Welcome to the real world! I’ve been here for 45 years!
My Dad made $1000 a month back in 1968 and there were 10 people in our family. I was impressed! I told myself that someday I would make $1000 per month BY MYSELF!!
So here I am, owning my own business, making about $1200 per month (business has been slow since 2005 but is slowly getting better)... and still struggling to get by! Luckily, I own my own house and payments are reasonable. But due to illness, I lost all payoff momentum on the house and, after almost 30 years, still owe about what I started with on it! I wanted to have it paid off by now but it will never happen so will continue making house payments until the day I die, and the bank will get the house and all that I’ve paid for it.
I guess that’s life!
Best of luck on yours!
(And remember! -No matter how bad you think you have it, just look around: Someone else will have it worse!)

My advice is to get out of New York City. You are making no money, especially there. You’ve just got to start adulting, so to speak. You aren’t staying with mom to help mom….let’s be honest. Start looking for jobs in other places. Making $32K per year there is like making $58K where I live. The cost of living index up there is 164. One hundred is the national average. Where I live it is 86. If that’s not what you want hear, don’t worry, I will not be shocked.

I barely made a living wage until 2012, when I was shot in a robbery. In 2015, I got on disability. I’d like to work again but no one will hire me at my age. I’m not young and cute anymore.

An employment agent tried getting me a job at Goodwill—now that’s the lowest of the low. The man hiring asked the agent on the phone what is wrong with me. The agent said nothing was wrong and relayed my story truthfully. The man hiring just said, “well, there’s something he’s not telling you. No one with a Masters degree would be looking for a job here”

I am an ordained minister, and have had to steal for food. How messed up is THAT?

You can get food stamps so why steal? @Yellowdog

Twelve dollars a month in food stamps, 850 a month in disability. 700 dollars rent, 100 in utilities.

Not much financial help because my economic situation is deemed non-sustainable.

Look, if you are on $850 disability you can get on Section 8, get food stamps, get an Obama phone, and get help with utilities. Also, you get free government health insurance. Like I said….get busy. Maybe your first stop should be the HUD office and then the state employment office.

As long as you just whine about your situation it will not change. There is a saying that is always true…......as long as you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. God bless.

Go to benefitscheckup.com. You can see what you qualify for there and you’ll get telephone numbers and addresses for your county. You can also go to the council on aging office in your county for help. You have to be proactive though.

Thanks—thats a lot of information in a relatively short answer.

There really aren’t that many agencies or ministries that will help someone get on their feet again and find resources and help. Many places are staffed by people who don’t really know what they’re doing—and unless you are a drug addict, prostitute, or have lots of children, there is very little help, Many of us who hit rock bottom through no fault of our own just do enough to get in a safe environment and cling to it.

Thanks for your help

I have worked with agencies all over. If you are dealing with an agency in a large city you will most likely run into some incompetence and attitude. But for the most part, the people who do this work are advocates. Use the website I gave you and see what you can find out.

Honestly, move to an area with a workable cost of living. The kind of money you make is more than what it takes to live very comfortably here in Tennessee. Aside from helping others and possibly some bad choices you are just up against a crushing cost of living that makes it extremely hard to get ahead.

I worked part-time making about 15k/yr while I was in college for the first time. I made that work by living in poverty and having room mates. I was able to cashflow school and get out with no debt. Pretty harsh living though. I had to move back home with my parents once I got out with my first job so I could save enough for a new car and enough furnature and deposit for a studio apartment. Been slowly getting a little better off every year. Nearly 20 years later and doing quite well.

Why are you helping to pay rent and your brother isn’t? Do your parents need the financial help? Why do you owe the IRS at your young age?

I know I’m not answering your main question, but something isn’t adding up for me.

It sounds like you work hard and you are trying to get out on your own. I don’t see why a parent would ask for so much rent if you are doing all the right things, and hinder you from saving money.

I can’t say I struggle right now financially, although my husband and I are make ⅓ of what we used to make. We just barely cover our expenses, maybe we don’t cover them with our income, I’m not sure. I have a lot of savings, so like I said I can’t in good faith use the word struggle. We don’t like the feeling of using every penny we earn, we have never been in that situation as a couple, and my husband hasn’t been doing any of his hobbies or fun things, because he feels badly to spend money on those things.

I have struggled in the past, when I was in my 20’s. I lived with roommates, I once had to accept money from my dad to pay bills. I had to quit a job for a higher paying job that still didn’t pay very well.

Money troubles are the worst stress. I usually tell people save save save, so you never have to feel that stress again. But, it sounds like you want to save, so I guess I don’t need to say that.

@kritiper Using numbers from “Back in the Day” is not a reliable comparison.
According to the Inflation Calculator your Dad’s salary is equivalent to $7163/month, $86k per year. (He still did an amazing job with your family!)

“What cost $1000 in 1968 would cost $7163.30 in 2017.
Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2017 and 1968,
they would cost you $1000 and $136.92 respectively.”

@LuckyGuy Thanks for explaining all that. I hope the OP thinks so, too.

I suggest that you see your Bank for assistance in Budgeting better and cutting expenses
(cellphone or landline for now?)
The Bank rep will help you detail a better plan be it a loan to pay IRS quicker or a Savings plan started even with a small amount per month to get started.
Also see a Counselor or life coach on how to start living on your own and how to implement it.
Good luck, you have to start somewhere on becoming self reliant so you might as well get expert advice now.

@kritiper Thanks for sharing that with me I really appreciate it. Best of luck to you as well. I know I have it good compared to others, myself coming from a third world country. It’s just things are really hard at the moment and struggling to get by.

@MollyMcGuire Thanks for the feedback. I’m trying to get out of NYC as soon as I can. My mom is on disability and I often help her a lot with many things. They said they overpaid her on her checks by $10,000. We tried to fight it in court since the error was not on our end. We lost so the case so that’s why i have to stay and help financially.

@Yellowdog Sorry to ear that, hope things get better for you soon. Best of luck and wishes.

@ARE_you_kidding_me Thank you, I’m trying to move out as soon as I can, but my parents need my help financially. My mom is on disability and I often help her a lot with many things. They said they overpaid her on her checks by $10,000. We tried to fight it in court since the error was not on our end. We lost so the case. My brother who makes more than me is really not helping. My parents said for him to help or move out. My other sister who moved out doesn’t really care which is sad.

@JLeslie Thanks for sharing and for the advice. As I mentioned above they overpaid my mom on her disability benefits so we have to pay it back. At my job, they didn’t take taxes from my check before so I ended up having to owe at the end of the year. Now that they take taxes from my check i get money back. I’m from a foreign country so we also send money to help family back home. My brother is very arrogant and stubborn. My parents said for him to start helping or move. I’m trying to find a better job as well.

@Inspired_2write Thanks for the advice, it’s tough since I’m helping out my parents financially. I’m trying to budget my checks better. Thank you