$13 an hour is above $20k and that is livable, if you actually have a full time job and subsidized health care.
I make about that but I have to pay $250-450 a month on medical costs (plus $105 for my health plan) and have to ask my mom for about $1k a year when I get stuck with a big expense.
I'm not complaining and I do ok, but I have cheap rent (that's going up to $500 next month) and am good at shopping with coupons for food and waiting for clearance and stuff for clothes and basically being aware of what I will need soon and taking advantage of good deals. I don't have much disposable income, I have Netflix and spend money for my cat's food/health and that's it. But I'm happy.
...point being that $12k as the poverty line is fucking stupid. If my medical costs are $5k per year (they are usually a bit more with my 20% coinsurance for regular checkups, my other stuff being chronic illness stuff), say I live on $16k and I don't really make it with that, I need help from my family.
Last edited by reprise85 : 05-22-2014 at 07:51 PM.
|