Reading: Nickel and Dimed

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is about a writer, Barbara Ehrenreich, who goes "undercover" to find out if holding a job, even for poverty level wages, means a better life. It's a claim that's spouted by politicians and constituents alike, people need to get off welfare and find a job - any job - and with some hard work they'll be able to climb their way out of the lower ranks. Ehrenreich, intrigued by the idea if someone like herself - who has every advantage at her disposal (white, english speaking, relatively good transportation, healthy, etc.) - could earn a "livable wage" by taking a job that pays only $6 or $7 an hour.

"My aim here was much more straightforward and objective — just to see whether I could match income to expenses, as the truly poor attempt to do every day. Besides, I've had enough unchosen encounters with poverty in my lifetime to know it's not a place you would want to visit for touristic purposes; it just smells too much like fear." -- Barbara Ehrenreich

While Ehrenreich's experiences were telling, the research she did post-"undercover" work went a long way to back up her points. Ehrenreich didn't just talk about how she did or did not survive, she backed it up with footnotes, references, and interviews to solidify the fact that her experiences were far from unique. Did she make some mistakes? Sure. There were instances where she could have made more out of her income, but they were the same mistakes anyone else could make.

By far the biggest obstacle she faced was finding affordable housing. She often found that trailer parks, "long term stay" motels, and studio apartments were out of her reach - despite working 7 days a week. Housing easily made up 50+% of her total budget (any financial planner will tell you not to exceed 33%). Even when she did find housing, it could be without basic amenities like a refrigerator, or she found herself concerned about her safety as as she looked comparatively "rich" as a single woman who could afford her own room. In the end it should come as no surprise that she quickly ran out money.

And I'll say one more thing. If I only took away one thing from this book, it's that I won't be hiring a maid from a franchise maid service anytime soon. Ew.

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