Everything started ok. I moved to a new state to help my mum take care of my grandma. She had cancer, again! But my aunt ended up dropping dead from an aneurism. My mum was caught in the middle, so as the dutiful eldest, I gave up my job, my flat, my life and moved to a new country and state. Where my income magically got cut in half. My gram did apologize to me as she knew my finances took a hit.
I was able to get a job teaching. Wowzers. I did it for 7 years in the new place and when I had finally been badgered out (by both students, admin, and laws) I was making LESS money that when I had started 15 years ago. Not good. Outside of teaching, the median wage was in the teens. (Teaching was mid twenties per hour). So I am juggling 4 jobs with 2-3 days off a month. Mathematically, I’m still living less than paycheck to paycheck. So I took out loans. One has an interest rate of 26% ($9527 left on this one) and the other 377% ($1437 left on this one… after 5 payments… when I only borrowed $1000 to make rent one month). Don’t gasp, the 377% is better than the 533% going through this company usually is. I’ve had to do this once a year just to pay rent, car repairs, random medical (I’ve had a major surgery since moving that had me out of work for six weeks).
If I can get out from under these loans I can use the money to pay ahead on the car payment, actually have money for any repairs to both the car and the house, and have more than 3 days off a month.
House, well doublewide. I was “lucky” to be able to buy a double wide with 14% interest as I didn’t qualify to rent anywhere. That’s right. Working as a teacher I still didn’t make 3x the rent in monthly salary. I didn’t even make 2.5x but one place (1 door in and out, 3 windows, 1 bathroom 900square feet for both me and my mother) took a chance on a “probationary period” to rent to me. I found a family owned flipping business that did mobile homes and after taking out a loan (the 26% one) to get the down payment, was able to buy the doublewide ($1354 a month + $972 lot rent).
I’m running myself ragged just to drown slowly. Paying off the loans will free up $809 a month. Almost the lot rent. But every little bit helps.
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