tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post4246805153441454504..comments2023-12-19T18:08:50.022-05:00Comments on Find me Frugal(er): Could I Live on Minimum Wage?Andriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16212214815486879965noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-7669629587584001622011-12-07T18:38:39.468-05:002011-12-07T18:38:39.468-05:00I have often pondered this - I have been divorced ...I have often pondered this - I have been divorced for about 15 months and while I'm no where near earning minimum wage, my salary still doesn't provide me with much cushion after I pay mortgage, utilities, food & gas/car expenses. Plus I have a college-aged daughter living here at home with me until she heads off to The Big Apple in February. I just don't know how most people do it, for I believe that most people do live on much less monthly than I earn. I have nothing but respect and prayers for anyone trying to make ends meet.Margiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096093152196030971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-39695462729344091042011-12-07T15:03:58.046-05:002011-12-07T15:03:58.046-05:00We couldn't do that in our current house, sinc...We couldn't do that in our current house, since the mortgage and HOA fees would take up about all of that lol. But if there's one thing my husband and I are good at, it's money. So I know we could make it on that if we had to. Fortunately God has blessed us with just what we need to afford our little 2 bedroom townhome. :)Ashleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07672505356468605219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-59481315518079827932011-12-07T13:57:08.448-05:002011-12-07T13:57:08.448-05:00It can be done,but it is huge struggle and there i...It can be done,but it is huge struggle and there is lots of "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without".<br />I live a rural community where 47% of the families live below the poverty line. The jobs are not here.. never really have been.. and to commute the required 15 - 20 miles (at a minimum) to a job of any sort, on minimum wage in this era of high gas costs is almost prohibitive. We are rural folks who garden, fish, hunt, forage for our food. We live without many, many, of the things that others find a necessity. We drive older vehicles that are paid for, we cut wood to heat with, we work hard period. But for many of us the ability to live in a rural area where the children can roam free, we don't lock our doors, and help is only a holler away it's trade off we'll gladly make.Gretchen Steelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10536860716461787275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-16789504154417346642011-12-07T13:42:45.075-05:002011-12-07T13:42:45.075-05:00Nope can't do it. My husband even makes $11.85...Nope can't do it. My husband even makes $11.85/hr and we support a family of 4 off that (I'm disabled but we "make too much" for social security. According to a lawyer I'm one of the "ones who falls through the cracks that actually needs the help, but can't get any"). On a good month, actually getting all 40hrs (which hasn't been happening for the last 4months), after taxes he brings home $1680...on a good month. Right now he's been bringing home $1300-1400. Our monthly bills, basic but also including collection payments, are just over $1400/mo not including food, toiletries or diapers/pullups. There'd be no way we could live off minimum which in Idaho is only $7.25/hr.Justine/SnKmommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02565477937169954850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-15010034033215087532011-12-07T10:34:58.644-05:002011-12-07T10:34:58.644-05:00We lived at just above the poverty level back in t...We lived at just above the poverty level back in the late '70s when I was a college student/part time worker and my husband was a Catholic school teacher. But, looking back, we had great insurance back then which poorly-paid people rarely have anymore and reasonable rents since we lived in Pittsburgh. We can live poor when we have to (like during the year we had to carry two mortgages when a house deal fell through..groan). But almost noone can live on minimum wage anywhere in the country.Laurie Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16886124993171547304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-41155018457308211912011-11-09T21:10:33.002-05:002011-11-09T21:10:33.002-05:00Eep! That's for sure. Even as one person liv...Eep! That's for sure. Even as one person living with a roommate, you can see it's pretty much impossible. Throw kids into the mix, and it's clearly a question of keeping the lights on vs. eating.Frugal(er)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13972354611688622400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-85048389686237307382011-11-09T21:08:03.377-05:002011-11-09T21:08:03.377-05:00We definitely couldn't do it... We're a fa...We definitely couldn't do it... We're a family of 6, living on one income, (lower tax bracket) as i'm a SAHM. Minimum wage here in Ontario is around $10.00 I believe. So that times 40 hours, $400, but then deductions, taxes, etc... And it's WAY lower. Our fixed expenses ring in at $1800, & that's without any "extras" like food, etc... lol! So we'd be up a creek without a paddle! ;)~Carla~https://www.blogger.com/profile/02341057469246030024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4971083762875016745.post-63621002661224668152011-11-08T11:44:04.120-05:002011-11-08T11:44:04.120-05:00I couldn't do it, my budget every month is aro...I couldn't do it, my budget every month is around $2,700, and the minimum wage here is around $7.25 I think.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699594650305506763noreply@blogger.com