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I have made $9.50 an hour for the last 5 years. I have two credit cards that I use daily. I have never once not paid off the entire balance each month. This is with a car and my own apartment. Living on $9.50 an hour is easy.
I think it also depends on where you live, which is why I don't support a national minimum wage. You can live on 9.50 an hour in certain areas if you don't live like a Roman, but other areas it would be difficult.
I think it also depends on where you live, which is why I don't support a national minimum wage. You can live on 9.50 an hour in certain areas if you don't live like a Roman, but other areas it would be difficult.
True.....I would not be able to do it in Manhatten or San Francisco. Here in Las Vegas it is very cheap to live. My apartment only runs $365 a month, and that includes cable, phone and internet.
"Most Americans know the facts about low-wage work, but many have been lucky enough to avoid actually having to live on $8 or $9 an hour. A computer game called Spent gives you the opportunity to see what it would be like to walk in a poor person’s shoes."
I don't know what kind of clueless moron put this game together - I'm sure they were based upon "national averages" or some such popycock. But unless you are the world's most inept server, you are going to make WAY more than the equivalent of $8 per hour. Even at IHOP, for cripe's sake.
Also, where *I* live, you can get an apartment for $300 a month, so that $700+ per month figure is way out of line too.
Not to mention the fact that *I* am childfree so I don't have to worry about some inane school play *or* sliding into a parked car....LOL
That's where I stopped, because it was so darn unrealistic.
It's not "luck" that many of us earn more than nine bucks an hour. It's hard work and preparation. I resent having my hard earned ability to command decent wages lumped in with an idiot high school drop out who did not do the same.
Sam, I have already stated that I'm not just advocating tripling the minimum wage and being done with it. I think the results of doing that would be more complicated than you are outlining, but it would do more harm than good (particularly to small business owners).
I know that's an oversimplification, my point is that by raising the minimum wage you will not force people in higher positions to accept lower pay or face the loss of customers as people decide to cook their own burgers. The economy would simply adjust itself to the new value of a dollar. You may not have a problem paying more for goods because you are not hurting for money, but your salary is what it is because the market has brought it up to that amount. The pay in your field would probably increase as well as prices went up and then we'd be back where we started.
It's not "luck" that many of us earn more than nine bucks an hour. It's hard work and preparation. I resent having my hard earned ability to command decent wages lumped in with an idiot high school drop out who did not do the same.
Eleanora, where are you getting that from? Like you, I have worked hard and positioned myself well in life so that I can live a far better life than $9 an hour would afford. However, I'm still concerned for those who have to make it on those wages. Perhaps it's because I come from an impoverished area, and I have many poor relations.
But why do you think you have to be angry at anyone? Can't you be concerned for people who have to make due on less than you?
That "game" is ridiculous. Why did I pay for car insurance and then pay for the damage I caused in an accident? How come I stared out paying an overdue bill that I didn't take out? I'm sure there is a school waiver for parents who can't afford their kid's trip fee. What rigged, stupid thing this game is.
It's not "luck" that many of us earn more than nine bucks an hour. It's hard work and preparation. I resent having my hard earned ability to command decent wages lumped in with an idiot high school drop out who did not do the same.
Wow, aren't you special?
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