Local news and fun, every day 6am.
Featured
austonia newsletter
Most viewed
For those who live on a budget, Austin's growth can be a source of stress. It's hard to imagine living on $1,000 a month, but if I can do it, then anyone can.
While in college at Texas State University in San Marcos, I held a few jobs, ranging from unpaid intern to retail cashier to newspaper editor, none of which paid more than peanuts. From 2017-2019, I had a $9 an hour retail job, and I raked in a little less than $1,000 per month.
With a little bit of creativity and budgeting talent, here's how I would make $1,000 per month work in Austin:
(Laura Figi/Austonia)
Housing
When you're only working with $1,000 per month, most likely you will end up spending close to 70% of your income on rent and the rest on other necessities, with little leftover.
While I lived in San Marcos, I was able to split a two-bedroom apartment with just one other person, slashing the $850/month rent and roughly $100 utilities in half. Rent at $850 for a two-bedroom might be hard to find in Austin, so consider moving outside the Austin metro area if you have reliable transportation to the city (I'll address transportation further down). Otherwise, a breakdown of cheaper neighborhoods to apartment shop at in Austin can be found here.
Tips for low-cost living:
- Find a roommate—or two or three—to cut the cost of rent.
- Avoid rent-by-the-room leases as they tend to favor the landlord. Instead, you'll want to sign a joint-lease agreement, so rent is split 50/50.
- Try not to sign a lease during the summer—that's the busiest moving season and you're more likely to get a better deal in fall or winter.
- Don't use electricity if you're not in the room and try to keep your water usage down.
If you conserve, you preserve valuable cash. A breakdown of essential costs: water at an average of $35 per month, electricity averaging at $65-100 depending on the season, internet can be found for as cheap as $30 per month and cell phone service as cheap as $15. If you can find a living situation that will pay one or more of your utilities, like I did, it will put that much more money back in your pocket.
Transportation
(Roger W/CC)
A car payment is simply not doable under this budget. So you'll need to make do with the car that was gifted to you or you paid off in full, especially if you're planning on living just outside the city. If you're a biker, that's also a cost-efficent way to get around—especially with Austin being a bike-friendly city. Otherwise, there's always public transportation to get you around.
I paid off my 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt when I bought it and tried to drive as little as possible to avoid having to pay for yet another tank of gas. If you choose to drive, insurance can be as low as $65 per month and a single tank of gas costs around $25.
Austin's Capital Metro offers bus and rail services from Downtown to Leander with various routes and stops. A 31-day bus pass will cost $41.25 at the most reduced rate, which equates to how much one might spend on car fuel.
Food
(Laura Figi/Austonia)
With only between $35-105 left for food, you will need to maximize how you shop. Buy what is on sale and try to limit your perishables to what you can consume before they spoil. It seems self-explanatory but 30-40% of food is wasted in the U.S., which equates to about a pound per person, per day.
I buy foods I know I like so that money doesn't go to waste. I'm a firm believer in eating breakfast every day, so my mornings usually started with some tea and something light. I'm not much of a cook so quick and easy food is my go-to. I buy food that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways so I never have to get tired of them—if you keep anything in stock, make sure it is spices and sauces.
Rice is incredibly cheap, versatile, can be eaten for every meal and it isn't uncommon for me to do so. And for protein, a bag of frozen chicken thighs can be found at your local grocery store for less than $5, and it'll last you days with various ways to cook it.
Unfortunately, eating out isn't something that can be done often so when I do, I enjoy it!
Buying other essentials: clothes, furniture and more
Don't buy anything new. And that means anything. From clothes to furniture to cars to moving boxes, you can get nearly everything pre-loved. However, just because it is used doesn't mean it has to look cheap or junky; the goal is to appear as if your items are brand new without having to spend huge sums of cash.
Consignment stores, Facebook Marketplace and Goodwill are excellent locations to find discounted or sometimes even free goods. Amazon Warehouse has a section on its website that sells open-box items, though most often they are still brand new. There is simply no reason to pay full price for anything, plus it's better for the planet!
Play money
The hard reality is that when you're working with a tight budget, spending money is usually the first to go. Set up a rainy day fund for a splurge and enjoy all the free (or close to free) activities Austin has to offer. Become a Zilker Park explorer extraordinaire or tour some of the many museums around the city like The Blanton, which is free on the first Thursday of every month, or the Mexic-Arte museum, which is free on Sundays. The Umlauf Sculpture Garden is only $5 per person and never ceases to delight with its uniquely structured art. Don't neglect your wants but don't let them be the source of your monetary stress.
Now go get that coin!
- Project Connect includes $300M to fight displacement - austonia ›
- City of Austin launches searchable map for low-income housing ... ›
- Austin is one of the least affordable cities in the country - austonia ›
- What's new in Austin's retail scene, new openings - austonia ›
- 10 apartments in Austin with specials saving you hundreds - austonia ›
- Study shows it takes an income above $145k to be 'rich' in Austin - austonia ›
- Cirque du Soleil's 'OVO' returns to the H-E-B Center - austonia ›
Popular
San Antonio FC beat Austin FC 2-1 in an underdog upset Wednesday night. (San Antonio FC/Twitter)
We may never know whose tacos truly are better, but one nagging Central Texas question was answered Wednesday as an underdog San Antonio FC beat Austin FC 2-1 in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup at San Antonio's Toyota Stadium Wednesday night.
Austin's shortest road trip ever also produced the club's longest match to date as the MLS and USL sides fought through 120+ minutes of gritty play.
As a higher-division professional team, Austin FC clearly had the upper hand as it entered the match, even when some of Austin's less-experienced players took to the starting pitch.
And it was Austin who struck first, weaving through enemy lines for a clean cross and goal from favorites Sebastian Driussi and Diego Fagundez to start off the second half.
46' | Alright, alright, alright! @AustinFC of @MLS takes the lead over @SanAntonioFC of @USLChampionship one minute into the second half. It's Diego Fagundez with the near post banger 💥
1-0 | #USOC2022pic.twitter.com/jKyloGh4HL
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 21, 2022
Austin's comfortable lead faltered with a near-goal that was called offsides and finally crumbled as the home team pulled off a close-up pass and shot to tie the game with less than ten minutes left in regulation.
Golazo = Celebrate with supporters. 😃 pic.twitter.com/JF5kn7wL6T
— Austin FC (@AustinFC) April 21, 2022
The two were then given thirty more minutes to decide the match, and San Antonio capitalized on that chance early with a double-header shot to score the final goal of the match.
Red and green enemy lines were evident, but chants for each city's area codes were sometimes interchangeable in the stadium's dueling stands as the final 26 minutes came to an end. And just like the two San Antonio FC season ticket holders who held their own Alamo-style in the middle of the Verde crowd, San Antonio weathered the storm, taking shot after shot from Austin before coming back from behind and taking the match 2-1.
We have a Cupset! After 125 minutes, @SanAntonioFC of @USLChampionship complete their comeback against @AustinFC of @MLS. One time for keeper Jordan Farr, who kept his team alive to the very end 🙌
Final | 2-1 | #USOC2022pic.twitter.com/FPwxtCGNYY
— U.S. Open Cup (@opencup) April 21, 2022
Austin FC is now eliminated from th will look to recoup at its home fortress with its third match in an eight-day stretch against the San Jose Earthquakes at Q2 Stadium on Saturday.
- Curse at Q2? Another scoreless draw besets Austin FC in second ... ›
- Past Precourt beef resurfaces as Columbus Crew fans head to ... ›
- Austin FC faces San Antonio FC in city-v.-city soccer battle - austonia ›
(Tesla)
Things are looking uphill for Tesla following the Giga Texas grand opening.
The ability to run factories at full capacity this year has been limited by global supply chain constraints that the company expects will persist through the year. But still, Tesla reported strong revenue growth in the first quarter of 2022.
Highlights from the start of Tesla’s year:
- $3.3 billion in profit as revenue increased 81% year over year
- 310,048 vehicle deliveries with Model 3 and Model Y’s making up 95% of it
- Giga Texas held its grand opening party, marking the start of deliveries from southeast Travis County
If you’re ordering an EV, don’t expect a quick delivery or last year’s costs. CEO Elon Musk noted inflation pressures and said the waitlist extends into next year. Plus supplier and logistics cost growth are now reflected in prices. But he emphasized the high-quality production at the company’s headquarters.
“I’ve never been more optimistic or excited about Tesla’s future than I am right now,” Musk said.
- Elon Musk announces April 7 grand opening party for Giga Texas ... ›
- Tesla can't sell directly to Texans unless law is uplifted - austonia ›
- Tesla reports a record Q4 at shareholders call in jan. 2022 - austonia ›
- PHOTOS: Peek inside the Tesla Gigafactory producing Model Ys in ... ›
- Tesla 2021 year in review for austin - austonia ›
- Who will be attending the Giga Texas grand opening - austonia ›
- Del valle ISD partners with Tesla in high school grad program ... ›
- Tickets go on sale for Tesla Con Texas - austonia ›