What is a "Living Wage"?

If I made 450 a week or 21,000 a year I would go back to changing oil at a gm dealership for 12bucks an hour mon-fri 8- 10 hours a day. I made 24000 a year doing that. If someone works for .23/mile in canada there stupid. I got offered a training wage of .28 and I thought that was insulting with can-am west.

 

They can't/don't! Not for any period of time!

Sure you can live in Duck's Rectum, No Where and live on 40K BUT the majority of us that live in a civilized part of the world with paved roads, running water and sewers require much more than that.

ps:You also need to fund an RRSP/401K and you ain't doing that and raising kids on that paltry sum of income.

 

WRONG. We live and have lived on less than $35k per year, paying mortgage, utilities, etc. It IS do-able. Although, the actual paved road ends about 3/8 of a mile from the door, and I have a septic system. But I do have running water, and electricity and DSL.

Just because YOU can't fathom how it can be done does NOT mean that it can't be done.

 

You forgot to tell us that your RRSP/401K was fully funded also...I'm sure that's in your next reply though.

 

As much money as can be in the Retirement savings plan is in there. 401k is not offered at independent car repair shops. Our "discretionary" savings, you know the rainy day fund, is gone, but that's from Tink's ankles, and 2 months of being unemployed. He's employed now, more than likely to earn more than what he did as a mechanic. And frankly, not at 23cpm, either.

Like I said, just because YOU can't figure it out, doesn't mean that it can't be done. I raise my own meat, and veggies as much as possible. Not because they are cheaper (sometimes yes, sometimes no), but because they are healthier. I don't raise sugarcane, wheat, oats, etc. So, yes, I do have to go to the store. I also use plain old vinegar for cleaning as much as possible. Yes, I use laundry soap and dish soap.

But it's the other choices we have made: no car payment. Picking up cars that don't run (knowing the issues) for next to nothing, fixing them and now we have a decent car, that runs well, and has liability insurance. Not having the A/C set way low (not that it made much difference when it was 116 degrees outside) or the heaters way high. Winter temp 64 - 66 (and that's comfortable for us and summer temp 78 - 80. Maintaining vehicles properly saves a ton of money (you guys SHOULD know that). Of course, not having to pay labor for mechanical issues on car repairs. Well, not in cash anyway.

I can make a dollar stretch and a penny squeak. But we are still healthy and happy. And the critters are plump. I don't want to pay the butcher to package the steer when I can do it myself, but I may have to. It's a matter of only having 1 fridge, and a full steer takes up 2.

No, we don't (yet) have medical insurance, but honestly, the ONLY two things that have needed actual medical care since 2009 are Tink's ankles and JCW's hand (which was covered by Workman's Comp). So, I could have spent a good $3600 for medical coverage that would have gone unused, if it had been offered, which it wasn't.

 

Sounds like your just living the life!

 

Here in Toronto it is 42c per mile if you run single. Get paid on your corporation and pay taxes yourself or let the company do it. 10,000 - 12, 000 miles per month. Five grand a month take home. 3-4k at the end of the year if you have a good accountant.

 

If WE are happy, and we aren't on any kind of government assistance, does it matter if our version of "living the life!" is different from yours?

Sure there isn't extra available for unscheduled trips to OKC when JCW is broke down, but the kids are fed real food, the animals are fed (and in turn become dinner), and we enjoy ourselves.

It's just as entertaining watching the calves and kids (4 - legged) kicking up their heels as it is paying $50 to take the family to see Harry Potter. Getting said kids off the car when they escape is more entertaining, at least THEY think so.

I'd rather watch my oldest throw herself off a bar 10' in the air, enjoying herself, than watch her stare at the TV screen for 5 hours/day. It certainly makes my heart move faster.

 

I totally agree that people should decide on their priorities and then figure out what they need to support that life. Just because many people live in the city with twice the cost of living doesn't mean I feel required to do the same.

Money is useful but it is supposed to improve your life, not consume it.

 

Within 4 months of getting my license I was making $0.50 a mile plus $21.50 a pick up and drop. Home every other day. Home all weekend. Easily took home $2000 every 2 weeks. Takes really kick in when you hit that tax bracket. I work percentage now, home every night and usually home by 5 everyday. Usual take home is $1600- $2000 every 2 weeks now. All of this is flatbed work. Flatbed tends to pay more. Especially multi axle.