How do people survive on wages close to minimum wage?

Game Face MCGee

Hollister11 wrote: »

tastyt wrote: »

Some people are just obsessed with money and numbers. When I was in college the last thing on my mind was how many K id be on 5 yrs down the line.

OP is obviously in a decent course with good prospects, you will have a very good paying job at the end compared to the majority of the population by the looks of it.

So stop comparing yourself and looking down on other people who are just trying to make a living and look after their families, you will never be happy with an attitude like that.

Oh ya, one more thing, your in college, forget about work for a couple of years and enjoy yourself. You could be working for the next 45 years

I wish people would stop saying this. I'M NOT LOOKING DOWN ON PEOPLE.

I don't think people are saying that, you're just a kid in college and you prob think you know it all, we were all the same, saying stuff like, if you don't get a degree or a trade you lack ambition is just young naivety. it can grate on people!
I know so many people who don't have degrees that ate very ambitious and as result wealthy.

I admire your ambition, but a degree will only open a door to the lowest rung on the ladder,
A bit of advice I wish someone told me 15 years ago, that will give you a head start on your road to 80k and above
1) Work very hard
2) more importantly work VERY smart
3) forge alliances with the correct people of influence
4) and always deliver, deliver, deliver
5) seize opportunities

Bambi985

thierry14 wrote: »

Try 35-45k if your lucky

Senior software engineers are struggling to get 80k with certifications galore

Degree doesn't mean **** in software development

It's all about certification

You'll put the real work in then

I know a fair few software engineers that would be making much more than 80k, primary IT degree and then a Msc and a bunch of years experience under their belt. The starter wage tends to be higher too.

Not sure why people think the OP's projection is so unrealistic? I'd be on a similar wage at close to ten years' work experience and I work in media, no frills or bows or MAs or PhDs hanging out of my ass, just ten solid years' work experience. Rack up the work experience and be bloody good at what you do and the money can be there if you put a price on yourself.

tastyt

tastyt wrote: »

Oh ya, one more thing, your in college, forget about work for a couple of years and enjoy yourself. You could be working for the next 45 years

Terrible advise, college is very much the time to be thinking about work. It's a pity a lot more don't give it thought.

Glenster

Bambi985 wrote: »

I know a fair few software engineers that would be making much more than 80k, primary IT degree and then a Msc and a bunch of years experience under their belt. The starter wage tends to be higher too.

I've heard a lot of talk about the salaries my mates from school are on, and there was a time that I believed it.

But I've seen payroll stats from a lot of companies in the last 7 years and either these lads all secretly work for facebook and google tier companies or they talk nonsense.

Glenster

Just out of curiosity what do posters think a CS grad will make straight out of college?

I'm interested in their opinions rather than a link to some salary survey.

Sofiztikated

Glenster wrote: »

Just out of curiosity what do posters think a CS grad will make straight out of college?

I'm interested in their opinions rather than a link to some salary survey.

€193 a week.

Glenster

Glenster wrote: »

Just out of curiosity what do posters think a CS grad will make straight out of college?

I'm interested in their opinions rather than a link to some salary survey.

I know many who started between 30 and 35k straight out the door from college.

JamboMac

Glenster wrote: »

Just out of curiosity what do posters think a CS grad will make straight out of college?

The wages start at 25k to potentially 45/50 starting out if your good enough. Vast majority will be 30 in and around. Final weeks of a computer science course myself and it depends how good you are and how big the company is. Although the bloke who told me he is starting on 50 lies about most things so not sure.

AdamD

Love the way everyone's ignored the thread topic to just have a go at the poster and start the usual 'a degree doesn't get you a job' rant.

Bambi985

Glenster wrote: »

I've heard a lot of talk about the salaries my mates from school are on, and there was a time that I believed it.

But I've seen payroll stats from a lot of companies in the last 7 years and either these lads all secretly work for facebook and google tier companies or they talk nonsense.

Maybe I just know a lot of guys what work for the big guns. An ex was a software engineer for one of them, I know for a fact he was on six figures. Friends' boyfriends on similar. A cousin working in Leeds on 90k, some manufacturing company I've never heard of.

In London where I live, 80k won't get you very far. I know a guy on that in Dublin that can't get a mortgage. Whereas 80k in the small city in the west of Ireland where I grew up and you'd have a fairly decent lifestyle for yourself. Maybe it's a city vs rural thing but I wouldn't take a job for any less these days and that's just so I can afford the life i have in London which is in no means extravagant.

Mr McBoatface

I've said it before and I'll say it again the rewards for taken risks putting effort in is reducing drastically.

College and university education use to more or less mean you'd get a very well paid job. It's not the case anymore. You're lucky to get a middle case income out of it.

The education system is selling a lie to youth of today. It reacts to the current demands of the economy which may not be the same demands when you finish your education. The amount of people with construction related degrees working overseas or in non related area's is massive..... thanks to the huge amount who done courses towards the latter years of the Tiger.

The youth of today have been railroaded into the system with very little alternative available. Apprenticeships are none existant these days, full time jobs are none existant replaced by unstable contract work. Youger PS worker's get paid peanuts compared to older.

Even if you get a high paying job are you better off ? Low paid workers can qualify for council property and housing through HAP, assistance from the state for families via FIS.

So OP while you are working hard to better yourself your former school friends on low paid jobs could find themselves better off in terms of overall lifestyle with better treatment from the state.

Hollister11

I also plan to do a Masters in web technologies part time alongside working after I obtain my bachelors.

givyjoe

Mr McBoatface wrote: »

I've said it before and I'll say it again the rewards for taken risks putting effort in is reducing drastically.

College and university education use to more or less mean you'd get a very well paid job. It's not the case anymore. You're lucky to get a middle case income out of it.

The education system is selling a lie to youth of today. It reacts to the current demands of the economy which may not be the same demands when you finish your education. The amount of people with construction related degrees working overseas or in non related area's is massive..... thanks to the huge amount who done courses towards the latter years of the Tiger.

The youth of today have been railroaded into the system with very little alternative available. Apprenticeships are none existant these days, full time jobs are none existant replaced by unstable contract work. Youger PS worker's get paid peanuts compared to older.

Even if you get a high paying job are you better off ? Low paid workers can qualify for council property and housing through HAP, assistance from the state for families via FIS.

So OP while you are working hard to better yourself your former school friends on low paid jobs could find themselves better off in terms of overall lifestyle with better treatment from the state.

That's why folks pick historically stable jobs like doctors, solicitors, accountants etc. Almost guaranteed a good income after the toiling in college.

Zascar

If you are going to do a masters, definitely do it straight after. The longer you are into the normal working life the less you'll be inclined to do it. I regret not doing one. No chance I'd do one now. I have friends doing them and trying to do alongside a job and possibly family - its incredibly challenging.

nelly17

AdamD wrote: »

Love the way everyone's ignored the thread topic to just have a go at the poster and start the usual 'a degree doesn't get you a job' rant.

Was just thinking something similar so decided to try and get things back on topic - in my immediate circle of friends and family these people live at home with Mam and Dad (a couple mid 20s working in retail) so you could ask the question are they really getting by since they have that comfort blanket?, probably not. But it has afforded them the ability to get a 20K deposit for a house together. Their problem is now that what they are approved for Vs house prices is a gap that's rapidly widening

As for Mortgage, Car, Kids, Pension , Health Insurance & a wedding they hope to have - I don't really see how they're going to do it.

Mr McBoatface

givyjoe wrote: »

That's why folks pick historically stable jobs like doctors, solicitors, accountants etc. Almost guaranteed a good income after the toiling in college.

Excluding doctors from the list , historically well paid jobs are flooded with graduates so no guarantee anymore. More a case of who you know than what you know in those fields

Zascar

Zascar wrote: »

If you are going to do a masters, definitely do it straight after. The longer you are into the normal working life the less you'll be inclined to do it. I regret not doing one. No chance I'd do one now. I have friends doing them and trying to do alongside a job and possibly family - its incredibly challenging.

Masters can be very expensive though so getting one sponsored by work is preferable. Also I think having gained a bit of experience and thought more about what direction you want to go in with your career you may decide to do a different masters than what you might have thought.

The problem is getting the jobs in the first place as many roles now have masters as the minimum level of education with some even requiring a PhD.

History Queen

Hollister11 wrote: »

Plenty of people I went to school with are working full time in supermarkets. Most would be on circa €10 per hour.

How do people live on roughly 400 quid a week. Now they all live at home with the folks but what are they going to do in the future when they need a mortgage? How are they going to afford it?

I'm in college atm, and earn €50 a week, just to get by, but I'm sacrificing money now to have a good paying job for life.

Would these people not go to college and at least doubt what there on now a few years after graduating?

EDIT: Thread Title should be - How do people survive on wages close to minimum wage?

Going to college does not equate to high wages. I am a qualified teacher having spent 6 years in college. I have worked in teaching since I left college in 2013 and it is only this year that my wages are above €400 per week.

nhunter100

Hollister11 wrote:

I wish people would stop saying this. I'M NOT LOOKING DOWN ON PEOPLE.

Really? Yet on another thread you started you included this little gem in your opening post "People in this country are thick beyond imagination ".

Glenster

History Queen wrote: »

Going to college does not equate to high wages. I am a qualified teacher having spent 6 years in college. I have worked in teaching since I left college in 2013 and it is only this year that my wages are above €400 per week.

Are you counting all the weeks in the year or just all the weeks that you work?

Mr McBoatface

History Queen wrote: »

Going to college does not equate to high wages. I am a qualified teacher having spent 6 years in college. I have worked in teaching since I left college in 2013 and it is only this year that my wages are above €400 per week.

You're one of the new PS workers I mentioned, paid less than the older workers for doing the same work (probably more and to a better standard) Probably getting short term contracts from term to term in different schools

ScumLord

Elessar wrote: »

I think it's a valid question and I really don't know OP. The amount of people I know just cruising through life on minimum to low wages is frightening. Zero ambition or motivation to better themselves.

Why is becoming an employee with a more specified field of expertise considered improving yourself? Most people come out of college and are basically a ten mil spanner, they're great at tightening and loosening M10 bolts but that's it. Someone without that added training may be a vice grips and while vice grips aren't excellent at anything in particular, they're more useful to more people at more things.

College these days creates specialised workers. It doesn't make better people, there isn't even a guarantee it's going to make your life any better, you may end up with more money but less time to spend it.

Your youth won't last, you can actually enjoy life more in your 20s, your brain is wired to give bigger rewards for enjoying yourself and you'll lose that as you move into middle age, it's not that you won't be able to enjoy yourself it's just everything is sweeter in your 20s.

You can learn to do any career at any time, but you'll only be young once. I think everyone should spend those years on themselves and spend the crappy decrepit years following orders and paying taxes.

History Queen

History Queen wrote: »

Going to college does not equate to high wages. I am a qualified teacher having spent 6 years in college. I have worked in teaching since I left college in 2013 and it is only this year that my wages are above ?400 per week.

The wages for teaching are gone to the dogs. I would consider teaching myself but due to the cuts over the last few years it wouldn't be worth my while due to the drop in wages. With my qualifications I'd have been getting approx 10k more per year starting out a few years back compared to now and its just not worth the drop. Its also a tough job, far tougher than many admit/understand.

History Queen

Glenster wrote: »

Are you counting all the weeks in the year or just all the weeks that you work?

Well when i started out i was on short term contracts so only paid for weeks worked (not paid during holidays). I now have a 12 month contract so I'm paid year round. My first 12 month contract (last year) however, did not pay me more than 400euro per week because, as a previous poster correctly stated, I am a "New Entrant" to the ps.

Zascar

History Queen wrote: »

Going to college does not equate to high wages. I am a qualified teacher having spent 6 years in college. I have worked in teaching since I left college in 2013 and it is only this year that my wages are above €400 per week.

Yes but - you went into teaching. Hardly known for it's high wages - and I'm assuming you knew this when you decided to go into it.. Same with things like nursing and the guards - very respectable jobs - but bloody hard work and very limited earnings. I work with a large bunch of 25 year old's that are making 45-55k. It would take some people very many years to get to this level. However these guys are only on the start of their career and earnings ladder.

People really need to take a proper look into the potential earnings of the career they are going into. There are very high rewarding careers that are not that difficult to get into if you try.

Sofiztikated

Zascar wrote: »

Yes but - you went into teaching. Hardly known for it's high wages - and I'm assuming you knew this when you decided to go into it.. Same with things like nursing and the guards - very respectable jobs - but bloody hard work and very limited earnings. I work with a large bunch of 25 year old's that are making 45-55k. It would take some people very many years to get to this level. However these guys are only on the start of their career and earnings ladder.

People really need to take a proper look into the potential earnings of the career they are going into. There are very high rewarding careers that are not that difficult to get into if you try.

Such as...?

Pac1Man

nhunter100 wrote: »

Really? Yet on another thread you started you included this little gem in your opening post "People in this country are thick beyond imagination ".

Did he say people on minimum wage are thick? I doubt it.

Glenster

Bambi985 wrote: »

Maybe I just know a lot of guys what work for the big guns. An ex was a software engineer for one of them, I know for a fact he was on six figures. Friends' boyfriends on similar. A cousin working in Leeds on 90k, some manufacturing company I've never heard of.

In London where I live, 80k won't get you very far. I know a guy on that in Dublin that can't get a mortgage. Whereas 80k in the small city in the west of Ireland where I grew up and you'd have a fairly decent lifestyle for yourself. Maybe it's a city vs rural thing but I wouldn't take a job for any less these days and that's just so I can afford the life i have in London which is in no means extravagant.

London is a joke. I lived there myself for 2 years. I left on decent money last year and you could afford to share a nice place in Clapham on that, but you could only dream about living on your own or buying, you'd need to be on £90K for that. I'd say salaries there in comparison to Ireland are inflated by about 20-30%, and that's all eaten up in higher rents and lifestyle.

I know IT people on 90K plus in London, but they're financial IT people (which I wouldn't class as IT) or they work for Facebook/Google/Oracle.

To get back to the OPs original question, here is how we coped on low wage jobs. In order to avoid childcare, we both worked 3 x 12 hour days for years. ie I worked Mon, Tue and Sat and he worked Wed, Thurs & Friday. We needed 2 vehicles, as there are no busses out here in the sticks. We both had old bangers that got us to work, school, etc. We've never had health insurance. Simply couldn't afford it. We went out as a family for picnics, to seaside, zoo, museum etc. Always daytrips, never had a holiday. School books were bought second hand, as were some school uniforms.
We have both gone through redundancies and are lucky now to have jobs that will hopefully see us through to retirement.

History Queen

Zascar wrote: »

Yes but - you went into teaching. Hardly known for it's high wages - and I'm assuming you knew this when you decided to go into it.. Same with things like nursing and the guards - very respectable jobs - but bloody hard work and very limited earnings. I work with a large bunch of 25 year old's that are making 45-55k. It would take some people very many years to get to this level. However these guys are only on the start of their career and earnings ladder.

People really need to take a proper look into the potential earnings of the career they are going into. There are very high rewarding careers that are not that difficult to get into if you try.

No i didn't know because when I made my decision to go teaching after my Leaving Cert in 2007 teachers wages and working conditions were far superior to what they are now. I didn't have any way of predicting the deterioration of pay and conditions in subsequent years. I understand what you are saying but I for one had researched my chosen career...i couldn't have predicted what happened.