What do you think; could you survive on minimum wage?

Question

Check out these links,
The links are from Oprah’s show that aired July 28th 2006.

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200604/20060414/slide_20060414_284_102.jhtml

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200604/20060414/slide_20060414_284_101.jhtml

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200604/20060414/slide_20060414_284_205.jhtml

Two examples of a family struggling to survive:

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200604/20060414/slide_20060414_284_201.jhtml

http://www2.oprah.com/tows/slide/200604/20060414/slide_20060414_284_203.jhtml

Please look at the links b4 answering, these are people with SKILL(HS diploma or even College graduates, adults well in their 40's even!), & not to mention Bush has just made the job market more difficult to even get a job let alone "move up".

I'm talking about ALL over the USA (not other contries), & technically if it was livable, then why is it considered below poverty level, that means it is NOT livable... or else they wouldn't declare it below poverty level. DUH!

Answer 1

No you can't live off it. I'm getting further in debt every month after working 60 hours a week. They don't care about the little man as long as they have their 6 digit salary.

Answer 2

yes you can survive with minimal money..im a single mum 3 kids..i have to survive i have no choices..we dont have sky t.v. or broad bands. or plush stuff. we live basic..and the only reason why i got this computer was because im on a pay as you go dial up. and the cheapest dial up you can imagine. if i couldnt afford this then it would have to go to. our food is limited. i packed up smoking because i could not afford it any more. i dont go out. and i dont drink. i dont have a car. ive a push bike like the kids so to get to school we go by bike. this is surviving on minimal wage. but we are all ok and happy. we are a family. and it always wasnt this way i lost my £20.000 a year job with a company car 7 weeks ago..now we just get 70.00 a week a big difference right and a struggle..and ive no luck so far in another job. but ill look and bring us back again. because its my job.

Answer 3

Yes, I believe it is possible though certainly with very strong limitations. Really it depends on several factors such as:

1) Location of the individual (i.e small town, big city, state)
2) Financial situation pre-job (debt, credit cards etc)
3) Other pending obligations (child support, spouse alimony etc)
4) Discipline to save and only spend money on important needs.
5) Age and health

Provided the individual is in a low-income area (1), has no substantial or minimal (2)(3); strong (4) and low/good (5); he or she should be able to manage to survive on minimum wage.

Answer 4

I make more than minimum wage and can't survive on that...
I can only imagine how others are making it making min. wage. Horrible that they havent increased it since everything else around us have increased. America and the govt and its people should be ashamed to have people making 6-7 dollars an hour. How can anyone live off that?

Answer 5

You're not supposed to 'survive' on minimum wage. You're supposed to gain skill/education and move above minimum wage.

Minimum wage, or more correctly, entry level wage is for zero skill jobs for those with zero skills. The only people that should have minimum wage jobs are teenagers, students, and people just wanting a part-time job for a little extra pocket change.

If you're out of school, and you're only making minimum wage, you've screwed up. Either get your butt back to school, or start WORKING.

Answer 6

I have lived on minum wage and I don't survive on it and nobdy cares

Answer 7

Yes you can, I know people who do and did at one time myself as a single mother. If you are careful and budget you can survive. You might not be able to afford to buy a house or some of things you want, but you can survive. It isn't easy but many people are doing it.