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13 Nov 2009, 7:08 pm
FaithHopeCheese
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Joined: 17 Oct 2009
Age: 45
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Posts: 534
Location: I think I'm lost
13 Nov 2009, 11:25 pm
sinsboldly
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Joined: 21 Nov 2006
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Location: Bandon-by-the-Sea, Oregon
14 Nov 2009, 1:54 am
pezar wrote:
Here's the thing, I want to move out. I can't do it here in Sacramento because rent is so expensive. However, if I move to someplace like Redding in the north state, I can get a studio for around $400 a month. On top of that, since I'm a self-employed computer repairman, or at least trying to be, I'll likely make more money since I won't be competing with zillions of refugees from the big tech firms in Sacramento and Silicon Valley who are driving down repair rates to impossible levels. They have no jobs and no hope of getting a job, so they advertise themselves as repair techs.
The problem is that I will have to convince a landlord to rent to me based SOLELY on my Social Security Survivors Insurance, which I get because I'm the disabled adult child of a retiree (as opposed to the Supplemental Security Income I got before my mom retired, I frequently write "SSI" for my income but in fact SSI and what is called SSRSI are two different things). That is $927 a month. I spend about $150 on fixed bills, and living alone that will likely go up to $225 or so. Rent will be around $400. I have a car, which needs repairing every so often and oil changes and such. I will have to pay for food which I probably could get down to $150-175 a month if I only shop at Wal Mart and cut out all fast food and deli food. I may be able to cut it down even more. I can probably cut down gasoline to $125 a month.
Since I won't have any credit cards because I'm going through bankruptcy as a result of my failed web business, the $927 is what I'll have to live on to start out. With inflation and all $400 is really a Dogpatch level of rent, I looked at some places way out in the Nevada desert and they don't charge much less. (I will also have to convince a landlord to take a chance on somebody who is bankrupt, but if I stick to small landlords who are more understanding I doubt I will have a problem. I can prove that I pay essential bills on time, I just found myself over my head when the website didn't work out.) I really really need to get away from my controlling mother and the impossibility of making a living here in Sacramento. I have to set my rates too low to turn a profit, and even then people can always find somebody lower. And with the collapsed economy people just want cheap.
The problem is that I will have to convince a landlord to rent to me based SOLELY on my Social Security Survivors Insurance, which I get because I'm the disabled adult child of a retiree (as opposed to the Supplemental Security Income I got before my mom retired, I frequently write "SSI" for my income but in fact SSI and what is called SSRSI are two different things). That is $927 a month. I spend about $150 on fixed bills, and living alone that will likely go up to $225 or so. Rent will be around $400. I have a car, which needs repairing every so often and oil changes and such. I will have to pay for food which I probably could get down to $150-175 a month if I only shop at Wal Mart and cut out all fast food and deli food. I may be able to cut it down even more. I can probably cut down gasoline to $125 a month.
Since I won't have any credit cards because I'm going through bankruptcy as a result of my failed web business, the $927 is what I'll have to live on to start out. With inflation and all $400 is really a Dogpatch level of rent, I looked at some places way out in the Nevada desert and they don't charge much less. (I will also have to convince a landlord to take a chance on somebody who is bankrupt, but if I stick to small landlords who are more understanding I doubt I will have a problem. I can prove that I pay essential bills on time, I just found myself over my head when the website didn't work out.) I really really need to get away from my controlling mother and the impossibility of making a living here in Sacramento. I have to set my rates too low to turn a profit, and even then people can always find somebody lower. And with the collapsed economy people just want cheap.
and they want good, too! Living on the poverty line is miserable for anyone. The same entrepreneurial spirit that started your web business can make you someone they would rather deal with. I am talking about customer service. Being prompt, and in touch with your clients, anticipating their needs, knowing where to get the legacy hardware lots of older networks need all make you the technician to call. People want easy as much as they want cheap and will sometimes pay a little more just because they like the service.
At least they would rather consider you first for troubleshooting from time to time and regular maintenance the steady billable hours will start to firm up your personal economy
