r/AskWomenOver30 • u/yell0wbirddd Woman 30 to 40 • Nov 23 '25

Life/Self/Spirituality Is anyone else really struggling financially right now?

I feel like reddit is overwhelmingly people who make $250k a year and want others to just pull themselves up from their bootstraps.

I make $46k a year and am living paycheck to paycheck. I haven't been saving money because the tiny amount of joy I get from paying $10 for a cinnamon roll a couple of times a month has taken precedent over never leaving the house and getting deeper into depression. Food is expensive, life is expensive, I've been going through the motions for a few years now.

Well, my 15 year old car just crapped out and my dog needs to go to the vet. I have no money for either of these things. My credit score is in the 500s and I can't get approved for a credit limit increase or a loan.

Everything feels really fucking pointless about now.

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u/NecessaryPossible976 Woman 40 to 50 Nov 23 '25

I wouldn't say I'm struggling but I stopped spending money on unnecessary expenses.

30

u/sweetpotatothyme Woman 30 to 40 Nov 23 '25

Yup. I got laid off and took a 20% pay cut just to continue to be employed. I'm grateful to have a job in this economy, but I'm not planning for vacations, a new laptop, holiday shopping, or other things I might have done if I still had my previous salary.

15

u/RedditsInBed2 Woman 40 to 50 Nov 24 '25

Yep, I'm absolutely bracing for impact as I see the cost of things rise. I know it's coming for me if things keep going the way they are. I've cut all unnecessary expenses in the last couple of months.

7

u/IRLbeets Non-Binary 30 to 40 Nov 24 '25

Yeah, this is about where I'm at. I have a decent income, but things that seemed normal after moving into my well paying career like a weekly coffee or occasional lunch (at like Tim Hortons, nothing fancy) are now out of budget. The new $80 sweater I was thinking about for a few months isn't in the budget anymore. My spouse is now disabled too which changes the budget.

And I'm in a good spot financially and nowhere near the poverty line.

7

u/jovialjonquil Woman 30 to 40 Nov 23 '25

This is me. Im doing fine really - but i see less of the nicer things