What kind of hourly wage should one aim for if one wishes to live by them self?

Question

Ok, I make minimum wage, what can I do to earn more money?

Answer 1

I agree that your location is a really important part of figuring this. For example: in the Southeastern United States, food (assuming you're not a huge fan of fresh produce) and housing are very inexpensive, but in many cities the only non-professional/non-technical jobs most people can get are clerical or customer service (retail or food-service) jobs, which don't pay very well, and may just wipe you out so you can hardly enjoy your independence.

If you haven't been on your own before, I highly suggest finding a roommate. If you don't already know someone with whom you'd like to split rent, there are pretty decent sites out there to help people find co-tenants or rooms being rented out (I highly suggest roommates.com, though they are a pain in that you can't get a sense of what's available in your target area without paying their fee. Fortunately, the barest minimum membership usually suffices to find a lot of good leads. I would hold onto as much cash as you can since you're about to launch into the world alone-- beware unnecessary services, websites, subscriptions, and *especially* credit cards). Living with a roomy for six months or more (leases mean your stays in a living situation will usually be in six-month or 1-year blocks) will help you get an idea of how to live on you own-- paying for stuff, working for your living, budgeting for food/electricity/whatever, and dealing with limited space. It usually takes a lot less than most people seem to understand it takes to live economically. Just don't try to lease a car or get a super-expensive deluxe phone/cable package and you'll be okay.

I worked as a coffee slave in the Southern US for a while making $7.10/hr, 45 hours a week. It was tiring, and the tires on my $1500 car were way to bald to be safe driving in the rain. I rented a room in a house with access to a good kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities for $400 a month and did great. I could have paid the same amount of money for half-rent, or higher rent, or *much* higher half-rent in another city (where wages would probably be higher). Just don't waste money and you'll be able to make it work.

Answer 2

$20/hour. in this area if you make any less than that you'll need roommates.

Answer 3

I, myself, would want at least $15.00 an hour.

Answer 4

It depends a lot on the housing market where you live, and on whether a car is a necessity or just a huge convenience.

Where I live, you need to make about $10 an hour, and stick to a budget, with no car, $12 with. That gets you a decent one-bedroom apartment in a neighborhood that's noisy but relatively safe, within reach of bus lines.