I am thinking about how lucky I am to be old right now. I had employers who provided retirement funds and actually contributed to them. They also employed me steadily for 40 hours a week (or more). I am also thinking about the $15 federal minimum wage being suggested. Can you live on $30,000 a year here in Sussex County? This is what you would make if you were lucky enough to work 40 hours a week for 50 weeks. (Please see a more formal approach to this at: https://livingwage.mit.edu/counties/10005.)
Take out Social Security and federal and state taxes, and that might give you a take-home pay of about $2,800 a month. If I were single, with no dependents, what would this look like? Renting an apartment or house here might be about $1,000 a month, on the modest side, and another $200 for utilities. Cable, internet, cellphone - another $100 or so. Let’s say you have a car and need to keep it running. That might cost $100 a month for insurance and gas. Heaven forbid you needed repairs or new tires. Health insurance might run another $700 a month. OK, so we are down to $700 a month left. Let’s say you spend $400 a month on food, cleaning supplies and personal care products. That leaves $300 left for clothes, charities, emergencies and savings, like for a new used car when the clunker gives out. Now what if you had a spouse and two kids to feed and clothe? Or those grandkids you’re raising unexpectedly in your 50s? Forget Fido or Whiskers.
What would I have in my wallet? Not much, and I would be so stressed out about any unplanned expense that it may be affecting my health. In April of this year, the minimum wage is supposed to go up to $10.25 an hour or $20,500 a year or about two-thirds of what we just described. Please, seriously think about it. Many, many healthcare workers, tourist industry staff, and food service workers here make way less than that. Support a $15/hour minimum wage in Delaware.
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