1. Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Families that consist of adults working minimum wage will hardly make enough to fulfill everyday needs and create a saving to use in unpredictable situations. With every paycheck brought into the household, every dollar has a purpose to fulfill or a bill to pay making it extremely difficult to put money aside. Since my parents never received more than a high school education, all they have known is minimum wage pay. They spent so much time trying to calculate and predict each week's pay. Most times we were only able to afford all the bills by setting up payment plans.
2. Missing out on the Luxuries
Individuals that work at minimum wage constantly have to choose between wants and needs. In today's society, the price of items we require to function are becoming increasingly expensive. With the inflation of everyday items, those trying to provide for not only themselves but also their dependents, they are forced to make many sacrifices in their life. When visiting the grocery store, my family has always bought the lower quality items that were on sale. When going to school, me and my siblings have given up field trips to water parks and museums, just to ensure we had clean clothes to wear to school.
3. Less Quality Family Time
Working a minimum wage job means working as many hours as you possibly can to earn more money. Parents pick up these hours to try to give their children the best lives possible. However, when doing so they are taking away from valuable family time that could be spent with their children. My dad has missed countless recitals from working late nights causing us to not have a close relationship. My siblings and I have spent so many nights eating microwave dinners in front of the TV because of my parents working 50+ hours a week.
4. Relying on State Assistance
Lots of low income families that live off of minimum wage jobs also receive some form of state assistance. Although this is a nice way to accommodate those families that struggle more financially, having to rely on something that may or may not be offered in the future can be extremely stressful when trying to consider the future of your family. My household lost over 200 food stamps when my brother started working. This was super unfortunate because what he ended up earning was just used towards food instead of rent or other bills.
5. Increased Rates of Teen Workers
By the time that children reach the legal age of work, they begin to split their focus between their education and picking up a job to help with some of the household bills. This creates a cycle of minimum wage living. Once my brother started working his grades took a huge hit. He ended up graduating but never went on to achieve a higher education. Now he is married with two beautiful girls, and yet continuing a cycle of disparity. He is struggling to pay his bills and give his kids a better life than he had himself.
6. Constantly Renting Homes
Families are not given the opportunity to find a forever home due to the price of renting. While working a minimum wage job it is incredibly hard to save money. The price of renting is not compatible with the annual salary rates of a full time minimum wage worker. My mom and dad hardly made ends meet, therefore leaving them no money left over. It would have taken them decades to save enough money in order to own a house, and by then all of their children would be grown and out on their own.
7. Never Planting your Roots
As time passes, the value of locations becomes more expensive. Businesses start to expand and communities become more established, resulting in the lower income families being forced out of locations they once were able to afford. Desperately looking for a location they can afford, they are forced to move into a less than desirable location. Growing up I have moved through 4 different cities and had to make new friends in every single one of them. It felt like every single time my family settled, the value of housing in my neighborhood would rise, and we could no longer afford to live there.