$30 an hour is the new poor

[The Plutonian]

$30/hr is poverty wages.

The Federal Minimum wage adjusted for todays inflation rates should be around $25/hr.

Living in Los Angeles or New York comfortably, you gotta be making more than $50/hr.

$100/k a year is basically working class wages in this economy today.

I know two very delusional single mothers who live in LA. One has masters degree making almost 100k the other is in real estate making what she can and has 2 children and now lives with her parents.

I've known them for close to 10 years. They won't relocate. Both have called me crying (actually crying) and telling me how hard it is and I'm like then.......

They will not compromise their location for a better life, even when offered by men ready to put up with their liability and have them come to better states. I've put them on ignore.

 

[Dr. Truth]

I know two very delusional single mothers who live in LA. One has masters degree making almost 100k the other is in real estate making what she can and has 2 children and now lives with her parents.

I've known them for close to 10 years. They won't relocate. Both have called me crying (actually crying) and telling me how hard it is and I'm like then.......

They will not compromise their location for a better life, even when offered by men ready to put up with their liability and have them come to better states. I've put them on ignore.

Move where though? LA is a great city . I’d rather be poor in LA than upper middle class in Alabama

 

[The Plutonian]

Move where though? LA is a great city . I’d rather be poor in LA than upper middle class in Alabama

Lots of great places in the south. Why a lot of people leave Cali and New York. I've been to Cali many times and have seen and experienced the same BS as the south.

Bama as a whole isn't that great but there are places in that state where your money goes a long way especially 60k to 100k. Ms., Ga, Tenn etc. Same here in Ga. Atl is a dive. Overrated. My thing is, why are you still complaining and not leveling up for what you think you want for your life? I live like a G in GA. I think I could in Cali but my money would not go the same there. If you'd rather be poor where you and not change it that is a choice. Suffer the consequences.

 

[Dr. Truth]

Lots of great places in the south. Why a lot of people leave Cali and New York. I've been to Cali many times and have seen and experienced the same BS as the south.

Bama as a whole isn't that great but there are places in that state where your money goes a long way especially 60k to 100k. Ms., Ga, Tenn etc. Same here in Ga. Atl is a dive. Overrated. My thing is, why are you still complaining and not leveling up for what you think you want for your life? I live like a G in GA. I think I could in Cali but my money would not go the same there. If you'd rather be poor where you and not change it that is a choice. Suffer the consequences.

Nah fam I’ve been all over and none of them places compare . People only move out for financial reasons or they some sort of Magat trash. It’s like New Yorkers. They not leaving because they want to, unless they old and tired of the winters, but they go back once spring starts. I left Jersey because it’s too cold and the crime is terrible . I almost moved back to Queens but was like nah that winter

 

[Coldchi]

$30/hr is $62,400 a year

That's enough for most of the country.

It's only the super high cost of living areas where that'd be a problem.

After taxes and health insurance costs are deducted,...........its more like $45k

 

[The Plutonian]

Nah fam I’ve been all over and none of them places compare . People only move out for financial reasons or they some sort of Magat trash. It’s like New Yorkers. They not leaving because they want to, unless they old and tired of the winters, but they go back once spring starts. I left Jersey because it’s too cold and the crime is terrible . I almost moved back to Queens but was like nah that winter

I feel that way about Chicago. I'll never go back to Illinois. It's not just salaries and jobs, Mfs be over extending themselves in other ways.

Check out this.

 

[Dr. Truth]

I feel that way about Chicago. I'll never go back to Illinois. It's not just salaries and jobs, Mfs be over extending themselves in other ways.

Check out this.

This is obviously regionally based . those wages are wild low. Also she makes it seem like police make a low wage. Here most cops base is 150k and overtime they bringing nearly 300k per year

 

[The Plutonian]

This is obviously regionally based . those wages are wild low. Also she makes it seem like police make a low wage. Here most cops base is 150k and overtime they bringing nearly 300k per year

I agree, and this is the thing: sometimes you may have to relocate because a lot of people complain but do nothing about their earning potential. Skills, in-demand jobs, etc., leave the desert and go to an oasis. But some folks will die on their own sword. Ok, you can't expect life to flex for you when you have none.

 

[chefken012]

240 a day 1200 a week 4800 a month based on 8 hr shift 5 days a week looks like you need another job or a lot of overtime

Or learn to manage and save ... I personally don't and Wil not ever understand why it is so hard for some ...

 

[Dr. Truth]

Or learn to manage and save ... I personally don't and Wil not ever understand why it is so hard for some ...

A one bedroom here is 3500 a month what do you propose? Not everyone is blowing money

 

[praetor]

I mean shit is high now, bills, basic needs, internet, gas for car, haircut, just naming stuff off the top of my head of what people would have to pay for which would leave a person with little bit money left for themselves. That's why I agree with $30 an hour is the new poor.

People are still homeless who be making that having a full time job.

There are also people who make that and are doing just fine.

That’s before taxes , after taxes that ain’t shit and if you have any sort of bills or utilities, trash, etc you’re poor . You definitely are barely surviving in the Bay Area on that wage.

Why would you call out one of the most expensive areas in the country when I specifically said that it'd be a problem in the super expensive areas?

62,400 is gross.... as a single dude taxes and etc is taking 30%... that takes it under $44,000

Yes, but a single dude would be fine with a 1 bed/ 1 bath apartment. The average for that in the US is $1577 per Google.

A lot of apartments require you to make three times the rent (gross) to ensure that you'll have enough to afford everything else. $30/hr gives you more than three times the rent in most of the country.

I'm not saying it's a poverty wage, but mfkrs aren't living good and going on trips or out to eat often. Average rent is $1,500 for a 1 bedroom, $1,700 for 2. That's 18k and $20,400 respectively.

$44k - $18k = $26k for utilities, food, factor in a car & insurance or other transportation costs.

Again NOT poor, but not that comfortable.

People's definition of comfortable is part of the problem. A single dude trying to live in a two bedroom while taking frequent trips and eating out is doing too much.

After taxes and health insurance costs are deducted,...........its more like $45k

$45k after taxes and insurance for a healthy bachelor/bachelorette with no kids works for plenty of people.

 

[JamesATL]

what job actually pays $7.25 ? and folks still apply in 2025?

 

[tallblacknyc]

what job actually pays $7.25 ? and folks still apply in 2025?

Some small town in westbubble fuck.. does Walmart still low ball its workers?

 

[jawnswoop]

There are also people who make that and are doing just fine.

Depending on what city and neighborhood they live in.

But not everyone is doing just fine making $30 an hour.

 

[chefken012]

A one bedroom here is 3500 a month what do you propose? Not everyone is blowing money

I pretty sure 3500 is JUST an estimated minimum because ìf the very lowest is 3500 for ERRBODY...then move to where it's cheaper or get a roommate.

 

[jawnswoop]

Yes, but a single dude would be fine with a 1 bed/ 1 bath apartment. The average for that in the US is $1577 per Google.

A lot of apartments require you to make three times the rent (gross) to ensure that you'll have enough to afford everything else. $30/hr gives you more than three times the rent in most of the country.

Ok, but what if a person doesn't want to live in an apartment wanting to buy a house instead?

 

[praetor]

Depending on what city and neighborhood they live in.

But not everyone is doing just fine making $30 an hour.

It's definitely dependent on location, but I think people have different definitions of what doing okay means. There's a big difference between not being able to take trips to exotic locations and not being able to afford to eat.

Ok, but what if a person doesn't want to live in an apartment wanting to buy a house instead?

Problem number one is that people don't want to start with something modest, they want to buy a big beautiful house. Problem number two is that folks have a lot of debt which messes up their debt to income ratio.

They might have to start with a townhouse or a smaller house in a safe working class neighborhood. I've known people that did exactly that.

If necessary they may have to relocate. I get that that's easier said than done but if someone wants a home they may have to move for a few years.

Let the equity build up then move up to something better.

There are a variety of local and federal programs that would help someone making $62k buy property. Some of them have forgivable loans that cover the down payment and closing cost.

USDA loans have to be in rural areas, but they don't require a down payment.

NACA helps people buy a house with no down payment, no closing costs, no mortgage insurance, no fees, no credit score requirement, and a rate below the market rate.

There's also house hacking where you buy a duplex, triplex, or quadplex and rent out the other units.

Is housing affordability bad? Yes, it's terrible. But 2008 isn't coming through that door so folks are going to have to find other ways to get in.