The Bills of the Bay

Bills owed 2016-2019

September 2016

Food $50 - You just moved into your auntie's house in 2016 with an unfair day's notice to her and your uncle. You need to pay for your own food cause the rent is free so go out and get a job so you can afford to feed yourself.

October 2016

Medical insurance $150 - You finally got a job, congrats. Now use that money to set up a $40 doctor's appointment (which is 4 hours worth of pay) for all the aches and pains you experience in your back. The doctor tells you nothing is wrong and seems to rush you out of his doctor's office so he can finally take his lunch break. Note to self, don't schedule future appointments near a doctor's lunch time. 

Travel $20 - You moved to the Bay Area from SoCal to help out with a startup church in San Francisco. You are currently living in Hercules and the BART doesn't start until later in the day on Sunday's. What could be a 30 minute car ride turns into a weekly 2 hour public transportation disaster. You nearly throw up from the motion sickness but you are eager to show your dedication to your peers as you finally show up late to the quick hello's and in search of a good seat that hasn't been taken yet. 

November 2016 

Nintendo Switch $400 - You gotta keep up with the Jones's so you buy the newest video game system out there that is in high demand. $75 more than the listed price, sure let's do it. I probably won't use it but its good to have around in case I feel the need to look at something shiny. 

January 2017

Lyft car $ (To be determined) - Starbucks isn't paying you enough so you invest in a Lyft scheme to attempt to solve your transportation and money problems. You don't realize that because you didn't meet the required Lyft financial goals for the week, you are actually losing money and your barista job is funding your ride-sharing job. Still it feels nice to not have to experience the motion sickness and chaos of the Sunday morning public transportation debacle. 

April 2017

Rent $$$ - Your uncle and aunt realize you're not going anywhere soon so they start charging you a lovingly, low price for rent. To your surprise you love this idea because freeloading always was a concept that made you uncomfortable and part of the reason you waited until the day before your flight to finally ask family for help in finding housing. 

July 2017

Lyft Car $1000 - While working a third job helping a friend with their coffee bean distribution company you crash your Lyft vehicle into all white, concrete cylinder you didn't see while backing up in a car garage. You had saved up $1500 at that point but Lyft requires a $1000 deductible to fix the vehicle. You empty out your savings and give the car back permanently, you finally realize it was never worth the hassle.

August 2017 

Clipper Card Reload $20 - You're back on public transportation with those 2 hour nauseating trips. Load up your Clipper card.

September 2017

Rent, food, & savings $$$ - You realize making coffee isn't going to pay the bills even though you enjoy the work environment of like minded young adults who are just as broke as you are. You apply to work as a delivery driver for Amazon, show up your first day in a collared shirt for what you think will be a job interview, but instead get given the keys to a delivery truck. You're still in your early 20's so you just consider this to be normal and begin to work 6 day work weeks which include Amazon and Starbucks.

October 2017

Nintendo 3DS $250 - A Nintendo 3DS catches your eye so you buy it plus two new games. You never touch it but have it beside your bed just in case. Gotta keep up with the Jones's. 

December 2017

Plane ticket? $$$ - You wanna go back to SoCal for Christmas but get a group text that your company's contract with Amazon was terminated. I was always suspicious of the leadership and the way I had to chase them down just to get my paychecks but I just considered it normal. Guess I'll be spending this Christmas in the Bay again. 

April 2018

Rent, food, & savings $$$ - You work nearly 40 hours a week at Starbucks for two $600 paychecks a month. You're 20 lbs overweight from the fast food you can afford and the sugary, free drinks you drink daily at work. You reapply to Amazon this time for a different contractor. You work there 3 days a week and at Starbucks 3 days as well. Gotta pay that rent and stack that money to eventually move out. 

July 2018

Savings $$$ - You realize even though you love your co workers at Starbucks you can make more money going full time at Amazon. You put in your two weeks notice and go full time at Amazon working four 12 hour days a week delivering in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Moraga, Berkeley, and eventually Oakland. 

September 2018

Car $12,000 - The motion sickness from the buses has you on the ropes. You ride your bike 12 miles to and from work total but usually after a 12 hour work day you are too tired to ride home and catch a Lyft instead. You decide to just leave your bike locked at work which you will pick up the next day. Your weight is back to normal and your diet is a little bit better but its probably just the extra exercise at work that keeps you below 200 lbs. You need a car but instead of buying one upfront you go nearly $12,000 in debt. You've never owed money to anyone before but you're desperate and will do anything to not get sick on a bus again. 

January 2019

Security deposit, Moving $$$ - You finished reading 'Total Money Makeover' by Dave Ramsey, learned to budget, and finally have a couple grand in the bank to move out of your aunt and uncle's in Hercules. You take the first place you find on Facebook Marketplace. You pay the security deposit, the UHAUL, and make your way to Daly City. You'll finally be near church.

April 2019

Car payments, Rent $$$ - Church ends unexpectedly so you continue with your car payments. You're in debt, in a new city, and unsure of what the future holds. You now have a budget, a car, & a decent paycheck as you start over again. Hopefully I won’t show up late to the party again.