I was thinking about the people who don't get an education and the life they have to live. No one can live off 6-8$? How can our country make that a minimum wage, I actually think the people who work the **** jobs work harder than those of us who got an education. I get paid double that and I can't seem to have enough money ever. How do those people really survive? Can you actually buy a house and have things if you get paid this?
2007-11-06 04:32:52 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Other - Careers & Employment
I've been there, and I've worked my way up to making more than double than what you make.
The first thing about minimum wage is that you don't stay there.
Minimum is an entry-level wage. As soon as you develop skills, you will get more than minimum, this can be in as little as a month or as long as six in most cases.
You learn to live on less at that wage, and believe me it can be done.
You are not going to own any real property, but you can still rent. chances are, you are going to have a second job for extra income.
Most places that pay near minimum wage are retail or food service, but offer employee discounts as a benefit, so your expenses are much lower, and the money goes much further. Also, at that level, you are also eligible for food stamps, rental assistance, and various other programs through government and private charities. You may even be able to get food from a food bank.
Add to that, your taxes will be NIL. You will get everything back come tax time.
It's hard to live at that level, but not impossible, and if you put forth an effort, you can leave that level quickly.
It took me two years to go from that level to where I am now.
2007-11-06 04:44:49 · answer #1 · answered by hail_loki 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
No you can't live off minimum wage. It is nearly to pretty much impossible. What makes it harder is when most companies will not hire people full time because it costs too much to pay for benefits, so most Americans have to work 2 jobs at minimum wage with no benefits. I truly do not understand it. I guess when you don't have the money you don't spend on frivolous things. Like that really nice car, or going out to dinner, you make sure all lights in the home are turned off except for the ones in the room the family is occupying, hang clothes out. It sucks it really does, America is a great country but because of the political gurus, we are not a country of unending opportunity, because we have to break our pockets and pass debt down to our children just to live.
2007-11-06 04:45:11 · answer #2 · answered by dmgoldsbo7 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Actually I have a job like that and i am not uneducated just live in an area that has no economic opportunities...i do not wish to travel as gas is too expensive...you would be surprised at the luxuries you have that make a big difference in how much money it takes to make it.
I am not saying it's easy but you can make it. I have three kids and we haven't starved yet.
But I will say that we do not have many things that others have although they are not necessary for survival.
2007-11-06 04:56:02 · answer #3 · answered by pasqualle0512 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Good question. I've wondered about this issue several times myself. Morgan Spurlock, the man who is responsible for the series "30 days," actually experiments by putting himself in someone else's shoes for 30 days. He left his comfortable home and moved, getting a minimum wage job and he found it rather difficult too. It was very interesting.
I can see how easy it would be to become homeless.
2007-11-06 04:43:19 · answer #4 · answered by ≤ Flattery Operated © 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most people who make minimum wage and have a family are likely on public assistance ie: food stamps, subsidized housing, etc.
-HR Girl
2007-11-06 04:55:38 · answer #5 · answered by Nicole R 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You learn to live on what you have... but I can't see how they do either but then again you can sign up for federal help with food stamps...
2007-11-06 05:01:54 · answer #6 · answered by De 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you can buy a really crappy house and eat ramen 3 meals a day....i guess you could survive, although not comfortably.
2007-11-06 04:40:27 · answer #7 · answered by Austin n 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
How much have you spent at Starbucks the last month? How much do you spend on haircuts per year? Video games? Your car and gas?
Believe it or not there are thousands of things you spend money on and think it is a "NEED" like gasoline. Other people do not spend money on those types of things.
2007-11-06 05:21:59 · answer #8 · answered by Joseph T 4 · 1⤊ 5⤋
They live with relatives and pool their money.
2007-11-06 04:42:58 · answer #9 · answered by Delta D 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋