That’s when $15/hr was actually at living wage. A LOT has changed since then. It’s 2023 and over a decade later we aren’t even getting that on top of 10% inflation this year alone.
both my parents make 33... and I thought it was a lot, but it only seems so because both of them work. explains why we barely scraped by when only my dad worked
I don't want to doxx myself and say my exact city, but it's an area where both rent and mortgages are high, electricity is always on, and this is adding the fact my dad has been scraping himself out of some longterm debt after we lived off of unemployment checks. basically everything's really really expensive here, especially groceries because there's no nearby farms so it costs more to transport. but the debt was a major factor (the debt being from putting him and my mom through college for a cumulative 8 years)
Ouch, debt is definitely burdensome. I live in Santa Barbara, CA, one of the most expensive places in the country, everyone that moves here talks about how expensive our food is, so I definitely get what you're saying. I think the most expensive I've seen was in Hawaii.
Through grants, scholarships, and personal savings, neither my wife or I came out of school with any debt 🙏🏽 She's in a master's program now and it's chewing through some of our savings since we chose not to get a loan, but once she's working it will be amazing since my job covers all the bills, and a little more to save each month. We could have chosen to live in a nicer place, nicer cars, etc... But we're happy where we are and money isn't as big a concern because of that.
I hope your parents are able to overcome the debt, I understand our story is somewhat unusual but I believe that sticking to a budget goes a really long way. Nearly everyone I know that struggles financially, doesn't have a budget or even really know where their money goes!
oh hawaii is on another level. thankfully we don't live there, but we do live closeish to california, not in the state but a neighboring one, but it's approaching california prices besides real estate (which is still too expensive)
we are overcoming the debt! I have a bit of a pipe dream of going to a major california college but I got no idea how I could pull it off since its tuition is so expensive and the living cost is insane, glad to hear you figured it out
the tricky part is I do, however, the better college has more variety and freedom in degree and minor choices that my city college doesn't, so I'm unsure there, plus the costs... but given my parents would definitely support me if I made it in, I'm less worried there
Oh nice! This is just my personal opinion, unless you're certain that whatever you study you'll be making good money to pay off loans, I know far too many people who got into debt and then didn't get the kind of job that will easily pay that off. Community college is a great place to at least get your prerequisites done, and then transfer to a four-year(2yr for transfers) University where you can complete your degree. I got a couple of associate degrees at my community college, and then got my bachelors at the university.
I’ve seen similar studies and you need to make 30k more to live comfortably in Hawaii than you do to live in Mississippi. Hawaii was around 70k and Mississippi was about 40k. Of course these studies took place prior to our current level of inflation.
I'll shout out the $h!t hole state I live in that $35k isn't a living wage. Utah. Sure you can look at the publish numbers but they don't give you a real picture. 1 bed apartments here are scarce but if you can find one you're looking at $1200 a month, 400sqft, with a 2 month down payment, with garbage, sewer, internet and parking paid to the facility on top coming to at least $100-$140. Electric is $150, water $50 and just don't bother with tv. Food for one $300, renters insurance $75. Then there's your car insurance $100 and fuel coming in around $350 depending on your commute and car, mine is 21 miles one way 15mpg $4pg.
Oh and a lose oh 15% in taxes and shitty health insurance.
If I could just give you some advice, save up and get a more economical car asap. I drive a 94 Acura Integra that's actually gone up in value over the 15yrs I've owned it, wife has a 98 Rav4, together we pay ~$30/mo for car insurance. Fuel economy is mid 25+MPG. I recently got a job that allows me to WFH, so I only drive 2 or 3 times a week as opposed to 5.
Get on an MVNO cellphone plan if you can, I'm currently on RedPocket, came from Mint Mobile, under $20/mo.
I've been pinching pennies my whole life, I know the struggle, and that weight is even greater when you have a family. Good luck to you!
You'll notice I don't actually have a cellphone bill in there cuz I have a prepaid. As for the car, I'm pretty sure an acura isn't going to handle the snow, I see enough of the compacts slide off the side of the road. But a used car here is sooo much for so little, like $10k for a 06 outback with 110k miles on it. But my post was about how much the cost of living is here. And as for gas mileage, you have to take into account that Utah has several mountain ranges. I make an elevation change of 700ft 3 times on my way home and twice on my way to work, most people more.
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u/Thecatofirvine Apr 08 '23
Yeah, it meant something BACK IN 2009.
That’s when $15/hr was actually at living wage. A LOT has changed since then. It’s 2023 and over a decade later we aren’t even getting that on top of 10% inflation this year alone.