Can a newly divorced woman with 2 kids live off of 4000 per month?
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Anonymous
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DH has been primary breadwinner. He's abusive, has been cheating, is an absent father...I've been building my way out. I've obtained a job (entry level administrative (I've been out of the workforce for 10 years)) and have built an additional savings such that I can budget a monthly income of $4000. Is that enough to live off of? Someone help me be realistic. I don't want to make the jump until I know we will be ok.
I don't care about credit card bills or other monthly debt - they can destroy my credit all they want. Mine and my kids sanity and quality of life is so much more important than a stupid credit score number. I need to pay: - 3 bedroom apt rent - utilities - car payment - insurance - gas - food - clothing - cell phone bill Maybe some child support will be obtained, but not anything that will make a huge difference - DH recently had pay cut as opposed to being laid off entirely. I'm not banking on child support to make a tremendous difference. Can I do it? |
Anonymous
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It all depends on where you live at.
Are you in D.C.? |
Anonymous
| I'm so sorry, OP. About how old are your children? |
Anonymous
| Yes, you can do it. |
Anonymous
| Have your kids share a bedroom and get a 2 bedroom apartment instead. |
Anonymous
| Look at apt prices, and see what $ will be left over to live on. Some places include some utilities. What's your car payment? |
Anonymous
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Is that 4K net, or gross? It all depends on where you live (people post on here from other parts of the country).
Assuming a relatively high cost-of-living area, like DC - If it's gross, I say it's going to be damn near impossible. If it's net, you might be able to make it work but it will be tight, and tough. What if the kids need braces? Want to go to summer camp/need hockey equipment? The car needs a new transmission? I mean, you do what you've got to do, and if you've got to leave an abusive guy, you leave and make it work with whatever finances you've got, but try to get as much child support as you can. |
Anonymous
| I'm in NoVa so similar COL. 4000k would be net amount. Can't do 2 bedroom cause 1 boy and 1 girl. |
Anonymous
| ^^I'm OP, above. |
Anonymous
| Boys and girls have been sharing rooms for eternity. They won't die. |
Anonymous
Boy/girl siblings can totally share a bedroom. |
Anonymous
| Can you move in with your parents for a while? |
Anonymous
You need to seriously evaluate your needs. Could you move somewhere that didn't require much driving? Could you share a house with another single-mom family? Clothing can be from used store, and certainly you should look into a 2 bedroom. The important thing is you need to be able to save some money and not live hand-to-mouth. |
Anonymous
| $4000/month will be tough unless you live far away from any major city. |
Anonymous
Agreed I feel like that was just barely for me alone when I was single in a southern state. |