I do agree that the situation is ****tier and it's getting harder for folks. But I also think folks make it harder on themselves. The other side of the coin is, people making $15 an hour trying to scrape by rent money, are also in many cases wearing the latest designer clothes, have the newest phone, and are making a $500/month car payment on something they absolutely don't need. I'm not saying that's always the case, but it's pretty common. I live down in Macon, and I'm sure you see it up there too. But you'll have folks living in low end apartments, driving nicer newer SUV's or trucks with lifts and big wheels/tires. They'll have name brand clothes, newer phones, and eat better than I do, but you'll hear them complaining about finances and the economy. Meanwhile, I have a good paying job and buy my jeans at Academy, drive older paid off vehicles, and don't go out to eat every day. Just priorities.i dont know what kind of better arrangement you're talking about. pretty much all housing is over 1200 at a minimum if you're renting, have a kid and need an extra bedroom and you're looking at 1500 easy, the housing market is ****ed and theres no "just work" that is going to change that. and as far as "living to your means" these folks scrape by, nothing new bought and live well below the means of most. and agian the "life is full of choices" argument is a joke. I know PLENTY of folks who would gladly work from sun up to sun down but still dont have the opportunity.
reality sucks and just having a work ethic will not always get folks beyond that, that is the harsh truth.
the math isnt even that hard to see how ****ed its gotten.
"Average" rent around Atlanta is 1700 from what i can find but we'll use 1500 as its a nice round number. and we'll use the often called for $15.00 "livable" wage.
at 15 bucks an hour working full time every week you net around 31,200 lets be generous and say you only lose 15% to taxes and medicare and similar so $26,520 if your rent is 1500 then your paying about 18000 a year leaving you with 8,520 or 163 bucks a week and this isnt including utilities. Food and gas to get to work will eat through 163 real fast again ESP if you have a kid. But now lets also say you do the good ol rule of thumb of save 10% or 16.30 a week and after a year you may have a grand total of about $850 or One good car repair.
Now many dont even make that and by no fault of their own as again a harsh reality. There are only so many decent paying jobs out there, thats how competition works and not everyone can make good money. But the harsh reality is in the current landscape even living at a bare minimum means is becoming unachievable for many. And again i actually know more boomers and gen x'ers falling into these situations than millennials right now.
Not to mention, if you're living somewhere were rent is $1500 a month, maybe move or find a cheaper apartment outside of the high end areas? That's insane, $1500 is twice my mortgage.