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1) Other parts of the world offer cheaper labor costs...that is exactly right. No one can deny that.
2) What we earn does not keep up with the cost of living....well, that depends. Cost of living meaning what we have grown accustomed to, or do we all really, in fact, earn enough to have a roof over our heads, food to eat, and heat in the winter?
The fact is, we have a standard that we don't want to go below, and we then claim that we need to be paid more. We blame everything on the "greedy" rich, and we vote to tax the snot out of them. The rich then leave to go to other countries where they can find cheap labor, and we lose jobs. As was stated, most people are not equipped for those remaining jobs that require higher skills, so we are stuck with jobs that pay lower. And then we can't afford to live like we want to live. So we turn around and blame the greedy rich, we state we should be paid more, and the cycle continues.
The fact of the matter is, we have no one to blame but ourselves.
You are really just trying to skip the real issue here aren't you? This has nothing to do with people with overspending and if it did you could at least show some evidence that it did. Trying to say the poor overspend is just your way of saying the poor should be happy with their miserable lives.
You are really just trying to skip the real issue here aren't you? This has nothing to do with people with overspending and if it did you could at least show some evidence that it did. Trying to say the poor overspend is just your way of saying the poor should be happy with their miserable lives.
I have seen cheap studio apartments in Chicago for as little as $575 a month. Relatively safe and somewhat desirable locations too. These are usually quite small, but if you're just starting out, you don't need much space. Leave some crap at mom and dad's until you can afford something bigger.
As for entry level jobs, $12/hr might be about average, possibly a bit less for some entry level blue collar jobs. It's not hard to find those types of jobs north of the city. Unfortunately, the concentration of blue collar jobs have pulled huge volumes of illegal migrants, who in turn, have depressed/held down the wages.
But you're talking about Chicago - I am not. $575 would be considered a low budget for a shared apartment, much less a studio, here in Boston. Not totally impossible to find if you're ok with 3 or 4 roommates and not being close to public transit, but a few hundred below average.
As far as space, all of my stuff currently fits in my 10x10 bedroom (that doubles as my living room and office) and a corner of the kitchen. I could easily live in a 300 or 400 sq foot space - but not willing to pay close to $1000 to do it (and with a cat, would rather live with roommates and be able to shut my cat out of my room at night than have him jumping all over me in a studio).
Chicago is a great city to start your career off in because it is so cheap. I've had several colleagues leave to move to Chicago recently. One just moved from what I would consider a cheaper suburb of Boston to downtown Chicago and is saving $500 for a much nicer, much more convenient apartment. Heat is even included! I'll be able to move in a few years once I'm out of the relapse fear woods and get the clearance to leave from my medical team.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dabottom
what about an efficiency apartment?
Still expensive and fairly limited. I've seen efficiency apartments on Craigslist and they tend to be likely illegal basement or attic apartments, and go for $900 - plus you have to factor in reduced cooking capabilities.
My real point wasn't so much the pure cost but the dramatic increase in cost of living in comparison to stagnant wages.
But you're talking about Chicago - I am not. $575 would be considered a low budget for a shared apartment, much less a studio, here in Boston. Not totally impossible to find if you're ok with 3 or 4 roommates and not being close to public transit, but a few hundred below average.
As far as space, all of my stuff currently fits in my 10x10 bedroom (that doubles as my living room and office) and a corner of the kitchen. I could easily live in a 300 or 400 sq foot space - but not willing to pay close to $1000 to do it (and with a cat, would rather live with roommates and be able to shut my cat out of my room at night than have him jumping all over me in a studio).
Chicago is a great city to start your career off in because it is so cheap. I've had several colleagues leave to move to Chicago recently. One just moved from what I would consider a cheaper suburb of Boston to downtown Chicago and is saving $500 for a much nicer, much more convenient apartment. Heat is even included! I'll be able to move in a few years once I'm out of the relapse fear woods and get the clearance to leave from my medical team.
Still expensive and fairly limited. I've seen efficiency apartments on Craigslist and they tend to be likely illegal basement or attic apartments, and go for $900 - plus you have to factor in reduced cooking capabilities.
My real point wasn't so much the pure cost but the dramatic increase in cost of living in comparison to stagnant wages.
Others are living off government which acts like parents ;so I don't see the point. Is Op and others saying we should kick them all out?
While I don't entirely agree with your comments about the government, I do agree there's nothing wrong with family helping out. That's what the hard right types say about people on welfare and other types of assistance.
When I was poor my life was a crap sandwich....Now that I have lots of bread I don't have to eat much crap!!!
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