Enterprise Rent A Car Austin

Even if you’re working full time in a position that pays minimum wage, your after-tax income will only be slightly over $1,000 a month. While living off of so little is difficult, it can be done if you’re willing to make a few sacrifices and adhere to a strict budget. The following steps can be taken to ensure that you can make ends meet with a $7.40-an-hour wage.

Keep Housing Expenses to a Minimum

It is no secret that housing expenses consume a significant portion of take-home income; in fact, apartment rentals are costly enough to ruin your budget. According to a 2007 report published in BusinessWeek Online, the average monthly rent is as high as $723 for a 1,000 square foot apartment, even in Oklahoma City, which boasts the cheapest rental costs in the country. In Austin, where apartments are also relatively affordable, a one-bedroom apartment costs $545 a month.

Even in affordable cities, a person making minimum wage cannot afford to pay rent alone. It is vital, then, that you find a roommate if you want to be able to cover your housing expenses. Search for apartments located outside of metropolitan areas; downtown apartments in large cities can cost hundreds of dollars more each month.