Earning $20/hour - Who do they think they are,... Harvard grads?

[Mind_your_head]

What self-respecting Harvard graduate would work for $20/hour these days? But that's what I heard yesterday from my relative, who is married to the CEO of a national corporation you all know/have heard of/frequent, when I told them that's what people who serve some of the elderly demand/command these dayz.

I pointed out to "dear relative" that $20/hour x 40 hours/week = only $800/week.

$800/week x 4 (sometimes 5) weeks in a month = $2400/month.

Who can live on $2400/month these days with one's rent/mortgage the price of gas, the price of food, the price of heating/cooling.

Her answer: "I don't want to 'go' there."

-------------

No, I'm sure 'she' doesn't. But it's the reality for millions of americans (and many many americans make minimum wage!!!!)

How do you make Miss "I married well" understand about people who make minimum wage? :shrug:

$8.00/hour x 40 hours = $320/week

$320 x 4 weeks = $1280/month (that's without any taxes, SS, deductions taken out)

Who the h*ll can LIVE on that???? Seriously! And how can so many people turn a blind-eye to this?

[rockymountaindem]

1. They just pretend it doesn't exist

Or they go on pretending that one can get ahead simply by working harder.

Also: plenty of self-respecting Harvard grads are working for that kind of pay today because recent grads haven't exactly entered the workforce during the best of times. I know of one Notre Dame grad who is working two jobs (one of which is barista) and can barely save any money even though she is living with her parents. Trust me... she ain't spending it on herself. She's practically wearing the same clothes she had in high school and doesn't have a car. She also wears no jewelry and uses a plain regular cell phone. We know it ain't easy out there these days. As usual, the best way to get a job is through personal connections and unfortunately not everybody has good ones.

[Mind_your_head]

3. She/he works hard, I'll grant them that......

but the connections makes it sooooooooooooo 'off the scale' lucrative for them, that people who work very hard within their element (without the connections) can never EVER hope to obtain.

I guess I'm saying 'they' have an overabundance of an "unfair advantage". And then they won't even ACKNOWLEDGE, even in the slightest, that unfair advantage.

It makes me angry and bitter towards them (and those 'like' them).

[rockymountaindem]

5. Well, if it makes you feel any better

I always acknowledge my advantages. I tell everybody who will listen (I guess this means you right now) that I have the best parents in the world. I don't know if I'd call myself extremely religious, but I consider my family, among many other things, a gift from God. I'd be absolutely nowhere without them. At this point, I'd call them and the upbringing they were able to provide me a very fine advantage.

[ellie]

29. I complain about them,

but I would be nowhere without my mom, and, by extension, my sisters. They are the most supportive people ever. I have never been told I couldn't do something and their financial support has been unparalleled.

[Naturyl]

2. Millions of people on SSI live on $623 a month.

And I'm one of them, so I can't find a river to cry. Still, I understand your point and it's valid. This country is in trouble, and for the first time since the 1920's, it isn't just the poor who are feeling it.

[Mind_your_head]

8. I'm humbled.

Thanks for understanding the bigger picture statement I was trying to make.

:hug:

^ a bit 'lame', but that's 'all I've got" for now....

Peace,
M_Y_H

[valerief]

4. We need a Robin Hood who'll steal from the rich and give it to the poor. nt

[ColbertWatcher]

6. Ask her how much she would need to live on if her husband were to leave her?

Or if he were to die, or become severely disabled, or if they were sued by someone and had to file for bankruptcy, or...

[Mind_your_head]

10. I'm sure she wouldn't want to "go there".......

It just 'fits' with the tax credit crowd, ya know.......

:eyes: @ my 'relative'

[ColbertWatcher]

13. If she has never considered how her life might be without her sugar daddy ...

... excuse me husband, then she is fooling herself.

Seriously.

The next time there is some tragedy in the news, bring the subject up.

Not for politics, but to see if she's ever considered living off an insurance payment.

Is she really one of those women who has no money of her own?

Seriously?

[JackDragna]

7. I live on less.

I have to have a roommate and I spend virtually zilch on unneeded items. :)

[SmileyRose]

9. My household combined income is under $25000

That is my income. My husband had to retire early due to disability and is still fighting for SSDI. He gets $250 a month from the union. Our saving grace is union medical care, no kids, and a house bought 25 years ago with a P&I of under $400 a month - and with some frugality we manage all house related expenses at about $700 a month (including maintenence). If we didn't have that we'd be living in someone's basement. When gas was $2 I actually had a few dollar left over every month.


People with kids or people with no medical care benefits who are also sick - or live someplace where that kind of low cost to keep a roof over the head won't make it.

[Mind_your_head]

12. Yep, 'back in the day' .....one could save or set themselves up

with low cost mortgages where they had a long-term PLAN, and realistic HOPE of seeing it through. It's not true for young people today.

The system is just not set up that way anymore. It's very bad.

[cliffordu]

11. My wife and I live on about 1200 a month...

But:

We have absolutely NO debt - we live in a paid-for airstream and pay 375 a month rent.

We have no car. No cellphones, no real extras.

She and I live like royalty.....



"The stuff you own, actually winds up owning you..."

Tyler Durden, Fight Club.

[MiniMe]

14. Don't forget taxes. And it depends on where you live as to whether you

can live on it or not. You can't in California, New York, or the DC area. But there are places where you can.

[Mind_your_head]

15. I can live on $400, no $300, no, no $200/month!

Let's see who can live the lowest and count it as the most 'blessing'.....that person *wins* YEAH!!!! :eyes:

g'nite y'all!

Peace,
M_Y_H

[Naturyl]

18. Thanks for ridiculing your less (financially) fortunate brothers and sisters

But despite your eyerolling, if a person feels like royalty regardless of their income, then they are way ahead of a lot those who may be rolling their eyes.

Lao-Tzu said "he is rich who knows he has enough." Jesus said "many who are last shall be first." But I'm sure those guys were just fooling themselves, too.

[Sherman A1]

16. You raise an interesting point

and to some degree it was covered in Moyers interview with Andrew Bacevich this last Friday Evening. I would suggest if you can find the link to watch it or track it down somehow. The man has got his stuff together.

[ashling]

17. Check your math

800 x 4 = 3200 per every 4 weeks (paid weekly) 800 x 52 = 41600 yearly /12= 3466 (paid monthly)


still, your point is more than valid

[Dammit Ann]

19. I make 20 dollars an hour.

I'm a "server", or "waitress" may be more familiar. I work my ass off every minute of every hour that I am doing my job. I go out of my way to make all happy, even co-workers. I deserve every penny I earn.

[SmileyRose]

20. Wait staff is pulling 20 bucks an hour? Really?

Are we talking fancy restaurant with the tablecloths and designer decor or are we talking Outback/Olive Garden level?

I always thought servers were at or near minimum wage.

[Dammit Ann]

21. I am the exception, no doubt. But money eats.

I'll say this, we have cloth napkins.

[mrdmk]

22. Here is the actual calculation that you would use

For Weekly:
20 x 40 = 800

For Monthly:
20 x 40 x 4.33 = 3,464 or 20 x 173.2 = 3,464
(There will be some rounding errors)

For Yearly:
20 x 40 x 52 = 41,600 or 20 x 2080 = 41,600
If the company you work for does not pay holidays, an alt equation for yearly is:
20 x 2048 = 40,960


Now I am just some sap in his midlife working and going to school at the same time

10.75 x 32 = 344

10.75 x 32 x 4.3 = 1,479.20

10.75 x 32 x 52 = 17,888


Lucky for me, I have an understanding wifey, and for moment we will make it!


As far as the original topic, some people have never known hunger and if they are lucky they never will!

To answer your question, as far as collective bargaining (unions) and social safety nets (Social Security and Medicare) you need to go back to the late 1940's in the era called the Red Scare. The Anti-Labor Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 was the start of the Union Busting. Anything to do with socialism (i.e. the U.S.S.R.) was very bad and very much propagandize by the U.S. government. The 1980's, there had been a lot of union busting (the Reagan years.) From there to this point now a hard push by the unions to turn back the tide to no avail, the unions are in such a weak state it is not even funny. Corporations can get away with some much now without no enforcement by the government. To give back power to the unions will require a strong push by the citizens of this country to repeal all anti-labor legislation. One can forget about the government helping. In short the American population have been brainwashed.

[SoCalDem]

23. here ya go.. a budget.. (generous at that)

EDIT..cannot do it.. gasoline & food have almost doubled since i wrote this :(
If the kid is small & cute, maybe Mom can sell it:)


original thread


SoCalDem Donating Member (1000+ posts
Wed Mar-21-07 04:09 PM


A single mom with one child can live easily on $10 an hour

IF they can both eat on $2.88 a month
and no one gets sick...or the car does
not break down..and she drives with
no car insurance..and the kid never
outgrows clothing or shoes

[Cobalt Violet]

25. Those numbers seem outdated.

They seem stuck in the 80's.

[SoCalDem]

27. That was my point.. $10 an hour TODAY, even with

GENEROUS leeway on bills would not cut it..and with most people not even able to GET fulltime work, even 35 hours a week is hard to come by..

Rents in come places are not terribly expensive, and there's always the possibility that the Mom in the budget, may be sharing a house/apratment...but even with that possibility, there is NO way it works:(

[Evoman]

24. I would kill to make 2400 a month!

:rofl:

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

26. Unless they got lots of scholarship money or their parents paid for most of it....

I'd say it sucks that they went to Harvard because now they've got a huge debt. I guess it matters whether or not you are talking about people who just graduated versus people who have been out of college for a while. For the ones that just graduated, I wouldn't be so alarmed. Starting salaries are always lower and they will most likely get several raises over time.

[TomClash]

28. You're talking CLASS WAR!

Why do you hate America?

Why do you want to steal money from hard-working CEOs and shareholders?

Are you a terrorist?

:sarcasm:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

30. 800 X 4 = 2400?

Um, these Harvard grads need to bone up on their math.

[nanbrown]

31. low wage earner here

I graduated from college in the 70's. When I was in my 30's, my husband contracted AIDS and I cared for him until he died. Subsequently, I became the caretaker for several family members until their deaths. Upon reentering the working world, I found that no one much wanted me for even entry level jobs (I applied for over 150 jobs in a three city area). With this experience and being realistic, I went to the local joblink, womens' centers and other (what I had hoped to be helpful) resources for career opportunities outside the healthcare realm. Nada. If you don't have a conventional resume and lots of computer skills, good luck to you. I am now in a full time blue collar heavy lifting job at 53. I am grateful to have it. It is hard work. The pay sucks. I wish I didn't live in a right to work state and could join a union. If you think there aren't a lot of folks in my shoes, look around. I take home around $1,400 a month and so took on a roommate to help with my bills. I scrimp and have to watch my money, but am not in debt and can definitely make it. There are folks I work with who make nearly a third less than I do, but they have another working adult in the household.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

32. Share this with your sister:

Her life is full of blessings. That said, she is apparently loathe to do the right thing, and pass some of those blessings on. This makes her, for all her wealth, a broken person, excreble. I have no respect for her, regardless of her social station, for respect is earned.

And no, attending charity functions at the country olub is not passing the blessings on.

[DU GrovelBot]

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