Current Events > I only make 18 dollars a hour

(+) Yeah! (+)

_OujiDoza_ posted...

Veggeta X posted...

I use to live in Woodbridge. My town house was 200k. Fuck that state.

Yeah as much as I pay now, no way I'd dare live in Northern VA, good lord it's too much to live out there.

Yep unless you making 6 figures you ain't shit in Northern VA. Had some friends who lived down south in Richmond too and honestly it ain't much better. FUCK VA. FUCK MD. FUCK DC.

Living in a poverty state is 100x better because no one can really out-skill you.
---

fenderbender321 posted...

Here's my impression of people who live in big cities:"Wow this big city is so much better to live in because I get to look at tall buildings, be stuck in traffic all day, and pay way more for everything! It makes my life that consists of working, sleeping, eating, playing video games, and watching TV & movies so much better!!!"

There's less discrimination in the city. That's probably why so many minorities prefer it there.
---

Veggeta X posted...

_OujiDoza_ posted...

Veggeta X posted...

I use to live in Woodbridge. My town house was 200k. Fuck that state.

Yeah as much as I pay now, no way I'd dare live in Northern VA, good lord it's too much to live out there.

Yep unless you making 6 figures you ain't shit in Northern VA. Had some friends who lived down south in Richmond too and honestly it ain't much better. FUCK VA. FUCK MD. FUCK DC.

Living in a poverty state is 100x better because no one can really out-skill you.

There are some pretty solid areas of Richmond where you can live decently, but the trade-off is your nice neighborhood is gonna be right around the corner from a slum (or two). That's why I like Williamsburg/Jamestown; the people are snobby as hell out here, but I've never felt safer, honestly.
---

fenderbender321 posted...

DarkChozoGhost posted...

fenderbender321 posted...

Yeah, it depends where you live. $18 an hour where I live is like making $25 an hour in a big city.

Sorry to hear that you live somewhere terrible

Here's my impression of people who live in big cities:

"Wow this big city is so much better to live in because I get to look at tall buildings, be stuck in traffic all day, and pay way more for everything!"

I lived in Vegas (13 years), Iowa (11 years) and VA/DC (7 years).

Big cities have jobs. There are no jobs in Iowa. I worked as a scanner operator making $5.50 an hour. Then the company had to relocate because it was too expensive to even consider placing fiber optics in the area.

Big cities though, you nailed it. They have so much traffic. The amount of time I have spent in traffic is absurd. However, I work in IT Analysis for 2 companies (Marine Insurance and Video Games), there is just no way these jobs would be available in Iowa.

My general plan is to work my ass off for the next few years, build up my savings and 401k and move to PA, use the experience I am gaining here to build up my resume and get a nice government position, working part-time and raising alpacas.
---

treewojima posted...

Thrillwell posted...

treewojima posted...

Not him, but I live in Sterling, VA. I can walk about a mile from my house and see DC across the Potomac.

Cool. That's close to the craziest airport in America. Dulles still have those weird shuttles?

The mobile lounges? They're phasing them out for an underground tram system. It's a shame, those things were so cool. My roommate works there and says the drivers are maniacs who will run you over lol

I bet they will, never went on a slow one. It's better than half the rides at Disney.
---

fenderbender321 posted...

DarkChozoGhost posted...

fenderbender321 posted...

Yeah, it depends where you live. $18 an hour where I live is like making $25 an hour in a big city.

Sorry to hear that you live somewhere terrible

Here's my impression of people who live in big cities:

"Wow this big city is so much better to live in because I get to look at tall buildings, be stuck in traffic all day, and pay way more for everything! It makes my life that consists of working, sleeping, eating, playing video games, and watching TV & movies so much better!!!"

Nah. Sounds like your projecting about your shitty life.

I've lived in a rural area, most of the population being Amish, and in Brooklyn. I can't put into words how much better the city was. Taking the subway or cabs is preferable travel than being stuck behind horse and buggies, as well as moronic tourists that drive 25 in a 45 to look at a boring empty field. Ultimately cheaper too, because you need to drive at least 15 miles to get to anything remotely fun and the cost of gas adds up quickly. And when you travel from the city, you can go somewhere interesting, like river or go a bit further and see the beach. In a rural area, you've got a Walmart parking lot to go hang out at.

You have drastically more people to interact with, and on average they're generally better people, let alone more interesting. You encounter 2000 people a day and 500 are assholes, while in a rural area you encounter 20 people in a day and 18 of them are assholes.

There are a shit ton of bars, and they stay open until 5 am instead of 2. Yes, some have long lines and are overcrowded, but you have enough options that you don't have to go to those. In a rural area, you've got 3 bars. One tries to be classy, but it's only open until 12 and the average age is 58. The other two are open until 2 am, but they're dirty, you throw up not from alcohol, but from unclean glasses. Smoking is allowed inside, so even if you only walk in for 45 second to pick up your friend you leave smelling like an ashtray. Don't even get into the regular clientele. Less teeth than their should be. And they put country music on the jukebox.

There's also way more food options in the city. It can get pricey in downtown Manhattan, but you can find food for the same price as rural areas, but better. You've got more variety, higher quality, and everything can be delivered. Whereas in a small town not even the Pizza Hut delivers (because Amish don't tip, it's a biblical justification).

Tip of the iceberg. And the rural area I'm from is only 50 miles from Philly, I imagine somewhere further from civilization would be even worse.

Also T-Mobile and Sprint have virtually no service.
---

Dagger32 posted...

My general plan is to work my ass off for the next few years, build up my savings and 401k and move to PA

Don't do it man. At least don't go more than 20 miles from Philly or Pittsburgh. Amish Country is a different kind of hell.
---

Yaridovich posted...

More than 75% of humanity will live their entire lives at the border of mediocrity and poverty, listlessly dreaming of the impossible things that the 25% proclaim to be gospel.

thx wizard
---

Ah. Small cities in rural areas are a bit different. They're tolerable, but still not that great. You've got a good variety of food options, but not as good or quite as convenient for delivery. Public transportation is an option, but not a good one. There's more to do and the bars are a middle ground.

People think they're so much harder than they are though, lol.
---

Meh I make $13 it's manageable/

Did you know many European countries have average monthly salaries of 600-900 Euro?

Yes. Monthly.

And people live off that without too much trouble.
---

DarkChozoGhost posted...

There's also way more food options in the city. It can get pricey in downtown Manhattan, but you can find food for the same price as rural areas, but better. You've got more variety, higher quality, and everything can be delivered. Whereas in a small town not even the Pizza Hut delivers (because Amish don't tip, it's a biblical justification).

by far the best thing about living in the city is the food.

in 1989 when my parents moved us to a small rural town, the township (not a city, we didn't have a city counsel, mayor, etc.) had about 1500 people with the larger area having about 4000 people before they outskirts start getting close to a city instead of just open rural country.

When we moved there they had a coffee shop, a dairy queen and 3 restaurant locations that kept going out of business.

their town is up to about 12000 people and about 20k in the larger area so there are a lot more places now but its basically all chains. there are like 4 or5 stand alone non-chain restaurants and they are not good, they would not last in seattle, that's for sure.
---

should be making at least $50K/yr be age 30...

$75k by age 35...
....and at least $100K/yr after 40.

The problem is people are complacent and stay at dead end jobs for far too long making way less than they should be. I give every job at least 2 years. If I'm getting regular raises, good benefits, and offered opportunities to advance I stick it out. But if it's dead end, I start looking elsewhere. You're guaranteed at least a 5% jump in salary just by making a lateral switch with a different company.
---

really though TC, are you doing anything to increase your earning potential? If you want to stay I a rural area you can look at trades.
---

I'm 28, work as a dishwasher in a commercial kichen (not fast food) and make $8.50 an hour. I've been there 8 months so far.
---

EvalAngell posted...

should be making at least $50K/yr be age 30...

$75k by age 35...
....and at least $100K/yr after 40.

The problem is people are complacent and stay at dead end jobs for far too long making way less than they should be. I give every job at least 2 years. If I'm getting regular raises, good benefits, and offered opportunities to advance I stick it out. But if it's dead end, I start looking elsewhere. You're guaranteed at least a 5% jump in salary just by making a lateral switch with a different company.

Where I get this? Most that age don't match
---

E32005 posted...

EvalAngell posted...

should be making at least $50K/yr be age 30...

$75k by age 35...
....and at least $100K/yr after 40.

The problem is people are complacent and stay at dead end jobs for far too long making way less than they should be. I give every job at least 2 years. If I'm getting regular raises, good benefits, and offered opportunities to advance I stick it out. But if it's dead end, I start looking elsewhere. You're guaranteed at least a 5% jump in salary just by making a lateral switch with a different company.

Where I get this? Most that age don't match

It all depends on your career path obviously. But even bartenders can make $50K/yr with some experience by age 30. If you're working retail you need to look into ways to move up within the company. "How can I become a manager/supervisor?" I'm friends with a guy who is regional manager for all the Essex County, NJ CVSs. He started out as a lowly cashier and he's only 29. He's making roughly $80k a year.

I think the salary & age generalization i've listed out is quite achieveable actually.
---

I'm 30 and make six figures as a pharmacist.

This biggest raise I've got so far was switching jobs like 9 months ago. It was essentially a 10% raise and the quality of life is infinitely better. Also get more differential pay as well.
---

Super Saiyan 3 Goku posted...

I'm 30 and make six figures as a pharmacist.

This biggest raise I've got so far was switching jobs like 9 months ago. It was essentially a 10% raise and the quality of life is infinitely better. Also get more differential pay as well.

Six figures is nothing to shy away from. I can only hope I reach those numbers, but as someone who is going into IT with little skill in CS, I can maybe see a peak of right around 100k a year.

Then again, lol.
---

Leight_Weight posted...

My mortgage payment is only $700/mo

haha mine too, or just over $750. It's not a house, but it is a condo in a nice suburban area. If I would have bought it five years ago when real estate values were in the crapper, I'd be paying $550. Still, I consider it a win.

Anyway TC, I don't think you should feel bad or like an "underachiever" for making $18. You can still afford a decent living if you budget. I'm currently making $61k at 31 and my income is out-accelerating my expenses so much that I'm starting to get irresponsible with my money. I could probably get a pay cut to $40k and still live the same quality of life with just slightly more responsible budgeting.

Super Saiyan 3 Goku posted...

I'm 30 and make six figures as a pharmacist.

This biggest raise I've got so far was switching jobs like 9 months ago. It was essentially a 10% raise and the quality of life is infinitely better. Also get more differential pay as well.

My brother's a pharmacist too, and it seems like an amazing field to get into for starting pay, provided you can land that first job. He graduated in SoCal two years ago and it took him six months to find a job. He started working with Walgreens and made $120k in 2016. At the start of this year, he got a job working with the city and is pulling in around $140k.

$140k for a no-stress government job and he's 27. Kid fucking killed it, and he says nearly all of his classmates are in 100k+ jobs now.
---

Yeah, starting salary for pharmacists I fine but you reach that cap sooner if you stay in retail. I work in the hospital where the quality of life is better and there's a lot of room to move upwards.

And being in SoCal, I'm not surprised it took him that long to land a job. California is one of the most job saturated states for pharmacists (there's like 9 schools there last I counted). I graduated in 2014 and was quickly employed. Much of that is due to my completing a pharmacy residency and getting board certified. You have to do all that you can to stand out in your field.

The bare minimum won't cut it these days.
---

Yeah, pharmacist make so much... I don't know how tough the work is, but that money os really good for what seems like less years of work than a lot of other six figure fields. Really competitive field to break into though, I'd expect.
---

It's a start

GateOfDoom posted...

And im 30 shouldnt i be making more at my age?

If you don't mind me asking what do you do for a living?
---

Vultis_Zales posted...

GateOfDoom posted...

And im 30 shouldnt i be making more at my age?

If you don't mind me asking what do you do for a living?

I work in a warehouse i work about 55 hours a week didnt go to college

MorbidFaithless posted...

If I made 34k a year I would literally have more money than I knew what to do with

I've grossed 70k the last two years. Will probably make about the same this year.
---

Im 27 and make 22 an hour, but I'm a flat rate mechanic so you have the ability to make a lot more than that implies.

For instance two weeks ago I worked 40 hours but booked almost 80 (meaning I got paid for 80). So I was essentially making 44~ an hour.

Most weeks aren't nearly that good but I do ok. Will probably make 50-55k this year.

Anyway it's not nearly enough in NJ to have a nice life imo. Feel like I just grind and grind just to scrape by. Which is why I'm going back to school.
---

Not bad (depending on where you live)
---