[kimbelly]

I am writing because I need some real advice -

I am a 32 year old woman, master's degree, never been married, no children. I work consistently but, I guess I would call myself underemployed. I live paycheck to paycheck, and sometimes less due to my job paying me 32/yr and my rent is 900. I have a lot of bills that I have to use my second check to pay off because the first one is solely for rent.

This leaves me with almost nothing for myself, and I am not able to shop, get my hair done, pay to go to events with friends, etc. Also, after a domestic issue in the past, I lost a lot of my clothing as, so with all of this I don't even feel up to par to hang out with friends. Its not that my friends are shallow at all, its just that I don't want to show that I am struggling financially the way I am, so I miss out on events ( or sometimes I do not have enough gas money.. )

I am not sure what to do. I am with someone, and he helps a little, but he does not make a whole lot either.

Because of my age I don't want to move back home, but I am not sure. I hate the prospect of this because I have been on my own for many years, but I have been in this limbo state for awhile. I still have to borrow money from my parents for gas, little food expenses, etc. I do this or borrow from my boyfriend, but he only gives me chump change and but he buys food, and I am always welcome there.

I want to get off this wheel and do better, but I am not sure what to do, or what to do first? Thanks for your help!

[Wondergirl]

What "bills"? What on earth are you spending all that money on? Are your credit cards maxed out? Are you eating lots of high-end foods?

What is your master's in and what are your two jobs? I'm a job coach and might have some good ideas for you.

[kimbelly]

Thanks for the response. My bills are my cellphone, utilities( gas/electric/water), old payday loans that I try to pay here and there, food and gas. My take home is only 1050, twice a month, and my rent is $900. I have a master's in HR management work in entry level HR and tutoring on the side. But I have not worked the pt tutoring due to low clientele...

[Wondergirl]

Whom do you tutor? Are you near a high school or university? Have you ever done freelance editing? (i.e. you're a good writer)

NO MORE payday loans!! The interest rate is mind boggling!

Your first task is to pay off the payday loans and never ever ever (NEVER!! ) again take out another one. Beg, borrow, and steal to pay them off. What do you still owe?

[kimbelly]

Well these payday loans are from long ago. I also owe old cellphone bills. In total I owe about $4500 in old bills. I have an under 600 credit score, so I can't borrow anything either. I would like to pay off those bills, they just do not fit into my rotation of payment. I am really only left with about 2 -300 after everything I have to pay with my non-rent check. I also take supplements that run me about 50 a month..

[joypulv]

2100/mo - 900 = 1200 to spend. That is PLENTY. There is something wrong, and you need to write down every dollar you spend, and put the amounts into about 10 categories. If you want help with a budget, we can help.

PS: In your other post about the 2 men in your life, you said you are 28 years old. Here you say 32. Why lie? We don't know you. If you don't want to say, just say so.

[Wondergirl]

Make yourself a "book" out of printer paper. Cut each sheet in half and staple the sheets together. One each sheet each day of the week plus the date will be the heading. Write down EVERY cent you spend that day -- every check you write, every pack of gum you buy, EVERY single cent. You need to know where your money is going.

Is your cell prepaid or on a contract? Do you text a lot?

[kimbelly]

Ok, here goes...

My bills are :
Phone : $110 ( Payment Plan + cost of phone)
Payday loan - $100
Utilities - $180 ( Am already behind, just trying to make small payments to avoid cut off)
TV rent - $145
Old bill- $ 50
Gas $60
Supplements - $50
I am left with $375 + $100 for Misc. and food for the rest of the month.
I usually spend $275 to go to my favorite hairdresser once every 2 months.

[joypulv]

You forgot car insurance and maintenance?
Food should run around 230, groceries and toiletries?
I assume that you buy some take out, coffees, food at work, which really adds up.
Your hairdresser cost is insane. There's your fun out budget right there.
Find a family member if possible to pay off the payday loan and write out a formal agreement for payments + 3% interest. What interest are you paying? 25%? More?

[Wondergirl]

$275 for a hairdresser?? What do you have done, a total makeover?? My hairdresser charges around $50, or less, every 8 weeks or so, depending on what I have done.

Stop using the cell phone -- cancel it. Get rid of the TV.

The payday loan interest could be as high as 500% if you have delayed paying it back.

[kimbelly]

Hello, these loans are very old , so I don't know the interest. They are at least 6 yrs old. I can't get rid of my phone, because it's my only way of contact. My hair must look nice, but I can try to find a cheaper option. I g uess my TV too... its just that since I'm broke a lot , I feel entertained at home since it's a big screen, and I tend to invite company if I don't have an outfit to gout out, so I want them to be entertained, or at least not be able to tell I'm broke lol

[joypulv]

The lender by law must reveal the interest rate somewhere, sometime within each year, but usually on statements... whatever it is, if you don't find a substitute for it, you will be paying off 4500 forever. Literally.
You must have picked a top of the line phone. A lot of plans include a free or $20 phone.
You do seem to have some expensive habits without much clue about them? Is this how you got a bad credit rating?
Women who spend that much on one haircut are in Hollywood and Wall Street.
I don't blame you for keeping the TV. Is that cost for cable for TV and internet, not TV rental, right?

Anyway, you don't seem to want to cut any of your current ways of spending, so this is what you are stuck with. We all make trade offs. I spend gravy on my house and yard and am totally frugal with my personal items. I can live on 350 for food, 2 pets, and my car. 700 on property tax and utilities and cable. The rest is gravy, clothes and gifts and eating out - and my house. When poor, I don't spend it.