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How do you survive on minimum wage?
- Thread starter marsmellow
- Start date
Ds
Bluelight Crew
^^^^True, fucking true
ControlDenied
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2007
- Messages
- 3,098
its good to be grateful as long as you've got heating in colder climates, clean running and hot water, and any kind of access to food or money.
but, at the same time, the minimum wage should be about twice as high, and most products sold on the shelf about half the price.
but, at the same time, the minimum wage should be about twice as high, and most products sold on the shelf about half the price.
ThaiDie4
Bluelighter
I realise that every country has different costs of living, and different minimum wages. Even in the states (where I live) it varies greatly from state to state, city to city.
Where I live (southern VA), I pay $330 a month for my apartment (plus about $70 in utilities). It's a decent place too, washer and dryer, dishwasher, updated kitchen, fairly big bedrooms, 2 bath. I have 3 other roomates... but really, is that such a big deal?? Personally, along with the fact that it's MUCH more economical to have roomates, I also think it's a lot more fun. It can cut down on your cost of entertainment, for sure. Instead of going out and meeting friends at a movie or a bar, you can just rent a movie or watch TV with your roomies and socialize at little\no cost!
Again, I realise the cost of living everywhere is different, but I feel like $700 for rent is a bit high. If you are really barely scraping by, you should probably be prepared to accept a place that isn't going to be top-notch. There are apartments around here with rent as low as $200- they aren't the nicest places, but they are livable.
What is sad to me is that (as ControlDenied stated) even though living on minimum wage may be possible, it probably really isn't a lot of fun
I think it's sad that people are expected to live that way. I mean, in some cases it's a matter of not working hard enough to get a better job, but on the other hand, that's all people can find sometimes in these tough times.
Where I live (southern VA), I pay $330 a month for my apartment (plus about $70 in utilities). It's a decent place too, washer and dryer, dishwasher, updated kitchen, fairly big bedrooms, 2 bath. I have 3 other roomates... but really, is that such a big deal?? Personally, along with the fact that it's MUCH more economical to have roomates, I also think it's a lot more fun. It can cut down on your cost of entertainment, for sure. Instead of going out and meeting friends at a movie or a bar, you can just rent a movie or watch TV with your roomies and socialize at little\no cost!
Again, I realise the cost of living everywhere is different, but I feel like $700 for rent is a bit high. If you are really barely scraping by, you should probably be prepared to accept a place that isn't going to be top-notch. There are apartments around here with rent as low as $200- they aren't the nicest places, but they are livable.
What is sad to me is that (as ControlDenied stated) even though living on minimum wage may be possible, it probably really isn't a lot of fun
I think it's sad that people are expected to live that way. I mean, in some cases it's a matter of not working hard enough to get a better job, but on the other hand, that's all people can find sometimes in these tough times.
hoopyfrood
Bluelighter
My rent is ~$630 a month (including utilities), and I have 4 other roommates... it's 2 bed/2 bath, so it's somewhat big...
fortunately I'm a student, and my parents are rich (relatively), so they help me out a little.
fortunately I'm a student, and my parents are rich (relatively), so they help me out a little.
Max Power
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2007
- Messages
- 9,890
![:\](https://bluelight.org/xf/BL_Images/Orig_Emoji/wrygrin.gif "wry grin :\")
hoopyfrood
Bluelighter
^ very, but I'd like to be able to completely support myself. Mooching off my parents isn't the best feeling in the world
cosmic charlie
Bluelight Crew
ThaiDie4
Bluelighter
Dude, I get like all my money from my family. I think when you are in school (I'm in college too) it's not really "mooching".... school is like your full time job. I look at it like this... being able to devote your full attention to school enables you to get good grades and get a degree, which in turn will land you a better job- then you can truely be independent.
hoopyfrood
Bluelighter
I also think I'd be more motivated if the tuition was coming out of the money I earned
RedLeader
Bluelight Crew
This, or loans you plan to pay back in the future. This was probably the strongest motivator for me in school. And some bastard in a bunch of my classes who I wanted to beat like nothing in this world
To be honest, I don't know how I would have reacted had my parents offered to pay for a large part of my tuition/expenses. So it's likely a "walk a mile in another's shoes" type of thing. I don't know if I'd feel guilty or lucky, or (probably) something in-between.
Stealing food and silverware from dining halls was always a favourite of mine, though, for living while near broke
ThaiDie4
Bluelighter
I'm actually kinda motivated for the opposite reason. If I paid for my education, and fucked up, that's on me. But if I fuck up now, on my family's tab, I'd feel soooooo guilty... sometimes when I seriously don't even feel like studying or want to skip class, I think about the fact that I'm so lucky and that I'd be an idiot to not take advantage of it and get good grades, so into the world with a degree and no debt! I also feel proud when I get good marks because it makes my family really happy.
hoopyfrood
Bluelighter
Motivation, all around, is a tough thing for me to find; I need to not worry about it, and just do my shit.
lazydullard
Bluelighter
I have no motivation. I stay out of school, even though my parents would pay for it. I'm choosing the minimum wage life on purpose.
Someone asked something about Alaskans and free money. There's two sources:
1) If you're native, sometimes you get free stock in your native corproration when you're born. The pay off is a few times a year (uh.. like normal stock "dividends" I guess). The checks I've seen have been 20 bucks to 300ish.
2) Every AK resident gets the "oil dividend" in octeberish yearly. Last year is was like a 1800 dollar check just for the sake of being an alaskan resident. Seriously, free money for claiming residency here, by check or direct deposit.
Also, minimum wage is 7.15 here. Rent is 760 at the cheapeast for a one bedroom apartment though. Everything's scaled up, really, but from what I gather, if you go by %, it's mostly the same as the lower 48. Except for our free cash. It's sweet.
Someone asked something about Alaskans and free money. There's two sources:
1) If you're native, sometimes you get free stock in your native corproration when you're born. The pay off is a few times a year (uh.. like normal stock "dividends" I guess). The checks I've seen have been 20 bucks to 300ish.
2) Every AK resident gets the "oil dividend" in octeberish yearly. Last year is was like a 1800 dollar check just for the sake of being an alaskan resident. Seriously, free money for claiming residency here, by check or direct deposit.
Also, minimum wage is 7.15 here. Rent is 760 at the cheapeast for a one bedroom apartment though. Everything's scaled up, really, but from what I gather, if you go by %, it's mostly the same as the lower 48. Except for our free cash. It's sweet.
ThaiDie4
Bluelighter
^ Get roomies then! If you don't know anyone that will room with you, try Craigslist!
lazydullard
Bluelighter
Oh, definitely. I'm not having any problems surviving on minimum wage. I'm looking to get settled in with some new roomates and new place before winter hits. But either way, I survive fine, and sometimes even live.
Keeps me humble, yeah.
Keeps me humble, yeah.
living on minimum is really tough. I did it for only one year..with a few familial windfalls to boot. I lived with my girlfriend, cooked rice and beans for all of my meals, drank box wine and bottom shelf jugs of gin, and basically scrimped big time.
If I didn't have insurance through my mom's job I would have been uninsured.
If I didn't have insurance through my mom's job I would have been uninsured.
Ds
Bluelight Crew
^LOL mine just makes me pancakes
When I lived in Baton Rouge I worked at a Quizno's Clasic Subs, and made $6.00 + Shitty tips(maybe $2 a day). I bought a bus pass (like $25 for the month) and cupon shoped. I wouldn't buy anything if I didn't have a cupon for it, and since I worked at quizno's I pretty much ate lunch and dinner there every day, and it's healthy
.
I sugguest you get a sunday paper and look for stuff that is on sale, and if your working at a mc donalds, wendy's, or some fast food./restraunt then you've either got a free meal or 25%-50%-75% off food. (plus if your a cook then ur good.)
As for living goes I found some roomates ( at AA meeting) and we all got a 2 bed room apt, the 4 of us shared 2 rooms, (2 per room). My rent was $250 and util's were $15-$20. It was pretty cool becuase there was zero beer in the fridge, and I didn't ever come home to pizza box's, and shit everywhere.
gl!
When I lived in Baton Rouge I worked at a Quizno's Clasic Subs, and made $6.00 + Shitty tips(maybe $2 a day). I bought a bus pass (like $25 for the month) and cupon shoped. I wouldn't buy anything if I didn't have a cupon for it, and since I worked at quizno's I pretty much ate lunch and dinner there every day, and it's healthy
.I sugguest you get a sunday paper and look for stuff that is on sale, and if your working at a mc donalds, wendy's, or some fast food./restraunt then you've either got a free meal or 25%-50%-75% off food. (plus if your a cook then ur good.)
As for living goes I found some roomates ( at AA meeting) and we all got a 2 bed room apt, the 4 of us shared 2 rooms, (2 per room). My rent was $250 and util's were $15-$20. It was pretty cool becuase there was zero beer in the fridge, and I didn't ever come home to pizza box's, and shit everywhere.
gl!
AnyCouponWorks
Bluelighter
i'm curious what state all of you are from .... just to compare costs of living.
i am from New York, and I will not say what part but obviously I won't even get into New York City - I lived there for 4 years and even having my rent paid I left the city with more than 10K of debt. I did not live "beyond" my means. I did not party, shop, etc. I went to school and worked. Anyone who has lived there will agree that prices are unconstitutional.... it's not unusual to pay $5 for a gallon of milk or $2000 a month for a shitty studio apartment.
i still am in NY but a different part. One of the highest costs of living counties in the U.S. Right now I am getting unemployment for the first time in my life and I am barely getting by. I have often wondered how people in NY could possibly live this way - even living without "luxuries" is impossible! literally. The numbers just don't work out - and there are minimum wage jobs here where I live, a lot of them. Everyone is on public assistance. I don't get it, raise wages and less people will need it - wouldn't it even out for the state? More and more people get public benefits, the state raises taxes, and the cycle goes on. Offering better pay for all kinds of jobs would eliminate so many problems. But no companies are willing to decrease their profit margin ever so slightly to accomplish this. I swear, everything is so wrong.
i am from New York, and I will not say what part but obviously I won't even get into New York City - I lived there for 4 years and even having my rent paid I left the city with more than 10K of debt. I did not live "beyond" my means. I did not party, shop, etc. I went to school and worked. Anyone who has lived there will agree that prices are unconstitutional.... it's not unusual to pay $5 for a gallon of milk or $2000 a month for a shitty studio apartment.
i still am in NY but a different part. One of the highest costs of living counties in the U.S. Right now I am getting unemployment for the first time in my life and I am barely getting by. I have often wondered how people in NY could possibly live this way - even living without "luxuries" is impossible! literally. The numbers just don't work out - and there are minimum wage jobs here where I live, a lot of them. Everyone is on public assistance. I don't get it, raise wages and less people will need it - wouldn't it even out for the state? More and more people get public benefits, the state raises taxes, and the cycle goes on. Offering better pay for all kinds of jobs would eliminate so many problems. But no companies are willing to decrease their profit margin ever so slightly to accomplish this. I swear, everything is so wrong.