How would it be possible to live off $800 a month

I don't know, but I'd eventually think of something worthy to spend the extra money on....
mdiPHLA.jpg
 
It wouldn't unless every thing you have is paid for and you were living off the grid somewhere.
 

My son, who is on social assistance pays $685 for a one bedroom apartment that includes all utilities. He has a $100 a month after this that covers his food.

He also visits the Food Bank once a month and along with some staples, they also supply toiletries. There are also a number of Churches where he lives that are on Bus Routes where he can get a hot meal if he runs short.

He's been surviving on this for the past year. We used to help him out but our help was doing the opposite.
 
Maybe with a roommate sharing a smallish apartment, it would be possible. Otherwise, no way, not around here.
 
When I was younger and in construction, many
people traveled around in teams, the leader would
arrive first, look around the town/city where the
work was, he was looking for an unoccupied house
that was for sale, he then approached the owner
to see if he would rent it for a few months, they
all got a room each, or two to a room and the rent
was split evenly between the team, maybe one
seventh of the total.

Mike.
 
I think that it would be a full time job to live on $800.00/month, standing in lines, waiting on hold, filling out forms to apply for subsidized housing, SNAP, HEAP, Medicaid, etc...

I had a couple of old friends that did it by juggling various credit cards, robbing Peter to pay Paul every month until the finance charges ate them up.
 
James said:
My son, who is on social assistance pays $685 for a one bedroom apartment that includes all utilities. He has a $100 a month after this that covers his food.

He also visits the Food Bank once a month and along with some staples, they also supply toiletries. There are also a number of Churches where he lives that are on Bus Routes where he can get a hot meal if he runs short.

He's been surviving on this for the past year. We used to help him out but our help was doing the opposite.
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It's like I posted this myself

my son does the same
diagnosed schizophrenic, it's been an uphill struggle for him
but
he's made a science of it
I do believe it is around $800
 
i retired at 62 making 600 a month--that was s s and retirement check--i started baby setting my grandson --- then i got a job working for the senior center making 50& a week--- my first husband passed whom i was married to for 21 years so i got his ss--but i lived off 600 plus my baby setting pay and part time job for 1 year
 
Aunt Bea said:
I think that it would be a full time job to live on $800.00/month, standing in lines, waiting on hold, filling out forms to apply for subsidized housing, SNAP, HEAP, Medicaid, etc...

I had a couple of old friends that did it by juggling various credit cards, robbing Peter to pay Paul every month until the finance charges ate them up.
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I know a number of people who do it, and survival is their full-time job. I've volunteered with a number of organizations that provide health care or food and shelter and I'm always amazed at those who manage to pull this off.

Those who do best have a tight social network that keeps them informed about helpful charities and benefits. Some live in group homes that are either created by the group itself or set up by local housing authorities or charities. If they're lucky, one person in the group has a car or access to a car. That makes life much easier because they can get enough food and keep on top of the constant errands that are part of their lives. It's surprising that some of the agencies they need to survive are not accessible on foot or by bus.

A friend who lived like that until her mental illness was finally treated said she kept reducing her expectations until everything she did was about survival. When she finally got to that point, her life became simpler.
 
Often people who have good incomes, plenty of savings, and good credit don't realize how little they could live on if they had to. They just keep living their nice lives and don't think about things like that. Or, if someone's income is several thousand dollars a month, it's easy to frown or sneer and say "Jeez, how could anyone live on $800/mo.?" or whatever.

Also, there is a huge difference between what we need, what we must have, vs what we WANT. People with low incomes don't try to impress others or keep up with the Joneses.

Nobody NEEDS new clothes, coffee at Starbucks, lunch/dinner at restaurants, mani-pedis, hair/barber appts, and name brand items from the grocery stores. Nobody NEEDS to go on vacations/cruises.

As far as the question in the thread title, it's possible.
- roommate or some type shared housing such as renting a room.
- housing assistance from HUD (long waiting lists but substantial benefit)
- clothing and other items from thrift shops
- food stamps/pantries
- public transportation (no car, gas, insurance expenses)
- various agencies provide low/no cost transportation for seniors or disabled
- utility bill assistance from programs like HEAP
- Medicaid and HCAP if hospitalized
- if no internet at home - use computers at library
- prepaid cell phone or some cheap plan (social service agencies often provide cell phones)
- buy generic/store brands, use lots of coupons
- do your own hair, have a friend help, or go to cosmetology school and a student will do a nice job for a few dollars
- no pets (food & vet expense)
- when possible, earn additional money by babysitting, cleaning houses, small repairs

And nobody in prison is getting $800/month. Not even a small fraction of that.
 
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applecruncher said:
...As far as the question in the thread title, it's possible.
- roommate or some type shared housing such as renting a room.
- housing assistance from HUD (long waiting lists but substantial benefit)
- clothing and other items from thrift shops
- food stamps/pantries
- public transportation (no car, gas, insurance expenses)
- various agencies provide low/no cost transportation for seniors or disabled
- utility bill assistance from programs like HEAP
- Medicaid and HCAP if hospitalized
- if no internet at home - use computers at library
- prepaid cell phone or some cheap plan (social service agencies often provide cell phones)
- buy generic/store brands, use lots of coupons
- do your own hair, have a friend help, or go to cosmetology school and a student will do a nice job for a few dollars
- no pets (food & vet expense)
- when possible, earn additional money by babysitting, cleaning houses, small repairs

And nobody in prison is getting $800/month. Not even a small fraction of that.
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It would be very, very rough. Even in financially stable counties in CA, social services are overwhelmed due to high cost of living. In many cities, the HUD list is closed. Shut down. Completely. In one nearby city, their HUD list opened up for FIVE DAYS in Nov 2017 and then shut down again, no word on when it might reopen.

Renting a tiny room is easily $1K/mo. or more, and that doesn't count deposits/cleaning fees, etc.

If you don't have a car - and out here it costs a lot to operate, let alone maintain, a car, you may have an impossible time just trying to reach services. As pointed out, many resources are not easily accessible by public transit....if it even exists! Rural and suburban areas are very poorly served by public transit, even in a wealthy area like the San Francisco Bay Area.

Our city has closed down over half its libraries, and many are on very limited hours/days. Food pantries help but you have to get to them, and have some way to bring food back - plus store it and/or cook it.

It's why the homeless population continues to increase. Lose your home or apartment, and you often lose access to those very services you need. As the current administration continues to shred the safety net, I expect you will see Medicaid very restricted as to who they will accept to help.

Although the homeless are allowed to vote in all 50 states, as you can imagine very few of them actually do. When you're trying to survive another rainstorm or snowstorm, voting is not high on the list of "must do this today".

There was a reason why the Federal government stopped using block grants, but it seems we are once again ignoring past lessons. Sigh.
 
This is how they do it in Hawaii. Even in neighborhoods zoned single-family homes, people have been building what is essentially boarding houses where bedrooms as many as ten bedrooms are rented out. And now there are also was is called "monster" houses being built where you can have as many as 28 bedrooms. It's causing a lot of problems because of infrastructure and parking. There's a plan for a moratorium for these kind of structures, but there are some push back being that housing is extremely expensive here. It's a big problem. However $800 may buy you a bedroom and use of the rest of the house.
 
Lethe200 said:
It would be very, very rough. Even in financially stable counties in CA, social services are overwhelmed due to high cost of living. In many cities, the HUD list is closed. Shut down. Completely. In one nearby city, their HUD list opened up for FIVE DAYS in Nov 2017 and then shut down again, no word on when it might reopen.

Renting a tiny room is easily $1K/mo. or more, and that doesn't count deposits/cleaning fees, etc.

If you don't have a car - and out here it costs a lot to operate, let alone maintain, a car, you may have an impossible time just trying to reach services. As pointed out, many resources are not easily accessible by public transit....if it even exists! Rural and suburban areas are very poorly served by public transit, even in a wealthy area like the San Francisco Bay Area.

Our city has closed down over half its libraries, and many are on very limited hours/days. Food pantries help but you have to get to them, and have some way to bring food back - plus store it and/or cook it.

It's why the homeless population continues to increase. Lose your home or apartment, and you often lose access to those very services you need. As the current administration continues to shred the safety net, I expect you will see Medicaid very restricted as to who they will accept to help.

Although the homeless are allowed to vote in all 50 states, as you can imagine very few of them actually do. When you're trying to survive another rainstorm or snowstorm, voting is not high on the list of "must do this today".

There was a reason why the Federal government stopped using block grants, but it seems we are once again ignoring past lessons. Sigh.
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I didn't say such a lifestyle is easy...and it's certainly not desirable.

San Francisco has one of the, if not the, highest costs of living in the US, so using SF as the standard is way off-base.
 
chic said:
Not where I live they couldn't. No way.
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I'm sure not, wherever that is. But renting one bedroom and only that one bedroom in a 27-bedroom house might be possible. And we do have have them here.
 

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