Pre-Case Study introduction and outreach for suggestions. I'M NEW, BE GENTLE :)

[JanetJackson]

!!TLDR WARNING!!

Hello!
I have just become a member of the Forum and am reading my way through many of the posts, getting through three full threads or so each night before bed.
I have always been frugal and grew up with one parent who didn't even have plumbing and shared an attic room with six sisters- frugality has been instilled in me as important since birth, BUT I admit to being financially ignorant otherwise.  We grew up on and off of Government assistance in extremely rural Ohio depending on whether the ONLY steel shop in town laid my dad off or not, and my parents never had enough money to invest, never had a credit card, and neither attended college, so no one ever taught me about anything besides "save as much as you can, work as much as you can".
 
When I read through many post on here, it feels like I am reading a hard-to-interpret language, BUT I am working on it. 
I have a few friends who are more financially savvy and I barter with them on occasion for phone conferences or Facetime calls to check in on my financial situation... sort of like financial advisors for someone who literally has no clue, but has the ability to make and send them homemade soap and balms in exchange for advice. ☺


My story:
I am a 33 year old divorced female.  My divorce was about 6.5 years ago and didn’t hurt much besides my credit, which is “OK” now – but he’d spent some on a joint credit card without telling me and I was left with it.  He was also physically abusive, so I did not pursue any legal recourse for the debt, I just paid it off so that I never had to see or hear from him every again.  Lesson learned.   I mostly stopped dating men at that point, but that’s a whole other story.  My score is back up around 690 now, but still chipping away at it.
I’m trying:  I do not have a TV (never have), no cable, very little “shopping”, and I am a fan of bartering and side hustling.  I currently work 3 days per week as a Property Manager at a local non-profit.  On those three days I walk three nearby doggies (I love dogs/animals) on my lunch break for additional income and eat lunch at my desk while I work.  I am a soap-maker and barter my soap in any instance that the other party is interested, and that I will come ahead in profit – for example, I barter soap for haircuts because two bars only costs me ~ $1.50 each to make (including time) and the haircut would cost me $37.  During the holidays, the soap shop also brings me some additional income. 
      I shop only at thrift shops for all my clothes (and shoes), but I do buy underwear new (at Target sales or on Amazon in bulk deals) in an attempt not to be gross.
      I feel like I have a pretty restrictive food budget (maybe I’m wrong) and I often forgoe my physical comfort in order to save money to more of an extreme than I would like.  For instance, I prepare beans and rice a lot because it is cheap- but beans and rice causes me a fair amount of stomach upset.  I am working on finding this balance.  I will also admit to spending some money on food I don't need.  I buy a lot of coffee (to make at home) and sparkling water and 5-hour energy (generic, Aldi brand) drinks.  I know I do not need these... I also know that I'm burnt the Ferk out & exhausted by Friday when I have all of my exams, and I can't pay attention unless I caffeinated the crap out of myself.  The first step is admitting you have a problem, right?

I currently do not have health insurance (I opted out of the marketplace thinking I could do the three months off with no penalty, but now they say I am not eligible for special enrollment period.  I have an Aflac policy in the meantime.)
I am not offered any benefits at my day job.

I currently work about 40 hours per week in combination of my day job, second job (tutoring), and side hustles.  I leave two days per week completely free so that I can study and tend to my online classes toward my Bachelors Degree.  I have tried to upset this balance, and my grades have suffered notably.   
To be honest, I have considered the merits of those “we’ll take the class for you” paid services so that I can work more.  I have 10+ years of experience in the non-profit sector.  I am simply completing my degree because I have hit a paywall in my profession and because I only have about 9 classes (and one lab) to go.




So...  here's my numerical run-down:
Any input / advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Personal Info:
•   Me: 33 years old, finishing undergraduate and post grad cert (Psychology, with Post Grad. Cert in Non-Profit Management) with ~ 9 classes to go.  I am in an online accelerated program for my Undergrad and am attempting to pay for everything out of pocket.  Had to take about 1k in student loans last semester when I came up short, however.

Income:
•   My Day Job  (Non-Profit Property Management) Salary: $25,000 / year at three days per week
Second Job (Special Education tutoring) Salary: ~$6500/year
Side hustles (list and estimated average income per year from each):
Etsy Shop(s) and Craft Shows: ~$1,000
Dog Walking/ Pet sitting: ~$1200
Article Publications (sometimes I write cheeky articles for online mags): ~$300
Reselling (I try to stop at thrift shops 2x/Mo to find items to Ebay): ~$300
House Cleaning for neighbors: ~$300-$500
Research Panels/Paid Surveys/Online Jury, stuff like that: ~$300-$500

Total yearly Income: ~$34,900 - $35,300
Total Monthly Income: ~$2,908-$2,942

Expenses:  (I break these down per month).
•   Rent: $460 (includes all utilities in a ‘bad’ part of town.. I searched for over three months to find the cheapest place to live in town- the apartment itself is gorgeous... but it's a shared studio apartment with a loft and although my neighbors are nice, there have been some issues).
•   Cell Phones: $0, covered by Day Job
•   Student Loans min payment: $130
•   Car Loan: None, I drive a 1996 Rav4
•   Vehicle Insurance:  I pay per 6-mo for a cheaper rate, but monthly it breaks down to: $30/Month
•   Gas: $50
•   Food: $300
•   Gym: $130
•   Sports League Dues: $30 (can sometimes mediate with team volunteer time)
•   Dining out / fun / stuff:  $25
•   Full time tuition (paid every 8 weeks, but shown here as monthly):  $700-$900 depending on books
•  Total Yearly Expenses: ~ $22,260 - $24,660
•   Total Monthly Expenses: ~ $1,855-$2,055

Other debt details:
•   Student Loans: $13,000 total  $1,000 @ 2.75% ($11,000) and 3.1% ($2,000)


Assets:
• Savings & Emergency Fund:  (broken down into separate accounts that auto-deposit for car insurance, pet emergencies (I have a dog), general emergency savings, and vehicle emergency savings):
$8,000 total
Roth IRA:
$100.  I don’t really know what to do with this… I put $10 or so in per month, when I have extra, but it seems like every time I want to put some in, books cost more that semester, or I need a new tire for the car, etc.




Potential debt details:
To avoid Co-Pays, even when insured, I haven’t been to the Doctor besides my annual well-woman visit at Planned Parenthood (Free, thank Shiva) in 10+ years.  I have never been to the dentist, although I was able to get in to a dental school recently for free and they said my teeth look very good, with one potential cavity that I may be able to mediate with good dental hygiene.  They actually called a few students over because my teeth were so good.  Oddly proud moment for me.   
I have a lot of aches and pains, but generally try to treat them myself.   A nurse friend gave me two stitches last year when my soap cutter caught the top of my hand – don’t worry, no soap was harmed- saving my potential income was the first thing I thought of and I slapped a plastic bag on it and ran into the bathroom to call her immediately.  I was so pleased that the next day I calculated how much I had saved by not going to the hospital.  Eventually I want to have a healthier appreciation for my well-being than this, however. 



Other general details:

I currently live from ~80% of my day job wages, which is $20,000-$22,000/year.  Income from my second job goes via direct deposit into savings, as does about 75% of side hustle income.   My side-hustle income covers everything I need to buy that I cannot find for free.  I was having trouble last year finding a sofa for free that wasn’t disgusting (I sleep on a sofa)- so I spent $40 on a nice one from craigslist – stuff like that comes from side hustle money, and I don’t allow for it if  I haven’t ensured the income.  I grow a very small bit (live in an apartment) of herbs and Kale and such to help supplement my grocery bill.  Every now and then neighborhood kids kick them over or rip them out though ☹


In defense of my gym membership, because I know it’s ridiculous:
I pay for my gym membership from my side hustle money, and put anything beyond that into my savings.  I will cancel membership should my side hustle money no longer cover this cost, but am currently in a 12 month contract.  This is a Crossfit gym.  I come from a family where everyone besides my immediate parents (who always made a POINT to me that you have to exercise to avoid sickness which costs money – my dad would do his push ups and jump rope and squats in front of us kiddos on purpose to drive this home- and even built us a little home gym complete with pictures of Hulk Hogan when we were kids) are extremely morbidly obese.  I have awful genetics and the only thing that has kept me in moderate shape has been a combination of Crossfit and Roller Derby (I've played derby since 2007).  I am currently likely at a bit less than 20% bodyfat training about 7-10 hours per week, I look fairly attractive, feel pretty good, and notice a difference when I stop training.  I took a year off from both derby and the gym last year in an attempt to save money and trained at home while following same dietary standards as usual and gained 40lbs – just now getting that weight off.  Also, being involved in both communities seems to help my ETSY and dog walking businesses.


Immediate Goals:
•   I’d like to move out of my neighborhood.  The Loft itself is nice, and my neighbors are great (it's attached to a seniors apartment), but overall the neighborhood is too dangerous.  My Loft-mate recently found a bullet lodged in the sunroof of his car from someone shooting into the air down the street.  We hear gunshots regularly (almost every night).  If someone shoots my dog while I am walking her, I swear I might walk right out in front of a bus and end it all.  I left my cell phone outside my door (I had been sitting and reading) once for less than 5 minutes - it was immediately stolen.  Stuff like that... it's just not ideal.
•   I want to finish school and pay off my loans completely.  I am unsure if I should do this or begin investing first since my loans are old and have an "ok" interest rate.
•   I want to gain health insurance again.
•   In about 4 months it will be time to ask for either a raise or perhaps the offering of health insurance benefits at my day job.  Which should I ask for?



Longer term Goals:
I would like to move to a warmer climate, probably Florida, where I lived for a period of time.
I would like to start a small non-profit.
I would like to be debt free and able to live from ~30% or less of my income so that I may retire early and work part-time instead of full time.  I do not enjoy work, generally.
I would like to adopt two additional dogs from the SPCA/ a local rescue.
I would like to have consistent affordable healthcare and address some food allergy suspicions I have. 

I have no relationship or child-bearing goals, nor do I want to indulge in more typical luxuries. 
No, I don’t ever want a TV, but a kayak or new skates would be nice. :)



OK!  So I know that was a lot, but it feels good to get out it there and hopefully y’all will have some good and maybe somewhat gentle advice for me? 
Thanks!!!

[JanetJackson]

I left out some small Income/Expense items assuming they generally cancel each other out.

I share a Spotify account with multiple people which costs me about $25/yr
I share an Amazon Prime account with multiple people which costs me about $35/yr
I occasionally reset Air BnB rentals in my town for $15/pop between guests, but it's only once a month or so...
I occasionally do rideshares- I don't have any data on how much I make/have saved from that.
I make my own laundry detergent and soap, and household cleaners, but I have no idea how much that saves me.


....Little stuff like that.

[cloudsail]

You mentioned that you have a dog, but I don't see any pet related expenses?

[inline five]

I didn't see a question in there but IMO you need to focus on obtaining more income.

[CNM]

Janet, it looks like you are living very frugally.  I would suggest concentrating on earning more income.  This could mean looking for other, higher paying work or at least asking your day jobs for a raise.

Also, with your degree stuff, I know this is likely a stress-inducing question but have you already starting looking for work/networking/have a good idea of what you will use these degrees for?  If your current income is only going to last for another year until your degrees are finished but you expect to double/triple your income after graduation, I would use all of my extra time and effort for networking/internship/job applications. 

[Frankies Girl]

You're doing a whole lot of things right. You've definitely had to come up from a rougher life than most folks, so very cool that you're working so hard at getting your ducks in a row. :)

You do mention quite a few things that are definitely questionable as far as the whole MMM crowd/frugality thing, and then making excuses/justifications on why they are important. Thing to remember is, we all sometimes get complacent and forget that just because it's familiar and comfortable doesn't mean it's good -- and I do hope that's why you're posting all of this for us to pick apart. So please don't take the following as critical or insulting - just suggestions:

I would find a cheaper gym or even smarter, learn to do your own exercise routines using bodyweight exercises and yoga. With the amazing amount of video and instruction available online now, the idea of paying $130 a month and being locked into a contract to boot seems a very poor choice. It is super high even if you made twice what you do now. There are plenty of gyms out there for much, much less, but you seriously could do workouts at home or in a park with zero expenditure. Coupled with the fact that you have zero health insurance, you are just a broken bone or sickness away from total ruin, so paying insane amounts for a gym membership instead of basic catastrophic health insurance is a dangerous game. Look up Nerd Fitness or HIIT routines for starters. Or go check out places like 24 Hour Fitness if you need machines and weights. Even membership at the YMCA is cheaper than what you're paying and has waaaaay more to offer than a crossfit gym. And bonus, most of these don't require a contract, and offer no joining fees throughout the year.

I know you say you barter for your haircuts, but if you have to pay even close to $37 per haircut - that is very high as well. As long as you're not spending anything close to that (and you are valuing your time spent making the barter items into the cost too right?) then cool, but keep in mind that there are probably dozens of places that will do decent cuts for under $20 including tip.

Your food budget is super high for a single person. It should generously be half that - $150/month if you mostly eat rice and beans and shop at Aldi. I have no idea how you're spending twice that - I shop for two adults and do frequent stockups/bulk shopping and still have a total grocery budget of ~$250/month. Coffee and tea are super cheap especially if you're brewing it at home, and would provide you way more caffeine than the nasty 5 hour energy drinks.

Why do you need Amazon Prime? You can order stuff and get free shipping as long as it's over $35 per order, you just might have to wait a few days longer. And you can also order online from Walmart and get it free ship to store (which is why Amazon lowered its free basic shipping). If you're also paying for Spotify (another superfluous expense I'd say should be dropped completely, but that's me), there's really no good reason to pay for that service at all other than you don't have the patience to wait 5-7 days instead of 2 and maybe don't want to wait til you have $35 to place an order?

You can get free music from your local library, along with DVDs of movies, television and documentaries. Even e-books. Free. Some things might not be available, but free is good, and they probably have a suprisingly good selection. And if you like streaming your music instead of loading it onto your device from a CD, most libraries do offer streaming music even - my county system does it through an app called Hoopla. Again - free!!

Is the pet seeing a vet for regular checkups? Do you set aside $ for heartworm/flea treatments? Accounting for emergency/sickness costs? I didn't see anything in your expenses that indicated any of this, and a responsible pet owner should make sure to have this sort of thing baked into their budget.

[JanetJackson]

You mentioned that you have a dog, but I don't see any pet related expenses?

You're right! I was copying from my spreadsheet, but trying to make it format right.  Her costs average $40/mo.

[JanetJackson]

You're doing a whole lot of things right. You've definitely had to come up from a rougher life than most folks, so very cool that you're working so hard at getting your ducks in a row. :)

You do mention quite a few things that are definitely questionable as far as the whole MMM crowd/frugality thing, and then making excuses/justifications on why they are important. Thing to remember is, we all sometimes get complacent and forget that just because it's familiar and comfortable doesn't mean it's good -- and I do hope that's why you're posting all of this for us to pick apart. So please don't take the following as critical or insulting - just suggestions:

Thanks, I won't take offense.  I simply asked everyone to be gentle because I don't have a feel for the crowd yet - this is actually the first forum I have ever written on :)  I way be more of a whiney baby than I give myself credit for, because I do feel like I'm kind of (for sure) in the suck all the time and "dammit they're going to make me get rid of Crossfit too!"  Ha.

I would find a cheaper gym or even smarter, learn to do your own exercise routines using bodyweight exercises and yoga. With the amazing amount of video and instruction available online now, the idea of paying $130 a month and being locked into a contract to boot seems a very poor choice. It is super high even if you made twice what you do now. There are plenty of gyms out there for much, much less, but you seriously could do workouts at home or in a park with zero expenditure. Coupled with the fact that you have zero health insurance, you are just a broken bone or sickness away from total ruin, so paying insane amounts for a gym membership instead of basic catastrophic health insurance is a dangerous game. Look up Nerd Fitness or HIIT routines for starters. Or go check out places like 24 Hour Fitness if you need machines and weights. Even membership at the YMCA is cheaper than what you're paying and has waaaaay more to offer than a crossfit gym. And bonus, most of these don't require a contract, and offer no joining fees throughout the year.
Thanks, I am actually a certified personal trainer, but left my job at the gym about a year ago due to distance (it's 50 minutes one way).  I'm thinking of canceling my membership in a few months, but it's killing me because I really really enjoy it.  I wonder if I could get involved in a lower cost outdoor bootcamp or something locally?



I know you say you barter for your haircuts, but if you have to pay even close to $37 per haircut - that is very high as well. As long as you're not spending anything close to that (and you are valuing your time spent making the barter items into the cost too right?) then cool, but keep in mind that there are probably dozens of places that will do decent cuts for under $20 including tip.
Previously I went to Hair Cuttery for their $14 deal, but the last time I went I left in near tears, so I found a friend who charges $37 or two bars of soap- I do factor in the time for the soap and I'm ok with this deal so far.



Your food budget is super high for a single person. It should generously be half that - $150/month if you mostly eat rice and beans and shop at Aldi. I have no idea how you're spending twice that - I shop for two adults and do frequent stockups/bulk shopping and still have a total grocery budget of ~$250/month. Coffee and tea are super cheap especially if you're brewing it at home, and would provide you way more caffeine than the nasty 5 hour energy drinks.
Thanks, I will look into adjusting this.  Have you found any good grocery list tips online?  I eat fish, but no other meats

Why do you need Amazon Prime? You can order stuff and get free shipping as long as it's over $35 per order, you just might have to wait a few days longer. And you can also order online from Walmart and get it free ship to store (which is why Amazon lowered its free basic shipping). If you're also paying for Spotify (another superfluous expense I'd say should be dropped completely, but that's me), there's really no good reason to pay for that service at all other than you don't have the patience to wait 5-7 days instead of 2 and maybe don't want to wait til you have $35 to place an order?
Thanks.  I have had amazon prime for as long as I remember, but didn't realize they shipped free to anyone even without prime if it's $35 or over.  I generally use this for my textbooks (and ebay) and some bulk grocery items for things I can't get at Aldi/Kroger.  Spotify can go.  I used to get reimbursed when I worked at the gym for my account, but I haven't worked there in almost a year.  Good point.


You can get free music from your local library, along with DVDs of movies, television and documentaries. Even e-books. Free. Some things might not be available, but free is good, and they probably have a suprisingly good selection. And if you like streaming your music instead of loading it onto your device from a CD, most libraries do offer streaming music even - my county system does it through an app called Hoopla. Again - free!!
You're right, I loooooove Hoopla and the free classes at my library.  I didn't realize Hoopla had music- I'll have to look into this.  I'm a totally library nerd and I think I've taken all of the free computer classes and gardening classes they offer! :)
Is the pet seeing a vet for regular checkups? Do you set aside $ for heartworm/flea treatments? Accounting for emergency/sickness costs? I didn't see anything in your expenses that indicated any of this, and a responsible pet owner should make sure to have this sort of thing baked into their budget.

Thanks.  She has a separate savings account that I portion out from my regular savings.  She's an SPCA dog, so she gets discounted heart worm and shots at their clinic.  I order her dog food in bulk on Amazon.  I regularly send portions of my side hustle money to her account as well.  The 8k I have in savings includes about $700 that I have in her emergency account currently (I'm working on building this up more), and I keep enough in my checking account to pay for her bi-monthly dog food and heart worm.



Thanks for all of your input.  I think you're right about getting rid of Spotify and looking at my Amazon Prime account.  And soul-sucking as the idea is, I may have to reconsider Crossfit.  I know I sound like a barrel of excuses, but I've actually had my CPT for almost eight years, but have never been in the kind of shape Crossfit lets me be in training on my own.  Might have to suck it up for the greater good though and maybe I'll become a better trainer in the process.  I've actually considered getting my Level1 Cert. through Crossfit so that I could coach there, and train for free. 

[mozar]

It's sounds like you are pretty passionate about the gym. Why can't you go back to coaching? And what do you plan on doing with a psychology degree? I'm concerned about your online degree. Do the jobs you want to apply to once you graduate consider your degree legitimate?
Can you cut your own hair? Also those beans might be bothering you. Have you tried lentils?

[JanetJackson]

It's sounds like you are pretty passionate about the gym. Why can't you go back to coaching? And what do you plan on doing with a psychology degree? I'm concerned about your online degree. Do the jobs you want to apply to once you graduate consider your degree legitimate?
Can you cut your own hair? Also those beans might be bothering you. Have you tried lentils?

Hi, thanks for your response!  Initially, I attempted to coach at a gym closer to home, but I quickly found myself slacking in my studies when I tried to coach classes on my designated "school" days (and they wouldn't let me just coach 1 or 2 days per week- so I cut it out.  That door is presumably always open though, at least until my current Cert. expires if I don't get re-certified.
I am doing the Psych. degree because that is what I was originally working on when I initially went to school.  I only have a few classes left, and did a LOT of research into whether I could afford to change majors, and it's just too much time/money lost.  I need ANY degree at this point to advance.  I chose to do the Post-Grad Certificate alongside it because I know I'll never be able to afford grad school, and I think it might give me a leg up.

  I'd rather not say where it is, for privacy, but it's an actual brick and mortar large university who also have a few degree-finisher programs that are online... it's not a Devry/Trump University type situation.

I get paid a decent wage hourly at my Day Job, but it's not time to ask for a raise yet (6 months in), if I could stay with the company at my same hourly rate and perhaps transition to one of their partial remote positions (60% of our staff primarily work from home), in theory I'd make about 45k/year, but they only need my position part time.  I'm working hard to prove that they could use me full time.

[JanetJackson]

I didn't see a question in there but IMO you need to focus on obtaining more income.

Thanks!  I agree, and I am hoping having a degree will break down some of the paywalls I encountered a lot recently when I was searching for a job (before I found the one I am currently at).  One question I had was whether I should try to invest in my IRA at this time?  What do you think?

[JanetJackson]

Janet, it looks like you are living very frugally.  I would suggest concentrating on earning more income.  This could mean looking for other, higher paying work or at least asking your day jobs for a raise.

Also, with your degree stuff, I know this is likely a stress-inducing question but have you already starting looking for work/networking/have a good idea of what you will use these degrees for?  If your current income is only going to last for another year until your degrees are finished but you expect to double/triple your income after graduation, I would use all of my extra time and effort for networking/internship/job applications.

Thanks!  How soon do you think is appropriate these days to ask for a raise?  I've been in my position for about 6 months, and we'd agreed to a set amount of hours per week.  I've already requested to have more hours added, and given the ok.  How much do you think I can push the envelope asking for more things like a raise or benefits?  I'm an excellent employee and good at my job, but haven't had a lot of time for them to see that.
I don't have a good idea what I'm going to use my degree for, but when I chose to pick up where I'd left off years ago because changing my major to anything else resulted in too much lost time/transfer credits/money.  When I was looking for my most recent job, almost every single thing that I found required an undergraduate degree.  I'm hoping the Post Grad Certificate will help differentiate me.  Personally, I'd like to host a fitness or outdoor camp for teens with disabilities and operate a website that links families and caregivers of persons with disabilities to wellness providers that are well-versed and trained to work with those with different abilities (think like Yelp, but helping parents find yoga classes their loud kiddo on the spectrum would be welcome at, or horseback riding lessons that are adaptive to a person in a wheelchair)..... but, I may end up slaving away in the sinking corporate non-profit world before I am able to start something of my own...

[ElleFiji]

Your dog has a savings account. You are now my favourite person on these forums.

I think a few people have made great suggestions for small expense cuts. And then you might just be pushing through and maintaining until you get through the degree to make more money. And that's okay.

Even on the blog, MMM acknowledges that the path looks different while you're low income. Sometimes when I feel stuck I re read ERE articles - have you dropped by there? Jacob fiskar did it on grad student money. I wouldn't make his exact choices, but reading about his choices makes me okay with mine

[JanetJackson]

Your dog has a savings account. You are now my favourite person on these forums.

I think a few people have made great suggestions for small expense cuts. And then you might just be pushing through and maintaining until you get through the degree to make more money. And that's okay.

Even on the blog, MMM acknowledges that the path looks different while you're low income. Sometimes when I feel stuck I re read ERE articles - have you dropped by there? Jacob fiskar did it on grad student money. I wouldn't make his exact choices, but reading about his choices makes me okay with mine

Thanks!  You're right, I'm just kind of on a path right now- but I can probably cut out some of the fat in the meantime.  Thanks for the suggestion for ERE, I hadn't heard of it before your mention and spent a good while on there last night looking through some of the forum.  I found a few good cookbook suggestions on there.  I'm a decent cook, but have weird tastes and clearly some food issues, so I am always looking for new recipes.
Thanks for the comment about my pup's savings account.  I know it sounds dramatic, but I'd rather be dead than not have a pet/dog- if anything ever happened, I'd give her my whole savings :)

[kuchihige]

I didn't see a question in there but IMO you need to focus on obtaining more income.

Completely agree with this. If you love your Crossfit gym, keep that membership - it should be a last resort to jettison a social and healthy activity that makes you happy. The main optimization to be made, IMO, is doubling your income - this will have a massively larger effect on your overall financial picture than trimming your (seemingly reasonable) expenses and lifestyle to the bone.

[PDXTabs]

•   I want to finish school and pay off my loans completely.  I am unsure if I should do this or begin investing first since my loans are old and have an "ok" interest rate.

I definitely think that finishing your BS and possibly the certificate should be your first priority. I wouldn't worry about either of your loans with their lower interest rates.

Some people don't tolerate beans (or any legumes), although most people tolerate white rice. I personally have real weight problems with too many carbs, even if I'm doing tons of cardio. I know that a lot of people on MMM eat really cheap but food is definitely one place where I'm willing to spend some money. No point in being ready for early retirement with diabetes or heart disease.

[kuchihige]

Also, what method are you using to cook the beans?  Undercooked beans contain the compound lectin, which will make you ill. Kidney beans contain the highest concentration, but it's vital to boil all types thoroughly, and usually soak overnight and drain before cooking.

[begood]

JanetJackson, you are an inspiration! It sounds like you know yourself well and have a real take-charge approach. i commend you!

I too cannot eat rice and beans without getting stomach upset. It's definitely the "beans" part of that equation at fault. I wonder if you could find chicken on sale and try a week of chicken and rice instead? It won't give you exactly the same protein ratio, but it might provide feedback for how a different protein source might not create stomach upset. Whole chickens are much less expensive than parts, so you could buy one, cut it up, and cook it in a big pot of water with an onion, celery, salt, and pepper, and get several days' worth of meals out of it, especially if it's combined with rice.

You have good social relationships at work, the gym, dogwalking, soap bartering. Could any of those people help you find a safer pace to live?

[sequoia]

You are doing awesome. Years ago, I was in the same position, making about the same amount as you working full time, and paying for my wife full time to go to college. You are doing great - keep it up!

Food: $300
Just for comparison, we are two adults + 6 yr old. Our grocery is about $300ish, and we do not eat rice and beans for sure. For rice and beans, that seems high, but maybe in your area grocery are higher. We do buy in bulk when things are on sale. My wife is the expert of stuffing as much stuffs into the fridge.

For instance, I prepare beans and rice a lot because it is cheap- but beans and rice causes me a fair amount of stomach upset.
It is absolutely not worth to continue eating rice and beans if it cause health problems. Your health is worth a lot more than whatever you are saving. You should try out other type of food that goes well with your stomach.

I share a Spotify account with multiple people which costs me about $25/yr
I share an Amazon Prime account with multiple people which costs me about $35/yr
This is small amount. IMHO, cut Spotify and Amazon Prime. I know you said you do not want TV, but if you have TV, you can get free over the air programs so maybe that can replace Spotify? I do understand that everyone need some sort of entertainment :)

Gym: $130
That is $1560 per year! Our YMCA for the whole family is $83/month so this sounds very high, but I dunno anything about gym membership.

[CheapScholar]

I agree you need to start networking and developing a strategy for your next job, post degree.

You really should find a job that offers health insurance and a 401k at your age, mustachian or not.

I admire your toughness.

[EnjoyIt]

In all honesty you don't really have a spending problem, you have an income problem cutting a few dollars here and there may help, but I just don't see it making that much of a difference in the long run.  Maybe in 6 months you can negotiate a higher salary.  Ideally your degree will earn you a substantial raise which will allow you to fire relatively quickly.

Despite your crossfit being expensive, unless you can do it for less I highly recommend keeping it.  If being healthier and happier only costs you $130/month then you should stick with it.

Lastly, I am not sure what kind of beans you are eating, but if you buy raw/hard beans not canned and cook/soak them overnight they should not bother your stomach as much as well as taste much better.

[FIFoFum]

In general, going without health insurance is risky. Since gym/crossfit/derby is an important part of your life, it's even more critical. One injury that takes more than 2 stitches from a friend can wipe out months of frugal behavior. One bad accident will torpedo everything you have.

Is getting health insurance through your job possible? Finding a job with health insurance would be my #1 recommendation here.

[fuzzy math]

Seconding the "don't eat beans at the expense of your wellbeing" comment.

If you are concerned about weight gain, meat based protein and veggies (paleo) might give you a bit more options. Lots of cross fit people are paleo - the high protein helps build muscle. Carb based diets are more suited for endurance training. Just a thought...

[Fomerly known as something]

Anther substitute for the beans that might make you feel better is lentils and rice.  And personally I find them easier to cook from dry than beans.

[JanetJackson]

Hey y'all,
Thanks for all of the input.  You're all right about needing to increase my income, and while there's not much I can do with that at the moment (until I finish school... a bit less than a year), I do plan on asking for a raise when my evaluation comes up in about 5 months.  I plan on asking for 15% and 5 more hours per week since I think I should have asked for more when they gave me the job offer and we just did quarterly reports and it looks like my budgeting tactics at work have saved us nearly 75% my yearly salary thus far.
I also just began a flyering gig one day a week on my study day for a real estate agent I know at $18/hr, which I do while I am walking the dogs, bringing that cash-pay income to around $32/hr for at least the time I additionally have a dog walking with me.  We'll see how it pans out in the long run, but right now since I'm already doing the dog walks, this is nice additional income. 


I eat mostly paleo now with the exception of rice, beans and potatoes to save me money (and beans because I do not eat any meat besides fish), and it works well with the exception of subbing beans in a little bit more than I should.  I do like lentils, so I will certainly add those in more often.
I'm going to work on getting my grocery budget to $200, and then $175 over the next two months.  I saw a challenge thread for this elsewhere on the forum, so I'm hoping I can find inspiration and additional support there.

Additionally, does anyone have any tips for finding health insurance outside of the marketplace?   


Thanks everyone!

[boognish]

Have you considered employers that offer benefits to part time workers? Might be worthwhile to pull back on some of the side hustles and work 20/week at a Starbucks for health insurance.

[CNM]

Re. Health Insurance- like others have mentioned, via an employer.  Check with your school to see if they have any student programs.  At the least, get a "disaster" health insurance plan in case you're in a car accident or come down with a bad illness suddenly.  I had this when I was in law school and I thank my lucky stars I did because I ended up needing a operation and week-long hospital stay out of the blue, even though I was young, fit, and healthy. Hospital bills were $100,000!!

Re. Income- I cannot stress enough how important it is to get your career going now, so you can hit the ground running when you graduate.  Do you know what you want to do with the degree?  Start making some informational interviews with people.  Talk to your school's career services and your teachers to get ideas and leads.  Go to networking events.  Many internships, grants, scholarships, and so on are only available to active students, not recent graduates.

[Rewdoalb]

.
Thanks for the comment about my pup's savings account.  I know it sounds dramatic, but I'd rather be dead than not have a pet/dog- if anything ever happened, I'd give her my whole savings :)[/i][/b]

Just a note on this. Your comment is endearing and terrifying at the same time. For the sale of your financial health, please remember a few things (I know you know them but it's good to remind yourself):

Animals are not people
Animals will probably die before you do
You can spend extra money to help them live and they'll die anyway
You can never replace a pet, but you can (and should) get another one that'll (someday) be more important to you than the current model

[surfhb]

You're doing everything right!    Just work on the income thing

Btw....keep the crossfit.    That's an investment, not a cost


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JanetJackson]

.
Thanks for the comment about my pup's savings account.  I know it sounds dramatic, but I'd rather be dead than not have a pet/dog- if anything ever happened, I'd give her my whole savings :)[/i][/b]

Just a note on this. Your comment is endearing and terrifying at the same time. For the sale of your financial health, please remember a few things (I know you know them but it's good to remind yourself):

Animals are not people
You are correct.  That's a scientific fact.  But I love them and often do not love people, and that's ok- I can feel that way.
Animals will probably die before you do
Also true.  Not sure why you brought that up, but that thought is generally extra incentive for me to make sure the animals that I own or care for have the best lives possible- because they are short.
You can spend extra money to help them live and they'll die anyway
True.  Same with people.  That thought is not an incentive to feed my dog the cheapest food on the shelf though.  I wouldn't go to dinner with my best friend, offer to pay, and order Lobster and insist that they have a side salad.  It's ok to care about animals.
You can never replace a pet, but you can (and should) get another one that'll (someday) be more important to you than the current model
Yep, you certainly cannot replace a pet.  Every pet that I've had has been unique and different than my past companion animals, and that doesn't lesson the importance of the past pet in my life.  I've been lucky to know and have the pets that I have- and I look forward to having more animals to care about throughout my life.  It's not a matter of importance, but immediate need.  I wouldn't stop caring for one pet because I was mourning another.

I understand your concern for my financial health, but one of the primary reasons I want FI is so that I can live below my means and use surplus to give to causes I believe in, and to care for animals.  The point of Financial Stability is different for everyone, but it's ok for me to have my own priorities and to set those giving limits for myself.

[aspiringnomad]

.
Thanks for the comment about my pup's savings account.  I know it sounds dramatic, but I'd rather be dead than not have a pet/dog- if anything ever happened, I'd give her my whole savings :)[/i][/b]

Just a note on this. Your comment is endearing and terrifying at the same time. For the sale of your financial health, please remember a few things (I know you know them but it's good to remind yourself):

Animals are not people
You are correct.  That's a scientific fact.  But I love them and often do not love people, and that's ok- I can feel that way.
Animals will probably die before you do
Also true.  Not sure why you brought that up, but that thought is generally extra incentive for me to make sure the animals that I own or care for have the best lives possible- because they are short.
You can spend extra money to help them live and they'll die anyway
True.  Same with people.  That thought is not an incentive to feed my dog the cheapest food on the shelf though.  I wouldn't go to dinner with my best friend, offer to pay, and order Lobster and insist that they have a side salad.  It's ok to care about animals.
You can never replace a pet, but you can (and should) get another one that'll (someday) be more important to you than the current model
Yep, you certainly cannot replace a pet.  Every pet that I've had has been unique and different than my past companion animals, and that doesn't lesson the importance of the past pet in my life.  I've been lucky to know and have the pets that I have- and I look forward to having more animals to care about throughout my life.  It's not a matter of importance, but immediate need.  I wouldn't stop caring for one pet because I was mourning another.

I understand your concern for my financial health, but one of the primary reasons I want FI is so that I can live below my means and use surplus to give to causes I believe in, and to care for animals.  The point of Financial Stability is different for everyone, but it's ok for me to have my own priorities and to set those giving limits for myself.

I love this reply. And overall, you're rocking it JJ. Keep doing what you're doing minus the beans; keep looking after your dog like the family member she is, keep the cross fit, and keep on bartering like a bad ass. The income growth will likely come, but it'll take a lot of hustle and maybe a bit of luck. When it does, you'll be on a great track to FIRE.

[Tyson]

I agree, you are doing pretty darn well given some pretty challenging history.  Focus on the degree and get it done - increasing your income is the #1 thing you can do. 

Re: beans and rice.  I also have trouble with beans sometimes.  Lentils are a good substitute.  But another thing I made up (but I love) is sunny side up eggs seasoned with lemon pepper and salt.  Put it on top of a bowl of rice, slice it up and mix it together.  Awesome meal and super cheap.

[wanderin1]

OP, one of the best things you can do to ensure your long-term financial success:  modify your family’s mantra of “work as much as you can, save as much as you can.” This mantra is holding you back.

The facts of your situation are simple: you work 40 hours per week and go to school. You’ll be awarded your BA plus certificate in less than a year, opening up your career opportunities. You currently earn comfortably more than you spend.  You have long term goals to combine fitness, disability focus, and non-profit work. You have a good base of experience and credentials in each of these areas.

So don’t spend your time on trying to coordinate yet another side hustle—leafletting—with your current dog walking. Instead, use university resources while you have access to them to boost your career. For example connect with professors who are involved with community projects in your interest areas. I’ve seen this lead to great connections and even jobs--even when done fully online.

And rather than putting all your effort into convincing your current company to use you full time, look around at all your options.  A two minute google search, for example, turned up a couple of interesting, well paid jobs with the Special Olympics in Florida.

[MilesTeg]

OP: You're not really doing anything terrible spending wise, you just need to keep working on a better income (which of course, you are doing). The only realistic quibble is how much you spend on gym/sports leagues/etc. What kind of gym do you have that charges $130/m a month? I thought my $38/mo (including access to machines, weights, various group exercise classes, steam rooms, indoor tracks, etc.) one was expensive, heh.

[Tyson]

OP: You're not really doing anything terrible spending wise, you just need to keep working on a better income (which of course, you are doing). The only realistic quibble is how much you spend on gym/sports leagues/etc. What kind of gym do you have that charges $130/m a month? I thought my $38/mo (including access to machines, weights, various group exercise classes, steam rooms, indoor tracks, etc.) one was expensive, heh.

I'm guessing Crossfit.

[JanetJackson]

OP: You're not really doing anything terrible spending wise, you just need to keep working on a better income (which of course, you are doing). The only realistic quibble is how much you spend on gym/sports leagues/etc. What kind of gym do you have that charges $130/m a month? I thought my $38/mo (including access to machines, weights, various group exercise classes, steam rooms, indoor tracks, etc.) one was expensive, heh.

I'm guessing Crossfit.

^ Yep, you're guessing right. 

[kuchihige]

So don’t spend your time on trying to coordinate yet another side hustle—leafletting—with your current dog walking. Instead, use university resources while you have access to them to boost your career.

*SO* agree with this.  Similarly, when I moved to city after college I put my full effort into my unpaid internship, taking the risk of having no paid side job. It worked and I broke into the field I wanted, which is hard to get a start in, while my roommates wanting to break into the same field were still working side jobs at coffee shops several years later.

I think side hustles are best avoided when trying to get established in some profession, or when you are shelling out $$ for (or even have a free ride for) school.

Obviously, many/most people need to pay the bills if not still under wing of their parents or without a nest they've build themselves.

But during school or first crucial years in a profession are no the time to be optimizing for current saving, they are for focusing on whatever chosen endeavor that will bring vastly greater earning potential once a foothold is gained.