"Most People have a salary requirement of $10-$12 an hour...."

This statement was made to me today at a temp agency. As if a salary requirement for an administrative technician 2 should be any lower in a city the size of AUSTIN.

This disgusts me. I am so angry with the companies, landlords, the utility companies. Does no one realize just what the cost of living in a big city is these days? gas prices....come on! Sure, they have gone down the past few weeks but how long will it last?

I live in a small town 13 miles from downtown Austin. The temp job that I was assigned to is about 15 miles from my house. I will still be saving money living in a small town and driving to work in Austin every day.

Lets say that an average couple wanted to live in Austin-in a house like mine-in a neighborhood like mine. What would their expenses be? How could an average couple- a truck driver and a property manager ( Lets just toss in what I normally do for a living) make it in a neighborhood like Travis Heights? A neighborhood that is quiet, within easy commuting distance to the grocery and gas stations and several eateries, a neighborhood made up of classic, vintage homes.

This is part of an ad from Craigslist. It's the closest thing I could find to my house.

$1710 / 3br-

1400 square feet. Three bedrooms and two baths: Large living room and kitchen area. Hardwood floors in living room and bedrooms. Tile in bathroom and kitchen, large back deck under beautiful canopy of trees. Washer and Dryer, carport, and other parking. Extra storage under house and in the attic. Pest control and lawn maintenance included.

OK- My house is 480 sq feet bigger, one bathroom less, add a dining room and 2 porchs,a fireplace, and a greenhouse. I have a detached garage and share 3 city lots with one tiny 1 bdroom house. we have attic storage. Nothing under the house but a possum though. :( We have pest control and lawn care included.No washer /dryer but a really old gas stove and a ghost of a TX Ranger was included. FOR HALF THE RENT.

Now. What do you think the electricity bill is? I'm guessing at least 225. Older houses are not well insulated and I don't see a fireplace listed on that one.Water and waste water is higher in Austin.As is gas. And that old house has got to have gas for something.

$12-$14 an hour is unreasonable? Where are the middle class to live? More and more people are moving to the small towns and to the country. I am seeing rents rise in small towns around me. It's a trend. The older homes in these small towns could not have costs the buyers 1/2 of what the homes in Austin sold for 20 years ago.

Employers what is wrong with you people? Landlords???

Again- I am just disgusted.

Pitches

This is a tough one. Personally, i have been on both sides. As a business owner of course, you are trying to decrease expenses and increase revenues as much as possible. It's trmendously difficult to find the perfect balance. You want to take care of your employees and pay them well but, you must cover your expenses and be able to reinvest into the business.

As an individual making $12-14 an hour it's almost impossible to cover your living expenses and buy the things you want/need. So, the question is, how can I make more money? What can I do to make several hundred extra dollars a month, or an extra couple thousand a month? People are doing it, how can I do it? Can I start a catering biz, a house cleaning operation, an internet biz, or anything I am good at...

I know ;) EASIER SAID THAN DONE RIGHT...

pitched by : aronado

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Much easier said than done. Yep Yep. I used to clean houses on the side and it WORE MY ASS OUT. It also took more time away from my child.

Sad thing- these employers want to pay someone with a degree 12-14 an hour.

I don't understand how single moms do it! I was a single mom for a few years and it was a struggle. I am so thankfull for the help recieved from my best friends. Many people are not so lucky.

Many people did not have the means to go get those degrees. Parents- who has the time? You work to raise your kids and try to take college courses. It's difficult. Of course, there are those that will argue that point and ask "Why didn't you do to college before having children?" There are many answers to that. There are the single moms who married and were told "Well , honey, you take care of the kids until they are school age then enroll in classes yourself." Then hubby wants a divorce.There are the parents that just did not know what courses to take. "Hummm...what do I want to be when I grow up?" Then there is vocational school. Quick and easy way to get certified in something. Student loans are a bitch to pay back.

Are we going to lose Americas middle class?

( By the way- when I hit "reply to ths pitch", nothing happens?")

pitched by : rebelene13

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