Comments on: Frequently Asked Questions: Minimum Wage Challenge

By: jeffrey

jeffrey — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:19:37 +0000

No. I will have to go and check it out. Thanks for the tip.

By: Minny

Minny — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 08:20:29 +0000

Have you read the book ‘Living More with Less’ by Doris Janzen Longacre. I read it because I read on a blog that it was about living on not much. It was a fascinating read and I would recommend it.

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 21:15:42 +0000

I bet plenty of people on unemployment or Social Security are also living on a meager income.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 04:58:43 +0000

When I was a grad student I lived on $700/month in D.C. – that was my monthly income as a TA. I had a basement “apartment” that included a bedroom/living room, a half-bath, shared shower and kitchen, shared laundry, shared phone. No cable TV. No car. No movie rentals or movie theater tickets. I walked mostly and used public transportation when necessary. I joined a food co-op and almost never ate out. I almost never shopped except for books once a semester and study supplies when needed. At the time I had plenty of money and almost always had some left at the end of the month. I was lucky and had no medical expenses. I rarely bought new clothes. And DC is filled with free festivals, concerts, shows, etc. for entertainment so I had plenty to do for fun. It can be done, you just need to opt out of a consumer/shopping focused lifestyle.

By: Jo

Jo — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 10:32:06 +0000

My daughter is in Americorp. She’s a site supervisor on the “Rebuild ________” project. I had to leave that blank for her safety. And yes, you’re right that she’s making that kind of money you mentioned, plus EBT.

Let me tell you, since college, that girl lives comfortably on a less than minimum wage budget. She’s got a roommate and they split the expenses regarding the apartment they live in.

For her it is a challenge, but luckily because she loves Americorp, she doesn’t mind the small amount of money she’s earning.

By: KK @ Student Debt Survivor

KK @ Student Debt Survivor — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 15:06:48 +0000

I also thought of Americorps volunteers when I first heard of the challenge. Most of them are making $10-$12k per year in “living stipend”. It’s not a lot to live on and definitely makes you less than minimum wage. When I did my Americorps service year I made $1000 a month. I was working 40 hours per week as a legal assistant at legal services. I think of that as my own personal minimum wage challenge.