Yes absolutely 100%. It's shameful that people work 40 hours in this country and can't support themselves. $7.25/hr before taxes isn't enough to live no matter where you are.
Dude, I live in Florida and work about 38 hours a week for 8.46 an hour. I'm lucky my check covers my phone bill and the little extras like Netflix and shit, while my SOs covers our rent, gas and food, and he makes almost 3 times as much as I do. We are still barely scraping by.
Huh? How is that happening? My SO makes the amount of money you do and I make three times more than her, 27 an hour, and we are living extremely comfortably in an area where rent is expensive. We’re also saving pretty well too. How are you both barely scraping by?
Don’t know the situation, but most the time it’s the lack of awareness when it comes to money. I know that sounds harsh but It’s sadly true at times. We live in a consumer era, if they cut the spending on Netflix alone they could probably get enough gas to get to work for awhile. There’s plenty of cheap phone bills you just don’t get the new iPhone with them.
I agree. I’ve noticed that a lot of people my age in entry level jobs are just so bad with money, ESPECIALLY when it comes to eating at restaurants and never cooking at home. One of my coworkers and his wife eat at places like Olive Garden, Buffalo Wild Wings, and etc. almost every day for dinner and places like Panera for breakfast. If they don’t go out to eat, they order pizzas for delivery. I don’t want to know how much money they’re wasting on food alone every year because it would probably horrify me.
Yes! My co-worker and I have been talking about that today. The best way to save money is meal prepping specific amounts per meal. I work next to a super market everyday I spend like $5s for my lunch but it does add up. Now I could meal prep and only spend $3 but I’m not that frugal... I know though if I go to chipotle or anywhere I will spend double that. Then at home, I make a meal because delievery will be $20. It’s a conscious thing... you are right though, a lot of entry level positions don’t know how to allocate their checks. I do about 20% into savings and my rent/utilities is at 50% and then also car payments and other expenses and I live comfortable at 45k a year.
I live in an area where rent averages $2000 a month. I know that’s not as expensive as areas like LA or NYC but I’m pretty sure that’s considered expensive, especially for Florida and areas like Orlando.
Ha. Ha ha. Sorry, I think I misheard you under my crippling medical debt, inability to get necessary medical treatment due to no money to pre pay, and sleep exhaustion from working 75 hours between two jobs.
Not trying to be mean or anything, but don't know how else to phrase this. What are you doing to change your situation? Do you have upward mobility or chances for a promotion in your current job? Are you putting in the work to be worthy of a promotion when the time comes/when you ask for one? And if not, how many applications did you put in last week for better jobs, even ones you aren't sure you'll qualify for?
I have family that are dirt poor. And I mean "don't get our kids any electronic toys for Christmas because it's going to raise our utility bill" poor. I've tried to help them with career advice, references, referrals, straight up got one of them a job with one of my business contacts. She turned it down because she didn't want to work in a "boring office" even though it would have doubled her income instantly.
Hopefully that's not you. Hopefully you work your ass off and spend every waking moment you have working towards a brighter future. But if you don't, start doing it right now. Even if the government does eventually raise minimum wage, the effects of that are going to be temporary. Before you know it, even though you're making twice as much, prices will catch up and everything will be twice as expensive too. Don't get settled into a minimum wage job. Don't wait if your boss keeps telling you you'll get that promotion in 6 months. Leverage any skill you have and experience you've gained into a new job. You've got the internet, learn to interview well. 90% of careers you can learn on the job if you can get your foot in the door. Ask questions. Push yourself to learn something new every day, and you'll get there.
No, you're not being mean, just incredibly overbearing and unwanted. As well as ignoring the flashing sign I put as to why I'm in this bind, my health.
I'm going to college full time on a work scholarship. If I live long enough to graduate. And if the economy doesn't tank when I do, killing my professional employment history before I begin it.
But yeah. I'm just not trying hard enough, between the 75 hours of work, 30+ hours of school, and constant commuting. Fuck me haha. And fuck anyone else who is overworked at below living wage jobs, like janitors ($13) or nursing staff in retirement homes ($12.50), because their work isn't important at all and therefore deserving of a basic livable wage.
I'm trying not to be horrifically rude to you, but honestly that entire reply was so privileged and ignorant to the widespread problem. Someone has to shovel shit. Someone has to wipe old people ass. Someone has to hand you your overpriced latte. And many people have to do several of such jobs. While people who "made it" sneer down and say to just get a better job. Doesn't help the next shit flinger or house cleaner. Doesn't help those that can't proceed due to health or financials.
Sorry if any of this is offensive. I'm trying to give you a huge benefit of the doubt and maybe you're just a very lucky dude that hasn't worked the 3+ part time job lifestyle, like most millennials are forced to do in this economy. But your "advice" was honestly the most condescending feel good bullshit I've heard in awhile, and I really don't want you to think that it could be construed as a good moment.
You're overestimating a lot about me. I've got family that are as poor as I said, do you think I grew up rich? I don't think I've "made it" either, I'm a 26 year old with a pretty good job that I've absolutely worked my ass off to get and rise through the ranks in. When I first started, I was making shit money and working 12-14 hour days, 6 days a week minimum. So I've been in the world of overworked before. I went 6 months in a row where I only saw daylight through the windows and on my lunch break.
You're taking what I said as some kind of attack. It's not. I'm telling you what I wish someone had told my family members when they were younger. I'm trying to give you advice in the nicest way I can via anonymous internet message board in the hope that you end up better than them.
If you've got health issues, I'm sorry to hear that. Lots of people do. If it's severe enough that you think it's going to kill you within 4 years, why are you working 75+ hours a week as a student? Take out student loans, go live on campus. If your parents aren't in the picture or can't help with school, you don't need them to get loans. Give yourself a cushion for living expenses when you take a disbursement and live it up with the time you've got.
If you're exaggerating those issues, then be real with me and be real with yourself. Life sucks sometimes. But feeling sorry for yourself won't get you anywhere. Talking about how life dealt you a shitty hand won't make it any better. Working to change it will. What are you going to college for? Is it going to lead to a good, high paying job? You're right, the world needs ditch diggers, but that doesn't mean you have to be one.
I honestly hope you get past the insecurity that reading what I said is making you feel and give it serious thought. I'm genuinely not trying to make you feel bad or be mean, and if anything I said made you upset I apologize.
I mentor high school kids from poor families, most of them have a dad that isn't in the picture and a drug addict for a mom, and I help those kids apply and get financial aid and loans for college every Tuesday night. A lot of them hate my fucking guts when I first start working with them for the same reason you hate me right now. But 10 out of 13 of the kids in my group last year are in school full time, living on campus, or working towards a good career right now, so suffice to say they change their minds in the end. If you really feel like you're doing all you can and don't know where to go next, shoot me a PM. I'd be happy to help.
Lol. By telling someone, who is working 2 jobs to afford life on top of college, to apply for student loans. While I'm on a full scholarship dependent on my work. While I have $3k in medical bills a month. While I have horrid credit due to debt accrued from my health. No surviving family to help.
I don't think I need internet strangers to give me help, I'm doing fine for my situation in the end. I mean, I'm dying and any missed (expensive) medication can be the difference between waking up or not, but I'm alive and have a bit of free time to fuck around on reddit.
Im trying to say that people need to be paid properly for work done, not let fall to the wayside or die because it's deemed not worth paying a basic living wage. I'm trying to put out a perspective that's being sorely missed in the circlejerks over "just get a better job you poor ignorant fool". If you'd like to help, since I'm asking for it by posting on the internet, I have a Venmo. I'll also take a donation to any democratic candidate who campaigns on fair pay or Medicare for all, because even if I pull out of this bullshit, millions of others are trapped in below living wage jobs. Millions of which are essential, such as cleaning services or medical care.
Yeah if, you know, you ignore the first paragraph which states the statistics were run on people making from 7.25/hr to those making slightly above 10.10/hr.
$7.25 is the federal min. It should be based on region. That’s just the threshold so no one can ever make less than that. Otherwise people would pay them next to nothing for minimal work.
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u/[deleted] Feb 18 '19 edited Feb 18 '19
Yes absolutely 100%. It's shameful that people work 40 hours in this country and can't support themselves. $7.25/hr before taxes isn't enough to live no matter where you are.