I pay $939 in rent for a studio apartment in Berkeley, about 2 blocks from Campus. I get about $1150 for my mid-month paycheck, and $1150 for my end-of-month paycheck. So, most of the end-of-month paycheck goes to rent.
My mid-month paycheck goes to bills. Like this:
- Car Payment: 293.10
- Cable: 88.50
- Electric and Gas: 91.00
- Uninsured medical expenses: 200.00
- Phone/Internet: 92.00
Total of the above expenses: 764.60...
...leaving 385.40 for everything else.
Ok - so now, let's get to other budget items.
Groceries for 2 weeks (til the end of the month): $120
Car insurance (pro-rated from annual): $110
Gasoline: $40.00
Car Maintenance(pro-rated from annual - things like new tires, oil changes, etc.): $80
Leaving: $35.40. Now let's say I want a haircut once a month, this not being 1975 where men can get away with hippie hairstyles: $12
Now, let's say the car breaks. "Let's see...a new oil pump, installed, will be $220, sir. Oh, and your transmission is about due to be serviced, but we can put that off if you like." Meaning, I'm basically fucked if something like that comes up.
I have a job, make $18.75 per hour, but I am one paycheck away from homelessness.
I'm going to discontinue cable, get the basic dial-up internet connection, get basic no-frills phone service and turn my heater off (I do live in California - temps at night get down to the thirties or upper twenties occasionally, but I can wear sweaters and buy an extra-thick blanket from goodwill. - I'll be ok)
But here's the thing: I count myself among the lucky this winter - I have a job and health insurance. I have much, very much, to be grateful for. I have a great family, and live in a community that has lots of resources for folks having a hard time economically. I'm a lucky man indeed.