I have $30 in my bank account and no savings. How do I stop sucking with money?

[JusticeForSpoils]

The saddest part is, I'm still a teenager living at home. No car payment, no mortgage, no rent, no groceries, and no tuition. I've made, oh I don't know, probably $15,000 at least from the odd jobs over the last couple years, and now I'm down to $30 with no savings, even with a current job. I haven't bought a single "expensive" thing ($500+) since I was 16.

Subscriptions, gas, fast food, drugs & booze, clothes, video games, instruments, dead-end hobbies, all of it just piles up until I'm squandering my entire paycheck the same week I get it. Not a single dime in savings, or a valuable asset to show for any of it.

I've cancelled all my subscriptions, totaling nearly $100 a month alone. But that won't save me. How do I stop sucking with money? I really need to stop living like a deadbeat so I can get onto my own two feet.

 

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[BigRomeDawg]

You have an income problem, not a savings problem

 

[alexkuzmov]

The saddest part is, I'm still a teenager living at home. No car payment, no mortgage, no rent, no groceries, and no tuition. I've made, oh I don't know, probably $15,000 at least from the odd jobs over the last couple years, and now I'm down to $30 with no savings, even with a current job. I haven't bought a single "expensive" thing ($500+) since I was 16.

Subscriptions, gas, fast food, drugs & booze, clothes, video games, instruments, dead-end hobbies, all of it just piles up until I'm squandering my entire paycheck the same week I get it. Not a single dime in savings, or a valuable asset to show for any of it.

I've cancelled all my subscriptions, totaling nearly $100 a month alone. But that won't save me. How do I stop sucking with money? I really need to stop living like a deadbeat so I can get onto my own two feet.

15k sounds like very little money to work with.
Where do you live for context?

 

[Fox]

The saddest part is, I'm still a teenager living at home. No car payment, no mortgage, no rent, no groceries, and no tuition. I've made, oh I don't know, probably $15,000 at least from the odd jobs over the last couple years, and now I'm down to $30 with no savings, even with a current job. I haven't bought a single "expensive" thing ($500+) since I was 16.

Subscriptions, gas, fast food, drugs & booze, clothes, video games, instruments, dead-end hobbies, all of it just piles up until I'm squandering my entire paycheck the same week I get it. Not a single dime in savings, or a valuable asset to show for any of it.

I've cancelled all my subscriptions, totaling nearly $100 a month alone. But that won't save me. How do I stop sucking with money? I really need to stop living like a deadbeat so I can get onto my own two feet.

@BigRomeDawg nailed it.

Let's say it was $15,000 over 3 years. That is only $92 dollars a week spent.
Which right now, is actually pretty good.

100% the way forward is focusing on how to make more.
Where are you on a business direction and some skills or an overall idea to get going?

 

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[JusticeForSpoils]

15k sounds like very little money to work with.
Where do you live for context?

American Midwest. Stuff is so expensive since the pandemic. Wages are comparatively low for un-skilled labor, about $11-17 an hour. I think gas is the main thing that gets me. It's $4.30ish a gallon and rising, and I have to commute around for various things making it hard to get more than 1.5 to 2 weeks out of a gallon.

 

[savefox]

American Midwest. Stuff is so expensive since the pandemic. Wages are comparatively low for un-skilled labor, about $11-17 an hour. I think gas is the main thing that gets me. It's $4.30ish a gallon and rising, and I have to commute around for various things making it hard to get more than 1.5 to 2 weeks out of a gallon.

Go wash some windows and make 50 an hour

 

[JusticeForSpoils]

@BigRomeDawg nailed it.

Let's say it was $15,000 over 3 years. That is only $92 dollars a week spent.
Which right now, is actually pretty good.

100% the way forward is focusing on how to make more.
Where are you on a business direction and some skills or an overall idea to get going?

That's a good point. I have a web design business going, but I've had a lack of motivation lately. I was busting my a$$ for a couple months, but after building a free website, a couple failed sales meetings that I put a lot of work into, some issues at home, and some personal issues, I got burnt out and crashed.

Just played video games and took on more hours at work to keep myself busy. Trying to ease myself back into it, and I need to figure out a way to stop stretching myself so thin. I have a lot of stress right now about trying to become an adult that can support myself after the summer.

 

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[alexkuzmov]

That's a good point. I have a web design business going, but I've had a lack of motivation lately. I was busting my a$$ for a couple months, but after building a free website, a couple failed sales meetings that I put a lot of work into, some issues at home, and some personal issues, I got burnt out and crashed.

Just played video games and took on more hours at work to keep myself busy. Trying to ease myself back into it, and I need to figure out a way to stop stretching myself so thin. I have a lot of stress right now about trying to become an adult that can support myself after the summer.

First question, how old are tou exactly?
Second, is your dad at home?

 

[JusticeForSpoils]

First question, how old are tou exactly?
Second, is your dad at home?

I'm 18, about to graduate high school next month. My dad is at home, he helps out a lot, but I don't want to be reliant on him longer than I have to. He's done so much for me, and I want to get to a place where I can be self-sufficient, and eventually, be able to do lots for him. I just want to make him proud I suppose.

 

[Kevin88660]

You can’t start a business while being broke.

If you are not studying why not work full time.

Learn some basic budgeting from youtube.

Anything that is not a necessity, that doesn’t help you get healthy or wealthy, is a distraction on your time or wallet.

 

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[Private Witt]

Maybe not going to be a popular opinion here but have you considered joining the military for a few years. Sounds like you have discipline issues along with money problems. Keep it safer and choose the Navy. Not only will give you backbone but can save money and the education benefits will be strong.

 

[YoungPadawan]

Get a steady job for now. Trying to start a business while broke is going to be difficult without having any money and it takes time for a business to get off the ground.

Get a job, then continue with your web design thing on the side.

 

[The-J]

GOLD! - HOT! - From Flat-Broke to Financial Freedom: How to Get Started When You Have No Money

I see this question a lot here, and posted in a lot of introductions. How do I get started when I have no money and no skills? I made a video to answer... Also there's an update on my next book near the end of the vid! Enjoy, and if you're broke with no skills, I hope it helps you!

www.thefastlaneforum.com

 

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[alexkuzmov]

I'm 18, about to graduate high school next month. My dad is at home, he helps out a lot, but I don't want to be reliant on him longer than I have to. He's done so much for me, and I want to get to a place where I can be self-sufficient, and eventually, be able to do lots for him. I just want to make him proud I suppose.

Its not about being reliant its about growing up.
These questions that you are asking you should ask your father.
Its not for us to direct you.

Also drugs and alcohol? Drop those, they will never serve you.

 

[Subsonic]

The saddest part is, I'm still a teenager living at home. No car payment, no mortgage, no rent, no groceries, and no tuition. I've made, oh I don't know, probably $15,000 at least from the odd jobs over the last couple years, and now I'm down to $30 with no savings, even with a current job. I haven't bought a single "expensive" thing ($500+) since I was 16.

Subscriptions, gas, fast food, drugs & booze, clothes, video games, instruments, dead-end hobbies, all of it just piles up until I'm squandering my entire paycheck the same week I get it. Not a single dime in savings, or a valuable asset to show for any of it.

I've cancelled all my subscriptions, totaling nearly $100 a month alone. But that won't save me. How do I stop sucking with money? I really need to stop living like a deadbeat so I can get onto my own two feet.

Well if you want to learn personal finance then read rich dad poor dad.

Some people here really dislike it but I read it recently and found it pretty insightful.

 

[Spenny]

"How do I stop sucking with money?". Ok cool, you've come looking for answers.

You have an income problem, not a savings problem

Bang, we've diagnosed the problem.

I've had a lack of motivation lately.

The feeling for readiness will never come. I don't have the motivation to revise for exams but I do it regardless.

If I was you, with all of your free time, I would be eating up knowledge on how to get started.

We have window cleaners
We have car detailers
We have carpet cleaners

They are ALL posting their journey.


Here's a step by step guide:
1. Read this kids thread on window cleaning. He just got started.
2. Buy the equipment
3. Go start.

This isn't rocket science. Get started. Go. Allons-y. On y va.

 

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