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greyangelus -> RE: Undermining American Workers? Is this the New American Way?? (2/1/2008 1:00:17 AM)
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quote:
I think the biggest problem I have with all the arguments about ""a living wage" is that I am continually shocked at the amount of money people make and then complain about how they can't get along. I keep wondering how the hell I do it on a net income of less than $24000 per year. And I don't live badly, folks!
I have a paid off car that I do My best to maintain. I am renting a reasonable 3 bedroom home in a nice community, I have car insurance and life insurance and health insurance. I eat well for about $300 per month (family of 2) and that includes a few fast food runs and the occasional Starbucks treat. It also includes My paper goods and cleaning products. I pay My electric bill (a time of use plan saves Me a bit and I work at that), as well as My water bill, private garbage collection and a separate santitation district quarterly bill. I have a phone, a cell phone, My daughter's cell phone, a separate fax line, and high speed internet. I subscribe to Direct TV (no extras like HBO or Showtime and I do not bother with pay-per-view), with 135 channels (several in Espanol). I paid cash for My lovely TV on sale for $180 2 years ago. It is only 27 inches and it is housed in a beautiful cabinet I got at a Hotel liquidator for $99. We have three bedrooms, all furnished, nicely I would say. My beautiful and comfortable sectional came from Goodwill for $150. I have a computer and a nice curved desk it sits upon. I have dishes, and pots and pans, and silverware and even some china and crystal. I have a washer and dyrer, a refigerator/freezer, and stove and rangetop and a dishwasher. I enjoy My fireplace on cold winter nights, and I have a tv in My bedroom (13" with a DVD and VCR. So does My daughter. The guest room is ready for a guest with bed, dresser and night table. I have clothes to wear and My daughter'ss closet is full. She helps with the rent on a flat basis while she also works full time as a pre-school teacher earning less than $10 per hour. She also babysits, even though she is almost 22 years old and she is a working actress on the weekends. She continues to save money and attend college and thus far she is debt free as to education. She is also considered bi-lingual at this point in her education. She makes a car payment each month and pays for her own gas, clothing and car insurance along with her school tuition and books/fees...kind of a pay as you go plan. She has friends and a boyfriend. She goes out and she does not feel a pinch. Then again, she does not pay $60 or $30 or even $15 for a blouse, or a pair of jeans or a new purse. She is generous to a fault and I am proud of her achievement and her responsible attitude toward life and others.
I raised two daughers as a single parent for many years on less than what I have now. They did not lack for what they needed and they are both fine and productive members of society. In fact, I would say they have more resiliency than most of the older folks I know. And they don't put their hand out. They earn it or figure out a way to do without. Yes, I am proud of them.
Yet I read about people who are upset because there is no union contract and they should be making $40 per hour or more by now. They are suffering along on $31.50 per hour. Or $120K per year is a pitiful income and it is time for someone to storm the steps of the boss man and right this terrible injustice. (another thread, and I do not mean to pick on anyone.) I listened to a man on a local talk radio show a few nights ago complaining that he is being left out of the new stimulas plan since he and his wife earn in excess of $150K per year. All I could think was,"well what the hell do you care about the lousy $600?"
If I can do it, I think a lot of others can do it also. I see American people who complain about the wasteful spending of our government, but they can't seem to manage their own budgets. Consume at all costs. God help you of you don't have the new plasma tv and you can't trade your car in every other year and pay for those three vacations you have to take because your UM's now get a fall break in additon to the spring break and the summer break. I no longer want to hear the crying about the fact that you can't make your mortgage payment now that the low payment went away and you took every bit of false equity out of the property you could already. I have listened to this from more people than I can tell you, and I am not talkng about a message board. I am talking about daily life and all the moaning and groaning. Gimme Gimme Gimme...It's not fair!
Grow up!
Forgive Me if I am out of sympathy.
Anywhere from 22-36k is the breakpoint of the living wage, depending on the area of the country you live in. Fall below that point in income, and you will either need a second job or find someone else to provide a second income. 36.5 million people live well below that breakpoint below the poverty threshold; toss in the in-betweens and I would not be suprised if the total is over 100 million.
I do agree with you that anyone making over 50k single or 90k married (or coupled or whatever) has got about diddly to complain about (at least from my age perspective and group, there might be some additional costs I'm not aware of to being older).
A few things though, I'd like to point out. 85+% of people do not own thier cars, right about the time they get it paid off they yearly maintenance increase to the point where selling and buying a new/used one makes more financial sense ( I have no idea what model or year you drive, some cars go years past being paid off before its too expensive to fix them). That tacks on about 4-6k a year they need. Also, living on a single income tacks on about 30-40% percent more that they need (going by your post, I suspect your daughter is a contributor to the household income; 2 income homes need less per income in order to be a living wage).
By making an educated guess that your income is 20-24, I would need to make 30-34 just to match your standard of living. Actually, toss in student loan repayments, its more like 32-36k. My paticular degree field is electronics, you'll never get rich off of it, but by and large its considered a good paying job field.
My most likely starting yearly will be 22-24k after taxes in my area, and thats assuming a full 40 a week all year. I'll most likely continue needing a either a second part-time job or mandatory overtime every week along with a roommate to share the bills with, right after graduating from college with an Associates degree in a good paying technical job field. Hopefully, I'll get cost of living raises too (not a sure thing anymore, many companies do not ) just so I can stay at that level.
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