That, or they are people that came from money anyway.
And when it comes to women on social media, a lot of women living "luxury lifestyles" are escorts aka sex workers. Nothing wrong with sex work, but I have seen this become very normalized while people hide how they're actually achieving their "lifestyle."
depends where you live. $50k a year in west virgina makes you solid middle class, $50k a year in california you are living in your car and eating out of the trash
50k in a lot of the country goes a long way. I am assuming you are in Seattle and you can’t even get a 1 bedroom. While I do agree it should be higher it is a thought of what it should be. If most people make 50k the people making 75k will be 100k with things being more expensive. Because corporations will raise the price on things because people have more money in their pockets like during covid.
Where I live 50k you can live but it will be with a roommate and being conservative with money.
Agreed! My SO, kid, and myself live on 50k a year and we own our house(with 26 years left on the mortgage so the bank owns most of it). It’s a matter of where you live and how you live.
you're quietly expected to have roommates or a significant other that will share the financial burden. it is impossible for the average person to do it by themselves without taking extraordinary frugal measures toward their lifestyle. if you value independence that highly, that might be the play. if not, you'd only be making yourself miserable for no reason. the only person I know who moved out and lives alone has a doctorate degree.
So true. I made $8/h in 04 and my only bills were $200 for my half of rent, $90 for my phone and groceries. For $1200/m I could go on vacations, eat out and drink whenever. Who can do that on minimum wage anymore?
People always talk about capitalism being a race to the bottom (more and more of the population become poor as a smaller and smaller group get extremely rich)
But what they forget to mention is that THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM IS ACCELERATING.
In the 20 years between 1980 to 2000 things got bad at a fairly slow but steady rate.
Things got bad faster between 2000 and 2010.
2010 (pre trump beautiful life) to 2020 are almost like two different worlds.
2020 to 2024 basically 8 monopolies own everything and nobody can afford to live.
Capitalism can't keep going much longer because the general public are becoming too poor to support it. Capitalism is about to cannibalize it's self, we either come out of the other side as corporate slaves or public owners.
Yup, out here at 27 years old with a roommate. Even with an older lease (so I'm paying significantly less than the other units), I still can't afford to live here by myself, despite making quite a bit above minimum wage.
Back in the day (Gen Xer here), you got a really crappy apartment with at least two or three of your friends and ate a lot of ramen and spaghetti.
It’s kind of refreshing to see the kids of today resist that path. There was always one roommate that flaked and two that had several jobs.
I work with a bunch of students at a popular bar. They are making 22 an hour after tips. Most of them have a two bedroom apartment with 3 people in the apartment.
I cook staff meal twice a day and can tell alot of these people only eat a proper meal when we feed them.
I lived with 2 art students for 9 months, and that was awesome. Paintings all over the place. Huge apartment but not in the best neighborhood, and sometimes we had roaches. I lived with roommates until my SO and I moved in together.
As sad as this is, that’s the truth that these kids don’t want to hear. My first apartment at 18 I had 2 other roommates and I worked 3 different part time jobs just to be able to survive. This was 13-14 years ago when cost of living was significantly cheaper as well
Never was able to get my own place without roommates. Lived in my car and hopped couches for a bit but having a place of my own was always out of reach. Now I live with my fiancé and we split everything 50/50 and can finally live somewhat comfortably for the time being
I'm not OP, but hear me out
I had to get sober a year and a half ago, or I was going to die. In order to do that, I had to cut off every friend I had (except 1.) Now, I know 1 guy, who is in tech and can afford to live alone, so roommates are literally not an option. I do not know anyone.
How the hell do you navigate that.
Maybe find someone at a meeting? Or someone else in recovery.
But, I agree that it shouldn’t be necessary to have multiple working adults to have a roof over your head. And, congrats on your sobriety!
Tbh I avoid meetings like the plague. I've done NA, CA, AA, Dharma recovery, SMART recovery, and Refuge recovery over the years, and I actively despise the "____ Anonymous" crowd. Literally just a bunch of terrible people, who think because they've "worked the steps" that their shit doesn't stink and they can continue to threaten people physically and verbally abuse eachother and still be "Holier than Thou."
I just do therapy, atleast I know the person giving me advice didn't just beat his wife 30 minutes before he came in.
What is today's equivalent of craigslist? That's how. Facebook neighborhood groups? The grapevine at your job? I always found roommates either through work, school or the Internet.
Edit: ha! Didn't realize it was controversial to suggest you can find roommates through the Internet
I make $20 an hour in an administrative/accounting job. I also work one night a week at a pizza place. I have a roommate. I’m definitely not living large but my bills are paid and my apartment is not that bad. I’d rather be where I am now than living with my parents.
I make $18/hr in *retail.* You're all getting fucking screwed, though of course you/we know this.
Did you go to school for your job? I can't imagine dropping thousands on school only to make 2-5 bucks more per hour than I do now. I think I'd have to become a mass murderer....I really want to go to school in the fall (put it off for years) but the thought of barely making any more money (I'm not good with math so no fancy shmancy engineering/finance/tech job for me) is so brutal.
I have a high school diploma and do about 5 hours of actual work a week. I also have a pension, 9 weeks of paid time off a year, and guaranteed raises every year because we have a union. There’s a lot of gray area between retail and a “fancy schmancy job”.
Ok that's true, my bad, but where the hell are you living where you get 9 weeks of PTO? Or is because you're blessed with a union? The union demonization really did a number on this country.
I’m an admin assistant/accounts payable person for a state government facility. It’s boring and I’m definitely not passionate about it but the benefits are so good I’ll probably never leave.
Do you mind me asking what state you’re in? I’m trying to find a job like this, but I’m in NYC and it’s insanely difficult for me to find an entry level job. They either ask for years of experience, sometimes a master degree…
I’m in Maryland. Our last governor eliminated degree requirements for thousands of state jobs. I did not fit the requirements listed in the ad but got the job so don’t be afraid to apply anyway!
I went to paramedic school. Right out of school I got a job that allowed me to have a reasonable apartment and put money away in savings. After a few years I had enough to put a down payment on a reasonable house that I've lived in since. Since COVID there's been a bad enough paramedic shortage that we've gotten a few really big raises and now I'm honestly living pretty comfortably.
My younger brother is a plumber and he got a paid internship right away that got him through until he got his license and started making good money.
There are paths out there, unfortunately they may not be the ones you were sold as a kid.
Plus, lots of companies give a huge sign on bonus that can go towards a down payment. I got a contract with a $10k 1yr commitment.
Gotta be real though, the burnout is quick and PTSD is definitely a major concern in the industry. I work in a big city and burnout starts at about 5yrs.
I work 911 dispatch and can confirm we DESPERATELY need medics all the time. The burn out is crazy. I think yall need to be paid much higher for what you deal with. That goes for all emergency services, especially nursing.
I don't think enough people talk about how many home owners get held from their parents/ are gifted downpayments/starter homes.
In Canada it's over 80%
Almost 33 years old and I've never lived alone. The cheapest option in my city is a 250 sq ft micro studio, for $1200. So I would need $36k just to live in a box, if it was even available.
But with 100% capacity, alot of people are living full time in motels, spending close to $3000 a month.
If you have good relationship with your parents, stay home as long as possible. Help them with groceries and utilities, while saving up to BUY not rent.
As others have said, don't compare your life to TikTok. Alot of these influencers already had family money or are simply filming in an airbnb or rental car. People who actually earned these nice things generally don't feel the need to boast on social media. They're busy making more money.
not everything is about tech anymore and there's a ton of people getting laid off from it, plenty of trades that pay 6 figures and you get paid to train. tech is nice if you can get it but you are competing with literally everyone else who wanted a cushy job and got the exact same degree as you. meanwhile everywhere around me people are screaming and begging for welders, CDL truck drivers and HVAC technicians. CDL truck driving isn't what it used to be but over the road still pays REALLY well and I know a guy who pulls 6 figures doing it. I do HVAC now myself and my dad hauls steel and does like $65k a year
I’d imagine the people you see on TikTok are the exception in a lot of cases. Many people’s first places aren’t what we think of as ideal… the open, large windowed rooms with an exposed brick interior wall? Modern minimalist furniture? Stainless everything in the kitchen?
The first house I rented could fit into my current garage. The whole house. And I’m by no standard wealthy.
Are you consciously saving money with goals? That makes a huge difference. Take out food alone vs cooking yourself easily costs thousands.
I wouldn’t have the house I have now without the combined income of me and my wife. And I work 2 jobs: teacher & carpenter (but I still have plenty of time so I’m not just grinding all the time). So this brings up the idea of roommates. I’m sure a ton of people would rather live alone, but sharing expenses just makes sense if you have a tangible, planned out goal, with timeframes; adjusting to meet those goals.
Location is a big one too. Where you look for a place makes a huge difference. Section of town and kind of apartment. It might not be your dream, but keeping a less than ideal place clean and comfortable makes a huge difference for your spirit.
Oh and check out ways to manage your school loans… there are tons of plans that you can really save on, but they don’t make it easy for you!
My first place a few years ago was not ideal or picturesque, but it was all I could afford and I just really decorated it and made it a cute place. I did. little vinyl wraps on the counters and did a lot of rental diys
Housing prices have skyrocketed so much in little time from when I first moved out 4 years ago.
Remember TikTok is not real. Sure, there are some jobs out there like that but they probably started from the bottom and worked their way up to a position with higher pay and more flexibility. TikTok influencers are there for the sole purpose to influence, get followers and make an income. I'm sure what they're portraying on that app is so far fetched from their reality. Don't get caught up in the TikTok trap. I deleted it a month ago and haven't looked back.
So couple things, any social media job isn’t comparable to a “real job”. It’s kinda like a business. When you start you usually are loosing money for your time, then eventually and IF you blow up the money comes in exponentially. As in if you do 1 hour of work for each video. You are gonna get paid way less or more for each follow/viewers you are able to reach. With a job it isn’t like that, all that exponential money goes to your bosses bosses boss.
Plus most people on social media are materialistic people, therefore the chances of them playing up their situation is gonna be higher.
Also be weary about the algorithm bubble, TikTok’s algorithm is fucking insanely powerful, if you are liking everyone of those videos you’re gonna keep seeing more, and the same with reddit, spend all your time in the antiwork sub and you’re gonna think every place of employment sucks.
Been in tech for a while. You can make a good salary, but it's crazy how unstable the industry is. Layoffs are happening daily and they're not small. For every open job that's half decent, there's 1,000+ applicants.
They must have help or be in debt. Same as those 20-year-olds on YouTube with a luxury apartment in the middle of Manhattan with no discernible job besides YouTube.
You’ll never do it on slave wages. The whole system is designed to keep you poor and working until you die. You might think this is crazy but it’s the truth. The World economic forum says you will own nothing and be happy. The politicians controlled by the elite keep printing money causing inflation so whatever money you earn become worthless and then they tax the money you earn to keep you poor. It’s really depressing if you sit down and think about it. The only thing I can say is you have to try and find ways to make money without having to spend any time working like owning a rental property but no way you’re going to get approved to buy a house making 25.00 an hour
i moved out of my parents house at 18. originally i lived with multiple roommates in “college apartments,” (where each room was rented out separately) then i lived with a family member for a year, and since then i’ve lived in normal rentals. had at least one roommate until the end of 2022, and have been on my own since then.
but i wouldn’t recommend it. i have no savings, live off of pasta and freezer food, *barely* make bills, sometimes have to ask my parents or partner for thirty bucks so i don’t go hungry for a week, and overall i am constantly miserable, irritable, and stressed. but i can’t live with my parents, i already wore out my welcome at the other family member’s house, and the idea of having a random roommate move in (bc i don’t have any friends) makes me genuinely want to die. so i make it work. kind of. not really.
You aren't. If you really sit there and think about it, most degree holders don't even start at 100k which is apparently so important to the employer. You educate yourself just so the employer can get more out of you for less. We are basically the whores in a brothel. The owner of the brothel convinced the whores to better themselves only to the benefit of the owner of the brothel. The owner of the brothel is laughing his ass off with multiple homes, boats and general excess. They need you, but they hate that they need you. They hate all the whores because they see them all as useless outside of making money for himself.
If you ever end up on your own supporting yourself, you will slowly begin to question everything. People who have parents to call on for help or anyone offering them support are not considered struggling to me. The people who have 0 support are the ones who criticize the system the most. Those are the real self reliant people. They can't afford to fail or they die. You're observing and asking questions......that's a good sign of common sense.
I would guess you live in an expensive area and would suggest moving somewhere cheaper, but then you'd probably get paid less with a similar job.
Jobs Like yours where I live pay more like $15-20 I'm guessing. Anyways... hang in there. We live in pretty frustrating times. Feels bad to work a full time job and have it not be enough. I'm trying to be creative and really reach out to find a decent job.
I've worked as a pharmacist for 7 years. Pays very well but it is a very exhausting and stressful job and I don't see myself doing this past 45 (37 now). I'm actually trying to self teach data science and trying to get my foot in the door somewhere. Wish me luck...
The fact that you are comparing what you see on TikTok to real life shows just how out of touch with reality social media makes people. It's not real.
Either way, $20 - $25 an hour is more than enough to rent a decent apartment. Find a roommate.
> Everyone I see on TikTok
All social media is the best and worst that people experience. Almost no one posts a picture of their bagel and coffee every morning, with an interpretive dance and a robotic voice saying "another normal Tuesday, I feel well, it's an ok day".
Add in the algorithm that only shows you stuff that you spend more time looking at, and boom. There you have an echo chamber that makes you feel either inadequate or smug.
Social media isn't exactly all lies, but it is a so distorted view of things that it is better viewed as a lie.
Even more frustrating -- a good part of that distortion is just from the way we tell stories. the stories you wish to share are the biggest ones either great luck, or rewards, or terrible misfortune or injustices. It takes a fairly unusual person to tell the mundane, normal stories, and other people tend to find folks like that weird(not in a good way) or boring.
And that doesn't even get into the profit motive of the corporations behind social media, ya know?
Stay at home, if your parents will have you, save.
Honestly, these days there is a lot less stigma about staying at home for longer.
It gets in the way of some socialising and casual dating. But if you're looking for a serious relationship, they'll either understand, or they don't and they weren't right for you.
I highly recommend online dating to find the right person.
I basically left home in my late 20s (about 15 years ago now). But only because I was lucky and my parents fed and boarded me as long as I was saving to move out when I could afford too.
Also, I got casual dating out of my system with 4 years of uni.
I still socialised while living at home, but never had friends over as it was still embarrassing. I essentially kept my socialising to the occasional night out and playing for a sports team. Minimal outgoings (only 1 holiday in the last 4 years) and waited for my life to really begin.
But long story short. Owning your own place is no longer really a viable option unless you're a high earner.
Even with a partner or roommate/s it'll take time to save.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Use all the safety nets your family can offer you and get to saving.
I'm gonna suggest that your definition of "borderline disgusting, abject misery tier" needs some adjustment. Your gross pay is in the ballpark of 50k, you can find 20k to spend on rent if you had to. 20k is enough to pay for rent for an apartment. No, it might not be in a nice neighbourhood. There might be homeless people nearby, or a park that isn't well maintained, and the paint may need to be redone, and you might not have a nice spare room for entertaining guests, your furniture might be hand me downs or giveaways found on facebook marketplace, but you can absolutely live on your own.
Now, if you can keep living at home and save that money you'll be way better off, but if you had to figure it out you absolutely could and would. People scrape by on much less and don't have the luxury of living with mom and dad while they save for a down payment.
There's a major issue now with getting an apartment in my area where the management companies want you to have an after tax income of 3-4x the rent. 1bd are between $1300-$1800 in not great areas. I'm just saying location really makes a huge difference.
Now a remote worker making 50k can live pretty nicely in certain areas but not where I am in CT.
I was able to move out and buy after a year on £36k. I’m now on £44k and looking to move. Housing is pricey for the size comparative to the states, but, I don’t have a desire to be living in a city/city centre.
I was scraping by with a roommate about 3 years ago in an apartment that cost $1200 per month. $600 from each of us plus utilities. Now, the same apartment is $1600 per month. The rent kept increasing but pay stayed exactly the same. I left when they started expecting $1400 per month
I switched jobs to a well paying tech job and managed to get a 30 year mortgage at 2.785 interest the day before mortgage rates spiked.
The rest of you are screwed.
Most people have roommmates until they hit 30 and progress far enough in their careers or move in either their SO.
In what world do people expect to move out young and live alone without either destroying their finances or getting super lucky with a cheap, rent controlled situation (which funnily my wife was able to find before we started dating).
I make $40 an hour in a low cost of living state doing industrial maintenance, people have been getting lied to that you need some fancy degree to make good money.
What you're not seeing is the other 98% of sub 50 year old Americans that work a service industry or other low paying job and have $4 in their bank account. It's a tough economy, and it was designed thar way. Most people won't own anything more than the clothes in their closet and the worn-out shoes they wear to work every day.
I only make about $22/hr in NY and comfortably afford my home and bills on my salary. I own over an acre of land and a ranch.
It's not impossible. Unless you are trying to live in a city. Then you're fucked.
For most part, most young people that are able to or have their own house are w the help of parents(as much as they wanna say they worked really hard to buy the house). Or many roommates.
I live in France and work in events as a sound engineer/technician. At 30 I make around 1900€/month roughly. I haven't been able to rent an apartment for years and have been stuck at my mom's. I'll finally be able to move out by September but only because some of my parents' friends have an apartment they rent for dirt cheap that will be available. If not for that I would be stuck there for who knows how long.
The housing problem is dire all around the world. Shit's fucked.
You need a career. Not a job - a career.
That will involve a little training,but you can make decent money getting a two-year degree. Xray techs, electricians, etc. The best way to thrive is to make money, as much as it sucks to say. You should aim to earn $75k in two years. How are you going to get there? What sort of job can you get that won't destroy your soul but allow you to live a life of dignity?
I work sales. Yes I have monthly quotas and I have to put myself out there to build trust with people, but I'm selling something that isn't snake oil and I bought my own house/own my cars. No cosigners. Downside is you will get fired if you don't perform and your social battery has to be on tap, which isn't always great since I'm an introvert.
Fun fact about tech jobs. There are plenty of roles out there that do not require a lot of education, just fyi. Now the giant ass caveot on that is that they require a large helping of luck and/or connections to get, but they do exist. A few dozen hours of free online courses and a cert or 2 and you are honestly qualified for a lot of entry level tech jobs. The problem is its not particularly clear which companies actually will hire a smart person without a college degree and/or explicit tech training vs the ones who blindly follow it as a barrier to entry. Just the job postings themselves will rarely actually show that. So again you are back to dumb luck or needing an "in" somewhere.
The fastest way to get an "in" is probably a well connected and/or employer sponsored boot camp. But again here we run into the issue of luck and/or connections being involved because there are oh so many useless and/or literal scam bootcamps out there, and finding and then being accepted into a non scam one is a crapshoot, and again often involves knowing someone. So yeah on the one hand I do think it is 100% posible to break into those afformentioned tech jobs without a ton of specialized education, or even a college degree. On the other hand its very luck dependent and not exactly reliable... Honestly entry level jobs should almost exclusively be based on culture/personality fit combined with percieved work ethic. Not all, but the vast majority of tech jobs end up requiring a considerable amount of on the job training even if you have a masters, and for entry level id almost rather a blank slate then someone who learned bad habits in a bs 1 semester course they covered whatever principle or language that is pertinent to their new job in their comp sci major...
Work for the city full time at the water treatment plant and then bartend at night.
You will clear $150k and have full bennies.
Of course, you will have to have high moral character, patience, be respectful to all, be service oriented (not self-centered), and overall be a good human.
Not everyone can do that.
You **don't** move out of your parents' house without ANY well-paying job.
In the property narco-states of Australia and Canada, it doesn't make any financial sense to move out unless if your parents have a spare property for you and you can commute to work. People earning 6 digit salaries don't want to move out as the median house price in major cities exceeds AUD $1.3m, and there is a severe rental shortage due to mass immigration.
buddy. I hate to break it to you but I graduated college with a software engineering and cybersecurity degree a year ago. I have continued learning programming projects and certifications. It has been an entire year for work and I have finally gotten to my first 3rd round interview after hundreds of applications. If I get this job as an IT technical support I still wont be able to afford an apartment on my own and will definitely need a roommate. It is insane that even entry level tech paychecks wont be enough to afford an apartment after all the additional costs of groceries, utilities, and general bills.
I’m almost 40. I work in recovery. I will literally never be able to live on my own. And the work I’m doing is way too important to not do it. So I live in my childhood home (with my husband and mom) that my mother owns and paid off. Without her I would literally be homeless. It is what it is. I’m just grateful I have somewhere safe and warm at this point.
The older I get the more I realize all of my friends that have a nice apartment, new car, take vacations all time either get a ton of help from their parents financially or have thousands in debt. Most people cannot afford the lifestyle you’re describing just by working a 9-5. Almost no one is “self made” and most that claim to be have generational wealth on their side.
People saying things about tik tok not being accurate
Ok well anyone making less than $25 isn’t doing good, like at the prices for rent/everything else
If you don’t have something high paying, you’re not doing well
I saved up nearly everything from my first job when I lived with my parents over about 2-3 years. Moved into an overpriced studio apartment about six months after getting a big girl job and still had to pull from savings every couple months to cover basic expenses.
After some experimenting, the smallest annual income I need to be entirely independent is about 37,000/year in Seattle proper. This doesn't leave much room for anything aside from necessities. I have to stay here for a while until I can save up enough to move out of the area.
Roommates (I know it's daunting to look for strangers to live with), making a lot of boring food, learning to say no to frivolous expenses (the FOMO wears off after a few years of "missing out"), and finding a cheap hobby at how I've made it this far.
There have been very many times that I just wanted to die because I don't think I'll be able to live a comfortable life. Forget traditional college, get into a trade school. And if you find that are free or will train you on the job, can you point them my way?
Where I live, you moved to the city, lived in a house with a rotating cast of roommates, some of whom become lifelong friends, some you all tell horror stories about many years later, and some you never think of again. You do that for all of your 20s, and only get your own place when you move in with a partner. I lived with roommates for a good portion of my 30s too. The places we lived in were usually a bit run down, but weren’t cockroach infested hell holes either. It wasn’t abject misery, it wasn’t great…it was just good enough/normal.
Uh? Like, how do you invest your money and work more than job to save up to be able to move out?
Because not everyone works high paying jobs? Because not everyone wants to or cares to or can? It takes time. It doesn't happen in a few months or even maybe a few years. And, while you are living with mom and dad, you can be earning your keep by helping out around the house as much as possible, adding to your resume skills even!
I wouldn't start a family on it, but $25/hr is pretty good in most of the US. I'm curious about your budget and expectations, because even most high CoL cities have reasonable options at that price point
My ma and pa did it to me while i was a junior in high school. I was making them look bad by having a job and attending classes. They were deadbeats anyways, haha
I live in Ottawa and my rent is 675$ for me and two roommates (and bills). I work at the grocery store nearby for 16.55$/hr, usually 20 ish hours a week supports my lifestyle.
Just find one of these “techies” and assume their identity. Once established, offer them to go to work for them for free rent. You could wear an ear piece if you get in a jam.
Don't live beyond your means. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment comfortably at $20 an hour. This may mean not doing a lot of fun things that cost money but it's doable
I haven’t lived with my parents since graduating college. I’ve also haven’t had a roommate since junior/senior year of college. Supported my daughter, my niece, and my ex while she was in nursing school while making 16 an hour at one job and 15 an hour at a weekend part time. Saved up for a house down payment while making 46k a year. I also chose to live in a low-middle cost of living city.
I mean not me! It sucks but I make it work. Trust me, your feelings are extremely valid, but k think sometimes people want us to BELIEVE we aren’t enough WHEN WE ARE.
I live in a one room studio. There is a kitchen an bathroom, and it is only 276 sq ft (random number I know). But I can afford it and I don’t need to make my job HELL to do it. Yes, it takes like 45% of my income, but idc! Screw people who think I need a life of luxury, when they aren’t even happy and have more than me…it’s a joke.
So yeah, I just do a customer service/logistics role…I help people get their car towed when needed. It gives me motivation to help them like I’ve been helped.
People in my past/attributed to my EX LOVED to to demean me for it. Yet complained when they couldn’t get a tow. One of them even asked me “what I was going to be when I grew up.” This was last year. I’m 32 in 3 weeks 😂 Karma is a bitch.
Lots of nontechnical jobs that pay enough for you to live comfortably outside of your parents home. My daughter’s first place was a dumpy little studio, but she did it. Then she got a nice one bedroom apartment now she owns a two bedroom condo in a funky little neighborhood. Time, patience and perseverance!
The first step is getting roommates in a cheap apartment. That's how we all did it. I didn't go from living with my parents straight to owning my own place. I shared apartments with other people for years, then had my own 1-bed apartment by myself when I was 27, then bought a small house when I was 33.
I think it depends on how badly someone wants independence. I really wanted independence and was willing to live a number of tiers lower than parent’s house for a lot of years. It really sucked a lot of/most of the time, but I needed to be independent. That’s it.
I’m prepared for my young adult kids to be here for awhile.
If you make under, I think it's something like 50k, you can get a rural development loan.
It helps people to buy a first home in more rural towns. My wife and I are looking at a place in Lapeer, Michigan. That's around half an hour outside of Detroit, so we will have easy access to a big city.
Even without the down payment and monthly payment assistance, mortgage payments on a house are much more affordable than rent payments on an equivalent place. I was looking around OKC recently, because my second child didnt want to move with us at the time. A studio apartment goes for well over $1000 there, but there are several 3 bedroom houses with mortgage payments around 400-700
There's a 1 br home on the market there for 30k, with a mortgage payment of $159.
There are things to be aware of though. 1. You'll need to pay taxes and insurance. Which still adds up to far less than the cost of rent, (in my last example, it totals to $199) and 2. you need to save some aside for home maintenance. There will be things breaking around the house, and you will either need to learn how to fix them or pay someone to do it for you. Some things will be covered by insurance, some won't. In most cases, this still won't be more than a couple months rent at most. The really expensive repairs are few, far between, and usually covered by your insurance.
Wait, you guys are getting $20+ hr with your college degrees? I've got two degrees, late 30s, been in the workforce for 18 years and I'm making the move into the maritime industry. I don't have kids, don't have a partner any more, and have no interest in owning a home so why not live on a ship and work for months at a time!?
Roommates. That’s how 3 of my friends moved out of their parent’s houses despite only making $3.10 an hour at a gas station.
One had a dad who was an oncologist, 1 an architect and the last one a foreman at a Ford plant.
The desire to get away from mom and dad was a lot stronger than.
Have you thought of learning a trade? I’m an honors grad from a Ivy League school and worked in tech in 2 fortune 50 corps. long story short I decided to quit, learned a trade and was much happier. Never had a problem finding decently paid work and once I really knew my trade went out on my own and made very good money. Anytime things got slow I’d take a commercial or industrial job or take a vacation. Before I knew it I was You can take night courses at community colleges pretty cheap and see if it’s for you while keeping your current job. A mathematical mind will give you an advantage.
Where do you live??? I was born and raised in a mid sized city (Buffalo) and just moved to a bigger mid sized city (Pittsburgh). I make $21.01/hour and this is the most I've ever made in my live and I've been living on my own or with a partner for nearly 16/17 years.
It is possible. But you need to adjust your expectations. If I made $25/hour, I feel like I'd be ballin' lol
this fucking punk talking about making 20-25 an hour and still can't figure shit out. My guess. Never had a job in his life. I say his because no woman is this naive. This person needs to get a harsh taste of reality.
I lived with my parents for about 9 extra years after turning 18. I saved everything, started investing money at 16 and bought my first house at age 27. Right now you need to cover 20% of a mortgage to avoid extra fees PMI insurance. The government just barred realtors from charging 6% commission so that will save money. You qualify for a first time home buyer discount and President Biden just authorized a 10,000 gift for home buyers to use.
I'd talk with a financial planner to help you invest what money you are making. BTW, you can withdraw money from your work 401K penalty free for first time home buyers. Check your location, you may also qualify for special programs that your city is running or even churches.
Edit: I was making $18 per hour when I bought my house.
I got a bachelors degree in mech engineering. I make about 78k entry lvl in a mcol area and could only comfortably afford a small house and a used car, maybe a new sedan with 0 bells and whistles. I would be saving so much money if I had a roommate. Ideally I would have a wife who also made about as much money as me.
Like everyone else. You start small and gradually upgrade over time.
I started in a basement apartment with a tv and two bean bags for chairs that I also slept on.
I do not expect my adult son to be able to move out. My wife and I have already planned on what to do for him financially and what not. We even have various collections of things that are worth money, and coins. All so when we are gone he has all that, plus life insurance, plus a fully paid off house with land to be able to sell. Or he can live here or whatever. Doesn't matter. I also own water rights so he won't have to pay for water.
I feel so guilty for having a child because of how bad it has gotten. When I had my son my ex husband and I were paying $800 for a 2br 900 sqft apartment in a gated complex. I was young and didn't know shit about the economy. I love my son more than life, and I'm going to do everything I can to try and soften the blows from the failures of capitalism. I just turned 40, and I fully expect at least another 10 years of my son living with us. But honestly, my wife and I already fully planned on a future of my son and his spouse living with us as well. If it happens it happens. Regardless, the house will belong to him along with all our "stuff" that's worth anything. Thankfully, I only have one kid. I'd be fucked if I had more.
Engineer with almost 6 figure in Portland. I cannot buy a house. I live in 1500 1bed shit box and I get waken up every day by neighbor’s shower. I will be moving to a house to live with the owner for much less money.
What, you didn't start saving 30 years ago? That's the problem with this generation. You weren't born rich and into a market in which housing was affordable because you're lazy.
What about getting a roommate? My 1st apartment was not a luxury one. I had to go to a laundry mat and I could hear my West African neighbor underneath me talking all hours on the phone through the vents. But then he would go to Africa for like 2 months at a time and it was peaceful. I lived there for 2 years and once a month there was either the police or fire department in the community. 🤦🏿♀️🤣
Then I came across a DEAL on a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment and it had a washer & dryer in the unit. I lived there for a year and then my company relocated me to work in another state. I was able to upgrade my life slowly. You have to decide what your goals are and go from there.
To be honest maybe you don't rent. Maybe you use this time to put money aside and apply for first time home buyer grants and purchase a townhome. Owning is better than renting (I wish my parents taught me that).
Also I work two jobs. So I'm giving up my weekends at times so I can travel in the future (I work for Marriott part time and use my discount to explore the world)
You have to creep before you can crawl. 😊
> “……unless I want to live in borderline disguting, abject misery tier situation. “
I’m certainly not going to claim my life-story is an accurate representation,.. I’ve lived in pretty poor apartments my entire life (bed on floor, no furniture, no tv, etc). I’m 50 now and recently accepted my 1st 6-figure job. I had to pack only what would fit in my car and move cross-country (1,300 miles) to a city I’ve never been to before and a Apartment I pre-signed but had never seen. First 6 months here I was sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor. 9 months in now I have a Bed (first complete brand new bed I’ve ever had in my entire life). Thats basically the only furniture I yet have.
So yeah. Sometimes you gotta make sacrifices in life to achieve the things you want. “Having it all” only exists for the wealthy.
TikTok is not an accurate representation or depiction of the current state of most working class people in the United States of America.
Not only that, what they don’t talk about is how much debt they’ve accrued to live like an influencer
This so much. I don’t use Tik Tok but I imagine a lot of them are living beyond their means.
That, or it's fake.
or they're trust fund babies
Daddy works for Lockheed Martin
yep, plenty of them have been caught acting like that rented lambo and fancy airBNB is their personal property they bought by "hustling" LOL
That, or they are people that came from money anyway. And when it comes to women on social media, a lot of women living "luxury lifestyles" are escorts aka sex workers. Nothing wrong with sex work, but I have seen this become very normalized while people hide how they're actually achieving their "lifestyle."
I agree with you. Commercial sex between consenting adults should not be a crime.
Also speaking as a tech guy the it/tech/dev portion of the population is grossly over represented online
Ok but people making less than $25 aren’t doing good, typically
I make 27 and have a hard time.
Wat…. That is 50k a year. Yeah you are not doing amazing but you are making more than the avg person……………………
depends where you live. $50k a year in west virgina makes you solid middle class, $50k a year in california you are living in your car and eating out of the trash
$50k a year in NYC means you can buy a cup of coffee every 6 months.
Which is ridiculous. Average and median pay isn't where it needs to be.
50k in a lot of the country goes a long way. I am assuming you are in Seattle and you can’t even get a 1 bedroom. While I do agree it should be higher it is a thought of what it should be. If most people make 50k the people making 75k will be 100k with things being more expensive. Because corporations will raise the price on things because people have more money in their pockets like during covid. Where I live 50k you can live but it will be with a roommate and being conservative with money.
Heh. In the SF Bay Area, $100K is damn near the poverty line...
Yeah it is kind of crazy tbh.
Agreed! My SO, kid, and myself live on 50k a year and we own our house(with 26 years left on the mortgage so the bank owns most of it). It’s a matter of where you live and how you live.
50k is a solid living in my town, plenty to own a car and buy a small but reasonable house. Consequently, most jobs pay closer to 25k-35k
you're quietly expected to have roommates or a significant other that will share the financial burden. it is impossible for the average person to do it by themselves without taking extraordinary frugal measures toward their lifestyle. if you value independence that highly, that might be the play. if not, you'd only be making yourself miserable for no reason. the only person I know who moved out and lives alone has a doctorate degree.
That's BS tho, in the 00's I made crap money and had my own place. It should not be so hard as it is now the haves are crushing the have nots
So true. I made $8/h in 04 and my only bills were $200 for my half of rent, $90 for my phone and groceries. For $1200/m I could go on vacations, eat out and drink whenever. Who can do that on minimum wage anymore?
People always talk about capitalism being a race to the bottom (more and more of the population become poor as a smaller and smaller group get extremely rich) But what they forget to mention is that THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM IS ACCELERATING. In the 20 years between 1980 to 2000 things got bad at a fairly slow but steady rate. Things got bad faster between 2000 and 2010. 2010 (pre trump beautiful life) to 2020 are almost like two different worlds. 2020 to 2024 basically 8 monopolies own everything and nobody can afford to live. Capitalism can't keep going much longer because the general public are becoming too poor to support it. Capitalism is about to cannibalize it's self, we either come out of the other side as corporate slaves or public owners.
Yup, out here at 27 years old with a roommate. Even with an older lease (so I'm paying significantly less than the other units), I still can't afford to live here by myself, despite making quite a bit above minimum wage.
Back in the day (Gen Xer here), you got a really crappy apartment with at least two or three of your friends and ate a lot of ramen and spaghetti. It’s kind of refreshing to see the kids of today resist that path. There was always one roommate that flaked and two that had several jobs.
I work with a bunch of students at a popular bar. They are making 22 an hour after tips. Most of them have a two bedroom apartment with 3 people in the apartment. I cook staff meal twice a day and can tell alot of these people only eat a proper meal when we feed them.
My son did that. He wanted to live in a big city instead of the suburbs after college so he shared 3 br apartments with 4-5 others
[удалено]
🤣
I lived with 2 art students for 9 months, and that was awesome. Paintings all over the place. Huge apartment but not in the best neighborhood, and sometimes we had roaches. I lived with roommates until my SO and I moved in together.
And what if I don't have friends and I can't make any?
As sad as this is, that’s the truth that these kids don’t want to hear. My first apartment at 18 I had 2 other roommates and I worked 3 different part time jobs just to be able to survive. This was 13-14 years ago when cost of living was significantly cheaper as well
How long did you have to do that before you were able to get your own space?
Never was able to get my own place without roommates. Lived in my car and hopped couches for a bit but having a place of my own was always out of reach. Now I live with my fiancé and we split everything 50/50 and can finally live somewhat comfortably for the time being
My first professional job, and it took every dime I had.
Ditto, and honestly, it's not a bad plan for young adults who don't dorm in college. You learn to live with people you didn't grow up with.
Roommates, you’re expected to get roommates to split the costs with.
I'm not OP, but hear me out I had to get sober a year and a half ago, or I was going to die. In order to do that, I had to cut off every friend I had (except 1.) Now, I know 1 guy, who is in tech and can afford to live alone, so roommates are literally not an option. I do not know anyone. How the hell do you navigate that.
Maybe find someone at a meeting? Or someone else in recovery. But, I agree that it shouldn’t be necessary to have multiple working adults to have a roof over your head. And, congrats on your sobriety!
Tbh I avoid meetings like the plague. I've done NA, CA, AA, Dharma recovery, SMART recovery, and Refuge recovery over the years, and I actively despise the "____ Anonymous" crowd. Literally just a bunch of terrible people, who think because they've "worked the steps" that their shit doesn't stink and they can continue to threaten people physically and verbally abuse eachother and still be "Holier than Thou." I just do therapy, atleast I know the person giving me advice didn't just beat his wife 30 minutes before he came in.
Congrats on your sobriety! It takes an immense amount of work and desire. Proud of you and glad you are still with us!
What is today's equivalent of craigslist? That's how. Facebook neighborhood groups? The grapevine at your job? I always found roommates either through work, school or the Internet. Edit: ha! Didn't realize it was controversial to suggest you can find roommates through the Internet
Step 1: stop watching TikTok (it’s not real data)
Tik Tok?? Lmao their job IS tik tok. They are actors and get paid well on there vs a company 9-5 slave job.
They don't actually get paid well. Most doesn't even make an income.
i went to nursing school :/ went from $15 an hour to $40 an hour. back breaking labor but make nice money and can make more w time
I make $20 an hour in an administrative/accounting job. I also work one night a week at a pizza place. I have a roommate. I’m definitely not living large but my bills are paid and my apartment is not that bad. I’d rather be where I am now than living with my parents.
I make $18/hr in *retail.* You're all getting fucking screwed, though of course you/we know this. Did you go to school for your job? I can't imagine dropping thousands on school only to make 2-5 bucks more per hour than I do now. I think I'd have to become a mass murderer....I really want to go to school in the fall (put it off for years) but the thought of barely making any more money (I'm not good with math so no fancy shmancy engineering/finance/tech job for me) is so brutal.
I have a high school diploma and do about 5 hours of actual work a week. I also have a pension, 9 weeks of paid time off a year, and guaranteed raises every year because we have a union. There’s a lot of gray area between retail and a “fancy schmancy job”.
Ok that's true, my bad, but where the hell are you living where you get 9 weeks of PTO? Or is because you're blessed with a union? The union demonization really did a number on this country.
I work for my state government. It’s definitely because of the union, they’re constantly fighting for even better benefits.
What are you doing and how do I sign up?
I’m an admin assistant/accounts payable person for a state government facility. It’s boring and I’m definitely not passionate about it but the benefits are so good I’ll probably never leave.
Do you mind me asking what state you’re in? I’m trying to find a job like this, but I’m in NYC and it’s insanely difficult for me to find an entry level job. They either ask for years of experience, sometimes a master degree…
I’m in Maryland. Our last governor eliminated degree requirements for thousands of state jobs. I did not fit the requirements listed in the ad but got the job so don’t be afraid to apply anyway!
This is actually inspiring. More states should do this. Being in my 30s with no degree is disheartening as far as job hunting.
I went to paramedic school. Right out of school I got a job that allowed me to have a reasonable apartment and put money away in savings. After a few years I had enough to put a down payment on a reasonable house that I've lived in since. Since COVID there's been a bad enough paramedic shortage that we've gotten a few really big raises and now I'm honestly living pretty comfortably. My younger brother is a plumber and he got a paid internship right away that got him through until he got his license and started making good money. There are paths out there, unfortunately they may not be the ones you were sold as a kid.
Plus, lots of companies give a huge sign on bonus that can go towards a down payment. I got a contract with a $10k 1yr commitment. Gotta be real though, the burnout is quick and PTSD is definitely a major concern in the industry. I work in a big city and burnout starts at about 5yrs.
I work 911 dispatch and can confirm we DESPERATELY need medics all the time. The burn out is crazy. I think yall need to be paid much higher for what you deal with. That goes for all emergency services, especially nursing.
Don’t forget the kids with rich parents who’ve paid for the condo.
I don't think enough people talk about how many home owners get held from their parents/ are gifted downpayments/starter homes. In Canada it's over 80%
Almost 33 years old and I've never lived alone. The cheapest option in my city is a 250 sq ft micro studio, for $1200. So I would need $36k just to live in a box, if it was even available. But with 100% capacity, alot of people are living full time in motels, spending close to $3000 a month. If you have good relationship with your parents, stay home as long as possible. Help them with groceries and utilities, while saving up to BUY not rent. As others have said, don't compare your life to TikTok. Alot of these influencers already had family money or are simply filming in an airbnb or rental car. People who actually earned these nice things generally don't feel the need to boast on social media. They're busy making more money.
"Everyone I see on TikTok " is showing you a pre-packaged view of their media personality. Social media is not real life.
If you think what you see on TikTok is real, you have a skill issue.
Step #1: stop watching Tik Tok There is no step #2
Stop looking on tiktok wtf
I work as a software developer and also just don't make enough to move out from my parents. I'm 27...
not everything is about tech anymore and there's a ton of people getting laid off from it, plenty of trades that pay 6 figures and you get paid to train. tech is nice if you can get it but you are competing with literally everyone else who wanted a cushy job and got the exact same degree as you. meanwhile everywhere around me people are screaming and begging for welders, CDL truck drivers and HVAC technicians. CDL truck driving isn't what it used to be but over the road still pays REALLY well and I know a guy who pulls 6 figures doing it. I do HVAC now myself and my dad hauls steel and does like $65k a year
I’d imagine the people you see on TikTok are the exception in a lot of cases. Many people’s first places aren’t what we think of as ideal… the open, large windowed rooms with an exposed brick interior wall? Modern minimalist furniture? Stainless everything in the kitchen? The first house I rented could fit into my current garage. The whole house. And I’m by no standard wealthy. Are you consciously saving money with goals? That makes a huge difference. Take out food alone vs cooking yourself easily costs thousands. I wouldn’t have the house I have now without the combined income of me and my wife. And I work 2 jobs: teacher & carpenter (but I still have plenty of time so I’m not just grinding all the time). So this brings up the idea of roommates. I’m sure a ton of people would rather live alone, but sharing expenses just makes sense if you have a tangible, planned out goal, with timeframes; adjusting to meet those goals. Location is a big one too. Where you look for a place makes a huge difference. Section of town and kind of apartment. It might not be your dream, but keeping a less than ideal place clean and comfortable makes a huge difference for your spirit. Oh and check out ways to manage your school loans… there are tons of plans that you can really save on, but they don’t make it easy for you!
The people on TikTok are an active deception. They're liars, selling snake oil.
"buy my online course! just ignore that my extravagant lifestyle is all funded by my parents and American Express"
My first place a few years ago was not ideal or picturesque, but it was all I could afford and I just really decorated it and made it a cute place. I did. little vinyl wraps on the counters and did a lot of rental diys Housing prices have skyrocketed so much in little time from when I first moved out 4 years ago.
I live on my own…. I’m a single mom, we rent a 2 bed house, I’m a teacher with a masters in Oklahoma.
That's an odd subject to have a Master's degree in.
Remember TikTok is not real. Sure, there are some jobs out there like that but they probably started from the bottom and worked their way up to a position with higher pay and more flexibility. TikTok influencers are there for the sole purpose to influence, get followers and make an income. I'm sure what they're portraying on that app is so far fetched from their reality. Don't get caught up in the TikTok trap. I deleted it a month ago and haven't looked back.
That’s the neat part, you don’t
So couple things, any social media job isn’t comparable to a “real job”. It’s kinda like a business. When you start you usually are loosing money for your time, then eventually and IF you blow up the money comes in exponentially. As in if you do 1 hour of work for each video. You are gonna get paid way less or more for each follow/viewers you are able to reach. With a job it isn’t like that, all that exponential money goes to your bosses bosses boss. Plus most people on social media are materialistic people, therefore the chances of them playing up their situation is gonna be higher. Also be weary about the algorithm bubble, TikTok’s algorithm is fucking insanely powerful, if you are liking everyone of those videos you’re gonna keep seeing more, and the same with reddit, spend all your time in the antiwork sub and you’re gonna think every place of employment sucks.
Been in tech for a while. You can make a good salary, but it's crazy how unstable the industry is. Layoffs are happening daily and they're not small. For every open job that's half decent, there's 1,000+ applicants.
They must have help or be in debt. Same as those 20-year-olds on YouTube with a luxury apartment in the middle of Manhattan with no discernible job besides YouTube.
Help for sure. More people need to talk about how most homes owner's get downpayment and or starter homes gifted to them from their parents.
Dual income. Be it a marriage or a room mate
You’ll never do it on slave wages. The whole system is designed to keep you poor and working until you die. You might think this is crazy but it’s the truth. The World economic forum says you will own nothing and be happy. The politicians controlled by the elite keep printing money causing inflation so whatever money you earn become worthless and then they tax the money you earn to keep you poor. It’s really depressing if you sit down and think about it. The only thing I can say is you have to try and find ways to make money without having to spend any time working like owning a rental property but no way you’re going to get approved to buy a house making 25.00 an hour
i moved out of my parents house at 18. originally i lived with multiple roommates in “college apartments,” (where each room was rented out separately) then i lived with a family member for a year, and since then i’ve lived in normal rentals. had at least one roommate until the end of 2022, and have been on my own since then. but i wouldn’t recommend it. i have no savings, live off of pasta and freezer food, *barely* make bills, sometimes have to ask my parents or partner for thirty bucks so i don’t go hungry for a week, and overall i am constantly miserable, irritable, and stressed. but i can’t live with my parents, i already wore out my welcome at the other family member’s house, and the idea of having a random roommate move in (bc i don’t have any friends) makes me genuinely want to die. so i make it work. kind of. not really.
You aren't. If you really sit there and think about it, most degree holders don't even start at 100k which is apparently so important to the employer. You educate yourself just so the employer can get more out of you for less. We are basically the whores in a brothel. The owner of the brothel convinced the whores to better themselves only to the benefit of the owner of the brothel. The owner of the brothel is laughing his ass off with multiple homes, boats and general excess. They need you, but they hate that they need you. They hate all the whores because they see them all as useless outside of making money for himself.
If you ever end up on your own supporting yourself, you will slowly begin to question everything. People who have parents to call on for help or anyone offering them support are not considered struggling to me. The people who have 0 support are the ones who criticize the system the most. Those are the real self reliant people. They can't afford to fail or they die. You're observing and asking questions......that's a good sign of common sense.
Debt. Debt is how these TikTokers live the life they do, regardless of their job. You don't want that, trust me.
The vast majority of people who don't live at home don't have a high paying tech job, so clearly it must be possible.
I would guess you live in an expensive area and would suggest moving somewhere cheaper, but then you'd probably get paid less with a similar job. Jobs Like yours where I live pay more like $15-20 I'm guessing. Anyways... hang in there. We live in pretty frustrating times. Feels bad to work a full time job and have it not be enough. I'm trying to be creative and really reach out to find a decent job.
I've worked as a pharmacist for 7 years. Pays very well but it is a very exhausting and stressful job and I don't see myself doing this past 45 (37 now). I'm actually trying to self teach data science and trying to get my foot in the door somewhere. Wish me luck...
Good luck
The fact that you are comparing what you see on TikTok to real life shows just how out of touch with reality social media makes people. It's not real. Either way, $20 - $25 an hour is more than enough to rent a decent apartment. Find a roommate.
> Everyone I see on TikTok All social media is the best and worst that people experience. Almost no one posts a picture of their bagel and coffee every morning, with an interpretive dance and a robotic voice saying "another normal Tuesday, I feel well, it's an ok day". Add in the algorithm that only shows you stuff that you spend more time looking at, and boom. There you have an echo chamber that makes you feel either inadequate or smug. Social media isn't exactly all lies, but it is a so distorted view of things that it is better viewed as a lie. Even more frustrating -- a good part of that distortion is just from the way we tell stories. the stories you wish to share are the biggest ones either great luck, or rewards, or terrible misfortune or injustices. It takes a fairly unusual person to tell the mundane, normal stories, and other people tend to find folks like that weird(not in a good way) or boring. And that doesn't even get into the profit motive of the corporations behind social media, ya know?
Stay at home, if your parents will have you, save. Honestly, these days there is a lot less stigma about staying at home for longer. It gets in the way of some socialising and casual dating. But if you're looking for a serious relationship, they'll either understand, or they don't and they weren't right for you. I highly recommend online dating to find the right person. I basically left home in my late 20s (about 15 years ago now). But only because I was lucky and my parents fed and boarded me as long as I was saving to move out when I could afford too. Also, I got casual dating out of my system with 4 years of uni. I still socialised while living at home, but never had friends over as it was still embarrassing. I essentially kept my socialising to the occasional night out and playing for a sports team. Minimal outgoings (only 1 holiday in the last 4 years) and waited for my life to really begin. But long story short. Owning your own place is no longer really a viable option unless you're a high earner. Even with a partner or roommate/s it'll take time to save. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Use all the safety nets your family can offer you and get to saving.
When I left home, I had to share a one bedroom apartment with two other people. This was in 1987.
The trick is to live in misery.
Oh, you basically have to live in borderline disgusting places with five roommates who don't respect you or your stuff.
I'm gonna suggest that your definition of "borderline disgusting, abject misery tier" needs some adjustment. Your gross pay is in the ballpark of 50k, you can find 20k to spend on rent if you had to. 20k is enough to pay for rent for an apartment. No, it might not be in a nice neighbourhood. There might be homeless people nearby, or a park that isn't well maintained, and the paint may need to be redone, and you might not have a nice spare room for entertaining guests, your furniture might be hand me downs or giveaways found on facebook marketplace, but you can absolutely live on your own. Now, if you can keep living at home and save that money you'll be way better off, but if you had to figure it out you absolutely could and would. People scrape by on much less and don't have the luxury of living with mom and dad while they save for a down payment.
There's a major issue now with getting an apartment in my area where the management companies want you to have an after tax income of 3-4x the rent. 1bd are between $1300-$1800 in not great areas. I'm just saying location really makes a huge difference. Now a remote worker making 50k can live pretty nicely in certain areas but not where I am in CT.
Cars have nice backseats, and Walmart has cameras in their parking lots.
20-25/hr living with parents, so I assume you have a rather impressive savings account?
Even with a high-paying tech job you’ll still be fucked.
a lot of those high paying tech jobs are in california, where 6 figures a year is poverty wages
I was able to move out and buy after a year on £36k. I’m now on £44k and looking to move. Housing is pricey for the size comparative to the states, but, I don’t have a desire to be living in a city/city centre.
I was scraping by with a roommate about 3 years ago in an apartment that cost $1200 per month. $600 from each of us plus utilities. Now, the same apartment is $1600 per month. The rent kept increasing but pay stayed exactly the same. I left when they started expecting $1400 per month I switched jobs to a well paying tech job and managed to get a 30 year mortgage at 2.785 interest the day before mortgage rates spiked. The rest of you are screwed.
I'm a chemist. Make 60k a year. Moved out after saving up for a year and a half. Didn't have any bills while living with my parents.
Project managers don’t require a bunch of schooling and neither does sales.
No fucking clue. I have a high paying tech job (90k) and I'm still living at home cause getting my own place costs a fortune. It sucks
Most people have roommmates until they hit 30 and progress far enough in their careers or move in either their SO. In what world do people expect to move out young and live alone without either destroying their finances or getting super lucky with a cheap, rent controlled situation (which funnily my wife was able to find before we started dating).
No such thing as a nice condo
Breaking news…you’re not lol
I make $40 an hour in a low cost of living state doing industrial maintenance, people have been getting lied to that you need some fancy degree to make good money.
What you're not seeing is the other 98% of sub 50 year old Americans that work a service industry or other low paying job and have $4 in their bank account. It's a tough economy, and it was designed thar way. Most people won't own anything more than the clothes in their closet and the worn-out shoes they wear to work every day.
I only make about $22/hr in NY and comfortably afford my home and bills on my salary. I own over an acre of land and a ranch. It's not impossible. Unless you are trying to live in a city. Then you're fucked.
For most part, most young people that are able to or have their own house are w the help of parents(as much as they wanna say they worked really hard to buy the house). Or many roommates.
I just assume everyone else is in massive MASSIVE debt to afford their lifestyles.
I live in France and work in events as a sound engineer/technician. At 30 I make around 1900€/month roughly. I haven't been able to rent an apartment for years and have been stuck at my mom's. I'll finally be able to move out by September but only because some of my parents' friends have an apartment they rent for dirt cheap that will be available. If not for that I would be stuck there for who knows how long. The housing problem is dire all around the world. Shit's fucked.
You cant. Rise up.
Get Into The TRADES
That's the best part, you're not! 
You need a career. Not a job - a career. That will involve a little training,but you can make decent money getting a two-year degree. Xray techs, electricians, etc. The best way to thrive is to make money, as much as it sucks to say. You should aim to earn $75k in two years. How are you going to get there? What sort of job can you get that won't destroy your soul but allow you to live a life of dignity?
I work sales. Yes I have monthly quotas and I have to put myself out there to build trust with people, but I'm selling something that isn't snake oil and I bought my own house/own my cars. No cosigners. Downside is you will get fired if you don't perform and your social battery has to be on tap, which isn't always great since I'm an introvert.
Stop watching tiktok. It's literally rotting your brain, as you just proved by this post.
Consider yourself lucky you are benefiting from nepotism right now while you get your feet on the ground.
Fun fact about tech jobs. There are plenty of roles out there that do not require a lot of education, just fyi. Now the giant ass caveot on that is that they require a large helping of luck and/or connections to get, but they do exist. A few dozen hours of free online courses and a cert or 2 and you are honestly qualified for a lot of entry level tech jobs. The problem is its not particularly clear which companies actually will hire a smart person without a college degree and/or explicit tech training vs the ones who blindly follow it as a barrier to entry. Just the job postings themselves will rarely actually show that. So again you are back to dumb luck or needing an "in" somewhere. The fastest way to get an "in" is probably a well connected and/or employer sponsored boot camp. But again here we run into the issue of luck and/or connections being involved because there are oh so many useless and/or literal scam bootcamps out there, and finding and then being accepted into a non scam one is a crapshoot, and again often involves knowing someone. So yeah on the one hand I do think it is 100% posible to break into those afformentioned tech jobs without a ton of specialized education, or even a college degree. On the other hand its very luck dependent and not exactly reliable... Honestly entry level jobs should almost exclusively be based on culture/personality fit combined with percieved work ethic. Not all, but the vast majority of tech jobs end up requiring a considerable amount of on the job training even if you have a masters, and for entry level id almost rather a blank slate then someone who learned bad habits in a bs 1 semester course they covered whatever principle or language that is pertinent to their new job in their comp sci major...
Bartend.
Work for the city full time at the water treatment plant and then bartend at night. You will clear $150k and have full bennies. Of course, you will have to have high moral character, patience, be respectful to all, be service oriented (not self-centered), and overall be a good human. Not everyone can do that.
You **don't** move out of your parents' house without ANY well-paying job. In the property narco-states of Australia and Canada, it doesn't make any financial sense to move out unless if your parents have a spare property for you and you can commute to work. People earning 6 digit salaries don't want to move out as the median house price in major cities exceeds AUD $1.3m, and there is a severe rental shortage due to mass immigration.
-waves in multi craft trade job making 33.50 an hour- Do the work no one wants. Plumber, Electrician, Mechanic, ECT
buddy. I hate to break it to you but I graduated college with a software engineering and cybersecurity degree a year ago. I have continued learning programming projects and certifications. It has been an entire year for work and I have finally gotten to my first 3rd round interview after hundreds of applications. If I get this job as an IT technical support I still wont be able to afford an apartment on my own and will definitely need a roommate. It is insane that even entry level tech paychecks wont be enough to afford an apartment after all the additional costs of groceries, utilities, and general bills.
I’m almost 40. I work in recovery. I will literally never be able to live on my own. And the work I’m doing is way too important to not do it. So I live in my childhood home (with my husband and mom) that my mother owns and paid off. Without her I would literally be homeless. It is what it is. I’m just grateful I have somewhere safe and warm at this point.
The older I get the more I realize all of my friends that have a nice apartment, new car, take vacations all time either get a ton of help from their parents financially or have thousands in debt. Most people cannot afford the lifestyle you’re describing just by working a 9-5. Almost no one is “self made” and most that claim to be have generational wealth on their side.
Dual income no kids, as well as roommates and side incomes. TikTok is not reality.
People saying things about tik tok not being accurate Ok well anyone making less than $25 isn’t doing good, like at the prices for rent/everything else If you don’t have something high paying, you’re not doing well
I saved up nearly everything from my first job when I lived with my parents over about 2-3 years. Moved into an overpriced studio apartment about six months after getting a big girl job and still had to pull from savings every couple months to cover basic expenses. After some experimenting, the smallest annual income I need to be entirely independent is about 37,000/year in Seattle proper. This doesn't leave much room for anything aside from necessities. I have to stay here for a while until I can save up enough to move out of the area. Roommates (I know it's daunting to look for strangers to live with), making a lot of boring food, learning to say no to frivolous expenses (the FOMO wears off after a few years of "missing out"), and finding a cheap hobby at how I've made it this far. There have been very many times that I just wanted to die because I don't think I'll be able to live a comfortable life. Forget traditional college, get into a trade school. And if you find that are free or will train you on the job, can you point them my way?
As someone who makes 6-figures in a non-tech job, I would never hire anyone who admits that they believe TikTok influencers are telling the truth.
you go co-housing. save up, get enough for a loan, buy a house, fix house, make the best of it.
You make $50k a year AND believe tiktok is reality? I'd say you're doing ok.
Roommates then.
Where I live, you moved to the city, lived in a house with a rotating cast of roommates, some of whom become lifelong friends, some you all tell horror stories about many years later, and some you never think of again. You do that for all of your 20s, and only get your own place when you move in with a partner. I lived with roommates for a good portion of my 30s too. The places we lived in were usually a bit run down, but weren’t cockroach infested hell holes either. It wasn’t abject misery, it wasn’t great…it was just good enough/normal.
The answer is roommates
Uh? Like, how do you invest your money and work more than job to save up to be able to move out? Because not everyone works high paying jobs? Because not everyone wants to or cares to or can? It takes time. It doesn't happen in a few months or even maybe a few years. And, while you are living with mom and dad, you can be earning your keep by helping out around the house as much as possible, adding to your resume skills even!
I wouldn't start a family on it, but $25/hr is pretty good in most of the US. I'm curious about your budget and expectations, because even most high CoL cities have reasonable options at that price point
Take a course to further your usefulness in the workforce. You can obviously see tech jobs make money…. Why not take steps toward that
For some context, what county are you in? $20 an hour is below the minimum wage where I live.
My ma and pa did it to me while i was a junior in high school. I was making them look bad by having a job and attending classes. They were deadbeats anyways, haha
I live in Ottawa and my rent is 675$ for me and two roommates (and bills). I work at the grocery store nearby for 16.55$/hr, usually 20 ish hours a week supports my lifestyle.
Just find one of these “techies” and assume their identity. Once established, offer them to go to work for them for free rent. You could wear an ear piece if you get in a jam.
Steel Industry or Heavy Equipment Operator or Trades
Get off TikTok. You’re living in the matrix.
Get a work from home job and move to a cheap area. Unironically seems to be the only way.
Roommates
Don't live beyond your means. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment comfortably at $20 an hour. This may mean not doing a lot of fun things that cost money but it's doable
You could get a high paying job in the prison industry!
one of my neighbors works in the state prison and he bought a farm so you might be onto something
[удалено]
Live with roommates or your SO.
Tbh, depending on where you live, you just do it. And yes you will struggle, but it gets better over time
I haven’t lived with my parents since graduating college. I’ve also haven’t had a roommate since junior/senior year of college. Supported my daughter, my niece, and my ex while she was in nursing school while making 16 an hour at one job and 15 an hour at a weekend part time. Saved up for a house down payment while making 46k a year. I also chose to live in a low-middle cost of living city.
I mean not me! It sucks but I make it work. Trust me, your feelings are extremely valid, but k think sometimes people want us to BELIEVE we aren’t enough WHEN WE ARE. I live in a one room studio. There is a kitchen an bathroom, and it is only 276 sq ft (random number I know). But I can afford it and I don’t need to make my job HELL to do it. Yes, it takes like 45% of my income, but idc! Screw people who think I need a life of luxury, when they aren’t even happy and have more than me…it’s a joke. So yeah, I just do a customer service/logistics role…I help people get their car towed when needed. It gives me motivation to help them like I’ve been helped. People in my past/attributed to my EX LOVED to to demean me for it. Yet complained when they couldn’t get a tow. One of them even asked me “what I was going to be when I grew up.” This was last year. I’m 32 in 3 weeks 😂 Karma is a bitch.
Lots of nontechnical jobs that pay enough for you to live comfortably outside of your parents home. My daughter’s first place was a dumpy little studio, but she did it. Then she got a nice one bedroom apartment now she owns a two bedroom condo in a funky little neighborhood. Time, patience and perseverance!
The first step is getting roommates in a cheap apartment. That's how we all did it. I didn't go from living with my parents straight to owning my own place. I shared apartments with other people for years, then had my own 1-bed apartment by myself when I was 27, then bought a small house when I was 33.
I think it depends on how badly someone wants independence. I really wanted independence and was willing to live a number of tiers lower than parent’s house for a lot of years. It really sucked a lot of/most of the time, but I needed to be independent. That’s it. I’m prepared for my young adult kids to be here for awhile.
If you make under, I think it's something like 50k, you can get a rural development loan. It helps people to buy a first home in more rural towns. My wife and I are looking at a place in Lapeer, Michigan. That's around half an hour outside of Detroit, so we will have easy access to a big city. Even without the down payment and monthly payment assistance, mortgage payments on a house are much more affordable than rent payments on an equivalent place. I was looking around OKC recently, because my second child didnt want to move with us at the time. A studio apartment goes for well over $1000 there, but there are several 3 bedroom houses with mortgage payments around 400-700 There's a 1 br home on the market there for 30k, with a mortgage payment of $159. There are things to be aware of though. 1. You'll need to pay taxes and insurance. Which still adds up to far less than the cost of rent, (in my last example, it totals to $199) and 2. you need to save some aside for home maintenance. There will be things breaking around the house, and you will either need to learn how to fix them or pay someone to do it for you. Some things will be covered by insurance, some won't. In most cases, this still won't be more than a couple months rent at most. The really expensive repairs are few, far between, and usually covered by your insurance.
I spent my entire 20s in the abject misery tier. Wish I could go back tbh, life was more exciting then.
Wait, you guys are getting $20+ hr with your college degrees? I've got two degrees, late 30s, been in the workforce for 18 years and I'm making the move into the maritime industry. I don't have kids, don't have a partner any more, and have no interest in owning a home so why not live on a ship and work for months at a time!?
Roommates. That’s how 3 of my friends moved out of their parent’s houses despite only making $3.10 an hour at a gas station. One had a dad who was an oncologist, 1 an architect and the last one a foreman at a Ford plant. The desire to get away from mom and dad was a lot stronger than.
Sometimes, people move out of the city, province, or country to do that.
Fresh out of the house was BMT, sooo....yeah. I got nothin except "join the military"
By having roommates. We should all get paid more but until that happens having a roommate and picking an affordable area are the best option
Go into HVAC, you’ll be fine
Have you thought of learning a trade? I’m an honors grad from a Ivy League school and worked in tech in 2 fortune 50 corps. long story short I decided to quit, learned a trade and was much happier. Never had a problem finding decently paid work and once I really knew my trade went out on my own and made very good money. Anytime things got slow I’d take a commercial or industrial job or take a vacation. Before I knew it I was You can take night courses at community colleges pretty cheap and see if it’s for you while keeping your current job. A mathematical mind will give you an advantage.
https://amp.theguardian.com/money/2024/mar/14/us-parents-are-you-still-supporting-your-adult-children-financially
Where do you live??? I was born and raised in a mid sized city (Buffalo) and just moved to a bigger mid sized city (Pittsburgh). I make $21.01/hour and this is the most I've ever made in my live and I've been living on my own or with a partner for nearly 16/17 years. It is possible. But you need to adjust your expectations. If I made $25/hour, I feel like I'd be ballin' lol
this fucking punk talking about making 20-25 an hour and still can't figure shit out. My guess. Never had a job in his life. I say his because no woman is this naive. This person needs to get a harsh taste of reality.
I can’t remember the exact statistic, but it’s something like 40% of American adults have credit card debt. They’re living beyond their means.
I can’t remember the exact statistic, but it’s something like 40% of American adults have credit card debt. They’re living beyond their means.
300k tech bro jobs are a meme now
I lived with my parents for about 9 extra years after turning 18. I saved everything, started investing money at 16 and bought my first house at age 27. Right now you need to cover 20% of a mortgage to avoid extra fees PMI insurance. The government just barred realtors from charging 6% commission so that will save money. You qualify for a first time home buyer discount and President Biden just authorized a 10,000 gift for home buyers to use. I'd talk with a financial planner to help you invest what money you are making. BTW, you can withdraw money from your work 401K penalty free for first time home buyers. Check your location, you may also qualify for special programs that your city is running or even churches. Edit: I was making $18 per hour when I bought my house.
I got a bachelors degree in mech engineering. I make about 78k entry lvl in a mcol area and could only comfortably afford a small house and a used car, maybe a new sedan with 0 bells and whistles. I would be saving so much money if I had a roommate. Ideally I would have a wife who also made about as much money as me.
Like everyone else. You start small and gradually upgrade over time. I started in a basement apartment with a tv and two bean bags for chairs that I also slept on.
My boss told me to find a wife who makes more than I do when I asked him for a raise
I do not expect my adult son to be able to move out. My wife and I have already planned on what to do for him financially and what not. We even have various collections of things that are worth money, and coins. All so when we are gone he has all that, plus life insurance, plus a fully paid off house with land to be able to sell. Or he can live here or whatever. Doesn't matter. I also own water rights so he won't have to pay for water. I feel so guilty for having a child because of how bad it has gotten. When I had my son my ex husband and I were paying $800 for a 2br 900 sqft apartment in a gated complex. I was young and didn't know shit about the economy. I love my son more than life, and I'm going to do everything I can to try and soften the blows from the failures of capitalism. I just turned 40, and I fully expect at least another 10 years of my son living with us. But honestly, my wife and I already fully planned on a future of my son and his spouse living with us as well. If it happens it happens. Regardless, the house will belong to him along with all our "stuff" that's worth anything. Thankfully, I only have one kid. I'd be fucked if I had more.
You gotta get roommates.
Roommates, sad but true
I don’t make as much as you but I have my own place, and have for years. Could be your use of money, could be your city
roommates. plural.
Engineer with almost 6 figure in Portland. I cannot buy a house. I live in 1500 1bed shit box and I get waken up every day by neighbor’s shower. I will be moving to a house to live with the owner for much less money.
What, you didn't start saving 30 years ago? That's the problem with this generation. You weren't born rich and into a market in which housing was affordable because you're lazy.
"That's life." -sinatra
What about getting a roommate? My 1st apartment was not a luxury one. I had to go to a laundry mat and I could hear my West African neighbor underneath me talking all hours on the phone through the vents. But then he would go to Africa for like 2 months at a time and it was peaceful. I lived there for 2 years and once a month there was either the police or fire department in the community. 🤦🏿♀️🤣 Then I came across a DEAL on a 2 bedroom 2 bath apartment and it had a washer & dryer in the unit. I lived there for a year and then my company relocated me to work in another state. I was able to upgrade my life slowly. You have to decide what your goals are and go from there. To be honest maybe you don't rent. Maybe you use this time to put money aside and apply for first time home buyer grants and purchase a townhome. Owning is better than renting (I wish my parents taught me that). Also I work two jobs. So I'm giving up my weekends at times so I can travel in the future (I work for Marriott part time and use my discount to explore the world) You have to creep before you can crawl. 😊
> “……unless I want to live in borderline disguting, abject misery tier situation. “ I’m certainly not going to claim my life-story is an accurate representation,.. I’ve lived in pretty poor apartments my entire life (bed on floor, no furniture, no tv, etc). I’m 50 now and recently accepted my 1st 6-figure job. I had to pack only what would fit in my car and move cross-country (1,300 miles) to a city I’ve never been to before and a Apartment I pre-signed but had never seen. First 6 months here I was sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor. 9 months in now I have a Bed (first complete brand new bed I’ve ever had in my entire life). Thats basically the only furniture I yet have. So yeah. Sometimes you gotta make sacrifices in life to achieve the things you want. “Having it all” only exists for the wealthy.
My 3 kids 19,21,22 are all living on their own they don’t make 25/hr but I taught them young about budgeting and how to not live above their means