Minimum Wage Jobs

I'll be honest, I haven't had many "regular" jobs with retail. I have been lucky enough to have my hobbies for financial support. However, I'm now in a position where my hobbies cannot support me and I've been on the hunt for a job. I had an interview today, which went great. My problem is: they want to pay $7.50 an hour. I really really need the job, but I'm so afraid that I won't be able to find a second job before the end of the month. That is, if I get job A.

At $7.50 an hour, I won't be getting very much. The job is for between 20-30 hours a week. By my math, that will give me about $700 a month, less then what my rent is. I do plan on working two jobs, but no more.

How do people survive on minimum wage? Even without pets, I honestly don't see how anyone can survive on this. For those who have been paid minimum wage, can you give advice on what to do when your basic expenses (not including pets) is over double what you are bringing in?

When I worked at the zoo as an animal attendant, I made $7.50/hr doing the hardest work I have ever done in my life, with little to no appreciation from my supervisors (but that is beside the point..lol!)

It was hard to get by. I had to give up my apartment and end up going back to my mom's house, where I could still barely afford all of my bills. I decided to order a shipment of mice with my income tax money, enough to last a year, so that helped me with my weekly mice expense. I cut down to the bare minimum plan on my cell phone. I could have just shut it off, but my situation wasn't that intense (thankfully)! And to be completely honest with you, I had to postpone payment on a bill here and there. And there were a lot of other little things that I had to do, I just can't think of them all at the moment. But in the end, I made it through. In fact, I'm even making LESS than that now, since I have a new part-time job while I'm going to school.

I guess I can't really give you any tips or advice on _how_ to do it, but I just want to let you know that it can be done. It may not seem like it now, but you'll find a way to make ends meet. You just have to start thinking outside the box. Realizing which expenses aren't necessary and cutting them back, if not completely out.

pridecity said:

How do people survive on minimum wage? Even without pets, I honestly don't see how anyone can survive on this. For those who have been paid minimum wage, can you give advice on what to do when your basic expenses (not including pets) is over double what you are bringing in?

Click to expand...

They double up on housing with others in similar circumstances. They eat a lot of macaroni and cheese. They live with their parents. Minimum wage is really, really, really tough. Been there, done that, and ate a lot of beans and rice, drove only to work and back again, didn't buy any clothes, collected aluminum cans for the deposit $$. I wish I could say something helpful other than that.

Living at minimum wage means living below the poverty level. See if you qualify for things like food stamps, housing subsidies (HUD, etc.), state-sponsored medical care, and help paying heating bills (seasonal). There might also be weatherization help available seasonally. While families (especially single mom-type families) take priority when it comes to federal and state-sponsored subsidies, singles can usually qualify, too.

That's what most people do when they're forced to work at minimum wage jobs, anyway.

I really don't know how Amercians survive with such low minimum wage, it just doesnt make sense to me.
I get minimum wage in Canada and it is 10.25 and I think that is bad sometimes, so I guess I have it pretty good.

I would look into food stamps and housing solutions if I were you also if you do get this job ask if it would be possible for more hours and even ask if you would be able to move up to full time after your probation period.

I think two jobs would be difficult having to deal with shift work from both jobs being part time (seeing how my job gives me different shifts all the time, sometimes only a couple days in advance).

Good luck <3

Simple.......I live with my mother :grin01:


But really, I have 2 jobs...both somewhat minimum wage. One as an Assistant Horse trainer for $9.00 an hour, but I usually only get about 20 hrs a week this time of year. Winter is usually when I work my other job....as a board operator at a local radio station. It's minimum wage ($8.55) but I usually work 30-40 hours a week depending on what college games are on, and what kind of public things too.

My mom makes me pay "rent" of a sorts....of $300 a month, and that goes towards my insurance on my truck, food, heating/ac etc. So when I want to move out (probably next spring) I'll either need to get more hours all the time, or find a full time job somewhere to help pay for everything.

The best advice I can give is ask yourself this question every time: Do you want a job that your happy at, but you don't make much money doing (my scenario) or would you rather have a job that you hate...but make enough money to live happily ever after?

However, me only being 19, I'm sure someone else can give you better tips than I could!

Good luck though!

GSDlover said:

I really don't know how Amercians survive with such low minimum wage, it just doesnt make sense to me.
I get minimum wage in Canada and it is 10.25 and I think that is bad sometimes, so I guess I have it pretty good.

I would look into food stamps and housing solutions if I were you also if you do get this job ask if it would be possible for more hours and even ask if you would be able to move up to full time after your probation period.

I think two jobs would be difficult having to deal with shift work from both jobs being part time (seeing how my job gives me different shifts all the time, sometimes only a couple days in advance).

Good luck <3

Click to expand...

Yeah... but isn't the Canadian Dollar weaker than the US dollar? What's it's purchase value when compared to the US dollar?

I have been working roughly 4 years for minimum wage... though admittedly it's more than 700$ a month(because it's a full time job...). 7.5$ is actually more than Israeli minimum wage.
The real killer though is that very few things are MADE here. So... everything is imported, and therefore costs far far more- cars, gas, food(meat and such). Living in minimum wage... is impossible. It also means that I had to juggle between working full time, and learning for a degree(. Of course, the levels of anxiety here are also sky rocketing...

All in all, minimum wage is nigh impossible to deal with.

(thankfully I found a job where I make a deal more than I spend... but that's uncommon for people my age, without a degree).

What I did during the time I did earn minimum wage was simply to save as much on my expanses as possible. If the workplace offered a means to get food for cheaper costs, I would buy minimum supplies for my home.
I saved however and whenever I could... at some point took a loan to cover for the debt I had. Not easy.

I suggest you work, and in the meantime, seek out a better workplace... and just try to consider this a very temporary period in which you need to make sure you survive through. Give yourself a time period, set a goal for yourself to find a more rewarding job within X number of months, and do what needs to be done in order to make it happen.

I sort of wish I could move in with someone. I honestly don't have family who I could live with, especially if I get a job where I live now. All my family members live over 30 minutes from me. Moving in with someone isn't an option.

I did have roommates earlier this year, however I was still paying all the bills because they never helped out. I was still making $4000 a month at the time and somehow never had any money. I wish I could move in with my boyfriend, but we tried that and found it to be something that won't work.

I think I'll try the government assistance. I won't be able to until next week, but will see. I'm still trying to figure out how my electricity bill is $200 this past month. I was hardly home and all my lights are on timers for the reptiles. The a/c wasn't on, the desktop computer was unplugged and still it was twice the amount it should be. *shakes head*

I think I'm going to start going Amish with the electricity and use candles at night instead of electricity. I can start making days shorter for the reptiles and maybe I should do some bulk cooking. I really don't cook at home; I'm always cooking for my other half at his house. I can shower pretty quickly... but that doesn't cost me anything. I think the washer and dryer are going to be expensive. They suck. Lol.

My husband and I own our own business, but we don't really make much money. One thing that has helped us alot especially when we were starting out was our spending habits. We never buy something we can't afford. And we never pay interest if we can avoid it. Interest is money being paid out for nothing in return. We pay our credit cards in full every month. If we know there won't be money to pay the card off in full, then whatever it is we wanted needs to wait a bit. When we did have to finance, like when we bought our house or the van, we would pay more than the minimum payment, as that paid down the debt faster and we ended up paying less interest. It is a little thing, but it adds up over time.

Not sure if this will help you at all, but I hope it does. Good luck!

Is there a way you could grow your own fruits and vegetables? That might help a little bit, not to mention it would be healthy too

Several people posted while I was writing. I've loaned for several months looking for a job. This month, my other half just can't do it. I'm all ready behind on rent by $170 and it was due two days ago. Then there's the rent.

I'm wondering if I can really do without the internet, which is $47 a month I think. It makes filling out applications a lot harder, plus I have an article writing job I'm trying to work with that requires the internet. I don't buy clothes unless I have to because I'm trying to lose weight so I fit into all the new clothes I bought over a year ago. I will need to spend money on the bus, just in case I can't get a ride or it's too far to walk.

@SteelJawEmily: I'd rather be able to afford my expenses and be able to save up $100 a month. I could do well with $9.50 an hour. Only two dollars more! I wish I could get it from this job, but I don't see it happening. There are "incentives" but they only offer up to $100 a month and requires selling space to new business. I don't see me doing that every month. On the plus side, I know I can keep the snakes for at least another two months, if I pay rent...

And that's a mostly no on the grow own food. I have a habit of killing anything less hardy then succulents and cacti, plus I live in an apartment with less then 900 sq ft

GSDlover said:

I really don't know how Amercians survive with such low minimum wage, it just doesnt make sense to me.
I get minimum wage in Canada and it is 10.25 and I think that is bad sometimes, so I guess I have it pretty good.

Click to expand...

Pretty lucky - it's only 9.50 in Quebec.

As stated before: asking for a raise a month or so into the job isn't unheard of. I wouldn't stay at minimum wage forever. It's just a touchy subject between employee and employer at times - but if they intend on keeping you because you do a good job, then why not show some appreciation?

Ontario minimum wage was 9.50 last year, so yours might go up next march?

Also, yesterday our dollar was 0.05 cents behind the American so we're not behind on much.
But our books will always be so much more, I was looking at a corn snake book and it was 7 dollars more in the Canadian dollar then it was in the US... I was a little confused. >.>

But it must catch up on us on taxes, or housing expenses being more expensive.
Not sure to be honest.

Look for something in food service that provides discounted/free food to employees. You'll be able to eat at work and bring home stuff that would be marked out.

How important to you is the apartment you have now? Would it be possible to find a smaller/cheaper one, or a roommate?

Also, my sympathies for what you're going through. I know how it feels trying to scrape enough together to make ends meet.

i never truelly had a minimum wage job my first job i started out at 9.50 and ended at 10.56, my last job before i went to basic was automotive work and i was making when i left around 18 an hour.. i did have trouble though keeping up with bills.... just gotta work it and after time you will be able to balance yourself and how you spend your money...

in the military im never short on money...

I lived on minimum wage for about two years without resorting to food stamps, getting a roommate, whatever else, but three things make a big difference.

One: it was a full time job, so I got 40 hours a week. If I wasn't so lazy, I could have gotten a second part or full time job; some people do work two full time jobs, or three part time jobs even. I'd rather just spend less money on fun stuff than work more. =P Really, I should get a part time job now, since I usually sit at home bored anyway.

Two: rent makes a big difference, so you've got to shop around a bit and seriously consider what you must have and what you can live without. I'd love 650+ sq ft., and I might look for that next time my lease goes up, but I can live without it. I live in 518 sq ft. Technically it's enough space for me, but I have a treadmill plus reptile tanks, so I wouldn't mind a little extra space.

Three: being careful with how you spend. I didn't have cable, I just watched the free basic channels and later got a cheap Netflix plan to watch movies. I live in Texas, so the electric bill could be a struggle at times. Opening windows and buying a cheap fan helped to not need the a/c as much. Taking your time at the grocery store helps. In many cases the off brand tastes the same and is cheaper than a name brand. Or instead of buying a single serving of something, buy family size and get some cheap tupperware to stretch lunch/dinner/whatever into a couple servings.

Dunno if any of that helps at all, just my own observations. Of course, number and type of pets makes a difference. $40 will buy enough frozen mice to feed my corn for a year or more. When I fed my cat the cheap cat food, $40 only lasted about two to three months I think. Now I feed a premium brand, $40 lasts one to two months. Kinda ties in with point number three. I wouldn't want to try to afford to feed premium food to a st. bernard!

When I got divorced, I moved out of a 1245 sq ft house, into an 800 sq ft with a loft. Hated the wasted loft space, so now have a 649 sq ft 1BR, and I have custody of my 11 yo twin boys every other week. Less space is doable. I don't have cable, didn't have internet for over 2 years, and set the ac at 80, heat at 68. I work a p/t job 3 nights a week to help get out of debt. My day job pays well, but divorce is expensive! I just had to come up with $1900 on a bill my ex owed (co-borrower) because they wanted to garnish MY wages! Don't they know I divorced that dead beat 2.5 years ago!?

Theresa in Indy

OK, I'm probably teaching granny to suck eggs, but here are some things I do or have done, to make the finances stretch:

- Leave the heating off for as long as possible in the winter. Wear two pairs of socks. The secret is in layering, so two thin shirts and two sweaters work wonders. Wear tights under jeans.

- If I eat a big breakfast with lots of wholegrain, I can manage without lunch. A big pack of porridge oats has saved me on more than one occasion.

- Never buy store-made food like sandwiches or coffee. Make your own and take them with you.

- Moving to the non-branded foods is a great idea. Lots of them taste the same or can be used to cook meals where you'll never tell the difference.

- If you have a freezer, buy cheaper food and cook in bulk. A properly-seasoned chilli made with lower quality beef, bottom-end canned tomatoes and bulked up with cheap beans, can cost very little per serving and taste fantastic. Added to which, freezing and defrosting chilli actually seems to make it a nicer consistency.

- There's no harm in looking for a job with a better wage, but waiting for it will surely sink you. Hang on to whatever job you can, try to stay positive about it and keep looking out for more (either in your current job or by watching out for new vacancies). Having some money is better than having no money, regardless of how unmanageable it seems. Also, even the worst job will still show prospective employers that you're willing to work and you won't have big gaps on your CV.

- Cut up the credit cards. They really are killers in this situation. Buy what you have the cash for.

- Just seeing some "negatives" in a different light can make them less onerous and might brighten your life. Walking is good for you! A couple of miles a day will do wonders for your fitness, so look on it as a workout without the gym fees. The colder my flat gets, the more gleeful I am that the electricity and gas companies aren't getting their hands on my money!

- Move in with the other half. Sounds drastic, but two people living together run up much smaller total bills than two people each with their own place. It may not be ideal for your personal situation but needs must when the devil drives and all that. It needn't be forever and might tell you a whole lot about your relationship.

I waited until I had a day off to write in this thread. I think I got ________________ hours this week. At $7.50 that's about ____________________ gross, I think. Lol. It's a great job, but they pay sucks. Right now, the food thing isn't a problem. I'm never home to eat. I have a couple bags of food for the rare day I don't see my other half, but so far those haven't even made it to my kitchen. Luckily the cats can't smell tuna through the can. Lol. And when I have a moment to eat at work, I usually spend a max of $3 on something quick like a bratwurst with sauerkraut and a drink that lasts all day. Mmm mmm.

The lights and electricity might still be a problem. I've unplugged everything I'm not using and everything on power strips that's not in the reptile room gets turned off. I do leave my one standing light one when I leave for work but only because I have to find my extra timers so I can get that going. I condensed down my fish tanks so there are only three running instead of four. I'm going to get rid of two once I have time to move them to the living room (for easy rehoming). The heat is on about 60, but it's hard to tell what it actually is because I think the thermostat is about as old as this place (1960-70s). I have a fan going. I wouldn't have the heat on if it weren't for the snakes being in the living room. I'm moving them back to the reptile room today after I move those extra tanks out.

Luckily, the only credit card I have is my check card and I've misplaced that somewhere in the house. It's probably still in the dog's toy box where my purse got knocked over.

The one major problem is moving to a cheaper place. It costs $750 to live in this slum hole (that's a long story in itself). I would love to find a place for $550 or even up to $650, but there are a few problems. I have a recent eviction, so any place is hard to get. Also, I know that I have to save up enough for security deposit/rent. I know they will want one for the pets. The place I live now has bed bugs and I've been battling those for a while. I don't know how I missed them the first 9 months I was here. I'm spending money trying to control them. On the plus side, I always use borax in my laundry and the nix we use for snakes does a good job with keeping them away from me. Now to figure out how to treat the entire house without killing the reptiles and bugs I actually want to keep.

One thing I'm having trouble with right now is that I think I need a second job (don't want one. My feet are killing me!). I just don't see when I'll ever have time to work a second job. This past week, I worked every day. I know I have this weekend off, but then I have most days to work next week. The days I don't have off, I have other things I have to do. I'm going to apply for that subsidized electricity that Xcel Energy offers. That means sitting at some government office or another for a few hours. I also want to try to get on welfare so that I can save up a little or get a second job. Even if it's only until the beginning of the year, I think it might help out a lot.

I'm working on my article job, which is online, and will hopefully have a few dollars coming from that every month. My goal is to get out 300 articles by Thanksgiving (November something or other) and get another 200 out by New Years. At least then I will have the chance of making money. I'm also trying to teach myself Php and Mysql, and web design when I have spare moments. Then I can get some cheap websites done for people. I'm also working on my graphics so that I can sell those. Lastly, I'm working on my photography so I can sell some stock photos. None of it will bring a lot of money in (except maybe the web design) but it's all I can think of until things get settled.

At my job, I'm the "computer girl" who lists items on one of the company websites. I work with antiques by the way. My goal is to get all of the shippable items listed by the end of the year. That would mean getting around 10,000 items listed, I estimate. I figure if I can get anywhere close to that, I might have a good argument for a dollar raise. Never asked for a raise before, so I'm not sure....

No pets, no car payment, no TV bill, no buying food or drink out, no soda, no living alone.

Pets are a luxury.

Eating only home-prepared food and never buying pre-prepared food is the cheapest way to go. My other half lived on a grocery bill of $25 per week while I was gone. She ate healthily--no box mac and cheese, just fresh food. Mine is probably more like $30-$35 a week, because I eat more meat and fewer veggies than she did, and I buy good cheese.

I've always driven vehicles that were saved for and paid for in cash. I've never had a car payment.

I've lived alone for a total of two months of my life--it started in September. I still don't pay as much per month as you are.