conversation: User (impruveus): "Hey :)\n\nI need some general advice and perhaps some positive feedback. \n\nI just got clean from heroin as of 8 months ago after a 5 year addiction to opiates. \n\nSo, I've been living BARELY scraping by for the last 5 years. Before that, I was making $100k/yr doing freelance work.\n\nI never had to make a budget, as I always just spent money how I wanted and then worked when my bank got low.\n\nNow, after being pretty much being broke for years, I just got a really FUN job making around $70k a year.\n\nI have NO financial commitments, but I am $2500 in debt according to my last credit check... no vehicle, poor credit. I'm crashing with some friends right now so my expenses are pretty low. \n\nAnyway, I used to be addicted to the 6 figure lifestyle being able to do pretty much whatever I wanted. Then, I was humbled from my experience with addiction.\n\nI want to make sure that I can "handle" and manage this money properly, and not end up wasting it by doing stupid stuff. To do that, I want to make a very specific budget. What's my move? Keep in mind that I am going to want to use $1k a month for rebuilding my business while I have a steady paycheck from this job.\n\nI need to get a car, repair my credit, put ~$1k/mo towards my biz, have enough money to pay rent and live comfortably... and have some money to put towards hobbies like my audio production setup (this is the type of stuff that keeps me off drugs.).\n\nAny initial thoughts? I would really appreciate the help! I want to make sure that "THIS TIME" I can get my life back together for GOOD. :)"
  Self: "At 70K a year you are actually earning after taxes approximately 3825/month.\n\nYou want to save 1K of that\nSo  2825/Month\n\nSo for Rent/Utilities\n\nYou want to spend a Maximum of 1,000-1,400 a month on rent/Utilities\n\nYou'll want to spend about 500-700 on Food/Entertainment/Clothing etc\n\nYou'll want to spend maybe 400 on a Vehicle/Gas/Insurance.\n\nIs this comfortable I don't know. I left a cushion of about 200 dollars. \n"
  User (impruveus): "What do you think about:\n\n$3825/mo take home\n$750/mo save\n$825/mo rent+utilities\n$500/mo food\n$750/mo entertainment/"play money"/hobby money\n$500/mo vehicle+gas+ins\n$500/mo business reinvest (buying ppc ads, hiring artists for my side project, etc.)"
  MrLinderman (MrLinderman): "For one person 500 for food, and 750 for entertainment is really high. You should be allowed some fun, but considering you're just getting back on your feet, you need to cut back a bit.\n\nIn your situation, I honestly don't think "rebuilding" the business is a good idea financially and personally at the moment. You've just pulled yourself out of squalor, and managed to get a very respectable salary. There's something to be said for the stability a job would provide you vs rebuilding the business in your situation.\n\nNot to be harsh (it's commendable you've been clean for 8 months-really) but 8 months is far too short to considering yourself clean. Tons of people relapse 1 to 2 to 5 years into sobriety, and I think you need to put yourself in the best position possible to deal with it if that should happen to you. I think that means cutting back on the entertainment, scrap the business for a year or two, and get out of debt. Save save save. It's not fun or sexy, but you don't need that. You need stability.\n\nLet's say you go with the budget you described above- What happens if you relapse? What happens if your employer finds out and lets you go? The business won't be "rebuilt" in that time, and you probably won't have much saved. You'd be back to square one.\n\nPlease, please please- take the stable and boring approach. The structure will probably help you immensely."
  User (impruveus): "First off, thank you SO MUCH for this reply! It's what I needed to hear. \n\nWhat do you think about this: instead of putting money into my business, putting it into savings with the intent of using a % of my savings in the future... SO...\n\n$3825/mo take home\n\n$1K/mo save\n\n$825/mo rent+utilities\n\n$400/mo food (gains)\n\n$600/mo entertainment/"play money"/hobby money ($20/day)\n\n$500/mo vehicle+gas+ins\n\n$500/mo repaying debt\n"
  slimyprincelimey (slimyprincelimey): "Ah mate, you're one guy.  \n\nMe and the GF spend less than 300 a month on food combined.  \n\nWhen I was living alone I got by comfortably on 200.  Are you including eating out?  "
  Krieg-The-Psycho1 (Krieg-The-Psycho1): "It could also be a diet heavy with meat"
  slimyprincelimey (slimyprincelimey): "So is mine. "
  