How bad is working a min wage job up in northern Maine (1 person) (Bangor: rentals, home)

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by jeremywolf81

That's also assuming you don't have vehicle expenses too, which let's be honest, any place in Maine where you can find a rent for $500 with heat included is unlikely to have many if any jobs within walking distance or anything resembling public transportation. Also 15k/year assumes close to 40 hours per week, which with most minimum wage jobs is optimistic to say the least.

There are a number of towns in northern Maine where you absolutely must have a car, true. These would be the very small towns. But in some cases you can survive without one. I did, for over a year.
In the bigger towns, there are jobs you can walk to.
Sitel is a call center which just moved from Loring to downtown Caribou; this means any one living in town can walk to it. But they also have a ride program; they will pick you up from just about anywhere.
They pay $8 or $9 an hour. It's not a great job, but it's a job.
With section 8 apartments, you won't even pay $500 a month. You might pay $200 or less.

[maineguy8888]

Originally Posted by bangorme

Even people making minimum wage still pay social security/medicare (about $1,150 per year) and sales taxes. I just don't think it's a good idea to uproot yourself and move to a rural area of Maine (with no car I assume) and NEED welfare to survive. The OP is asking for advice, and that's mine.

I don't think I would do it, either..........unless I had family/friends there.
But the OP asked if it is possible, and it definitely is.

[Submariner]

Minimum-Wage [$15,000/year] is well above poverty [$11,000/year].

Many government assistance programs are keyed to poverty.

On the other hand, a household with two adults working Minimum-Wage is far above the average household income.

One adult working full-time and one adult working part-time [both on Minimum-Wage] works out to be about the average household income for raising children here.

Of course in reality, a lot of these jobs are seasonal.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by 8635angelvalley

It would be horrible in Maine or anywhere in the US.

I agree that it would be a bad idea to plan your future on the idea of working Minimum-Wage anywhere.

Thankfully Maine has such a low Cost-Of-Living, it does allow for many families to do okay here. Where they would be doing much worse elsewhere.

A lot of us retirees come to Maine because our money goes so much farther here. It works better for all of us, both the small pension folks like me, and the wealthy retirees that we also have in this forum.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by bangorme

Even people making minimum wage still pay social security/medicare (about $1,150 per year) and sales taxes. I just don't think it's a good idea to uproot yourself and move to a rural area of Maine (with no car I assume) and NEED welfare to survive. The OP is asking for advice, and that's mine.

Most folks making that much cash, will not 'need' welfare in Maine.

Everyone who opts to be in SS, pays into SS. Likewise we all pay sales tax. At least we do not all pay income taxes, that is reserved for higher income folks.

[TheKezarWoodsman]

I'm not planning anything on min wage, but I'm trying to find a spot were min wage != death, like down here in ma. I'm basing min wage as most likely worse case scenario, as well, you never know....

[mainegrl2011]

It's next to impossible to live on minimum wage IMO. You might get by if you rent a room in someone's house rather than an apartment or mobile home of your own.

Here's an example in Belgrade, Maine Room for rent in waterfront home This one is $400 a month PLUS half of utilities.

Here's an example in Bangor. rooms for rent includes heat and some other utilities.

[maineguy8888]

Both Belgrade and Bangor would be more expensive than many other smaller towns in Maine. You can rent an apartment in many towns for $400-450 a month, heat included (1 bedroom).

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I would rephrase the question:

"How good is working a min wage job up in northern Maine? (1 person)"

It is pretty good for many people. They have chosen a lifestyle and they are a significant part of our smaller towns.

[TheKezarWoodsman]

off topic alittle, but is there any demand up there for jobs in the computer/IT field? or are they hard to find?