Financial Independence: Struggles, Regrets, and Future Goals

The main subject is a 35-year-old unmarried woman struggling with financial challenges and seeking advice on reducing expenses and increasing income.

### Financial Struggles of a 35-Year-Old Single Woman in Korea
* 💰 After becoming independent, the woman impulsively signed a lease and borrowed **148 million won at a 4% interest rate** for the security deposit.
* 🏡 The interest on the loan increased her monthly expenses to around **800,000 won**, causing financial strain, especially with a **2 million won monthly salary**.
* 🚗 Despite financial difficulties, she purchased a **20 million won car**, adding to her **monthly expenses**.
* 💸 The woman's net worth at 35 is only **660 million won**, which is considered **low for her age group**.
* 📉 She is now focused on saving money and aims to settle all debts by June 2025, with a goal of **saving 100 million won within 6 years**.
* 🍗 To save money, she has reduced expenses, such as **choosing cheaper food options** and **cutting down on entertainment expenses**.
* 📈 The woman plans to **increase her income** by focusing on her career and continuously seeking **ways to earn more**.
* 🏠 She is advised to **simplify her life**, **focus on building her career**, and consider **buying a house or investing in stocks in the future**.

Hello, I am a 35-year-old unmarried woman and I am worried about my old age. I don't have anything saved up, and instead of regretting, I am trying hard to make a lot of money. Still, I am worried. What should I do? I think independence was the issue. I became independent about 3 years ago. Back then, I thought I wanted to live alone, so I started living independently. But looking back, it was a bit... At that time, especially with the pandemic, people were into things like decorating their small apartments nicely or remodeling. I remember living in a small apartment that I rented, and fixing it up by myself. The landlords must have been so grateful. Many people were doing things like that. If it's your own place, you can fix it up, but back then...

Like a trend, it was really trendy to decorate with terrier plants as interior, right? So, due to these kinds of trends, the atmosphere can be swept away by them. So, anyway, I thought to myself that I should live alone, and that's when I started living alone. Living alone is not just about saving money or having a big goal in life and deciding to live alone. There are people who think, I'll move from the countryside to Seoul. That's one way of living alone. Another way of living alone is when you've been struggling living with your mom and dad, and you think, It's been tough, but now I want to live my life independently and coolly. Usually, what people do in this case is they try to decorate their place nicely, even if it's not a luxurious place, they try to make it look good inside. Lately, what surprised me was that people live alone and do all sorts of things.

I have everything set up. I mean, since I live alone, I think just having essentials like a microwave, an air fryer, and a vacuum cleaner for the office, a handheld one, would be enough. I simply choose and pick good and affordable items online. Spending around 30 to 40 thousand won on those should be sufficient. Why would I need a Dyson? They have wireless vacuums, but honestly, even though they are not that efficient, people just buy them to have everything. So, in a small place, you have everything you need. If people living in big houses have an 80-inch TV, in my place, it's just smaller, but all the necessary items are there. Now, as I start living on my own, naturally, I might end up getting a pet like a dog or a cat, and then money just keeps flowing.

Such a situation arises at the beginning. Well, I was in a state of excitement about living in a good house on my own, so I got carried away by the pretense that I should live in a nice house. I impulsively signed a lease. Of course, now that I've come to my senses, please consider that, everyone. Yes, I've prepared for it. However, fortunately, with Hug Assurance Insurance, the lease scam was resolved. At that time, out of 165 million won for the lease, I borrowed 148 million won as a loan. It was a tough time. Oh, but personally, this is truly one of the regrettable things for me. Of course, now, somehow getting a loan through low-interest policy funds can be considered a welfare aspect, but the interest rate for me is not low. It's around 4%, like a regular loan. Right, that's how it is. But if they offer 90% like this, in fact, you have to pay monthly rent. Why? Because you have around 1.4 billion won in security deposit for the monthly rent.

So, this is basically the same as monthly rent. Because they give out loans like this, people now borrow money for key money to get a house. In short, I am now in a situation where I am responsible for this. If you don't take out a loan and just have a monthly rent, you just need to pay a deposit of about 10 million won, and that's it. But now, instead of that, if four people have loans of 165 million won each, that's when it becomes troublesome. Fortunately, they managed to get through it somehow. So now, having a spacious room has become a status symbol. It has become more objective. That's right, it has become a reality. However, after the three-month fixed interest period ends, the interest starts to rise gradually, and about 800,000 won is spent each month. At that time, when the interest rates started to rise, it was tough for the homeowners, but actually, it was really tough for those who were living on jeonse. That's right, because the interest almost doubled.

I did go down, but at that time, my salary was 2 million won, and 200, but now it's 80 each, almost 100 million won including the maintenance fee. It's almost a 1 million won monthly rent if it's a room in a house with maintenance fees. So, this is quite a burden. I couldn't afford other expenses. I also had a car. Prav Prav really told me not to do it. Oh, I really came to my senses. I came to my senses. Yes, don't leave malicious comments. I came to my senses. I thought I could pay 500,000 won every month. So, now, 100 for the house including the maintenance fee, then 50 for the car. But my salary is 200, so I have to live with the remaining 50. Normally, we have a carpool or housepool, but what should I call this? It's more like a double-double. So, every month, I spent 1.2 million won on expenses. I realized that there was a tremendous amount of money going out of the house, including maintenance fees, and so on.

I actually think it's better this way. Once you live like this, you realize it's meaningless. By going on like this, you experience the thought, I'm really in trouble. The reason for this is because the car payment, the interest, you keep withdrawing from your bank account. You just keep going, withdrawing. This is not money that builds up my assets; it's a mortgage loan on the house. It's a loan that doesn't contribute to building assets. But the house and the car keep decreasing in value. You keep thinking about the interest costs, there's nothing coming back. The problem is that it all goes out again next month, the pressure of that. What do you do about this? Eventually, the rapid decrease in the balance probably seemed like a lot and made you feel it. In winter, the gas bill is even 300,000 won. Even LPG, LPG these days is not easy. Yes, in winter, even if there's a breath of air, I just lived like that. Experiences like this change people.

When I was active, I couldn't afford things like meeting friends or traveling. I probably spent more than my monthly salary, using credit cards when I didn't have enough money, repeating the cycle of borrowing and spending. If I make a mistake now, it could lead to revolver loans. This is really a matter of taste. Living like this, I didn't save any money at all. Fortunately, I got a new job in May, with an additional 1.4 million won compared to my previous salary of 3.4 million won. When I tried to move after changing jobs, I realized I had no money at all. So, I barely managed to find a place, signed a contract, and paid a deposit of 30 million won and a monthly rent of 500,000 won. If you experience being scammed in a lump-sum lease, it's no joke. Of course, even if you get compensated through insurance, it's really tough mentally. This led me to...

Now, it seems like you are receiving monthly rent. Oh, but out of the 3,000, there is another loan of 1,500. Since you don't have the money now, the money you spent is regrettable. Out of the security deposit for the lump sum lease, around 10% is 14,400 won, so around 1,500 won was my money. But even if I move, I only have 1,500 left. I have no choice but to take out the rest as a loan. While moving, you realize, Oh, this is a big problem. This is a big problem. I have been working since 2021, but what kind of work is this? You must have been working since before that, right? But after becoming independent, you forget all about money. So now, I am in a state of awakening. Checking my financial situation, I still have 250 for tuition fees, and for the car loan, there's 700 left to pay off. Anyway, 700 is left to pay off. I have paid off a lot. The loan of 1,500 taken for the house deposit becomes a regrettable past where time was spent thoughtlessly.

I am now trying to improve my consumer life with the thought that it is meaningless. It seems that all debts can be settled by June 25, 25 years from now. If so, there is about a year left. After everything is settled, my assets will be a deposit of 30 million won, and my goal is to save 100 million won within 6 years by depositing around 1.7 million won each time. I consider 100 million won as a symbolic number, and I want to work hard remotely in the future. Oh, it's okay to be harsh, so the story is asking for a solution for ignorant me. Right now, everyone is saying things like, The comments section is well met. You are writing well right now. Like K3, starting with warm comments, I want to gather courage and want to withdraw from this boring routine and face the world. If the eyes I face in the world are like this, many of you who are writing here may not actually be living so well. Well, many people are saying things like that now.

Do not think that those who study less than me are just lazy. Just being here itself means they have already thought a lot. Most people, if they don't get their act together here, won't make it through. They don't even think about sending people who won't pull themselves together. Currently, the revolving fund is like this, so all of you need to help them. Instead of saying, You shouldn't live like that just because you study less than me, it would be nice to help each other. The deposit is 3,000 and the monthly rent is 50. But regardless of the house, you're living in, even if you're living in a 340, the rent is 360. These days, rents have increased a lot due to the rise in lease scams. As the lease deposit decreases, landlords either convert it to rent or use tricks. If the rent is at that level, it's somewhat fortunate, but later on, the rent may increase due to various reasons.

You know, they raised the maintenance fees a lot. It's not just for villas, it's not even for apartment maintenance fees. They charge about 15 to 20 for a monthly rent of 50, so the actual monthly rent is, well, and on top of that, there's a separate electricity fee. But the thing about these maintenance fees is quite ambiguous because they can do maintenance again. Because if something breaks down in the house, they can go and take care of it, and these things can also be covered by the maintenance fee, so it's really ambiguous. Oh, there are also some things set aside as reserve funds. So, this becomes an issue, and now the real estate agency law has been revised, so now we have to explain the items of the maintenance fee. If the details are too specific, like 150,000 won, there will be a conflict. I can't even enter this house. Oh, then don't come in, don't come in. When they say that, there's another problem. Now, the deposit insurance is going down, so what should people who are struggling do?

I'm just saying that on the contrary, now that I have a villa, there may be some people with flexibility. These people, on the other hand, might suddenly turn to a lump-sum deposit and start turning it as it is. Since the monthly rent is now rising together, the proportion of the monthly rent is also increasing, and the amount is rising as well. So, for a while, I think the monthly rent in the villa area will continue to rise a bit. In this case, if you live alone, the basic amount might be too high, so if it really doesn't work out, you should try to find a roommate somehow to reduce the cost. It's not feasible for me to bear it all alone. Monthly rent in Seoul is quite high. It costs a lot. CelTos, there are many women who really buy CelTos. Right, but even though it's a small SUV, the price is high. The price for Celtos 4WD is around 20 million won, and when you think about it, it's actually expensive.

That's about 25,700, right? Probably. So, back in the old days, when I was young, compact cars were around 10 million won. But now, it's totally expensive. Due to the increase in cost of living, yeah, now when you buy a car, you think, If I have this money, I could add a bit more for options and buy this, buy that, buy that. Then, you end up looking at Bentley, taking a glance at a Porsche, then coming back down. Now it's like, I'm considering a Grandeur or Sonata. So, when it comes to buying a car, there are hardly any people who stick to their budget. That's why when people set a budget of around 15 to 20 million won, they end up buying a used car within that range because if you buy used, you won't exceed your budget, right? You just look for a car within that range. But if you buy a new car, well, the options alone could cost an additional 800,000 won. Would the price increase a bit? Then, there's the acquisition tax, and later on, the bond.

When you consider the purchase cost, it will cost a few million won more. Yes, I manage money well, but when it comes to cars, if possible, I prefer to buy a cheaper one or just buy one within my means in cash. Anyway, cars themselves depreciate a lot, and if you think about taking out a loan for them, the amount significantly increases. So, you can buy a better car if you can just pay in cash. Therefore, I think it's best to think of buying a car within the range that you can afford in cash. So, for new employees, typically after working for about 3 to 6 months, they get fired or they buy a car on installment plans. It's said that this should not be done, and this person has also bought it on a full installment plan. If you buy it on a full installment plan, even if you want to sell the car in the middle because your financial situation becomes difficult, you can't sell it.

What happens is that due to issues like this, even if it's a small amount, your money goes in, and you should pay the rest in installments to be able to deal with unexpected situations. If you decide to pay in installments like this, there is no way to escape if problems arise in the middle. That's right. Salaried workers must somehow reduce their fixed expenses. You need to somehow reduce your fixed expenses, not increase them. If suddenly there are problems at work or sudden financial issues with your family, it's a situation where there is no solution. So, the reason why you can't save money now is that you thought it was impulsive spending without much thought. What are the expenses that you can't give up on? This person said it's modest. This person sees it as a bit of a hassle. They spend a lot on big expenses like housing loans, car installments.

But if you look at other expenses, you bought it for 500,000 won. Actually, even though I cut down on the existing money a bit, I don't have a habit of spending a lot of money on luxury goods. Instead, I prefer to manage my fixed expenses well because that's more reasonable. For example, when I feel like having some alcohol, instead of ordering food, I tend to choose something cheap among the options, like chicken feet. Chicken feet are relatively cheaper compared to chicken dishes which are excessive and expensive. At least 17,000 to 20,000 won for chicken dishes, but for chicken feet, I just go to a nearby nameless chicken feet place, get it to go, and that's all I need. There's no need for extras like side dishes, just ordering chicken feet is the cheapest option. Plus, I don't need to spend money on delivery or anything. I can just have it with some soju, and that's also.

Since it goes well with soju, if the two are combined, now very lightly, watch a variety show after eating and go to bed. But you can't give up. If you have to give up, try to reduce it now. Even if you don't have any savings now, tighten your belt from now on. Even if it's tiring, you have to live frugally. So, once a month, order delivery spicy chicken feet, turn on the air conditioner, and sweat while eating the spicy chicken feet. In fact, that's like paradise on earth. And relieve a bit of stress for about a month. So, don't give up on this, just reduce it a bit. Because if you reduce it, you can usually eat more than three times a week, maybe on Sundays.

Or you can watch entertainment shows two to three times a month. There are a lot of things to watch, so you can watch entertainment shows frequently. When you see that you can't give up on this, it's often used as an excuse. Be careful. There is a place where you can get skin care treatments, but I can't do that. It's a bit... Yes, it's difficult. So, when you mentioned that your savings are 90,000 won, and you recommended 20,000 won for the subscription, if it was originally 100,000 won, please make it 20,000 won now. It seems like it will be enough with 10,000 won and 20,000 won. And you are single, and you said you don't know if you will think about marriage in the future. But in the situation of being single, you won't win a public housing lottery with a subscription account anyway. So, the meaning of having it is just to have it. If you just keep it, it won't be a significant amount that affects your future plans, so you can just leave it there. And regarding student loans, you still have them.

So, this is how it goes now. You mentioned before that I should pay off quickly. But, I don't have the extra money to pay off right now. Also, this person has never tried saving money, so my goal is to save 5 million won in three months, or maybe save 10 million won before the end of this year. Achieving this goal will give me a sense of accomplishment. Yes, eating chicken feet is happiness, but seeing my bank account gradually increase, reaching 10 million won or 20 million won, that moment when it hits the mark, then all the things I've given up, like chicken feet, maybe dozens of chickens passing by while I drink soju, those tough moments, crying on a bench outside, when I think of those, I finally reached here. And then, the next goal is to reach 50 million won.

When you do it, it's fun and exciting because you haven't experienced it yet. But now, the monthly rent is a bit high anyway. So, what should you do about this? Since you haven't been living here for long, you don't know anything about security deposit loans or small and medium-sized enterprise administration loans. You hurriedly moved in to escape from a lease scam. So, you are probably taking out a loan of around 15 million won at a 2% interest rate. Then, around 70,000 to 75,000 won per month. If you repay the loan based on 70,000 won per month, you can reduce it to around 50,000 to 60,000 won. Oh, the security deposit is decreasing. Oh, so now, whether it's a small or medium-sized enterprise loan or something, you should move to a different price range, right? Considering the security deposit, anyway, you are a wage earner. But among the 50 monthly rent, this time, the tax deduction for rent, the tax deduction for rent starts from this year.

It has expanded, so we've almost seen it. It's about 15% of the income in two minutes. So, in terms of monthly rent, it's around 400,000 won. Since there are some expenses at the end of the year, we need to move on with that amount. Forecasting about 70,000 won for expenses, 50 for livestock, and 60 for miscellaneous items won't work. This seems to be an expression of determination. We will solve it within this determination. If you buy a few of these chicken feet, it will be over, so maybe you could have lived like this when you earned 2 million won and spent 150. So, now that you have some leeway, don't increase it too much. Have the mindset for now. Also, the biggest issue is the car. It would be good to organize the car if possible, but it may not be possible. You can't organize the car now because you've cut it off with a loan. You can't sell it in the middle, and because of commuting, you said you definitely need this car.

Then, somehow, gather 700 and make repayments. It's better to make repayments like that. For now, let's save cash until the end of this year. Even though there are many current loans, even if the interest on the loans is much higher than our savings interest, try saving at least a month's worth of salary as an emergency fund. Even if it takes a bit longer, try using public transportation or something like that for 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 months. It may be better because when you consider things like fuel costs, car payments, and so on, it's a waste. So practically, it's a waste. It would be good to check on these things once. For those who spend a lot on clothing, ceremonial occasions, and such, it's not necessary. You mentioned medical expenses of 100,000 won once every month or two, so you hardly have any such expenses. So, this person thinks that it's not necessary to spend on those things.

I think independence was the issue from the beginning, like taking the wrong path at first. Yes, and it seems like that was a mistake, mainly with the car and the house. So, in any case, if you regret it at 340, you should save about 60% somehow. Like others, saving 340% is what others do, so if it's 60%, you should save around 360 to 200 million won. Then you would have to live around 130 to 140, right? So, after paying the monthly rent, you would have almost 670,000 won left for living expenses, which means it wouldn't be easy to afford a car. So, you should think of a way to eliminate this somehow. It's not just a simple 200,000 won. You definitely have to pay insurance, and considering depreciation, if you think about buying a used car, it's almost 3 million won per month.

You're now breaking down 400,000 won each for car expenses. Your assets keep decreasing. You need to reduce costs going towards your house or hometown as much as possible. Why am I saying this? You're 35 years old now, and your net worth is around 660 million won. This is really low. It's officially low, so you need to realize that we are in a serious situation. You need to start saving a lot for the future. You need to think that you have to save a lot to catch up with others. But now, it's an impossible situation to drive a car like others, live in a nice house, or do these things. Especially now that you've invested in coins, you've decided to start over. What's important now is not that. What's important now is how we can save money.

It's not important, but basically, it's not like pouring water into a leaking jar right now. The jar is broken at the bottom, so just leave the jar as it is. There are jars like 2,000 pottery jars for experiences. Since we need to make a jar right now, don't bother with difficult things. And don't suddenly talk about multiplying by 10 or 20. It doesn't concern me at all right now. For about 2 to 3 years, just save money and organize fixed expenses. Try to minimize the monthly rent as much as possible because it's too wasteful. You should keep thinking about how to do that. Is there anything else you want to say? Oh, insurance as well. Isn't it too much in the current situation? But insurance is...

Since this person is at this age now, if they cancel it now and sign up for a new one, so they can only enter the exact real expenses with that amount. However, you never know what will happen in real life, right? So, let's reduce some other things. Among them, what caught my eye is the monthly rent payment. I mentioned this during the phone call. Spending only 20 on food is too little, it's definitely unreasonable. Just having lunch while commuting costs that much. Also, on weekends, eating chicken feet is not cheap. There are other expenses here. Please try to grasp this generously first and understand how much I spend in a month. So, the effort to reduce this is needed there. That's what I said. I just want to say this as a final note. You know that I'm late now, right? And I

I now regret what I've done so far. But most people tend to repeat their regrets because it used to be comfortable and nice. That's why I chose that path. But if I start to come to my senses from now on, it will be uncomfortable. If a person who likes drinking suddenly decides to quit drinking from today, it doesn't mean they will quit everything. So, I'm most worried that I might go back again. First of all, coming to my senses from now on may not last for more than a few months. So, you need to make this a routine, like a habit, to reduce fixed costs. I've changed my way of thinking, so I need to live while controlling myself well in the future. I will give myself a little nudge. Yes. And while saving money like this, you need a goal. For example, I'm currently paying a monthly rent of 3 million won, but I need to save money to take out a loan or to reduce the deposit.

Raising it and reducing the monthly rent. What should I do with this money? We need to figure out through studying what is more efficient. We need to start looking for it through studying. Many people have experienced a sense of achievement when they reached 100 million won just by saving money without a clear plan. From now on, even though we are saving, we need to think about what to do with it. Also, because we have been late in the past, we need to wake up now. We have no choice but to make more efforts than others. You should try harder. I suggest cutting costs now and then maybe releasing stress through work. By doing better at work, you can increase your passion. Whether it's changing jobs or getting promoted, I think it's good. Because you are young.

Because of the people, it's true that you might feel regret for losing money earned over the past 5 or 10 years, and you may even feel inferior in terms of future earnings. You never know what will happen. What saddens me now is that you were fortunate to change jobs to a place that pays around 342 to 3402. You've been satisfied with 200 for a long time in your social life. It can be scary when it comes to salary. As long as you adapt your lifestyle to what you earn, it may seem like there are no problems. However, if you don't make an effort to seek ways to earn more, you might end up settling here without seeking to earn more. Although your income has increased significantly compared to the past, you need to think about saving more in the future. You should continuously seek ways to increase your income. So, for now, focus on increasing your income and try to reduce expenses.

Next, let's simplify life a bit and focus on building up my career first. It seems like a good idea to start with. Thinking about things like buying a house, investing in stocks, and so on can also be a good idea.

30대 미혼 여자 순자산 660만 원이 전부 미래가 막막합니다 [상남자들]

직장인이 할 수 있는 재테크 정보를 제공합니다
각종 비즈니스 문의 : buiknamtv@gmail.com 

주제와 무관한 댓글, 욕설은 사전 동의없이 삭제될 수 있습니다.
채널 내 모든 영상은 허가 없이 무단으로 사용될 수 없습니다.


부읽남TV_내집마련부터건물주까지

Challenges of Financial Independence for a Single Woman

A 35-year-old unmarried woman is concerned about her financial future and the pressure to make a lot of money.

She reflects on the trend of living alone and the societal pressure to decorate and have all the latest gadgets, leading to financial impulsivity.

The woman also shares her experience of struggling with a lease scam and high loan interest rates, highlighting the financial challenges of living independently.

The Financial Struggles of Housing Loans and Expenses

Housing loans and expenses, including interest and maintenance fees, have become a significant burden for many people, leading to financial strain and lifestyle changes.

The pressure of high housing costs has resulted in difficulties in saving money and has forced some individuals to rely on loans and credit cards to cover expenses.

Despite the challenges, some have managed to improve their financial situation by finding higher-paying jobs, but the impact of housing costs remains a widespread issue.

Financial Struggles and Housing Challenges

Many financial challenges are described, including taking out loans for housing deposits and struggling to manage tuition and car loan payments.

The individual is aiming to settle all debts and save a significant amount of money within the next six years.

There are concerns about the increasing cost of rent, lease scams, and ambiguous maintenance fees, contributing to the overall housing challenges and financial strain.

The Impact of Rising Living Costs on Housing and Car Expenses

The monthly rent in villa areas, especially in Seoul, is continuously increasing, making it challenging for individuals to afford living alone.

The rising cost of living is also influencing the decision-making process when it comes to purchasing cars, pushing people to consider buying used cars within a specific price range to avoid exceeding their budget.

Many are opting to pay for cars in cash to avoid the significant increase in amount caused by loans and installment plans, in an effort to manage their expenses more effectively.

Cutting down on luxury expenses and managing fixed costs is a more reasonable approach to saving money.

Choosing cheaper options like chicken feet instead of expensive meals and prioritizing frugality can help save money in the long run.

Setting specific savings goals and focusing on gradually increasing the bank account balance can provide a sense of accomplishment and financial stability.

Taking out a 15 million won loan at a 2% interest rate could reduce monthly payments to 50,000-60,000 won, helping to manage the high rent.

Consider reevaluating the need for a car, as it would be challenging to afford with only 670,000 won left for living expenses after paying rent.

It's important to focus on saving and consider using public transportation to reduce expenses.

Financial Advice for Cost Cutting and Saving

A 35-year-old with a net worth of 660 million won is advised to cut costs and focus on saving for the future.

The emphasis is on minimizing monthly rent and reevaluating other expenses, such as car costs and insurance.

It is recommended to make cost reduction a habit and set a clear financial goal, such as saving for a loan or a reduced deposit.

Financial Planning for Increased Income and Reduced Expenses

It's important to have a clear plan for the money saved and focus on increasing income.

Cutting costs and seeking career advancement can help improve financial stability.

Consider simplifying life and prioritizing career growth before thinking about other investments.