living on minimum wage

Oklahoma Lt. Governor hopeful Cathy Cummings and her husband live on minimum wage for a month. See their struggles in this 20 minute video.

[lillianbrooks]

This is the most realistic experiment I have seen so far. Thank you for showing what's it like to live like that. I no longer host holidays at my house my children do it. I went from middle class to poverty with one unexpected situation. It does not take much.

[RennaeAllDay]

This is sad. I'm living on minimum wage also and I don't even have a lot of bills and I still can't afford them. Not everyone can be a doctor or a lawyer or just wake up one day and say hey! I think I'm going to go to school for something that makes me a lot of money. Because it takes money to get money it takes money to get the reliable car to get there it takes money to pay for the school it takes money for the gas it takes money for every damn thing and minimum wage ain't going to cut it!!!! They treat you like a slave they really do, they expect you to work so hard and worship the costumer and their company when they aren't paying you shit!!!

[johnpaulson]

I went from $45, 000 a year to $24, 000 a year and I'm living comfortably by never buy more that I can afford with no payments..

[anavreeland]

My mom and my brother and I came to America, New York City and she had to ride the trains there with out knowing the language .having a car was out of the question we survived .I remember she would buy the least expensive foods, some one told him the ones with Black and white colors were the cheapest .Very proud of our mom !

[sylviamaxine]

So informative and so true. I have backup savings but also taking care of elderly mom who doesn't help a lot with bills. When I do attempt to work, I end up leaving or missing work a lot because of her health issues. Churches in my area are full of people in the same boat - no money. This life is scary! I have no tv, don't smoke, no tattoos, and stay home on saturday night. However I am not at all looking for sympathy for me, but empathy for people in that situation. I have learned to be happy with what I do have, and never pass up that penny on the sidewalk!!!

[SuperDaveOkie]

Thank you so much for making this video. This has been my reality for several years, and it is really difficult for most to relate to at all.

[garciavirginia]

It breaks my heart to see that in America ppl are living in such poverty . I am the working poor but I've been blessed to be able to work 2 jobs and always have my bills paid and food on the table and able to save each week . God bless all that are below poverty .

[danthony]

Cathy,  
I am originally from Oklahoma and currently reside in Alaska where I teach in the public school system. I lived in Ada where I worked two jobs, my wife worked one, and we were both full time students. Thank you for doing this and advocating for the people who are trying to get out of poverty, but literally cannot catch a break to do so. I've been very disappointed in my home state as I've watched the political arena over the last year, but you are making me proud. 

[franniefargo]

Rich people playing house. They are lucky because when their time is up they get to go home.

[rebeccasmith]

red beans and rice, grits, eggs, Mac and cheese, greens, turkey legs and Stove Top Stuffing into the liquid turkey was cooked. the poor doit everyday, and not a game! thank God, I was gainfully employed.

[TheLadyniebur]

It's worse than that for those of us who live this every day. At least you were aware that your experiment had a time limit. Most of us have no foreseeable way out. 

[Watercastleshorts]

Did he say, "Living like peasants in Mexico...I'm washing my clothes in the sink and eating Beans and Rice every day?" Wow...I find this video unhelpful and a bit insulting.

[Storm]

You can put a enough dollars in your pocket to cover daily gas/minor food at the store taking a daily trip to the scrap yard. Most people won't do it, but it adds up really fast. Scrap is everywhere.

[darkforce]

Very helpful, I'm learning to be frugal and stretch my money.. Thank you!

[MRS.SammeK]

Couponining, price matching, renting a room with utilities included are great ways to save! Don't live above your means. It's very possible!

[stevelang]

A few things....

1) Healthcare costs are $1019 a month according to this video. In most other countries, that amount alone would add one hell of a healthy cushion.

2) This simulation ignores the other subsidies that most other folks get when they live on minimum wage. Food stops Medicaid, free phone, and a cheaper internet help stretch the minimum wage to a higher standard of living.

3) This was a good effort. I know it wasn't easy to make this a reality. Thanks for the good work!

[RK]

Twenty-five years ago I made about $6.50/hour before taxes, so that amounted to about $13, 000 per year before taxes. My rent was $550/month, so that was about $6600/year, or half my money. I had company health insurance, and the company fed us one complimentary meal per day. I was poor enough that I ate twice at the company cafeteria, and although it was against policy to eat twice, I did it anyway and the cooks there looked the other way because they were in the same situation themselves. I worked very hard, saved and invested every penny into my Roth IRA, making maximum contributions ($2000 at the time) every year. I made a lot of good decisions yet a few bad ones, but as a result of pursuing better employment prospects and making investments, I am as of today approaching my first million. A lot of hard work went into my fortune.

[lolabigcups]

I love how the comment section on this video is so supportive.

[WochoGonnado]

Still amazed how expensive it is to live in USA. And US$ 1019 for two weeks health insurance? Woww.... With US$ 2144 for 2 weeks, you can live very comfortably here in Indonesia. Rent a nice house/apartment, go out every weekend, buy groceries as many as you can carry, and you can still save some money. Our minimum wages is nothing compared to USA. Try US$ 250 per month.

[MrNiceGuy-cqjv]

I am a licensed journeyman electrician with 10 years experience with lots of extra training. doing a very physical death defying job in the middle of Florida hot humid summers for 16.00 per hr. that's journeyman rates. even with all the training and commitment I'm still in poverty.