• thantik@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Really? Because I make less than $20k a year with 3 kids…tell me how privileged I am. I am FAR below what the poverty line is.

    • trafguy@midwest.social
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      1 year ago

      Would you be willing to share how you make that work? I can’t imagine living on my own for that much, let alone raising 3 kids. What does a weekly meal plan look like? Do you drive? What are rent and property values like in your area?

      Edit: Just ran some numbers, and I can see how that could be possible, but it’s dangerously lean. We shouldn’t need to live like that. I commend you for making it work, but would like to say that you’re definitely worth more than $20k/yr (especially with all those home improvement skills, but regardless)

      • thantik@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        I can’t work like most people, I got cancer when I was 26 and it blew out my immune system (COVID-era was fun let me tell you!). I can’t make more money than what I make, as I need a schedule that’s flexible because I’m tired constantly. I utilize food banks whenever I can, I drive 25 minutes to work when I do, I have multiple paid off cars (because I buy them from auctions and repair them myself). The house was paid off 4-5 years ago, it was an almost-condemned write-off. It’s still not even finished, we’ve still got concrete under the carpet (again, auctions) and no proper padding. I can survive on almost nothing now because I managed to scrape together around $100k in 5 years by taking advantage of every last bit of help I could get.

        It’s hard, but I guarantee people here are making way more than I do, with way healthier bodies.

        I even had 2 years of non-stop code violation complaints from the neighborhood karens because I couldn’t keep up with the yard in my condition.

        Additionally, I’ve always been in poverty - I can’t get a job worth a shit because I have no college, I could never afford it. What I DO have though, is friends who are real estate agents. They led me to real estate auctions and landed me this property.

    • can
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      1 year ago

      I continue to be at a loss for words. I’m glad to hear you and your family have realible housing.