Ahh health insurance plans.. frustrating that you have to choose the most expensive plan because of something that’s out if your control.

Do you feel like you’re able to comfortably survive on that amount or are you just scraping by? Sorry if that question is too personal. I have a ton of resentment regarding wages in general as I’ve struggled for years just barely getting by.

Also I wonder what people think of the having to make 3 times the amount of rent in order to live in many places… I know that I could get by without making 3 times the amount so it’s also frustrating finding a place that’s nice but also affordable and doesn’t require you to make 6k a month.

Really an actual living wage, one where you maybe have a chance to save some money each month, pay all your bills, buy food, and afford anything else that comes up, would be at least 30 dollars per hour. Especially considering what rent costs here. So many jobs are trying to pay people around 20-22 dollars an hour here. Or even less.

Yeah probably… whatever my hourly wage is set at, I always subtract at least three dollars from that and consider that to be my actual wage. So ridiculous

With all the taxes taken out of your paycheck probably closer to 3,500 a month…

Where are you from? I agree, Washington IS so beautiful and there’s so much more to see than just in Seattle! It makes me sad how it’s become so crime ridden in so many areas and homelessness all over, especially Seattle. Even with all that though, there are still really beautiful places to go that remind me of better times and make me nostalgic! I’m glad you got to visit!

Seattle- tech people, hipsters, homeless people. These are not just stereotypes of Seattle, they are facts.

This is what I’d do too. Take ferry from mukilteo to Clinton, drive up the island, visit deception pass and then drive east to visit Chuckanut Drive.

I agree it feels so oppressive driving through

Years ago I purchased a silk filled comforter, cotton covered. And a silk duvet cover for it and I absolutely love it! It’s hypoallergenic which is one of the main reasons I was looking into silk specifically, as well as how soft it is and how cool it stays in the summer months! I also really love that silk does a better job at not absorbing oils from our hair and skin.

Mount Vernon is a pretty decent place to live. I lived there for five years and moved in early 2020 right in the beginning of covid. I got really lucky with renting a nice, top floor corner unit with lots of light for 635 a month in a nice-ish area. The landlord I had rents out several properties and was actually a decent landlord... never raised the rent in five years.

Not quite sure about a house? But I think if you looked around you might get lucky like I did and find a decent place within your budget in a nice area. As others have commented, I’d avoid Laventure and west side mount Vernon. Both are just dumpy areas. Some East/south parts of mount Vernon are really nice though, but probably all above 2k.

I don’t really like Burlington or Sedro-Woolley (I grew up in sedro) and it can get depressing as there’s not much to do and it’s usually cloudy when to the West (Mount Vernon, Anacortes etc) it is more sunny and bluer skies. I think mount Vernon is a great location because it’s super close to the freeway, it has more shopping options than sedro and Burlington (in my opinion). And it’s in close proximity to nice/cute places like LaConner Bayview etc. also has pretty good walk ability.

You can message me if you want and ask me any questions! I love that area! Also, I didn’t really experience any crime since I lived in mount Vernon as others have mentioned... yes I did sometimes see gross looking people/druggies walking around just like anywhere else. But living in Seattle/Seattle area is so different and obviously much more crime ridden so when I look back at Mount Vernon I guess I just see it that way? I see it as a nice small town.

Haha totally agree about the co op sandwiches! Although they’ve gone up in price in the last year or so... used to be about 7 for a whole, now it’s around 13.