I think what's hard to find are jobs that pay enough to actually be able to live. We could all probably go out and find minimum wage jobs, but most of us would not be able to afford to live on that.


Yes SingmeSweet minimum wage jobs are tough to get by on. The real trick is pareing down our standard of living when necessary because the pay scale tanks for the skills we have. And hopefully not wating until the last possible moment to do it.

It can be a real reality check to find out what you can live without if you have too. For someone who loves retail therapy it was a hard sell for me to put that little extra into my morgage and pay it off early but I sure don't mind not haveing it looming over my head anymore. Nor car expense. But now instead of paying big bucks for car insurance, tags, and gas I take a nice annual vacation and I still get where I want/need to go.

Most of us waste a lot of time and money that could easily be put into more productive venues. If you give up a little of your freedom or convienence or wait to buy what's "hot" at the moment for the short term an look for bargains it can actually be a lot of fun. And avoid a lot of buyer remorse when you get a "lemon" on a "deal".

Two things I have never seriously regretted were putting a knot in the baby making plumbing once I had a kid and paying good money for a smaller place in a better school district. If you don't have as many day care and private school costs or substandard public school problems it is a lot easier to move forward. Not knocking the Moms who manage bigger families but I sure know my limits and many times it was a blessing.

Since sooner or later age, if nothing else, is going to make it necessary to live on less I really recommend giving it a trial run. When you make changes in stages it does seem less brutal.

I do think that cutting down on expenses is a good idea. I don't really shop unless I need to and I don't buy a lot of extra stuff I don't need. But, I would not be able to afford rent and bills if I were only working at a minimum wage job. If others can do that, awesome.

I dont see how anyone can afford rent on min wage period unless they are on section 8 or something...cost of living is way over the limitations of wages right now. Its totally unfair.

so its better for someone to have NO job, then to have a minimum wage job or two... i'm sorry, but the job market is tough... and you gotta do what you gotta do right now...

I know right now i know a lot of over-qualified people who are flipping burgers... i know its a shame... but its better then getting EVEN FURTHER in the hole because they think they are too good for the jobs they can get...

yeah most jobs dont want to pay full time workers or benefits either so everything is listed as part time, forcing people to finagle 2-3 jobs at a time. grrrr!

Where did I say it was better for someone to have no job? I was just stating that I would not be able to pay rent and bills if I had a minimum wage job.

Obviously if it came down to it, I would take what I could get when it came to jobs.

gotta agree with this one! couldnt have said it better!

Then I still think you are probably living beyond your means if that is the case. I live in California, which seems to be one of the most expensive places to live in the nation, but I afford to live here by buying older, smaler. and shareing my space which a lot of people won't do even if they end up staying in a shelter. If you can't live on minimum wage you really need to have a FAT savings account or cut back. Too manythings in life will put you down a lot worse than a minimum wage.

i couldn't even make rent if i only had one minimum wage job... if you're only getting minimum wage, you gotta juggle 2 or 3 jobs... but again, you gotta do what you gotta do... i really dont see any reason why someone shouldn't have a job, or at least be actively looking for one, unless they are already a billionaire...

I understand wanting to find a man that is self sufficient. I have a child to raise and have my own money, (Don't need to support the man I'm with- one reason I got rid of the ex husband)
But bottom line is if you are NOT attracted to the person who asks you out, the answer should be no. I don;t care if he's a millionaire. IF no attraction, then don't waste his time and yours.

And right now there are TONS of people out of work by no choice of their own. Some are just trying to get back into the work force. And why shouldn't a first date be dutch. Its only fair- since you both just checking things out.

Sure, I could move somewhere cheaper and live with other people to bring costs down. What I was saying was that I would not be able to live on my own with a minimum wage job. Obviously, other incomes/people paying rent will help. I don't know many people who can get by on one minimum wage job. But if you can, that's awesome.

If someone does not have a job, I agree, they should be actively looking for one. Unfortunately, jobs are not easy to come by these days. Looking for a job becomes a job for a while. But, if it comes to that, we have to do what we have to do to make it in life.

I never ask for anything I am not prepared to give.


And if you aren't attracted to him, tell him you aren't interested. This isn't rocket science ... we ought to be honouring of one another. You'd expect no less.

If there is no attraction don't date him but have the common courtesy to let him know that, ignoring is rude and just because he doesn't have job doesn't mean he doesn't have a means to support himself. And there are plenty of things to do where you don't have to spend money.