Could you live off of $5.15 per hour?

[Haole Girl]

I didn't think so.

I say vote out every single incumbent who refused to increase the minimum wage. They did take the time to increase their own pay, of course. They should be ashamed. We should all be ashamed.

:grr:

[nytemare]

1. I had a hard time living on $7 bucks 10 years ago.

Back when gas was 89 cents a gallon.

[petronius]

2. Sure, if I work 168 hours per week...

And I largely agree with you about incumbents. However, in this cycle I'll be voting for whichever candidate can win who is not a Republican, no matter what their history. But if I was considering individual candidates on their merits, the MW vote would be a major factor...

[wildhorses]

3. you are nicer than me...

you do NOT want to know what I think we should do:grr:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear KC2........

I agree completely.........

It especially frosts me that they always give themselves a pay increase! :nuke:

I am ashamed.....on behalf of our working brothers and sisters who are being nickled and dimed to death.....while the Congress dithers on about gay marriage and other such red herrings!

The whole mess really upsets me no end....... :grr:

[Haole Girl]

17. Thanks.

Yeah, I took a break from DU and politics...I was so upset. But, then, I watched a recorded Oprah show, when she had Frank Rich as a guest, and got angry all over again!

I then let my husband "have the TV" for the rest of the evening. :eyes:

[dolo amber]

5. I *could*, sure

If I wanted to rent a rat-infested efficiency in a really dodgy part of town and live on packaged food (ramen, mac & cheese made with water, etc). If I wanted to work 2 jobs, 80 hrs a week, which I had the opportunity to do only because of family and friends would watch my kids. I've lived on and supported me and my 2 girls on about that before.

Now, is that any life for anyone to *have* to live in the richest country ever on earth?

No. Hell fucking no.

[mainegreen]

6. Sure, if I was earning that in Malawi.

Otherwise, no.

[philosophie_en_rose]

7. Minimum wage will be almost $8 in Washington.

Either way, there's no way I could live off of that.

[Haole Girl]

19. At least it's higher in Washington

I wasn't aware of this..thanks. :hi:

[philosophie_en_rose]

21. Yep. It goes up every year, by statute.

I think it's 7.80 something and will be 7.90 something on Jan. 1.

[Nikia]

8. Not as things stand now

My school loans alone are over $400 per month.
I suppose without them and any other debt and not having my husband if he weren't earning money, I could survive with careful planning. I would have to live in a cheap apartment close to work and a grocery store (maybe my job would be at the grocery store). I would have to be sure never to get sick and always make the correct economic decisions such as buying food as cheaply as possible and clothes as cheaply as possible, only when I really need them.
If one has any dependents, gets sick, has any debt, makes any buying decision that isn't necessary to substain their life and job, or has to rely on a car for transportation, I don't see how it is possible especially in more expensive markets.

[Dem_4_Life]

9. Probably not, we should be ashamed..... nt

[In_The_Wind]

10. No, I couldn't.

[Dukkha]

11. Morgan Spurlock demonstrated it well

when he lived on minimum wage for 30 days. In theory it is doable, but only if you work constantly, use only public transportation, and eat the cheapest gruel like food. Most of all you absolutely can not have any surprise bills like medical expenses or you are fucked.

[Generic Brad]

12. I've lived on less

And it was not pretty. I was a full time student, part time employee and a newlywed with a wife who was unable to work at the time. But that was also over two decades ago.

[OllieLotte]

13. I assume that $5.15 per hour is the minimum in Georgia too.

I can tell you that I don't know anyone earning that. Illegals were getting $7-8 5 years ago.

[Blue-Jay]

14. Sure, if I was still living with my mom.

Otherwise, hell no. I got bills to pay.

[Kajsa]

15. Thank you, KC2!

You bet I will vote out anyone who doesn't support a
minimum wage increase.

With the price of housing, $5.15/hr. is a cruel joke.

To all the asshats who don't support the increase- let's
cut your wages and see how you make ends meet.

I'm so glad you posted this, KC2.

:hug: :yourock:

[Haole Girl]

20. Well, thank you!

:hug:

[Deja Q]

16. In 1973 value, $5.15 is quite reasonable.

:D

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. Actually, in 1973, the minimum wage was $1.65.

But at that time, you could rent a 1-bedroom apartment for $75 and buy a pair of Levis for $7 (made in USA). A week's groceries was $20 or less.

[mark414]

18. shit i had trouble living on $7 an hour just 2 years ago

and i even had a couple roommates to help balance out the costs. working fulltime and everything

it was not fun

the minimum wage should be $8 or $9 or least

(and anyone who's against an increase is obviously not a minimum wage earner)

[Oeditpus Rex]

22. I ran some numbers on this a few days ago

When I got my first jobs (besides my paper route) in 1974, minimum wage in California was $2.50. In 2006 dollars, that's $10.78.

That ain't no fuzzy math. That's fuzzy Congressional logic.

[elocs]

23. Actually, I could, but it would be a very spartan lifestyle.

I only have me to worry about, so that makes it easier. I have made less than $5000 this year, although I subsidized that with $2000 from savings. My lifestyle has not been much different from last year when I made $30,000. But I am alone and know how to live within my means and an fortunate enough to be in good health. I have money in the bank and owe nothing to no man.
My circumstances are very unusual and most people and families could not have any kind of life making only $5.15 an hour. It is high time that the minimum wage was raised and I would be willing to pay more for goods and services to accommodate an increase.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. No way!

My rent alone is more than 160 x $5.15.

[Broken_Hero]

26. nope, not at current

in the past I have lived on 6.50 an hour, with multiple roommates...and we were lucky to have a cheap house for rent...

[WhollyHeretic]

27. If I gave up a couple luxuries like say eating and heat

[Wcross]

28. Maybe.

House paid for, no vehicle, no health insurance, cheap food, no extras.

Thats no way to live.

[Zorra]

29. Maybe, if I lived in Guatemala and only ate every other day. n/t

[Lady Effingbroke]

30. I can, and I have.

In all honesty, however, I didn't eat very much.

It isn't living, it's surviving.

[Giant Robot]

31. My rent is more than a month at minimum

Not to mention the ridiculous amount I spend every month to get out of debt, which is more than rent. So no.

[NMMNG]

32. Who could?

And I mean actually live, not hang out in mom's basement and pay for nothing but your entertainment and a few incidentals. I mean pay for housing, car, utilities and everything else.

[emmajane67]

33. NO, just no!!! n/t

[mduffy31]

34. I make 4 times that an hour

and I have trouble getting by sometimes. Of course I also have a few things that I could do without, but I work hard so i am going to have them.