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Thread: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

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    Senior Member lightningfarron's Avatar
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    Default I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    It sucks. It's not really a "me" problem, at first I just thought I was blowing all my money on makeup and video games and things I didn't need, then I started tracking what I was spending money on and realized I haven't really bought anything for myself recently - a few drugstore makeup products a month, a game here and there etc. Been wearing the same clothes since I moved even.

    I work in a club in a small city where leaving with $200 is a decent night for me, $300 is good, and $400 has me leaving estatic. <$150 is average though. I would honestly probably make more if I worked every weekend, admittedly, but I have autism and the sounds of more people than usual + party crowd + amped up music has me over stimulated and I just spend half of my shift in DR trying to get it together.

    So yeah once in a while I do have an awesome night, that is even more than 400 but then life happens and the money is spent on..... Bills, groceries, or my work shoes break and I need a new pair, or the car/bike needs something new, one thing after another. My fiance and I catch up, which is better than how a lot of people are doing now I suppose, but have nothing in savings.

    I'm incredibly frustrated. I want to buy a house or move out of our rental (a trailer which I cannot STAND being in) or have emergency cushion money or have a fund for when I'm burnt out of stripping and want to venture into something else. I just can't save it!!!!

    And advice online just tells you to stop buying $5 lattes... (i make my own coffee at home)..... Buy everything in bulk (difficult when you don't consume it fast enough for it to expire, or have the money to do so at that moment)..... Sell old belongings (ive tried to no avail).... Sell your plasma????????

    It's expensive to be poor and I'm just so tired from it. :/

    A lot of money these past few months also went towards vehicles.... We just cannot get a working vehicle and I'm so frustrated from that alone I just want to rip my hair out thinking about it. Every car or motorcycle we've purchased has had something wrong with it. And my fiance has reassured me he could fix it.... He couldn't. So I told him we are NOT buying anymore projects, we are only buying a vehicle if we can drive it home that day. He agreed and we bought a motorcycle.... Guy we bought it from lied about what was wrong with it and we almost got into an accident while on it. So now that moneys gone too.

    I just want a decent place to live, a working vehicle and financial stability, and I've been getting nowhere. I don't know if theres anything I can do any advice I can follow or whatever. I honestly just needed a place to vent but any input or even consolation is appreciated. T__T

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Quote Originally Posted by lightningfarron View Post

    I'm incredibly frustrated. I want to buy a house or move out of our rental (a trailer which I cannot STAND being in) or have emergency cushion money or have a fund for when I'm burnt out of stripping and want to venture into something else. I just can't save it!!!!

    And advice online just tells you to stop buying $5 lattes... (i make my own coffee at home)..... Buy everything in bulk (difficult when you don't consume it fast enough for it to expire, or have the money to do so at that moment)..... Sell old belongings (ive tried to no avail).... Sell your plasma????????
    T__T
    I totally feel this. I do have some suggestions. & Yes it completely sucks to be poor in America.

    * Do sell plasma- I think it's easier for men b/c there are weight guidelines for donation and men meet those more easily. & Hospitals need it anyways.

    * Have you applied for assistance? I avoided it for a long time & most states make it hard to get anyways. But there's no shame in taking small help to get to the next step.

    * Depending on where you live house cleaning services are a great thing to do to make extra money. A LOT of people hate doing their own cleaning. & If you're worried about reputation you can insist the home owner be there while you clean. (You can also get bonded/insured, which is what you should do anyway when you can afford to.)

    * Pet sitting. You can charge half of what a kennel does and still come out ahead. Plus people often donate/give away leftover pet supplies when their pets pass away. You can get free equipment to get started.

    * "Home health services" - it pays better with certification/working through an agency. You come in and check on elderly people and help them around the house.

    * Teaching yourself a trade you can do from home- one of my friends makes quilts, and I want to learn leatherworking. Yes supplies cost money but in time you can recoup what you spent.


    edit to add- I have more suggestions but don't want to cram several topics into one post. I'll add more downthread.

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Hello Lightning, blue here, I'll delete this if you only want pink responses:

    First: //It's expensive to be poor and I'm just so tired from it. :/ <- you couldn't be more correct. In some cases there is as much as a 40% premium on poverty for all the extra costs and fees levied by corporations who take advantage of vulnerable people. You definitely aren't alone in this or imagining it - it is a well documented tragedy.

    You know you've got the backbone, the motivation, and the intelligence to move to a better financial position. The first step to getting out of the cycle of enforced poverty is the same as getting out of any really difficult spot. You need to realistically assess your situation. You've done a little of that. From what you've written, your income is, I'd guess, $2,000 - $2,400 a month? Does your fiance contribute to the household income? What is your FICO like, if you're comfortable sharing that?

    Don't worry about coffee or any of that - LOL at selling plasma what knucklehead said that? Please don't.

    If I had to do it all over again (and it was much easier in my day) I'd identify one negative variable that I could change to a constant, such as your housing situation, or your vehicle. Variables introduce chaos, and what you need right now to build wealth is stability. If you're able to provide a bit more information, I'm happy to add some suggestions if you'd like.
    Where Am I? Missing NYC

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Hey , just offering some sympathy here and also a club hack.

    Are you by chance working most of the slower days?
    If not I highly recommend it !
    I can’t stand my club during peak hours for example ( I have similar tastes for environmental things and can’t stand chaos / loud ). I work my club most often Tues - Fri and if I do catch a weekend / chaos I often will leave at 1am instead of staying to the end .
    Last edited by carmen_b; 06-14-2019 at 02:14 PM.

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Snufs cleaning idea is good. I pay my cleaner a premium ( $30 an hour ) because she is good and reliable .
    It can be a good gig.

    Also , I’m not sure where you are but offering massage during day light hours might help you.
    Are you close to any hotels by chance with business travelers ?
    ( don’t do this if you are uncomfy with outcall risks )
    That is my not so secret hustle when I really need money.
    I also do it when I’m on the road stripping to offset hotel costs.

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    + 1 too for the pet sitting idea.

    Honestly , you can DO this.

    The truth is ( many people don’t want to hear this ) is that to get that financial push ... you may have to commit to working 50-60 hours a week temporarily to get ahead. Your partner should do that too.

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Two grown healthy working adults living in a cheap rental trailer should not be struggling to make ends meet or save up some money. Either you're spending too much on junk or one or both of you are not earning as much as you should be.

    Is he working 50+ hours a week? If not, then IMHO you should cattle prod his ass until he is and make sure he's bringing the paycheck home. In this economy there are help wanted signs everywhere. Also, if you're struggling at the club, it might be time to consider supplementing with some vanilla work. There is something seriously wrong if the two young healthy adults can't bring home at least $4,000 per month and really that number should be higher if the two of you are hustling. Your rent (on a trailer), groceries and utilities should be less than half that, so the rest is discretionary money.

    The nice thing about working long hours is that it also gives you a lot less time and energy to quickly spend the money you make. And yes, you did the right thing by putting s stop to his excess spending on crap vehicles. Now it may be time to take over the household finances and monitor what he's spending on other stuff as well.

    Is he interested in pursuing training in something like truck driving or welding? There is desperate need for these and other skills right now and they pay extremely well. Many of the programs will also finance students. Good welders and truck drivers can easily clear $60k per year. It sounds like your boy may need a little more hustle.

    As far as the car, consider financing a new cheap car. Many dealerships will finance almost anybody. I'm thinking like a cheap Kia with $200 per month car payments and a 100,000 mile warranty. And I say new because financing a used car is the worst thing you can do because you'll eventually be making both car payments and repairs. it's not sexy, but it will give you reliable wheels for some time to come at a cheap price.

    Anyway, just a few thoughts fwiw.

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Quote Originally Posted by lightningfarron View Post
    It sucks. It's not really a "me" problem, at first I just thought I was blowing all my money on makeup and video games and things I didn't need, then I started tracking what I was spending money on and realized I haven't really bought anything for myself recently - a few drugstore makeup products a month, a game here and there etc. Been wearing the same clothes since I moved even.

    I work in a club in a small city where leaving with $200 is a decent night for me, $300 is good, and $400 has me leaving estatic. <$150 is average though. I would honestly probably make more if I worked every weekend, admittedly, but I have autism and the sounds of more people than usual + party crowd + amped up music has me over stimulated and I just spend half of my shift in DR trying to get it together.

    So yeah once in a while I do have an awesome night, that is even more than 400 but then life happens and the money is spent on..... Bills, groceries, or my work shoes break and I need a new pair, or the car/bike needs something new, one thing after another. My fiance and I catch up, which is better than how a lot of people are doing now I suppose, but have nothing in savings.

    I'm incredibly frustrated. I want to buy a house or move out of our rental (a trailer which I cannot STAND being in) or have emergency cushion money or have a fund for when I'm burnt out of stripping and want to venture into something else. I just can't save it!!!!

    And advice online just tells you to stop buying $5 lattes... (i make my own coffee at home)..... Buy everything in bulk (difficult when you don't consume it fast enough for it to expire, or have the money to do so at that moment)..... Sell old belongings (ive tried to no avail).... Sell your plasma????????

    It's expensive to be poor and I'm just so tired from it. :/

    A lot of money these past few months also went towards vehicles.... We just cannot get a working vehicle and I'm so frustrated from that alone I just want to rip my hair out thinking about it. Every car or motorcycle we've purchased has had something wrong with it. And my fiance has reassured me he could fix it.... He couldn't. So I told him we are NOT buying anymore projects, we are only buying a vehicle if we can drive it home that day. He agreed and we bought a motorcycle.... Guy we bought it from lied about what was wrong with it and we almost got into an accident while on it. So now that moneys gone too.

    I just want a decent place to live, a working vehicle and financial stability, and I've been getting nowhere. I don't know if theres anything I can do any advice I can follow or whatever. I honestly just needed a place to vent but any input or even consolation is appreciated. T__T
    It sounds like you're overwhelming yourself. I suggest try making a small change that may rejuvenate your mind and spirit. How about setting a goal for a new place? A new environment may help with getting a new mindset. Seriously whenever I think about everything all at once, I accomplish less. Once you get a new place then tackle your transportation issue.

    Cheesy article alert:

    Desmond Tutu once wisely said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” What he meant by this is that everything in life that seems daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible can be accomplished gradually by taking on just a little at a time. If you’ve ever wanted to accomplish something major, you know that getting started can be a bit of a challenge. Maybe you have some vague idea about what you want but not clue how to get it. Or perhaps you sit down to think about everything you have to do and get completely intimidated, freezing up and feeling incapable of taking the first step. This is a common experience, and it’s the reason so many people fall short of turning their dreams into reality. They try to eat the whole elephant in a single bite. source

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Speaking from experience, selling plasma is not a bad way to pick up extra cash. Bonus: you get what amounts to a free physical exam.

    Definitely follow the suggestions other people had about picking up side gigs and consistently working slow day shifts. You can also do online sex work pretty much round the clock using sites like Phrendly.

    When I lived on $12,000/year, I had a $25/week grocery budget. I spent it on lentils, rice, bananas, oatmeal, peanut butter, spaghetti, canned tomato sauce, the occasional bag of frozen veggies. Always shopped at Walmart, always bought generic brands. I got my phone from Republic Wireless and my plan is $20/month.

    I also rode my bike almost everywhere and kept my beater car for emergencies (bought it used for $1500 and got minimal insurance).

    Explore your library. You can stream movies, get ebooks, and sometimes even rent tools with a library card.


    I am still super frugal. It's become a lifestyle. Mr. Money Mustache has great tips for living well on a tiny budget: https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/
    Last edited by Winged Dinghy; 06-14-2019 at 02:59 PM.

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Quote Originally Posted by rickdugan View Post
    Is he working 50+ hours a week? If not, then IMHO you should cattle prod his ass until he is and make sure he's bringing the paycheck home. In this economy there are help wanted signs everywhere. Also, if you're struggling at the club, it might be time to consider supplementing with some vanilla work.
    LOL Rick I was trying to be subtle about it but yes, the subtext was, is monsieur le fiance bringing in the cheddar? I like your way better.

    Quote Originally Posted by PhatGirlDynomite!!! View Post
    How about setting a goal for a new place?

    Desmond Tutu once wisely said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” What he meant by this is that everything in life that seems daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible can be accomplished gradually by taking on just a little at a time.
    Bishop Tutu. He knows.

    Quote Originally Posted by Winged Dinghy View Post
    Speaking from experience, selling plasma is not a bad way to pick up extra cash. Bonus: you get what amount to a free physical exam.
    Apologies. It seems very extreme for a small reward, but perhaps that's just my experience. I still don't advocate it but far be it from me to look down on anything anyone who is struggling financially does to survive and thrive.
    Where Am I? Missing NYC

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Quote Originally Posted by lightningfarron View Post

    I work in a club in a small city where leaving with $200 is a decent night for me, $300 is good, and $400 has me leaving estatic. <$150 is average though.
    It's expensive to be poor and I'm just so tired from it. :/
    Two hundred a night, five nights a week is a thousand dollars a week or $50,000 a year, if you figure two weeks off. One hundred fifty a night is still $750 for five nights or $37,500. That is not a lot but people live on it.

    Either you are mis-estimating your income or that money is going somewhere.

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    It's tough when your income is variable, but what's not variable (probably) is your bills. Work out EXACTLY what they are, and I mean just the essentials. Until you work this out (if you haven't already!) then you have no idea how much difference there is between your incomings and outgoings. It's the first thing you need to do. The next is to work out how much you earn, I'm in the UK so it's on my tax return for previous years but take an average. What's left between the two is what you have to work with.

    If there isn't much, you need to try to reduce your outgoings if you can or increase your incomings. If it turns out there is more than you realised then you have been spending money on rubbish that could be saved, even just a small amount. I don't know how much games are in the US but here, a brand new video game is around £50 so about $70, that's a lot you could put towards savings.

    This may sound simplistic but you need to know where you are before you can honestly say you have no money spare then work to change that. I'm betting you can make some savings without too much compromise if you have a good look.

    I also want to say, I don't want to patronise you. I've recently finished paying for £1,000's of debt that hung over me for over a decade. I know what money worries are like, big time. Debt sneaks up on you and the faster you can improve your situation the less of a problem it is, or of course can be totally avoided. You come across as someone with a lot more sense than I had all those years ago!

    Keep it simple, look at what you have to spend and what you don't, what you have coming in and do your best to increase the financial gap between the two. One step at a time! x

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    I want to thank everyone who commented!! I was honestly not in a good head place when I vented that last night, and am feeling much better today; I will get to answering now haha

    So first off, I may have been misunderstood by the $200 statement, that is a decent night but not average... I probably average $100 or less. Sometimes I leave oweing money. It sucks but there's no other options for clubs..
    I've been looking into vanilla work but what stinks is that I have autism and disabilities that I don't feel comfortable disclosing on a public forum, but working is just hard some days. I get that everyone has to do it though I'm just trying. Been trying to apply for state assistance, no luck there...

    On top of rent, our utilities are really high. Our trailer isn't "cheap" right now even though that's the stereotype. Our rent is about $700 (average or a bit less than average for here) but there's something wrong with the electricity wiring and we are paying too much per month for that and the landlord will not fix it. We also have to pay every other utility including propane for the stove. It's literally stupid imo how much we are paying in rent but no luck finding a new place so far. (I have bad credit, and other obstacles)

    A lot of people on here might judge me about what I have to say about my fiancé since I see a lot of advice here saying that your partner should be raking it in too. He is on state assistance so while his income does help it's only marginally so. I make the bulk of the money but he takes care of me in EVERY other way. He cleans, does some cooking (but tbf I enjoy cooking as a hobby so this is my choice, he's offered lol), respects and supports me, runs errands etc. He does not exploit me in any way and feels bad even asking for anything I make even to go to the sto r lol. He feels guilty he isn't bringing in as much money so we are trying to arrange something else for him but even so I am very happy being with him and don't want to leave him just because of the stereotype that men should be the providers. We both work together, we are happy. He does smoke cigarettes and is trying to quit (says he's bought his last pack today) and he is a heavy smoker - pack a day so I'm hoping this will help financially.

    I also have student debt(not much though, about $5k from when I was in college and dropped out- might try to get my loans forgiven or at least put on hold), and credit card debt from when I had to get a root canal and my insurance would not cover it.

    I would also like to mention we live in a food desert (an area with no grocery stores within walking distance) so until we get a car our food options have been Dollar General or takeout (not often though) we spend more on food than I would like, but grocery delivery isn't available in our area (maybe I can find someone willing to do it as an odd job?) and until we have a vehicle this is pretty much our only choice, it sucks.

    I will look into selling plasma, I've always wanted to give blood but never met the weight requirements. I've gained weight though so if I qualify I will do it. The free physical would be awesome too.

    I will answer more questions later and get into this later and more cohesively because I have to run out but thank you to everyone for the support again, it means a lot to me!

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    ^^A pack a DAY?!? - get him to quit stat - that will save money and if you love him he'll live a lot longer
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    I agree with Bahuba. My hubby's grandma smokes 2 packs a day, spends tons of money on cartons, and she's honestly only still alive at 90+ because she's wealthy. Get him to cut down at the very least. I'm not sure what other types of work you are open to? I don't know the internet situation with your trailer and all, but if possible, could you cam? Or do PSO or texting? Not saying to give up the club, just additional ways to make money if that will help.

    Also, you can check out my blog here on SW (signature) but I listed threads of information from here on other types of sex work/vanilla work (such as gig economy or work at home type stuff) and those might help if either you or BF need to increase your income in some way. Also, there's a thread list I made about saving money/making the most when you have little, so maybe that could help too.

    I would contact someone about your loans. You could qualify for $0 a month repayment plan (sounds like you might?) so that's worth looking at.

    Keep us updated!
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Quote Originally Posted by Bahuba View Post
    ^^A pack a DAY?!? - get him to quit stat - that will save money and if you love him he'll live a lot longer
    $10/month Wellbutrin vs $300/month cigarette habit

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2528204/

    Probably need to focus on earning more (while cutting back on things wasting money)

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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Quote Originally Posted by lightningfarron View Post
    I want to thank everyone who commented!! I was honestly not in a good head place when I vented that last night, and am feeling much better today; I will get to answering now haha

    So first off, I may have been misunderstood by the $200 statement, that is a decent night but not average... I probably average $100 or less. Sometimes I leave oweing money. It sucks but there's no other options for clubs..
    I've been looking into vanilla work but what stinks is that I have autism and disabilities that I don't feel comfortable disclosing on a public forum, but working is just hard some days. I get that everyone has to do it though I'm just trying. Been trying to apply for state assistance, no luck there...

    On top of rent, our utilities are really high. Our trailer isn't "cheap" right now even though that's the stereotype. Our rent is about $700 (average or a bit less than average for here) but there's something wrong with the electricity wiring and we are paying too much per month for that and the landlord will not fix it. We also have to pay every other utility including propane for the stove. It's literally stupid imo how much we are paying in rent but no luck finding a new place so far. (I have bad credit, and other obstacles)

    A lot of people on here might judge me about what I have to say about my fiancé since I see a lot of advice here saying that your partner should be raking it in too. He is on state assistance so while his income does help it's only marginally so. I make the bulk of the money but he takes care of me in EVERY other way. He cleans, does some cooking (but tbf I enjoy cooking as a hobby so this is my choice, he's offered lol), respects and supports me, runs errands etc. He does not exploit me in any way and feels bad even asking for anything I make even to go to the sto r lol. He feels guilty he isn't bringing in as much money so we are trying to arrange something else for him but even so I am very happy being with him and don't want to leave him just because of the stereotype that men should be the providers. We both work together, we are happy. He does smoke cigarettes and is trying to quit (says he's bought his last pack today) and he is a heavy smoker - pack a day so I'm hoping this will help financially.

    I also have student debt(not much though, about $5k from when I was in college and dropped out- might try to get my loans forgiven or at least put on hold), and credit card debt from when I had to get a root canal and my insurance would not cover it.

    I would also like to mention we live in a food desert (an area with no grocery stores within walking distance) so until we get a car our food options have been Dollar General or takeout (not often though) we spend more on food than I would like, but grocery delivery isn't available in our area (maybe I can find someone willing to do it as an odd job?) and until we have a vehicle this is pretty much our only choice, it sucks.

    I will look into selling plasma, I've always wanted to give blood but never met the weight requirements. I've gained weight though so if I qualify I will do it. The free physical would be awesome too.

    I will answer more questions later and get into this later and more cohesively because I have to run out but thank you to everyone for the support again, it means a lot to me!
    I think it's time for you to look into getting help from a third party there in your area. It sounds like you could use an assessment on your situation but it needs to be a person who is right there and can see the entire picture. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. But sometimes you just have to be honest and tell people what's up so they know how they can best help you with. If you don't have a relative to offer this guidance, then look into your community outreach groups. Every city has them but most people assume they don't meet certain requirements.

    Take a look at religious charities. Even if you don't attend their services, they will still assist you with things like food, furniture, bill payments and even a down payment for a new place.

    Check to see if you have a local Legal Aid Society. They may be able to help you with paperwork and getting approved for disability and section 8. Community Centers have access to all sorts of resources. Sometimes you can do this over the phone but I think it's best to just get up and go to all these places first thing in the morning. See if you can make an appointment. It's not going to be easy but if you're really committed to getting out of this situation you can get it done.

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  35. #18
    God/dess lynn2009's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    I know you said you have disabilities, but you attended college once, would you consider going back to school for an associates degree? If I could it all over again, I'd get an AA in nursing. You will always make a livable salary, where-ever you live. And your employer will pay for your B.S.
    "There are different kinds of darkness. There is darkness that frightens, the darkness that soothes, the darkness that is restful. There is the darkness of lovers, and the darkness of assassins. It becomes what the bearer wishes it to be, needs it to be. It is not wholly bad or good."
    - The Court of Mist and Fury

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  37. #19
    God/dess carmen_b's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Barter babysitting with neighbors if they will help you with a grocery run .
    If any have cars pay them with 1-2 hours or so of kid help for a ride and back.

    Think of more little hustles like this.
    What can you trade for rides ect. where it’s even on both sides?

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  39. #20
    God/dess rickdugan's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    $700 a month for a place to live is cheap. Even if you are paying another $300 per month in utilities you are getting a bargain compared to what many pay in other places.

    The primary reason that you are in such poverty is that you are trying to support two people by yourself on a fluctuating income. I'm not going to criticize you for what the heart wants, but if he is able to clean, cook, run errands, fix cars (or attempt to anyway), etc., then he has to be able to work somewhere. It's time to stop "trying to arrange something else for him" and just do it. You simply cannot carry him like this forever and will never escape poverty if he doesn't help.

    Anyway, good luck as you work through all of this.

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  41. #21
    Featured Member Ifyouseekamy's Avatar
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    I just want to say I have autism too. So I get where you are coming from. What’s your special interest? Mine is unfortunately philosophy-not a great hobby. Get obsessed with something that pays good money? I tried computer programming...I really tried but I hated it. I’m obsessing about health care which means $$$. As an autistic person the best we can do is fake it in the workplace and hone in on a special interest that can pay the bills. I’m also interested in personal development, but i don’t think anyone wants life coaching from a stripper. Who knows? LOL. I definitely would have a niche market though...ha.

    im sorry you’re having a tough time. ^^^ All great advice. I’m doing a 12 step underearners program right now. I like it cause I need support and it’s free.
    Last edited by Ifyouseekamy; 06-15-2019 at 03:32 AM.

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  43. #22
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Try the thrift store or a pawn shop and get a bicycle and a backpack. That should help with the groceries. I have seen a guy in our small town towing a push mower behind his bike. I conclude he mows lawns.

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  45. #23
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    There's a great book called "your money or your life" that could be a great place to start. Also I second financing a Kia. They are reliable, decent cars. I have had zero problems with mine for 8 years straight and was paying about $200 a month. Didn't need to spend a penny on repairs, only regular oil changes. That would take care of your car chaos for years.

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  47. #24
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    The car situation must be fixed first, whatever it takes. Without wheels, you won't be able to do much of anything, including work or obviously buy decent groceries. Can you sell off the junkers currently sitting in your yard for scrap metal or spare parts? This might help with a down payment or to pay someone to fix one of the clunkers.

    Is the Dollar General within walking distance hiring? How about the local takeout restaurants? Maybe it's time for the BF to walk down the street and fill out a few employments applications. Everyone is having trouble finding help right now, especially restaurants and retail stores. Could you pick up a few daytime retail shift somewhere and dance at night? When you're BAF there should be nothing that you're too good to do for honest work if it kicks of a steady paycheck.

    The last thing I'll say is this: If you're struggling at the club and it's your sole source of income, you are at serious risk of dancing while desperate, which is never a position you want to be in. In fact, you're always just one overdue rent payment or utility shutoff notice away from being in that position and I'm guessing that it has already happened. That is not good as some saltier club hounds can sniff that out and try to leverage it. That's all I'm going to say on that topic.

  48. #25
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    Default Re: I can't save money and it's really discouraging

    Boyfriend is already on state assistance. A real job could disqualify him. He will have to be in the all cash economy

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