Is minimum wage enough to live on?

Question

Minimum wage is $5.15 an hour in the United States

Answer 1

In answer to your question, I doubt that anyone would think that the Federal minimum wage is enough to live on. In fact 17 states doubt it too and have minimum wages higher than the federal one.
Having said that, there are a good number of people who have no choice but to live on minimum wage, until their situation improves. There are ways to do it. If you look at the current poverty guidelines set by the Federal government, you'll notice that the rate for a family of 1 is $9,800 - below the annual income ($10,712, assuming a 40 hour work week with no overtime). How convenient. I think it would be almost impossible to do without subsidized housing - public housing or Section 8. People, including households where they want one of the parents to stay home and home school the kids, have come up with all kinds of ways to live frugally. These methods include cooking all the meals once a month, clipping coupons and joining coupon orgainzations for trading coupons, recycling cans and bottles, making and selling things, shopping at the thrift store, and on and on, not to mention that people often work 1 1/2 - 2 jobs and/or overtime to make ends meet.
I'll just leave you with a mental picture; a true story from my property management days at the Housing Authority in NYC. I once rented an appartment to an applicant who was a single man making the minimum wage pumping gas ($100 a week at the time). He came in neat and clean and with a letter of recommendation from his employer. His living arrangement and employment had already been verified and inspected (in person) by the Applications Unit. THE MAN LIVED IN A CARDBOARD BOX. He was so greatful to get an apartment in a housing project. I have to admit, I had to tear around and pretend to fiddle with papers so he wouldn't see the tears welling up in my eyes - and it's not that I'm overly soft (I've had to evict seniors, children, and invalids). That's a person trying to live on the Federal minimum wage.

Answer 2

No. But it is not intended to be a wage enough to support a family. Most persons who work for min. wage live in a household where there are other wage earners.
I live in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I have not seen a job opening for minimum wage in years. The BP gas station, near my home, has a sign up, offering $7.00 per hour. The sign has been up for more than one year. It appears that all entry level jobs around here are paying $7 or more.

Answer 3

No minimum wage isn't enough. A real living wage for 1 adult would be $6.94 per hour and when spouses and children are added the wage should be higher. I believe for a family of 2 adults and 2 children the living wage is about $19.94 per hour. Minimum wage should definately be raised!

Answer 4

It is possible to live on minimum wage if you have extremely good money management skills. But with skills like that, you would probably be able to get a better job.

It is sort of backwards, that if you can do it, you don't have to.

For tips on how to live on minimum wage, I have given you a list of places to look.

Answer 5

No. With that low pay of rate, you hve to work 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. If you have no experience, go to school and take the vocational classes. Volunteer and go ask which staffing agency would help someone who never worked in a company before. Very few do. Good luck.

Answer 6

If you live in a cardboard box and walk everywhere. Or you have about 20 room mates in a 1 bedroom apartment.

Answer 7

No, I make $12 an hour and I'm suffering.

Answer 8

Nope not realistically! I make $12hr and just get by.

Answer 9

Unfortunately it's not!

Answer 10

no