How To: Live on a Flight Attendant's Salary (And Not be Completely Miserable)

It may come as a shock to those of you who are unfamiliar with the airline industry that I make very very little money. I can pay my bills (because I'm a financial wizard), but there is not much left over for error or frivolous spending. I had to defer my school loans, so I'm living with an ever-growing debt that I can't pay off, but I digress. Despite my lack of sufficient income, I still manage to make ends meet and have a little fun along the way. Because let's face it, a life without fun isn't really worth living. Below, you will find my own personal list of ways that I stay afloat in this dire economy.

1. I just graduated last year
Being fresh out of college, I have a distinct advantage when it comes to surviving on a next-to-nothing paycheck. Thank goodness I came into this profession straight from college, rather than from a different grown-up job. Had I already been used to earning a living wage, I have no doubt that I would be experiencing a much greater degree of difficulty in keeping my head above financial water.

2. My parents are smart people
Another advantage I have is the set of highly advanced money management skills instilled in me by my parents throughout the years. Without their guidance in how to effectively save and hunt for items on sale at a deep discount, I would be in much worse financial shape than I currently am.

3. Cheap and filling > costly and healthy
The first thing I do to save money is something that I definitely wouldn't be able to do if I wasn't basically still a college kid, and that is stocking up on 28 cent noodle cups. Ready in just 3 minutes, these noodle cups provide very poor nutrition, but are a great meal in a pinch, especially when you're trapped on a plane with nothing but ice and hot water. (tip: use the hot water to make the noodle cup) While these are certainly not the healthiest meal option, when one of your entire 2-week paychecks goes to rent, you really can't afford to be all that picky.

4. Take what you can and need to survive
My own personal motto for this job is "if it's free, it's for me." By following this motto, I am able to save a plethora of money by acquiring things at no cost that I would otherwise have to buy. For instance, I always take advantage of the breakfast included with my stay at the hotel. I can usually get a square meal to start my day off right, and stash a piece of fruit or something for a snack later in the day. I also save my hotel soaps for later, because using a bar of soap one time and then throwing it out is wasteful and, quite frankly, just plain stupid. And while technically this isn't a cost to you, by bringing that once-used bar of soap home, you've eliminated your need to buy a bar, saving you money. Plus, you've already paid for it with the cost of your room.

5. When you're poor, you can't afford to be embarrassed
One time, while I was cleaning up the plane between flights (yes, when you leave a mess behind, it is ME who has to clean it up, not the magical airplane fairies, so please keep that in mind), I found a seemingly untouched chocolate muffin that a passenger left behind. I ate it, and let me tell you, it was the most delicious muffin I've ever tasted. #noshame

6. Accept gifts without remorse
Occasionally, a captain I'm flying with will buy me a coffee, a pastry, or a drink on an overnight. At first, I felt bad because I don't like people buying me things, but then I realized that they make about 6 or 7 times more than I do, and that was the end of the guilt. And it took me a long time to be okay with this one, but if your boyfriend wants to buy you dinner (or a car or a house), let him!

7. Exercise your right to impeccable discounts
The best way to save money is to never pay full price for anything if you can help it. Scour the weekend papers for coupons, search online for coupon codes, and take advantage of weekly grocery specials. The only way I can afford to get massages (which I desperately need in order to de-stress and remain relaxed enough to keep my job) is by purchasing them at a deep discount. Individual salons sometimes offer discounts on various services, usually around holidays such as Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and Christmas. However, discounts are offered year round on sites such as Groupon (see link below). This site is basically my BFF. I spend more time on there than I probably should, but it allows me to afford luxuries I wouldn't otherwise be able to, so I'm okay with it!

https://www.groupon.com/visitor_referral/h/1519a21c-aad7-433d-9351-7272014cfcb0

8. Treat yourself!
No matter how little you make, if you don't indulge in a few little splurges now and again, you will live a sad, miserable existence. So whatever your poison, be it a new pair of shoes, a bottle of nail polish, a day at the zoo, or even a cheesesteak, buy it! Just make sure that all your bills are paid first.

Update: one year later

So I did indeed make it through flight attendant training, with flying colors, might I add. And after doing so, I began flying more hours in a week than I was sleeping, and promptly forgot all about my blog baby.

Here I am, a year later, picking up where I left off, thanks to the suggestion of my captain on this trip. Shoutout to Mike S. on that one!

As much time as I spend in the air, I try to balance out work and play with doing the things I love on my days off. These include activities such as reading, shopping, baking, frequenting spas, scrapbooking and other crafts, and figuring out what I actually want to do with my life.

My original plan was to be a flight attendant for a year or two before going to law school. However, I no longer believe that law is the correct path for me. The trouble lies in determining what the correct path for me is. At 13 years old, I set these life goals for myself, which, up until about 8 months ago, I followed. It was extremely hard to let go of the plan I had so carefully crafted in my youth, and now that it is gone I feel completely lost.

I am hoping to discover my life's passion at some point this year, and begin taking the necessary steps to make my newfound dream a reality. Until then, I will continue on as I have for the past year, calming the woes of the everyman traveler, and finding happiness in any small thing that I can.