Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Minimum Wage Survival Economics

We've been cutting our expenses lately due to the lack of money coming in, and it's got me thinking somewhat on the survival economics of minimum wage.

It costs us around $10-$15 per day to feed ourselves. (We could cut that cost by half if we had a dairy cow or some goats, but we haven't managed that yet this year.) We also don't eat a lot of the noodles and pasta that some poor people eat. Aside from the food allergies, those just seem to make you fat (which brings health problems and an economic issue all of its own).

If you work for the full day at minimum wage, you're probably going to make about $50 and the government's going to take a chunk too.

So say $40 at the end of the day.

That's $40 at the end of the day for what is very low eating. You also lost the whole day to an employer. You couldn't work in the garden or do anything else to try to get ahead.

And normal people have a whole heck of a lot more expenses than we do. Rent/mortgage, utilities, etc.

How do people get by on one income earning minimum wage? I just don't see how the math adds up.

2 comments:

Gorges Smythe said...

It doesn't add up. That's why some folks end up on the street.

Mamma Bear said...

How do people get by on one income earning minimum wage? I just don't see how the math adds up.

Government handouts. Food stamps Medicaid, low income housing, EBT cards which can be used just about everywhere including gas stations and fast food restaurants. assistance with their utility bills...the list goes on and on and the rest of us pay for it.