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I think it's absurd to suggest people on MW are living comfortably. Stuff is so expensive nowadays and you're lucky to cover basic needs. Why do u think so many MW workers are on some sort of government assistance?!?!? Because they don't earn enough money, pretty simple. I have a suggestion for OP. Come out of retirement for a minimum wage job and see if u can support yourself and your family if u have one on it -- Base it off the federal MW number.
i always say give anyone living near min. wage a million bucks and they would have no trouble spending and enjoying every penny desipte how many feel those that endulge in certain things are foolish..
those creature comforts and wants they could buy will spoil many of them to the point they would understand that it is the wants in life that are nice and that despite the fact they felt they didn't want such things they sure would enjoy them .they would want that money as often as someone would give it to them.
basic food,shelter and used clothing can be had in lots of areas for very little.
not many would choose to live like that unless forced to but it can be done.
the point is while millions live on low income and quite a few say how they need little else in life there are few that would not jump at the chance to have those other things once they got a taste of them and few who tried it wouldn't prefer to move that lifestyle up a few notches if they were able to.
Last edited by mathjak107; 01-18-2014 at 04:32 AM..
I think it's absurd to suggest people on MW are living comfortably. Stuff is so expensive nowadays and you're lucky to cover basic needs. Why do u think so many MW workers are on some sort of government assistance?!?!? Because they don't earn enough money, pretty simple. I have a suggestion for OP. Come out of retirement for a minimum wage job and see if u can support yourself and your family if u have one on it -- Base it off the federal MW number.
In retirement my wife and I live comfortably on about the same income as these folks I talked about in the original post who live in higher minimum wage Spokane. (In Spokane a much higher minimum wage and lower cost of living gives them a relatively comfortable lifestyle.) I AGREE, it's tough to live comfortably on minimum wage in high cost of living places like DC and NYC where the minimum wage is low and rent is high.
Retiring in nyc with a million bucks and ss would just about give you a middle class lifestyle ,maybe a little under if you have to pay for medical insurance until medicare.
Retiring in nyc with a million bucks and ss would just about give you a middle class lifestyle ,maybe a little under if you have to pay for medical insurance until medicare.
Home ownership is HUGE here, this is a great example why I consider owning a home so crucial for low earners. If you own your home without a mortgage in NYC, you can retire comfortably with a million bucks, but you would be clobbered and constrained if you had to pay rent or a mortgage. Huge difference.
there were already enough homes foreclosed on which were owned by people who could not afford the homes they bought.
as time goes on home ownership can become more costly as things need repairs, expenses go up and taxes all of a sudden rise.
we need to raise the bar as to who can buy a home now not lower the standards.
want a big boy home ? get a big boy job with big boy income. .
What do you say to someone who rents a home for 30 years but was not allowed to buy it?
"Oops, sorry! We thought you wouldn't be able to afford it so we didn't let you buy it." ???
What if that person CAN afford a big home but CHOOSES to live frugally in a small home? They should be denied that admirable option of frugality and prudence because some unworthy burger flipper might be able to buy it?
sorry but it isn't a class thing. living hand to mouth at any income without demonstrating you have both the income and the savings if you should be out of work to meet your obligations will not and should not get you a mortgage.
if you can do both on minimum wage good luck. perhaps you can find a hobble somewhere that would satsfy the bank if it is cheap enough and your over all expenses low enough.
it all boils down to them looking at their chances of getting paid back without every problem you run in to in life being their problem.
What do you say to someone who rents a home for 30 years but was not allowed to buy it?
"Oops, sorry! We thought you wouldn't be able to afford it so we didn't let you buy it." ???
What if that person CAN afford a big home but CHOOSES to live frugally in a small home? They should be denied that admirable option of frugality and prudence because some unworthy burger flipper might be able to buy it?
How is that NOT class warfare?
Doesn't exist anymore in the States. There was a time when banks would not lend to blacks or women when you had a point. Today you do not. The person renting a home for 30 years is allowed to buy a home anywhere they want.
In my area, you can find homes (SFH, not talking condos or duplexes) down to 600-700 square feet. Anything smaller than that and you have to do it yourself. It's completely legal to do, it's just the cost is prohibitive. Very few people want something smaller than 600 square feet and are willing to pay for it. Most will take the same money and buy something larger for less out of the available existing home stock.
i always say give anyone living near min. wage a million bucks and they would have no trouble spending and enjoying every penny desipte how many feel those that endulge in certain things are foolish..
those creature comforts and wants they could buy will spoil many of them to the point they would understand that it is the wants in life that are nice and that despite the fact they felt they didn't want such things they sure would enjoy them .they would want that money as often as someone would give it to them.
basic food,shelter and used clothing can be had in lots of areas for very little.
not many would choose to live like that unless forced to but it can be done.
the point is while millions live on low income and quite a few say how they need little else in life there are few that would not jump at the chance to have those other things once they got a taste of them and few who tried it wouldn't prefer to move that lifestyle up a few notches if they were able to.
??? There is nothing I would run out and buy. Yes I would buy a house but I would shop hard for it and would not cost more than the median for my area. And I would choose that house with rental income in mind - perhaps a duplex or four-plex. And I would probably buy a car which would save me a lot of time and help me earn more money - nothing extravagant about a 2010 Nissan Altima. And maybe $500 worth of clothes. That's it.
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