Saturday, June 18, 2016

Started from the bottom...

I have had numerous people ask me how I was quickly able to get on my feet financially. I am going to dedicate this blog to advise young people who are struggling, that it is much easier than you think to be financially stable in your early 20's.

A little bit of background about me. I was set to go to a university when last minute my funding fell through. I started working at Wal-Mart ($9.40 an hour, 40 hours a week), the only place that would accept a kid like me with zero job experience. Quickly, I realized that I would not be able to save up enough money, and I decided to look at other options.

After a series of events, I ended up quitting my job to try and go to school, and within about a week I was moving out of my parents' house. Unemployed, having never been on my own, I don't think I truly realized the severity of the situation until about mid September (I moved out mid August). My $800 savings, which would have lasted years while in high school, was down to about $300. I hadn't really started hammering down the job applications until this point, before I was maybe submitting 5 a day. At this point, I was now doing 20+ minimum a day, and the only interview I had was at Lowe's ($9.89 an hour, 24 hours a week). They didn't have set hours, so I had to stay with my boyfriend at the time, who lived about 2 miles from my new job. I started two days before my birthday, and to this day that was still the best gift I have ever received. No more ramen!!! I could go out and have fun finally!!

WRONG. I was now only working 24 hours a week (maximum), no set schedule to get another job, and I had zero spending money. In fact, I was gifted a car by my boyfriend's grandparents because they didn't want me biking/walking in the red light district. This car would soon become a money pit as well, with the bumper falling off and the car shutting off when I tried to drive it. I almost felt as though I was worse off with a job, at least I could get some benefits while unemployed.

6 months later, I got a job with Securitas ($10.85, 32 hrs) as a security guard. Anyone that knows me would absolutely laugh out loud, but it was an absolute saving grace at that time. I was scheduled for 32 hours a week, but in reality I was working 50+ with all of the overtime, 12 hour shifts from midnight to noon, and back again the next day. This is the first time I was really able to save up some money, and I started putting aside a little bit each paycheck. Well, my car eventually crapped out about 3 months into my new job, and by this time I had about $500 saved up for a down payment. 6 months after getting this job originally, I was desperate for a steady schedule, and landed a job with a temp agency ($11.50, 40 hrs a week). This is the first time I was finally happy with a job, happy with my paycheck, and had money for dates (we had just reached 1 year together). 7 months later, I landed a promotion to $13.00 an hour, and here I am with my first home. Stay tuned for the next post :)

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