If you don't recommend trucking then what?

I'm of the opinion that just because a job is low skill that doesn't mean they shouldn't be paid a livable wage. I mean no disrespect to your wife but 18 dollars an hour is not a livable wage most places. I don't think the playing field should be level, but minimum wage needs to be at least 25 bucks an hour, then everyone who's got skills and qualifications should be compensated accordingly from there. I know people who can make what you wife makes working at home. Some of them don't even have degrees or they have minimal schooling past high school.

 

As I said also, this is a very low COL area. Rents are under $1,000, some under $500.

And none of those work from home no skill positions come with the perks she gets, like 20% off groceries for the family, free meals while working, and free memberships in the plus program that get additional fuel discounts and sales prices.

 

not all areas of the country are like that.

here rents under $1,000 a month or $500 as you say, will get you a roach/mouse/rat infested place, with most likely no heat, lead paint chips, broken windows, and drug addicts sleeping on your front/rear steps, or in your hallways.

 

IHeart Radio is another app that allows you to listen to radio stations like TuneIn. I use both.

 

The example he gave is a livable wage for the area he’s in. Housing would be less than a quarter of your gross pay. The guy who owns the house next to mine owns a 4 plex in town and he charges a whole $400 a month rent and the places are pretty nice. Rent isn’t outrageous everywhere and not everyone needs $25 an hour to live. Many small businesses in my area wouldn’t survive if they were forced to pay $25. Having a small business and paying $15 an hour to 10 employees would mean a jump of $200k in payroll per year if the government decides everyone deserves $25 an hour.

 

Here, you can rent a really nice 3 bedroom house for $1200.

 

Its a nice thought. The problem is, it isnt thought through.

In the above example from $18 to $25 an hour - a 25% raise. Sounds wonderful. But, and heres the part you are missing, the place paying for it it going to raise THEIR prices 25% to offset it. So what they USED to pay $18 for now costs $25. So what exactly has that 25% bump done? It just lowered everyone that has saved all their lives savings 25%...

You got 25 grand in the bank, and suddenly it only has the buying power of 18 grand. Makes saving kind of a stupid idea, doesnt it? And heres the really sad part: now they are making $25 an hour, their life hasnt really changed at all from when they made $18 an hour....

 

I become a tradie as school and I didn't get along, and I don't take direction well. Still I survived my apprenticeship.
I would suggest a tradie is good up until a certain age. You need to charge to allow for your skills but also the wear and tear for the limited life span of your body. Work for upper middle to upper class as they have the money but not the time. Be honest, competent, and on time and you will have no trouble with work. If you are good people will wait 12 months and not grovel over the bill. They have no idea you are on 4 weeks holiday.

However I got into transport at 50 and make more money now. The cost of set up and running are much higher but I physically do less, plus its cleaner. The repetition of my work is boring and I have dead lines with more gravity. The bouncing around in the cab is wearing thin, and unfortunately there are still plenty or rogues. I now spend my time in the cab pondering on ways to solve problems for ?. One is the transport industry. The is risk however with any start up is money invested will fall flat.

For a tradie I found
+ abundant work if you are honest and good. Cheap to get into pending chosen trade. Flexible hours pending trade as some trades are not always urgent, but ones that are can charge more also. Work for yourself. Can take on as much or as little work as desired. Can fly solo or employ, I found myself and one or two trusted and reliable others perfect.
- limited life span as its hard on the body, undercutting rogues, staff can be difficult, most builders are rogues to work for.

Its been mentioned Nursing. My wife is nurse and not so keen on working for herself. But she realised you can go anywhere in the world and get a job. Can work as much or as little as you want, as even casual you are in big demand. With the global need for aged care, though not very sexy it has lots of potential. The wife has gone from midwifery in theatre then ward, to drug rehab; again two other sectors with unlimited supply of work.

 

Oh I know how it works. You're speaking a different language now. When wages go up and that prompts everything else to go up just because, that becomes a matter of corporate greed. The cost of everything is already way more than what the majority of society makes already but the corporations can get richer. Then some members of the government gets frustrated when some folks need assistance. It never makes sense.

 

Down under we have had 9 interest rate hikes from the reserve bank in 9 months. The chair of the reserve bank who is on over a million a year says he understands people's hardship.
All the banks have passed the rate rise on rise in full. Our biggest bank who's CEO earns 5.5 million a year, just posted a 5 billion half year, after tax, profit.

I get they need money to lend, but perhaps they could have absorbed some of the hike. It does't matter that much if you have the compacity to earn more, but if you are topped out there is now where to go.