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re: True or false: it's harder to get a job that covers basic living now
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:49 am to 50_Tiger
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:49 am to 50_Tiger
I do not believe that wages have kept place with inflation. Expenses just seem to be a lot higher. Not taking into account student loans (where the price of an education has increased insurmountably relative to inflation):
Cell phone is a necessity, although that could be as little as $15.00 a month. Medical insurance is crazy expensive. Jobs don't offer a pension plan and many do not match and there is no promise of social security down the line, requiring people to save more. Vehicles are a necessity, and insurance rates are higher than ever.
I talked to someone who purchased a house for $20,000 in a middle class neighborhood in Baton Rouge when he graduated from engineering school. His starting salary was $20,000 as well. My starting salary in the same profession was $70,000, and my first house was $300,000. Everything is more expensive.
Nonetheless, people live beyond their means, and that is an equal problem.
Cell phone is a necessity, although that could be as little as $15.00 a month. Medical insurance is crazy expensive. Jobs don't offer a pension plan and many do not match and there is no promise of social security down the line, requiring people to save more. Vehicles are a necessity, and insurance rates are higher than ever.
I talked to someone who purchased a house for $20,000 in a middle class neighborhood in Baton Rouge when he graduated from engineering school. His starting salary was $20,000 as well. My starting salary in the same profession was $70,000, and my first house was $300,000. Everything is more expensive.
Nonetheless, people live beyond their means, and that is an equal problem.
This post was edited on 7/19/17 at 11:50 am
3
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:51 am to 50_Tiger
Im not angling anything. Im just asking for people to bring in stats in.
I previously stated i didnt think it was but there are other things to consider.
I previously stated i didnt think it was but there are other things to consider.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:52 am to Pecker
quote:
They take out $100k in student loans to study marketing. Then they graduate and complain out student loans and needing loan forgiveness. It's not free money. It's an investment in your future success. If you can't project that success in your desired field of study, you better pick another field or be prepared to live in poverty.
This.
My neighbor's daughter graduated from Fontainbleau High with honors. Got TOPS plus has taken out loans to "cover other expenses" she lives in an apartment that is truly beautiful...huge pool, rec room with bunches of Tvs, volleyball courts...the works. Majoring in Mass Com. I asked her what her post grad plan is, she said grad school. I asked what is the plan after that. She said " If dad cant hook me up with one of his business associates for a nice job, then I really don't know. Maybe I'll have found a rich husband by then"
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:52 am to Displaced
quote:
But nowadays, most people think "basic living" includes cable TV, a new car, 50in tv, hbo, PS4, etc.
Yeah, someone who works for a living does not deserve ANY luxury in life.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:53 am to Newc
quote:
My starting salary in the same profession was $70,000, and my first house was $300,000
Unless you are married with another income then you way out kicked your coverage with a 300k home on a 70k income.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:54 am to fareplay
True. It is harder now. Especially if you do not have a 2 income household. I make pretty decent money. And after I pay my rent, utilities, food, gas and daycare for my kids, that's almost my entire paycheck.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:55 am to Roovelroe
quote:
My neighbor's daughter
pics?
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:55 am to Roovelroe
Yeah all those millennials just expect handouts huh!?
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:56 am to Newc
quote:
Vehicles are a necessity, and insurance rates are higher than ever.
In most areas, true. Some people can get away with not having a car, but that is really limited to certain major cities.
No one I know in New York has a car. But of course, they pay rent that is absolutely absurd, so it kind of evens out.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:57 am to fareplay
Basic living is subjective. The problem is that wages have not kept up with inflation of goods.
This is very hard for older generations to realize.
This is very hard for older generations to realize.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:58 am to fareplay
quote:
True or false: it's harder to get a job that covers basic living now
False. It's easy as frick to her a job that covers basic living: food, water, shelter. In fact it's probably easier now than ever.
You can go get a minimum wage job at any if the billions of fast food places or Walmarts on every corner and make enough money to afford a small shitty apartment and food and water.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:58 am to 50_Tiger
quote:
You go to college to become a doctor, scientist, engineer, and maybe lawyer. Most other professions won't pay enough to pay that Student Loan bill that comes every month.
There are a ton of other fields that can 'pay enough to pay that student loan bill'. You didn't mention any technology professions, accountants, allied health fields, etc...
Now, is it a smart decision to go to school to study Russian history? Doubtful.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 11:59 am to Newc
quote:
I do not believe that wages have kept place with inflation. Expenses just seem to be a lot higher.
A new home, car, and college cost (public and private) are all significantly more expensive then they were for someone in the early 80s. The cost of college alone when adjusted is something like 3-4 times what it was in the 80s.
And I know here, in Louisville, LG&E (Gas and Electric), MSD (Sewage), and Louisville Water Company (Water) have asked for cost increases for their services every single year for the past 10-15 years. MSD had a 20% increase improved just last year. But wages certainly aren't increasing at that rate for the median earner.
We're getting nickle and dimed across the board. And it's starting to add up.
This post was edited on 7/19/17 at 12:01 pm
Posted on 7/19/17 at 12:02 pm to Breesus
quote:
False. It's easy as frick to her a job that covers basic living: food, water, shelter
If those are the only things you consider a prerequisite for basic living, then I agree with you that the answer is "False".
But the reality is there are so many other things that should be included in that list: cell phone, internet, student loans, transportation, insurance, clothing (assuming you work at a job that requires at least some level of dress code), a Cessna 172 (obviously), etc.
This post was edited on 7/19/17 at 12:08 pm
Posted on 7/19/17 at 12:03 pm to tke857
quote:
basic living? I think people who make $50k and above can make a basic living and do ok. Jobs at that level are plentiful.
Arguably, I could live on $40k a year easily if I didn't have school debt...........which my parents never had.
I've been hovering in the $40-$50k range for the last few years and I'm paycheck to paycheck. Admittedly, I eat out a little too much and spend a little too much on alcohol, but I haven't had cable in over a decade, my TV is 9 years old, and I have an old used car that I paid cash for.
It's my debt that hurts me.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 12:05 pm to CaptainBrannigan
quote:
Yeah, someone who works for a living does not deserve ANY luxury in life.
That's not what the OP was asking, and the fact that you recognize them as "luxuries" means you agree they aren't basic needs to survive.
The problem is that people spend on luxuries before they can cover their basic expenses. They then bitch about not making enough money to survive and/or get on the government welfare system.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 12:09 pm to fareplay
Does basic living include partying?
Posted on 7/19/17 at 12:13 pm to wadewilson
quote:
I've been hovering in the $40-$50k range for the last few years and I'm paycheck to paycheck. Admittedly, I eat out a little too much and spend a little too much on alcohol, but I haven't had cable in over a decade, my TV is 9 years old, and I have an old used car that I paid cash for.
Until the last three years, I supported myself and my wife on $37,000 while she was a full time student. We rented a decent house that was small, but affordable. Not really a safe neighborhood. We drove crappy cars. We wore cheap clothes. We ate basic food. We went out to eat on occassion. I still managed to make IRA contributions. We both had cell phones and cable TV, even got a nice plasma as a christmas gift from inlaw. That's basic living. for two people on $37k. If you are a college grad that can't make $37k then you need to go pick up some tools and learn a trade because your major sucks. Or your idea of basic living is a luxury apartment in the trendy area of town and a Land Rover.. eating out 7 days a week.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 12:16 pm to fareplay
Assuming you're talking about jobs paying that little to start with, yes. There's just more competition now at that pay rate.
Posted on 7/19/17 at 12:21 pm to 50_Tiger
quote:
You go to college to become a doctor, scientist, engineer, and maybe lawyer. Most other professions won't pay enough to pay that Student Loan bill that comes every month.
No. You go to college because you want to learn. You don't have to go to a school that costs $20k plus a year to learn.
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