HEB starts at $10/hr This job calls for heavy lifting, customer service, handling money, checking I.D. for tobacco and alcohol sales, and clean up that may occur. IF you handle the money you must have some sort of math skills Customer service requires you to be nice to the customers, even if they are disrespectful jerks. Your job may depend on this.

Texas job market has faired better than the rest of the U.S. The problem is that other people from other states move to try to find the jobs here. Jobs will ALWAYS hire those with more experience. You are 18 years old, you probably do not have any job skills you can brag about.

Even those WITH college degrees and master degrees are trying to find jobs in this economy. You may be competing with them to try to get a job at HEB, McDonald’s, Sonic, etc….

You now want to move out of your parent house….we hope. If not, good luck with any future relationships…. Austin, TX is approximately at a 90% rental capacity This means that there are A LOT of people wanting to rent rather than buy homes. You do not possess the ability to purchase a house so you must compete with everyone to find a decent place to live in a decent neighborhood.

Average rent for a decent one bedroom apartments is…. $900/mo….this does NOT include Electricity. Electricity is on average, $100/month…more during the summer months. Water is about $30/mo. If you want internet/cable you’re looking at another $150/mo….assuming you want more than 3 channels

Knowing you it is absolutely a MUST that you have a cell phone This will be about $150/mo with a Data plan since you all want the newest iPhone out there. Now, DO NOT FORGET that everyday people go to the store and buy things, as this is America and that is what we do. So, clothing you’re looking at on average $200/Mo….This includes top, bottoms, and accessories because we need to look good!

Now, that was just clothing. What about Shoes? On average you’re looking about $100 every 3 months. So let’s say $33/Mo. Food, we will say is about $200/Mo. Let’s talk about transportation Porsche Cayman MSRP is about $52,600 BMW 3 Series MSRP is about $32,550 Honda Civic Si MSRP is about $22,512 Kia Forte MSRP is about $15,400

Let’s figure this all out… Rent $900 Utilities $130 Cable/Internet $150 Cell Phone $100 Groceries $200 Clothes $200 Shoes $33 Car $256 (This is for the Kia) Gas $200 Entertainment $200

$2,369 You make $10/hr times 40 hours a week That is $400 a week $1,600 a month $19,200 a year

But your total a month is $2,369 a month But you only make $1,600 a month… WAIT! You haven’t paid taxes! U.S. takes about 20% of your pay check, that is about $320 a month. So your actual take home is $1,280! Looks like you’ll have to make some sacrifices.