Is 30,000 enough for a family of 3

[Abu Aljood]

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Hello,

I'm applying for a PhD program in NYC. Stipend will be 30,000 a year. Do you think that would be enough for my child, my wife and me to live in NYC?

 

[ThePursuit]

I dont' live in NYC, but from everything I've heard, I highly doubt that would be sufficient unless you're also collecting welfare or free housing or something. Really, that's probably insufficient in most large cities at least based on my idea of lifestyle expectations.

 

[Abu Aljood]

I dont' live in NYC, but from everything I've heard, I highly doubt that would be sufficient unless you're also collecting welfare or free housing or something. Really, that's probably insufficient in most large cities at least based on my idea of lifestyle expectations.

Thank you, I'm not collecting any welfare or free housing and I don't know how to apply for that. I just looked up at the food stamps that I might get if I apply for it and it turned out to be around $500 a month ( for a household of 3). I think I'll be eligible for medicaid which might help a bit.

 

[thesauce]

Hello,

I'm applying for a PhD program in NYC. Stipend will be 30,000 a year. Do you think that would be enough for my child, my wife and me to live in NYC?

God no

 

[Igor4sugry]

Do you really want to live like that for next 4-6 years?
You won't be able to afford anything except housing/food/medical expenses/transportation.

 

[DevPenguin]

Hello,

I'm applying for a PhD program in NYC. Stipend will be 30,000 a year. Do you think that would be enough for my child, my wife and me to live in NYC?

Living in NYC on $30k / year? That would be miserable. My aunt lives in Los Angeles and the cost of living by herself is $2500 / month which is about $30,000 a year add/subtract a few hundred dollars.

I think you need to make six figures a year to live middle class in New York City.

 

[TAMallick]

30,000 dollar is not well enough, yet you can run your life in NY.

 

[LivingEdge]

Ok realistically, that will depend on what kind of people you lot are.

• Do you by default do 100% of your own cooking?
• Do you buy everything in bulk?
• Do you make your own things as you are able (i.e. detergent etc), just for the challenge?
• Are you capable of maintaining your health and fitness using zero equipment, or are you in a position to just buy a barbell as a one time expense and work out at home indefinitely to save on gym memberships?
• Do you love coupons and clip them religiously to file them by expiration and general type in a binder you take shopping with you every single time?
• Are you not the type to need to buy a lot of plastic crap that you honestly do not need, i.e. dumbphones?
• Do you hate movies, restaurants, sporting events and all of the other crap normal people waste money on?
• Following that last question, do you know how to keep yourself and your wife entertained for cheap or for FREE? In other words, do you know how to have fun without paying someone to entertain you somehow?
• Do you buy all of your clothes at thrift stores?
• Are you the type of person who really shoots for a clean, minimalistic life?

If the answer to ANY of these questions is "no," you may find this problematic.

Thanks to college I've been living in Somalia grade poverty for so long that $2500 a month is more money than I feel like I could ever possibly spend. All it would take is the right room & board situation and I'd be able to thrive on that easily.

 

[dragonfly99]

This person has a child.
30k in New York city is not very much. I think it would be/will be hard to get by, but might not be impossible. You would probably not be the 1st grad student with a child to do this. Health insurance is important to have if you have a child...you should see if you would be able to get Medicaid, especially for the kiddo. If you can get that and other assistance like food stamps, etc. you might be able to make it, but it's going to be hard.
Also, if you are working in Manhattan could you live somewhere else like New Jersey or Brooklyn and commute into Manhattan?
Also I wonder if your wife could take in other kids to watch or do something else to get a little bit of extra money.
Also I wonder if there are other options of places to do the Ph.D. I just say this because NYC is probably the most expensive place you could possibly live in the U.S.

Is there someone at the school/place you got offered the Ph.D. who helps people deal with issues like the finances, finding affordable housing, etc. Also, does the university have any subsidized housing for families that you could live in?

 

[HeyNumber2]

If you commute into the city from Rockland, orange, putnam, Dutchess, or parts of Fairfield County MAYBE you could survive, but barely.