LIVING ON $150 Per Week

[Citizen]

I'm currently 18 and living on $100 a week. Youth allowance. Still living at home, but that $100 has to pay for food, clothes, going out, petrol, phone, car etc.

It's not easy.... gotta get a job...

[robbo_yobbo]

faaarrk, $150 per week...... the missus costs me the better part of $150 a day alone.....
$30 odd on breakfast + coffee
$50 odd on lunch
$65 odd on dinner
Then lets not forget about fuel, the $200+ phone bills, clothes, internet, makeup, $200 hair cuts, $40 shampoos (seriously - who spends more than $10 on something like shampoo?), the $70 it costs to go to the flix now with popcorn coke and snacks, $600+ electricity bills, $300+gas bills, $250+ rent/mortgage, $300 it costs to go to the pub to get away from her and come back in a state to not remember the abuse your about to cop, 60 cents for a "30c cone" on the walk back!!.

At the price of things nowadays, Im surprised any of us can afford to live anymore! what happened to $12 for a full car at the drive ins and $2 happy meals?

Without the mrs, it would be no breakfast, a $3 pie with sauce for lunch, $8 all you can eat pizza hut for dinner, gathering at home instead with a bottle of spirits + a few bottles of coke and a saving that could pay off a new farrari in 6 months! WHAT DID I DO WRONG???

[XR8-260]

I'm 19. My parents pay for all my living costs. I get $60 allowance per week to buy food at uni.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by GTP006

lol, the difference is women. When I was 18, 12 years ago, I had money to burn. I spent a bucket on clothes, grog, fun and cars and still had a pocket full every week. From the moment I met my lovely, beautiful and gorgeous wife, I've been broke. Who'd have thought hair, make-up and nails could cost so much? Not to mention having to buy a house.... set it up..... with a big TV.... then change it..... then add to it.... then buy another one... with a GT in the driveway.....who'd have thought it could cost so much? Who'd have thought I wouldn't trade any of it to get back to how things were?

I sometimes think about taking a break and going backpacking and living on nothing like I used to.... when I add up 5 star hotels, rentals, restaurants, joyflights, nights at the pub, spending money, having a good camera handy etc etc etc I realise that I've changed more than I've noticed. Backpacking at the Hilton just doesn't work out does it?

I suspect that we've grown up, without noticing, and a cushy life is just the norm now........ and a cushy life costs money.

i dont now how old you are but you just described my life + i have 2 kids .

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Im 18 (19 in August), live at home, after the car/insurance is payed for that leaves at minimum of 160 a week, most of that goes into savings and fuel as i do a fair bit of traveling, usually go out 2 or so nights a week.

Looking to pick up a second job soon enough so that should boost up the funds a little.

Are you only 18? I thought you were an old bugger! Don't you have a BA XR8? :P

[FPV8U]

Originally Posted by Polyal

This is what I dont get...

When I was 18, I moved out of home for the first time, lived at uni, and was on ~$180 per week from centerlink,+ any job I could find that paid cash Im 24 now and no F'ing way I could move back home, it would drive me insane. Home is not abusive or anything, but the nagging etc...no way.

Still I had an alright car at the time, and still I had no money. FFS I drank Thooeys Red on a regular occurance. How do you guys do it?

Straight into a job? Do you leave school early?

I work two jobs, rent, have a car loan etc, and barely have enough for bills etc.

Thats the ONLY reason as I would move home, to cut costs. But living on your own/renting rocks, do what you want, when you want. Actually I am moving interstate soon, away from everything, a change is as good as a holiday apparently.

Agree with the above. No matter how much rent etc I have, no way I am skimping on food, thats one thing I love.

Left school at the end of year 11, went straight into work, worked two different jobs as a laborer (SP?) then moved to WA, did 72 hour weeks over there for 4 months till i made the mistake of coming home for my B'day...

Left my job moved back to Vic with my XR8 and a loan which is very affordable, work for my parents business which is good as i get to influence the direction of the family business which has had very good results so far.

Living with my parents is very easy, they arn't strict aslong as my room is tidy and a help out a bit around the house they are happy, mum is 10x the cook i will ever be so to me it's a no brainer, why move out, pay rent (And associated bills) and cook my own food and do my own washing when i don't have to and i can save money.

As for the beverages, it's either Corona's, Vodka or Jagermeister.

[FPV8U]

Originally Posted by MattyJ

Are you only 18? I thought you were an old bugger! Don't you have a BA XR8? :P

That i do MattyJ :

[MITCHAY]

Home is the best. You can buy whatever the **** car you want so long as you're willing to work to pay for it.

I have to start paying board next month but at $50/week that is a steal for what I get :

I hate to imagine how much money I've spent in the last few years. It would worry even me :

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Left school at the end of year 11, went straight into work, worked two different jobs as a laborer (SP?) then moved to WA, did 72 hour weeks over there for 4 months till i made the mistake of coming home for my B'day...

Left my job moved back to Vic with my XR8 and a loan which is very affordable, work for my parents business which is good as i get to influence the direction of the family business which has had very good results so far.

Living with my parents is very easy, they arn't strict aslong as my room is tidy and a help out a bit around the house they are happy, mum is 10x the cook i will ever be so to me it's a no brainer, why move out, pay rent (And associated bills) and cook my own food and do my own washing when i don't have to and i can save money.

As for the beverages, it's either Corona's, Vodka or Jagermeister.

Well for those that work there a$$ off I have much respect.

Its not that living at home is a bad thing, but uni is far enough way for it to be a hassle, and I have now set myself up where I am.

I too labour (only becuase I have been there and done that with the hospitality industry, stuff that, what a joke). I was talking about 5 years or so ago, I look back now and wonder how the hell I managed.

Yeah bills suck...very over-rated..LOL..I cant wait till uni is done, studying is the gheyness, dont know how anyone can like it.

[Outbackjack]

I started work at 17 at Flexidrive instruments (later Stuart warner)making dash board instrument clusters for XA XB XC and ocoasional runs of earlier XY XW etc Fords. I still have my pay slips from back then. A 40 hour week earned me $49. I still have a storage shed full of various examples that we used to make. If one was broken in some way, we were allowed to take it home and fix it. It was considered good training.

I used the money saved from there to get my CPL and went flying for a couple of years before I realised there was much more money to be made in other areas, which is what I do now. Science based space technology research is totally fascinating. I actually look forward to going to work every day!! And I get to travel to some rather remote and interesting places.

Life is good.

[gtfpv]

Originally Posted by Outbackjack

. Science based space technology research is totally fascinating. I actually look forward to going to work every day!! And I get to travel to some rather remote and interesting places.

Life is good.

i love that topic . you are very lucky, to do it for a living . and all the secrets are great stuff too.

[EF Futura 07]

Originally Posted by robbo_yobbo

faaarrk, $150 per week...... the missus costs me the better part of $150 a day alone.....
$30 odd on breakfast + coffee
$50 odd on lunch
$65 odd on dinner
Then lets not forget about fuel, the $200+ phone bills, clothes, internet, makeup, $200 hair cuts, $40 shampoos (seriously - who spends more than $10 on something like shampoo?), the $70 it costs to go to the flix now with popcorn coke and snacks, $600+ electricity bills, $300+gas bills, $250+ rent/mortgage, $300 it costs to go to the pub to get away from her and come back in a state to not remember the abuse your about to cop, 60 cents for a "30c cone" on the walk back!!.

At the price of things nowadays, Im surprised any of us can afford to live anymore! what happened to $12 for a full car at the drive ins and $2 happy meals?

Without the mrs, it would be no breakfast, a $3 pie with sauce for lunch, $8 all you can eat pizza hut for dinner, gathering at home instead with a bottle of spirits + a few bottles of coke and a saving that could pay off a new farrari in 6 months! WHAT DID I DO WRONG???

LOL instant classic. "thats gold"

[4.9 EF Futura]

Well this is going back to 2000, to give an idea of what money was worth at the time... used to only work one day/week.

Lived on $100/week. $50 went on rent...

Held it up for a few months, nearly killed myself doing so. Damn i was stupid at 19 years of age lol. Started doing few more days of work a week and fitting it around uni... nose to the grindstone and all that.

Things worked out ok. I think.

[needfordspeed]

I was living off $70 a week when I was 18 :S which was only about a year ago, but during my holidays from uni i'd work two jobs to save some cash, I got a job 3 days after my year 12 exams finished when I was 17 and worked until my first year of uni started. Then i bought my first car and modded it, it was only an EA but it was mine and I paid for everything so I was proud of it. Then I ended up selling that car and worked again in the holidays (two jobs) saved up some more cash and bought my current car (EF in sig).

I also got a new job that pays alot better so i'm earning about $400 a week, planning on saving more and working again in the holidays maybe two jobs if I can find another one and either investing it or blowing it on a BA or something (but still invest a little bit too :P)

[woodsy109]

Moved out at 18 back in 1998. I was earning $700 or more a week after tax depending on how much overtime I did. That 6 mths work paid for most of my EL. Moved back home for a bit then moved out and went away to uni. I lived on a part time job earning $230 a week. Managed fairly well but the poor car got neglected a little during those few years cause I didn't have much spare cash for that stuff. Then deferred uni cause I was sick of being broke and got a job earning $5000 mth after tax and wondered why I slaved away at uni when I could have done this all along.

[TURBOTAXI]

I was 18 in 1995. When I left school I went into the army grossed about $750 per week (once you factored in all the field allowance). Lived at Enoggera. I think 3 meals/day and a room cost me about $60 per week.

The rest went on clubs, 5 star resorts, jugs of beer in the spa, pretty women. All I had to show for $39,000 was a $3000 car and a $1400 motorbike. The grog on base was cheap, I think a stubby was $1.25 and a glass of port was .40 cents. We used to hire limo's to go to the Gold Coast on the weekend - it worked out cheaper than anything else. There was money to burn (well for 18 year olds anyway) woul do it again in a flash.

[ELGT4me]

Originally Posted by robbo_yobbo

faaarrk, $150 per week...... the missus costs me the better part of $150 a day alone.....
$30 odd on breakfast + coffee
$50 odd on lunch
$65 odd on dinner
Then lets not forget about fuel, the $200+ phone bills, clothes, internet, makeup, $200 hair cuts, $40 shampoos (seriously - who spends more than $10 on something like shampoo?), the $70 it costs to go to the flix now with popcorn coke and snacks, $600+ electricity bills, $300+gas bills, $250+ rent/mortgage, $300 it costs to go to the pub to get away from her and come back in a state to not remember the abuse your about to cop, 60 cents for a "30c cone" on the walk back!!.

At the price of things nowadays, Im surprised any of us can afford to live anymore! what happened to $12 for a full car at the drive ins and $2 happy meals?

Without the mrs, it would be no breakfast, a $3 pie with sauce for lunch, $8 all you can eat pizza hut for dinner, gathering at home instead with a bottle of spirits + a few bottles of coke and a saving that could pay off a new farrari in 6 months! WHAT DID I DO WRONG???

Isn't it time to trade down? Are you sure your missus doesn't keep a toy boy somewhere? Maybe you should send her to work, see if that will cut her living expenses!

A stunned missus

[ELGT4me]

I remember being better off financially in my younger days then I am now. In the past 10 years my pay would have gone up about $10- $12 000 which seems a lot but considering that now I pay twice as much for everything (fuel, food, rent... can't afford the movies anymore). The ratio of pay rise to living expenses doesn't seem to equal out : . Why can't the government vote a 6% (an average $8000) pay rise for us idiots who didn't go into politics to leech off the schmuks working their ***** off to put food on the table?
I suppose I could always become a drug dealer

Mrs ELGT4him

[NudgE^SIKBRO]

since i was 17 i have been out in the world on my own. i went for weeks on end with not a cent to my name all i had was my old XE 351 Ghia, a bunch of CD's and let me tell you did the good times roll, I loved it, used to moove from place to place on about a 2 weekly basis, Id get cash jobs work just long enough to make a 4-500 smackers then off id be again. The only thing that killed me back then was the cost of insurance on the car but i managed. Then, I grew up the XE was written of in an altication(sp) with a uninsured/regisered VL (long story, not explaining, not my fault). i was nearly 21 and though i had better become a man, im 24 now, Married with 2 girls, been working for the same company for 18 months (been working since 21 though full time), Saving for a deposit, paying of my BA and enjoying life almost as much as i used to. I was lucky back in the day to have $100 to spend over a week. Now, Both the wife and i work bring home well over $1300 per week and STILL find our selves looking for cash.

Thats my Story

[redranga]

In 1995 when I was 17 I was earning $165 clear a week as an apprentice diesel mechanic.

I now clear that per day.

But when I turned 18 you could go out to town heaps cheaper. A few pubs in Adelaide had $1 beers on a friday night. For $30 you could catch the bus to town, drink 20 schooners, get a pie floater then catch the last bus back home.

My rego was $280 per year on my car, its now about $600.

The first car stereo I bought the Pioneer deck was $700, the 12 stacker and extra $500.

These days you can get 2 amps, splits and subs also for that money.

Houses were cheaper back then too. I paid $110k for the first house, second one was $165k. Its worth about $400k now.

Looking back on it now you will never have as much money as when you are 18 and live at home. Even if you earn a **** wage you still have hepas more in your pocket than what you will when you earn heaps and have a house or rent.

My advise to all young people starting out it too save and buy a place. Just bite the bullet and borrow. Rent it out if you have to. Every year longer that you leave it until you buy will cost you more.

The average price in Adelaide is $300k. Its currently going up at 3% per year so next year it will cost $309k. So you cant save as quick as they are going up.

Id love to be 18 again if i could go back with the knowledge that ive got now.

[svo347]

Originally Posted by robbo_yobbo

faaarrk, $150 per week...... the missus costs me the better part of $150 a day alone.....
$30 odd on breakfast + coffee
$50 odd on lunch
$65 odd on dinner
Then lets not forget about fuel, the $200+ phone bills, clothes, internet, makeup, $200 hair cuts, $40 shampoos (seriously - who spends more than $10 on something like shampoo?), the $70 it costs to go to the flix now with popcorn coke and snacks, $600+ electricity bills, $300+gas bills, $250+ rent/mortgage, $300 it costs to go to the pub to get away from her and come back in a state to not remember the abuse your about to cop, 60 cents for a "30c cone" on the walk back!!.

At the price of things nowadays, Im surprised any of us can afford to live anymore! what happened to $12 for a full car at the drive ins and $2 happy meals?

Without the mrs, it would be no breakfast, a $3 pie with sauce for lunch, $8 all you can eat pizza hut for dinner, gathering at home instead with a bottle of spirits + a few bottles of coke and a saving that could pay off a new farrari in 6 months! WHAT DID I DO WRONG???

I think Im about to marry your wifes sister

[Mutley]

Originally Posted by robbo_yobbo

faaarrk, $150 per week...... the missus costs me the better part of $150 a day alone.....
$30 odd on breakfast + coffee
$50 odd on lunch
$65 odd on dinner
Then lets not forget about fuel, the $200+ phone bills, clothes, internet, makeup, $200 hair cuts, $40 shampoos (seriously - who spends more than $10 on something like shampoo?), the $70 it costs to go to the flix now with popcorn coke and snacks, $600+ electricity bills, $300+gas bills, $250+ rent/mortgage, $300 it costs to go to the pub to get away from her and come back in a state to not remember the abuse your about to cop, 60 cents for a "30c cone" on the walk back!!.

At the price of things nowadays, Im surprised any of us can afford to live anymore! what happened to $12 for a full car at the drive ins and $2 happy meals?

Without the mrs, it would be no breakfast, a $3 pie with sauce for lunch, $8 all you can eat pizza hut for dinner, gathering at home instead with a bottle of spirits + a few bottles of coke and a saving that could pay off a new farrari in 6 months! WHAT DID I DO WRONG???

How very very true!

[TEaaron]

I'm 17, I was struggeling to live on $325 a week with last year apprentice wadges buying all the stuff i always wanted ect ect.

I'm on $465 a week now still 17 and living at home. started saving for a house >.<

[Mark351]

No wonder we're all broke. At a young age you earn peanuts spend it on cars and booze. Then you get old and buy a house, and the mortgage payments end up more than what you used to earn in a week/month.

[Mutley]

I started my working life in 1982 as a low paid farm hand and have moved up from there. I earned $100 per long week but board and fuel (1 x 44gal drum per month) were supplied. I had a 1978 factory 351 4 speed XC falcon. Most of my wage went into car payments ( I paid $6,000 for it).

I now take home 10 times that but drive an EF wagon and struggle with a Perth size mortgage.

Needless to say, I had more fun getting rid of the fuel on the way to work in the XC.

[Blue Oval Mopar Man]

When I was 19 I joined the Airforce , and was on about $500 a week take home ! Shared a house with a mate and our girlfreinds off base , and money seemed to go alot further then ! I used to have an XB wagon show car, and My XW ute , both 351's and money just about never run out ! We lived like kings !

Ahhhhh, those were the days !

[stiddy]

Moved out of home when I was 18 with the girlfriend at the time, she didnt have a job and I was on about $860 clear a week, which paid my 2 car payments (ZR celica and AU XR6), rent, food, bills, lots of alco, plus going out, and most things she wanted.. left me fairly broke most of the time leading up to next pay.
Split up with the girlfriend, moved back home, im 22 now, 1 car is gone but I now have a new better paying job and company car.. I pay my phone bill($80/week), and car payment($200/fortnight) which is stuff all really, and most of the time give mum about $100 week...
Im saving for a house, which over half my pay goes into, but its not uncommon for me to spend around $400 a weekend, on going out, alco, and random stuff.
Living pretty comfortably I think.
Although looking at my bank statement, since April 15th to now ive spent $9,300ish which dosent impress me.

[Sprint347]

i lived on $100 a week when i was 17...

tank of fuel for the XF (it was $50 to fill in 2000) and $50 to get by... I lived with my parents and was going to TAFE so I was lucky.

[Feathers]

Originally Posted by robbo_yobbo

faaarrk, $150 per week...... the missus costs me the better part of $150 a day alone.....
$30 odd on breakfast + coffee
$50 odd on lunch
$65 odd on dinner
Then lets not forget about fuel, the $200+ phone bills, clothes, internet, makeup, $200 hair cuts, $40 shampoos (seriously - who spends more than $10 on something like shampoo?), the $70 it costs to go to the flix now with popcorn coke and snacks, $600+ electricity bills, $300+gas bills, $250+ rent/mortgage, $300 it costs to go to the pub to get away from her and come back in a state to not remember the abuse your about to cop, 60 cents for a "30c cone" on the walk back!!.

At the price of things nowadays, Im surprised any of us can afford to live anymore! what happened to $12 for a full car at the drive ins and $2 happy meals?

Without the mrs, it would be no breakfast, a $3 pie with sauce for lunch, $8 all you can eat pizza hut for dinner, gathering at home instead with a bottle of spirits + a few bottles of coke and a saving that could pay off a new farrari in 6 months! WHAT DID I DO WRONG???

Dump her. :

I'd feel bad if that was me. Actually, no, I wouldn't do it in the first place.

I've been working full time in the same job at Woolies since I was 17. (7 years later I still hate it and want out), getting about $460/wk.
Live at home and pay $70 board a week (basically mum uses it as play money for her, which irritates me)
I pay for my mobile, internet, rego and insurance.
I paid cash for my car, which took 3 years to save.

I don't go out with friends much, 'cause I don't like going out.
Would rather snuggle up on the couch at home, after a nice home cooked meal and watch a dvd with someone.

So the rest of my money goes to savings for emergencies with the car (cracked centre rear diff bolt anyone?), any mods I might want to do, and anything else I might decide to buy.

[Sundeep]

When I was 18 I was working full time at our family owned restaurant without pay. I lived off $105 a week Youth Allowance while doing a TAFE course. I managed to save up about $5k by the time I was 19 (and after selling my 1st car) and then got given my Mum's EA. That EA is now known as Mr. Dose, and pretty much all of that $5k is in it somewhere along with another $12k or so :(

I'm not stupid anymore, I save hard / earn a lot more and spend on the house. But every now and then I find something I really like to do with cars and have to have it. I am learning to control those urges now.

Need some sort of patch like Nicabate only to do with cars.

Sundeep