Comments on: Try Living On Minimum Wage

By: Kay Iscah

Kay Iscah — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:06:24 +0000

This is a good illustration of why you should go to college with a purpose and not just go to go. In some fields college gives you a definite edge, but in others, it really is a waste of time and money. There are jobs out there that just want you to have a degree of some kind which a general liberal arts may help with. But it’s not a guarantee of work.

Education is important, but whether a college education is “worth it” depends on what you want to do.

By: Kay Iscah

Kay Iscah — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:43:02 +0000

Would you prefer to live in a country that had no minimum wage?…honestly if you can find better, there are ways to immigrate.

By: Kay Iscah

Kay Iscah — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:41:02 +0000

I actually wrote a book and maintain a blog on exactly how you do that. Biggest help is to cut rent and utility expense by sharing the cost with roomates of some kind. Live a healthy life style (no smoking, no drugs, no gambling, keep alcohol moderate or tea total, eat properly and stay active). Ideally minimumwage would be a temporary situation for entry level workers, most people will be able to demand better salaries as they gain experience and raise their level of education. I wouldn’t recommend starting a family while on minimum wage, but it’s enough for an individual to get by in most cases/places.

By: F*ck This

F*ck This — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:44:14 +0000

I am often saddened by the fact that I was born in this country, called falsely by the arrogant “The greatest country on earth”. My Father who is COLLEGE EDUCATED worked two full time jobs when I was growing up. he went to work at 7am and didn’t come home until 1am. That’s 16 hours a day EVERY WEEKDAY just to barely afford to live in a one bedroom that he wasn’t even able to sleep 8 eight hours a night in. Just to barely feed a family of 4. Just to come home at night and realize he has no time for leisure because in a few hours he will have to go to work again. I used to think of myself as lucky to be born in a rich, developed country. I used to actually thank God for that… Until this “greatest country” decided it was my turn to be bent over and given a beat down. Now I’m being put in this awful position. Not because I’m “uneducated” or “don’t deserve it” or I’m “lazy” but simply because I was born by chance in a 7.25 minimum wage country. F*ck that!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:45:17 +0000

Very sad numbers! When will the Government open their eyes? The Government NEEDS to recognize that Americans will never be able to Boost the Economy of the United States if we can’t even afford to pay for gas to go to work. I live in a family of four 2 adults and 2 children. Both my significant other and I drive 35 miles one way to work, that’s 140 miles a day. I wish the Government would relax the burden on it’s majority population and redirect their attention.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:16:06 +0000

I had 2 jobs and lived with my girlfriends mom and her for years .I got tired of it .So I stole from areas where people had money did 3 years prison .Will never regret it .I used to regret but know I see I have been a good person the entire time .I even told the police many crimes they had no idea about because I felt bad I wouldnt have even went to prison . I knew there was no way they could know I did the crimes .

I have no problem finding mininum wage jobs that are brutal and back breaking .Daily Labor sweat shops are every where . I do not mind washing dishes for life but if I can not live on the wages why am I gonna work to just eat hell their is deer and hogs all over the place .But the problem then is rangers ,police ,people . I know how to make water well ,test water disinfect a well .But why would I want to to become a reculse I am a social being . I want to work ,eat have sex and live my life .I dont know how a grown man can live on $7.25 Im not gonna try either because its just no possible unless your gay and are sucking someones else dick literally .

I can see someone living on those wages about 8 years lets say about 10 .I see it possible only if you live with another person or have section 8 or are a women with a kid getting assistance but for grown men its just not a possiblity thats why we here grown men killing people and filling up jails people still have it got it yet .A child can not live on $7.25 how they hell is a grown man going to

By: Tommy

Tommy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:52:45 +0000

I read your story and couldnt believe it! I can imagine that is me 3 years from now. Im going to County Coll of Morris because its cheap and like highschool. I wish you best luck trying to find a job and GodSpeed trying to pay off the student loans.

By: 1234567chatango

1234567chatango — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 18:25:08 +0000

Wow, 12,335. That is a lot to me and it’s no longer whatever year this article was posted. I get by on less than 1/12 of that. That’s right, 1,000 in a whole year.

I don’t work or own a home. I just about live in a car but haven’t had a valid driver’s license, registration or insurance since initially obtaining them to purchase the car.

Yet, I’m doing fine if not great. I manage to earn enough money scavenging (no handouts whatsoever) that not only am I able to eat, I was able to save enough on the side to buy this very laptop that I’m using.

Water and electricity is virtually impossible to not find for free (public fountains, open outlets located outside most if not all businesses, etc). As we speak, I’m situated in some neighborhood pirating someone’s wireless internet.

I don’t get what everyone else’s problem is. Maybe you should have gotten a job right after high school instead of choosing to leech off your parents for another 2+ years at college. Heck, you could have done both at the same time! Or maybe you should have held off having a kid that more than likely has ended up a huge burden of a failure on society.

White picket fenced home, multiple cars and a large family; is that all really necessary in an overburdened society?

Whatever your situation, it’s probably, kind of, entirely your fault and was very much preventable.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:11:18 +0000

@Steven Lang:

I don’t know what planet you live on, but obviously you’re the one with the flawed and misguided calculations.

At 14,500 / yr (1208/mo-gross)in most states in the US a person would NOT be eligible for food stamps or Medicaid! It’s above the income cutoff. In MD for example, if you gross =>1,180 you are Not eligible. In Texas you would Not be eligible. Most states are pretty close to that…feel free to check it out before you make false statements.

Yes, you can get probably get a Pell Grant to pay for tuition and part of books, but there are more expenses than just that to be able to attend. Now days you are pretty much forced to have Internet for school and Transportation is a huge cost.

Housing eats up most of the rent. Unless one is willing to live in the pits of hell and put their life at risk.

Morality does not figure into this equation and is another issue entirely. Reality check needed on both accounts.

By: Steven Lang

Steven Lang — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 21:31:30 +0000

This is a post with great intent. But by not determining the actual numbers, you have more less created a flawed and misguided conclusion.

If you make $14,500 a year… you likely pay NO federal taxes. The standard deductions along with the state sales tax deductions would cover at least 80+% of your taxable income.

If you are the head of a household, you will likely get a tax credit and refund for all your voluntarily procreating.

You also get…

Medicaid
Food Stamps
Free Cell Phone (with 400 minutes a month)
Tuition Credits (should you chose to improve your skills)

In addition, your kids get a free breakfast and lunch at school. Should you get tired of all this government subsidization there are also plenty of religious institutions and non-profits that are more than happy to help folks in need.

The real question that should be answered in your article is , “How well can you live on $14,500 a year?”

So long as you avoid people with low morals… and take car of your family’s needs first and foremost (along with your own) the answer is ‘quite well’.

By: poor

poor — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:17:45 +0000

if i did the math with my rent and minimum wage i would have 3.33 cents to spend a day. thank god i make a whole extra dollar than minimum wage. i can spend 4 dollars a day

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 05:02:13 +0000

I live on minimum wage. It’s pretty awful to have to skip meals at the end and beginning of the month so that you can pay rent.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:09:31 +0000

Sorry you’re not employable. I would be surprised if all the people in your graduating class have the same story. I’m sure most of them have jobs by now. Sorry.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:45:39 +0000

I do make minimum wage and know that the place I work for will never give a raise. I work only part time and have no car, so I can’t get another job. I didn’t ask to be born and would rather be dead. I would be better off. I have no health insurance and my grocery budget is $20 a MONTH.

By: Amber Storck

Amber Storck — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 07:21:12 +0000

Side note:
If college were free – I WOULD go – but it never is.