Anyone feel like they can't get ahead?

[01Maverick10]

Not sure if its just me... just a note from the outset, I am happy with my life, I have a beautiful wife and we have a (rented) home, a cute little corgi.

It's just, I feel like we're always struggling to get ahead. We both haven't been able to travel though we have really wanted to, we can't save to buy a house because rents are so high and the price of everything else keeps going up. We are on average salaries, not bad but not fantastic. Enough to get by. Every time we have a little money saved something comes up. We also want to have children as we are both 30 now...

We feel a little... stagnant, trapped by circumstances I guess.

We live in an expensive city, where the average house price is $800000, with a minimum 20% deposit is needed for the banks to even look at giving you a loan... We want to move but need money to do that too, and new jobs etc...

Don't know what to do... I want the best for my family, not extravagance, but better than just treading water.

Anyone else feel similar?

 

[Angeldove97]

Going through that right now. We're seeing some light though ~ I've been able to get a few raises and study grants to add to my salary and hubby just got a raise. But yes ~ we're in the rut of paying off a lot of credit card debt, finishing up our school loans, and learning how to better budget our money.

The good news is that we're learning how to live with less - minus moving into a bigger (rented) apartment and getting a new car. (We're not perfect)

I'm sure we'll be in a better place 5 years... 10 years from now. I'm trying to enjoy this "season" of life for the time being.

 

[01Maverick10]

Yep thats life I guess... I definitely need to move though... an hour and a half in traffic last night
Cant stand it

 

[Angeldove97]

Yep thats life I guess... I definitely need to move though... an hour and a half in traffic last night
Cant stand it

Then get moving!

On my last day of work (I'm a teacher), our landlord decided to call my husband and tell him that he needs to sell our place for a "project" - we had 4 days to decide if we were going to buy the place (1 bedroom condo in a great building that we had been living in for 2 years - 10 minutes away from my job and 30 minutes away from hubby's job) or move.

Having 3 cats and 2 ferrets, moving is not a simple choice at all. I was a wreck for a few days while we decided what to do. We haven't been saving to buy a place, so eventually after talking to all 4 of our parents and a good friend who has bought a house, we decided against not buying it. Within 24 hours, hubby found a place - I'll now be doing the 30 minute commute and he has a 10-20 min commute.

Bigger place ... 2 bedroom (which means the smaller of the two can become a nursery at some point), quiet neighborhood (minus the trains at times - nothing too bad though), and CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING (which I haven't had in 8 years after growing up with it - I'm spoiled).

I'm still anxious about moving (and we've been here for almost a month) ~ but it has more to do with the sudden decision of the landlord than this new place. I'm getting stubborn when people try to mess up my routine in my "old age"

 

[01Maverick10]

Then get moving!

Yep, easier said than done unfortunately. The closer I get to work the higher rent goes

I am actually talking about moving out of the city altogether, iv'e had enough of city life. I grew up on a farm in a rural area. I want to get back to something like that, but... unfortunately the jobs are in the cities... so it's a bit of a conundrum... I also want to go freelance (i'm a photographer) but the capital to get set up is exorbitant So currently weighing up our options... trying to figure out the best course of action.

3 cats and 2 ferrets, thats awesome. Always wondered what a ferret would be like as a pet, but they are pests here and are illegal to have as pets

 

[GracetotheHumble]

I'm having the same issues. I had eleven thousand saved a year ago but that dwindled. I'm really getting concerned about retirement as I don't even own a home yet.

 

[Shane R]

I was doing well until I discharged from the Navy. I have been in a year long struggle, where I have had to tap into my savings for about $3500 and my mother has gifted my family money twice (and both times we needed it, though I did not ask).

 

[JCFantasy23]

Yes! Whenever I save a small amount, something happens that demands the money. I realize that with God's blessings I was able to have the money on hand for emergencies, but it's hard to save and get ahead, seems impossible half the time.

 

[look4hope]

The feeling of stuck is neverending with most of what we do in life. At least for now. Not sure if it has to do with the age thing or depending on what the circumstances are...

 

[NothingIsImpossible]

I definitely think alot of it has to do with how america is doing the past few years. People are not getting ahead. Just more bills, less pay, more stress, less happiness. My wife came here from another country last year and she said it seems like all people do here is work and most of their money goes towards paying things off. People seem so unhappy at times. Obviously we are not as bad off as in other countries, but times are changing and america is becoming harder to survive in at times. Especially when one of you can't work a real job.

I praise God because my parents bought their first house finally and will give it to us when they pass. To some they don't see what a big deal that is. But since many end up living in apartments, condos...ect most of their lives... it is a big deal. If you get a house for free it means your saving a TON of money. No mortgage, no rent...etc. And over the past few years I see more and more people moving in together. Married children to parents. Parents into childrens. Brother into sisters.

Whatever the case these are tougher times and we need to focus on God. I still tithe (well we both do) even knowing we have bills while living at home. Because we know God is good. And 30 is also one of those ages when we are more.... well grown up. They say for example not to marry until your about 25 because up until then your brain is still working on short term planning. Which would make sense since most kids/teens make stupid decisions often times. Like having sex and forgetting accidents happen from sex. But after 25 our brains begin to focus on long term things and decisions. Hence we notice how hard life can be. Even more so if married and even MORE so if you add kids to the equation.