$15 an hour only works if you are a minimalist, actually budget on the weekly basis, and make calculated purchases, which 90% of people making under 40k are not doing. Like the someone else said something like a date or weekend trip out of state to see family hits hard because it digs into that extra $200+ you have at the end of the month if you budgeted decent.
I am not an exception to the rule because I stupidly financed a $300/month car (which I am working hard to pay off before next summer). And I do love buying new gym gear + tailored clothes. But I get away with those because I cut my budget major in other areas where it counts like groceries, phone bill, internet, and luckily my health insurance premium is low. No Netflix, no fast food, restaurants, etc.
It's definitely not a long term solution though. Fixed expenses like the car note have to go and income ultimately has to go up because the rent/water/electricity,COL in general will too.
) is that people feel the working poor should have absolutely no luxuries. None. Zilch. The Coli lines up with a Yahoo! comments section in a lot of ways if you pay attention. 
