[DanBev]

Our daughter thru her choice,is in Dazzlemen's post about near $1000 rent and $12.30 per hour.She has worked dead end job in grocery store for 20 years.They hand out 25 cents per year started at a dime a year.
The shame is she let time get away from her.She makes about what I made in early retirement in 1988 after 34 years,started at $1.00 per hour with no benefits from SNET.
No balance with life and income anymore.

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by DanBev

Our daughter thru her choice,is in Dazzlemen's post about near $1000 rent and $12.30 per hour.She has worked dead end job in grocery store for 20 years.They hand out 25 cents per year started at a dime a year.
The shame is she let time get away from her.She makes about what I made in early retirement in 1988 after 34 years,started at $1.00 per hour with no benefits from SNET.
No balance with life and income anymore.

There isn't polite way to put this so here goes.

If your daughter has been working an entry level store job for the past 20 years then the Connecticut economy isn't the problem. Those on the bottom shouldn't be dependent on higher earners to lift them into a better work life balance.

[BobNJ1960]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

There isn't polite way to put this so here goes.

If your daughter has been working an entry level store job for the past 20 years then the Connecticut economy isn't the problem. Those on the bottom shouldn't be dependent on higher earners to lift them into a better work life balance.

It's ok to be content at a McJob year in, year out, as long as one is content with a McWage Year in, Year Out.

[Neil Watkins]

It seems "inequality" is used in this context as a kind of emotional manipulation, like "dreamers" or "Don't you support the troops?". I don't think income equality is realistic or even a good thing.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

There isn't polite way to put this so here goes.

If your daughter has been working an entry level store job for the past 20 years then the Connecticut economy isn't the problem. Those on the bottom shouldn't be dependent on higher earners to lift them into a better work life balance.

At least in Massachusetts where the minimum wage is going to be $15 in five years, a married couple can do OK with minimum wage jobs. Fifty 40-hour weeks is a $60K household income. You can't make it in metro Boston on that income but there are big chunks of Massachusetts where that lets you afford a starter house.


Single, the math doesn't work. You're doing room mates or some similar living arrangement.


For many people, that entry level job is all they're capable of. Don't project your life circumstances on others. If you're born healthy, intelligent, and with affluent, educated parents, the deck is stacked in your favor.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

At least in Massachusetts where the minimum wage is going to be $15 in five years, a married couple can do OK with minimum wage jobs. Fifty 40-hour weeks is a $60K household income. You can't make it in metro Boston on that income but there are big chunks of Massachusetts where that lets you afford a starter house.


Single, the math doesn't work. You're doing room mates or some similar living arrangement.


For many people, that entry level job is all they're capable of. Don't project your life circumstances on others. If you're born healthy, intelligent, and with affluent, educated parents, the deck is stacked in your favor.

Every year there are people that don't graduate HS. There are people that refuse to work. Many realize it sucks being poor and change their ways but many are happy with a min wage job until they have a kid then BIG PROBLEM.

[GoHuskies]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

At least in Massachusetts where the minimum wage is going to be $15 in five years, a married couple can do OK with minimum wage jobs. Fifty 40-hour weeks is a $60K household income. You can't make it in metro Boston on that income but there are big chunks of Massachusetts where that lets you afford a starter house.


Single, the math doesn't work. You're doing room mates or some similar living arrangement.


For many people, that entry level job is all they're capable of. Don't project your life circumstances on others. If you're born healthy, intelligent, and with affluent, educated parents, the deck is stacked in your favor.

Unless the GOP sweeps the state legislature & Gov office the CT minimum wage will be $15 by 2021 then indexed to consumer price index thereafter.

Double income at minimum wage or the earlier posted $20 per hour is a starter home in CT. It won't be a top school system or desirable town but it won't be in the hood.

[Stepfordct]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

Unless the GOP sweeps the state legislature & Gov office the CT minimum wage will be $15 by 2021 then indexed to consumer price index thereafter.

Double income at minimum wage or the earlier posted $20 per hour is a starter home in CT. It won't be a top school system or desirable town but it won't be in the hood.

What you are not accounting for is higher prices to pay those wages. Its not a zero sum game. Dont forget taxes too.
At the end of the day nothing will change....
There will always be those under/over. Look at history.
The worse part is those retired will suffer the most.
Of course they might have to re enter the workforce keeping the unskilled out of work

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by GoHuskies

Unless the GOP sweeps the state legislature & Gov office the CT minimum wage will be $15 by 2021 then indexed to consumer price index thereafter.

Double income at minimum wage or the earlier posted $20 per hour is a starter home in CT. It won't be a top school system or desirable town but it won't be in the hood.

Right. The hood is where they warehouse single mothers. The 80-something percent number for Hartford is astounding. Married and dual income is middle class even at minimum wage.

[MrGompers]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

Right. The hood is where they warehouse single mothers. The 80-something percent number for Hartford is astounding. Married and dual income is middle class even at minimum wage.

Not at the current min wage of $10.10. Two full timers would gross $42,016 a year. That is before taxes.

Payroll Tax = $3,214
CT income tax = $460
Fed Income tax - $1802 (2018 rates including exemptions)
Net income = $36,540 or $702.70 per week (for two people)

No one is middle class at that income level nor will they ever buy a home.

If one person gets sick and can't work everything comes crashing down.

I haven't even accounted for health insurance which would be at least $200 a month, but a policy that cheap probably doesn't cover much.