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By 30 I was so desperate to move out of home I moved in with LITERALLY every man I dated - no matter how wrong for me they were. I also stayed in an unhappy relationship for over two years because I couldn’t afford to live alone and I didn’t want to move home. Finally at 37 I was living alone and able to afford it ( barely ) and I’m happier than ever.

What’s shocking to me is salaries locally are 19-23k for jobs requiring a degree and several years experience. That amount is barely enough to live - so how is anyone surviving ?

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Congrats on making it happen though! ❤️ The reality of the numbers really need to be shared and shouted about more. I think you're right, so many people ARE struggling and barely surviving. And feeling worse than they need to about their living situation xx

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Thank you so much for saying this!! As a single 32-year-old who had to move back in with her parents for a SECOND time due to tragic life circumstances, I have felt so much shame because that's just not what you do in this culture. (I live in the Midwest, in the USA.) I agree that our society is too individualistic and we should value and celebrate community and family living interdependently with each other. If you have good relationships with your family, it's a great option to consider. Of course, everyone can't do that, and that's understandable. But for those who can and do, they shouldn't feel inferior or ashamed because of it.

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You are very welcome! 😘 So glad that you felt seen and hopefully feel less shame. Hopefully we can start accepting it more in the west and stop rating individualism so highly ❤️

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Sep 26Liked by Lindsey Jane Gordon

This speaks to me so deeply and while I’ve carried so much shame around this for a long time, more and more I’m choosing to embrace the beautiful moments I’m creating with my circumstance that I’m in. Not bemoaning the past or longing for some version of the future that hasn’t happened.

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Love that you're able to sit and enjoy the present more ❤️ so glad that the post resonated and you felt seen by it xx

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It's exactly why I show up here, to help normalise it and help others feel less alone ❤️❤️😘 You're never failing it's just a different path and choices. Thanks so much for commenting, it really means the world. I'm so glad that it resonates and helps you xx

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Thank you for writing about this. So happy to have found your Substack! This resonates with me so much as I'm about to move back in with my parents after living abroad for 6 years. Amazing how simply reading your words makes me feel less alone and less like I'm failing at life so thank you, Lindsey xxx

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