What are /r/povertyfinance's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

There’s one on amazon that I got when it went on sale for $90 that has an 18 inch clearance from the floor; just tall enough to fit 18 gallon tubs underneath.

link

I just finished furnishing a house and bought several mattresses and bed frames. I got an INCREDIBLY COMFY king bed and frame for less than $400 on Amazon. Here's the mattress I got.

Similarly, I bought a pack of 25 shop towels on Amazon for $13, and you can also get flour sack towels at Walmart for $8/10. I honestly like them more and get more use out of them than the microfiber towels I bought a different time on Amazon. (Personal preference at most, I'm sure.)

The flour sack towels also come in handy for diapers.

This is the book OP cited: https://www.slideshare.net/ramit/introduction-and-chapter-1-optimize-your-credit-cards?type=document

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Slide 45 (p42) has the APR lowering scripts.

I used one of these and a 5 gallon bucket to wash clothes for a couple of years. That was for two adults, a toddler, baby, and included cloth diapers. It’s quite an arm workout, but was doable. It was tedious to hand wring everything out before hanging it to dry, but overall saved us so much money in laundry costs. It’d be a really great option for a single person.

This!!

I've been debating doing a whole thread on this sub about this machine. About $100 and it's saved us at least 3x that amount so far in about a year. I'm obsessed. It can wash a queen sized fleece blanket and fits in the tiny bathroom in my apt. My neighbors swear they can't hear it. I can do laundry every day if I want. You can bleach one shirt, because suddenly that's become affordable. No noticeable jump in my electric or hot water bills. I even use it to dye faded or stained clothes. It's been a miracle for me. Honestly, I'll stop now, because I feel entirely too strongly about this little machine, and I could talk about it all night.

Giantex Portable Mini Compact Twin Tub Washing Machine Washer Spain Spinner, Blue & White (17.6lbs- Blue+ White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ALBMIEI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bfL8AbYE3KXZK

Just so you know there are much cheaper alternatives to the Bluedriver. I personally use this one and it provides all the same stuff the Bluedriver provides for 1/5 the cost so you only have to work an hour and a half.

There is a book titled “taking care of yourself”. You look up the symptoms and it will tell you what home remedies to try and when you should go to the doctor. I know being in poverty means not a lot of expendable income but this book could save you a lot of money in the long run. I’ve had mine for 20 years and use it all the time to avoid unnecessary doctor visits.

It’s less than $20 https://www.amazon.com/Take-Care-Yourself-10th-Illustrated/dp/0738219738/ref=nodl_

Also as some have mentioned below. Many hospitals and clinics offer free services events a few times a year. Usually for preventative screening. Pap smears, skin screen for melanoma, vaccines, dental cleanings etc. make a note of when the free services in your area are.

For a small boy: The best gift I ever got my son was when he was 4. I was broke like a joke, and ended up getting him a pack of rope (clothesline that was sold at CVS.) I cried and cried. But guess what - he played with that damn rope constantly for over 2 years. He used it as his “web” when he was spider man, he corralled (imaginary) horses with it, he built traps for his sister, he tied up criminals. It was the best gift.

So if you know a young boy, maybe you could make an adventure kit: a pack of rope, a big cardboard box, maye a handmade badge, a handmade map, etc.

That is such a useless gesture by the schools. I'd be stuffing mine with spare underwear and sanitary products just to annoy the administration.

My nephew has an Eland one, I think it's the $15 one on Amazon. It's actually big enough for his stuff.

https://www.amazon.com/Backpack-Through-Transparent-Bookbag-Security/dp/B07L7ZFGV1/ref=sr_1_51_sspa?keywords=clear+backpack&qid=1566062371&refinements=p_72%3A2661618011&rnid=2661617011&s=apparel&sr=1-51-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE0Wlc4U0FYOURRSUsmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA3ODU1MDAzQTEyUExWMkZRTyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTY4MjMzMUZFTkRZMVNOVVJHVyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2J0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Same with those who want to save on makeup. Invest in a mini makeup spatula like this one ($4.95 on amazon). You could really use it for more than just makeup too.

I use it for facial moisturizers, foundation, you name it. I even had one of those chubby lip crayons, and when the screw-bottom didn’t turn up any more product, I curiously scooped inside with my baby spatula and there was approx 1 tbsp of product left inside the crayon. I panned it into an empty tiny Vaseline lip balm tub (it was too cute to throw away but didn’t have a use for it!) and have been applying still two weeks later.

If you’re worried about freezer burn, you might want to do some research into properly freezing things/ at the very least but a food saver.

This is the one I have, and it’s expensive up front (I got mine as a Christmas gift from my parents,) but saves me so much money long term, especially if you can get a chest freezer too (took me over a year of searching, but I got mine super cheap when I saw it on sale at Target and coupled it with my Target Earnings and a gift card I had from shopping the sales.)

Make a big pot of something out of on sale goods? Freeze the leftovers in the food saver bags, and they’re golden who cares how much after. I have sliced bell peppers still frozen from over a year ago in my freezer with no ice/ burn, despite the water content.

Screw freezer bag zip locks etc. They’re crazy expensive, and they’re trash -always have been. Plus, if you do get a chest freezer (search used if you need to, there’s always some available, but they’re weirdly cheaper than I ever expected even new?) then you can use the food saver to take even more advantage of those crazy good deals. You should absolutely never be freezing your meats etc from the grocery in their original package, unless it’s already vacuum sealed. Plus, with the Food Saver, I can save all those leftovers I don’t feel like eating after day 3, and you don’t even have to thaw them for next time. Just grab the frozen bag out of the freezer and boil the bag to reheat. They’re good for cold and heat. Easiest meal prep of my week, and keeps your brokest weeks still varied food-wise. I can’t tell you how much that made me feel better about those $20-grocery-money weeks

I work at a CPA firm and recently discover Amazon Essentials dress pants. They are only $25/each and fit extremely well: Amazon Essentials Men's Slim-Fit Flat-Front Dress Pants, Dark Grey, 32W x 32L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079D31Q1V/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_AHrdCbF3RFAKV

There’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog. It’s a marketing ploy. It basically means non-shedding.

Non-shedding dogs are high maintenance from a grooming perspective. I know the other poster suggested labradoodles. Labradoodles usually have to have their hair cut at least four times a year. I charge $100-$150, as an example. Some maintenance can be done at home, but 99% of people will wind up having to get their hair cut or it matts badly.

Amusingly, labradoodles are also a mixed breed of a shedding dog (Labrador) and a non-shedding dog (standard poodle). Sometimes labradoodles do actually shed.

Reading Linda Turado's book Hand To Mouth touched on this really well. She boiled it down to a simple point: 'Poor people' aren't dumber or less disciplined than anyone else. They can read, they know cigarettes can cause cancer, and it says so on the package. But the nicotine in cigarettes gives you a buzz that keeps you awake so you can power through your second minimum wage job, and it also curbs your appetite, which means less money spent on food, so a double bonus. No, candy isn't good for you, but it gives you a sugar high, and it tastes good, and it offers you a small pleasure while you're trying to get through the day. Plus, it is often cheaper than buying fruits and vegetables.

Similarly, sex without birth control isn't the wisest choice, but sex is fun, it feels good, and it's cheap entertainment you don't have to have to leave the house or spend money on to enjoy.

She made the point that while many of these choices aren't the best choices, they're often small choices you make each day while you're struggling to survive. If the choice is be miserable or indulge yourself with this one little 'bad choice' so you have a small sliver of happiness today, you'll indulge yourself. Simply put, being poor doesn't mean you have to be miserable. People who wish misery on the impoverished have their own issues.

You wouldn't tell someone well-to-do not to eat candy or not to have sex, so why do people feel free to do that with someone in poverty? Wealth doesn't automatically give you permission to tell someone how to live their lives.

Here's the first chapter of the book OP cited - https://www.slideshare.net/ramit/introduction-and-chapter-1-optimize-your-credit-cards?type=document

The APR-lowering scripts are on slide 45 (p42)

Mechanic here. Dont use different oil and coolant for different seasons unless your car calls for it. The advice given here is was true decades ago and haa stuck around. Modern vehicles (1980s+) and fluids are designed for year round use.

If you're worried about your coolant, you can check its freeze point with a simple and cheap tool..

Change your oil on the recommended times, and then keep it full. That's it.

Long ago you used oil that stayed the same thickness, but now almost all oil is multi weight oil that changes based on its temperature. You actually have to look hard to find oil that is not multi-weight, and I cant think of the last time I saw some.

Just run the factory recommended fluids and you will be fine. Changing them out for various seasons is a waste of money.

You don't need to work out to lose weight.

But, it's great to do it, and you'll be healthier. To lose weight, all you need to do is work your big muscle groups with some basic weight training once a week. Like seriously, just spend 15 minutes doing a whole body bodyweight thing. Lunges, planks, crunches, etc. This keeps your bones and muscles from atrophying while you're cutting calories. TRUST ME, DO THIS.

Then walk. Walk as much as you can. Particularly when you're obese, walking can burn a lot of calories. Once you're not obese anymore, you might find adding additional exercises helps more. But at first, just walk.

That's it. If you can't walk, find something you can do that gets your heartrate up 3x a week or so. Ride a bike, swim, jump on one of those small trampolines, even an arm rowing machine (like this) burns tons of calories if you're using good form and using your big back muscles.

The bigger the muscle you're using, the more calories it'll burn. Upper legs and butt are the largest, but your back muscles ("lats") are a lot larger than people think. That's why a rowing machine or elliptical that adds the arm swings burn the most calories, because you're targeting the two biggest skeletal muscle groups that'll burn the most if you move them.

Another Zinus mattress recommendation. I got this one and it’s only $277 on Amazon right now! I bought it in October 2017 & it’s still great. Prior to that I’d always buy $600+ Sealy and Sertas. Never again! We live in good times for mattresses.

https://www.amazon.com/USB-1-Infinity-Pedal-Computer-Transcription/dp/B008EA1K66/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1529562326&sr=8-4&keywords=transcription+foot+pedal

Looks like for easy audio controls. That way you can keep your hands in the typing position at all times and not take your eyes off the screen.

You do know that over half of what you pasted are redirects. The URL is just https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Life-Hemostat-FORCEPS-Straight/dp/B000QWK174

You can usually remove everything after and including the ? in URLs.

I recommend everyone to read this book, your concern is one of the first things she addresses. My outlook on money and finances did a total 180 after reading.

https://www.amazon.ca/Worry-Free-Money-guilt-free-approach-managing/dp/1443454451

This line of thinking, while great, can lead to a slippery slope where you're simply spending too much money. Some pointers:

1) The quality of many items doesn't necessarily correspond with price, and there are frequently diminishing returns above a certain price point. For example, you can probably get a lot more milage out of a $700 suit that you dry clean once a year than a suit you buy for $100. But the difference between a $20,000 suit and the $700 suit is probably minuscule for the average consumer (especially if you don't really need to wear a suit).

2) Try to prioritize things that you think you would want to last long. For example, if I bought a washer and dryer, I'd want it to last for at least 10 years. If I bought a shoe rack, I would be indifferent as to how long it lasted for (so long as I got at least, say, a year out of it). Once you have that priority, do your research. In my life, I prioritize the life-span of my appliances, shoes, mattress, bedframe (and car if I had one). Every one is a little different in that regard. Clothes are really hard to pin down. My uniqlo stuff lasts pretty long, but my more expensive stuff can wear very quickly. Research is so vital here.

3) There are some good resources online for researching lifespans of typical products and brands. I like /r/BuyItForLife. For items like mattresses and vacuum cleaners, experts in those fields tend to do AMAs on reddit quite frequently and have great recommendations. For the former, the consensus is that most mattresses are rip-offs, and you can buy high quality off amazon (and prime shipping on top for quick delivery) for a lot cheaper. For the latter, this vacuum dude recommends doing a Sharknado if you're budget constrained, and Miele if you're not.

Another great one is a countertop dishwasher (if you don't have a dishwasher already). It's saved us so much time; not to mention arguments over whose turn it is to do the dishes.

We bought this one almost 3 years ago to the day, although it looks like it's a discontinued model now, since the price has gone way up since we got it.

I prefer Wallet. The free version does everything most people will probably use it for. Might want to look into their privacy policy if you are concerned about privacy (I haven't read it so I'm not sure what they collect).

I bought a Shark on sale about four years ago. It is bagless and came with a stair attachment. It’s really sweet because it comes apart in all different ways so you can push it like regular, you can make it like where the suction part is on a long pole (I don’t know how to describe it), it has various attachments. You can hand wash all the filters so you don’t need to keep buying them, and there’s a ring that allows you to adjust the suction. It works as well now as it did the day I bought it. Highly recommend. https://youtu.be/s4AAwtNInpI Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KMDV9A/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_TCQkDbRHNQKKZ

Services like privacy.com or stripe.com offer virtual cards you can make and assign to each different service, and that you can load all from one place. I haven't used them but it may be an easier alternative for someone.

I hear you on winter arriving, it was 31 degrees when I woke up this morning.

Windows- use window film. It's incredibly effective. Get insulated/thermal curtains, they're incredibly effective as well.

Get inspired by tapestries. They're a pretty, inexpensive way to add a little extra insulation to exterior walls. If you have any pretty quilts you can use those. If you don't then get something like this or one of those mandala design cotton sheet things, then hang a cheap/thick blanket next to the wall for insulation (fleece works well) and put the pretty thing on top so it looks nice.

Whenever possible, heat yourself and not the air around you- it will save you a ton of money. Set the heat at 60-62 so the pipes won't freeze, put on a sweater and fuzzy socks, wear a hat. Get an electric blanket for your bed and an electric throw for using on the couch, they're cheap to use and will keep you incredibly toasty. Electric throws are so so nice on a cold winter's evening!

Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much is a 2013 book by sociologists Sendhil Mullainathan, and Eldar Shafir. The authors discuss the role of scarcity in creating, perpetuating, and alleviating poverty. The book also proposes several ideas for how individuals and groups of people can handle scarcity to achieve success and satisfaction.

Scarcity: The New Science of Having Less and How It Defines Our Lives https://www.amazon.com/dp/125005611X/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_J1CyBb8C9E064

I absolutely recommend YNAB(You Need A Budget) to everyone! It turned my life around in the past 3 years. It's I think like $80 a year but it's so so worth it. I'll include a link(with a referral code :D )

YOU NEED A BUDGET!!!

YNAB(Non referral)

I personally use Simple Bank. They make money the same way most banks do, by gambling by with yours lol. I think Simple is better able to do this because they are 100% online. They probably cut a lot of overhead costs by not needing physical locations with branch tellers and managers and running electricity etc etc. They are also backed by a HUGE national bank so on the off chance they start to make poor choices my money is still safe.

Basically It’s a smaller partner bank of BBVA Compass so it is still FDIC-insured. It has no fees for anything. Everything is done online. It has direct deposit, and mobile check deposit if you happen to get a paper check. No ATM fees for the bank itself, but if the ATM charges a fee you’re not immune, I just use surcharge free ATMs to avoid this.

I try not to make a habit out of overdraftjng anyway because that’s just bad budgeting, but sometimes shit happens — if it does, no fee for that either.

They also have some pretty neat features like “goals” and offer 2% APY on their savings accounts, with no minimum balance.

If you want to read more, click here. I am in no way affiliated with his bank nor do I benefit from you clicking lol. They’ve just been a really good bank to me. Not many people can honestly say they love their bank. If this one doesn’t peek your interest, there are others out there. Just do a little research. :) I’m at work right now or I’d go look up a few alternates for you.

Spot on, IMO. Also the difference between having good car insurance or not. If you're poor and you have the bare minimum you're going to get hosed, along with anyone else you hit/have in the car, if you get into an accident.

A middle class person likely has resources like parents etc. who can teach/advise you the right amount to have when you get your first car. Which gets into a whole other thing, who pays more for car insurance, etc. also from Lifehacker:

https://lifehacker.com/the-surprising-reasons-you-pay-more-for-car-insurance-1762500010

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You want felt insoles. Like these. They're about $5 a pair on Amazon, or maybe you can find them locally. They will dramatically extend the temperature rating of your shoes until you can afford boots.

The HOA for the condo I rent is persnickety about windows, so I have wooden window shades--like oversized minblinds. They still let in a lot of light, so I put blackout curtains over them. Didn't help the temperature. I live in Houston and my apt somehow seems to always face the surface of the sun.

I bought a 10 pack of foil/mylar emergency blankets and taped them up to the wall between the wooden blinds and blackout curtains. (See previous re: bitchy HOA that insists only blinds are allowed in windows.) It's made a world of difference. The 10 pack I got is about $13 and I don't remember why I chose that specific pack--size maybe. (Large windows.) But you can find them a lot cheaper. It may help. Also helps keep the warm IN, during the winter.

LPT: To help prevent kidney stones, eat lemons/ use lemon juice

If you are worried about diet stuff affecting your kidney function the citrate in lemons helps prevent the calcium build up that forms the most common type of stones. Bonus scurvy prevention with the vitamin c.

I love YNAB4. But I've stopped recommending "new" YNAB since they went to a subscription model. I think their overall approach to budgeting is fantastic, and it's good software, but not worth $7/month to me.

https://www.youneedabudget.com

They do have a free trial & money-back guarantee though.

Mint.com should definitely be mentioned. Anyone struggling with finances should be tracking every penny in & out to know how much they have, and where it's going.

Gmail & Google Docs. Because free email, office apps, and storage.

Dropbox. Free file storage & sharing. Put in copies of your insurance documents & photos, tax records, etc. to have backups in case you're homeless or lose your computer or something.

LastPass. Store the passwords for all the above services securely, locked with a single master password you have to remember.

Servers only care if you order water if you also order a plateful of lemon slices and sugar to make hillbilly lemonade for free. Other than that, water it up.

Also, to save I use the Acorns app. It’s just like rolling over the keep the change except it’s into an investment account. Been using it for 6 months and it’s already grown to just over $1,000.00

If it’s allowed and anyone wants it, I can throw up a referral code. You get $5 and I do too. No other benefit, no linked accounts, nothing nefarious. Just a couple of bucks for us both.

ETA: here’s the Link

If you'd rather input your info manually, have you ever considered excel? You could also use openoffice's calc, which is similar to excel, yet free.

Check out these free excel budget sheets, maybe they suit your need.

Mint throws a TON of advertisements and is naggy / pushy about their additional paid services.

There are several excellent alternatives to Mint -- none of which spam their paid services at you. A simple google search will result in a list of alternatives.

Personal Capital is one of those. I used to use Mint but I got tired of their paid service NAGGING. I swapped over recently to Personal Capital and have been pretty happy since.

Here’s a link for 3 months free to try it out. I just started myself. I got this link off some guys website it’s an affiliate link but not mine. /r/YNAB is a great resource for any questions.

https://www.youneedabudget.com/landing/alex-tran/?utm_source=alextran.org&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_content&utm_campaign=alex%20tran

Yes!! When we went through lean times my dad would make rice with a fried egg and furikake! He also made ramen with an egg and veggies.

Also I’m Puerto Rican so rice and beans were a staple too! My grandma added pieces of calabasa (pumpkin) or sweet potato to her pinto beans along with some sazon (there are more brands than just goya- check it out…

Loiza brand is my favorite but it’s a little pricey

Organic Humboldt Sazon Ok this one is in bulk so the upfront cost is a lot but it will last forever!! $13.99+

Badia Sazon $2.66 at Walmart or $4.94 on Amazon

Another weird but good combo my cousin made up - baked potatoes with canned tuna/mayo and maybe some other toppings like onion or green onion, salt and pepper. It’s like tuna salad upgraded to a filling dinner for some cheap protein.

Nice work!

The part about keeping savings in money orders makes me nervous, because those can be stolen much like cash (if there's no name in the To field, the person can just write their own, yes?).

You may want to look into something like TIPS: https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/06/13/is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-treasury-inflation-prote.aspx

Generally seen as a terrible investment for the rich - because you never make more than inflation on your savings - you can always sell them to get back what you paid in for (or a bit more, if inflation has occurred).

That said, I don't know about the turnaround time. You're buying from the federal government, so it's secure (at least as secure as our country, and if that's not working, you'll have bigger fish to fry)...but may not be as readily available in an emergency. Not sure, just thought I'd mention it as something to consider. :)

EDIT: Yeah, they have a maturation time of at least 5 years, so more like a savings bond than a place for emergency cash. I'll leave this here in case it's helpful to anyone.

I love YNAB. It's $84/year, but if you get a 3 month trial, you are likely to save enough in those 3 months to cover the cost. You can also get a monthly subscription through Itunes.

I feel like I've been advertising or something because I've been talking about it a lot lately, but this type of situation is exactly what YNAB is for. It's fairly pricey but you can get a 90 day trial, or one year if you happen to be a student, and get an idea of how it works before making an excel spreadsheet or something along the lines to mirror it.

You take the money you have in your account currently (not future paychecks, not anything you don't have in your possession right now), and you think, "What does this money need to do for me until I get paid next?" And then you budget according to that. You're not forecasting, you're envelope budgeting, and it's a game changer.

You assign categories to the money in your account, and then you stop looking at your account balance. That doesn't matter anymore. You can have $400 in your account but unless your eating out budget has $10 in it you can't go through the McDonald's drive through. That $400 already has a job and miscellaneous spending isn't it.

Budgeting when you're broke is the best youtube video for explaining YNAB or the envelope system in general. I recommend watching it whether or not you plan to use YNAB.

Hi, I teach CS at a university and work in the tech industry.

There are lots of resources all over the place for learning how to code. In my experience, Harvard's CS50 and The Odin Project are both good and free for beginners who have the focus to learn mostly on their own. It's a good place to start to see if you have any interest.

The main challenge for beginners is often having enough interest, focus, or dedication to persist through slow progress and lots of failure. About 40% of students taking CS "101" end up not continuing to the major. It's not really a career you can succeed in if you have no interest at all or hate doing it, even if it is lucrative.

Happy to help with further questions.

Do you have an online account with them? If you used a weak password or reuse a password this could be how they got in. Check out https://haveibeenpwned.com/ to see if you've been in any "known" breaches. Also, get yourself a password manager to stop the reuse of passwords.

Your emergency savings should only be used for emergencies.

Take a look at Rule Two in the philosophy of You Need a Budget.

The mechanics of it don't really matter. But the fact is that you have expenses or goals that don't cost money monthly, but that you can only pay for if you save for them monthly. Rule Two explains it. YNAB is an awesome tool to implement it.

Some people do the same thing with separate savings accounts. Lots of banks and credit unions let you create lots of different savings accounts to support actually separating your money by the purpose it's saved for.

Edit: Just typos.

First off, congratulations on pushing yourself to work while in school. I carried two jobs and a full courseload in college, and the experience was rewarding because it taught me so much.

Second, I'm impressed that you recognize your weaknesses with money and this translates into a hesitance to get a credit card. I think your gut instinct is correct here.

Third, you're in the beginning of your financial adulthood, and it's ultra important to establish your credit score early on. Having established and good credit will allow you to secure loans at much better rates later on in life, potentially saving you thousands of dollars. This is so important.

With all of the points above taken into consideration, I think it's worthwhile to keep the credit card but never use it. Just put it in a sock drawer or leave it at your parents' home so that you are not compelled to use it. Maybe consider buying a pack of gum with it every month or so and pay off the balance. The key to building up credit is not just having credit cards, but being a responsible user of credit.

Some things to keep in mind:

1) Does the BoA credit card have an annual fee? Double check to make sure. If it does, instead of cancelling the card, first ask the BoA rep to transfer the credit line to a new credit card that has no annual fee, and then cancel the previous card.

2) BoA is a decent bank, but the problem with a lot of mainstream banks is that they have hidden fees, bad customer service, and aggressively push products on you that you don't want. Have you thought about working with your local credit union or opening an account with Chime (which allows you to get a direct deposit 2 days earlier than usual) or Schwab instead? I personally don't use either Schwab or chime because I need the ability to deposit cash, so everyone's situation is different. But they might make sense for you.

From just reading the title made me think of this book.

https://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0312626681

Summarizes a lot of the hardships and how the system makes things harder for lower income people that I've seen on posts here.

I'm sure there's cheaper, but something like this is shelf stable, easy to prepare (it will not be hurt if you leave out the olive oil), and 41¢ per serving. And it's tasty. Beans & rice are a complete protein and quite filling in my experience.

Also, here I can get a one pound bag of pinto beans for $1.18 and a little bottle of liquid smoke for $1.26. The liquid smoke makes a huge difference in how good they taste if you can't afford ham hocks, which are pretty expensive these days. Add in a couple packs of Jiffy corn muffin mix (48¢ each) and one of the little tubs of sour cream that cost just over a dollar and I've fed my whole big family for less than $5 before, with everyone happy.

I got this for my dog. It’s really nice and my dog now prefers it over sleeping on my bed

Fur Haven Orthopedic dog bed from amazon

I bought the following on Amazon to go with my cup in case of leaks. I also just use them for light days. Way better deal than the Thinx panties because it’s a 2 pack for $38. I bought the bikini and the hipster and much prefer the coverage of the hipster panties. If you are ever in the market for some, I highly recommend these. They run small so buy a size or two up though!

EvaWear 2 Pack Menstrual Period Or Light Incontinence Panty, Absorbent, Hypoallergenic, Various Styles (Medium Hipster, Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NBA063T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yP8lBbWVTMT6R

I want to echo the Amazon plug. I was super nervous too but Amazon, unlike other online retailers, is really good about the customer service. If you get it and don’t like it they will fix it or give you your money back.

Also most of the ones on Amazon are memory foam and I don’t like those either. I looked around a lot and ended up buying this one. It’s a spring mattress that is super comfy, I’ve had it for two years and it’s still good and you don’t need a box spring for it so that saves another cost. I got this one for less than $300 2 years ago and it’s more now so look for things similar but know the value.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016E9MHG0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_mCJXCb6JNC9AW

You can also buy a Bluetooth OBD-II adapter for $10 (this one works great). Combine it with the Torque app and you have a powerful diagnostic tool that provides you with way more information than the scanners the auto parts stores provide.

https://www.freecodecamp.org/

This is the best resource I've ever found for programming, has internationally recognized certificates, and most importantly, is free!

All the best my friend stay strong!

I use YNAB (non-ref link from my point, but it references Wirecutter which may or may not benefit from it, this link gives you a 3 month trial. The website itself has a 'sign up' button that gives you a 34 day trial)

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It's not free (and not that cheap…). I've heard that if you still feel unsure after your trial you can e-mail them and ask for an extension. I would like to say that 1) it's not for everyone, we all have different brains, 2) it takes a bit to get used to (but 3 months should make it clear if it works for you or not), 3) it works great for me, which is why I link to it 😉

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Basically, you tell YNAB how much money you have now, in your accounts, in your wallet, in your piggy-bank. You then collect info about your bills, your debts and your payday and add that in. The first month is a bit tricky, because you usually start somewhere in the middle of the month. You'll have some money (hopefully) and you tell YNAB what bills you need to pay and what other things require money (groceries). You'll run out of money at some point and then you stop. You only look at money you have and what it needs to do until you get more money (next payday, usually)

​

If you decide to try it, visit /r/ynab if you have questions!

Anyone trying YNAB should definitely get a 3 month trial. For those who already have a 34 day trial, email and ask for an extension. It can take about 3 months to know that YNAB is a good fit for you.

I've posted some other advice about getting started with YNAB here.

Yes, Target recently had them on sale. While that sale is now over you can get them the three month version @ Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/FreedomPop-Less-month-3-Month-Prepaid/dp/B0792FNBZL/ref=sr_1_4/145-3622599-1721713?ie=UTF8&qid=1540233568&sr=8-4&keywords=freedom+pop

FWIW I don't use FP for phone calls just data, so I can't speak to their call quality.

edit: I should add that the reason these are on sale is because FP is moving to a new pricing structure where 2GB will be the minimum data offered so they are unloading all the old 1GB plans.

I think there's a study that says 80% of the country couldn't handle a unexpected $400 dollar emergency without getting help. I'll look.

Edit- it was about 46% not 80%.

Here

College students get a free year of the YNAB (You Need A Budget) software/app. You could sign up for that, work through a budget, and see how that feels.

For example, I’d you spend $X per month on food, you could set up a monthly budget amount of $X, and “fund it” (the YNAB term for marking the money as designated for that purpose) through April. If you go out twice per month and spend $20 each time, you could budget $40/month for that, and again, fund it out though April. If you have birthdays coming up for friends or family, you could fund a birthday category with amounts for gifts for them. If you need to save for rent payments in the summer, or a deposit on a new place, or a down payment/monthly payment for a car once you graduate, or... whatever is important to you, you can create those categories in YNAB, and fund each of them.

As you get in your paychecks from your campus job, you can also add that as income, and “give those dollars a job,” to use the YNAB term.

I love YNAB because it helps you figure out that while you may have $1400 in your account, after you’ve designated (for example) $800 of that to fund specific categories, you may really only have $600 to work with for future savings/fun money/“something nice.” It’s a great way to dip your toes into budgeting without having to spend anything on software/an app subscription!

Just an FYI, if you're a Mac user, it won't even run on the latest MacOS, and they won't update it so that it does.

https://www.youneedabudget.com/ynab-4-support-will-end-october-2019/

If you're a Windows user, and something breaks by virtue of upgrading your OS or something along those lines, they won't support you.

As you're a YNAB4 user, they will give you a discount on the new YNAB (nYNAB). You can pay monthly or all in one go and then budget for it over the course of a year.

I had YNAB4, and was hesitant to upgrade, but for me and my family, the $45/year is totally worth it.

https://www.reddit.com/r/YNAB

YNAB is You Need a Budget. It’s a powerful budgeting method and tool that can help turn financial chaos into financial control.

This is a link to a free, four-month trial.

If you subscribe to r/YNAB, there’s a pretty helpful group of folks to chat with, but I’ll be honest. You can probably learn all you need from watching the YouTube videos from the YNAB channel (and/or live YNAB workshops, where you can ask questions); watching the videos of Nick True, who is awesome at expanding on the Four Rules for situations not covered in the workshops; and reaching out directly to customer service, which is staffed with some of the nicest and most helpful customer service people I have ever dealt with.

(YNABers can sometimes sound cult-like in their love of YNAB. I know I do. But this is hands-down, no bullshit, the only budget tool I have ever stuck with for more than two months.)

Free Code Camp. That site has pretty much everything you need to get started with the basics, and you will build projects throughout the courses that you can use towards a portfolio, which is incredibly important for anyone who doesn’t have a formal computer science education.

I found the deal via slickdeals. iPad Pro 10.5" Link

I was afraid that it was a scam, but I held out and verified with Apple that it had a 2 year warranty.

Maybe something like this for the rolling eyes niece? Put these in a basket with a couple bath bombs and label it a 'spa day' basket. OK, the best ones of those are sold out, but Sephora has four for $6!

+1 for the budget. Once you've set goals for your money and know what you are and will be spending you will know where you really stand. One of those savings goals can be a new phone. Save for it and buy it when the money is available.

You Need A Budget is a good budgeting tool for this type of spending plan. As a student, you can get a one year free subscription. https://www.youneedabudget.com/college/

Invest in a You Need A Budget subscription and watch some of of their tutorial class videos to get a handle on how to use it (it's not too bad once you're up and running). Look into an income-based repayment plan for your student loans. Knock out those credit card debts as soon as you are comfortably able to in order to free up additional funds each month.

Part of the philosophy behind You Need a Budget (YNAB) is to save up for those same exact things you mention. They are things you can anticipate even if they don't always occur. YNAB calls them True Expenses.

Take a look at the YNAB web site, especially the Four Rules. You can learn stuff without ever subscribing (it isn't free). If you decide you want to try it, I've put together some info about Getting Started with YNAB, including how to get a 4 month free trial. Set up a Category for YNAB Subscription and set a Target Category Balance by Date goal for 3 months from now to save for it. If you don't save it in 3 months, YNAB might not be for you. But I'm sure you will learn something.

Full Disclosure: I have no relationship with YNAB except as a very satisfied customer.

This is a good way to break things down. It really is called giving each dollar you have a job. A specific job.

I do this using YNAB (You Need A Budget). It's been an awesome tool for me. For anyone thinking of trying it, be sure to get a 3 month free trial, not the standard 34 days which isn't long enough.

YNAB. It's a little pricey, but it is truly an awesome budgeting app.

If you decide to try it, definitely get a 3 month trial to YNAB. If you then subscribe, use a promo code so you and the provider get a free month added to your subscriptions. Search for YNAB Promo Chain. A new chain is created monthly to keep it open for new users to benefit.

Mint is free and is a great tracking tool for your spending. That makes it a great tool to start with if you aren't really focused on your spending. You can do some budgeting, but it really isn't as good for that as YNAB.

Edited for clarity.

the issue is you dont feel bad spending in the moment, only after

this is a symptom of not having a budget. i use YNAB www.youneedabudget.com and /r/ynab and when you earmark all your money and only have $30 for eating out, it's way harder to break that budget because you know all the reasons you set that number. all the short term responsibilities, long-term savings goals and dreams

then you'll stop before you order the food thinking shit... this means i can't pay off that debt, or buy that upgrade, or take that vacation

without a plan, you don't have any of those stops in place

If you're put off by the $84 a year (which it is totally worth IMO), you can sign up for a free 3 month trial: https://www.youneedabudget.com/landing/camp-patton/

If you already have started your 34 day trial, you can email them and ask to extend it to 3 months.

Also check out their workshop on budgeting while broke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tACY3ge6VdA

YNAB has totally changed how I look at my money and I have saved way more than the annual fee by making informed decisions about what my money has to do and what is important to me before my next pay period. I'm a bit obsessed with it now ;)

This is exactly why I'm a huge fan of YNAB. Even if you can't afford the software, the method is solid. The whole premise is that you can only budget the money you have right now. You can't make a monthly budget based on money you haven't earned yet.

I think Everydollar is as close as you can get to a free version of YNAB, but even an excel spreadsheet would work.

Basically, it goes like this--Let's say you get paid $1000 today. You won't get paid again for two weeks. So, you build a budget on the $1000 in your pocket right now. That budget includes, and only includes, the things that have to be paid for between today and your next paycheck. Assign every dollar a purpose, and stick to it. When your next paycheck comes in, do it all over again.

This method will allow you to catch up eventually. But you have to stick to the budget, even if that means cutting out any and all fun spending for a while.

Read up on the method here - https://www.youneedabudget.com/method/

There is also a subreddit - /r/ynab

If you live in a state with a bottle deposit bill, there's some money to be made recycling drink bottles. I generally go digging bottles out of trash cans every day after work.

Other than that, most of my additional income come from Swagbucks. (Ref, non-ref.) Since you mentioned surveys don't seem to be your thing, you might want to look into other alternatives on /r/beermoney or /r/workonline.

Hmm, I use an Excel sheet my sister set up for me. An easier way might be an app like Mint:
https://www.mint.com/budgeting-apps/4-things-you-did-not-know-a-budget-app-could-do

I find I overspend by a LOT with card, so when I shop I try to use cash if at all possible. Good luck, OP!

Try finding an apartment using "nextdoor neighborhood" https://nextdoor.com/find-neighborhood/ it's very big in NC. It's basically facebook for old people.

That or through churches.

You should learn how to repair credit, it's easy to do and in 5-7 years have good credit again.

myfico.com has good resources

Some churches have Free Clothing, but baby clothes will be hard to come by.

There's this site - they give away everything. Really. https://www.freecycle.org

Probably a best buy on baby blankets would be to buy flannel sheets at the thrift store and then cut them into smaller blankets. They can be used for everything from swaddling a baby to a spit-up cover for the shoulder.

To keep the edges of any cloth from fraying, you can apply clear nail polish to the edges and let it dry. Not as good as a sewn edge, but it'll do.

What if you posted some ads on Craigslist and smilar looking for home sewers who would like to make some baby clothes? I don't mean fancy stuff, but just those zip-up one-piece sleepers so many babies need when it gets cold.

So many retired people would love to do that kind of a thing and maybe JoAnn Fabrics and other fabric stores would even donate the fabric?

The 99 Cent Store in my area doesn't often have baby clothes, but they have a lot of other baby things.

Call the thrift stores and see when their discount days happen. I know one store around here used to have a $0.25 cent day once a week. Everything with a certain color tag was a quarter.

That's another thing retired ladies would enjoy: being the scouting shoppers on these bargain days. Give them $5 per mom and see what they can find on discount days.

The only issue would be having a storage place where they can bring their bargains and donations.

https://www.amazon.com/Skechers-Womens-Squad-Service-black/dp/B073WH3WDR/ref=sxin_13_ac_d_rm?ac_md=0-0-c2tlY2hlcnMgbm9uIHNsaXA%3D-ac_d_rm_rm_rm&cv_ct_cx=skechers+non+slip&dchild=1&keywords=skechers+non+slip&pd_rd_i=B073WH3WDR&pd_rd_r=410376a7-6ebd-4959-9270-597640b47ad1&pd_rd_w=Ij40f&pd_rd_wg=N8xpE&pf_rd_p=bdf723b2-f1c3-4d1c-967e-60197e162550&pf_rd_r=G5N6J76C430VF6D7AAD1&psc=1&qid=1627671445&sr=1-1-12d4272d-8adb-4121-8624-135149aa9081

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$50 for skechers non slip shoes, they last a lifetime

Self-employment is a tough racket — I've been doing this both part- and full-time for the past twenty years. Getting paid is almost as difficult as selling work... I sure do wish I had read The E-Myth twenty years ago. tl;dr: being a good technician (i.e. skilled at what you technically do) is only a third of the battle in running your own company successfully.

"Creative types need to get a 'real job' so that they don't really starve to death."

Myself, I'm a [now retired from] electrician whom is looking to switch careers =|

I’m on mobile and the fred Meyer site isn’t very compatible, but here’s a listing on amazon that’s similar, but less product for a higher price. But it shows what it looks like.

https://www.amazon.com/FoamTouch-Upholstery-Cushion-Density-Height/dp/B01K01HJZM/ref=asc_df_B01K01HJZM/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=192263181792&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=10062959160982454811&hvpone=&hvptwo=&h...

The superstores/supercenters (not “neighborhood” walmart) all carry large foam pieces like that for multipurpose use. Fred Meyer is just having a great sale for a twin xl, 4” thick size for $20.

Get a basic code scanner.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BGX8X1V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

it's pretty useful.

Oil light is likely the oil pressure sensor. If it were that low on pressure for this long you probably wouldn't be driving it now.

https://www.amazon.com/Farberware-FDW05ASBWHA-Countertop-Dishwasher-Wash-White/dp/B07VR22832/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=In+Sink+Dishwasher&qid=1601499959&sr=8-2

So much to unpack. It sounds like you really can't help your mom. After all, how do you help someone who cannot/will not help themselves? That said, do not pay bills. It would be like giving a drunk a drink. You would be just enabling her.

I will suggest a couple of books.

1. Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud
2. Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey

Now to be funny: You know your financial plan is working when other people make fun of it. :)

Think about it. The people around you are all broke and in debt, but ridicule you for being wise with money....

If you're technically inclined you can Google how to set up your own VPN by renting a low cost virtual private server from someplace like Digital Ocean. They will be slightly harder to detect than the well-known providers like Private Internet Access, Tunnelbear and others.

If they allow you to bring something to plug in at your desk, buy an electric kettle to heat your water. Only caveat is that they draw heavily on the electric grid compared to other American appliances, and can cause a circuit to trip on old buildings/apartments.

If you have an electric kettle, then you can make something at your desk. I use mine to make tea (the right tea can totally get you as wired as coffee), but others have mentioned french presses which should work as well.

I have this electric kettle, which has a temperature control which is vital for making different types of teas. Maybe that would be helpful for coffee too, I dunno...I don't drink coffee.

Edit: An electric kettle just heats water. You don't make the tea or the coffee (or the hot chocolate or ramen noodles or anything) in the electric kettle...you make it in a 2nd pot or cup. The electric kettle just gets the water boiling.

>With that in mind, the overall contribution limit from all sources is rising by $1,000 in 2018 to $55,000. For savers aged 50 and up who are eligible for a catch-up contribution, the $6,000 limit is in addition to this maximum, for a total maximum possible 2018 401(k) contribution of $61,000.

Sauce

GO TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY! Libraries have all sorts of free courses available, sometimes in-house, other times through things like Lynda. You can also access tons of ebooks and audiobooks through Libby if you connect it to your library card. Open Culture is another great free resource. You don't have to pay for courses if you don't want or need to. I spent some fun money on those drawing courses and they were super on sale, like 90% off.

A roth IRA is a retirement account though. The earnings are still subject to taxes and penalties in most cases and since you're not getting a match, why not just open your own investment account? It's still investing in the same mutual funds or whatever you want to invest in through vanguard or whatever company you research and like the profile of, but there are no penalties or rules for when/how you can remove the funds. You typically get a checkbook and if your checking account balance is getting low, you can just write yourself a check to take some money out of your investments and liquidate it.

With a roth you have to worry about all these rules:

"Age 59 and under
You can withdraw contributions you made to your Roth IRA anytime, tax- and penalty-free. However, you may have to pay taxes and penalties on earnings in your Roth IRA.
Withdrawals from a Roth IRA you've had less than five years.
If you take a distribution of Roth IRA earnings before you reach age 59½ and before the account is five years old, the earnings may be subject to taxes and penalties. You may be able to avoid penalties (but not taxes) in the following situations:
You use the withdrawal (up to a $10,000 lifetime maximum) to pay for a first-time home purchase.
You use the withdrawal to pay for qualified education expenses.
You use the withdrawal for qualified expenses related to a birth or adoption.
You become disabled or pass away.
You use the withdrawal to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses or health insurance if you're unemployed.
The distribution is made in substantially equal periodic payments.1"

https://www.schwab.com/ira/roth-ira/withdrawal-rules

Of course you can always withdraw what you put in and not the actual earnings to avoid this but again, with your own separate mutual funds you don't have to worry about that.

Everyone else has covered you're question. I want to talk about your budget. OP, you could benefit from a budget. I used to recommend YNAB but, they're really expensive now. I would still recommend joining r/YNAB as it's a great community. I would also recommend watching YouTube videos and reading how to's on budgeting the YNAB way. For additional information you'll want to search "budget to zero" and "envelope method of budgetting."

You can find plenty of free excel sheets (or google docs) that other people have made to mimic the YNAB style if you search for them. Using excel or google docs will allow you to open your budget from your phone and your computer, take it where ever you go.

The 4 rules of YNAB are as follows, 1. Give every dollar a job, aka budget all your money to zero. 2. Embrace your true expenses. Plan for your car to fail, plan for Christmas, plan to lose your job etc. 3. Roll with the punches. You're going to overspend, it happens. You don't need a guilt trip, you just need to sit down and figure out how to reassign your dollars. Shit happens. 4. Age of money. Eventually, sticking to a good budget, you should be budgeting todays dollars for next month. You'll get there, it takes time.

In addition to rule number 1, only budget the money you currently have. What does my money need to do before I get more money? Don't predict income, it's as bad as the weather man predicting that big storm that becomes a nice sunny day.

Here's more info on the rules, https://www.youneedabudget.com/the-four-rules

Please let me know if you have questions. Sorry for formatting, mobile.

If Sprint has good service in your area, they offer one year "free" (you pay taxes & fees) unlimited service if you port from a competing carrier or an MVNO based on one of them. They focus their terms on Verizon, but they'll take lines from anyone not using Sprint's network already. Act quick because it runs out on the 15th (although they've extended it several times before, they may not do so again due to a possible merger with T-Mobile).

Read up on it here.

Yes, this one. I see it's $30 right now. It's a great cover, I've had it for almost a year and it still looks brand new after weekly washing.

Pretty good explanation of the philosophy behind YNAB and how it can be used. For anyone considering it, be sure to get a 3 month free trial and if you are a student, it's free for a year.

Came here to say this, YNAB has revolutionized my financial situation. It takes some work to wrap your head around get everything in order, but it's more than worth it.

It does cost $50/year but there's a 2mo free trial going here.

Anyone wanting to try YNAB should get a 3 month trial. Those on a 34 day trial can email and ask for an extension. It can take about 3 months to know that YNAB is a good fit.

Are you female? Take a guy with you. I'm so serious. So many car lots pounce on female buyers and rip them off.

Used car buying guides. Read. Can find the same on YouTube.

https://tinyurl.com/yafmd43x

Buy classics first. If you don't know what classics are in clothing, start Googling for your gender.

https://tinyurl.com/ydx6m8yh

Try not to gain weight after you buy these classics. Easier said than done, I know. Obviously if you need to lose weight, and can, do that for your health because your health is more important than replacing clothes, but seriously, don't pig out on junk food and then moan that all your clothes need to be replaced.

It takes a lot of self-discipline to be poor.

LEARN your colors. This was a book that came out a million years ago, in the 70s I think, but once you learn if you are a Summer, Winter, Fall or Spring, you will know your color palette and make fewer shopping mistakes. When you buy new things you want to be able to mix and match them with your current clothes. If you know only certain colors work for you, then your new stuff will blend with your current clothes.

http://www.colormebeautiful.com/seasons/findyourseason.html

Plus, the right colors to go with your skin and hair will lift your mood.

YNAB is a bit different than other budgeting tools, but it is worth the effort to figure it out. It lets you manage your money and that's really important when you have a lot of different expenses, plans, and debts.

Spend a little time reading through /r/ynab and search out answers. The YNAB web site has lots of help as well.

As you are learning YNAB, I recommend doing most of your work on a PC or laptop using the browser version. It's much easier to learn and a lot of the help you will get is based on it. The mobile version is great for it's intended purposes, but the web version is best for major work like setting up a budget and learning the philosophy and there are some things you cannot do on mobile.

The two best things for getting started :

How to Budget When You're Broke - Ignore the title, but watch this video. It is the best video about getting started using YNAB.

How to Create a Budget - Great article.

Since you have debts, your first goal priorities should be something like this:

1. Avoid more debt. That means a small emergency fund to cover things like car repairs, small medical expense, some deductibles, etc. $1000 is a nice round number for this purpose. Less might be fine but only you can decide the amount.

2. Pay down debt. You've got advice about this in other comments.

Since housing is such an issue, you need to figure out how that fits in. It might be more important than paying down debt, but don't let new things go into collections.

I agree 100%, if OP lives in the United States, rural living can be an achievable and affordable option. Also, the unemployment rate is really low right now, so if OP is wanting to save up money, it's a better time than it has been in years to try pick up extra work and save money for a goal. Not sure what OP feels they are struggling with the most - whether it's depression, or dealing with past debt, or struggling to develop frugal money habits, or something else.

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u/Little-Kitty-Dreamer, if it's finances that you're strugging with, I'd highly recommend checking out r/ynab and www.youneedabudget.com. They have a lot of resources to help motivate and teach people to save using their budgeting software. But if you're not interested in the software (they have a free trial but IMO it's pricey, and possibly not worth it for people on this subreddit), you can still replicate their methods using an Excel spreadsheet, or a pen-and-paper system, or just literal envelopes to budget your money in. Best of luck.

Before you start thinking about more complicated things, work on budgeting an tracking. My advice it to try out YNAB, it's a great way to establish really good habits and prevent the frustration of your paycheck being gone the weekend after payday.

If you find that you are able to stick with it for the free trial and don't think you can muster the yearly subscription, shoot me a PM and I'll cover a year for you :)

$84 is pretty steep. I signed on YNAB when it was $50, and even then it was a decision I had to think about. For $84, I’m not so sure if I would have given it a second thought. Might have passed over.

For anyone coming across this comment though, 3 month trials should be available through this link: https://www.youneedabudget.com/landing/camp-patton/

I’ve also read that if you’re doing the 1 month trial, and are still undecided, you can e-mail YNAB, and ask for an extension on the trial, with a good chance of approval.