How do people survive making minimum wage?

How do people who don't have any financial support from relatives and haven't been to school survive? Working at a retail store/fast food/etc full time is barely enough to pay rent, let alone have extra money left for food/clothes/car payments/bills/insurence. It is hard for an average person to move in a position like that. If I didn't have support from parents I'd see no other choice than the military. Do people usually get money from the government in these situations?

Also I don't understand when I see Mexican people in the store, who look like they have recently immigrated to this country, pushing carts full of items. How can they afford to buy so much stuff? I also see them driving new looking cars, and they are not speaking english. How did they get to where they are?

First things first, you might want to edit out that second paragraph. Might get moderated for "Racism." Just a head's up. :P

I don't know how most people survive on minimum wage, but it takes both people in a marriage to have jobs to make it by. I worked at a retail job for a year, and a lot of people there were in that position. There were even a few married couples working there. It was kind of sad really since I'm only 19 and I did it to earn a little spending money, they're 30's-40's and doing it to have money to get by. :(

They work long hours and dont buy much.

They work long hours and dont buy much.

Wolls

Some of those people your talking about could be criminals ;). You know you can make alot of money selling drugs and stolen stuff. Not saying that's the way to go but you'd be suprised how many people make a living off of it. But to answer your question no you cannot work full making minimum wage and still afford rent, food, gas, car insurance, health insurance, utility bills, and what not. It's just not possible which is why there is food stamps and government assistance available.

[QUOTE="Wolls"]

They work long hours and dont buy much.

WeaponXY

They save enough money to buy the basic necessities. They get a second job. Or they work their asses off for a pay raise. Plus, they can still get an education and get a job that pays $30,000+ a year such as teaching or construction.

They save enough money to buy the basic necessities. They get a second job. Or they work their asses off for a pay raise. Plus, they can still get an education and get a job that pays $30,000+ a year such as teaching or construction.

leviathan91

It involves instant noodles. LOTS of instant noodles

they do just that, they survive

They work long hours, multiple jobs, and only buy what they need.

They save enough money to buy the basic necessities. They get a second job. Or they work their asses off for a pay raise. Plus, they can still get an education and get a job that pays $30,000+ a year such as teaching or construction.

leviathan91

i make 34k a year and live in Texas (one of the states with the lowest cost of living) and its still tough to make ends meet sometimes. the people who legitamitely live off of minimum wage are doing something to supplement income (either living with room mates, working a second job or something to offset the cost) so even 30k a year isn't that much and is more of a "just enough to scrap by" kind of situation

as for the immigrants that can't speak english but can fill up a cart and drive nice cars. well, lets just say theres probably an overwhelming majority that are completely using the system. so their stuff comes byproxy of those of us who are here legally and working. so yes, i'm paying for someone else who is here illegally. we all are, which is a big reason why the US is becoming increasingly in debt.

[QUOTE="leviathan91"]

They save enough money to buy the basic necessities. They get a second job. Or they work their asses off for a pay raise. Plus, they can still get an education and get a job that pays $30,000+ a year such as teaching or construction.

z4twenny

i make 34k a year and live in Texas (one of the states with the lowest cost of living) and its still tough to make ends meet sometimes. the people who legitamitely live off of minimum wage are doing something to supplement income (either living with room mates, working a second job or something to offset the cost) so even 30k a year isn't that much and is more of a "just enough to scrap by" kind of situation

as for the immigrants that can't speak english but can fill up a cart and drive nice cars. well, lets just say theres probably an overwhelming majority that are completely using the system. so their stuff comes byproxy of those of us who are here legally and working.

^ thanks! i'm pretty proud of it :P

Try living on £20 every 2 weeks not knowing if your going to have enough money to pay the rent.

They probably have a second job that pays minimum wage also, or possibly even more than that. Like, teachers may take up a minimum wage job just for the summer.

Also, they probably don't have a lot of luxuries, they just buy what they need and that's it.

Well, some of them get money back from their taxes, even though they don't pay any, and othersget food stamps and other help from the government or organizations.

Try living on £20 every 2 weeks not knowing if your going to have enough money to pay the rent.

clyde46

hah, i've actually been homeless living out of my car living on less than that. i literally lost 90 pounds in 3 months cuz i was only eating twice a week. of course i was jobless so that was my own fault :o

They work long hours and dont buy much.

Wolls

pretty much

when I was living at home or in the dorms, I would buy like one game a month. Now I am lucky if I buy more than 6 games a year.

After bills, rent, and food I generally am able to save 50 bucks and put it into my savings account every time I get paid.

Its tough, and I do have my college degree, but I love my job so much and I do get by comfortably enough. I get paid 1/2 of what I should get paid, but the way I see it is that I am putting in my time. I am getting a ton of good experience, and not a lot of jobs would have given me such a huge responsibility. I am essentially in charge of all production