u/1questions

Currently in Portland and is getting to be unaffordable. Biggest issue is wages versus rents. Parents here don’t want to pay much at all and my rent and cost of everything is going up. Lots of you have suggested Chicago as a place to go so I’d like to hear from you Chicago nannies, especially those that are single. How much are you getting paid? How much is your rent? How difficult is paying bills, general living your life?

I have 10+ years experience as a nanny, excellent letters of reference. Before I was a nanny I worked in daycares, preschools, etc. I live frugally and aside from a student loan payment of $209/month, no debt. I do have a car which I think I’d prefer to keep. Open to any and all info about your experience so I can try and decide if Chicago might be a possibility.

Working full time M-F typical business hours but with the cost of everything going up I’m ashamed to admit this but I might need to go to a food bank. Are there any open weekends or after work, like 530 pm or later? I have a car but actually in Portland preferred, NE, SE, or NW would be best. Thanks.

This is a repost. Had to delete my other post due to an error in the title because of autocorrect. Couldn’t edit the title. Apologies for the error.

Where would you say is the best place to be a nanny in the US? What offers the breast pay versus rent and other costs of living?

Currently in a city in PNW and is getting so expensive, but not sure if there’s anywhere that’s a better fit. I live frugally but it’s getting to the point where I’m working full time yet considering going to food banks because money is that tight.

Some things I like about where I live:

1. ⁠Lots of good food options (not that I can afford to go out) but lots of cuisines from different parts of the world, both in restaurants and some grocery stores. Plenty of farmers markets.
2. ⁠Used to be better, but we still have some artists and creatives. Various places offer arts/crafts classes. But due to cost it’s been less affordable to take classes.
3. ⁠Weather is moderate. Lots of rain but summer doesn’t get too hot and we only get snow every few years.
4. ⁠Politically liberal and generally non-religious.

What would be ideal:
I’m single so I don’t have anyone else to rely on financially. Don’t have kids. Want to be able to live on my own, too old for roommates and had enough bad experiences that I’d rather live in my car than do roommates. Prefer a city with amenities (museums, restaurants, general stuff going on), rather than a small town or rural area.

Love going to movies, so that’s a hobby. Also like arts and crafts so a city with museum(s), places to take crafts classes, and maybe even a good art store would be nice. Like food and enjoy lots of cuisines so a place with a variety would be good.

Current city doesn’t have a ton of traffic. I have a car, but I don’t want to commute more than 30 minutes for a job, just not worth it to me. Have family on East coast. Would prefer a city where religion isn’t a huge factor in daily life.

I’m not an outdoorsy person but enjoy having lots of parks in my current city. Also we have lots of beautiful scenic areas within an hour drive of my city. Though not really a hiker I enjoy a good road trip/day trip to natural areas.

Places I’ve already lived:
Lived in the Boston area recently. Wages for a nanny were ok but it’s a super expensive city and traffic is insane, I was about an hour pauses off the city yet traffic was still crazy.

Long ago lived in Philly as a live-in nanny. Overall liked the city but people were pretty cranky overall. Went back for a visit, not the family just the city, and it had changed quite a bit. Sad what they done with the whole liberty bell area but Reading Terminal is still great.

Lived in AZ with family for a while and can’t see living there again. Had family in SoCal and don’t think I could hack it there either, traffic is nuts. Love visiting NYC, but not sure I could hack it actually living in the city.

Where should I go?
So within all these parameters, which I know are a lot, do you have any recommendations? Where are you located and are you happy there? What are typical wages where you live and how easy is it to find a name job?

Where would you say is the best place to be a nanny in the US? What offers the breast pay versus rent and other costs of living?

Currently in a city in PNW and is getting so expensive, but not sure if there’s anywhere that’s a better fit. I live frugally but it’s getting to the point where I’m working full time yet considering going to food banks because money is that tight.

Some things I like about where I live:

1. Lots of good food options (not that I can afford to go out) but lots of cuisines from different parts of the world, both in restaurants and some grocery stores. Plenty of farmers markets.

2. Used to be better, but we still have some artists and creatives. Various places offer arts/crafts classes. But due to cost it’s been less affordable to take classes.

3. Weather is moderate. Lots of rain but summer doesn’t get too hot and we only get snow every few years.

4. Politically liberal and generally non-religious.

What would be ideal:
I’m single so I don’t have anyone else to rely on financially. Don’t have kids. Want to be able to live on my own, too old for roommates and had enough bad experiences that I’d rather live in my car than do roommates. Prefer a city with amenities (museums, restaurants, general stuff going on), rather than a small town or rural area.

Love going to movies, so that’s a hobby. Also like arts and crafts so a city with museum(s), places to take crafts classes, and maybe even a good art store would be nice. Like food and enjoy lots of cuisines so a place with a variety would be good.

Current city doesn’t have a ton of traffic. I have a car, but I don’t want to commute more than 30 minutes for a job, just not worth it to me. Have family on East coast. Would prefer a city where religion isn’t a huge factor in daily life.

I’m not an outdoorsy person but enjoy having lots of parks in my current city. Also we have lots of beautiful scenic areas within an hour drive of my city. Though not really a hiker I enjoy a good road trip/day trip to natural areas.

Places I’ve already lived:
Lived in the Boston area recently. Wages for a nanny were ok but it’s a super expensive city and traffic is insane, I was about an hour pauses off the city yet traffic was still crazy.

Long ago lived in Philly as a live-in nanny. Overall liked the city but people were pretty cranky overall. Went back for a visit, not the family just the city, and it had changed quite a bit. Sad what they done with the whole liberty bell area but Reading Terminal is still great.

Lived in AZ with family for a while and can’t see living there again. Had family in SoCal and don’t think I could hack it there either, traffic is nuts. Love visiting NYC, but not sure I could hack it actually living in the city.

Where should I go?
So within all these parameters, which I know are a lot, do you have any recommendations? Where are you located and are you happy there? What are typical wages where you live and how easy is it to find a name job?

Just got gas. It’s $5.79/gallon at the “cheap” place. Last week it was $5.29, 3 months ago it was $3.69-3.89. New landlord bought where I live and my rent is going up. I live in a small studio with ancient appliances. I spent a long, long time living with roommates and I can’t do it again, had some shit situations. I work full time and I’m serially considering going to a food bank. I feel so hopeless.

How are you guys handling this?

Lots of vanilla scented balms out there and certain other flavors are common, but was just thinking a caramel balm would be great. Any recommendations?

Know it’s a long shot, but I lost my AirPods and was wondering if anyone has a pair I can have. I simply can’t afford a new pair with the cost of everything going up and my paycheck staying the same. Found out my rent is going up too, yeah. ☹️

Willing to pick up in Portland proper, would consider going to Beaverton too.

Also slim chance but my AirPods were in a rubbery, black case with an attached carabiner. Likely lost in Sellwood or if NW. If by some chance you find them please let me know. Thanks.

Chuck them at someone’s head. Not a great day. I’m working a few month temp nanny job. Knew the end date when I was hired, but still stressful to find work, particularly a job that will cover all my bills, and I live a frugal lifestyle. I read beauty subs where people get Botox regularly and I don’t know how they afford it or the $25 lip balms they by. I wouldn’t even be able to get my nails done regularly, let alone cosmetic procedures. Only get my hair cut about every 3-4 months and I don’t dye it or anything.

Then I get home and find out new landlord is raising rent. They only bought the building two months ago and are raising rent for a very old, very plain place. Swear my dishwasher, which I’ve never used, is from 1985 or so and the fridge is about the same age. Of course landlord raised it as much as our local law will allow. A$$hole. Did I mention landlord has a day job in the medical field and their specialty pays big $.

Gas has gone from $3.65-3.85 about a month or so ago to $5 now. I haven’t really been able to save because things are so expensive and I make more than most nannies in my area do. Two years ago I could live on this rate, save, and go out to eat once a week, now I’m barely surviving. Childcare is unfortunately all I’ve done and I’m burned out, but there’s no escape from anything. Feel like I’ll have to put my stuff in storage and live in my car. I genuinely don’t what to do. I work full time, live frugally, yet I’m struggling. Anyone else relate?

Just bought some sunscreen at Teso Life. I live in the US so it’s nice to be able to buy Asian sunscreen in person. Have used it a few times but just happened to see the bottom and it reads 20250701. Anyone else had this happen? They don’t take returns so I’m a bit frustrated.

EDIT: Someone informed me that is the manufacturing date and not the expiration date. Now I know.

Just bought the glow reviver slipstick and like the texture but there’s barely any color even though I purchased Jam Packed which is a dark reddish brown color. Anyone know of a product with a similar texture but more color when it goes on?

Local grocery store (Whole Foods type) had a body care sale so I purchased two Gabriel Cosmetics lip stick colors. I love the colors but it was obvious that from the smell (old crayons) these products were past their prime. I’ll return them but I do hopper to find products similar in color.

One is Aurora, which is a pale white gold color.

The other is Matte Cerise which is a deep purplish red color. For those of you older people in the audience think Vamp.

Really bummed that I need to return these but would love to find similar colors.