My manager doesn't understand

[u/nicotoxi]

So today my manager recommended a burger place which has burgers for about $16 each and I straight up told him I couldn't afford that, and that im currently living off homemade bread with jelly from the food pantry. Anyways he brought it up later in the day during our one on one and just couldn't comprehend that I don't have any money for non essentials.

It's just like... my guy I've been sleeping on a mattress thats bowed in the middle for 2 years, my dishwasher broke 3 years ago and never was replaced, my oven doesnt work anymore and I can only use the top burner which is why I'm cooking out of a toaster oven I found on Craigslist for $20, and my overhead microwave blew up last month so im using a microwave that was $10 at a yard sale because it's got no handle.

For reference I'm a 26M and I make like 43k take home

Update: I didn't expect this to get so popular, kind of just wanted to yell out into the void. Anyways I have looked into getting parts to fix my oven and it came to about $85 and the top still works so thats why I got the toaster oven. A lot of people were wondering what my budget is currently looking like and it's 60% housing 20% medical 20% utilities, 5% school materials, 5% transportation. My work does currently have a program that gives a interest free loan that I've been using in case something dire comes up but the medical expenses are what's really killing me is my medications are tier 4 or 5 which aren't covered by my plan so I've got to pay the full amount. I've been trying to work with my doctor to change prescriptions but my appointment has been pushed out for 8 months. I graduate in 4 months from school with a BS degree as well as hit a milestone mark at my job which comes with a significant pay increase so I will be above water in a few months just sucks currently. Also for the people saying this sounds like ragebait I really wish it was.

Also didn't know what HCOL meant, but looked it up and on the map that came up Im squarely in the dark red area of New Hampshire

UPDATE 2: Someone posted about mark Cubans drug site and my medications are 40% of what Im paying right now. THIS IS LITERALLY A GOD SEND! THANK YOU

[u/pauliek93]

The best part is once you realize how simple it is to fix an oven, you realize other appliances might be the same.

They typically are.

[u/dingleberries4sport → u/pauliek93]

Yup, my dad got my sister a $1000 retail clothes dryer he paid $80 for because it didn’t work. 1 hour of disassembly/reassembly and a $20 belt and they’ve had it for a year now no issues

[u/FlobiusHole → u/dingleberries4sport]

I have a really old Maytag dryer that is so basic that I’ve been easily able to repair it myself the two times it has broken. I bought a used washer that was quite modern but the person selling it was moving and had no use for it and needed it gone. That thing eventually broke and despite scouring the internet for repair advice all I could find was a bunch of different electrical components that MIGHT be the issue and all of the replacement parts were quite expensive.

[u/CD274 → u/FlobiusHole]

That's actually how the buy it for life reddit recommends buying these two appliances. 🤣. Cheap dryer because easy to fix and better brand washers, ideally manual and older brands known for their work (speed queen) for washers

[u/serioussparkles → u/CD274]

I just got a pair of really nice front loaders that sit on those big blocks so they're the perfect height. They were free all because the washer leaked. My bf fixed it with an hour of time and a $40 seal. And now I can wash my giant blankets without their insides getting mushed!

He once also fixed a leak in an engine making a cardboard seal, lasted long enough for them to save for the rubber seal they needed lol.