How Many Minimum Wage Hours Does It Take To Afford A Two-Bedroom Apartment In Your State?
Ever wonder how people manage to get by on minimum wage? Oftentimes, they don’t…
I would have to work 114 hours a week to be able to afford a 2 bedroom…that’s pathetic, minimum wage means you get paid the minimum amount it takes to afford the absolute most basic things you need to live.
I feel like most people with a minimum wage job don’t need a two bedroom. Studio apartments can be as low as 400/month and there are even some one bedrooms that are cheaper. Minimum wage IS the wage that you will get the most basic things to live. Things like cable, internet, a ton of furniture and so forth are luxuries. All you need is food, a bed, water, and a toilet if you want to get technical. And I mean you could probably even go without a toilet but that causes me to shudder a bit. A two bedroom is not basic. A one bedroom isn’t even basic. If you have kids, then I would assume that yes, bedrooms should be basic because they are necessary unless you want child services all up n your ass. Otherwise, a 400/month studio would be easy to afford on a minimum wage salary if you work … WAIT a second. I just did the math out and if you work 114 hours a week at minimum wage you would be making like at least 900 after taxes. That is WAY more than enough money to live in a two bedroom. That’s 3600 a month! That is like a ridiculous amount of cash. You would only need to work 50 a MONTH to make 400. That is roughly 12.5 hours a week. I think this map is wrong.
Uhm… I’ve worked several minimum wage jobs as “night jobs” though the years and was amazed at all the single mothers I worked with.
Single mothers don’t need a two bedroom apartment?
Furthermore, the map takes into consideration more than JUST rent -
Here have a gander: http://www.good.is/post/how-many-minimum-wage-hours-does-it-take-to-afford-a-decent-life/
I live in LA. I’ve never seen a studio cheaper than $900/month. And yeah, you don’t need two bedrooms if you’re single, but if you live with your partner and they stay home with your small children, then you need a two-bedroom apartment. Those start - START - at around $1600/month where I live. That, plus necessary expenses (gas/insurance/phone/food/utilities) adds up real fast. I would hardly call the Internet a “luxury.” How about instead of deducing the minimum requirements needed to live like a human being, we focus on raising the minimum wage so we don’t have to worry about stuff like that?
-Jess
Frakkin’ inflation. >_<
I wonder if this chart accounts for states with higher minimum wage laws?
Either way in my opinion the Minimum Wage should be at least 12$ an hour, which is nearly double what it is right now.
