Is it worth giving your life to minimum wage jobs?

Silent Shrill · 28-09-2021 11:24am #1

Just letting my thoughts out to share. Some will say yes, others no.

Does a minimum wage job meet your financial needs? usually it just about does if you are good with money-keeping. If you are in rented accommodation then usually half your wage per month is gone on rent. If one of you cares for the babies/kids, then it ain't so dandy.

Anyone in the latter situation survives.

So you slog your guts out, for some uncaring boss, for the next 40 yrs+, and if you're lucky enough to live beyond retirement age, then you get a few years........to look after the grandchildren!

Let's not forget that the job you do is minimum wage with no pay rises....ever! So you've been working in that same job for 2 yrs, and in comes a new person, first job ever, knows nothing until trained, and they get the same wage as you.

What happened to the system of "those with a family to keep need more money", than a fresh new worker from school/college? Has equality taken over common sense? Who has benefited the most from those 2 scenarios?

Are we lead to believe that the government says, "It costs no more for a family man to live on minimum wage than it does for a youngster out of school"

Yes, the family man can claim for extra from the govt, after disclosing his complete life and financial situation first. So if the govt knows it costs more for the family man, then introduce a minimum wage for family workers.

So what does "minimum wage" bring?.....from what I see....it is debt.

Borrow money to get the car. Have a credit card. Borrow money to go on holiday. If you're "lucky/unlucky" enough to get a mortgage, then don't forget about spending cash on the property.

I have heard so many times about people that retire with under 1000 in their bank...for a life's work!

I am sure we have all heard about the couple that did fantastic on minimum wage throughout their life, but I've met none, and I have met many people from all walks. Usually the scenario of "always on a low wage", comes with not really having a lot, except debt!

So is a minimum wage job worth doing?.

In my opinion..No, unless you're 18 and wanting a start job.

Why would anyone put themselves in debt just to have a lifestyle that everyone deserves without debt?

Working all week, you want to be able to own a car, afford a holiday each year, pay the rent/mortgage comfortably, pay your bills, pay your DD's for your mobile/sky/internet/food/afford repairs, and if you have kids...that costs a fair whack.

Does that sound like you're living a millionaire lifestyle? Of course not. All you're simply asking for are the basics of a life for working.

Covid has made people realise that family is more important than a job with minimum wage, no prospects, no pay rises, no contract, always borrowing to make ends meet, and throw in the stress/frustration those people go through trying to make ends meet, and having a boss that is just an ignorant pig.

Do some bosses think that if you're on minimum wage that you are there to be a slave?

There are still as many people, (percentage wise), living on the breadline as there were years ago. The only changes are technology. Or have we have just become "modern breadline livers...with higher expectations"?

Nothing has changed for the lower-end wage workers, except ease of access to debt, which most cannot afford.

I have mentioned no names/companies/people, and it is purely my view from the last 50 years. I know the opinions of many will be different, and that's fine, we all have an opinion. I've been lucky in life, but some of my friends were not, and I've been seeing that since, in others.

So if you are to reply, please make the reply legible, non-naming, respectful, and from experience. We all have to live, and how we do it is not that dissimilar.

Ubbquittious · 28-09-2021 11:29am

StagFlation! Billionaires and the CCP are running away with the show, leaving the rest of us high and dry

Mrs OBumble · 28-09-2021 11:39am

A minimum wage job is not intended to be a job for life. It simply one you do until you get a better job.

The government makes sure that low wage workers get more money than childless people, via child benefit and also FIS ( or whatever it's called now) for pnes who are working.

And social housing also provides a substantial state subsidy to low wage and unwaged people.

Bubbaclaus · 28-09-2021 11:42am

People that spend any more than a few years in their youth in a minimum wage job mistook a starter job for a career.

Hotblack Desiato · 28-09-2021 12:05pm

Not worth "giving your life" to *any* job, OP.

Silent Shrill · 28-09-2021 12:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117948987#Comment_117948987

Do you think those still on low wages at the age of 40 or above do not want a "better job"? and if no "better job" comes along, then you're stuck with the crappy job.

Why should govts make up the shortfall between a living wage and a wage that is not livable? Why should tax payers make up the difference? Why not just make it law that everyone gets a fair wage for a full weeks work? It's not as though these companies cannot afford it.

Social housing is fine, if you can get one. Most are in private rented accommodation because the councils do not build enough new homes, and the private social housing schemes simply do not have enough homes to offer.

What you've done in that statement is make it sound so simple to get all those benefits of being on a low wage.....that is not the case for the majority.

No-one wants a low paid, uninteresting, boring, job. Go see how much they will offer you for working in the hospitality industry.....minimum wage. I have known people that worked in the same company all their life for no more than minimum wage. Maybe some have no qualifications to further their path in work, but then if we all had degrees coming out of our pockets their would be no work for them also.

The post was not about getting a "better job". The post was about offering a living wage to family people, whether they have no qualifications or a draw full. Those that just use the minimum wage jobs are there temporary until something turns up, usually college kids. The rest of the world has to get on with it.

Silent Shrill · 28-09-2021 12:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949004#Comment_117949004

A career. Great if you can get one. So those that are not in their youth, and working minimum wage jobs, "mistook" their job? They knew well what the score was but had no other option. If you cannot get a decent job....(for whatever reason), then you can live on a crappy wage to bring up your kids. That sounds just fine and dandy.

The point you're missing is that minimum wage needs to cover living costs and give a bit to save for the unexpected event. There will always be employers ready to exploit those around them, offering minimum, (or lower), wages to those that work for them. If the business cannot afford to pay a decent wage, shut down or employ no-one, as a business that makes no money ain't a business.

imokyrok · 28-09-2021 12:28pm

My intelligent affable 23 year old youngest son is stuck in this situation. He seems paralysed with indecision because he can't think of a career he would like and so he plods along in Dunnes stores. Theres no future in it and I'd dearly love to see him go to college like his older sibs did or do an apprenticeship but he can't seem to find anything he'd like to do.

mariaalice · 28-09-2021 12:35pm

We could make minimum wage rate the living wage rage which is currently €12.30, then have a campaign saying you can't live a decent life on that ( how is decent life defined ) also ban anyone starting a business unless they pay a decent wage? again how is a decent wage defined?

I am all for having welfare and decent public services but the government and society can only go so far in making life 'fair' many don't have the academic ability to do well in school or have issues like ADD which makes learning difficult or come from families who don't have the social capital to get good apprenticeships or the like for their children life is not fair for everyone but the government can't mandate that life is fair.

Jinglejangle69 · 28-09-2021 12:37pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949249#Comment_117949249

We all don't have to like our jobs but we still have to do them.

That's life.

mariaalice · 28-09-2021 12:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949249#Comment_117949249

The is a different issue and has nothing to do with the minimum wage there are a million things he could do, even keep his job in Dunnes and go to college part time.

jrosen · 28-09-2021 12:45pm

Absolutely not but I think low paid jobs are more the issue than minimum wage jobs. For the most part I believe people are aware of the differences between that part time job you get in school/college V the job you want to do for life.

The problem is people go into a role/job but at 20 aren't really looking at the long term earning potential of that job. Now with information so easily accessible people are more informed but 20 years ago less so.

I know so many people who have changed career due to money. People who enjoyed their jobs, who were good at what they did but simply couldn't afford to stay. Great for them that they can move but it does leave a gap and we see that now in certain industries struggling to hire and keep staff.

Thelonious Monk · 28-09-2021 12:45pm

Better to give the lives of immigrants to minimum or less than minimum wage jobs, especially in the disgusting meat industry here in Ireland.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/28/the-invisible-migrant-workers-propping-up-irelands-4bn-meat-industry

Pretty shocking stuff in a report published about the meat industry in Ireland today, all so we can have cheap breakfast rolls and chicken fillets.

mariaalice · 28-09-2021 12:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949327#Comment_117949327

That is the big issue cheap food v paying meat processing well, a lot of our current lifestyle depends on a whole plethora of people being paid at low or minimum wage.

Thelonious Monk · 28-09-2021 1:07pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949383#Comment_117949383

food is far too cheap, meat especially, in my opinion

enricoh · 28-09-2021 1:15pm

If you are working 39hrs a week for 48 weeks a year are you really 'giving your life' to your job?

I know plenty of lads that haven't done a days work in years. It seems a very aimless existance to me.

Strumms · 28-09-2021 1:16pm

The only low/minimum wage job I had was a part time one at college... money was shîte. £4.40 an hour while even for 1999/2000 was erm ‘average’ considering what the company were making... It was a CV builder and pocket money filler. Very reputable company although I should have been paid more I got a nice thoughtful reference.

i have and always had aspirations, life should be comfortable, enjoyable, I love traveling, in the second half of this year or early next I want a new car, need a holiday... life is about living, not existing..

seamus · 28-09-2021 1:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949134#Comment_117949134

This, of course.

There is no meaning of life. Nobody is here for any purpose. So you may as well just do what you can to enjoy yourself in the short time you have on this planet.

There is no objective measure of "success". In a million years you and the guy with a billion euro will be dead and forgotten, and nobody will call him more "successful" than you. There won't even be anyone around to compare you.

If you are enjoying your time on earth, then you're succeeding. It doesn't have to naked skydiving off Machu Piccu. If a cold beer in your back garden listening to music is enjoyment to you, then you're winning.

Realistically one needs to work to live, but if you're doing insane hours for a job that you hate and you can't even say that you're enjoying yourself, then WTF are you doing? Someone doing 40 hours a week in a low wage job might be having an absolute ball in life because they're not dealing with insane hours or insane stresses. They have enough money to enjoy themselves.

A life where you love the job you do and you love your downtime too can be hard to come by. Some people would rather just love their downtime by taking an easy job.

Nyero · 28-09-2021 1:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949249#Comment_117949249

That situation is entirely on him then. He needs to figure where he wants to go and how to get there.

Regarding Dunnes I was speaking to somebody in there and if you are good at your job your career in Dunnes can move along extremely quickly to supervisor, manager etc.

silverharp · 28-09-2021 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949383#Comment_117949383

most people seem happy that there is Dickensian economy metaphorically wiping their asses for them, ie they get to sail along with an army of generally "brown people" doing stuff for them. I get a little embarrassed getting fast food delivered, they are never Irish teenagers or college students , its someone living in decrepit or cramped conditions who is paid as little as possible by Deliveroo or whoever

who what when · 28-09-2021 1:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117948987#Comment_117948987

That's a very condescending post in fairness.

There's tens of thousands of older workers in low paid jobs for a multitude of reasons.

backwards_man · 28-09-2021 1:29pm

OP as others have said minimum wage jobs are not supposed to be for life. Anyone who came through the school system here in Ireland got access to a decent standard of education if they wanted it. Some people worked incredibly hard through school and in college to ensure that they did not end up in low paid work for life. Others chose a different path. In general, barring some sort of misfortune outside of your control, you reap what you sow in life. There are always outliers, but in general anyone who has an innate talant at something or works very hard during the school years and beyond in this country will do much, much better than minimum wage.

BrianD3 · 28-09-2021 1:42pm

You're a slave to the money then you die

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lyu1KKwC74

dudley72 · 28-09-2021 1:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058210774/is-it-worth-giving-your-life-to-minimum-wage-jobs

I dont know of any company that doesn't offer promotions/raises etc. If you start off and cannot work your way up the company then something is wrong. In reality the World is full of people out to get ahead in life, I have seen people join a company and 6 months later be ahead of people who have worked 20 years in that company. Myself included. Fair f**ks to them is my attitude.

Most of the kids now out of college expect to walk into jobs starting at 200k basic and are surprised when they don't get them. Too much watching Suits etc on TV and expect everything ti fall into place for them without lifting a finger.

For the lower end worker, well the amount of night course, free course available now is incredible compared to a few years ago, I have done a number of them and now loads of remote so you dont even have to go to a college. I know recently a company said to me they are no longer hung up on degrees, if people have the right education level and have the right attitude and ability to comprehend they will take them on, now this is a huge company, they start at the bottom but more or less they will train you up to a high paying job.

The options are available, you just need to take them/

Mrs OBumble · 28-09-2021 2:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949473#Comment_117949473

I'm older, and I'm earning 50% less now than I was 10 years ago. I've done some temporary entry level clerical jobs a couple of times since 2010, just to keep employed. But I've never been on minimum wage.

As for the 23 year old who's still working in Dunnes - if he's intelligent, then by now he should be well on the way into their management training. If he cannot be arsed, that's his choice.

Part if the point of low wages is to encourage people to move along, and free up entry level jobs for those who are entering the workforce and need to learn basic workplace skills and disciplines.

Potential-Monke · 28-09-2021 8:16pm

I was going to go hell for leather on working this out, because it's the situation I'm in. But I got bored after a few minutes so I used this site to get the average monthly spend for a sinle person in Ireland. Not sure how accurate it is, but it seems fairly ok by my guesstimation:

Summary of cost of living in Ireland

Family of four estimated monthly costs: €4,807
Single person estimated monthly costs: €2,721
Ireland is the 3rd most expensive country in Western Europe (3 out of 18)
Cost of living in Ireland is more expensive than in 93% of countries in the World (6 out of 73)

So, for me, a single person, I need €2721 per month, after tax, to just live. Min wage pays average of €1656.20 per month. So it simply doesn't cover the cost. But as Hotblack said above, no job is worth giving you life to.

Mrs OBumble · 28-09-2021 8:23pm

2700 per month after tax equates to a salary of over 40k.

It's far more than a single person needs to live on.

osarusan · 28-09-2021 8:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949944#Comment_117949944

Part if the point of low wages is to encourage people to move along, and free up entry level jobs for those who are entering the workforce and need to learn basic workplace skills and disciplines.

The point of low wages is to save money, nothing else.

Potential-Monke · 28-09-2021 8:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117951450#Comment_117951450

And here's the problem. €2700 a month is, according to that website, the min required to live and slightly enjoy life, and you think it's too much? Seriously?! Do you want all single people on the breadline, barely able to afford food? Because anything below that €2700 a month is considered less than a livable wage. What do you think single people should be allowed earn?

Shebean · 28-09-2021 8:36pm

A lot of people have no option but to take a minimum wage job.

The idea that it's a career or life choice is just not reality. There are numerous reasons from education to lack of connections to socio-economic.

In my experience the least well paying jobs I've had took the biggest physical toll. In short many people on minimum wage work damn hard and then face ridicule from the ignorant for needing state aid to pay rent.

Galwayguy35 · 28-09-2021 8:40pm

Wages will always remain low because people coming from other countries are willing to work for the money that is on offer for that kind of work.

Thats the downside of free movement in the EU and more non EU citizens coming here in the last 15 to 20 years.

jrosen · 28-09-2021 8:43pm

There has to be someone willing to do every job in order for society to operate. Nothing would work if everyone opted for college and high paying careers. Who would make you tea and toast in hospital? Cut your hair? Mind your kids? Collect your bins? work on factory floor? Make your bed in a hotel, clean your house.

All of those jobs (people) play an important role in society, they add value to the world we all get to live in.

Samuel T. Cogley · 28-09-2021 8:48pm

Is it worth giving you life to any **** job?

dotsman · 28-09-2021 9:17pm

People don't seem to understand the "minimum" in minimum wage job. It is the first step. It is the lowest rung on ladder that has many, many rungs. It is not meant to provide you with the average existence, or a good life (from a financial point of view). Nor is anyone supposed to camp out on the bottom rung.

If you are still on minimum wage beyond your early 20's you really need to ask yourself what are you doing about it. It's got nothing to do with the government of the "mean" employers but you. There is nothing wrong being on minimum wage. There is a huge problem with a person on minimum wage complaining "it isn't enough" with zero desire/plan to improve their lot over the coming years.

While it is difficult to get a high-paying 6-figure job, and certainly most people won't, everybody is capable of getting a 40-something K job with a little bit of effort/focus.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117951500#Comment_117951500

The problem with that website and those figures is that it is for Ireland. With the cost of housing being, by far, a person's single biggest cost, there is a massive difference between the cost of living for a minimum wage earner in Dublin city paying for their own accommodation, a minimum wage earner in rural Ireland paying for their own accommodation and a minimum wage earner living in their parents house.

Potential-Monke · 28-09-2021 9:52pm

This new quoting is still terrible!

@dotsman I agree, there is a massive difference, and it baffles me why people live in Dublin with those rents, and I'm sure remote working will have an affect at some point. But, point still stands. I checked, and the average outside of Dubland is €1000 per month. That's still a lot, and make staying single very hard unless you're lucky enough to get a higher paid job. On min wage, it's just over 20k a year, and rent alone outside Dubland would take up 12.5k of that. Doesn't leave much to live on. And I'm living with my parents, at 38, and single. I know full well that my life would be worse off if I had to rent my own place. I give them money, but not the going rent rate. Plus, there is next to nothing, aside from crappy or really expensive apartments, for single people, so you'll most likely end up paying a lot more for a bigger place that you don't need, but nothing else is available. Unless you want to live with randomers, which at 38 I certainly do not.

I was very lucky with the current job, they're paying far more than the role is worth but I somehow managed to blag 37k out of them (30+~7 for permanent night work). That's less than the figure from the article I used, so I'm earning less than the livable wage, even at 38k. I genuinely fear if I ever have to move out (ie: when the parents die, if the siblings want their share the house will have to be sold), as I know it will remove a lot of the entertainment I have for myself and I already don't socialise or drink, so a very depressing future is in front of me if money gets in the way of family.

I've tried so many things, done so many courses and I'm still at a loss as to what I actually enjoy doing for work. Actually, I do know, working as a waiter, but as this thread has shown waiting jobs are considered bottom rung and don't pay a livable wage. I'm sick of trying and failing, and I wonder if I'm only a few failures away from giving up entirely. You may think it's easy to go off and do courses and get a better paid job, but that's not always the reality. Unless you consider someone working a job they hate for the rest of the lives just because it pays well. I know lots of people work like that, but they're usually not nice as a result, and it shouldn't be the way.

Homelander · 28-09-2021 10:35pm

37K is less than the livable wage for a single person? I think you have your maths way wrong on that one! Minimum wage is around 20K. Also 37K is not a bad salary and is just above/around the median salary in the country - the "average" wage is misleading as it takes account of huge earners.

So you are earning the same or above as what the average joe is overall. Mine is very similar. It's not great money but it's also not bad money in the overall scheme of things.

According to anywhere I look "living wage" is something like 25-27K which makes more sense. A good few retail/hospitality do offer this after a time of service which is fair enough I think. It's a reasonable wage for unskilled work and the company gets reliable staff that are a little more invested.

When I worked in retail I in 2007 it started off at €10 and rose to €12.50 by around 2009, and €19 ph on Sunday which I always worked so it ended up at around 27K a year. It wasn't a hard job and the money (during a recession as well) meant I stuck around with them for years.

After a year or twos service somewhere like Aldi pays €14ph. That's very good money for a basic job that anyone of any age can do with no skills other than a reasonable work ethic. There are a good few places like that. I believe Tesco are similar. Pennys. Etc. There's also scope to be a supervisor, manager, or whatever if you have ambition.

A lot of jobs start as minimium wage but go up a few times so you might end up on more an hour or whatever after a while. Not a huge salary but not minimum wage either and a few extra k a year matters and would bring you in line with the "livable wage".

People who find themselves literally stuck on the actual minimum wage in the long term are doing something slightly wrong in most cases, though obviously not all.

It's not all about courses and college or education. The last minimum wage job I had, I was 16 and none required qualifications and most had either a) some form of pay scale and b) opportunity for advancement to at least some degree if you had ambition.

Geuze · 28-09-2021 11:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117951520#Comment_117951520

About 7% of workers are on the min wage.

BobHopeless · 28-09-2021 11:16pm

The old saying that nobody's last words on their deathbed are "i wish i'd spent more time at the office" has always resonated with me.

Hotblack Desiato · 28-09-2021 11:30pm

The future prospect of having 30-something "kids" still hanging around the gaff like a bad smell when I should be enjoying my retirement is pretty f**king frightening

Mrs OBumble · 28-09-2021 11:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117952323#Comment_117952323

For most that's true. But there are exceptions: I've worked with some special education professionals who absolutely cared about their jobs and would say things like that on their deathbed.

28-09-2021 11:38pm

Here I would especially like to praise people who worK on minimum wage. You are are contributor and I for one, appreciate you.

Ubbquittious · 28-09-2021 11:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949532#Comment_117949532

I prefer the video with Reese Witherspoon driving the Jag

Silent Shrill · 29-09-2021 12:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949249#Comment_117949249

Many younger people are like this also. There comes a point in your life when they will do what they want, and not what you want. He's an adult, he works. If he's single then the pay covers his needs. If he were married with kids and the partner was at home with them, and he getting probably minimum pay or just over each week, how well financially do you think they would cope?

Did many of us think what will life be with kids and responsibilities?

Maybe you should show him this post/thread?

He might get promoted in Dunnes. He might get a great job he likes. He might win the lottery. The word is only "might". Humans seem to thrive on the word "hope". A bit like the dangling of a carrot. Unfortunately for many, they are still chasing the carrot 20 years later.......and they think a couple of years have passed.

So this is a situation that my original post comes full circle to.

People on minimum wage are not just young people. They are all ages. They are still in their 50's doing minimum wage jobs. They are not all idiots. Many are very intelligent.

Apprenticeships are like finding the golden egg. The govt needs to make sure every type of work that requires an apprenticeship, or lengthy training, is forced to offer positions in a quantity relevant to size of business. These positions would come with pay less than minimum wage, but you get an apprenticeship.

Silent Shrill · 29-09-2021 12:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117949473#Comment_117949473

And that is why we are a society built on classes. We need to point the finger at someone. We need people to clean buildings/hotels/etc. We need "coffee shop" staff. We need call centre staff. Who do you think is working in these places? Just 18-20 year olds? There are 100's of 1000's minimum wage jobs across Europe and UK.

Someone has to do the jobs that are at the lowest end of the pay spectrum. The majority get on with it, it's called "survival by instinct". They believe that this is how it is for them, and accept it.

So if we "accept" that there are people of all ages working for minimum wage, and many with families, having to claim FIS,..... is not the minimum wage in fact, "not the minimum wage for half the minimum wage working population"?

So who is supposed to represented by "the minimum wage"? The 18 year old living at home, or the 35 year old with a partner and kids?

twowheelsonly · 29-09-2021 1:56am

You seem to have a very narrow view of who is doing all these jobs and why they're doing them. Not everyone is 18 or just stuck in a rut.

My own Mrs works in a relatively low paying job in a care home but only because she wants to and it gets her out of the house for 20 to 25 hours a week. It's not minimum wage but it's not too far off either.

I'm pretty well paid (More than double the median wage) and our kids are grown up so she doesn't have to work if she doesn't want to but she enjoys the job and enjoys the company.

A neighbour of mine delivers pizzas locally for pretty much the same reason. He got redundancy a couple of years ago, in his mid-fifties so he found it hard enough to start again. His wife has since passed away, his kids are grown up and moved out and he decided to do something handy just to get out and about a bit more. He's as happy as he's ever been. Another neighbour earns pretty much the same as I do, kids all gone as well and his Mrs works in a local supermarket.....just because...

You look in any Tesco / Chipper / DIY Store / Shopping Centre and a lot of the older staff are going to be in the same boat. Some will be doing so out of necessity, obviously, but more are doing so to keep themselves busy and have some sense of purpose.

Yyhhuuu · 29-09-2021 2:55am

Where I live many retail workers seem to have an attitude problem. I think this is caused by the fact the job is minimum wage, perhaps less invested in the job. The higher the pay scale the more "polished" the employees seem to be. I suppose they are well remunerated so can come across as polished. I think if a person has a good personality with the public they will be successful. Don't get me wrong there are some fantastic retail workers but I have notice how unfriendly and sometimes ignorant they can be.

I think job satisfaction is extremely important.

dudley72 · 29-09-2021 10:41am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117952562#Comment_117952562

This is common as most people think the World owes them a living. It's no surprise to walk into a shop to be greeted by someone on a mobile phone stuck in their face and the look of thunder if you dare ask them a question.

I recently asked for the location of an item in a store, person one waved a hand in the direction of "over there" which was useless, second person walked me right to the item in question.

So you can't tar everyone with the same brush. What I have found in 10 years time the hand waver will still be standing in that shop while the second guy will be long gone to better thing or of course be the manager of the store.

JimmyVik · 29-09-2021 10:52am

Im at the point now (late 40s) where if I get taxed anymore im just quitting and going travelling for a while.

If I come home and the tax rates are still the same I'll just live on the dole.

I know a fair few people living on the dole and getting their rent paid already. Might as well join them. Sick of paying tax through the nose.

Shao Kahn · 29-09-2021 11:12am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117952323#Comment_117952323

Yeah I like that one myself.

I use this same rationale for my house being a bit messy most of the time "I can't believe I wasted all my life having pointless fun, while my house was in such a state. Dammit, what a waste!" lol

Regards the OP - It's not just minimum wage jobs. I know people who earn a great living, but the demands put on them in terms of hours and stress in their career, means they have effectively missed out on their kids growing up or their parents have passed on and they didn't get to spend much time with them. I know people, who have lower paying but also lower responsibility jobs, who clock out and enjoy their free time without the worries that come with career responsibilities etc. There's a money squeeze alright, but some people have a talent for stretching their money and still enjoying life. Time is a more precious commodity than money imo - but unfortunately money is fairly important too.

Wanderer78 · 29-09-2021 11:38am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117953184#Comment_117953184

if you have many entities of society telling you, stay in education as long as possible, train yourself as much as possible, you will have no problems achieving to meet all your needs and beyond, but when reality eventually hits, that a lot of that is complete nonsense, and in fact, you re probably gonna get stuck in a dead end job on crap pay, and struggle to meet many of your critical needs, i suspect you ll end pretty p1ssed off!

CaitCat · 29-09-2021 11:50am

Some of my favourite jobs were minimum wage - made great friends and didn't have the stress I have in my career

There are benefits to working for a wage rather than freelancing or being self-employed. You get sick and holiday pay and can access state benefits if you lose your job.

Also, some people I know who stayed in the minimum wage job they had in college are now store managers making good money.

But there are people that have no other option and work had to survive on what they make.

Is it worth giving your life to minimum wage jobs?

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