Dubuque Day 1

I'm sorry I haven't written anything for a long time, but as you may have heard, the governor's race here in Mn is going to recount. I've made my bosses know, I am not available after next week, but I won't have many more days off either, so I am writing up and starting on this part of my life from here.

I'm going to Dubuqe. Next week. I've never been there before. I don't have a place to live. I just got off the phone with the place suggested to me, and they wanted $440 a month for a 1 bedroom. That's nearly a third of my income! Plus, $30 just to apply, and do a credit check?

To qualify who lives there, you have to make at least 17k and no more than 26K a year. Who makes 17K a year? That is how much I've made in the past 3 years combined. How is someone ever supposed to take advantage of job opportunities in a new place and make that much money.

I don't like that the woman on the phone was so rude. She really bothered me. I asked about housing for low-income people and she said "it isn't low-income, it is 'moderate' income" as if it didn't apply to me and I was the one being insensitive.

You know what, lady, I'm poor. I know I'm poor. I have $700 in my checking account, no savings account and bills. I have student debt, a car payment, and car insurance to pay for but with nothing in my refrigerator.

If I work full time at $9 an hour, my take home pay if I don't have health insurance at all, would be about $1200. Lets say I do get health insurance. That's about $100 a month. Then I have a car to pay for, that's $160, and insurance is $90. I have a cell phone, that is $60 a month, gas to drive and some savings for car repairs costing about $200 a month, and a student loan payment of $60.

That is $530, add it to $440 and I have spent $970 a month. I only have $230 for food. Sure, a woman can get by on $230 for food, but that with $0 in savings.

Now, if I were to get sick, and since I am on an hourly wage, say I miss just 1 day of work. that is $65 after taxes. Now I'm down to $165 dollars for food. But I still have no savings. So lets say my car breaks down and needs $300 in repairs and I have to miss a few hours of work to get it fixed? I'm down both $25 AND $300. Even if I didn't eat for a month, I wouldn't be able to make up for a car repair, and even 1 sick day. Sick days aren't paid when you are on hourly so you are doubly charged for them. Even with health insurance, you may get too sick to work.

I have a job, haven't even started yet, and I'm already in the hole. And millionaire don't think they should have to pay one dollar more in taxes. Why do they hate me, again?