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$34K is higher than the median per capita income in the United States, so if it's horrible, most people in the US have horrible salaries. For a 25 year old, it's not bad at all! A lot of people the OP's age are having trouble finding stable, full-time jobs. It sounds like the OP at least has that. It might not be a great job, but it doesn't sound like a horrible one either.
That's the whole point.
Salaries have not kept up with inflation.
That's why ppl are over their head in debt, (are you debt free? do you take out loans for cars- even used? do you have a credit card balance right now? if you had an emergency today and had to go to the bank and take out $3-4K -could you? if you are saying NO- you do not make enough money)...
... and both spouses work, so their children are "latch key" kids, and something like 30-40% of ppl (and countless children) are considered obese because all they can eat is pasta and high starch food.
(starches like corn and wheat are government subsidized to growers, so growers don't have to charge a lot of money so is cheap- meat and veggie growers are not, so they have to charge more)
Do you have only meals with fresh veggies and meat, and NO pasta, noodles, bread, beans, rice at every meal as a "filler"? If you answer no- you don't make enough money.
Can you make a big salad for lunch for work or do you just make a sandwich- PB & J, American cheese slices? Do you send your kids to school with a PB and J sandwich and cookies? Instead of a salad, meat sandwich, fresh fruit? If you answer yes- you don't make enough money.
Do you only eat chicken, hamburger meat, hot dogs, sausage, or liver? Do you look at tri- tip or flank steaks, prime rib, eye round roasts, loin of lamb, lamb chops, veal cutlets but put them back? You don't make enough money.
Do you shop at the supermarket, instead of the farmers market because the farmers market is "too expensive"! Than you don't make enough money.
If you or family members- due to a medical condition- had to go on a special diet and you had to buy organic, be gluten and dairy free, and shop in a health food store- could you? If not, you don't make enough money.
If both parents work- what would you do if the spouse with the highest salary was fired or laid off. Would you be able to pay your bills and live, keep your apartment or home? If not- you definitely do not make enough money. (and this has happened to me)
So yes, $34K MAY BE the the median income, but an existing wage is not a livable wage. That's the problem.
That's why ppl are over their head in debt, (are you debt free? do you take out loans for cars- even used? do you have a credit card balance right now? if you had an emergency today and had to go to the bank and take out $3-4K -could you? if you are saying NO- you do not make enough money)...
... and both spouses work, so their children are "latch key" kids, and something like 30-40% of ppl (and countless children) are considered obese because all they can eat is pasta and high starch food.
(starches like corn and wheat are government subsidized to growers, so growers don't have to charge a lot of money so is cheap- meat and veggie growers are not, so they have to charge more)
Do you have only meals with fresh veggies and meat, and NO pasta, noodles, bread, beans, rice at every meal as a "filler"? If you answer no- you don't make enough money.
Can you make a big salad for lunch for work or do you just make a sandwich- PB & J, American cheese slices? Do you send your kids to school with a PB and J sandwich and cookies? Instead of a salad, meat sandwich, fresh fruit? If you answer yes- you don't make enough money.
Do you only eat chicken, hamburger meat, hot dogs, sausage, or liver? Do you look at tri- tip or flank steaks, prime rib, eye round roasts, loin of lamb, lamb chops, veal cutlets but put them back? You don't make enough money.
Do you shop at the supermarket, instead of the farmers market because the farmers market is "too expensive"! Than you don't make enough money.
If you or family members- due to a medical condition- had to go on a special diet and you had to buy organic, be gluten and dairy free, and shop in a health food store- could you? If not, you don't make enough money.
If both parents work- what would you do if the spouse with the highest salary was fired or laid off. Would you be able to pay your bills and live, keep your apartment or home? If not- you definitely do not make enough money. (and this has happened to me)
So yes, $34K MAY BE the the median income, but an existing wage is not a livable wage. That's the problem.
all great points, but I want to add a few...
Do you have a flip phone or a smart phone? (instead of fresh veggies)
Do you have a 55" LED/LCD/Plasma TV? (instead of fresh proteins)
Do you have an ipad? (instead of lamb chops)
Do you have an xbox? (instead of being stay-at-home dad)
Do you have designer hand bags? (instead of home made salads)
Do you have 200 channel cable TV? (instead of gluten free meals)
See, there are decisions and compromises - observationally, there are some great cars in the section 8 apartments and some very nicely dressed and accessorized poor using EBT cards to buy carts of junk food.
I agree, it's hard to earn a "living wage" but the definition of "living" in the United States is much much different than other poor populations.
Do you have a flip phone or a smart phone? (instead of fresh veggies)
Do you have a 55" LED/LCD/Plasma TV? (instead of fresh proteins)
Do you have an ipad? (instead of lamb chops)
Do you have an xbox? (instead of being stay-at-home dad)
Do you have designer hand bags? (instead of home made salads)
Do you have 200 channel cable TV? (instead of gluten free meals)
See, there are decisions and compromises - observationally, there are some great cars in the section 8 apartments and some very nicely dressed and accessorized poor using EBT cards to buy carts of junk food.
I agree, it's hard to earn a "living wage" but the definition of "living" in the United States is much much different than other poor populations.
Yes I have a cell phone,
Yes we have a 60" flat screen TV,
I wouldn't pay for designer hand bag or clothes because they are no better than others and why should I give them my money and make them even richer. But can I buy them? yes.
All your examples are THINGS- that go out of style when the latest and greatest comes along, breaks down, and becomes obsolete within the yr.
And I'd rather eat gluten free, since that is what my specialist doctor told me to do for a medical condition, than watch 200 TV channels. And How many of those 200 channels do you actually watch- MAYBE 10 or 12?
I do not skimp on food- you are what you eat. We also buy organic toothpaste, etc, since I already have mitochondrial damage due to pollution and chemical exposures in life (as opposed to job related)
I don't need electronic toys, but I do have and support a horse, 2 pet goats, 1 pet sheep, 4 rescue cats (2 are barn cats) and 6 rescue dogs ( 2 of which are on prescription medications)
Our house costs $325K, property taxes at over $7K
should I go on?
yes, we all have our priorities and spend whatever money we have, for different things. But the point is- the less money you make, the less things you can buy, no matter what your heart desires.
people on cd seem to think you is personal, english doesnt have an impersonal "you" and they cant read between the lines well enough to dissociate from "you" not meaning "me" when they read it
it's not bad for a 25 yr old who lives with his parents and has no clue what he wants to do in life...
that was my point several pages back advising him to get out on his own and realize that nice things take money and until you desire nice things and can't afford them, you'll be complacent at your easy $34k/yr job.
As it is now, he probably lives in a nice place (for free) and eats nice meals prepped by mom. Until he's living in a 750 sq/ft apartment and eating pasta and Ragu sauce every night, he's not going to desire or be motivated for MORE.
It's easy to point out the $34k as not enough and that he should work harder to do better, but frankly not everyone has the competence or skills to get that better job, and better paying or more sophisticated jobs may not even be available in the area, necessitating an expensive and likely risky move.
The key for people at wage level is to get married and not have children. If he married someone making what he does, that would be $68k and would give that couple a lot more flexibility than living alone.
It's easy to point out the $34k as not enough and that he should work harder to do better, but frankly not everyone has the competence or skills to get that better job, and better paying or more sophisticated jobs may not even be available in the area, necessitating an expensive and likely risky move.
The key for people at wage level is to get married and not have children. If he married someone making what he does, that would be $68k and would give that couple a lot more flexibility than living alone.
you're right. But when someone is contemplating graduate school certain academic/aptitudinal inferences can be made.
Regardless, barring any physiological/psychological hurdles, people his age who are earning a decent living -- and asking about how to do better - should be urged to leave the safety net / risk-less confines of home.
OP - Going over the posts you've made, on the 14th you were applying to grad school in health care, then three hours later posted that you were thinking about an MBA, on the 18th you said you wanted to get an MBA because you wanted to be "financially successful", on the 20th, you asked what career we all recommend, then on the 27th you're saying you're depressed because your mom lectured you on your lack of focus in your life.
Here's my recommendation assuming you really want to make changes in your life: Get some counseling first for your family and emotional issues, and ask your counselor for a referral to a career coach or counselor for your career issues. I don't think you're going to get what you need online, and you seem to be struggling with this on your own. Just my opinion.
Graduated from college been working at an okay job making 34k, while living at home with my parents at the age of 25. Contemplated going back to school for a masters or doctorate to hopefully land a more real job. My mom said I need to get a real job and I am wasting time, which I kinda am. Feeling hopeless and aimless on what I want to do with my life which is why I haven't applied. I always did what my family wanted me to do, now I have graduated and see that I don't want it. I think all I want now is to escape from the family pressure, just run away and never talk to family again. I was always the "golden child" since I was a good student and went to a good university so parents had high expectations for me. Now I feel like a failure. When friends and family ask me what are my next plans in life. I usually give out a cop out answer, but I don't really want it. Family gatherings they always talk about me saying what am I doing blah blah blah. My cousin is doing this this and this. So I try to stay away from those, saying I am busy working or something.
My cousin went to graduate school straight out of college, while I took a break. One year, became 2 years, 2 years became 3 years. My family has been frustrated for awhile and when they yell at me I just tend to shut down and feel sad. I spend a lot of time just sulking and contemplating my future. My mom was like if you keep waiting your cousin is gonna be done with his school and you gonna still be a loser. So that sucked. Feel like life is moving on and I just still want to be a kid or something. If I had a decent career making 80k per year I wouldn't go to back to school. Life just sucks at the moment, I just want to disappear become invisible. All the pressure is overwhelming. At this point I feel like I will just apply to whatever profession, no matter what. I don't care what I do as long as I get a decent paying job. I feel like every family member has a piece of rope tied to parts of my body and just pulling me into certain directions. Saying do this do that. I know I can't continue working these crappy jobs. I hate these low paying jobs. I rather be miserable and well off than miserable and broke. Anyone share the same frustrations? Just want to vent and talk to people who understand my situation.
Find a job in a different state and move away. Start over new elsewhere and visit your family during the holidays.
It sounds a whiny teen. She has lived with her parents and hasn’t had to do anything to contribute. now it might be another example of a self entitled person who hasn’t even experienced life, but it seems they are in a predicament. so get a job and stick with it. it might not be easy but it all about priorities. a degree these days dont even guarantee a job no joke its what you do to keep food on the table. you have to start low and work ur way up thats what I do.
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