How do people survive on wages close to minimum wage?

Sam Kade

Sam Kade wrote: »

What's the fascination with eating out?

Very enjoyable and far less effort than doing it yourself especially for asian, Indian, pizza etc. I'd eat out (or get takeaway) at least twice most weeks. I also buy my lunch everyday but don't consider that "eating out".

Graces7 wrote: »

stats for that please as many here have said else .. the clear message here is that you stay within your income. Learn what really matters in life.

Sure you are even saying yourself that renting is a big cause of stress (unless you don't find nearly being made home less as a stressful thing) and are now looking for stats?

Sunflower 27

Lacey Helpful Sifter wrote: »

800 does go far, them extra few nights out a month you can comfortably afford, more eating out, being able to buy things you want/need more often make a big difference in going from "getting through life" and actually enjoying life. It should also mean you are saving more money and when your car breaks down or when you need to buy something it's eliminates the large amount of stress that it causes to people who have no money on hand and are faced with trying to deal with difficult situations. Savings are also required for going for a mortgage and being stuck in renting is a cause of stress for most people therefore 800 extra per month could possibly all being going straight into savings for some people.

I haven't said it doesn't make life easier. Of course it does, you can go out more, treat yourself but these are not necessities and foregoing them is not going to kill you.

I don't think anyone is saying they'd rather not have an extra 200e a week but it depends on so much. How much rent you pay? Do you have a credit card to pay off each month. Can you walk/cycle to work?

Being happy is not about money to me and I hope that never changes.

Sunflower 27

Lacey Helpful Sifter wrote: »

Very enjoyable and far less effort than doing it yourself especially for asian, Indian, pizza etc. I'd eat out (or get takeaway) at least twice most weeks (I don't consider buying my lunch every day as eating out).



Sure you are even saying yourself that renting is a big cause of stress (unless you don't find nearly being made home less as a stressful thing) and are now looking for stats?

It's only stress if you cant afford it. Move, get a smaller, single room.

Parchment

Graces7 wrote: »

Where did i say " fad" please?

Just asking as it is something that is completely alien to me. Always has been as a way of life. Very occasionally in my younger days. Seems a passion here?

A passion? Hardly. Like i said its a common thing in developed countries. Just because its "alien" to you doesn't mean its a "status symbol" to others.

Sam Kade

Parchment wrote: »

Popular? its a common thing in most developed countries. Its hardly a fad.

Who said it was a fad? It's the idea that if you earn enough you can go out for a meal every so often to display some sort of status symbol. I can think of better ways to spend money.

Parchment

Sam Kade wrote: »

Who said it was a fad? It's the idea that if you earn enough you can go out for a meal every so often to display some sort of status symbol. I can think of better ways to spend money.

If you consider eating out a status symbol your world is pretty small.

Graces7

Lacey Helpful Sifter wrote: »

Very enjoyable and far less effort than doing it yourself especially for asian, Indian, pizza etc. I'd eat out (or get takeaway) at least twice most weeks. I also buy my lunch everyday but don't consider that "eating out".



Sure you are even saying yourself that renting is a big cause of stress (unless you don't find nearly being made home less as a stressful thing) and are now looking for stats?

All I see here is complaints re food eaten out! Whole threads on it!

And it is hardly an essential or anywhere near it. Learn to cook?

I think more homeowners are made homeless than renters actually. It is not , renting per se with me either. I gave up my totally owned home as maintenance costs and getting work done were crippling . And replacing eg appliances. Something some do not factor in. I Like to eat albeit simply;)

Graces7

Parchment wrote: »

A passion? Hardly. Like i said its a common thing in developed countries. Just because its "alien" to you doesn't mean its a "status symbol" to others.

Ah! DEVELOPED countries.. I see :rolleyes:

Sunflower 27

Sunflower 27 wrote: »

I haven't said it doesn't make life easier. Of course it does, you can go out more, treat yourself but these are not necessities and foregoing them is not going to kill you.

I don't think anyone is saying they'd rather not have an extra 200e a week but it depends on so much. How much rent you pay? Do you have a credit card to pay off each month. Can you walk/cycle to work?

Being happy is not about money to me and I hope that never changes.

Just getting by isn't living imo, it's surviving. Many of the things you would have to do without becuse of just getting by I would consider essential. I couldn't see myself being happy in a situation where money was very tight.

Sunflower 27 wrote: »

It's only stress if you cant afford it. Move, get a smaller, single room.

There us a lot more at play than being able to afford it or not when it comes to renting.

Graces7 wrote: »

All I see here is complaints re food eaten out! Whole threads on it!

And it is hardly an essential or anywhere near it. Learn to cook?

I'm well able to cook but find it a very tedious task that I'm glad I don't have to do every single day.

Parchment

Graces7 wrote: »

Ah! DEVELOPED countries.. I see :rolleyes:

Well i don't think people in Yemen pop into Nando's on a Friday evening, do you?

Sam Kade

Parchment wrote: »

If you consider eating out a status symbol your world is pretty small.

It pretty big actually, going out to a restaurant waiting around for an hour for an over priced meal that sometimes can be sh1te, then people saying if they earned enough they could do it every so often as if it were a necessity. If that isn't a status symbol what is it?

Jebus!
Memoirs.

TerrorFirmer

Well in fairness that defeats the purpose of going out. Why drink at the pub when you can drink at home? Why go to the cinema when you can watch a movie at home? Why go out for a coffee when you can have one at home? Why eat out when you can cook at home? Most people enjoy a balance of both, obviously. It's nice to go out, get out of the house, enjoy a different atmosphere, new experience, etc, even putting the actual material good itself aside.

Parchment

Sam Kade wrote: »

It pretty big actually, going out to a restaurant waiting around for an hour for an over priced meal that sometimes can be sh1te, then people saying if they earned enough they could do it every so often as if it were a necessity. If that isn't a status symbol what is it?

If going to a restaurant is "big" to you we are on totally different wavelengths.

"if they earned enough they could do it every so often" - what does that even mean? Most of my friends enjoy a night off from cooking now and then, thats not really a status symbol. They dont ring around to let everyone know they are going out for food.

You must internally implode when you see someone driving a Lexus if you think eating out is a status symbol.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Graces7 wrote: »

All I see here is complaints re food eaten out! Whole threads on it!

And it is hardly an essential or anywhere near it. Learn to cook?

I think more homeowners are made homeless than renters actually. It is not , renting per se with me either. I gave up my totally owned home as maintenance costs and getting work done were crippling . And replacing eg appliances. Something some do not factor in. I Like to eat albeit simply;)

But it's enjoyable. It's nice to say "feck it! Let's do something this weekend". Booking into a beautiful hotel, having a spa day, getting really dressed up that night and going for a really beautiful meal, lots of wine, being totally relaxed.

Or being totally flaked on the couch on a Sunday evening getting a takeaway if you want one rather than worrying if you can spare the 20 euro this week.

Living like that would be my idea of hell. I can cook, but sometimes it's nice to have little pleasures in life

zom

Parchment wrote: »

You must internally implode when you see someone driving a Lexus if you think eating out is a status symbol.

Sadly that's how a lot of people are forced to live.

CzechChick

They survive but some thrive

Sunflower 27

Lacey Helpful Sifter wrote: »

Just getting by isn't living imo, it's surviving. Many of the things you would have to do without becuse of just getting by I would consider essential. I couldn't see myself being happy in a situation where money was very tight.



There us a lot more at play than being able to afford it or not when it comes to renting.



I'm well able to cook but find it a very tedious task that I'm glad I don't have to do every single day.

Just getting by why you are on a low income? What other option is there?

And who said it's permanent? It wasn't for me. Most people don't walk into high-paying jobs, they study or work their way up if they want a better wage. Good thing they didn't give up and throw in towel on the way up, eh?

Graces7

LexieOnRale wrote: »

But it's enjoyable. It's nice to say "feck it! Let's do something this weekend". Booking into a beautiful hotel, having a spa day, getting really dressed up that night and going for a really beautiful meal, lots of wine, being totally relaxed.

Or being totally flaked on the couch on a Sunday evening getting a takeaway if you want one rather than worrying if you can spare the 20 euro this week.

Living like that would be my idea of hell. I can cook, but sometimes it's nice to have little pleasures in life

:rolleyes: Your idea of "little pleasures" !!! Not my idea of pleasure either thankfully. Far better things to do with my money and time and that was so when I was earning.

E20 for a takeaway! My word! Would feed me HAPPILY and well for a week and I know what is in the food..

Sunflower 27

LexieOnRale wrote: »

But it's enjoyable. It's nice to say "feck it! Let's do something this weekend". Booking into a beautiful hotel, having a spa day, getting really dressed up that night and going for a really beautiful meal, lots of wine, being totally relaxed.

Or being totally flaked on the couch on a Sunday evening getting a takeaway if you want one rather than worrying if you can spare the 20 euro this week.

Living like that would be my idea of hell. I can cook, but sometimes it's nice to have little pleasures in life

It depends on if you see your circumstances as permanent. When it was a choice between a takeaway or making my mortgage, i didn't mind missing a takeaway. I loved that i was able to keep my home.

I am grateful for the experience of having less. It totally changed my perspective for the better. In saying that, I'm in my 40s so not going out getting wasted or eating out isn't a priority for me.

20e for a takeaway, you'd have plenty of leftovers.

Graces7

LexieOnRale wrote: »

But it's enjoyable. It's nice to say "feck it! Let's do something this weekend". Booking into a beautiful hotel, having a spa day, getting really dressed up that night and going for a really beautiful meal, lots of wine, being totally relaxed.

Or being totally flaked on the couch on a Sunday evening getting a takeaway if you want one rather than worrying if you can spare the 20 euro this week.

Living like that would be my idea of hell. I can cook, but sometimes it's nice to have little pleasures in life

:rolleyes: Your idea of "little pleasures" !!! Not my idea of pleasure either thankfully. Far better things to do with my money and time and that was so when I was earning.

E20 for a takeaway! My word! Would feed me HAPPILY and well for a week and I know what is in the food..

Is that really the "lifestyle" folk here aspire to?

Oh and small point but those of us who are happy with what he have do not worry re not being able to afford eg takeways.

Eating out is overrated.
It's not a good aspiration in any respects.

Graces7

TerrorFirmer wrote: »

Well in fairness that defeats the purpose of going out. Why drink at the pub when you can drink at home? Why go to the cinema when you can watch a movie at home? Why go out for a coffee when you can have one at home? Why eat out when you can cook at home? Most people enjoy a balance of both, obviously. It's nice to go out, get out of the house, enjoy a different atmosphere, new experience, etc, even putting the actual material good itself aside.

I do all that on my outdays when I shop and explore the glory of Connemara, meet folk, but I do out buy food out unless groceries. Take a flask and picnic.. love my days out.

Shenshen

Wow, I wonder if there's anything at all people won't be prepared to argue about on After Hours?

I love going out, maybe once or twice a month. We went out for a lovely Thai meal yesterday.
But I would really only go out and pay for food I can't cook better myself at home, so we're rather selective about the places we go to.

That said, when we were on one income, we didn't go out and didn't have take-aways for some 6 months and I honestly didn't feel deprived, either.

Growing up, we used to go out for meals with the family maybe twice a week, and more often in summer. But I didn't grow up in Ireland - and when I first came here, the price of a meal out came as quite a shock. I'm not prepared to spend that much on mediocre or even bad food. Thankfully, there are some few places that are really good.

Sunflower 27

Sunflower 27 wrote: »

Just getting by why you are on a low income? What other option is there?

And who said it's permanent? It wasn't for me. Most people don't walk into high-paying jobs, they study or work their way up if they want a better wage. Good thing they didn't give up and throw in towel on the way up, eh?

I was under the impression that the discussion was geared towards thouse facing into a life of min wage (by choice or otherwise) rather than a temperoary thing. Of course low wages for a while is manageable especially if you are youngish, no kids, single and can live at home or rent a cheap room in a houseshares. Even on low wages you can likley afford plenty of luxurys in this scenario. But doing it long term and planning to have family etc on low wages is very different.

steddyeddy

Jesus the hypocrisy in this thread is strong.

Sunflower 27

Lacey Helpful Sifter wrote: »

I was under the impression that the discussion was geared towards thouse facing into a life of min wage (by choice or otherwise) rather than a temperoary thing. Of course low wages for a while is manageable especially if you are youngish, no kids, single and can live at home or rent a cheap room in a houseshares. Even on low wages you can likley afford plenty of luxurys in this scenario. But doing it long term and planning to have family etc on low wages is very different.

Doing it long term is a choice. You seem to be implying it's out of people's control.

We don't all want the same things in life. I know people that view success as a certain size of house in a certain suburb, driving a car with a certain year number plate and sending their kids to certain schools. Not everyone wants that.

Some view success as living contently in a small place, paying their bills and the odd meal out. They may be just getting by in the eyes of the former person, but maybe they don't want a high pressure job, or want to study to get a better job.

Living simply can be less stress when you aren't always trying to impress, keep up with the neighbours and trying to climb the corporate ladder.

Bottom line, how do people survive on low wages? It isn't rocket science: they spend less on themselves and adapt by living within their means. The fact that many live on low incomes (either short or long term) is evidence it is 100% do-able.

steddyeddy

steddyeddy wrote: »

Jesus the hypocrisy on this thread is strong.

On it?

steddyeddy

Bam Bam Mickey wrote: »

On it?

Changed for those of the more sensitive nature sir.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.