In your state can people live off of minimum wage?

I suppose that it's possible, but it would flat out suck.

in norway you can barely have a house, 2 cars, cabin by the sea/mountain and vacation house in spain on minimum vage :( i might have to sell one of my boats :(lloveLamp

It is possible in Michigan because i know some people who are doing it (or at least close to minimum wage). If you find the right location you can literally buy a house for under $20,000. Probably a dumpy one that needs major repairs, but any house would be better than living on the streets.

The problem is that the minimum wage laws increase unemployment, so i suppose someone could say that it could be harder to live with minimum wage than without. When minimum wage went up to over $7.00 here in michigan, employers had to find ways to cut costs so they laid people off, raised their prices (which hurts the people who buy from them), and lowered quantities (burgers get smaller, shakes get smaller etc...).

and lowered quantities (burgers get smaller, shakes get smaller etc...).

hoola

In this particular case, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing...

[QUOTE="lloveLamp"]in norway you can barely have a house, 2 cars, cabin by the sea/mountain and vacation house in spain on minimum vage :( i might have to sell one of my boats :(horgen123

Minimum wage is fine. You can survive on it. Its enough to pay rent and food. Cable TV and internet and a car are not necessities. Instead of complaining about wages, people need to get a better job. that is the wage that job deserves. dont like it, change jobs! Not my fault these people smoked weed in high school.

Minimum wage is 9.50 CAD here, and income tax does not start until your making at least 20k a year. A small apartment costs say $600 a month + utilities. If you cook your own food it shouldn't cost more than 2500 a year. Even after rent and food, someone on minimum wage could still afford cable TV.

Minimum wage is enough to survive. your not suppose to live comfortably on it. This is what motivates people to get out of a job paying minimum wage. it is what motivates students like me to hit the books so you don't end up with some minimum wage job.

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.

bigblunt537

yep your completly right i also live in NYC and the cost of living in this city is very high, soon all us middle class folk are going to be run out of town because its going to be way too expenisve to live here

Minimum wage is fine. You can survive on it. Its enough to pay rent and food. Cable TV and internet and a car are not necessities. Instead of complaining about wages, people need to get a better job. that is the wage that job deserves. dont like it, change jobs! Not my fault these people smoked weed in high school. STAR_Admiral

In MA you get paid just over $8 an hour so I guess you could live off that.

[QUOTE="STAR_Admiral"]Minimum wage is fine. You can survive on it. Its enough to pay rent and food. Cable TV and internet and a car are not necessities. Instead of complaining about wages, people need to get a better job. that is the wage that job deserves. dont like it, change jobs! Not my fault these people smoked weed in high school. xhellcatx

[QUOTE="xhellcatx"][QUOTE="STAR_Admiral"]Minimum wage is fine. You can survive on it. Its enough to pay rent and food. Cable TV and internet and a car are not necessities. Instead of complaining about wages, people need to get a better job. that is the wage that job deserves. dont like it, change jobs! Not my fault these people smoked weed in high school. STAR_Admiral

Yes but not comfortably. I don't see how you can't make more then minimum wage though. Even McDonalds pays about $8.50/hour and the minimum wage is $7.25.

I think it's $7.50 here. A minimum wage job isn't intended for people to live off of. It's for teens, young adults, and part time workers looking to make a little extra cash. If you don't like it, too bad. Maybe you should of tried harder in school...

I think it's $7.50 here. A minimum wage job isn't intended for people to live off of. It's for teens, young adults, and part time workers looking to make a little extra cash. If you don't like it, too bad. Maybe you should of tried harder in school...

SpartanMSU

It is possible in Michigan because i know some people who are doing it (or at least close to minimum wage). If you find the right location you can literally buy a house for under $20,000. Probably a dumpy one that needs major repairs, but any house would be better than living on the streets.

The problem is that the minimum wage laws increase unemployment, so i suppose someone could say that it could be harder to live with minimum wage than without. When minimum wage went up to over $7.00 here in michigan, employers had to find ways to cut costs so they laid people off, raised their prices (which hurts the people who buy from them), and lowered quantities (burgers get smaller, shakes get smaller etc...).

hoola

Isn't it like $7.50 in Michigan now? To me that's a too high considering how many people we have unemployed.

I think most people would be surprised to find out how little you can live on and still be extremely well off and happy. but most Americans are spoiled and don't know better.EMOEVOLUTION

Yep. The majority of the population of the world would LOVE making minimum wage. It's funny that being poor in America and other Western nations is like being rich in other countries.

After taxes? You'd likely not pay any income tax.

I live in Alberta, Canada, and I highly doubt people can live off minimum wage here, which I believe is $8.80/h. Although taxes are low, housing is very unaffordable. socked_feet

[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... kidsmelly

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.

Minimum wage is meant for entry level jobs, not raising a family.

It's almost like it's intentionally kept low to keep a constant supply of always-needy workers or something...

(shifts eyes left and right)

Capitalism is something that many people praise in this country but it has the tendency to leave a lot of people without a livable wage.

Don't get me wrong, capitalism is fine, but I barely make enough to survive and go to school on my own.

The simple fact of the matter is that you won't get very far in this country without higher learning. Say what you want about the past, but the cost of living has skyrocketed (especially in the coastal areas) and the bare minimum wage isn't cutting it anymore. Every day I see people come in and buy stuff where I work on EBT, food stamps, and unemployment cards and it just makes me sick. This country doesn't give a damn about its people. If you aren't connected, good luck.

Minimum wage was meant to be livable in the first place? That's news to me.

Most people I know who work minimum wage, are living with their parents. If that says anything. :lol:

10.25/hour in Ontario

seems to be around 40% higher than the number you guys are quoting for US states.

Works out to 1781.55/month if you work 173 hours/month (which is 40hrs/week).

I am pretty sure most people can easily live on that.

10.25/hour in Ontario

seems to be around 40% higher than the number you guys are quoting for US states.

Works out to 1781.55/month if you work 173 hours/month (which is 40hrs/week).

I am pretty sure most people can easily live on that.

charsoxer

First there's taxes to take into account. And then rent could easily be $1000 per month. And then you may have utilities on top of that, and after a food budget, there wouldn't be much left, if you there was any left at all.

And we still haven't included transportation.

[QUOTE="charsoxer"]

10.25/hour in Ontario

seems to be around 40% higher than the number you guys are quoting for US states.

Works out to 1781.55/month if you work 173 hours/month (which is 40hrs/week).

I am pretty sure most people can easily live on that.

BuryMe

First there's taxes to take into account. And then rent could easily be $1000 per month. And then you may have utilities on top of that, and after a food budget, there wouldn't be much left, if you there was any left at all.

And we still haven't included transportation.

Canada's minimum wage is awesome compared to ours. I'll bet the cost of living in Canada is fairly low too.

Minimum wage here gets you around a grand a month on 40 hours.

My utilities are around 100$ and my rent is 225$. I spend the rest on gas, food, and leisure.

But I live in Iowa. Iowa's cost of living is one of the lowest in the country.

No. I'd go as far as saying even with a well paying steady job you couldn't live here unless you have a spouse to help with bills. Well, you could live here but probably not comfortably.

[QUOTE="BuryMe"]

[QUOTE="charsoxer"]

10.25/hour in Ontario

seems to be around 40% higher than the number you guys are quoting for US states.

Works out to 1781.55/month if you work 173 hours/month (which is 40hrs/week).

I am pretty sure most people can easily live on that.

starfox15

First there's taxes to take into account. And then rent could easily be $1000 per month. And then you may have utilities on top of that, and after a food budget, there wouldn't be much left, if you there was any left at all.

And we still haven't included transportation.

Canada's minimum wage is awesome compared to ours. I'll bet the cost of living in Canada is fairly low too.

Minimum wage here gets you around a grand a month on 40 hours.

My utilities are around 100$ and my rent is 225$. I spend the rest on gas, food, and leisure.

But I live in Iowa. Iowa's cost of living is one of the lowest in the country.

225$ rent? The hell do you live?!

I could maybe get a box for that much around here. The average two bedroom apartment around here is around 1400$. 3 bedroom is 1800-2000.

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.

bigblunt537

i live in MO which you can but youll want to kill your self because life sucks

Ontario:

"Ontario is raising theminimum wageto $10.25 on March 31, 2010. This is the seventh increase since 2004."

Poverty Line in 2005

Do the math... I would, but I, literally, fail at math.