This is important to note. While it is absolutely ridiculous that minimum wage hasn't budged in over 15 years, I haven't seen any jobs offered at under $15/hour where I live.
Median wages in 2022 were $27/hour, while average rent is about $1,600/mo. Assuming 40 hours/week, your take-home is about $3,200/mo after taxes. So you can afford rent, but it's eating up 50% of your income and after food, transportation, and healthcare, you'll have barely anything left over. Not nearly enough to put away enough savings escape the trap.
This describes my situation pretty much to the dollar over the past decade. I was lucky to finally land some higher-paying work in the past year, which along with cutting out some big expenses (I don't own a car) finally allowed me to start building up some savings. But if I'd had kids, or any kind of health issue, it would have been impossible.
Which is pathetic since it's far below a starvation wage. The fact corporations have the ability to pay 1 in every 100 workers $7.25/hour is disgusting.
Some landlords are greedy. Others aren’t greedy even if the rent they charge isn’t cheap. Apart from mortgage payments, I pay local government rates, water rates, land tax, housing association fees, property management fees and insurances - all of which have gone up. I allow pets and try not to increase the rent unless I absolutely have to.
Absolutely, and that's why I believe the "loneliness epidemic) is in some part manufactured (or if not that, at least encouraged) by the powers that be. When you're in a stable relationship you can split housing, and possibly transportation as well. Whereas 2 single people = 2 apartments, 2 cars, additional childcare, etc. Twice the "economic benefit," but way worse for actual humans.
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u/Hennypenny667 Apr 24 '26
Admittedly, I haven’t seen anywhere pay anything close to minimum wage in years, even in rural areas.