$15.00 an hour isn't a lot of money.

[Rawtid]

It's really, really variable. At least in NC ... it's people here with a fair amount of assets, just travelled abroad, no kids who are eligible. the amount might not be high, but still eligible. damn near just as many "well to do" are abusing this system . Trust.


Bottom line is you can live off 15 with out any support and little to no nest egg in most towns definitely and even near the periphery of some sizable cities not named NYC, LA, CHI and ATL and MIA and HOU and DAL.

But yes, you will struggle... it's not always struggle... and it might not always FEEL like struggle even tho you still kinda are... but you can meet your basic NEEDS. All in all, I still say 15 without some savings/supplemental income, a least one line of credit, partner/relative support in 2017 FEELS like you're poor. Fukked up to say, but it does.

If youre doin 15 just straight up, you really dont need to be in major city. You need to be in a town that's 15mins, 20-30 minutes from the city (as long as your not near one of America's MAJOR metros...(see aforementioned) And you need to have minimal liabilities. No car note and not a lot of additional monthly debt payments.


You should strive for greater than just 15 in 2017 if you want more comfort that involves taking advantage of more "things," and also to better build up your own nest egg.

"They" aren't letting you live a life that includes some consistent amenities and extras off of that unless you're in a smaller town for the most part. And saving will be much tougher.

Strive for greater or value partnerships more. I can see not wanting to be married, but buy a house with your homeboys, siblings or other close friends and relatives. It's hard to be great when you're stressed about money. I was telling a friend of mine a couple days ago, if I knew what I knew now, I would have bought a house with my mom or one of my home girls when I was younger rather than buying one on my own.

 

[Noriega]

Milwaukee? How the jobs look up there?



I have a '17 Focus and '17 XF...it's the cheapest I could find w/ the necessary coverages.

I’m in a firefighter candidate program in a burb of Chicago, it’s unpaid but we receive free training

City of Milwaukee has a similar program, free training + $879 biweekly so after taxes that’s about $1500 a month. Gotta take an exam and physical test in January/February next year

I’m just tryna figure out if it’s a good move or do I need a roomate

 

[Rawtid]

If you’re REALLY a good driver and you have a car over 7 years old, just get liability insurance

I drive a 92’ Camry, no way I’m paying for full coverage on a 25 year old car

LOL Being a really good driver doesn't stop you from having accidents, but I feel you.

 

[OneTimeforTheMind]

No, you're NOT 'poor' since you're still not considering the fact that you're receiving about $2,000/mo. after taxes.

Half of that is rent + car + insurance for our example. Taking the other bills into consideration, that still leaves you with about $300-400/mo. in EXTRA money to do with as you please each month. Once your priorities are accounted for, whatever they are, you're still able to live well above the poverty level as a SINGLE person barring things such as child support, fines, etc.

Also, Car + insurance + 401K are NOT 'necessary'. They may be for you, but your experience is not universal. Neither is mine. You can't budget for EVERYTHING, which is what some of you are attempting to do. That's another discussion entirely and would involve so many factors that no amount of money would be deemed 'sufficient' regardless of relationship status.​

Car, insurance, 401k are not necessary these are fact. I know plenty of people in the DMV that just use uber, Lyft public transportation, whatever and use the rest to save. Although they spend a little more for rent.

 

[OneTimeforTheMind]

Now two people pooling resources at 15/hr is fine, and it feels kinda comfortable as long as you're below your means a bit.

But not to be alarmist, in 10-15 years, in the city proper and even around the periphery of some sizable cities, a dual income of 15/hr could likely feel like a single income of 15/hr. Shyt is really getting like that.

Yall need to get out here and advocate for livable wages... get involved in civic matters.

Many folks in here poking their chests out humble braggin' under the guise of droppin game (half of yall lying, but anyway), could find themselves getting severely pinched in 10 years if they don't diversify their skill sets, start to bring in supplemental income, invest, contributing more to savings and definitely adjust the means in which theyre living, trimming fat on ya lil budgets.

The gap is REALLY widening. I see it everyday.

Wish the best for all y'all tho.

This is facts. The gap is widening. The middle class is dying more and more. It's going to be Low class vs. Upper class real soon.

 

[UserNameless]

Strive for greater or value partnerships more. I can see not wanting to be married, but buy a house with your homeboys, siblings or other close friends and relatives. It's hard to be great when you're stressed about money. I was telling a friend of mine a couple days ago, if I knew what I knew now, I would have bought a house with my mom or one of my home girls when I was younger rather than buying one on my own.

that's the beautiful struggle and brilliance of the poor. yes...money barriers really, really cloud the mind and can thwart creativity. However, the resourcefulness of many of the poor never ceases to amaze. And the inventiveness of the poor shows the ingenuity and will and intellect ... seeing that untapped potential that's only being used to "get by" is disheartening, but promising because the talent, the ability is there and it's sharp ...only the plug is needed.

I agree...as Americans we've gotten on this, "when you graduate you grown get ya own shyt" or after "25-30 you shouldn't have a roommate" ... other cultures don't think like that and thus have more internal, built in, accessible resources and filled coffers. Our dumb a$$es going against our very roots to take on these cac ways and shame one another, while outchea STRUGGLIN' ... social capital has ALWAYS been dear to ancestors of blacks. And we scoff at that now.

To keep it a buck, many folks out here dont have the "plugged in" professional network and haven't identified a skill they possess to make it marketable outside of the traditional jobs. Most folks don't know how to navigate the investment waters and don't have the time to learn. Most folks don't have generational wealth and a decent nest egg...

...with that said, YALL better value partnerships and building social capital and pooling resources...because if not, you really might end up fukked up out here. It's only getting worse for the lower middle and working poor and impoverished. They're really trying to X folks out.

 

[The M.I.C.]

I’m in a firefighter candidate program in a burb of Chicago, it’s unpaid but we receive free training

City of Milwaukee has a similar program, free training + $879 biweekly so after taxes that’s about $1500 a month. Gotta take an exam and physical test in January/February next year

I’m just tryna figure out if it’s a good move or do I need a roomate

shyt.

I took a look at the apartment prices up there..saw some 520-600 dollars joints. Bordering right at the one third percentage mark..now you just gotta count in utilities, food, etc...it looks doable if you manage your shyt right.

 

[Noriega]

Car, insurance, 401k are not necessary these are fact. I know plenty of people in the DMV that just use uber, Lyft public transportation, whatever and use the rest to save. Although they spend a little more for rent.

I’d say the DMV,NYC/Jersey,Bay Area Chicago, LA, Philly are the only cities you can live in without a car

Lot of southern cities have public transit systems

 

[Noriega]

shyt.

I took a look at the apartment prices up there..saw some 520-600 dollars joints. Bordering right at the one third percentage mark..now you just gotta count in utilities, food, etc...it looks doable if you manage your shyt right.

Yeah I saw some shyt up there for $550 with water /gas/heat included

Food? Long as it’s Aldis up there I’m straight. I don’t eat out much unless it’s a pizza on Friday night just to treat myself.

 

[Rawtid]

that's the beautiful struggle and brilliance of the poor. yes...money barriers really, really cloud the mind and can thwart creativity. However, the resourcefulness of many of the poor never ceases to amaze. And the inventiveness of the poor shows the ingenuity and will and intellect ... seeing that untapped potential that's only being used to "get by" is disheartening, but promising because the talent, the ability is there and it's sharp ...only the plug is needed.

I agree...as Americans we've gotten on this, "when you graduate you grown get ya own shyt" or after "25-30 you shouldn't have a roommate" ... other cultures don't think like that and thus have more internal, built in, accessible resources and filled coffers. Our dumb a$$es going against our very roots to take on these cac ways and shame one another, while outchea STRUGGLIN' ... social capital has ALWAYS been dear to ancestors of blacks. And we scoff at that now.

To keep it a buck, many folks out here dont have the "plugged in" professional network and haven't identified a skill they possess to make it marketable outside of the traditional jobs. Most folks don't know how to navigate the investment waters and don't have the time to learn. Most folks don't have generational wealth and a decent nest egg...

...with that said, YALL better value partnerships and building social capital and pooling resources...because if not, you really might end up fukked up out here. It's only getting worse for the lower middle and working poor and impoverished. They're really trying to X folks out.

Spot on.

 

[Will Ross]

The biggest issue Is people that make minimum wage tend to have the most kids causing them not to have money to live.

 

[Booker T Garvey]

Nobody said homeless, but miss a check or two and you might be at 15/hr.

again - another conversation altogether, just like somebody else talking about people having no money saved.

but let me go ahead and crush your argument while i get ready for work:

remember when the NFL had a lockout and players had to borrow money b/c they were broke?

here you go:
ThePostGame.com Exclusive: Cash-Strapped NFL Players Seeking High-Risk
Locked-out players line up for cash loans

so what were you saying about making ONLY 15/hr you'll be living check to check?

 

[knickscity]

again - another conversation altogether, just like somebody else talking about people having no money saved.

but let me go ahead and crush your argument while i get ready for work:

remember when the NFL had a lockout and players had to borrow money b/c they were broke?

here you go:
ThePostGame.com Exclusive: Cash-Strapped NFL Players Seeking High-Risk
Locked-out players line up for cash loans

so what were you saying about making ONLY 15/hr you'll be living check to check?

Child's play. "hey look, see I told you, NFL players going broke". Athletes don't go broke because they can't afford day to day living. Their spending habits cause them to go broke. That's exactly why when the NBA had their last lockout, the players caved. Bad spending, couldn't afford to miss a check. if you're spending bad, it wont matter how much you make.

I've already posted links to kill everything you've said. You claimed 31k can't get food stamps......that's false. You claimed a person making $15/hr can't live in the projects. I showed in NY especially a single person can make over 50k and live in the projects.

You're just stuck in the cycle, and I understand. The fact is clear, $15/hr is not a lot of money and you will likely be struggling. You're basically the only person disagreeing at this point.

I even asked you where do live and your expenses. Of course you WONT comply because we both know why.

 

[King Poetic]

that's the beautiful struggle and brilliance of the poor. yes...money barriers really, really cloud the mind and can thwart creativity. However, the resourcefulness of many of the poor never ceases to amaze. And the inventiveness of the poor shows the ingenuity and will and intellect ... seeing that untapped potential that's only being used to "get by" is disheartening, but promising because the talent, the ability is there and it's sharp ...only the plug is needed.

I agree...as Americans we've gotten on this, "when you graduate you grown get ya own shyt" or after "25-30 you shouldn't have a roommate" ... other cultures don't think like that and thus have more internal, built in, accessible resources and filled coffers. Our dumb a$$es going against our very roots to take on these cac ways and shame one another, while outchea STRUGGLIN' ... social capital has ALWAYS been dear to ancestors of blacks. And we scoff at that now.

To keep it a buck, many folks out here dont have the "plugged in" professional network and haven't identified a skill they possess to make it marketable outside of the traditional jobs. Most folks don't know how to navigate the investment waters and don't have the time to learn. Most folks don't have generational wealth and a decent nest egg...

...with that said, YALL better value partnerships and building social capital and pooling resources...because if not, you really might end up fukked up out here. It's only getting worse for the lower middle and working poor and impoverished. They're really trying to X folks out.

Yup..

That's why in the poor black community black men and women need to stopped the fantasy of instagram and twitter in looking for that perfect mate and find that partner who u can build your money so u don't have to worried about bills 24/7 and medical bills.

 

[Booker T Garvey]

Child's play. "hey look, see I told you, NFL players going broke". Athletes don't go broke because they can't afford day to day living. Their spending habits cause them to go broke.

Stopped reading here. You said people making 15/hr can’t afford to miss a check, I provided evidence that millionaires have the same problem

Breaking down their spending habits blah blah- all irrelevant.

Clearly you just enjoy arguing, I’ll leave you to it.