Why meeting the minimum poverty guidelines is not enough

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I always wonder how a person meeting the minimum financial requirements can really afford taking care of 2 people. I mean mortgage/rent, utilities, gas, insurance etc etc... My man makes way more than the minimum he would have to make, in order to support me, and he can afford to do so. But I will be required to have a job. Making around $30,000/year would prolly just cover our mortage and utility bills...

I always wonder why people live such expensive lives. Honestly assuming my bills were the highest we've ever had to pay (eg. electricity during winter is just under $300 but right now it's only $110 with AC on full time) our bills are only $14K a year. That's our mortgage (2 br house), house insurance, property tax, gas/elec, water, phones, car insurance/registration (we have 4 registered and insured vehicles), we have 2 dogs and 2 snakes (neither are crazy cheap to feed and never go without), cable and internet. My husbands income alone more than supports us.

I lost my job in October and was unemployed for 6 months. My husband lost his job in November and was unemployed for 2. We were still able to eat, feed our pets and not miss paying a bill. Now I am employed again and of course things are better with more money coming in but we NEVER live up to my income and never will because eventually I want to have kids. It is much better to live on one income and have a second for extra savings and fun, than it is to require someone to earn a lot of money just to support the family. Sh*t happens (like us losing our jobs) and if we had been living more expensive lives it would have hurt... a lot.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

I always wonder why people live such expensive lives. Honestly assuming my bills were the highest we've ever had to pay (eg. electricity during winter is just under $300 but right now it's only $110 with AC on full time) our bills are only $14K a year. That's our mortgage (2 br house), house insurance, property tax, gas/elec, water, phones, car insurance/registration (we have 4 registered and insured vehicles), we have 2 dogs and 2 snakes (neither are crazy cheap to feed and never go without), cable and internet. My husbands income alone more than supports us.

I lost my job in October and was unemployed for 6 months. My husband lost his job in November and was unemployed for 2. We were still able to eat, feed our pets and not miss paying a bill. Now I am employed again and of course things are better with more money coming in but we NEVER live up to my income and never will because eventually I want to have kids. It is much better to live on one income and have a second for extra savings and fun, than it is to require someone to earn a lot of money just to support the family. Sh*t happens (like us losing our jobs) and if we had been living more expensive lives it would have hurt... a lot.

In American it's called "keeping up with the Joneses" or such.

I was living like that before, blowing money left and right, new car every 2 years, etc and then the divorce came. That was the best thing that happened to me as it allowed me to take stock and reset.

I think until us as Americans go through a financial tragedy it's difficult for someone to see their individual wastefulness.

An international dating scene is not ging tobe cheap and this is why it requires not only finding that hawtness but a hawtness that understands what I call survival. I've seen it played out on VJ so many times, Wife coming on here and lamenting how the USC wasn't that rich aristocrat that he acted like while on vacation.

Imagine a non working new immigrant that is not working and with a Husband that is barely making it and then she wants to turn around to go visit home. With what money?

[HannahP 119]

Eh. I imported my Canadian husband over here for a second time when I was just 21. We made it on maybe $10,000/year for about 16 months. (My father co-signed for the visa.) No kids, no mortgage, no car payments. Ramen noodles and cheap beer. We weathered two car emergencies and a medical emergency without asking for help from our parents.

And this was *luxurious* compared to when we were living together as 18-20 year-old college students and our only income came from part-time jobs on campus.

We're celebrating five years of marriage today. I can't imagine going back to living like that, but we certainly made it work. Being young and having few long-term commitments to material things helped. As did being wise enough to use birth control during those years.

[mrs_gonzo 9]

I always wonder why people live such expensive lives. Honestly assuming my bills were the highest we've ever had to pay (eg. electricity during winter is just under $300 but right now it's only $110 with AC on full time) our bills are only $14K a year. That's our mortgage (2 br house), house insurance, property tax, gas/elec, water, phones, car insurance/registration (we have 4 registered and insured vehicles), we have 2 dogs and 2 snakes (neither are crazy cheap to feed and never go without), cable and internet. My husbands income alone more than supports us.

I lost my job in October and was unemployed for 6 months. My husband lost his job in November and was unemployed for 2. We were still able to eat, feed our pets and not miss paying a bill. Now I am employed again and of course things are better with more money coming in but we NEVER live up to my income and never will because eventually I want to have kids. It is much better to live on one income and have a second for extra savings and fun, than it is to require someone to earn a lot of money just to support the family. Sh*t happens (like us losing our jobs) and if we had been living more expensive lives it would have hurt... a lot.

I understand that, and I mean you are right, you can live off paying for 2 people with an annual income of $30k, but then again there would not be much left in the end. Making like $2,500 a month will cover bills and living expenses, but you won't have many chances to save up in case bad things come up.

My fiance doesn't live up to his income either, but his bills really come up to like $2000 - 2,500 a month. The extra money he makes we save for things like travel, fun and bad times. I don't really consider that living an expensive life.

Meeting the financial requirements will allow you to pay bills and make it through, but I am sure that if bad things come up, like mentioned in the original post, then there is a lot of struggling guaranteed.

[ceadsearc 516]

I think in some cases it is people living beyond their means, but some areas are just expensive. - DC, NYC, SF. I live in a suburb of DC and a 2-bedroom apartment is $1600 or more. Electric is around $300 a month in the summer with the house at 75. Etc etc. Someone living on the minimum guidelines would have a very hard time supporting themselves even with no extras.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I understand that, and I mean you are right, you can live off paying for 2 people with an annual income of $30k, but then again there would not be much left in the end. Making like $2,500 a month will cover bills and living expenses, but you won't have many chances to save up in case bad things come up.

My fiance doesn't live up to his income either, but his bills really come up to like $2000 - 2,500 a month. The extra money he makes we save for things like travel, fun and bad times. I don't really consider that living an expensive life.

Meeting the financial requirements will allow you to pay bills and make it through, but I am sure that if bad things come up, like mentioned in the original post, then there is a lot of struggling guaranteed.

True. I don't make a ####### tonne of money and neither does my husband. But I am still more than able to save $300 a week for "fun" stuff. I don't 'cause I spend it on fun stuff during the week , but I can. I do instead put aside $100 a week, especially because my mum is coming to visit and we want as much "fun" spending money for that as possible. If she were here just living her life with us we could support her no problem while still saving, but we want to go to places (and gas is $$$) and she wants to see places like Chicago (not crazy $$$ but not something we typically do).

Yeah if I had to fork out for a couple of flights I'd be in trouble because flights are around $2K each at the moment not because I'm not able to save on my income, but because I don't... I'm too busy spending it

[Fight for Love 98]

Takis: Are you from the Philippines or any developing country? Because I know from the Phils standpoint that unemployment is higher than in USA,,,, and this is from the statistics they have for birth records etc which many in provincial areas never register due to no money and having their babies at home. SO whatever number you hear from unemployment in the RP it is good to add some percentages to it.

His wife at one time worked as a helper making about 60 dollars a month. Can anyone here raise two kids on 60 a month and save for medical and visa expenses? Not even in the Philippines can a person save on that little. She has no skills besides cleaning, washing etc. She has a high school diploma which in the Philippines does not get you far. Just to work in fastfood in the Philippines you sometimes need a degree. My fiancee is an education major and was a teacher earning 6000p a month or now $150 USD.

Just to put the Philippines in perspective. My fiancee earns after taxes about 5000p (120 roughly)a month. Rent 1000p (boarding house one room no AC) ; Food; 1800-2000p, internet 1000, (Internet cafe would be about the same) She then helps her brother in college and with her extra which is 1200p or 24 dollars.

Just helping you understand the differences. Thanks for your reply

Are you serious???? Are you sure his being honest w/u? So you mean he works under minimum wage per day? Just to make only 6000 pesos? I’m probably not from the Philippines but I know how much their minimum wage per day is. Also about the internet...he doesn't have to have internet every day to pay 1000pesos/month. Better yet only go online once a week to pay 80pesos/wk. for internet.

Anyways it just shows how much you guys spoil your partners. Just saying NO OFFENSE!!!!

[LSnBigBear 61]

Are you serious???? Are you sure his being honest w/u? So you mean he works under minimum wage per day? Just to make only 6000 pesos? I’m probably not from the Philippines but I know how much their minimum wage per day is. Also about the internet...he doesn't have to have internet every day to pay 1000pesos/month. Better yet only go online once a week to pay 80pesos/wk. for internet.

Anyways it just shows how much you guys spoil your partners. Just saying NO OFFENSE!!!!

First of all no offense taken.. I like to discuss, learn for myself and educate people. MOST businesses in the Philippines pay much below minimum wage. If you don't believe go to Jollebee or any other Philippine owned and operated business. Foreign companies are forced to pay minimum wage. For my fiancee she taught at a private school. They pay about 6000p a month. Since we started this process I had her not renew her contract as to her not being able to finish (God willing) next March.. Keep in mind Philippines school year starts in June and end March. So she took a job as a cashier at a mall and she earns a whopping 180p per day. She gets two days off a month. That is 5040p a month not even 6k now that I did the math. After her taxes, any mistakes, Philam insurance she brings home about 4000p monthly. She gets about 50 usd from me monthly as I want her to have an occasional time to eat out as I do here as well as pay for her internet as I bought her a lap top for her birthday. If that is spoiling then I pity you and your fiancee as the life you will be living. I LOVE my fiancee and want to see her daily not once a week. We chat daily unless her work schedule changes....

Keep in mind my original post was to educate petioners on making sure they earn enough to get through this process. These back and forths are okay but understand the orginal posts intent. My buddy is hurting financially and was not in a good position money wise when his now wifes visa was approved..

Also keep in mind I worked in the Philippines as an Ex Pat running an American company in PEZA. I then went back after my contract ended in USA to work as a consultant and also owned personally 3 businesses myself. I am quite familar with laws and regulations in the Philippines. Keep in mind Minimum Wage in the Philippines is Island and City specific. In Manila if memory serves me correct their minimum wage is up towards 400p a day. In Cebu they might be at 300p now roughly. When I my contract ended it was 285p.

Thanks for your response....

[LSnBigBear 61]

I understand that, and I mean you are right, you can live off paying for 2 people with an annual income of $30k, but then again there would not be much left in the end. Making like $2,500 a month will cover bills and living expenses, but you won't have many chances to save up in case bad things come up.

My fiance doesn't live up to his income either, but his bills really come up to like $2000 - 2,500 a month. The extra money he makes we save for things like travel, fun and bad times. I don't really consider that living an expensive life.

Meeting the financial requirements will allow you to pay bills and make it through, but I am sure that if bad things come up, like mentioned in the original post, then there is a lot of struggling guaranteed.

Nice reply. We need to keep in mind the 125% Minimum is Gross not net. So even at 30k annually minus medical insurance (which for most is expensive as we are painfully awar) and then ol Uncle Same. 30k minus all the above is about 25k net which is doable.....

[Xanax 349]

Some people can live relatively cheaply. My partner and I live on 60-70k and I think we live well, but, there is NO way we could live off 20-30k. Our insurances alone are like 1k per month!

[adiiann 163]

Are you serious???? Are you sure his being honest w/u? So you mean he works under minimum wage per day? Just to make only 6000 pesos? I’m probably not from the Philippines but I know how much their minimum wage per day is. Also about the internet...he doesn't have to have internet every day to pay 1000pesos/month. Better yet only go online once a week to pay 80pesos/wk. for internet.

Anyways it just shows how much you guys spoil your partners. Just saying NO OFFENSE!!!!

The OP is right. We have helper in the Philippines, and just paying a little over $60/month. Teachers in some rural areas are getting paid less than 6000 pesos a month. You need to have good degree and work in big companies in order to earn a least $500 a month.

The minimum wage in the Philippines when I left in the Philippines is less than 5000 pesos and that's not included those house helper.

But for my personal preference, I don't want to accept money or help from my partner (bf then) to make my life comfortable. I did received money from my husband, bf/fiancé then to help me pay my cellphone bills in some months (as far as I remembered, only happen four times throughout our relationship before I got here) it goes thru the roof sometimes esp. right after we had fight, and it hurts my own budget as I paid my graduate studies that time . But other than, mostly gifts during my birthday and christmas or after a huge fight.

But then again, I do agree that spoiling your partner is giving them wrong signal later on in a relationship.

Edited July 24, 2012 by adiiann

[rade2rising 205]

who needs money when you have love?

you can't put a price on love

[aws&ndd 103]

Meeting the minimum requirements may or may not be enough, depending where you live. There are some places in the US where the cost of living is just too high and in those places the bare minimum won't be enough. Luckily I live where the cost of living is rather cheap and I do just fine with a little over $30k income.