We thought we would start the first post of spending habits spelling out our current expenses. Like we said earlier, we don't have rents or regular grocery bills to pay, but here's what we do pay.
TAYLER
6 Months grace period of loans ended for me this month. So, including my private loan I get to pay a healthy $450 in loans a month. I'm planning on calling to switch my payment plan, that's just too much.
I pay my portion of my family's phone bill of $45/month
And then my monthly trimet pass of $100/month which is my main and only source of transportation.
Oh, and every four months I spend $60 on birth control. That makes it $15/month.
That comes out to a fat $610/month - not including- normal adult payments like, rent, utilities, car, or insurance of any kind.
Side hustle
It's always been a big part of me and what I do. Always having something of my own going on at all times. Throughout college, the entire four years I was a full time student, worked 20-25 hours a week in either one or two jobs depending on the year, participated in campus activities and I have my blog of which I treat like a job.
Because of this, I earn a tiny bit of cash here and there. Most recently this month got another $100 check from google AdSense from my blog (and a super old embarrassing YouTube DIY video). You know where that's going? Straight into my savings account. This is the sweet spot that I want to increase profits— Chandra and I both.
Secondly, I finally got my reward for winning an award for my collection at my senior fashion show which ended up being a $100 MasterCard. And you know where that's going? Straight into purchasing myself a bed when I'm able to move out. This was just surprise cash I thought I'd mention because to me, $100 is a lot of money.
CHANDRA
Writing this post is hard for me because I currently feel like a loser. I finished an UNPAID internship on December 18th and have been applying to jobs like crazy since then. While I have gone on many interviews and I feel like most of them went well, I have still not confirmed a job outside of one freelancing gig.
I am in interesting position where I live with my boyfriend and his family. This family consists of his mother and an 8 year old boy. An 8 year old boy. So I currently don't pay rent. $0
My bank account at any given time fluctuates between $30 - $70, given to me by my parents back in Oregon every other week or so. This kills my ego and gives me a lot of guilt being a 22 year old who is still receiving money from her parents. Also, my boyfriend who does work pays for most of our activities, meals, grocery shopping and sometimes my metro card. Again, I didn't go to college for 4 years to have a man support me.
My biggest expense is getting around this city. Each ride on the subway is $2.50. So its at least $5.00 to walk out of the apartment for every job interview. I have also done a terrible job of keeping track of how much I spend on transportation each week. Ideally I would have an unlimited metro card which is $112/ month.
I also have a student line of credit through my credit union back in Oregon that I have been pretty negligent about. I had it completely paid off upon arriving in New York but, I quickly hated not paying for my own things and dug back into debt again. I owe a >$500 and I just made a $25 minimum payment to avoid being turned over to collections.
I worked a freelancing sales assistant job for Lanvin the 10th-16th so I am awaiting to be paid for this job still.
I'm having a rather hard time creating an accurate budget at the moment since my expenses aren't many and I am technically unemployed. Which kills me on so many levels.
And that's that. Thy struggles as 22 year old recent grads as of February 2015.
Love, C/\T
