Could you make it on $11 an hour in Tulsa?

La Li Lu Le Lo

Veteran
May 29, 2010
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https://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/...cle_72db1245-7f57-5681-a288-1984e4f32d0c.html

I read this article in our local newspaper where a lawyer stated "A person making $11 a hour cannot afford housing in Tulsa without help".

First of all, if I only made 11 an hour I would be looking for a roommate. That being said I wonder if that statement is actually true.

First lets look at the averaged out monthly income.

$1421.85 Income after Federal, FICA, State deductions (15/7.65/5)

By the way according to this website (https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/oklahoma/tulsa) the average income for a Tulsa resident is $27,313, which comes out to $13.13 an hour.

I found a decent home in Tulsa to rent for $600 dollars 2/1 864 sqft that appears to be in a livable state.

ISyztqbaxijzd11000000000.jpg
ISq1u5ab4tteai1000000000.jpg


That leaves $821.85.

The bus stop ($45.00) is 1.1 miles away.

That leaves $776.85 to pay utilities and food.

So I ask you if you had 776.85 a month and you only had to pay utilities and food could you do it?

If these people find $11 an hour to be an unlivable wage why are they not trying to do something to change their situation? I saw 3 advertisements just this week for jobs starting at 16+ (above the Tulsa average of $13.13) an hour with a full benefits package and I was not even looking.

I also have to ask if there is such a housing shortage in this country/state/city why do leftist insist on leaving our borders unsecured. Deport illegals and secure our borders and watch wages go up and demand/prices for housing go down.

This is nothing more than leftist pushing a socialist solution for a problem our government created to begin with.

Socialism 101.
Step 1: Create a problem or ignore an existing problem until it spirals out of control.
Step 2: Ask for tax money to implement a solution.
Step 3: Take steps to ensure the solution fails.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 repeatedly.
 
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THat's nice. It's good to know that those $11 come with full insurance coverage without the employee having to pay anything. I've got the cheapest plan my work offers and I pay about $100 per month. Should we factor in anything for health insurance costs?

Speaking of insurance - the beauty of being poor is that you don't have anything you would need to insure from loss.

And why bother saving money for retirement.

And Tulsa is known for it's moderate climate - utilities should be nothing. The best I can find is $235 average for utilities for a house that size in Tulsa

So now we are down to $541 for "groceries" But wait...does the bus service in Tulsa allow you to ride on your good looks alone? Gosh, up here in KC, we have to pay a "fare" to ride a bus. Looks like Tulsa charges $45 for a 31 day pass. Not bad at all. But now our grocery money is down to $496.

It would be NICE to save a little for things like doctor copays or prescription drug copays, Hopefully they don't get sick very often.

But back to that bus thing. Where I live, there is a bus stop 3 houses down from me. I work 15 miles south of here, and when it comes to buses - unless you're going downtown, you really can't get there from here. If I were to try to take the bus to my workplace - it would look kind of like this - catch the bus at 6:45 to take me to the transfer station, where I catch another bus at 7:10 to take me towards my office. Not to my office - just in it's general direction. It drops me off 3 miles from my workplace at 8:06. So I can most likely roll into work around 9:00. But that dang old return schedule. The last bus leaves the stop (3 miles away) at 5:45, So I have to leave to get to the bus stop at 4:45. But when I get to the transfer station...doggone it, the last bus left an hour ago. So it's a 3 mile walk to get home. With all that walking, they are most likely going to need a new pair of shoes every 6 months, so they'll need to budget for that.

BUT...he's got $496 to buy food with. Just out of curiosity - what's your monthly food bill? Include groceries and lunches if you buy them.
 
THat's nice. It's good to know that those $11 come with full insurance coverage without the employee having to pay anything. I've got the cheapest plan my work offers and I pay about $100 per month.
I thought Obamacare was supposed to fix all of that. :D

Socialism 101.
Step 1: Create a problem or ignore an existing problem until it spirals out of control.
Step 2: Ask for tax money to implement a solution.
Step 3: Take steps to ensure the solution fails.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 repeatedly.

Snarky remarks aside if your job does not offer affordable insurance then that should be a motivation to find a better job.

Should we factor in anything for health insurance costs?
No. My point was to show an individual could maintain a household on $11 an hour and I have done that. I have had plenty of jobs in my life (even skilled ones) that did not offer insurance. You know what I did? I worked it till I found something better and moved on.

Speaking of insurance - the beauty of being poor is that you don't have anything you would need to insure from loss.
You found a silver lining. Good for you.

And why bother saving money for retirement.
Why stay at a job long term that only pays you 11 an hour? If someone chooses to make a career out of an 11 dollar an hour job with no benefits then that is on them.

And Tulsa is known for it's moderate climate - utilities should be nothing. The best I can find is $235 average for utilities for a house that size in Tulsa

So now we are down to $541 for "groceries" But wait...does the bus service in Tulsa allow you to ride on your good looks alone? Gosh, up here in KC, we have to pay a "fare" to ride a bus. Looks like Tulsa charges $45 for a 31 day pass. Not bad at all. But now our grocery money is down to $496.
If you were paying attention you would have noticed I already deducted 45 dollars for bus fare.

That leaves $821.85.

The bus stop ($45.00) is 1.1 miles away.

That leaves $776.85 to pay utilities and food.

So I ask you if you had 776.85 a month and you only had to pay utilities and food could you do it?

It would be NICE to save a little for things like doctor copays or prescription drug copays, Hopefully they don't get sick very often.
Again that should motivate one to seek out a job with better pay and benefits. If someone works years or decades at an 11 dollar an hour job with no benefits that is on them.

But back to that bus thing. Where I live, there is a bus stop 3 houses down from me. I work 15 miles south of here, and when it comes to buses - unless you're going downtown, you really can't get there from here. If I were to try to take the bus to my workplace - it would look kind of like this - catch the bus at 6:45 to take me to the transfer station, where I catch another bus at 7:10 to take me towards my office. Not to my office - just in it's general direction. It drops me off 3 miles from my workplace at 8:06. So I can most likely roll into work around 9:00. But that dang old return schedule. The last bus leaves the stop (3 miles away) at 5:45, So I have to leave to get to the bus stop at 4:45. But when I get to the transfer station...doggone it, the last bus left an hour ago. So it's a 3 mile walk to get home. With all that walking, they are most likely going to need a new pair of shoes every 6 months, so they'll need to budget for that.
The house I found is on the Tulsa Transit Nightline route. If you are willing to work for 11 an hour then finding a job in a location that fits your needs should not be difficult.

BUT...he's got $496 to buy food with. Just out of curiosity - what's your monthly food bill? Include groceries and lunches if you buy them.
I have no idea what my current food bill is. However I can tell you when I started American Airlines I was only payed 7 an hour and my wife only made 8 and we survived it just fine until our situation improved.

Speaking of the bus thing and jobs that provide 100 percent paid insurance and retirement (pension), Tulsa Transit is hiring bus drivers right now. I know what your going to say..... but you have to have a CDL to do that job.

In fact Tulsa Community Work Advance offers free training for CDL (among other things) to unemployed and underemployed citizens of Tulsa. Of course you still have to get your passenger endorsement.

There you go, free training to get a better paying job with free insurance and retirement.

https://www.monster.com/jobs/search...OK&jobid=dcac198c-6e3a-4c7d-aa9e-33d4f33333cb
http://www.workadvance.org/available-training/cdl-b-driving/

The difference between you and I is you "what if" excuses and I find solutions.
 
https://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/...cle_72db1245-7f57-5681-a288-1984e4f32d0c.html

I read this article in our local newspaper where a lawyer stated "A person making $11 a hour cannot afford housing in Tulsa without help".

First of all, if I only made 11 an hour I would be looking for a roommate. That being said I wonder if that statement is actually true.

First lets look at the averaged out monthly income.

$1421.85 Income after Federal, FICA, State deductions (15/7.65/5)

By the way according to this website (https://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/oklahoma/tulsa) the average income for a Tulsa resident is $27,313, which comes out to $13.13 an hour.

I found a decent home in Tulsa to rent for $600 dollars 2/1 864 sqft that appears to be in a livable state.

ISyztqbaxijzd11000000000.jpg
ISq1u5ab4tteai1000000000.jpg


That leaves $821.85.

The bus stop ($45.00) is 1.1 miles away.

That leaves $776.85 to pay utilities and food.

So I ask you if you had 776.85 a month and you only had to pay utilities and food could you do it?

If these people find $11 an hour to be an unlivable wage why are they not trying to do something to change their situation? I saw 3 advertisements just this week for jobs starting at 16+ (above the Tulsa average of $13.13) an hour with a full benefits package and I was not even looking.

I also have to ask if there is such a housing shortage in this country/state/city why do leftist insist on leaving our borders unsecured. Deport illegals and secure our borders and watch wages go up and demand/prices for housing go down.

This is nothing more than leftist pushing a socialist solution for a problem our government created to begin with.

Socialism 101.
Step 1: Create a problem or ignore an existing problem until it spirals out of control.
Step 2: Ask for tax money to implement a solution.
Step 3: Take steps to ensure the solution fails.
Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 repeatedly.


WOW, a whole $16.00 ph for a GOOD job in OKIE-HOMA.
Typical RED STATE, RTW State, BS. (With all the Tornadoes one could want)
In Seattle, WA, the 'Minimum Wage' is " $15.45 " per hour, (and rising again shortly), with public transportation up the WAZOO. (Including public transportation to take a person out-of-the-country, up to Vancouver) ! !

(And), GOD forbid, you or your child gets Dangerously / Deadly sick, Hmmmm, would I want to be ANYWHERE in the God Forsaken state of OKIE-HOMA, or Seattle ?? (Univ. of Washington Medical Center anyone) ??????
 
WOW, a whole $16.00 ph for a GOOD job in OKIE-HOMA.
Typical RED STATE, RTW State, BS. (With all the Tornadoes one could want)
I did not say 16 an hour was a "good" job. I said $13.13 was the average. "Good" is relative. There are plenty of household that make six figures or more per year in this city.

In Seattle, WA, the 'Minimum Wage' is " $15.45 " per hour, (and rising again shortly), with public transportation up the WAZOO. (Including public transportation to take a person out-of-the-country, up to Vancouver) ! !
Who cares what your minimum wage is? Our cost of living here is lower. Do you really think people in Seattle WA making minimum wage are better off than people in Tulsa, OK making minimum wage? What cost 150k here (3/2/2, 1600 to 1700 sqft, year built) would cost me 600K to 700K in Seattle WA.

Minimum wage is 46.9% higher but housing cost are at least 400% higher. Seems to me someone making minimum wage would be much better off in Tulsa Oklahoma.

(And), GOD forbid, you or your child gets Dangerously / Deadly sick, Hmmmm, would I want to be ANYWHERE in the God Forsaken state of OKIE-HOMA, or Seattle ?? (Univ. of Washington Medical Center anyone) ??????
What the hell would you know about it? Have you ever even been in a hospital in Oklahoma?
 
I did not say 16 an hour was a "good" job. I said $13.13 was the average. "Good" is relative. There are plenty of household that make six figures or more per year in this city.

Who cares what your minimum wage is? Our cost of living here is lower. Do you really think people in Seattle WA making minimum wage are better off than people in Tulsa, OK making minimum wage? What cost 150k here (3/2/2, 1600 to 1700 sqft, year built) would cost me 600K to 700K in Seattle WA.

Minimum wage is 46.9% higher but housing cost are at least 400% higher. Seems to me someone making minimum wage would be much better off in Tulsa Oklahoma.

What the hell would you know about it? Have you ever even been in a hospital in Oklahoma?


I'm having a difficult time trying to 'incorporate' ANY Hospital in that wasteland of a state (OKIE-HOMA), with the likes of (for instance) Mass General in Boston, Colombia-Presbyterian in NYC, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis, Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, George Washington University Hospital, in DC (where ALL the Presidents go), University/Washington Medical center, in Seattle.

Next to Florida, OKIE-HOMA is the Last F Place I ever want to get dangerously sick in !!!!!!!!!!!
 
I thought Obamacare was supposed to fix all of that. :D
.

Yep....the only problem with Obamacare was that it was left in the hands of private insurance companies to run. It should have been single payor. But now that you mention it....you elected a repuglican Congress and an orange president to fix that. How are they doing on that front?
 
ISpeaking of the bus thing and jobs that provide 100 percent paid insurance and retirement (pension), Tulsa Transit is hiring bus drivers right now. I know what your going to say..... but you have to have a CDL to do that job.

The city of Tulsa must be rolling in dough. There are very few government organizations that I am aware of that pay 100% of the premium. I know that mine doesn't.
 
Yep....the only problem with Obamacare was that it was left in the hands of private insurance companies to run. It should have been single payor. But now that you mention it....you elected a repuglican Congress and an orange president to fix that. How are they doing on that front?
Who said I elected him to fix that? Get rid of it maybe.

This:
e2fb530a-8a68-48e0-8cb0-70573fbdfac1.jpg

Obamacare_stack.jpg

Was ALWAYS doomed to fail.

Socialism 101.
Step 1: Create a problem or ignore an existing problem until it spirals out of control.
Step 2: Ask for tax money to implement a solution.
Step 3: Take steps to ensure the solution fails. (like enough regulations and red tape to stack up 7 feet tall)
Step 4: Repeat steps 2-3 repeatedly.
 
The city of Tulsa must be rolling in dough. There are very few government organizations that I am aware of that pay 100% of the premium. I know that mine doesn't.
I have no comment. I simply posted the ad placed by Tulsa Transit. If you have questions ask them.