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As more and more States are moving towards a higher minimum wage, it will be easier to make a living on close to minimum wage if you don't have kids, take the bus, live close to work and spend wisely.
I would suggest to people who make a low income to live in a place like Spokane where there is a good economy and the cost of living is still low but the wages are higher due to a higher minimum wage. The minimum wage is also high in Oregon. If you move out of Seattle or Portland there are lots of jobs and a low cost of living.
Other posters talked about living in places like New Jersey and not being able to survive on minimum wage because of high housing costs. If you make a low income why live in New Jersey, move to the sunbelt where you can rent a nice apartment for $600 a month.
As more and more States are moving towards a higher minimum wage, it will be easier to make a living on close to minimum wage if you don't have kids, take the bus, live close to work and spend wisely.
I would suggest to people who make a low income to live in a place like Spokane where there is a good economy and the cost of living is still low but the wages are higher due to a higher minimum wage. The minimum wage is also high in Oregon. If you move out of Seattle or Portland there are lots of jobs and a low cost of living.
Other posters talked about living in places like New Jersey and not being able to survive on minimum wage because of high housing costs. If you make a low income why live in New Jersey, move to the sunbelt where you can rent a nice apartment for $600 a month.
I agree--move to a place where life is more affordable. I know many people that have moved out of NJ specifically because of the high property taxes there--they are just unreal there. Catch being you need to have the money to move...
You don't even need to move to the sunbelt--just get out of a major metro area into a more rural area pretty much anywhere in the country and you are looking at housing costs under $500/month in a nicer place in a safe neighborhood.
As more and more States are moving towards a higher minimum wage, it will be easier to make a living on close to minimum wage if you don't have kids, take the bus, live close to work and spend wisely.
I would suggest to people who make a low income to live in a place like Spokane where there is a good economy and the cost of living is still low but the wages are higher due to a higher minimum wage. The minimum wage is also high in Oregon. If you move out of Seattle or Portland there are lots of jobs and a low cost of living.
Other posters talked about living in places like New Jersey and not being able to survive on minimum wage because of high housing costs. If you make a low income why live in New Jersey, move to the sunbelt where you can rent a nice apartment for $600 a month.
Not only is their min wage the highest, they also get all of their tips. There is none of that horse puckey about getting a lower wage if you work for tips. You get the min wage AND your tips.
However, you are talking about friends who live in eastern WA. Put those friends over in Seattle, and they would have a very different lifestyle; one that is in no way comfortable at all.
I find it amusing that one side wanted to up the min wage because they "deserved it", and all it did was benefit the other side, not themselves.
I definitely think someone bringing in $2500/month could live well. Imagine if they did what was already mentioned and rented a room...or share an apartment with a co-worker or friend. This could put them at $500/month. If their car is already paid off, they have it REALLY easy. I imagine they could save/invest over $1000/month.
After a few years of doing this, they would have $25k - enough for a big down payment on small home.
This was not one person making $2500/month, it was two people. Big difference there...
This was not one person making $2500/month, it was two people. Big difference there...
I think the difference isn't too big.
The only thing that drastically goes up is the food bill. Two people buying things in bulk should be able to eat on $600/month - nothing fancy but they would get a healthy amount of calories.
They could still share an apartment with someone or another couple.
I presume both have the option of working some overtime too.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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If they decided to move from Spokane to Seattle they would be struggling and living in a really small, beat up studio in a bad area. Even in Spokane, if they should they decide to have kids they will be on public assistance. Hopefully they can improve their situation soon, because those jobs are not going to provide much of a retirement income, and are subject to layoffs in fluctuations in the economy. It's not a sustainable career.
The only thing that drastically goes up is the food bill. Two people buying things in bulk should be able to eat on $600/month - nothing fancy but they would get a healthy amount of calories.
They could still share an apartment with someone or another couple.
I presume both have the option of working some overtime too.
It's not the costs going up but 2 people sharing in those costs vs one. One person paying $600 in rent vs 2 people paying $300 makes a huge difference in a budget...
I grew up in Spokane. Better yet, I spent my teens-20's waiting tables in Spokane.
Yes in WA ... it is minimum wage + tips! Now $9.32/hr + tips??? Sign me up?
Waitress at Dennys in Spokane makes $9.32 + tips
1br apartment in Spokane avg $600
Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed
The only thing that drastically goes up is the food bill. Two people buying things in bulk should be able to eat on $600/month - nothing fancy but they would get a healthy amount of calories.
They could still share an apartment with someone or another couple.
I presume both have the option of working some overtime too.
And medical insurance. I spend more on medical insurance than groceries each month, and I don't spend $300/month on groceries. Transportation, even if it's just a second bus pass for $100/month if you even live somewhere where a bus pass works. Clothing/misc expenses double. Those aren't necessarily huge if you're thrifting, but they're more than zero, at least in long term.
And "bad area" in Seattle is kind of a joke. The bad areas of Seattle are no worse than Spokane as a whole. Spokane is one of the most violent, crime ridden cities in the country. It isn't Detroit, but it's by far the worst city in Washington.
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