Starbucks Baristas: The daily grind
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Living on SSV pay (new to sbux) (self.starbucksbaristas)
submitted by Candelantern
I live in a city where the cost of living is fairly high. I share some expenses with my SO, but not everything because they're still in college. I pay $400/month in rent, $200 in student loans and usually around $75 in utilities. On top of that, there's gas, food, other expenses, and I have two cats, although thankfully they don't eat up too much money.
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I got laid off from a manager position at a retail store where I made $15/hour full time so I'm super nervous about going down to $11+tips. I just started this job (I'm an outside hire), and I've heard really good things about Starbucks as a company, but I need to be able to pay my bills! Does anyone have experience with living off this job without having another source of income? I can't take a second job.
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I got laid off from a manager position at a retail store where I made $15/hour full time so I'm super nervous about going down to $11+tips. I just started this job (I'm an outside hire), and I've heard really good things about Starbucks as a company, but I need to be able to pay my bills! Does anyone have experience with living off this job without having another source of income? I can't take a second job.
crafty_0ne 3 points 4y ago
Promote to manager as fast as you can. Barista and ssv pay is not enough to live off alone. And yes, it's designed that way, and no I don't agree with that.
thatc0fveve-h0 3 points 4y ago
I formerly lived in Portland, OR, where the cost of living is astronomically high (my rent was 1300, power was $50, internet/TV $110, and $275 in student loans)
In downtown proper (where I worked) the shift wage was 14.99. In that market, it was not enough for me to live. I worked a second job as a wedding cake decorator for an additional 25 hours a week, and still required help with my rent from my parents (19years old).
It’s a hell of a lot easier to make ends meet as a shift than a barista, but it is not EASY.
In downtown proper (where I worked) the shift wage was 14.99. In that market, it was not enough for me to live. I worked a second job as a wedding cake decorator for an additional 25 hours a week, and still required help with my rent from my parents (19years old).
It’s a hell of a lot easier to make ends meet as a shift than a barista, but it is not EASY.
realsheeps 2 points 4y ago
>"cost of living is high"
>"my rent is $400"
>"my rent is $400"
Candelantern [OP] 2 points 4y ago
i mean - fair.
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Bear_Barista2018 2 points 4y ago
You know what 🤔 sometimes the cup fund helps cover utility bills. You'd have to see if you qualify and see if your situation fits the bill.
star_pants 2 points 4y ago
That's honestly up to your spending habits. My rent is 750, electric is like 70, 35 phone, 45 internet, and I live alone with pets. I make do but I'm also pretty frugal and don't eat out/create other outside expenses and only pay about 50-75 in food for the month. Like I made do with the same expenses as a barista too but it was a hell of a lot tighter.
Candelantern [OP] 1 points 4y ago
That's somewhat reassuring. I already budgeted out my projected income and it seemed sort of serviceable, but again I'm going from gainful employment to this (I actively sought out a Starbucks job, I could have had a higher-paid gig but I chose Starbucks specifically because it's a company I respect and I needed a more positive workplace). I'm hoping I haven't made a stupid decision.
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It looks like I'm going to be doing around 30 hours/week fairly regularly. I really, really value having as much free time as I can get because I'm also an aspiring novelist and I'm trying to work towards publication.
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It looks like I'm going to be doing around 30 hours/week fairly regularly. I really, really value having as much free time as I can get because I'm also an aspiring novelist and I'm trying to work towards publication.
star_pants 1 points 4y ago
Best of luck! As long as you're good with budgeting then you should be fine. Hell, if I can survive on my own with one income source then you can with two!
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