January 2, 2013
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Upset
My mother have been informed me that my dad decided I need to start paying rent. Needless to say I'm not altogether too pleased about this since the only reason why I moved back home is because I could not afford rent on my own. If I could live elsewhere I would do so in a heartbeat, but considering I only have a part-time job that gives me minimum wage (I am not counting my freelance work as the residuals are sporadic and fluctuating) it was not financially feasible.
I have every intention of moving out by the end of this year as I don't want to be living with my parents much longer, but how can I do that if they take a large chunk of my pay cheque? Added to this was my intent to finally see the dentist and eye doctor, the expense of which is friggen insane due to my not having any health insurance due to my not having a full-time job (I presume the company offers said insurance once at full-time status, but that may not be the case). I know I need a new glasses prescription and have multiple cavities to be dealt with, so I was not looking forward to attempting to budget this in.
I figured if I save enough money for rent to get me through a year, then once I moved I could afford groceries, phone, etc. from any following cheques as well as save towards the next year's worth of expenses. I was also hoping that I would get full-time work this year, as was hinted by the owner's daughter who runs one of the companies in the studio.
By having aforementioned full-time job, I would hopefully be able to save for my long-awaited dream trip to Ireland. I estimated that said holiday should cost no more than ten thou, so that is my goal. The intent was to go this summer/fall with @Karoline1982, but we're not sure she will be able to afford that and moving (*fingers crossed* she can!). It is so important to me that I go soon, because once I get settled into a full-time job in my field (this current job is not likely one I'll want to keep for life), I know the chances of my going will lessen. And I really, really want to go before I'm thirty... giving me ten months.
If I could just find a decent apartment with a great roommate, I'd be in clovers. The problem is that I don't know anyone in town who needs a nonsmoking, no-pet roommate and I hesitate to board with a complete stranger as I've had issues with that before. The rent around here appears to be just as much as it is in Toronto though I had been told it was half the cost. Maybe I just haven't seen any of those places yet... and I have started looking again. If I gotta pay rent, I sure as heck want it to be somewhere I can be happy and independent rather than dealing with my parents and all their issues.
If I had been asked to pitch in towards the internet or buy my own groceries that is one thing, but what they now want exceeds that cost, thus totally annihilating my plans of financial security and killing my biggest dream.
SUMR
Comments (9)
$10,000 to go to Ireland?! Are you staying at the Ritz, or what? Coming from a seasoned traveller (and partial Irishman), I think you've seriously overestimated that amount.
Why don't you find a happy medium with your parents? I think it's silly to expect a free roof over your head, but surely you can all find a compromise that let's you save more than you would if you were living on your own.
That sucks. Good luck, though!
I don't know if the trip will cost that much. I probably wouldn't go if it did. I'm expecting at least $1000...
We'll have to look into prices more for sure....
I thought July of this year would be great since I will be jobless, but now my cousin & I want to go to New York. What about summer of 2014? Or maybe Spring of 2014? we'll figure it out & go.
I think if you made up a budget that will work out okay with both you & your parents....maybe that will work? Even if you can give them $100 per month....
@Super_Andy - Our original arrangement was that I do certain chores, such as housework and running errands, etc in exchange for not having to pay rent. The aggravation is from the lack of warning or discussion, just telling me while doing one of the said assigned chores.
I know my estimate for the trip is a bit high, but I didn't want to run out of money. How much do you think it should be for at least two weeks worth of accommodation (somewhere decent), meals and snacks, car rental, touristy admittance fees, souvenirs, random incidentals, plus airfare? I just thought it better to overshoot the budget than be destitute in a foreign country
@karoline1982 - That $1000 might get you the airfare, as I think my bff said it was just over $900 when she went a couple years ago in the off season. This summer for Ireland, New York with your cousin can be next year cuz I've got dibs *L0L*
@karoline1982 - $1000? Do you know how much plane tickets cost? That will probably barely get you one way.
@SUMRdaisy - You set an estimate without researching? You can easily go onto the website of any airline and find prices (just go through the steps of booking a ticket without actually inputting payment information at the end just to view the total), and also do the same with hotels. Although if you want to save money I'd suggest using hostels. They're definitely nowhere near as bad as people think they are. A friend of ours managed a trip to a bunch of European countries last summer whilst staying in hostels. Also I don't know if you have a passport but I would get on that if you don't as a) it can take up to couple months to get one, and b) I heard the price is going up this year.
And sorry I agree with Super_Andy, it's silly to expect to live there for free. I don't know anybody our age who lives with their parents and doesn't pay something each month, regardless of how little they may earn. Everyone has expenses and things they want to save up for, but life isn't free. Of course, they shouldn't charge you anywhere near what you would be charged in a regular apartment as you don't actually have your own space, but its only fair that you should be expected to cover your usage of utilities and such at the very least. Chores are usually things that would have to be done anyway and shouldn't/don't cover that. And FYI my first year of college I stayed with my sister and her hubby and I had to pay rent ($250 a month) and do chores and cook for everybody when I had never cooked before, and I had no OSAP and no job (except for a couple months around Christmas) and I had to save up for the next year of school. But I thought that was more than fair considering all the money i was saving by not living on my own or in residence.
@SUMRdaisy - Destitute in a foreign country? Not likely. I'm not entirely sure what kind of travel you have in mind, but you'd have to try pretty hard to overshoot even half your proposed budget. Not including airfare, $3000 will let you live pretty comfortably for a couple weeks or more. On that note, keep a watch on flight prices starting now. Do your research, plane tickets vary on a daily basis.
I spent a week in Thailand followed by three weeks crossing a fair chunk of Australia on about $5000 (including all airfare). I slept in the dirt a lot, which gives you an idea of my travel style, but never ran out of dollars. You're at an age where you might not want to put up with a hostel (of which there will be less in the many small Irish villages) but hotels get very pricy. Personally, I think a more down-to-earth travel plan gives one a better experience. In Ireland, stay in B&Bs and rent a car. The entire country is within a few hours' driving distance. Spend less time in Dublin and more in Galway. If you want any advice, drop me a line.
@Persiankitty - I have been researching off and on for years. The estimate I set was based on my bff's expenses when she was there staying at a friend's house. I added needing to have housing expenses, car rental, a heck of a lot of souvenirs, getting a passport, the cost of converting money, and emergency funds in case something unexpected happens --such as all flights being canceled for days due to volcano smoke (like another friend endured). I fully expect not to spend my entire budget, but I want a stress-free holiday with enough funds to stay longer if need be *shrug*
I don't live here for free. I pay my dad a small sum of money every month, do chores (things I would and wouldn't be doing if I lived on my own), run errands, etc. It was the sudden change in the amount and no discussion about it that frustrated me. The amount my dad said was nearly ten times what I was already giving him, and equivalent or more than what I might be paying if I was on my own or with roommates (depending on how nice the accommodations). It wasn't financially responsible or reasonable without negotiations.
@Super_Andy - I messaged you. Advice = YES PLEASE!
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