The middle class is already dead (or at least is terminal) [View All]

Facts:

Below is a MODEST budget:

rent/house-payment........................800.00
car payment....................................250.00
car insurance...................................100.00
food................................................300.00
gasoline...........................................200.00
electric.............................................100.00
water.................................................30.00
phone................................................50.00
gas....................................................100.00
total.................................................1,930.00

optionals (usually included in middle class living)

cable...................................................40.00
internet service....................................30.00
meals out.............................................60.00
entertainment/gifts/etc.........................50.00


Lifestyle like this would require AT least $15 an hour for a 40 hr week WITH health insurance provided..

and notice that there's very little in the way of "shopping" as a recreation.

there are no fees for kids' activities or lessons, there's no "savings for a rainy day", no money given to help elderly parents, no college tuition, no car repairs, no eye glasses, no dental visits, no co-pays for medicine or doctor....

$15 x 40 = 600.00 ..80% takehome (unless you wanted to cut it close and hope you did not owe taxes come April).. using this scenario, you might expect a refund in April, which could finance a vacation or a catch-up on bills