Let's Hear from Those Making Minimum Wage or close to it. Are you getting by comfortably enough??

[Kibbiekat]

Originally Posted by jencam

ok, but the point is working 40 hours or less is another ridiculous thing to say people should be able to live on on minimum wage.

MW are not going to get to work LESS than most people AND have a 2 bedroom to themselves. This is all nonsense.

The comparison is ridiculous. You made it, not me. I also never said anything about a 2 br apartment.

The thread was supposed to show people making it on min wage. It didn't. Everyone who answered either lived on min wage years and years ago, is subsidized by parents, or social programs, or is retired and has a low mortgage on a house bought years ago. People starting out right now, offered $8/hour, or whatever it is now, can not support themselves, except for maybe in some select low COL areas. Maybe.

[jencam]

Originally Posted by Kibbiekat

The comparison is ridiculous. You made it, not me. I also never said anything about a 2 br apartment.

The thread was supposed to show people making it on min wage. It didn't. Everyone who answered either lived on min wage years and years ago, is subsidized by parents, or social programs, or is retired and has a low mortgage on a house bought years ago. People starting out right now, offered $8/hour, or whatever it is now, can not support themselves, except for maybe in some select low COL areas. Maybe.

I have friends on MW. They have SO's/ roommates, share cars, etc. That is the way it is. Or one can rent a room. If 'making it' means a single person working only 40 hours per week in their own apartment and car, correct, that is unlikely. And unrealistic.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by jencam

I have friends on MW. They have SO's/ roommates, share cars, etc. Or one can rent a room.
That is the way it is.

And that is the way it always has been as well.

Even years and years ago when rents were lower...
and even for those who had some family help available to them...

If 'making it' means a single person working only 40 hours per week
in their own apartment and car, correct, that is unlikely. And unrealistic.

And that is the way it always has been as well.
---

What could be argued is that in any specific high RE cost place (Los Angeles, NYC, etc)
that a dollar could be stretched farther than today... that having only ONE roomie to share with
would have been required to hold it together rather than having two (or three) today...

But that argument comes up against the far deeper problem of total number of work hours available
at the MW level relative to the total number of people available at the MW level today. We have fewer.
Actually we have a lot fewer hours available.

[NancyDrew1]

Originally Posted by redguard57

It depends how we define "living."

MW was never meant to be a "family-supporting" wage. Especially not a large family. It was however, supposed to be enough to support a single person at a basic level or enough for two partners to support a small family.

The "Living Wage Calculator" says that a living wage in my area is $11.65. Sounds about right. Two people making that could afford a low end 2br or duplex around here and probably afford to keep 1 kid clothed and fed.

Living Wage Calculator

In 1968-the 70's and maybe early 80's. minimum wage DID support a family

You wanted more than basic necessities, you got an education or moved up in your current job

Many jobs that didn't require a College education back then, now do.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/politic...family/2171338