What is as living wage?

1. 61

   Moderndayslaveposted 12 years ago

   People have discussed doing away with the minimum wage. What hourly wage would be the minimum amount sufficient to live on in your area.I am talking legal employment, paying taxes and all that for someone with a high school education.For arguments sake you are single renting a 1 bedroom apt., you need money for rent, food, electricity, Dr and Dental visits, transportation to work and clothes? No 10 to a room.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Where I live in Melbourne Australia a single person would need  around $500 a week to live like that.
      Anyone working for less than 16 dollars an hour would find it tough.

      replyreport
      1. 61

         Moderndayslaveposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         If that's net, that would be  $12.50 an hour before taxes.12.50 x 40 =$500
         Thanks Earnest

         replyreport
         1. 80

            earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Yes that is correct.

            replyreport
            1. 75

               Castlepalomaposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Our minimum wage in Vancouver is 8.50 per hour; Our Average house here cost half a million
               
               Vancouver is the third worst affordable city to live in, in the world next to Hong Kong and Paris France
               
               That is why I move to a small town off the grid in BC and to show others soon how to do it, wrote a hub on it

               replyreport
               1. 80

                  earnestshubposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  That sounds like a good idea, the cities are expensive.
                  
                  Two former homes, one my daughter's and one I paid 60k for in 1980 are worth close to 2 million each now.
                  Because of school zones we now live well out of town, where houses range from four hundred thousand up to around 3 million.
                  
                  No where in the larger Australian cities is cheap now except new homes in housing estates with poor public transport infrastructure and no trains or trams. Some of these households need 3 or more cars just to get to schools and work.

                  replyreport
   2. 0

      Amie Warrenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think it depends on what you call "living." I don't make much money, but I live pretty well. I am very frugal, though. I make $15 an hour in one of the most expensive U.S. cities to live in...New Orleans. I have a roommate, use public transportation, and grow a lot of my own food. I don't wear designer clothes or party, and I conserve utilities as much as possible. Luckily, there is a lot of free entertainment here. I can go sit in a bar and drink water or soda all night and hear some of the best jazz ever. There are also free concerts and events. Some people couldn't live like that. I grew up poor, married money, and when I was married, I could not imagine ever living like this, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm happy, so my "living wage" is whatever allows me to be happy.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         TheSeniorposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Question - if this amount allows you to enjoy yourself and have fun - why not use some of it to create wealth - and invest it.  This is what I have chosen.

         replyreport
   3. 60

      TheSeniorposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      A living wage that would allow a person to at least maintain a 'livable' life style would be approx 10 to 12 per hour.  This amount would not allow you to have any luxries, However it would allow you to at least pay rent, eat, utilities, have some form of trans and breathe.  You would then be able to use your own creativity and produce more.

      replyreport
2. 59

   SomewayOuttaHereposted 12 years ago

   on the west coast of Canada, the living wage is just under $17 per hour (before statutory deductions)

   replyreport
3. 70

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   Massachusetts, the State I live in, you are required to have two at least 1 Full time and 1 Part time job, at minimum wage, just to get by.
   
   And, that's living in Western Mass. However, if you moved East in Massachusetts, then you would require 1 Full time job at $20/hour or higher, plus possibly 1 Part time job at $15/hour, just to get by.
   
   Getting by means, you'll meet your needs, but be unable to get anything saved.

   replyreport
4. 61

   Evan G Rogersposted 12 years ago

   Your post takes so many things for granted.
   
   1) is there really a living wage? I could easily work a 119 hour work week if I needed to make ends meet.
   
   2) How comfortable is "living"? We just talking about food, water, clothing, and a roof? Because I could probably meet all these requirements without being paid money.
   
   I could go on, but you clearly don't want to address the fact that "a living wage" is COMPLETELY relative.
   
   Words like rich and poor are 100% relative.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      TamCorposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'd love to hear how you could do that...honestly, I'm not being sarcastic.   Bartering? Homesteading out west?
      
      The only other ways I know of would be to sponge off a friend or relative...which kinda goes against my principles!
      
      I really don't know how much it would be here in Ohio, in our area, but I'm sure it would be fairly low, compared to a lot of other places...you can rent a really nice house for around $600 a month, or buy your choice of foreclosed houses for amazingly low prices, sad to say.
      
      Of course, that's because jobs are hard to find, and the economy is still at a standstill...If things ever improve, I'm sure the prices will improve right along with them.

      replyreport
      1. 61

         Evan G Rogersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Countless homeless people live off of the garbage and charity of the rest of us.
         Countless people were able to live off of their own work throughout history.
         
         Sure their lives suck / sucked, but they were earning a "living" wage.

         replyreport
         1. 61

            Moderndayslaveposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Let's not make something easy difficult.

            replyreport
            1. 61

               Evan G Rogersposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               No, we need to.
               
               You've failed to define a "a living wage" because it's undefinable.
               
               In fact, if you're looking for "the smallest amount of money that one can pay in order to survive", then you have still failed to define "how long we should expect them to live", and also "what kind of people" --- what about people with cancer?
               
               This entire liberal nonsense about there BEING a "livable wage" is utter nonsense. I'm proving it to you right now, but no one wants to hear it.
               
               "A livable wage" is NOT easy, it is VERY tricky to define. It's impossible, in fact, because every definition would be completely arbitrary.

               replyreport
               1. 61

                  Moderndayslaveposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  You proved nothing. Here are the parameters just for you. Your entire family is dead,no help or borrowing,no friends.Someone has offered to drop you off in a suburban area and get you 1, 40 -50 hour a week job.You are expected to live with at least a spec of human dignity,no sleeping under a bridge.You need to rent a small apartment,buy food ,(your choice),buy clothes,(thrift store ok) pay for heat and electricity,transportation to and from work (1 mile) and go to once a year medical check ups.You are a healthy 20 year old. How much an hour do you need to make? This was in regard to all of the discussions on the minimum wage.This was a simple exercise you seemed to have over thought.

                  replyreport
   2. 73

      Barbara Kayposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'd like to see a hub on how you can provide the basics without money. Please write one. I love articles on self sufficient living.

      replyreport
5. 0

   Home Girlposted 12 years ago

   In Toronto, Canada, you have to be very creative to survive on a min. wage job, though sometimes you have to be even more creative even to get one! Well, to be fair, I do not have a lot of sellable skills I can use here. $10.25 is min. After deductions I have enough to pay my rent and not much more! I have a second part time job that helps me to survive, as I still have two dependants. No car of course, no take-outs or vacations in Florida! You have to watch your wallet.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Winflow FGposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Just eat at Pizza Pizza and buy groceries from Price Chopper. That's what I did for a while.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Home Girlposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         No, I do better. I make my own Pizza and buy food at Asian market, mostly cheaper than Price Chopper. Cannot complain so far. I can cook a lot of things from scratch and make them cheaper and healthier. You always can cut your dollar in half and make two of it!

         replyreport
         1. 60

            Winflow FGposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I wish I was a better cook!

            replyreport
            1. 0

               Home Girlposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Remember: necessity is the mother of invention!

               replyreport