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How a Brattle Book Shop employee makes it on $760 a week
The Boston Globe • • business
Key Points:
- Pryor works at the Brattle bookstore with a varied daily routine, earning about $48,000 annually before taxes, with a current hourly wage of $24.50 after recent raises and benefits including health insurance, though out-of-pocket medical expenses remain high.
- Their main expenses include $1,000 monthly rent (increasing to $1,050), utilities, groceries, transportation costs including a car and an MBTA express bus pass, and subscriptions, with careful budgeting to balance needs and wants.
- Pryor has been steadily paying down $4,000 in student loan debt and recently cleared $1,200 in credit card debt, while maintaining savings of approximately $15,000 and $7,000 in a profit-sharing retirement account.
- Despite financial pressures like rising rent and healthcare costs, Pryor feels financially comfortable by living within their means and prioritizing saving for emergencies, travel, and supporting friends in crisis.
- Looking ahead, Pryor values their Boston neighborhood and lifestyle but finds long-term planning challenging due to economic uncertainties, with hopes to strengthen savings and take a significant trip next year.
