8/hr won't keep the lights on

So I have heard all the excuses.
But let me ask you this.
Being 23 years old, I am out of college with my degree in Graphic Design.
Unfortunately, it was unknown to me that the best jobs for me would require me to live in a very expensive area.
(Miami, San Francisco, New York, etc.)
There is no way I would be able to afford that. So I am stuck getting whatever work I can as a freelance Graphic Designer.
I work part time at a convenience store to help keep my bills from collecting.
There are times like this past spring, where my part time job cut my hours and my trade wasn't bringing in any money.
I was stuck making 8/hr, $600/mo. How can anyone be expected to do anything with that kind of income?
I personally was fortunate enough to reduce my bills so that I just paid rent and my phone. Rent alone here is $600/mo. Not including the electricity and water.
I know people who had the same job as me, as there only job and they had kids.
How do you expect people to live off of 7.90/hr?
I've heard it all.
Go back to school. Quit, Find a better job. etc.
That is all fine expect one thing. How do you keep everything together in the mean time for only $600/mo?

Now I myself have found myself a way to manage in the mean time by rooming with 3 other people in a 3 br house for 280/mo (utilities included).
That is my fortunate story. But can you tell me what other people are supposed to do with car insurance, kids, and their selves to worry about?
Is it not reasonable to ask for a living wage?
I mean by just raising it to 10/hr I would be able to afford my own place in 3 months easy, and I would never have to worry if my Graphic Design skills can bring in the money. And all the business would have to do is raise the price of their items by 10 cents.
Funny thing is, I would then be able to afford a meal at McDonald's. I haven't been able to enjoy a BigMac in about a year and a half now, because I refuse to waste the money I am barely earning on fast food.

So tell me how someone is expected to live off 8/hr? BTW Wendy's manager's only get paid 9/hr here while entry level get paid 7.90/hr... Reasonable or unreasonable. Discuss.

 

It's not the living wage or minimum wage.

It's the constant meddling that keeps prices going up out of greed and lust for money.

I think the real solution is to kick those meddlers out and put a price freeze on things like groceries. I know this is very upopular, but if I were the President I would use an executive order to ahve those meddlers executed and put a price freeze on things.

There is absolutely no reason to have prices keep going up and up and up.

 

without inflation capitalism would die, the rich would accumulate all the money and game over

 

Nobody expects someone to be trying to live on one job paying $8 per hour. I'd expect someone to go where the work is, find the most reasonable way to live there regardless of cost of living (that's why they pay more in those areas), live within very frugal means until you have a grasp of what that new income level can really afford within the cost of living area you find that work in, and enjoy the fruits of your education. Camping out at the hometown and complaining about jobs isn't going to change a thing. It sucks, but going where the work is pays off. Heck, go to North Dakota and work at Wal-Mart. They pay $16-20/hr because the oil industry has drained all the low wage workers. Or go into the oil field work and live very well with the understanding their cost of living is rising quickly as wages rise and demand rises for homes, food, etc. Either way, jobs are out there if you are sincere about wanting to work and earn more. But it will take effort on your part to get yourself there and maintain yourself while there.

 

Management, no matter where it may be, always deserves a little better than $9 an hour. It's a stressful job, and you deal with lots of people, whining, complaining, excuses, BS etc. If it's true that Wendy's managers really DO get paid only $9 an hour, I think they should be tax exempt; otherwise, raise their wages to at least $12 an hour. If you ask me though, the minimum wage for any manager should be $15/hr at the very least.

It's unfortunate, but the way to keep most jobs and/or earn more hours these days, is to play workplace politics. Be best buds with higher-up employees and the manager, and hey, you'll be A-OK! I've been working 2 months at this one seasonal job so far, and that's what I had to do. But of course, I actually work really hard and am punctual as well. It's also key to never complain or make excuses. Don't even hint at it, for it's frowned upon by management. I honestly don't know where I'll go after the season is up. Just be thankful you have something permanent. Luckily though, the holidays are right around the corner, so I might be able to score another seasonal job now that I have more experience stacked up. I want to move out eventually, but it's very much a struggle, even at 22. It's getting worse with each passing generation.

 

Why are you whining?

You found a place with roommates and cut your bills which is exactly how your supposed to do it. It's not rocket science.

Now if a person has kids or something before they could afford it then that is their fault for making a stupid decision and yes there life will be harder but that is what happens when you are irresponsible. It needs to come with a price so people learn from it.

If you bail them out then it just encourages others to do the same thing or for that same individual to keep making stupid decisions.

 

I make minimum wage and have a roommate. While some days are harder then others we make it work.

 

graphic design jobs are in almost every state...it just doesnt pay that much...25,000 to 50,000 range...but most [laces want some experience first...did you work at all while is school?...maybe you should have researched the field first?

 

It's easy for old farts like myself to chastise you for whining, but I won't do it. Truth is, we all had it a helluva lot better than kids these days do trying to start out on their own. Very many clueless Americans have been hoodwinked over the past few decades into supporting "business friendly", "supply side" economic policies in the hopes that they'll someday benefit from these policies. Working class people are the last ones to believe that they occupy the working class, and life for the working class in this nation has gone to hell in a hand-basket.

 

I used to think the same.
You have to understand why the prices go up.
It all has to do with the price of gold and oil.
This is controlled by OPEC.
This trickles down to the petro-dollar.

[video=youtube;djwPqAJ_3GY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djwPqAJ_3GY[/video]
This will explain everything.

 

I can't imagine Wal-Mart paying more than $10/hr. They wouldn't open up one in Washington DC because they raised minimum wage to $10/hr.
If I were able to relocate for better pay I'd take my college educated butt to California. That's where all the Graphic Design jobs are. =P

 

its called inflation

 

http://www.startribune.com/local/188503971.html

$17 to start

and on your second point, That $80k job in California looks good on paper............until you realize its worth 35K in the real world

 

Yep.

And all these people out here, promoting and justifying 'greed' are an economically destructive bunch. Really, how much "wealth" is enough for the 'wealthy'?

People who don't promote and/or advocate for the working and working poor to receive significant economic advantages, are pretty much people I won't listen to anymore; I surely WON'T VOTE FOR THEM either.

It's time to stop feeding the unproven notion, that funneling insurmountable amounts of wealth to a few, is somehow positive for ALL. Anyone even hinting at that, is full of it.

 

but your fingernails might get dirty

 

Many companies will pay to move a very qualified and desirable candidate, or offer signing bonuses or other things to help with the transition. And you won't get what you don't ask for. The CEO of Wal-Mart was interviewed about wages and he even stated how much they have to pay in ND because of competition for minimum wage type jobs. When people know they can work oil fields for 70k and up per year, it's hard to keep low wage workers in low wage jobs. If I were in your shoes I'd apply, interview, and then if offered a position in another area, ask for help with the move. Maybe they'd pay you a bit less the first year to help you move, or maybe they'd withhold raises for a couple years in trade. Get creative...make it interesting and they'll consider what you ask for. Just don't expect it. Act like you're asking sincerely but understand if they can't. It's business....always negotiate everything, including benefits like vacation.

 

True.

As a former Floridian, I feel your pain. Even in a city like Miami, it's tough.

CA has a high cost of living too, but you would find many more jobs in Graphic Design.

 

there are plenty of places near san fran that are very reasonable to live...but you have to look and read..


and i know a girl that works for Walmart and she is making 18.00 per hour

 

Exactly. A bunch of fools have been fooled into thinking that we have to keep feeding laissez-faire capitalists everything they want, or ALL with fail.

Today is the day to STOP buying into that paradigm.

Please fellow Americans, WAKE THE FRACK UP!!

 

Cry me a river. I got a degree in insurance. I couldn't find a job in my field. So guess what? I BRANCHED OUT. I started work for 6 dollars an hour at an airport, pumping jet fuel into airliners in the middle of the night. I worked that job for 7 years. I saved up money, went back to school and got a licence to fix airplanes. I was immediately hired for 18 an hour working on Airbus airplanes.

You think because you got a college degree the world owes you a 20 dollar an hour job? Not how it works, ma friend.

Get a life, get a job outside of your field. Save up. You can live anywhere if you take a job outside your field. Don't (*)(*)(*)(*)(*) living in an expensive area working for pennies. Work for pennies in a cheap area and save.

People are clueless how to save money.

 

Back in the day, as my grandfather always told me, you got a job at GM and had benefits and you were able to support a family of 4 no problem. You start entry level and in 20 years later your kids are all in college and you have your retirement fund waiting for you.
Today you can't even keep the lights on.

I have myself covered. I am not looking for hand outs for anyone.
I just see it as a fair days work earns a fair days pay.
One job should supply roof, utilities, food.

Problem is, it doesn't. Because minimum wage doesn't meet the inflation rate.

This isn't about lazy people who do drugs every day and waste space.
There are single women out there who work harder than most men I know, and they deal with more than you and I, having to worry about their bastard child.
The only one whining here is you. You can either be part of the solution or be part of the problem. Your part is completely voluntary. If you can't contribute to a healthy discussion find another thread where someone would like to hear your off topic rants.

 

I don't have a problem with the rich and wealthy. They made their money fair and square. My only complaint would be that wages do not reflect inflation when it should.

 

its because now think just because they got some degree they should get an instant job making tons of money...it doesnt work that way...

 

No, they likely have not. We can see them GAMING the system before our eyes, and that must cease... before the well-being of this nation is utterly destroyed.

I can agree with that.

 

He didn't say that.

Minimum wage should be able to make one self-sufficient.