So I ran some numbers -- and while I was a bit loosey-goosey about exact figures in the calculations -- I felt some of the worst sticker shock ever.
My rent is like $860 a month now. Student loan payment is $285 (which is slightly lower than last year, as I mentioned). My utils and renters insurance is going to be about $120 a month. My car insurance is $1000 a year (they tried to raise it on me when I moved by about $350 so I had to say: "I will sell this car and take the bus!" After that they rejiggered some things and got the price down to a reasonable amount though my coverage is not quite as good). My phone bill is $25 a month. I had to pay a "deposit" for the apartment, for my dog (along with $30 a month in pet rent), and all sorts of hidden "service fees" to process the application and the lease. Then there is gasoline costs too, which I need to re-estimate/track (though this ought to be lower with my 1.5 mile commute).
Throw in food, medicine, household expenses, dog food/medicine, some misc. costs for this, that, and the other and yowzah! Sticker shock.
The last couple times I had sticker shock (like when I bought my car for $15,999 and was given a divorce direction to pay my ex $80 a month for 5 years at the same time or when I stared into the frightening abyss of my student loans) I was able to tighten my belt and come up with strategies for my new financial reality -- and largely mitigate them.
So now I am working on doing this...
Suggestions welcome -- don't be a prick or tell me to euthanize my dog though.
Most other suggestions are fine though. haha