newnewNEW!

I feel that during a person's 20s, they are driven to get everything new.  And let's face it, it's kind of true.  I mean, kids go off to college, starting their own lives, starting out-new.  But the more I think about it and look into it, new isn't cheap.  And starting out new isn't exactly spend-friendly, either.  Most 20 somethings I know are broke as anything and they starve themselves, sacrifice nutrition to afford concert tickets, new clothes, video games, computers, piercings and tattoos (being an adult let's you do ANYTHING!), cars, rent on a cheap apartment, and/or pets (usually dogs or cats, and the few who delve into fish and rodents).  The sad reality of all this is that no average person can afford all that.  Depending where you live, moving can cost about 2 grand or more if you pay 1st month's rent + security deposit + moving transportation/boxes + starting groceries + furnishings.  I realize many of these things can be crossed off of expenses by networking yourself or using friends and family to help out...but not everyone has that.  For example, people that are more independent or can't afford to depend on their parents or family to financially help them when they're starting out are really kind of fucked in today's economy.  Cost of living is so expensive nowadays that in order to afford anything new, you have to be making a pretty decent salary to afford all that.  And let's face it, that's not many people who are starting out new.

It's an unspoken part of life that you're just either going to have to be poor and rely on every hand out you can find in order to climb over the hill of debt every young American is accumulating while attending post-secondary education.  And the really cruel joke in all of this is that people trick you into thinking it's fun and enjoyable.  It's not.

Going into debt is not fun, it's a horrible thing if you can't dig yourself out, and the scary reality of all this is that people can't find jobs when they get their degree.  So then what do you do with your thousands upon thousands of dollars of debt you've accumulated?  That's an answer I'm still trying to figure out, since after today I've come to the reality that I may not even get approved for a car loan, much less the business loan I was hoping to get to start my own boutique.  This is because I don't have a stable income, a stable job, or solid collateral to get myself started.  And I can't get any of that without getting a stable job, but the stable job I want is where I need a loan to start it.  It's a twisted circle of "not happening."

So in the end, I really question how anyone is supposed to be successful at starting out new without going bankrupt or drown in debt.  I can't get a job without a degree, I can't exactly afford to stay in school (but I have no choice, since I am so close to finishing), the job I do have doesn't pay shit, nor offer health insurance if I do get a full time position, and my chance of getting a loan without a co-signer is slim to none.  My parents can't afford to help me anymore, mostly because only of them has a job at the moment, and that's barely enough to cover a family of 5.  But at my age you'd think by now I could afford to live entirely by myself, pay my own insurance, my own car, my own house, etc., but it's not financially possible.  The people I do see having new cars, new homes, elaborate weddings, tons of new material things like clothes, makeup, shoes, etc. all come from families that are financially sound and successful.  Plenty of people have mom and dad there still supporting them financially when they themselves can't afford to be supporting someone in their 20's.

And then it's no wonder the housing market has crashed, the dollar is about as weak as ever, and banks are needing constant help-it's because Americans are stupid when it comes to money.  I mean, good LORD, if you can't afford it, or can't afford more than the minimal payment, then that's a clear NO on what you want! It's really not that difficult to understand; our parents told us no when we were little and wanted that candy bar in the checkout aisle at the grocery store...unless some people can't stand to say no.  People are losing a grip on their morals, hence the fall of what we now know as American society.  It can be seen everywhere, in every type of situation, and it's really sad to see something so magnificent at one point completely die out as a result of weak morals.

And I definitely wasn't even going to this point in my blog about new.  I was originally trying to get advice on getting a new new car instead of getting a chop shop job of a piece from craigslist (to be honest, my local craigslist is full of cars older and in worse shape than the one I have now).  I've never purchased a car without my parents before, and the research is overwhelming.  I have a ball park idea of what I'd be paying on a brand spankin new car straight from the manufacturer, but I haven't looked at buying a used car from a dealer, mostly because I don't have enough knowledge in that area and I'm afraid of getting completely ripped off and screwed over with something that ends up costing more than I can afford.

(I want! I want! I WANT!!)

But aside from all that, all I can think of is, who can afford to pay $1200 a month to cover car payments, insurance, rent, gas, phone bills, utilities, and food?  And that's not including any discretionary income for concerts, clothes, movie tickets, restaurants/date nights, going out, and traveling.  It scares me to death because the answer is not taking out more loans.

I'm overwhelmed with trying to get a new job because I know the only job I could afford to get would be in the food industry; and that shit's so messed up and degrading.  Not only that, in order to live like that, school needs to remain my first priority and I know from experience that if I can't afford to pay anything each month (usually rent), my attention to my priorities slips and I start to falter, and it's usually a pretty drastic falter.  I like to think that I keep a tight grasp on my finances when it comes to spending money on myself.  Because I don't.  I don't remember the last time I bought a new wardrobe for myself (honestly it's been like 2 years), nor have I spent much time being a part of the nightlife.  The most partying I did was during 2009, and now I just don't really go out at all because I don't like spending $40-$50 at the bars just so some nasty creep can dance up on me like he's getting somewhere.  I haven't really gone out for much at all lately (like the past year or so) because I can't afford it.  And it's pretty heartbreaking to say no to traveling somewhere because it means missing work and losing wages for not working.  Plus having friends and family who live out of state, it's really hard to only communicate via skype, facebook, and texting/calling.  But it's better than being kicked out of where I live or risk having such shitty credit history.

I guess the whole starting out new ideal just is that: an ideal.  The reality of life continues to be one big depressing jerk-off that has nothing better to do than make our lives all a living hell.  Which is sad, because today's society shows no value in the simple things that tend to come for free.