In your state can people live off of minimum wage?

I'm just wondering because I live in NYC and the minimum wage here is $7.25 an hour and when I do the math you will barely be able to live if you work full time. Without taxes working a 40 hour week would make you $1144... After taxes one can expect to make around $953.62. Anyone knowing anything about NY would realize that you're not going to be able to live anywhere unless you have a room mate or live in low income government provided housing. Whether that's right or wrong isn't up to me, but I don't see how people can live off of minimum wage in NY without the help of a partner. IMO for NY the minimum wage should be $8.50 - $9.00. At 850 someone would make $1111 after taxes can afford to get an apartment for 650-700 and be able to afford the basic necessities without needing the help of others.

In most states you can. In Kali, no way. Not comfortably anyway. It's hard to live here on anything less than twice minimum.

that is little indeed to be honest. Well we dont have a minimum wage, so some **** can hire you for 100$ a month. Of course i would not do it, even if it means Im going to starve to death.

Minimum is $8 here in California as far as I know, and I would definitely not expect someone to be able to live entirely self sufficiently on that... raven_squad

Minimum is $8 here in California as far as I know, and I would definitely not expect someone to be able to live entirely self sufficiently on that... raven_squad

This. Gas is like 3.10 per gallon higher insurance and energy bill also try renting an apartment in the ghetto its like 600-800 a month. You can "survive" but it wouldn't be comfortable at all.

In Minnesota I was able to do it, but just barely.

Well, you answered it in your first post, definitely not here in NY. The minimum wage in this state is a joke.

Hmm so far (i know only 5 votes but still).. so far everyone says they cant live off minimum wage. Yet we have the government telling us we arent in a depression, and there are how many unemployed they arent even counting, because they ran out of unemployment funds OR cant claim unemployment. Yay government! ... Society really should pull together here and let the government know that its time to give its people a break. ... Will that happen tho? ... no. Probably not. ... Anyways to answer the question it depends on if you are single, or if you have a family, or if your a single parent. Me, I am in the single parent boat, thats floating on top of trying to take care of 2 sick parents along with 2 kids. Minimum wage here is 7.25. Poverty level line for 2009 for a single person household is $10,830 a year.. and thats for the 48 states plus the DC. The line for a 5 member household is $25,790. ... Lets just say I dont make enough. Yes both my parents get SSI, but its not a lot, ill tell you that now.

*edited to add link*

Most places in Texas you can live just fine off of it...though not that well I guess -It would be hard to live off of that in Dallas, Austin, or Houston though (but I do not know any places here in Dallas that pay min. wage)rawsavon

Minimum wage here in Manitoba is $9.50 and the poverty line is somewhere around $25,000 for one person... so if you do the math ($19,760 gross), no, it isn't enough. I personally make $10.50 an hour and that isn't really even enough, especially now that I'm living with my girlfriend.

[QUOTE="raven_squad"]Minimum is $8 here in California as far as I know, and I would definitely not expect someone to be able to live entirely self sufficiently on that... Pirate700

Same here in NY, but I realize a $10-$12 minimum wage will NEVER happen and by the time it does the minimum wage SHOULD be $17-$20.

Province for me. Sure, but it'd be a life of continuous toil, providing no satisfaction.

Minimum wage here in Manitoba is $9.50 and the poverty line is somewhere around $25,000 for one person... so if you do the math ($19,760 gross), no, it isn't enough. I personally make $10.50 an hour and that isn't really even enough, especially now that I'm living with my girlfriend.

foxhound_fox

There's a reason it's not called Minimum Livable Wage.FragStains

So then whats the point of minimum wage if one cannot really live off of it in certain states/cities they were born and raised into. It's not always easy or simple to just get up and leave your state and it makes it harder when you don't have the money to do so.

There's a reason it's not called Minimum Livable Wage.FragStains

[QUOTE="FragStains"]There's a reason it's not called Minimum Livable Wage.bigblunt537

So then whats the point of minimum wage if one cannot really live off of it in certain states/cities they were born and raised into. It's not always easy or simple to just get up and leave your state and it makes it harder when you don't have the money to do so.

[QUOTE="bigblunt537"]

[QUOTE="FragStains"]There's a reason it's not called Minimum Livable Wage.rawsavon

So then whats the point of minimum wage if one cannot really live off of it in certain states/cities they were born and raised into. It's not always easy or simple to just get up and leave your state and it makes it harder when you don't have the money to do so.

[QUOTE="rawsavon"][QUOTE="bigblunt537"]

So then whats the point of minimum wage if one cannot really live off of it in certain states/cities they were born and raised into. It's not always easy or simple to just get up and leave your state and it makes it harder when you don't have the money to do so.

I live in CA, LA to be exact, and no, people on minimum wage alone usually struggle.

[QUOTE="FragStains"]There's a reason it's not called Minimum Livable Wage.Pirate700

Shouldn't your combined income put you guys in a better situation (assuming you have no kids)rawsavon

I moved to NC recently so I'm not sure what the minimum is, but it might be possible. Everything in here is dirt cheap. I think the problem would be actually getting to work. Even though Raleigh is supposedly a city, its tough to get around. Public transportation is really terrible around here, especially compared to Pittsburgh, Philly, NJ, and NYC. wstfld

[QUOTE="wstfld"]I moved to NC recently so I'm not sure what the minimum is, but it might be possible. Everything in here is dirt cheap. I think the problem would be actually getting to work. Even though Raleigh is supposedly a city, its tough to get around. Public transportation is really terrible around here, especially compared to Pittsburgh, Philly, NJ, and NYC. xhellcatx

[QUOTE="rawsavon"] Shouldn't your combined income put you guys in a better situation (assuming you have no kids)foxhound_fox

40 hours combined...I can see why you guys are struggling then.
(basically supporting 2 people off of one 'typical' paycheck)
-that must be really hard to make ends meet

Is that all the hours that are available, or is it b/c of school?

people can "live" off garbage, so...yes, in a sense they can live off min wage...just not like kings.

It's definitely doable in Nevada which is part of the reason so many people moved here 90-2006. Now that most houses only cost around 70k anyone could live here. Gotta love a down economy.

[QUOTE="xhellcatx"][QUOTE="wstfld"]I moved to NC recently so I'm not sure what the minimum is, but it might be possible. Everything in here is dirt cheap. I think the problem would be actually getting to work. Even though Raleigh is supposedly a city, its tough to get around. Public transportation is really terrible around here, especially compared to Pittsburgh, Philly, NJ, and NYC. astrozombie37

Minimum wage for 18-21 year olds here in the UK is £4.83 an hour so that's about 7 dollars. It's not enough to live on your own that's for sure.

Expensive here.

40 hours combined...I can see why you guys are struggling then.
(basically supporting 2 people off of one 'typical' paycheck)
-that must be really hard to make ends meet

Is that all the hours that are available, or is it b/c of school?

rawsavon

foxhound_fox

Damn.

You guys are in a tough spot.
-seems like many people go through a hard time (financially) at that age...you are on your own trying to make it, you want to work, but you are not 'established' in a career yet.

Hopefully she gets into nursing school, and you guys are able to just stay afloat till she graduates. After that, I would imagine things would get a lot better for you...it is making it to that point which proves difficult

Damn.

You guys are in a tough spot.
-seems like many people go through a hard time (financially) at that age...you are on your own trying to make it, you want to work, but you are not 'established' in a career yet.

Hopefully she gets into nursing school, and you guys are able to just stay afloat till she graduates. After that, I would imagine things would get a lot better for you...it is making it to that point which proves difficult

rawsavon

foxhound_fox

Family can be quite...difficult at times
-I usually just ignore them, but I understand that this approach is not for everyone (or most anyone :P )

On a side note, I considered teaching in the far North for a while.
-the kind of places where you have to have all your winter supplies flown in before the 'snow/storms' really hit
-It suits my personality. I don't know why I never did it

[QUOTE="xhellcatx"][QUOTE="wstfld"]I moved to NC recently so I'm not sure what the minimum is, but it might be possible. Everything in here is dirt cheap. I think the problem would be actually getting to work. Even though Raleigh is supposedly a city, its tough to get around. Public transportation is really terrible around here, especially compared to Pittsburgh, Philly, NJ, and NYC. astrozombie37

Fayetteville is great. The entire place consists entirely of motorcycle dealerships, crappy bars, and strip clubs. I think my buddy and I are going to spend a bunch of money on liquor and strippers there this weekend.

I live in Alabama. A lot of people live without wages. They can't in the city I live in, but in the state in general, yes they could.

EDIT: The minimum wage here is $7.25 I think. Whatever the federal one is.

[QUOTE="astrozombie37"][QUOTE="xhellcatx"] I know I liked the prices around the Fayetteville area when I was there. Cheaper then where I live now :| Over by camp Lejume (... i cant spell it worth a damn sorry), prices are a little higher I noticed, but thats probably cause its right on the ocean... topsail beach and surf city n all that. It still is tough on minimum there, single member household, but its easier to find cheaper housing too. wstfld

Fayetteville is great. The entire place consists entirely of motorcycle dealerships, crappy bars, and strip clubs. I think my buddy and I are going to spend a bunch of money on liquor and strippers there this weekend.