We’ve often asked ourselves how the hell someone is supposed to survive off of $28,000 a year in this day and age. After taxes, you’re taking home roughly $400-500 a week, depending on your local taxes (sorry, New Yorkers- you get shafted with state and city taxes). Your employer may think it’s a decent amount, but come month’s end when you’re eating ketchup and mustard sandwiches and searching your couch for loose change for the umpteenth time, you could probably tell them differently.
But, we all have to survive on that infamous $28K salary. Here are a few tips and tricks we’ve gathered over our tenure at STA.
1. Live at home. The number one expense for assistants starting out is rent. No matter where you live and work, chances are the rent seems disproportionate to what you’re making. You could always join the “risk-oblivious youth” crowd and settle into a cheap but borderline-dangerous neighborhood, but who wants to worry about getting shanked after a hard day at the office? Living with your parents could very well be your own Shangri-la: cooked meals, familiar territory, a chance to save those pennies, and no shanking. Besides, you’re not alone. Many, many people have to return to the nest after college. Yay, economy! Don’t want to live at home? Or can’t commute to your job in Boston from the folks’ house in Delaware? Then consider the next option.
2. Apply for low-income assistance. If you’re making near enough to the poverty line, you can qualify for low-income housing. It’s a fairly arduous process, but when you’re doomed to a couple of years at this level of salary, you might want to seriously consider accepting that you qualify for help and then going out and getting it. For information, click here.
3. Cut back on Starbucks. Yes, it’s a painful thought. You go through so much everyday, why can’t you just enjoy that grande nonfat caramel macchiato in peace? Because that little beverage is about $4, which means that one a day is $20 a week, and that adds up to $80 a month. Yikes. There are cheats, of course. You can get a travelling mug, which would save you a few pennies and help save the planet. Bonus! Or, you can reuse the same paper cup until it’s practically falling apart. Our favorite little trick is to make your own iced latte. Order a doppio on the rocks for $2, then walk over to the milk bar and fill ‘er up. Voila, latte for $2 instead of $4.
