Title: Arts Majors Can Save on Housing Costs
Have you ever heard the saying, “starving artist”? It doesn’t have to be that way. You’d be surprised at how your arts degree can help you save money, especially on housing costs.
Why pay for rent and bills when your job can cover them? Many jobs strictly for artists not only entail performing but also providing room and board. Truth be told, I’ve only paid rent for about two years in the past decade thanks to my theatre (or could be music) degree.
You see, I had one rent year when I decided to go back to school. Another year I was working in bustling New York City, with an additional three months also spent there working. One might think living in NYC is expensive, and yes, it’s true. But the arts industry can offset these costs.
Take my example. When I landed my highest-paying job in NYC (at the time), earning $53,560 a year, despite having to pay for an apartment, utilities, food, and commuting costs, it was still financially worthwhile. Fast forward a few years, I was on a big show in NYC again, pocketing $115/show, usually doing seven shows a week.
Sure, the cost of living in NYC is high, but remember, a quarter of your income can still be saved, which isn’t too bad. Just imagine 80-90% of even a small salary being saved or used to pay off debts! And that’s the kind of savings I enjoyed for the majority of the past ten years, all thanks to my so-called “stigmatized” theater degree.
My theater degree led me to working on ships, which not only covered my living costs, but also provided some unforgettable adventure-filled experiences. The expenses incurred turned out to be massively discounted. For entertainment, we’d occasionally splurge on a fancy meal at the top restaurants onboard, but that was a rare extravagance.
Later, I toured and lived on a train. Although I had to buy groceries, I was still able to save substantially and pay down student loans. Then, during my time on tour, the hotels offered enough free food to live frugally, and I was able to save my entire paycheck. And when I was between gigs, I either visited my parents, stayed with friends, or took vacations.
Starting your career in such a job, although the salary level is not great (at merely $25,000-$30,000), with your housing covered, you can save a decent amount. Additionally, as your income grows over time, you’ll find that you can save even more without feeling any financial pinch.
So, any other artists out there reaping similar benefits from their arts degrees? Do share your experiences!