one airline but their process takes awhile.