Could you live on $1000/month?

Wendy · #**201** 01/19/13, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Because she's on our insurance? She was a full time college student and working 25 hours a week as well and since she's a college student, she is on our own insurance.

Do you think a 21 year old should only be responsible for their own medical bills?

I see.

Yes, I think at 21 they should be responsible for their own medical bills. Afterall, they are considered an adult at that age. I have a 21 year old that lives on her own. I do not know her medical bills nor do we pay for them. I was on my own at 18 & my parents didn't pay my medical expenses. At what magical age should adults be held responsible for their own bills? Just wondering. I think the thing of keeping them on their parents insurance until age 26 is dumb. Too many people living & mooching off of their parents instead of becoming responsible adults. Not directing this at you, but I see a lot of it around here & have several neices & nephews doing just that. One neice who got mad because her dad changed jobs & he no longer has insurance to cover her. She is out of school making twice the money my brother does, yet thinks he should still pay her medical expenses. Kids need to grow up at some point.

Annsni · #**202** 01/19/13, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendy

I see.

Yes, I think at 21 they should be responsible for their own medical bills. Afterall, they are considered an adult at that age. I have a 21 year old that lives on her own. I do not know her medical bills nor do we pay for them. I was on my own at 18 & my parents didn't pay my medical expenses. At what magical age should adults be held responsible for their own bills? Just wondering. I think the thing of keeping them on their parents insurance until age 26 is dumb. Too many people living & mooching off of their parents instead of becoming responsible adults. Not directing this at you, but I see a lot of it around here & have several neices & nephews doing just that. One neice who got mad because her dad changed jobs & he no longer has insurance to cover her. She is out of school making twice the money my brother does, yet thinks he should still pay her medical expenses. Kids need to grow up at some point.

Hmm - full time college, student teaching and working 25 hours a week. I'd not call that "mooching".

michelleIL · #**203** 01/19/13, 09:58 AM

I was responsible for my own when I was 18 so I think so yes. I live in a college town where momma's and daddy's kids can go and do whatever they want with no sense of responsibility. I would love to feel comfortable living on 1000 per month, but I had not and I have been forced to live on that or less for most of my adult life, which is why I went back to school yet again. I want a real job, and people aren't looking at a person's education that much. I'm thinking I could live on 1000 per month once I finally get the trailer paid off, but I don't have a car and don't have insurance. I can't afford insurance, except the university insurance is included with tuition and fees, but that is 400 bucks for something like four months! Atrocious prices. I can have a garden, but y garden didn't do crap last year, so we shall see this year. Thankfully I have some food set by in the pantry area, otherwise I'd be screwed. Medical bills would really screw me if I paid them when they occurred. LOL I consider eating and paying the electic bill more important than driving and having med bills paid. This month's electric bill is approximately 295 bucks! My lot rent is 207...my trailer pmt is 200. My phone is 50 and my internet is 60. I live month to month hand to mouth. I am currently unemployed, looking for work. We shall see how it goes!

mpillow · #**204** 01/19/13, 10:04 AM

We dont have healthcare or a job at the moment....a family of 5 and yes we could make it on $1000 a month:
phone/sattv/electric==$120
prop taxes/vehicle and home ins licensing ==400
animal feed==200 (lots of milk, meat and eggs)
grocery===120 (beans/rice/ramen)
gas===100
$60 left and saved for wood/ repairs

we have no mortgage so that helps very much....so for 1 person it should be easy peasy

Annsni · #**205** 01/19/13, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelleIL

I was responsible for my own when I was 18 so I think so yes.

What were you doing at 18?

City Bound · #**206** 01/19/13, 10:29 AM

with no rent or morgage I think some people could live on a grand a month.

In the summer I spend about $20 a month on food because most of my food comes from my garden.

mpillow · #**207** 01/19/13, 10:45 AM

I make an extra $100 a month easily doing the pay sites listed in my sig line....so this helps buy odds and ends and dog food/toilet paper...if I can do it anyone can---I dont even have internet at home because it isn't a necessity...the library is close by.

michelleIL · #**208** 01/19/13, 10:46 AM

living hand to mouth it was the beginning of medical bills, from going to the er, then going tcourt and eventully payig it...been in various debt since 18. Working crap jobs, living on public aid...being a bum basically...a sad existence. I'm a full time student for the umpteenth time and now looking for student employment. We shall see.Tired of only qualifying for crap!

Annsni · #**209** 01/19/13, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelleIL

living hand to mouth it was the beginning of medical bills, from going to the er, then going tcourt and eventully payig it...been in various debt since 18. Working crap jobs, living on public aid...being a bum basically...a sad existence. I'm a full time student for the umpteenth time and now looking for student employment. We shall see.Tired of only qualifying for crap!

So you're saying that this is what all 18 year olds should do? That they should not mooch off their parents but have a sucky existence and go into serious debt because of medical bills? Or is it OK for their parents to LEGALLY cover their insurance (the company pays for it) while they are working, doing student teaching and going to college full time?

motdaugrnds · #**210** 01/19/13, 11:28 AM

I believe the majority would agree that being debt free is the key to cutting living expenses; and growing your (and your animals') own food is next best.

In the USA being responsible for yourself means medical & insurance (home and autos) plus the monthly bills (whatever they may be) & taxes, whether you eat or not. Growing your own food allows you to actually survive in a healthy manner, especially if one has learned about the wild vegetation one has....and their water is healthy.

With the gasoline prices as they are and food prices going up, we have learned to be prudent, i.e. making ONE trip into town to get all we will need for the full month. This is always only what we do not grow/raise ourselves and includes paper needs.

It is not an easy thing for us to live on $1,000 per month; but it has been doable; and will get better after I get the raised bed for root crops in and a wood stove that our home insurance policy holder will approve of. (Of course, we no longer try to "keep up with the Jones", do not have a cell phone nor cable & only buy work clothes.)

City Bound · #**211** 01/19/13, 11:42 AM

what do you consider the poverty line to be? 12 grand a year is bellow the poverty line, right?

michelleIL · #**212** 01/19/13, 12:06 PM

No I think a 21 year old should be able to cover their own cost of insurance. I didn't get covered. Do I advocate this? Heck no, but I survived it.

michelleIL · #**213** 01/19/13, 12:06 PM

I'm in school trying to lift myself out of abject poverty

michelleIL · #**214** 01/19/13, 12:08 PM

I think the poverty line for one is 24 grand a year gross.

Annsni · #**215** 01/19/13, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelleIL

No I think a 21 year old should be able to cover their own cost of insurance. I didn't get covered. Do I advocate this? Heck no, but I survived it.

Why? We pay for family insurance. She's legally allowed on it and if we dropped her, it wouldn't save us a penny. So why should she cover her own insurance when she's already covered?

ldc · #**216** 01/19/13, 12:36 PM

All, the federal poverty line for an individual is 9K, for a family of 4, it is 21K, last time I looked at the "benefits".

michelleIL · #**217** 01/19/13, 12:52 PM

everything I suffered has made me stronger.

michelleIL · #**218** 01/19/13, 12:54 PM

http://www.familiesusa.org/resources...uidelines.html

this site says it is 11,000...so it is close to pov to live on 1,000 per month...ut that is gross income not net.

coolrunnin · #**219** 01/19/13, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelleIL

everything I suffered has made me stronger.

would you honestly do it over again if you had other choices?

michelleIL · #**220** 01/19/13, 01:02 PM

of course not! I live in a college town so I'm a bit jaded by what I see.