A hypothetical situation

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Getting my own place is not a priority since the house I live in will be mine in the future it will be passed on to me and all the stuff in it.
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Wow, I mean just wow. If you were my kid you would already be dragging your duffle bag full of guns down the street looking for a new place to live.
 
I've known people on Social Security who had to pay all of their own food, rent and utility bills who bought $700 guns and went shooting regularly.
I guess it comes down to your preferences in lifestyle. If guns and shooting are your thing, you will find room for them in your budget.
 
I would sink deep if I moved out today and lived in an apartment the job I have currently is temporary till October I would have to find another one which is permanent.$500 a month for rent and then other expenses I would have major problems since I dont make that much and the car I have now belongs to my grandmother too so I would not have a car anymore I could not do my job anymore since the bus would take too long and the job I have is always in a different location sometimes I have to drive to 2 or 3 different schools.

A car on my budget would be too expensive and insurance would be way too high for me.I know some of you mean well but in my situation I could not afford to live on my own everything is too expensive for me alone.Thats why I live with my grandmother and help out with her expenses and have a place to live and have everything I need.If I made $3000 a month then I would have my own place but since I wont make that much in the near future yet I stay in my grandmothers house.
 
That or stop buyin guns and ammo. If i had to do it all over again. I would have been investing. Back when your right out of high school living on your parents money and in between going to school and college. I would have done a better job on securing a sound financial future. saving money buying and paying off a good car quick. Most people will think of the times they have and doing stuff with there friends. Not realizing this is the only and last time you have like this. Once you get going and get on your own. Thats it your on your own for the rest of your life. No more parents. Sure it really makes sense to help your parents too. To give them a sense of freedom. Help them pay some bills. But at a young age living at home bills free. Man save that money invest it. That time is short lived. Build your credit right. get your education in line and start securing a good financial future.
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For most of us, that is the only time in our lives when we have more freedom than responsibility. Coming from someone who spent his efforts trying to secure that future instead of making fond memories, I say have fun. Money comes and money goes. You can always make more. But once you're caught up in the cycle of living in our modern society, it becomes much more difficult to do those things that we should do at your age. Enjoy the times in your life when you can be spontaneous and get out of town for a week and be crazy. I didn't, and I wish I had. I spent all my energy from age 17-22 doing the get a car, get a house, get a wife bit. Now 26, I'm single again with a hefty mortgage on one income and too many material things, and all my friends have finished playing.

If I had it to do over again, I'd have been more wreckless at your age.

I suspect I'm in the extreme minority with this advice, but you only live once and we never know for how long. Enjoy it.
 
The best advice I can give the youngsters out there is to get an education. Get a degree in something, anything. I have seen many times, a person applying for a job that has a degree will get hired over a person that does not have the education even when that degree has nothing to do with the field your applying for. Employers see a person with a degree and see that person as someone that started and finished something and they like that. you will do way better then ten dollars an hour.

After yourself a good job and set up in life you will be able to get all the toys you want. Get your priorities in order first.
 
Well its in progress starting January when I get in technical school.
I will look at my options and choose one that I like best and pursue it and then later it will pay off.Math is my weakness I need to improve it but English,Grammar,and Science are my strengths so I have more advantages on my side.
I messed around in the beginning of my high school years and had bad grades and low gpa till 10th grade then I made up all the classes I failed and improved my grades in 11th and 12th grade but not high enough to get any scholarship,grants, or honors on graduation just enough to get by and receive my diploma.Wont make that mistake again it almost cost me dearly if I had not improved my grades and retook the classes I failed and passed them.
 
Appreciate what has been given to you. My parents did a lot for me (and still are), but I appreciate every last bit of it.

My opinion? $10/hr. jobs are for kids. Have you ever waited tables? If you think that's something you could do, I highly reccommend it for people your age. You can make an easy $100 nightly in your average TGI Fridays/ Ruby Tuesdays/ Applebees. As you gain experience, you can move on to nicer restaurants.

I was one year older than you when I got married, bought a house, and had a kid. Still paying for all that and putting myself through college by waiting tables and tending bar.

Do I get to buy a gun a month? No. (Not if I want quality firearms.) But I appreciate what I do get to buy more, because I had to work harder and wait longer to get it.
 
A car on my budget would be too expensive and insurance would be way too high for me.
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Honestly, dude - stop shooting. If you can't afford a car and car insurance, how can you justify owning guns?


Thats why I live with my grandmother and help out with her expenses and have a place to live and have everything I need.
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You don't have to live alone. Find a friend (or a nice girl:D) who's in the same situation, and split an apartment. Most people your age aren't going to be able to live on their own, that's just a fact of the way things are. But if you live with even one other person, things become a lot more manageable.
 
Your grandmother could check into a $50,000 a year nursing home and the house you live in and which will be left to you could be sold to finance her care. Likewise the car. It looks like you are just beginning to wake up. I hope your current situation lasts until you can get on your feet. It could be a good thing if you are able to tend to some of your grandmother's needs, but the dependency is not good for either of you. Trade school is good for getting a career started. But if you start hiring guys who do what you do, making payroll, advertising, running a business, etc., you need education. And please, please learn the difference between then and than.
 
I am not down with waiting at restaurants I rather work in the hot sun all day digging a ditch then wait at tables back and forth and have 100 different orders yelled at me at once.
I am not worried about having to live on my own yet I am not ready to do everything the hard way and worry about finances.
A car costs $100 a month to finance and you need a good credit score and money to back it up and insurance can be as high as $400 for me.So there is no way I am jumping into the hot boiling water just so I can be all macho and independent.Dont have the resources and the job to survive for long especially the fact the job market is very bad.

Owning a gun is a necessity especially in my area where there are shady people out there who I frequently see.You really think its that easy to find a place to live and someone to live with.Why do alot of people my age still stay with their parents if its so easy to live on your own and find a place to live with someone.

Isnt it the norm these days for kids to stay with parents till around 23-25 sometimes alittle longer just so they can build a career and have the means to afford to live on their own and have all the necessitates?
I can live with my mom and step-dad too I have back-up plans.
 
There's no shame in living with your parents or grandmother. You save money on rent and you get home cooking. Plenty of single people do that all the time. What I'd do, looking at your collection is simplify. Go for the guns you will shoot the most. Sell the guns you don't really need. Personally, I find handguns more useful than rifles.

Forget worrying if guns are going to be banned. Handguns are safe because of Heller and the mag cap bans aren't even going to pass political muster. Not having a car is not a huge deal if you can get around without one. People who live in major cities, like NY, Chicago, Toronto (where I used to live), get around without cars just fine. No big deal. Personally, if I could get around without a car, I would. Cars are a major expense.

Back to guns...

Save your money for what you truly want and what is most useful to you. I'd say go for a 9mm handgun like a Glock. You're not the only one in this boat. I'm finishing up my PhD, my funds are depleted and I'm trying to scrounge for a silencer; it's impossible.

Isnt it the norm these days for kids to stay with parents till around 23-25 sometimes alittle longer just so they can build a career and have the means to afford to live on their own and have all the necessitates?
I can live with my mom and step-dad too I have back-up plans.
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Provided you aren't a deadbeat it's no big deal :). If I wasn't such a lone-wolf, I'd live with Mom and Dad too. I'm thousands of miles away right now and I always end up missing my family. If anyone asks you why you live at home, just say that it's cheaper and that you really love your family- can't argue with that :) .
 
the car I have now belongs to my grandmother too
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Seriously, save ;) I'm not saying to rush out and buy a car of your own, but you need to have the resources to take care of yourself and you're passing up an opportunity to build them.

A car costs $100 a month to finance and you need a good credit score and money to back it up
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This comes as a surprise to many americans, but you actually don't have to finance a car, you can just buy it. You'll have to start saving now though.

I know how hard it can be to resist the urge to buy a bunch of toys and blow your money on fun stuff when you're at that 18-20 age where you're just finally starting to have some actual real amounts of money laying around. Sometimes it just tries to burn a whole right through your check book. Resist the urge to spend a bunch. Its probably almost unthinkable now but in a short time you could have 5-10k in the bank. You'll have the flexibility to buy a car to get you around, to survive without work, to take care of yourself for a while if needed, to take a trip with some friends. Part of growing up is learning that delayed gratification thing. Trust me in a few years you'll really appreciate the flexibility of money in the bank, you won't be thinking "man I wish I bought more junk."

How about make a deal with yourself. When your savings account gets up to $5000, you can allow yourself to take 10% out and have $500 of fun money but no more.
 
Well by October I will have around $3000 maybe $4000 if I have a good work month.I will buy a second car for me like a Crown Victoria Police interceptor which go for $2000-$5000 for 2001-2003 models once I get another job which is permanent and then I can afford it and insurance for it since its cheap and reliable.My grandmother will use her credit to buy me the car and I will pay her back monthly like $150-$200 every month till its paid off.
 
When I was living at home/working/in college--and had money to blow--I bought guns I knew I wanted--cumlinating with a 1911a1 on my 21st B-day.

I had worries and apprehensions much like yours, and then in 1994--wham--the AWB happened. I had a mini-14 and mags bought right after I finished basic training--I couldn't afford an AR.

Then came marriage, work, kids, house, etc. --- it was 13 years before I bought another firearm. I'm STILL driving the same Chevy 1/2 ton I bought in 1992, but THAT is another story...

But in no way did I feel seriously deprived as I had bought weapons I wanted when I could.

I wouldn't let worries about laws being passed distract you from your work/school goals--but if you feel better about picking up a weapon 'in case' do so. For my money, bet on hi-cap rifles being banned before pistols. Pistols are fairly safe. Stay active and support the RKBA as you can to PREVENT such nonsense.

The way things are I would in no way feel bad about living at home--the economy is rough and if you are working/in school/and helpful around the house to your family--WHY should you feel bad or like you're not a stand up guy?? Be smart with your money and good luck!

(btw--my wife's 1993 Crown Vic is now at 175k miles and runs well--good choice).
 
Owning a gun is a necessity
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No, it's not. If it were a necessity, everyone in your area would be armed. Owning a gun in a dangerous area is an advantage and nothing more. There is plenty one can do to defend themselves without a firearm, and people do so every day.

I've lived in some sketchy areas before, and I've been beaten up pretty badly before. Hell, I've even had a revolver held to my head by a kid who absolutely hated my guts when I was in high school. If the gun had been in proper working order, I would be dead or paralyzed right now.

I got through all of those situations by using my head, keeping alert, and using what I had available to me at the time to get out of trouble. Could there have been a few times where a gun would have helped? Possibly. But never, ever, have I known a place where having a gun is a necessity. We're not to the point of living in Iraq, yet.

I'm not trying to bust your chops, but it seems like you're looking for us to give you not just answers, but the answers that you want. Of course, you can do whatever you want with your money, but those here who are recommending that you save, rather than buy yet another gun (especially since you have a pretty nice collection alread - hell, it's bigger and better than mine is!) are steering you in a good direction.

EDIT - And for the record, I'm not trying to be one of the people who is demanding that you "move out right now and be a man!" Look, by my own admission I still live at home. If you're able to do so, and don't completely freeload, then who the hell cares whether or not you still live at home? All I was trying to say in my previous comments is that it seemed that rather than buying a new gun, you should focus on paying bills first. And you're right - you might not be able to pay insurance and whatnot on a car with what you make now, but that doesn't make it OK to spend the money on a gun. Find an old beater, go with a super cheap insurance company, look into student or low-income grants, and get it done.

Trust me, I know a little about that kinda stuff as well. Not being able to afford to pay a bill is one thing. That $300 you spend on a new gun and ammo could be sitting in a bank getting crazy interest, which in a few years will be plenty to allow you to move into a decent apartment and pay your rent/utilities/food/car note while you work to keep paying the bills.
 
I am saving I am just trying to figure out if I should just buy some ammo or invest in reloading.When I said owning a gun is a necessity I meant being able to be used in SHTF to defend you property and life and bring food on the table in times of crisis and chaos.

What possibly could you do with pepper spray or a small knife during a SHTF? my point exactly since police admit they are not held liable for any injuries or death resulting in their failure to show up in time.Why should I put myself at a disadvantage with thugs on the street who are combat ready and are armed sometimes willing to kill you if they feel like it.
And to be abundantly clear I wont buy anything until October-November when everything is clear and balanced with my situation.
 
The list of guns you already own is more than adequate for SHTF. One box of ammo for each, and you are miles ahead of the average American.

Did anyone in all of Katrina, or the LA riots need more than 20 rounds? If you are really worried about protecting yourself, and securing your future, invest your money. The likelihood that you will need cash in the future is 100%; the likelihood that you will need your guns is much, much, much lower. The likelihood that zombies will invade, or that your home will be attacked by an infantry platoon are incredibly small.

At your age I owned ZERO guns. I bought a Raven .25 ACP at age 21 as my first weapon. Did I feel under gunned? No. The likelihood of needing it was slim, and in most encounters with bad guys, the mere presence of a gun ends the encounter. The mere presence of that POS Raven statistically moved the chances of me becoming the victim of violent crime from slim to darn near none.
 
I make 1100 bucks a month, and pay a $200 monthly car payment, my car insurance, my personal bills (gym, phone, food), and can probably get out of the house if I found two people who I could depend on for paying bills if I crunched the numbers right. Yet, I am not too far off from an AR budget build.

How the hell can you not afford to pay your own bills and move out?
 
My area I live is expensive with rent and not a very good job market is here so finding another job is not easy.
Moving out would be a stupid decision for me I would be at a complete disadvantage with everything and being able to do everything myself.

Like I said before finding a job that pays $10 an hour with my skill level is not easy and $7 an hour will not cut the cake I would have to work two jobs and loads of overtime to afford a mediocre place to live.

Why do that when I have a roof over my head and everything I need and no worries of big bills to pay I can save up and build up my career through technical school.
 
I'm 20 and in school and am making less than you, yet just bought an 11,000-dollar car. Just sayin'... If I made 10 bucks an hour, I'd have my own place with at least one roommate and be set while I finish school. Hell, I'm still thinking about moving out. Find a room mate or room-for-rent and you would be fine
 
I am not mooching I put forth money to help my grandmother little bit like rent but more like contribution to help ease her payments.
I dont like the idea of living in a cheap apartment with barely getting by and not knowing what to do if a complex problem arises.

The job I have is not "PERMANENT" meaning it will end on October or early November and then I have to get a new job somewhere else which can pay $7 an hour or up to $15 an hour depending on type of job I can get.
 
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