Things You'll Need:
- Determination
- Thriftiness
- The ability to deny a sale
- The ability to live anywhere
- Optional: A lack of children or two incomes
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Step 1
Find that job. Minimum wage in Oregon is $8.40 per hour. If you're lucky enough to get 40 hours per week (and not get ****ed by your employer!) you'll make $48 per day (average) or $336 per week. That's about $1440 per month. Now, let's take out money for taxes, greedy unions, caffeine/nausea pills (depending on your job, you'll need them), uniforms, etc. To be safe, lets budget about $1200 per month.
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Step 2
Now, lets find that apartment! Most apartments require a first and last months rent deposit as well as a security deposit. So you might have to live at a shelter until you can save that up. Not all shelters are bad. You should be able to find a tolerable one near your job. Which is important, because you're walking there. Anyhow, the average cheap apartment is $600 plus utilities. If you look around really really hard in the tiniest towns of Oregon you might get lucky and find $500 per month utilities included. The deposit, all together, should be less than $2000, especially if you find a low income housing center. You might even be able to make payments. Oh, and don't bring pets. You don't want to pay the pet security deposit. And quit smoking, because a lot of apartments that cheap are non-smokers only! Now, after blowing about 2 months of savings, you have an apartment. Your monthly budget is now $700. If you were lucky.
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Step 3
Cut the smoking, the pets, and the dinners out. Pet food and medication can add up to hundreds, and a heavy smoking habit can cost you $50 or more per week. As for dinners out, you're signing up for food stamps. It's free money for groceries. If you work full time, you won't get the full amount, but you can get enough to cover some groceries. They won't cover hot food, though. So grab some coupons, sign up for food stamps, and dish out another $100 or so, it's off the the grocery store to buy ramen and potatoes! Your budget is now (hopefully) at $600.
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Step 4
Well, you can't go around naked! Go to thrift stores. If something has a hole, buy some needle and thread for $5 and fix it. You can get a whole outfit for $10 if you're lucky, and uniforms for work under $50 (if you're really lucky). Since you're working so often, you don't need a lot of clothing. Buy 2-3 new outfits each season to make sure you're warm, cool, snug, or loose enough. And AVOID CLOTHING SALES AT BIG STORES. It might seem like a good deal until you come home minus $80 with only a jacket and a tee shirt. At this point, your budget is at $570.
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Step 5
You need toilet paper, soap, cleaners, shampoo, acne solutions... how much does it add up to? Budget another $200 towards that, but it can be a lot cheaper. There are a lot of recipes for cheaper soaps and such. All the same, better safe than sorry. You now have $370 and you're exhausted.
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Step 6
Sleep may seem like the only entertainment you need. But tv can be nice too. Spend what's left on some cheap entertainment (choose between tv or internet; don't get both.) and then save the rest at the bank. Someday you'll go back to college. Someday soon. The day where you say "I'm done with all this bs, I want a better job" and the economy + a degree decide to oblige you. Don't forget the rest of us when you get past this!
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Step 7
Don't let your company mess up your plan. Mine bullied me into free work and into quitting. Don't let it happen to you. And always, always, be searching for another (better) job.
Comments
tammyfrost said
on 1/13/2010 I also live in Oregon and the unemployment rate is huge. It is very hard to live on min. wage. A good job is caregiving, they pay a little better. Working in nursing homes is a little better than working in fast food. Thanks for the tips here. You seem frustrated? Nice way to vent is writing an article.
luvthepanda said
on 8/24/2009 This is great advice not just for people in Oregon, but for people in general. Its not always easy to budget and have a good outlook, but if you can, it will be very personally rewarding! 5* www.propsblog.com ;-)
jeni10 said
on 8/24/2009 I like your advice about always searching for a better job. Furthering your opportunities will get you ahead. It's also helpful to find employment where they will help pay for tuition or additional education. I recommended you.