Hi there. This is something that is very difficult for me to do as I am a silent drowner. I’m a 28 year old female from a small town in Texas who’s been living in Austin for 8 years learning trades.
Last year my Husband for 3 years partner for 7 left me for another woman two weeks after my grandfather passed away, kicked me out of our apartment we had a 12 month lease on. I had a friend with a unit available for rent and had to move my things by myself in my sedan over the span of of a year. My ex gave me 500 dollars and kept all of the savings, silver, crypto, etc. Refused to help pay for divorce costs and has since spent his savings and I’m still trying to save up for divorce costs
I did not have any furniture, or majority of the things i’d spent years collecting through hard work and had to start from scratch in an empty home with nothing but my clothes. I’ve sold instruments, electronics and the things I had of value to pay for groceries, car payment, car insurance.
My father is a retired auto mechanic who didn’t finish the 7th grade. my mother was a hairstylist who didn’t finish high school and had me at 19. She currently has been diagnosed with schizophrenic like tendencies, hospitalized for mental health issues twice in the past 2 years.
My younger sister got pregnant and had a child, so what little financial help my parents can do goes to my sister and her baby.
I come from a small town population 25,000 and two poor lineages. the majority of my family members dont make much over 30-40k a year.
Right after high school I saved up to move to a town where I could learn a trade and i learned how to drive double-decker party barges on a lake in my early 20s. However this is seasonal work. I’ve been driving boats on the lake seasonally and working at a cafe in the winter for the past 5 years.
I babysit adults in a large body of water and overtime almost seeing drunk idiots do so many stupid things it has done a number on my mental health and I no longer desire to captain boats anymore, so I went to inspection school for Marine Surveying earlier this year , which was full time 40 hours a week plus homework everyday, in a state 5 states away from my home.
I was not able to work during this high intensity 10 week course as it was full time
I came back to Austin, texas and have been working ever since.
To be a Marine Surveyor, I need to file an LLC, get 2 different types of insurance, pay for a website, business cards, uniforms. I have all of my tools.
I make between 2000-2400 a month.
my car payment is 340
my car insurance is 220
gas costs me about 300 a month
groceries/food cost me between 100-160 a week.
Rent is 750
Hopefully this gives an idea of how hard it is to save.
The cost of living in my city has been rising exponentially for the past 3 years do to the californication/new york transplant to texas, specifically austin, that has made the cost of studio apartments go from costing $700 dollars to now $1500 for a 400 sq foot apartment. They have straight up San Diego’d the place I’ve called home for 8 years and made it so the median housing cost is half a million dollars and I’ll never be able to own a home in this city.
I buy simple groceries, eggs, tortillas, beans, water, teas, and try to eat once a day to lower costs. I went into a trade that is highly specialized but unfortunately has a barrier to entry cost for the programs, subscriptions needed. I work full time but am barely making ends meet and really just looking for some help to have a small cushion for savings so i’m not in this continuous loop of paying bills and nearly overdrafting on repeat as costs continue to go up where I live, all of my networking connections for building business are on this lake so i can’t exactly just up and move to another city with no experience and all of my references and potential clients i’ve worked years to network with are here.
I’ve working my butt off since I was 16, i started working while in high school, moved out of my small town, i’ve taught myself how to sing, play guitar, piano, synthesizer, use music production software, paint, make digital art, fire dance with 5 different fire props, and drive 50 ft boats with people on them.
However I’ve done most of this with little help, no cushion, and no guidance.
I’m the type of person where 1,000$ would change my life.
Ideally I’m looking for 3-5,000
I want a small cushion for savings for if a tire pops, car troubles, etc.
to pay off half of my 3,000 credit card debt accumulated from living in another state earlier this year to try and better my life with education.
and the rest to help start my business so I can escape poverty.
My Venmo is @Adrianna-Nicole-2
My Cash App is @adriannanicolev
I spend hours watching skill building, success building tutorials on youtube, countless hours on self education, and constantly pushing myself to learn new things.
I’m not homeless but I am one of the average hard working americans that is one disaster from being homeless.
Even if you can’t meeting what I’m asking, just know that anything helps.
Thank you for your time if you’ve read this.
May the Universe bless you eternally for your kindness.