Income VS Expenses

After doing many calculations, I've finally realized that I expend more more money than I take in. Currently, I go to school full time and work 2 part time jobs. My job's pay varies from month to month because I teach music lessons and tutor freshman composition classes and my paychecks for both jobs are distributed monthly, which means 2 paychecks per month. Currently, I'm making more money than I have in the past. However, I'll be experiencing a HUGE dry spell from May 10th through June 21st because the group classes I teach at the music school (my main source of income) will be cut off because of the recital season. Therefore, I'll be making 50% of what I'm pulling in now.

The other half of this equation includes my expenses which include my 1 bedroom apartment and utilities which totals $830 a month, food and gas which comes in at $350 a month, and then there are my "extravangances" which include my cell phone, toiletries, etc... which weigh in at around $280 a month. Grand total? $1,460 each and every month for me to live the lifestyle that I do. Is this just insane and unnecessary? Do other people need $1,460 every month to live?

My income comes in at just above this. Group classes at the music school total in at $165 a week, I make $120 a week teaching private lessons, and my tutoring job brings in $60 a week. Add in occassional lessons and random students and gigs, and I make a maximum of $1,575 a month, which is just $115 above my expenses.

However, that is cutting it close for me. I am seriously thinking about getting a roommate to cut my expenses by $375. I have a 1 bedroom apartment. So, I could convert the living room into a bedroom, but then I'd have a whole lot of extra furniture that I can hopefully give to Chris. So, if I get a roomie, I'll be making almost $500 more than my expenses which allows me a savings account as well as emergency funds. It's the only solution I've come up with. Well, that and prostitution... I probably wouldn't do too badly with that. After all, I can deepthroat you and lick your balls at the same time... ;)

Just kidding, Chris. :P