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man2010 t1_j10ecbf wrote

Depends on a lot of factors; some people can afford to live here on $50k while others don't think it's possible on $150k

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j10f50x wrote

I know it. It’s a trip seeing everyone’s perspectives.

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charons-voyage t1_j13m1rl wrote

With two young kids, $150K would be super tight. Daycare is like $4K/month. Rent/mortgage figure $3K/month, that’s $84K right there, leaving you with $66K or $5K/month for taxes, insurance, car/T, food, savings….yeah $150K is fine for a single dude, but pretty rough for a family.

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bakgwailo t1_j1g6t7r wrote

On $150k, you are looking at probably 40% in taxes (fed+state), social security, and deductions (health care, 401k, etc.

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Coffee_cat262 t1_j144f3a wrote

Yep, I was going to say this. Kind of related but I was reading an article the other day about people in Hawaii, the state with the highest cost of living not just in real estate but across the board- utilities, groceries, shipping, even taxes. It was talking about how they live in what would easily be considered conditions of poverty here in the states. When I moved to Boston I made $40k and made it work, still being able to contribute 15% to my 401k so I could get the employer match, had student loans, etc. I lived outside of city limits in Brookline, had a roommate, and lived kind of frugal. 8 years later and I make $120k now not including bonus and I make it work, I now live in a small 1 bedroom near back bay station. I’ll live differently if I am dual income with someone one day or if I make a lot more in a few years. I think it’s just living within your means. Follow the typical rules- 30% or less on rent, etc. If you have a to live with a roommate or move farther away from the city, if your salary requires it, then that’s what it takes. If you don’t want to do that then you’d need to make the trade off of living in a cheaper state, but then you’d have to deal with the drawbacks of living in a cheaper state and possibly not in a large city (whatever those are for you- more driving, less liberal, no public transit, etc). Idk hope that helps!

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man2010 t1_j14gtjm wrote

Completely agree, and I've had a similar experience starting around $45k with roommates and now at $110k on my own. Going to a state school and getting better than average financial aid helped make the student loans manageable, and my frugal habits from the $45k lifestyle have somewhat stayed until now which also helps (though lifestyle creep is very real and I've picked up some more expensive interests too). I think your point about dual incomes is a big one that often gets missed. I've accepted that property ownership is out of my reach on a single income without moving farther away or cutting way back on retirement savings, but adding a moderate second income would completely change that.

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Coffee_cat262 t1_j14iwg7 wrote

Ya exactly! Also not sure why you’d want to buy alone though, unless you’re taking advantage of a truly amazing deal (read super early Covid days when I should have bought)! What if you blow your savings on a place in the city and you end up with someone who hates living downtown and prefers the burbs? Or vice versa. Also just the simple fact that dual income gives you a million more possibilities, and same, I’d really only need the person to make a moderate living for my purchasing possibilities to be widely expanded.

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man2010 t1_j14n9a3 wrote

If I could own a condo and build equity in where I live it would be great so I definitely get it, though there are benefits to renting that I like as well (not responsible for maintenance, can move easily, etc.). If you're a single person buying property then you're probably not worried about what a future partner will want, and if they ultimately want something different then hopefully you'll have owned for long enough to have built a little equity and come out positive when selling. It's a "cross that bridge when you come to it" situation to me.

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SlightlyStoopkid t1_j10frxg wrote

stalked your post history and you make 50k/yr

that's enough to afford rent with a few roommates. go on craigslist and filter by price. here's one in DOT that i found in 2 minutes. https://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/apa/7570369231.html

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j10hsdm wrote

Thanks for the find. I’m a bit leery of split shot though…

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SlightlyStoopkid t1_j10o5ai wrote

> split shot

idk what that is. just go on craigslist and find a place.

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j10oa1p wrote

Been looking since September. I promise I’m on it.

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chunkyboiiii t1_j13tkal wrote

Two housing recommendations for you— (1) sign up for emails for bpda affordable housing lotteries based on your income https://www.bostonplans.org/housing (2) Facebook groups for Boston housing.

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lpn122 t1_j155xuf wrote

Try r/bostonhousing people post rooms for rent every day

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cyanastarr t1_j14fz3c wrote

I was a housing advocate of sorts for the past 4-5 years, and had to couch surf for a couple months when I was younger. Can relate a little, though I never had to sleep outside.

Trust me dude, if roommates are even remotely an option, they are your best option hands down. If doesn’t have to be forever. But it beats the hell out of sleeping outdoors or being homeless generally. Even if the “room” you’re renting is technically an attic closet or a basement with rats, or whatever. You start where you are and try to gain stability from there.

Be safe and best wishes.

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j14h1b9 wrote

I appreciate it. I have some prospects.

And I’m not in the worst situation… I have a reliable vehicle and quality sleeping bag.

I should be fine, but I’m just scared.

I’ve interviewed for several rooms over the last months.. Just nothing planned out yet.

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nattarbox t1_j10g79v wrote

Time and patience mostly, and making sure your chosen profession has (salary) growth possibilities.

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SashaBDEmming t1_j12645l wrote

Moved here making ~45k, barely survived in a shithole North End apartment. Surviving is one thing, thriving is another.

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joshhw t1_j1269nh wrote

Looking at your post history it seems you’ve been struggling with housing for a bit. I just wanted to wish you well as it seems you’re trying to make it work. It’s tough for sure. I went back to school for computer science and managed to secure a good job. I hope it works out soon for you.

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j126y2n wrote

I really appreciate it. I’ve been super fortunate having people that look out for me.

I have clear goals, but I’m not sure how I’m gonna get on sleeping and functioning through 10°F. I’ll have to run the sometimes engine and I’ll give myself away.

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j10b6r1 wrote

I have two jobs already that I really like. One should turn into a career that earns almost ~75k.

Not sure how to enter into the class of people that can afford the cost of living in this region.

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Apprehensive-Hat-494 t1_j110s8m wrote

Rich parents, rich spouse, biotech, finance, attorney, investments, doctor, high up on state government payroll, the projects.

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AchillesDev t1_j12bvlj wrote

Software is another one, and probably the more attainable of all of these listed (it's how I am able to mostly afford living here supporting my wife and 1 year old, when neither of my parents went to college, I floundered in college because I had no idea what I was doing, and my grandparents were refugees on one side and blue collar workers on the other), especially with the horror stories I've heard waiting for public or even section 8 housing.

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mikejones42069 t1_j112xzl wrote

Can you elaborate more on the 'the projects'?

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Apprehensive-Hat-494 t1_j116uky wrote

Subsidized public housing that is usually poorly maintained, located in an undesirable neighborhood, lacking adequate heating and air conditioning for the climate, etc.

Once the city tears down these housing projects and replaced them with luxury apartments, you can’t live there on a lower salary and need the things I mentioned to live in the city comfortably (as this subreddit defines it).

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AchillesDev t1_j12bjat wrote

There are 369 affordable units in Brookline. Not nearly enough, but I don't think any part of Brookline is "undesirable." One of the major projects is a part of my neighborhood, and I think our neighborhood is very nice and they're a great part of it.

Boston is a different story, but when I moved to Brookline from Boston I was surprised at how well-integrated into the denser neighborhoods the few public housing developments were, because that's not really the case in Boston.

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stargrown t1_j13uymy wrote

Only people who’ve torn down subsidized housing in the passed 5-10 years (I think) and not replaced it w newer facilities is Harvard

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nflreject t1_j10mehx wrote

Onlyfans

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j10myjf wrote

I’ve though about it, but I’m not sure how to start.

Is there a trial a period to gauge interest or something? I’ve never looked at any metrics for businesses like that.

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Chappy_Sinclair_ t1_j10fd58 wrote

What do you bring to the table?

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j10q5fw wrote

I like to think a lot. But I don’t have many paper certificates to back it up.

My parents went to prison when I was young; I was an emancipated minor who left high school to work; didn’t have much parental guidance or wisdom shared.

I own a successful business; have technical and engineering skills; work two jobs…

Just simply don’t make enough money to afford a room.

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Visible-Education-98 t1_j11sw10 wrote

You said you make $60,000/year in a previous post. That is enough for a room at the YMCA!

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NoMoLerking t1_j10fw96 wrote

Biotech, software stuff, or finance. Pretty much in that order.

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j10i4vf wrote

I don’t need to live in Boston proper, but at least in the area.

Unfortunately I didn’t pursue my education how I needed to.

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techorules t1_j10ujaw wrote

Work places big enough where there are jobs opening up and there is internal opportunity. That's a key to rising. Then when you are starting to master that job, bail and join a new company because that's the only way to get huge jumps in salary. Last thing Id say is if you can sell no one cares about your degrees. So if you happen to not hate sales and you're not bad at it then find a way to sell expensive things because commission on expensive things is better, haha.

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Namgodtoh t1_j11zhbr wrote

Survive? Not too bad. Just get a solid reliable job and 3 roomates.

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Alisseswap t1_j12jyqr wrote

rly just depends on how you live :) if you would like help budgeting and finding an apartment i would be happy to, i’m a math major and did an internship w a personal finance class. I would be more than happy to help

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bookandbark t1_j13tp7w wrote

yeah I make ~38,500/yr and lived in a place for $850/month and was still able to save $300-500/month. I had 2 roommates and the place was in a good location in Cambridge. It took several months to find but did through fb marketplace.

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j141wg3 wrote

Sounds like my first few years here.

Takes a certain discipline, so props to you.

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briskx t1_j13lh18 wrote

As a teacher, being in a dual income household with my SO is the only way I survive here. If not, I would need to have a ton of roommates or join the rest of Reddit and work in tech.

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metabeliever t1_j149a9y wrote

Get a better job. Then get a better job. Then get a better job again.

If you're not the kind of person who can see a career path consider emailing a recruiter with your resume and see what they think they can get you. Those people make more money when you get a better job. They aren't always on your side but even if they are taking a cut they'll still get you a title bump if they can.

Don't work for companies or in industries that have bad profit margins. That is to say don't work for people who are also broke. They'll squeeze you even if they like you, they're broke. (think most restaurants and retail. If the company is barely making ends meet, your cut of that pie is Very Thin)

What's the thing you can do that most people can't or wont, that's probably your advantage. Lean into it.

Don't sleep on jobs that require certifications. If you can pass that test then you're at a real advantage.

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Russia_sucks69 t1_j10y4wr wrote

Work multiple jobs. I know Doctors that do.

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Shemsuni t1_j12fnpz wrote

Pimpn’ ain’t easy

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Existing-Echo-5442 t1_j13mkdw wrote

One of the ideas is to try to monetize whatever skills you have. For example, if you are good at teaching your native language to foreigners, you could try to earn money by teaching online. If you are an expert in cryptocurrencies you could create and run your own cryptocurrency blog.
The question is selecting a platform where you can monetize your skills. In my opinion, r/solcial is the best option. The logic is simple. This decentralized social network is immune to censorship and allows content creators to profitably earn money because the platform is free of intermediaries. What's more, skills can be monetized from the first day of creating an account. The best thing is that your content will never be demonetized, nor will your account be suspended.

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ipsissimus666 OP t1_j14295u wrote

Thanks for the rad suggestions!

I already have two jobs and three sources of income. I don’t have much spare time, and when I do I know I should be sleeping.

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