#And the deposit is as much as rent. So I'm essentially going to pay 2 months of rent upon moving in

[shima-draws]

By thee way I am planning on reopening commissions soon! I’m moving out in a couple months so I need to start saving up for the cost of that plus the deposit and all that fun stuff. So keep an eye out ;)

[chaifootsteps]

I don't want to condone this, but I recalled a year or two ago there was this thing, I don't think it was kiwifarms, but it was doxing vivzie and all of her family. Essentially, it was her dad's parents that were the immigrants, but they worked their way up and then her dad worked his way more up and married her mom who already came from a privileged background. Her dad's side apparently owns alot of businesses I think like washaterias and they rent out several houses. Not just that, but they were able to make a lot of connections, so Vivizie always had the resources for her art. So yes, Vivizie came from a very privileged background and was spoiled senseless. I'm honestly not shocked she's screwing over her employees since usually the owners of small businesses do the same exact shit too. I remember researching a small business and it was a towing company. Yeah, tell me why they were paying someone $15 when the state minimum wage is $7.25 yet the company only had one employee and racked in over $300,000 in revenue. I say one employee since it was owned by a family and only 2 other members barely did anything like the deposit for the bank. I'm pretty sure Vivizie makes so much revenue/money from her YouTube channel and patreon, but ofc she's going to underpay her employees while she goes on her lavish vacations and spends her money on dumb shit. Ok, sorry.

Thanks for this extremely important information, Anon. Doxing's not okay, but there's no harm in knowing about all of this in a general sort of way, especially if Vivzie's going to lie her ass off.

[riverageleis]

You know how mental health personnel and 'Good vibes only' types talk about how negative self-talk isn't good for you. Well, I have a story about that. 😐

For nearly a year now, I have been (essentially) gaslighting myself financially without realizing it. I'm going to preface my next sentence with this: I'm part of the working poor. I'm above the poverty level, but hardly 'middle class'. I have a slightly better than average job (C+? B?), but not double the state minimum wage, which isn't saying much. I also live in one of the poorest parts of the US, so this is going to sound like I have more than I have (and probably that I'm ungrateful, which I'm not).

I have 4 bank accounts, 2 checking and 2 savings. Both savings combined have 1k in them, give or take on any one day. 1 checking account is JUST for my car payment, and 1 savings is JUST for vehicle insurance. (4 accounts probably make a little more sense now) I digress. 20% of my paycheck is direct deposited into my car account, so I never even see it. A little more than 20% more goes into my insurance account. That's more than 40% of my money JUST for 2 big monthly bills every 2 weeks. My insurance savings gets my insurance premium almost x2 monthly. I'm paying the rest of my bills on 60% of my check. 60%. I've had myself CONVINCED for MONTHS that I've suddenly become bad with money and I was overspending on bullshit i didn't need. (I assure you, I NEEDED Moonie the Squishmallow) It was a vicious cycle of berating myself because I sucked with money, and it was depressing af.

So, anyway, my partner bought me some 'prosperity' oil and a candle of the same (because we're witches and sure, why not, everyone needs more good juju). Two days into wearing this stupid oil, because it smells so good, I open my car checking account (because it's almost time to write that check). Here's what happened:

I have this fucking revelation. My goal is to have 2 extra payments in that account, just in case. I had more. I have it in my head that my part of the rent is the entire amount, not half that, which it is. The REST of my bills are paid, and groceries bought on that 60%. I have SOMETHING left over when i get paid, even if it's $10. Suddenly, my bullshit finances and money management make more sense. I'm not suddenly sucking at money. I have about half of what I'm used to. I've fallen into the generational gaslighting of '$5 coffee and avocado toast'. I don't buy coffee every day, either... but I'm still doing, essentially, the same thing to myself.

Am I saying the oil helped me have this revelation? 😄 IDK. What I DO know is that sometimes we only think there's not enough to go around. Sometimes, there's NOT enough to go around. Either way, you're doing the best you can. Good job.

[rozinaaa]

Honestly, All I Want Is An Interesting Permanent Full Time Job At A Large Company That Comes With A Lot Of Job Security

It feels like I'm asking for the world here, but all I want is a reliable schedule and some stability at a fairly well-known company since they tend to take themselves a bit more seriously than small businesses and startups.

Based on my experience so far, I've pretty much worked at a small business (which lasted for a summer before I went to University in 2019) before getting a job at a large company (I originally applied to it through a fairly decent recruitment agency, and got made permanent at the end of 2021, so although the work was physically intense and mind numbing, I had a permanent full time job at a large company that had a decent amount of job security, but I chose to leave that job since the schedules would clash with my University schedule, not to mention the constant amount of disruption of having to travel back and forth all the time, as well as the fact that I wanted to make the most of my final year at University), and eventually landing a job at a startup.

I've explored self employment and freelancing, as well as taking up multiple volunteering opportunities (which only added up to a couple of hours per week), but those didn't feel like real jobs since they were basically unpaid opportunities, so in total, I've only had three actual jobs.

From what I remember, working at a small business was incredibly awful and I hated it, since there was virtually no structure and no one to guide me, so I had to figure everything out on my own, not to mention that I barely saw my coworkers that often (despite going into the office 5 days a week because it was 2019), and that my boss (who was supposed to help me out) just disappeared for the length of my employment only to come back and randomly fire me (apparently because I was underperforming although it was my very first job, I had no guidance at all, and I had to figure everything out on my own, yet I saw my replacement (a guy who was probably the same age as me at the time) getting all of the training that I never received, so it felt borderline sexist), although the timing was perfect since I just ended up going to University instead (at the time, I did think about taking a gap year before going, but I'm glad I didn't), which turned out to be better for me in the long run, since that job was grossly underpaid (I literally got paid £3.90 an hour, and made a grand total of about £700 from that job, which I spent on the deposit and one month's rent for my student accomodation), simply because it was disguised as an apprenticeship, although I just saw it as an excuse for them to get away with paying me as little as possible.

After immediately finishing my second year of University, I was on the hunt for a summer job, and quickly got offered one from a recruitment agency to work at a warehouse that was essentially round the corner (a 10-15 minute drive) from my house, so I took it up because I wanted to get some work experience and money as well as having a productive way to spend that long summer, although I immediately regretted it when I came back from the first shift, making a vow to never set foot in that place again, only to show up again the next day, and the day after that.

I did leave that job at the start of August 2021 (because I had Jury Duty that would last for 2 weeks, I was going to go back to University anyway, and I had no idea how to book time off from work), but I quickly managed to get the job back at the end of the month on a part time basis, which ended up working perfectly for me, since it essentially covered that gap in my employment, and it meant that I still got paid during my placement year, since that was unpaid, so I essentially got the best of both worlds where I got to explore my interests yet still actually go to work and have money coming in, as well as experiencing double weekends, since I'd work the morning shift (6am-2pm), and still get to enjoy the rest of the day, not to mention that after doing really well during the Black Friday period, I got made permanent despite the fact that a lot of people got laid off, but in a job like that, it probably wouldn't have felt that brutal since it was advertised outright as a temporary job, so in that situation, I guess I got lucky.

Straight after finishing my Placement Year, I opted to work full time again, and at this point, I was fairly used to the work since I had been doing it for over a year, not to mention that I actually enjoyed the structure (I worked for 3 days, and had 3 days off, since that felt a lot more effective than working 9-5 because I'd still work full time, but it wouldn't feel like I was working full time) as well as the act of clocking in and out of work at pretty much the same time as everyone else, and the fact that I could just forget about it when I came home, which meant that I had a fairly solid work/life balance.

If it was up to me, I probably would have stayed and applied to another role within the company and worked my way up from there, but finishing up my degree was much more important and meaningful to me than running around a warehouse all day.

Now, for my current job, which currently feels like I'm holding dry sand and I'm watching it blow away into the wind, because although I have it for now, it's going away soon, and just as I thought that I was settled into this job, I'm now thrown back into the depressing and dehumanising process of a seemingly never ending job search through apparent budget cuts and financial problems (yet the CEOs always seem to jet off to the other side of the world every other day, like it's just the pub down the road for them, although it's to peddle everything that the company does to the same few people), so it doesn't really add up for me, because I'm sure they don't need to travel that far that often.

First of all, I'm sure that there are a lot of opportunities to host webinars and virtual networking events, especially now that everything is pretty much online, so they can easily interact with people from different countries.

On top of that, I'm sure that there are plenty of opportunities to attend networking events WITHIN THIS COUNTRY that will cost a lot less than jetting off to exotic places all the time, so at this point, they're literally burning money (and the environment) to satisfy their own egos, all whilst laying off entire teams of people and throwing them into the deep end.

Following on from that, I've scrolled through the company's chat archives and I've looked at the company's LinkedIn profile only to discover people that I've apparently worked with (yet ones that I've never heard of) also get laid off from the company after having worked with them for about a year (and funnily enough, they all seem to be within my age range), so I guess this company that I work for is nothing more than an intern burner, meaning that they get students and graduates, give them some work experience, and show them the door after a bit, despite the fact that they often do well at their jobs.

I mean, I'm glad they've given me and others a decent opportunity to break the endless cycle (of needing a job to get experience, but needing experience to get a job), but treating a bunch of twentysomethings as disposable and easily replaceable items is not on, so I guess this job is nothing more than a stepping stone for me, and on the plus side, at least I've got a year's experience within a somewhat decent industry, so there's that.

As for the job itself, it was alright, but it felt very laidback (to the point where it almost felt concerning), the structure was essentially nonexistent (i.e. things would sometimes change at the last minute), and it didn't really feel like a job, perhaps due to the fact that it was predominantly remote and the fact that the management didn't take themselves seriously enough, probably due to the fact that they were always busy jetting off to the other side of the world to even think about anything else.

For my actual team manager, they were alright, but it felt like they were a 10 year old trapped in the body of a 30 year old (especially considering that the rest of the team were fairly mature), and although there was some evidence of project management, it felt very ineffective since the deadlines would often be missed, sprints often had no meaning since they'd overlap by spilling into other months, and everything was followed very loosely, which meant that things were done, but they wouldn't be released for a very long time.

Getting project briefs was okay, but I struggled to understand what would actually need to be done because not only did everything seem very technical to me, but the manager's personality seemed to get in the way a lot (to the point where it felt like a borderline drunken and swear laden performance everytime there was a new thing that was to be made), and I'd have to do a lot of guesswork to actually figure out what I'd need to do, so in my opinion, it felt very ineffective, since having a straight talking and more mature manager probably would have made my life easier.

The workload ebbed and flowed, which I think destroyed my work ethic a bit, since I'd do things quickly, but I'd delay submitting the work because then I'd have nothing else to do, and I'd pretend to look busy a lot of the time, which was actually a lot more exhausting than actually doing the work, not to mention that it quickly became too easy and repetitive to the point where I started to lose interest at the start of the new year.

Working at a startup was okay (much better compared to working in a small business), but it felt underwhelming and not very intellectually stimulating since it was geared towards to the developers, so everything they did felt wildly out of reach for me.

Going forward, all I want in my next job is for it to be more permanent (ideally at a larger company (honestly, working in a government department or an educational instituion sounds really tempting, since they seem fairly reliable and well established), so I don't feel singled out, and so that I can at least have a higher likelihood of having some things in common with other people), for there to be a decent schedule in place (so that I can at least have a decent work/life balance), and for the higher ups to at least be more mature as well as taking themselves seriously (but not too much), and thinking a bit more practically instead of chasing the latest hype and boosting their own egos at the expense of others all the time.

I just want to get a decent job offer at a decent company with a decent work/life balance (being in your twenties does feel overrated, and the companies that tend to appeal/be geared towards the twentysomethings feel very annoying to me), where everything is permanent (and there's more structure) and stable with a steady and consistent workflow, so that I don't have to worry about finding another job, because ideally, this time next year, I want to be fully settled into a role to the point where I don't even have to think about finding another job, but instead, I just focus on doing the work.

May this job hunt be as short, as easy, and as effortless as possible, with no gaps in employment for me, because the idea of being unemployed is extremely depressing and scary at the same time.

[rachelingly]

Why I Use Spending Funds

Today, I wanted to write about another personal finance practice that has been revolutionary for me - having a spending fund. Which takes what I love about a sinking fund and marries it to what I love in a savings account. 

Disclaimer: This post is merely for entertainment and education purposes only, not to provide financial advice. Literally, talk to an adult before you listen to me.

A sinking fund means saving x amount of money each month to reach a goal amount by a deadline. This method can be excellent for expenses like Christmas gifts or paying your car registration. But sinking funds and line-item budgeting really failed for me when it comes to unnecessary spending (eating out, entertainment, shopping, etc.) 

So voila, I introduced what I call a "spending fund."

The Problem

There are two main issues with using sinking funds and line-item budgeting for unnecessary spending. Firstly, for me, both methods fuel unconscious consumerism. When I use to line-item budget for unnecessary spending, I found myself looking for ways to spend the money because, hey, I budgeted for it! So I would spend the money allotted and then rinse and repeat the next month. When I tried to migrate my fun spending into a sinking fund, I struggled. Having separate funds for travel, food, clothes, etc., severely limited how ethically I could consume. Honey, have you tried buying anything from The Reformation with only $20 in your shopping fund? Ha!

My other qualm with both of these methods is the structure is susceptible to lifestyle creep. Having unnecessary spending as a line item in your budget usually means that more income = more spending. I don't think it is bad to enjoy your wealth as you gain it. 

The problem is that it is every. single. month. you are enjoying said "wealth". 

So in this structure, you actually aren't enjoying your newfound wealth, you are enjoying your newfound income. Very different.

The Solution

Behold- The Spending Fund!

What it is: 

A debit account separate from the checking account that receives my direct deposits. Specifically, I use the M1 Spend account that has a 1% APY and 1% cashback. The account is FDIC insured and comes with a debit card and no limit on monthly transactions

How I use it: 

I try to be a conscious consumer and extensively research and plan what I want to spend my money on ethically as possible. As a result, the items I want are typically more expensive. However, because I plan so much before I purchase something, I tend to not spend very often. I tell myself that the account can be used for any unnecessary spending at any time, with no limits. I don't have to spend it, but I can if I want. 

If I want sushi, I buy it. Rent a movie? No problem. Of course, I don't want to go crazy with it, but also I am not about to deny myself a $2 milkshake when it doesn't impact my bills, savings, or investments.

I don't have to work into my budget an impromptu lunch with a friend or wait until next month to buy a $6 e-book. I simply buy it. During the next budget set-up, I will attempt to replenish the fund up to the maximum amount. Sometimes that is $0, sometimes it is $50, and if it is more than that, I slowly replenish over the coming months. In the months when I don't spend anything, I am rewarded with interest. In the months when I decide to treat myself, I am rewarded with cashback. So it all shakes out really.

I have a maximum amount that I am allowed to hold in this account at any given time. The maximum amount I can have in this account increases each time I reach a financial milestone. For instance, my spending account started at $250. Then I saved a "Month Ahead Fund" and increased my spending power to $500. My next increase to $1000 will be until after my emergency fund is halfway funded. By increasing my spending fund this way, my spending power is not dependent on my salary but on what I'm doing with my salary. What this essentially means that nothing over $500 is in my wheelhouse right now. Not for a trip, not for clothes, a concert, shoes, beauty products, nada. Everything I buy has to be less than or equal to $500. If something arises that is more than $500, the answer is either 'no' or 'I'll have to save for that.'

By excluding "just for fun" spending from my budget the only items that increase as my income increases is my savings and investments. This also helps remind me how unnecessary the spending is. We convince ourselves that spending X on going out, beauty treatments, or entertainment is critical to our well-being. But I think, in part, we only think that because we approach it in the same way we approach rent and utilities. We consider how much we spend on tequila and sweaters in the same instance we are considering how much we spend on electricity. At the start of the month, I don't allow myself to think about the things I want, only the things I need or that improve my financial health.

By relegating that sort of spending to a separate account, I am reminded that owning books, getting new stationery, or a new hairstyle is a luxury. Ones that, yes can brighten my day, but are by no means pillars to my well-being. Since using this method, I don't beat myself up for spending more than usual or too afraid to spend anything at all. 

Spending funds really work for me and maybe they'll work for you too!

[yournewapartment]

Tips on how to save money to afford an apartment? Let's say I want to start saving now and I have bills to pay. How can I incorporate saving for an apartment? (Note: I'm a junior college student who will have 2 part time jobs and plan on having a roommate when the time comes)

Hey! First, are you currently living in a dorm? Or at home? The tips don’t change much, but if you’re coming from home, it’ll likely be more of an adjustment because you probably haven’t been buying your own food and such.

In order to start saving for an apartment, first determine how much money you are earning monthly through your 2 part time jobs, and how much you spend per month on your fixed expenses, like food, bills, loans, car, phone, etc.

Once you have your fixed expenses, think about all the non-essential or non-fixed spending that you do per month. The easiest way to do this is to track all your spending per month in an Excel sheet or by using an app like Mint.com that connects to your credit card. Yes, it can be annoying to have to remember to write down your purchases for everything each month, and you likely will forget things, but it’s a great way to really see where all your money is going per month. Right after you spend something, write it down in a note on your phone or something similar, then add it to the Excel sheet later.  Mint makes it easier by automatically sorting your spending into categories like groceries, restaurants, clothes, entertainment, etc. If you like, this can help you see where you might want to cut down on non-fixed expenses like shopping, entertainment, and restaurants in order to increase your monthly savings.

Once you figure out how much “leftover” money you have after all your expenses, try to estimate how much your rent will be in an apartment in your area, with however many roommates you plan to have. Compare this to your “leftover” money. Then, you can reasonably see how much more saving you’ll need to do in order to afford rent! You can start saving this money in a new account, if it makes it easier for you not to spend it.

A few things to consider– when you first move into an apartment, you’ll need to budget a security deposit, which is usually 1.5x a month’s rent, and the first month’s rent, and they usually expect this in a check upfront. You’ll also have to buy furniture, bedding, cleaning supplies, cookware, and other things that you might not have already. So, definitely over-budget for your first few months by having some savings to spare!

Check out this post about living in a dorm vs. living in an apartment: http://yournewapartment.tumblr.com/post/163252113559/also-is-it-a-better-idea-to-rent-with-student

Good luck, and please, 2 jobs is a lot, make sure to give yourself time to rest!– Mimi