4 ms·

You've pretty accurately described the situation here in the USA. I will describe some workarounds that most of us have had some exposure to. Some are better th

You've pretty accurately described the situation here in the USA. I will describe some workarounds that most of us have had some exposure to. Some are better than others: 1) re housing: if you don't have much savings at all, you live with your parents (or you go on the streets, which is a very sad and tough reality for millions of Americans). if you have some savings but not much, usually you search for roommates or tenants if you have a house but still live paycheck to paycheck. 2) if you lose your job, in most states you can qualify for unemployment, which usually means 1-2k per month in post tax income for 6 months. unemployment has saved my ass twice already and im not even 30. it's very common to lose a job here, but it's also sort of easy to interview and get a job here compared to France. 3) regarding health insurance, if you don't have a job, you get it from your parents or spouse. if those don't work for you, you have to wait a long time until you eventually qualify for medicaid and food stamps (1-2 years if your income was too high this year). my gf didnt have any insurance for the first 20 years of her life, i havent had it in the last 6 years. so, it's definitely not optimal, but also not a death sentence. with roommates, i'm living on less than $1,000 a month right now and I feel extremely comfortable. I have gone as low as $500 a month but right now I live in NYC where the cheapest room possible is about $600

pmoriarty 8y ago
"if you don't have much savings at all, you live with your parents" This assumes your parents are alive, can afford their own place, have space for you, and you have a good enough relationship with them for them to let you stay without paying (much) for rent. "if you don't have a job, you get it from your parents or spouse" These assume that your parents or spouse have health insurance and that insurance will cover dependents. "if those don't work for you, you have to wait a long time until you eventually qualify for medicaid and food stamps (1-2 years if your income was too high this year)" In California, I was told that I'd qualify for Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) as soon as I had no job (ie. no income, or very low income -- you can get information on exact income limits from them).
- anoncoward111 8y ago
  >parents yes, it does assume all those things. I was kicked out at 18. I saved enough money such that I'll always have enough for a deposit on an apartment. I am very good at hawking rooms to roommates. Beyond 18, I wasn't afforded the privilege of living at home for cheap. >health insurance Yes, once again it assumes those things. I literally said that in the next sentence. I don't have health care. If I make below $20,000 next year, I get medicaid in 2020. >Medi-Cal each state is different. some go by tax return and not current income.

pmoriarty 8y ago

"if you don't have much savings at all, you live with your parents" This assumes your parents are alive, can afford their own place, have space for you, and you have a good enough relationship with them for them to let you stay without paying (much) for rent. "if you don't have a job, you get it from your parents or spouse" These assume that your parents or spouse have health insurance and that insurance will cover dependents. "if those don't work for you, you have to wait a long time until you eventually qualify for medicaid and food stamps (1-2 years if your income was too high this year)" In California, I was told that I'd qualify for Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program) as soon as I had no job (ie. no income, or very low income -- you can get information on exact income limits from them).

anoncoward111 8y ago
>parents yes, it does assume all those things. I was kicked out at 18. I saved enough money such that I'll always have enough for a deposit on an apartment. I am very good at hawking rooms to roommates. Beyond 18, I wasn't afforded the privilege of living at home for cheap. >health insurance Yes, once again it assumes those things. I literally said that in the next sentence. I don't have health care. If I make below $20,000 next year, I get medicaid in 2020. >Medi-Cal each state is different. some go by tax return and not current income.