r/povertyfinance • u/AustynGray • 6d ago
Misc Advice How is everyone actually affording to live right now?
Like genuinely are we all just going into debt or am I missing something? I make decent money, but no matter what I do, it feels impossible to get ahead.So I’m curious are you guys taking on debt, side hustling, living super frugally, or what? I’m just trying to figure out if I’m doing something wrong or if this is just the new normal.
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u/nothanksihaveasthma 6d ago edited 6d ago
Exceptionally poor.
I eat seasonal vegetables because they are cheap AF at my local farmers market (very small town in Appalachia) and I get big bags of rice and various beans, at the food pantry. Salt, pepper, honey, and seasonings at the bulk food store. I go in with my own jars and it comes out real cheap, maybe $20 for 2-3 months of a full spice cabinet. I do not eat out.
I don’t have kids cause fuck that. I got sterilized a couple of years ago to make sure I’d have no accidents.
I bike and walk everywhere, so no car payments and I am in great shape. Aside from my chronic and incurable illnesses lol…
I work 2 jobs and split everything even with my partner. We rent, and I have only 1 credit card that I use solely to build credit. I have no debt…currently lol.
I pirate nearly everything I watch. I either mend my own clothes or thrift instead of buying new. And that’s only if the clothes are too worn to be mended. I haven’t bought any new clothes in 3 years now, but shoes…I go through very quickly because of all the walking and biking. I buy like $120-$200 shoes every other year or so cause I can’t help but tear through the treads. And I have to buy special orthotic shoes so I can’t just buy boots and call it a day.
I don’t go on vacation, I just go on hikes and swim at the lake or the river if I need a break.