In class we started to read a book called "Nickel and Dimmed." the main character and author, Barbara, chooses to move out of state away from her family and a fantastic opportunity at a great job to show how hard it is for people to feed, clothe and house themselves on a minimum wage job or even two or three. She struggles between extra shifts right after another at different places because she is so tight on money. The cost for a home, electricity, and food is more expensive than you would think. You can just barely make it with a few minimum wage jobs. But then again, why don’t these people in this type of situation go to school or college to get a good paying job? Because it can still happen! Even if you have an education you could still maybe not get a good job or your business could get shut down, you could get laid off or lose it all for some sort of reason and then what happens? Your in this situation! Maybe even worse and on the streets. When you see people living on the streets you can't always just say, "Their just junkies and they will spend any money they get on alcohol or drug..." or "Its their own fault, you don’t need to help them..." because half the time that isn't the case. It could be, but not always. I like to throw a few dollars to these people when I can because you never know how long it has been since they ate last.
People our age with jobs can relate because a lot of us have jobs that pay at minimum wage. If you think about how much you get a month and how much you have in the bank, would you be able to make it if you were on your own?
My family can relate. My parents aren’t together and my mom collects disability, gets food share and very little child support for my sister and my baby brother. She has rent, a phone bill, and electric to pay. The money she does receive covers the bills with about $50 to $100 left for our home needs. I have my own job paying $7.40 and hour and i help her as much I can. Right now I am out of work for my surgery and it is harder than ever before. I buy my clothes and anything extra I need and i also pay for my part of the phone bill and I agree that it is hard! I would NEVER make it on my own with my minimum wage part time job!
I like how you show that even if someone is living on the streets, it doesn't necessarily mean its there fault. And I agree with your statement that even with a higher education and a degree it is still hard to obtain and hold a job. While making a descent living for yourself all on your own. Especially for people only making minimum wage. Personally I don't think I could make it on my own either.
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